Skin and Hair Benefits of Carrots

Carrots (Daucus carota) are the root vegetables of the ‘Umbelliferae’ family, a term derived from the umbrella-like flower cluster on top of the plant. Carrots are usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties also exist. These delicious roots are loaded with vitamins, minerals and various other health-benefiting antioxidants.

Carrots are helpful in improving vision, aid cardio-vascular well being, prevent and cure certain types of cancers, boost immunity and improve digestion. In addition to this, carrots are also effective in the prevention and cure of various skin ailments. The antioxidants in this vegetable are supposed to treat skin problems like acne, dryness, wrinkles, rashes, dermatitis and other skin conditions.

Carrots are loaded with beta carotene that is subsequently converted into vitamin A, an essential nutrient for good vision. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that also protects the skin from sun damage and keeps skin hydrated. This vitamin attacks free radicals to prevent the signs of aging like wrinkles, blemishes, pigmentation and an uneven skin tone.

Carrots also contain Vitamin C that aids collagen production in the body. Collagen is a type of protein that is vital for the maintenance of skin elasticity. Further, it helps prevents wrinkles and keeps a check on the process of aging. The anti-inflammatory properties of the nutrient help to revitalize and tone the skin.

Topical application of carrot pulp is effective in treating blemishes and adding glow to the skin. You can prepare a moisturizing carrot facial mask at the comfort of your home. For this, grind the grated carrots to a smooth paste. Blend the paste well with milk cream and honey. Apply this carrot mask evenly over the skin.  Let it sit on face for 15 minutes and wash off with cold water.

Carrots are also known to improve hair thickness, combat hair loss and promote growth as they offer vital vitamins to hair, making it stronger. Not just that, vitamin C and E in carrots is said to improve blood circulation in the scalp, thus preventing premature graying of the hair.

Now we have many healthy reasons to make carrots a regular part of our diet, and enjoy all the skin, hair and health benefits they have to offer.

Whether juiced, raw or cooked, carrots are a wonderfully healthy vegetable!

Herbal Remedies for Wrinkles

Treat Wrinkles with Herbal Remedies

Skin wrinkles typically show up as we age! With aging process, the skin cells divide more slowly, and the dermis (inner layer of the skin) begins to thin. With aging, skin also loses its elasticity, is less able to retain moisture, oil-secreting glands are less efficient and the skin is slower to heal. Elastin, and the collagen fibers (the major structural proteins in the skin), loosen and unravel, causing  depressions on the skin surface. All these factors contribute to the appearance of wrinkles. 

Unhealthy living, pollution, prolonged periods of stress & anxiety, inadequate sleep, improper diet and  lack of exercise further, can lead to premature signs of aging, the first being the wrinkles with a dull skin! To combat the problem of wrinkles, all you need to do is afford some time and use natural ingredients easily available in our kitchens. 

Let’s try out some of the natural remedies for managing wrinkles -

• Take egg white and to it mix 2 tsp of glycerin and rose water. Apply the mixture on skin to get rid of wrinkles.
• Take glycerin, lemon juice and rose water in equal amounts and apply this natural moisturizing lotion regularly before retiring to bed. It is beneficial in preventing early aging of the skin.
• Mix a tbsp of cabbage juice to 1/2 tsp of yogurt & a tsp of honey. Apply the mixture over face & neck. Wash off as the pack dries.
• Take 2 tsp of barley flour and make a paste with curd and a tbsp of tomato juice. Apply the same on face and neck and let it dry. Rinse and pat dry.
• Apply a paste of rice flour with milk on the wrinkle prone skin for 15-20 min; rinse off with water. Follow this skin remedy thrice weekly.
• Prepare a paste of apple with milk. Massage the same all over face and neck. Leave it for 15 min and wash off.
• Add some milk to a tbsp of powdered almond & make it into a paste. Apply this as a pack over the face and the neck. Wash off as it dries.

Though these simple Natural remedies are an effective solution to skin wrinkles, taking adequate sleep, managing day to day stress, eating a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption can be of great help in managing wrinkles. Generous intake of fruits, green vegetables, grains, cereals, milk and milk products is equally important. Drinking 3 to  4 liters of water daily flushes out wastes and other harmful substances out of the body, and thus helps maintain a well hydrated, healthy skin. Following regular exercise and meditation also play a pivotal role in imparting a glowing wrinkle free skin.

