Hair Care in Natural Way

The structure of hair is like the scales on the skin of a fish that has overlapping scales around a central core called the cortical. Smoother overlapping more shiny and smooth the hair looks. This also leads to easy combing while a tangled or roughed-up structure makes the hair look rough and dull.

Begin with Cleansing – Did you think that cleansing was required only for your skin? Keeping your scalp and hair germ free will not only leave them smelling good but will also ensure good quality hair. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda in two tablespoons of herbal shampoo and apply on the scalp while massaging for at least half an hour. You may have to add more baking soda and shampoo if your hair is very long, but remember to do so in the same proportion. Wash hair with cold water.

Healthy Diet – It does not require much explanation as to why a diet completes with all basic nutrients is essential for good quality hair. Eat healthy everyday and especially include vitamin C and protein to get strong shiny hair. While the former has antioxidant properties, the latter acts as the building block of hair.

Brushing Hair is Important – It is very important to comb the hair at least twice a day. This helps in proper blood circulation and also distributes the natural oil in the hair to every part of the scalp, thus ensuring health and shine of your tresses. Remember not to brush more than four times a day as this will lead to breaking of the loose strands of hair.

Check the Quality of Water – No product can make your hair look good if you are washing your hair with hard water! It is said that corroding minerals present in hard water settle on your scalp leading to premature graying and sometimes hair fall. The best way to nullify the harmful effects of hard water is to use a water softener.

Get Rid of Dandruff Naturally – Make a paste of mustard and fenugreek by blending them together. Apply on the scalp; follow with a steam towel wrap for at least 15 minutes before washing off with a mild herbal shampoo.

For the Extra Shine – Don’t you want your tresses to shine as you step out of home? Strain black tea (remember not to brew the tea too strong) and wash the hair after it has cooled down at room temperature. Alternately, you can choose to apply homemade fresh curd on the hair. Both tea and curd are to be washed away with cold water.

Natural Dyeing – Colors they say are not good for the hair. But you can go the natural way for dyeing your hair. Mix half a cup mehendi, fresh juice of one lemon, an egg and one tablespoon of coffee powder in a bowl. Add water if necessary. Apply the paste on the hair and wash off after an hour with cold water.

How to Get Rid of Dull Hair – If you want the bounce back on your lifeless hair, add two teaspoons of vinegar in one mug of warm water. Wash the hair with this solution. Increase the quantity of vinegar and warm water used in the same proportion if you have long hair.

Cure for Damaged Hair Cuticles – Steam towel wrap should be repeated every once in a while to keep the cuticles in the hair free of damage. The pores on the cuticles should remain open all the time to absorb nutrients from oil, shampoo and other products that you apply. Similarly, toxins from the scalp also need an outlet. For this, the cuticles have to be in proper condition.

Take Care of the Hair Roots – If the roots are strong, the hair will also be strong. Add overnight soaked curry leaves in a mixture of mustard and coconut oil. Bring this mixture to boil. Remove from oven and add three camphor balls. Allow the mixture to cool. Strain and apply on scalp in circular movements using a piece of cotton or cloth. Leave the oil on the head for at least five hours for best results. Wash off with a mild herbal shampoo.

Summer Beauty Tips

Summer is a time to relax and rejuvenate. At the same time, summer sun can be very harsh on your soft skin and deep fry your natural looks. Summer is cruel for your face, which remains uncovered almost all times. So you need to take special care of your skin in summers.

Summer, like winter, requires its own special beauty tricks. After all, it is in summer that your eye shadow becomes a greasy pool in your eyelid creases, your hair falls flat or frizzes to a crisp and your hair color looks like mud against your tan. But have no fear there are fixes to your summer beauty problems. To keep you looking best, here are beauty tips for the hot season.

Effects of summer:-

Bright sunny summer days and warm winds cause great damage to the skin. In this season we also have to face the stickiness of sweat.

In the summer due to more sweat problems like prickly heat, itching, infection in arms and thighs occurs.

Going out in the sun causes sunburn and pigmentation on the skin.

Beauty Tips for summer: –

Bath at least twice a day with cold water.

Wear clean and washed cotton cloths.

Washing your face 3-4 times a day will soothe you.

Take juice of cucumber, orange or sweet lime and put it in the ice tray in the refrigerator allows it to freeze.

Applying the cubes on the face will keep your skin fresh and shinny.

Do not use scrubs daily it makes your skin dry. Homemade face packs with tomato and lemon take out excess oil and black heads. If your skin is carrying pimples or rashes then do not use lemon.

Avoid bleaching your skin in summer. Bleach may make your skin dark.

Use sunscreen or sun block cream, lotion before going out in the sun.

If you go for a walk, then first cool down and then splash cold water.

Watermelon

Summer and watermelon are inseparable. Watermelons are found almost everywhere in the world. Although we can find watermelons in our markets throughout the year, the season for watermelon is the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality. No other fruit can we find so crunchy and thirst quenching like watermelon.

Some health benefits of watermelon:

• The health benefits of watermelon are really great. No matter how it is sliced, it is packed with some of the most important antioxidants found in nature.
• It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, particularly through its concentration of beta-carotene.
• The beautiful red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant which is called lycopene. These antioxidants travel throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls and thicken them which can lead to heart attack or stroke. The lycopene which gives fruits the attractive red color that we find in watermelon can help reduce the risks of prostate cancer.
• It is a surprising fact that watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.
• Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium that we lose through our perspiration.
• Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Food experts recommend watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1 and magnesium. Because of its higher water content approximately ninety percent and calorie value it is ranked more valuable than other fruits.
• Watermelon has a special cooling effect and is exceptionally high in citrulline, an amino acid that our bodies use to make another amino acid, which is used in the urea cycle to remove ammonia from the body.
• The antioxidants help reducing the severity of asthma. It also reduces the risk of colon cancer, asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate cancer.
• Watermelon is a good source of thiamin, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from so many diseases.
• Watermelon is fat free but helps energy production. It protects against macular degeneration.

When the heat of summer tires us with thirst, eating watermelon is a safe alternative to taking energy drinks. Since it contains high water quantity it can hydrates us whereas other drinks are caffeine filled energy drinks which can easily dehydrate us. Nothing can be more satisfactory on a hot, dusty day than a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon!

Some Indian Foods That Reduce Fat

You don’t have to acquire a taste for olive oil, seaweed or soya to maintain a low-fat, healthy diet. Indian cuisine can be healthy too, if it’s cooked with oil and ingredients that take care of your heart and health.

Ayurveda suggests you include all tastes – sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent – in at least one meal each day, to help balance unnatural cravings. Here are 12 foods that can help you lose weight and gain health:

Turmeric : Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is an object of research owing to its properties that suggest they may help to turn off certain genes that cause scarring and enlargement of the heart. Regular intake may help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, increase blood circulation and prevent blood clotting, helping to prevent heart attack.

Cardamom : This is a thermogenic herb that increases metabolism and helps burn body fat. Cardamom is considered one of the best digestive aids and is believed to soothe the digestive system and help the body process other foods more efficiently.

Chillies : Foods containing chillies are said to be as foods that burn fat. Chillies contain capsaicin that helps in increasing the metabolism. Capsaicin is a thermogenic food, so it causes the body to burn calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chillies.

Curry Leaves : Incorporating curry leaves into your daily diet can help you lose weight. These leaves flush out fat and toxins, reducing fat deposits that are stored in the body, as well as reducing bad cholesterol levels. If you are overweight, incorporate eight to 10 curry leaves into your diet daily. Chop them finely and mix them into a drink, or sprinkle them over a meal.

Garlic : An effective fat-burning food, garlic contains the sulphur compound allicin which has anti-bacterial effects and helps reduce cholesterol and unhealthy fats.

Mustard Oil : This has low saturated fat compared to other cooking oils. It has fatty acid, oleic acid, erucic acid and linoleic acid. It contains antioxidants, essential vitamins and reduces cholesterol, which is good for the heart.

Cabbage : Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction.

Moong Dal : The bean sprouts are rich in Vitamin A, B, C and E and many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. It is recommended as a food replacement in many slimming programmes, as it has a very low fat content. It is a rich source of protein and fibre, which helps lower blood cholesterol level. The high fibre content yields complex carbohydrates, which aid digestion, are effective in stabilising blood sugar and prevent its rapid rise after meal consumption.

Honey : It is a home remedy for obesity. It mobilises the extra fat deposits in the body allowing it to be utilised as energy for normal functions. One should start with about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot water early in the morning.