Hair care for Summer: Best Home Remedies for Your Hair

Hair care for Summer 

The summers, apart from the incessant heat bring in its wake a host of hair problems. Heat from the sun degrades the protective protein in hair which oxidizes the color to a brassy hue, wipes out shine, and leaves hair brittle. On top of that, Ultra violet rays, dry wind and sweat can worsen the condition! But don't worry! We have some natural home made solutions for you! 

Find in this post, some summer hair care remedies using all natural ingredients that would effectively defend hair in the hot weather. These home remedies would also help combat all the hair plights, provide protection from UV rays and make your hair look fabulous!

Home Remedies for Hair Care

• Soak fuller’s earth in water overnight. Add 2 tablespoonful of curd to it to make a paste. Apply this mixture to your scalp and hair. Wash with water after an hour to attain soft, shiny and healthy hair.
• For keeping your hair moisturized and protected from sun rays, combine equal parts of aloe vera gel and olive oil. Apply the mixture gently to the scalp and hair. Leave it for up to 30 minutes and rinse it out.  
• Take a ripe papaya and blend it in the mixer. Mix a cup of yogurt to it and apply thoroughly through scalp and hair. Wash after half an hour with water.
• Take equal proportions of powdered Amla, Reetha and Henna and add water to make a paste. Leave this mixture overnight. Next morning, mix 2 tablespoon curd to the paste and apply over scalp and hair. Leave it on for an hour. Rinse hair with a mild shampoo afterwards. This is one of the best conditioner for heat affected hair.
• Take egg yolk in a bowl and whip it well. Add honey and stir it well to make a thick liquid. Apply the mixture onto your scalp and hair and let it sit for up to 30 minutes. This remedy would make your hair soft and bouncy.
• Almond oil can also be used to treat dry and damaged hair. Take some almond oil in a bowl and heat it gently. Massage the lukewarm oil to the scalp and hair. Leave it for 30 minutes and then rinse normally with shampoo.
• Mash a ripe banana and mix a tablespoon of honey to make a paste. This is one of the beneficial remedies to treat sun affected hair.
• Soak fenugreek (methi) seeds overnight and grind the same next morning. Mix a spoonful of curd to make a paste. Massage this paste gently on scalp and hair. Rinse with a mild shampoo after 20-30 minutes.

Hair Care Tips for Summer

• The most effective remedy for health hair is eating healthy diet including green vegetables and fresh fruits. 
• As hair is made of protein, your diet should include plenty of natural meat, fish, and dairy products.
• Drink plenty of water (3-4 liters/ day) to keep your hair and skin hydrated.
• When you go out in the sun, remember to wear a hat, cap or scarf, slightly loose enough to allow scalp circulation, to protect your hair against the damaging effects of the sun.
• Avoid maximum ray damage by minimizing bare head exposure to the sun between 10 am - 3 pm, when the sun's rays are the strongest.
• Avoid hot water hair wash, as the heat can damage your hair. Use cool water instead.
• Avoid using blow-dryer or hot rollers, instead allow your hair to dry by itself. These artificial techniques make hair brittle and dry. If you have no time to let your hair air dry, then use blow-dryer sparingly and make sure you use a warm setting instead of a hot setting.
• Try using mild and moisturizing shampoo during summer, rather than the normal shampoo that you use during other times, as former is much gentle on your hair.

Effective Home Remedies to Treat Body Odor

Effective Home Remedies to Treat Body Odor

Excessive sweating and body odor is a problem that can affect a person's confidence and self-esteem. Body odor develops when the sweat combines with the bacteria on the skin. The body produces sweat in certain circumstances such as in hot weather, during physical activity or in response to anger or fear. 

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is a medical condition that can account for strong and persistent body odor. Not only is this very embarrassing and may not just be a sign poor hygiene but of a more serious health associated problems such as diabetes, lung diseases, high blood pressure, anxiety disorders and tuberculosis.

Although commercial advertisements of chemical body sprays, deodorants and antiperspirants may help to temporarily control the odor, but this may not be the solution you are looking for. You may want a more natural and effective remedy to manage and treat the problem. Herbal home remedies have proven to be beneficial in the elimination of toxins from the body and to help keep perspiration levels at normal levels. Find in this post some of such useful natural approaches to get rid of undesirable body odor.