Buttermilk : It is the somewhat sour, residual fluid that is left after butter is churned. The probiotic food contains just 2.2 grams of fat and about 99 calories, as compared to whole milk that contains 8.9 grams fat and 157 calories. Regular intake provides the body with all essential nutrients and does not add fats and calories to the body. It is thus helpful in weight loss.

Millets : Fibre-rich foods such as millets – jowar, bajra, ragi, etc – absorb cholesterol and help increase the secretion of the bile that emulsifies fats.
Cinnamon and cloves: Used extensively in Indian cooking, the spices have been found to improve the function of insulin and to lower glucose, total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes.

Cranberry

Cranberries are a fruit of which we have said on countless occasions their properties because they contain high doses of vitamins that help us to keep our bodies in perfect condition, as well as plenty of antioxidants that serve to prevent the ravages of free radicals. But we do not repair whatever is in the slimming qualities that this fruit has, in particular its juice, and so we will see this time what we will bring the cranberry juice.

The intake of red fruit has always been recommended by the aforementioned qualities, but the effects on the body when losing weight is something to keep in mind, because cranberries help us get there. Above all we must remember that we only provide calories, as well as fruit that are no fat and only contain calories, even thousands less than other more traditional fruits, as they have less amounts of sugar than other fruits.

Cranberry calories

 100 gm of cranberry contains:

Calories:

Water: 85.50 gm

Fat: 0.10 g

Carbohydrate: 14.40 g

Dietary fiber: 0.1 g

Calcium: 3 mg

Potassium: 18 mg

Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, a very good source of dietary fiber, and a good source of manganese, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, vitamin A and vitamin K.

Cranberry extract has been shown to inhibit low density lipoprotein oxidation. Since this process is believed to be part of what can cause heart disease, prevention of oxidation through cranberry supplementation can potentially reduce the risk of heart disease.

Cranberries may help to combat heart disease and cancer.
Add more cranberries to your diet and take advantage of the health benefits associated with this colorful fruit.

Lip Plumper Tips

Do you sometimes think that you would kill for beautiful full lips? Sure, you could get Collagen implants, or tattooed outlines around your lip… But it’s a little bit excessive, I’m sure you will agree! There are other cheaper, and much more practical, ways of achieving a similar affect. Here’s how to get beautiful full lips in four easy steps…

Step one: Lip balm babe

Prepare your delicate lips with a generous slick of lip balm in advance. Nobody likes cracked and frayed lips! And in this cold winter weather its important to take more care than usual. (Cold weather will dry the moisture from your lips). Make sure that the lip balm has sunk a little before you go on to step two, otherwise your lip liner won’t work.

Step two: Line and define

Get a natural lip liner, and carefully draw around the very rim of your lips. If you get a wobbly line, don’t panic (and don’t think nobody will notice it)… just carefully remove it and start again! When you have a firm lines fill in the rest of your lips with the same color.

Step three: Now add some shine!

Here comes the glamorous bit, the lip-gloss! Again, keep the color natural. Forget lipstick that’s too dark or too light. One thing you’ve gotta remember though, gloss looks better but doesn’t have the staying power of lippy. Make sure you keep it in your purse and re-apply during the day.

Step four: Plump them up

This is the hard bit. But actually it’s not! All you have got to do, (after you have completed steps one through three), is dot a white shimmery product like eye shadow or an eyebrow highlighter in the very center of your lips. Start slowly, and blend very carefully. What you are looking to achieve is natural looking shading, with your lip color being lighter where your mouth opens. This will create the illusion of beautiful full lips.

Oh, one last thing. Remember, people always want what they haven’t got, so don’t fret… just make the best of what you have got. And you know what they say; if you have got it, flaunt it!

So pucker up, and be sweet!

Spa

‘Solus per Aqua’ – wondering what this might be? Well, acronym for this term is Spa. If you are a Honeymooning couple and want a wine bath in a cozy couple suite with orchids and rose petals all around – that isn’t impossible to achieve. Till 10 years back people just mocked at the idea of natural healing; in fact they were skeptical about its benefits. Today people are looking at alternate healing solutions to cope with the stress of daily life. Who doesn’t want to get de-stressed? If you have all the resources to feel good, what are you waiting for? Of late, the middle class is doing it in style to make sure ‘they live in style’. Spas are no longer meant only for the rich and the famous. It has started dripping downwards – even to the middle class segment.