Effective Home Remedies for Body Odor

Effective Home Remedies for Body Odor

• Prepare a paste by mixing some gram flour in curd. Apply this paste all over your body fifteen minutes before bath. This treatment would help open the clogged pores which paves way for toxins to come out of the body through sweating and hence controls body odor.
• Crush some bael leaves in water to make a paste. Mix the same in water in the ratio 1:5 and wipe entire body with cloth/ sponge doused in the mixture for a week to cure foul body odor.
• Applying a paste of tejpatta leaves on body for 3 days helps get rid of undesirable odor. Also, tejpatta leaves can be boiled in water and same can be used for taking bath.
• Taking bath with decoction of henna leaves and khuskhus (Vetiveria zizanoides) in equal proportion for 5 days removes disagreeable body odor.
• Add rose water to your bathing water for a refreshing and long lasting effect on your body. Rosewater is a very good natural deodorant.
• Boil some neem and basil leaves in water and add it in your bath water. This would prevent not only foul odor, but will also protect your skin against various fungal infections.
• Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to your bathing water to get rid of odor producing bacteria.
• Take equal proportions of fuller’s earth and sandalwood powder and mix in rose water. Apply this paste all over your body and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with water.
• Boil 10-12 fresh leaves of sal (Shorea robusta) in 2l of water till it reduces to half. Wipe entire body with this extract and take hot water bath after half an hour to remove bad odor.
• Drink a glass of juice prepared from carrot, mint leaves and aniseed to overcome the bad body odor.
• Soak some tamarind in water and prepare a paste of the same. Apply this paste over the body before taking bath.

General Suggestions to Keep a Check on Body Odor

Shower at least once a day to wash away sweat as well as reduce the number of bacteria on your skin. Wear clean clothes everyday, preferably cotton, as it is a natural fiber. Avoid wearing synthetic fabrics. Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight or body hugging. Also change your clothes daily as body odor can leave behind traces. Avoid wearing shoes for longer. Try wearing open sandals too.

Dietary changes may help to reduce the problem of excessive sweating and body odor. Here are a few healthy dietary tips. Eat whole grain, leafy green vegetables, soy products and fruits to keep your body odor under control. Avoid eating processed foods that are high in white flour, sugars and fats. Make sure you get enough soluble fiber through your diet. Reduce your intake of foods such as fish, legumes and eggs.

Avoid intake of spicy foods and those which contain a lot of garlic and onion. Lower your intake of caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Tobacco causes body odor. Quit smoking and stop using tobacco in any form. Drink plenty of water daily as it helps to flush out toxins and waste products from the body.

Some people experience excessive sweating due to anxiety and nervousness. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, meditation, aromatherapy, massage therapy, etc., can be practiced to combat day to day stress and anxiety. 

If you try these natural remedies, maintain proper hygiene and follow the rule of balanced diet, body odor would be pleasant and won’t bother you anymore. 

Effective Home Remedies for Boils that Really Work!

Boil is a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue in the skin. It starts as a small, red, painful nodule and gradually increases in size. After some time, this area becomes firmer while the center gets filled with white pus. Boils are tender to touch and can be very painful. These may appear on various body parts like head, face, breast, scalp, back, groin, underarms and buttocks. Boil can appear either single or collectively on the skin.

Boils are highly contagious and are caused by the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria enter into the body through the hair follicle or via small cuts on the skin. Boils are also caused due to blocked sweat glands. Some other reasons of this skin problem are diabetes, poor nutrition, poor hygiene, poor immune system, excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption, chemotherapy and exposure to harsh chemicals.

Boils rarely require medical attention and can be relieved with natural remedies, but often resolve on their own. The best cure for boils is to treat them as soon as they start developing. In this post, let’s find out some useful natural home remedies to treat boils effectively.