India’s southern-most states have particularly gripped the spa phenomenon with a mix of Ayurveda. In these areas, where Ayurveda is the main form of medical treatment, hotels, resorts and hospitals design packages ranging from a weekend to a month to introduce Americans, Europeans and East Asians to ancient massages, medication and yoga.

Types of Spa

Destination Spa – Destination spa is set up in a manner to make you feel refreshed at all levels, giving the fitness of body and mind, as well as making you practice healthy eating, which in a way guarantees complete relaxation. This is not a one-day ecstasy that you experience, rather takes you to a whole new beautiful world, for at least two to three nights, making you totally de-stressed where no troubles or botherations tend to give you tensions.

Resort Spa – This one is described as one of the hotel facilities meant for comforting and giving convenience to the tourists. It gives you spa services, couples with fitness classes and a usual spa cuisine. After a lot of travel, this happens to be the apt treatment for business travelers and families.

Day Spa – A day spa offers services on a one-day basis. This is availed on a daily basis. Spa manicures and pedicures, facial and body massage are some of the treatments people and avail from a day spa.

Health Spa – It looks after the overall health needs of a person. The location is usually a very peaceful one with adept advice from practitioners.

Medical Spa – Medical spa focuses mainly on cosmetic treatments like laser resurfacing and Botox injections. Not only these medical facilities, they have spa treatment facilities as well. All the treatments are rendered to individuals under the close supervision of a doctor.

Mineral Springs Spa – Characterized by its name, a mineral springs spa uses natural mineral, thermal or seawater to give to offer hydrotherapy treatments to the spa users.

Cruise Ship Spa – This service is available aboard a cruise ship. Barring the usual spa treatments, it comprises fitness and wellness components and varied spa cuisine menu choices.

Airport Spa – It is provided at the airport, to give short duration treatments to the tired travelers. The most common treatments are the 15-minute chair massage and oxygen therapy.

Jamun Fruit

The whole tree of jamun is known for its medicinal properties. It is therefore used very extensively in traditional methods of medicine like Ayurveda and Unani.

• It is good for sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, dysentery, blood impurities and ulcers.
• The fruits of jamun are used to prepare vinegar which is very good carminative.
• The ash from burnt leaves is good for gums and teeth.
• Many research studies have shown that jamun is one of the best medicines for treatment of diabetes.
• Diabetic patients can include jamun fruit and its dried seed powder to control the blood sugar level.

Natural Foot Care

Be grateful to your feet for letting you roam freely on this planet! But do you know that feet are one of the most abused and overused parts of your body? Given the amount of stress and strain your feet have to go through every day, it is very important to take care of them.

Natural foot care is a great way to give a new lease of life to the aching muscles and dry skin of your feet.

It is necessary to follow a natural foot care regime else there is a possibility of developing foot related ailments like corns, infections, dry foot skin, foot pain and several others.

Daily natural care for feet:

Pamper your feet with warm soapy water everyday. If you do not have enough time, indulge in natural foot massage at least once a week for stimulating your foot nerve endings.

It is necessary to remove the dead cells of the foot skin on a regular basis; else cracks and infections may develop in no time. Use Pumice stone or foot scrub for this purpose.

Since the foot soles do not have any oil glands, there is a tendency for the foot skin to become dry, so moisturize your feet properly after cleaning them.

While beauty stores are full of chemical and natural foot care products, it is better to devote sometime at home for your foot care and that too by using your own home made foot care recipes.

Natural foot care recipes:

Brown Sugar Callus Exfoliate-this can be made by using easily available natural ingredients. However, you need to make sure you are not sensitive to any ingredient.

Cooling Foot and Body Powder-this natural foot care homemade recipe absorbs moisture and provides great relief besides antiseptic and antifungal cover.

Exfoliating Foot Mask- this provides relief to the dry and toughened foot skin. Foot Deodorant Powder- this is completely natural and refreshing for the skin.

You can also visit Best Foot Forward for more information.

Kale

• Kale contains seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli, carotenoid keep UV rays from damaging the eyes causing cataracts.
• Kale is a rich source of well-absorbed calcium, a mineral that is important to prevent osteoporosis.
• High in fiber, this helps create the bulk you need to fill you up and to make your bowel movement regular.
• Kale is a rich source of folate and vitamin B6
• Kale also contains a powerful phytochemical sulforaphane which helps boost body’s detoxification enzymes, thus helping to clear potentially carcinogenic substances more quickly. Sulforaphane is formed when cruciferous vegetables like kale are chopped or chewed.