Natural Home Remedies for Boils

• Babool- Applying hot poultice of powdered bark of white babool on boils either subsides them or suppurates them.
• Neem- Prepare a paste of neem leaves and apply the same over the affected area. Another way of treatment is to boil some neem leaves in water until the water evaporates to one-third and use the same to rinse the infected area.
• Cinnamon- Prepare a decoction of cinnamon by boiling down 4g of Cinnamon in 3 cups of water to one cup and decant. Administrating it twice daily, in early stages of boils, helps to subside them.
• Turmeric- Stir a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of warm milk and drink this twice a day. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, which are helpful in the treatment of boils. A paste of turmeric and fresh ginger can also be directly applied on the boils for relief.
• Drumstick- Applying a warm poultice of drumstick tree leaves in the early stages of boil, makes it subside. It also reduces inflammation accompanied with such glandular swellings.
• Tea Tree Oil- To treat boils, dab a clean cotton ball into tea tree oil and gently apply it directly on the boil. Be cautious not to take tea tree oil internally.  
• Onion and Garlic- Applying a paste or warm juice of onion or garlic directly over the boil is an effective remedy for boils. This application hastens the process of ripening and subsequent drainage and bursting of boils. Try to add onion and garlic into your diet as much as possible.
• Castor Oil- Dab clean cotton ball into castor oil. Apply this directly on the boil. This treatment can be followed 2-3 times a day.
• Betel leaf- Gently warm a betal leaf till it becomes soft and coat it with a layer of castor oil. Now, place it over the inflammed part of the skin. Do not forget to replace the leaf every few hours. This application will rupture and drain out the boil.
• Cumin Seeds- Grind some cumin seeds to make a paste in water. Apply it directly over the infected area.
• Nutmeg (Jaiphal)- Nutmeg is another effective remedy for boils as it stimulates blood circulation in the body. For this, mix half a teaspoon of nutmeg powder in a cup of hot milk. Drink this preparation to prevent bacterial infection in the boil.
• Basil (Tulsi)- Crush some basil leaves with ginger and apply this mixture on the affected area to heal the boils.
• Mulberry- Applying a hot poultice of tender mulberry leaves twice daily for a week subsides boils in its early stages.

Prevention is Better than cure

There are some measures that you can take to prevent boils from developing although these are not completely preventable. Good hygiene and the regular use of antibacterial soaps can help to prevent bacteria from building up on the skin. Use a clean towel and do not share it with others. Wash your hands to prevent bacteria from infecting the skin. Exfoliate your skin on the regular basis to prevent sweat ducts from blockage.

Foods high in sugar and fat should be avoided if you are prone to boils and skin abscesses. Including Vitamin A, C and E rich foods in your diet would surely help to combat boils. Zinc-rich foods are also good for the skin and aid the healing process significantly. Eating green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits is beneficial in keeping boils at bay. Alcohol, caffeine and caffeine products should be avoided as these can aggravate boils. Never squeeze a boil, otherwise, it may cause pain and spread the infection.

How to Remove Suntan Naturally: Most Effective Home Remedies!

Remove Suntan Naturally with
Effective Home Tips

Suntan is one of the major skin problems during the summer season. Due to sun exposure, melanin content in the skin increases and makes the skin tone darker. Even after applying sunscreen and using an umbrella for protection against harmful UV rays, one cannot escape tanning.

Do you know that there are many home remedies that you can make use of to get rid of skin tanning? Though the remedies are surely effective but remember, it may take at least a week of treatment to obtain noticeable results and to get your natural skin tone back. 

In this post, learn about some useful age-old herbal remedies to treat suntan and enjoy summers with a beautifully glowing fair skin.

Beneficial Home Remedies for Suntan

• Soak a pinch of saffron in milk cream overnight and blend it in the same next morning. Massage the skin with this mixture for a flawless skin. It is one of the beneficial remedies for suntan too.
• Take a tablespoon of curd and mix with it a teaspoon of tomato juice. Rub this mixture over the exposed skin and leave it for 20 minutes for treating suntan.
• Massage the tanned skin with mashed papaya pulp and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with cold water.
• Take equal amounts of fuller’s earth and sandalwood powder. Add rose water to the same to make it into a paste. Apply over face and neck as face pack and wash off after 15 minutes for best results.
• Another effective remedy is to prepare a paste by mixing gram flour in butter milk and apply over the affected area. Scrub it off after 20 minutes with water.
• Application of a mixture of equal proportions of cucumber and lemon juice is also useful in getting rid of suntan. Leave it for 15 minutes and wash off with water.
• To cure suntan, grind a raw potato and collect its juice. Apply the same over the exposed area of the skin and leave for 20-30 minutes. Wash off with water.
• Application of aloe vera gel also gives relief to sun tanned skin but take precautions of not going out in the sun just after the treatment.
  
• Take a tablespoon of dried orange peel powder and mix a pinch of turmeric powder to the same. Prepare a paste by adding some rose water and apply over the sun exposed parts. This remedy is known to be very effective in getting rid of a tan as well as making the skin supple and soft.
• Application of a mixture of honey and lemon juice over affected area has proved to be another useful anti-tan pack.
• Prepare a paste of oatmeal in buttermilk and apply over the tanned skin for 30 minutes. Wash off with cold water.

Note: One should avoid going out in the sun between 11 am to 4 pm. Use of sunscreen (at least up to 30 SPF) is a must before going out.

How to Heal Acne Fast and Naturally!

Acne is a common disorder of the skin, from which a very large feed of young people are suffering these days. This can be treated by maintaining hygiene and eating a proper diet. Some natural herbal remedies may prove to be an alternative way of treating acne & acne scars. Let’s learn about these time-tested, effective remedies for acne infested skin-

• Make a paste of nutmeg in raw milk and apply over acne. Rinse off with water after an hour.
• Another effective remedy is to mix 2 tsp of oatmeal in a tsp of olive oil, 2 tsp yogurt and a tsp of lemon juice. Apply this paste over face & neck to treat acne & ugly marks.
• Prepare a pack by mixing fuller’s earth & sandalwood powder in rose water. This remedy helps tighten skin pores & remove pimples.
• Make a paste of roasted clove powder in yoghurt and apply over acne infested skin.
• Application of a paste of cinnamon powder in a tsp of honey is said to treat acne.
• Crush 2 garlic cloves and make a paste in honey. Apply over acne carefully & rinse after 10-15 minutes.
• Prepare a paste of turmeric and neem and apply over acne infested areas.
• Clean acne prone skin with a cotton ball soaked in lemon juice. This would remove excess oil, tighten pores & prove beneficial in acne.
• Boil a few neem & basil leaves in water for some time. Allow it to cool. Strain & use water to rinse acne prone skin.
• Apply tomato pulp over face & neck and rinse off after 10 minutes.
• Tea tree oil is a common antiseptic oil helpful in reducing the inflammation of acne. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in aloe gel and apply it to the acne overnight. 
• To get rid of acne & dark spots, mix apple juice in honey & apply over skin.

Those suffering from acne must eat a diet including plenty of green vegetables, fortified cereals, dairy products, fruits and eggs. Diet rich in Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and B vitamins and zinc is known to keep blackheads and acne at bay. Cut down on chocolates, sweets, carbohydrates and high calories diet to help control acne. Drink lots of water daily. Follow any form of exercise as a part of your daily regime.

Make it a habit to maintain hygiene. Change your pillow cover regularly and dont share it with others. If you are suffering from dandruff, treat the problem as soon as possible. Do not rub or squeeze pimples, as this would worsen the condition leaving behind a scar. Rinse your face once or twice a day. Avoid using oily & alcohol based skin care products that irritate the skin. Minimize your stress levels. Do not forget to take adequate sleep daily. 

How to Maintain Ideal Body Weight

Looks may not be everything! Maintaining an ideal weight range is equally important for an attractive personality and a healthier you!Maintaining healthy weight also contributes to increased feelings of joy and strength, and to greater self-esteem. Learn in this post, ways to keep a check on your weight via eating balanced diet, following regular exercise and some of the beneficial herbal remedies to shed off extra pounds off your body.

A balanced diet and any form of exercise plays a vital role in reducing as well as maintaining a normal weight. One should eat a diet good in green vegetables and fresh fruits. Some of the fat burning spices such as black pepper, long pepper, mustard, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne should be added to the meals or used in preparations. Reduce the intake of salt & carbohydrate rich, high calorie foods (eg. rice, potatoes). Having vegetable soup or eating papaya at dinner time is helpful in reducing weight. Eating a cabbage salad also helps reduce weight as tartaric acid, an ingredient in the vegetable is known to inhibit conversion of dietary sugar to fat.

Along with diet, regular exercise is quite beneficial. Brisk walk, skipping a rope, jogging, aerobics, yoga and pranayam are among few exercises that can be of help to attain a healthy weight. Also, one should eat slowly as it satisfies hunger with less food, thereby reducing calorie intake. Drink plenty of water (3-4 litres/ day) as it has no calories and reduces hunger.

Along with a balanced diet and regular exercise regime, do try some of these natural remedies for controlling weight in a healthy manner, that too, without any side effects

• Squeeze a lemon in a glass of bitter gourd juice and have it every morning.
• Boil about 10 gm of triphala (a combination of equal amount of Amla, Harra & Beheda powder in a glass of water for 10 minutes. Consume it warm in the morning.

• Consuming 2 cups of Green tea is also believed to shed excess fat.

• To keep a check on weight, soak a few leaves of Indian plum/ Jamun overnight. Discard the leaves & drink water in the morning on an empty stomach.

• Pound a ginger rhizome & boil the same in water. Add to it, ½ tsp lemon juice and 1/4^th tsp black pepper powder. Have it when hot.
• Take ½ tsp of guggal powder, a tsp of ginger rhizome powder and mix in honey to make it into a paste. Administer it once a day to lose weight.

• Mix in a glass of lukewarm water, a tsp of honey with ½ tsp lemon juice. Drink it every morning and evening to lose weight.

Also Read: What's your Ideal Body Weight @
http://theslimmingfurnace.blogspot.in/2013/04/what-is-ideal-body-weight-for-you.html

Eat Fruits and Vegetables for a Radiant Skin

Eat Fruits and Vegetables
for a Radiant Skin

Various studies have revealed that consuming fresh fruits and green vegetables as a part of your diet is not only nutritious, but also helps makes you look  beautiful, radiant and forever youthful! Fruits and vegetables are low in calories, high in volume, and high in critically important nutrients. 

Fruits and vegetables are nutrition powerhouses containing the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber, antioxidants and protein needed for good health and avoidance of disease. When they are eaten, the body is satisfied and the signal to continue eating is extinguished.

Eating fruits and vegetables can turn off cravings for other types of foods and short circuit the food addiction cycle. Various studies have shown that reducing the energy density of the diet by the addition of fruits and vegetables is associated with substantial weight loss. Since people tend to eat a consistent weight of food, when the energy density of the food is reduced, energy intake is also reduced. 

To get real impact on skin and health, intake of fruits and vegetables must be drastically increased. People increasing their fruit and vegetable intake while lowering the intake of foods deficient in nutrients will begin to see a difference in their energy levels and a boost in the body's immunity. The extra energy you have may even increase your interest in exercise. 

See more at: http://drgarimasancheti.blogspot.com/

Winter Care: Natural Remedies for Dry Skin

The onset of winters also brings uncomfortable dryness to the skin of the face, hands and feet. For some people, the problem may be worst and may result in flaking, cracking, and sometimes eczema! 

Try these simple natural remedies to combat skin dryness, especially during winters-

• Mix equal amounts of glycerin, lemon juice and rose water and store in a glass bottle. To combat dryness, apply this regularly before retiring to bed.
• Add dry orange peel powder to yoghurt to make it into a paste. Apply the paste on the skin for a moisturized and glowing skin.
• Mix some saffron to two tsp of milk cream and leave it overnight. Use the mixture to massage your face and neck. This remedy would help you to combat winter dryness.
• Mix equal amounts of milk cream with almond oil and massage your skin with the same. This remedy is helpful to fight skin dryness during winters.
• Mash a banana and to it, add a tsp of honey. Apply this paste over face and neck for 20min to moisturize your skin.
• For chapped lips, gently massage the lips with clarified butter (ghee) or coconut oil. Application of milk cream is also another helpful option for dry lips.

Though these natural remedies are a beneficial solution to skin dryness, but intake of fresh fruits, green vegetables, grains, cereals, milk and milk products is equally important for a healthy skin. Eat a balanced diet, follow regular exercise and take enough rest. Drink plenty of water every day to keep your skin hydrated. Learn to cope up with day to day stress! 

Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy!

Walk for Healthy Mind and Body!

Morning walk is the best exercise for your body, mind and spirit. It rejuvenates and revitalizes the body's cells, stimulates the skin, releasing muscular tension and relishing our energy levels. Walking decreases stress hormones, helps elevate the mood and increase the sense of well being. This simple exercise supplies you with the much needed fresh oxygen required for the many bodily functions including the working of lungs.

Morning walk also helps to burns calories, increases the metabolism of the body & strengthens joints and bones. Muscles of the limbs are toned up as they get an extra workout in walking include the entire back of the leg, shoulders, calves, hamstrings, and gluteus. Walking four times a week, 35 - 45 minutes each time, the average person can lose 15-18 pounds in a year with no change in diet. 

Walking can help you trim fat as well as tone your muscles. It also helps to control your appetite. Walking is a form of low-impact exercise, which puts less strain on bones and tissues and prevents dangers associated with other types of exercise. A regular walk with a balanced diet can give good results in weight loss.

Also, walking reduces blood pressure and the risk of stroke, type-2 diabetes & cancer, reduces cholesterol, improves blood circulation and treats insomnia. It boosts the immune system, improves brain power & gives mental clarity. It works to build fitness, slimness and cardiovascular health. It is perhaps the most overlooked form of exercise because morning walk looks easy! It costs nothing, requires no partner or expensive gadgets! Walking as exercise will restore your peace of mind, and control your appetite.The most important thing is to do it regularly!

Skincare Tips for Rainy Season

Skincare Tips for Rainy Season

Our skin is prone to damage during the rainy season due to the adverse effects of the humidity, pollution and the harmful UV rays of the sun. Besides this, the risk of fungal infection increases due to accumulation of sweat and dirt on the skin. We shouldn't ignore and must take care of our skin during the rains like in any other season. Find in this post, skincare remedies for every skin type that will help you glow throughout the season.

For Normal Skin: Prepare a paste of one custard apple and blend it well. To it, add 1 tbsp sugar, 1/2 cup milk and a few drops of chamomile. It hydrates & nourishes the skin well. Make a paste of gram flour in raw milk. Add a few drops of lemon to the same. Before taking a bath, scrub the paste on your body in circular motions for few minutes. This would not only exfoliate dead skin but would be helpful to give you a clean and glowing skin.

For Dry Skin: Apply a tbsp of curd mixed with a few drops of lemon juice. To sooth the skin one may apply curd with honey too. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes before you wash it off. Another remedy is to apply Aloe vera gel over your skin. It will not only moisturize the skin, it will also form a protective layer that will keep impurities from entering your pores. Those with a dry skin can try adding 2 tbsp of pomegranate seeds and 1 cup uncooked oatmeal. Pour it in a bowl; stir in 2 tbsp each of honey and buttermilk. Apply to face for a few minutes, then rinse.

For Oily Skin : Take 2 tbsp papaya pulp, 1 tbsp curd, a tsp aloe vera gel and mix it. Add a few drops of lavender oil to this mixture and over the skin. Another useful remedy is to mix tomato pulp well with a few drops of lemon juice & apply it over skin. Leave it 10-15 minutes. Application of a paste of fuller’s earth with sandal powder, rose water and a few drops of lemon will help get rid of excess oil and tighten the skin pores.

Combination Skin: For such a skin, blend 1/2 cup frozen or fresh strawberries and mix it with 1 cup yogurt, and 1½ tbsp honey. Regularly apply it on face for a soft, supple and smooth skin. Mix fuller’s earth with rose water to make a smooth paste & apply on your skin. Wash it off after it dries completely.

Diet and Care During the Rainy Season

During monsoon try to eat fresh cooked food and well-cooked food. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your meals. Remember to nourish your skin from the inside too – eat salads blanched in boiling water to disinfect them, vegetable soup which will keep you warm and healthy. Try and avoid spicy and greasy foods. People who face skin allergies during monsoon should not eat spicy food because spicy food stimulates the circulation and raises body temperature, which leads to skin irritation, allergies and diseases. 

One should have yogurt instead of milk and should add almonds to the diet.  Drink plenty of water and keep body well hydrated. Don’t step out without sunscreen protection! As long as there is daylight, our skin needs protection from UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you step out and re-apply every three to four hours. Use anti-bacterial soaps and face wash and talcum to keep your skin dry.