De-stress Yourself in a Few Minutes

We all live a stressed life, no matter what we do in our daily lives. Not only our jobs & daily chores make us stressed but the changing environment poses a great risk. So, know how to de-stress yourself and live a better life. Get your mind off the stress & relax. Listing down a few tips to help you out:

1. When feeling too stressed take a pause, just let it go for a few minutes. In a few seconds you will feel a big burden comes off your head. Take a stroll around the office or your house only & the magic occurs.

2. Avoid food with high calories like ice-creams, candy, etc. as they might have a negative effect on the mood. Though some snacking can help keep it only around 70-80 cal, that should be good, it helps you boost your mood. Also it is known that stress adds to the waistline so, this is a sure one.

3. Add some music to lighten the mood. Music is known as a great reliever of stress, so do have some music ready to relieve your stress instantaneously. Personally I feel much better & relaxed once I'm listening to music & working.

4. Green Tea helps relieve stress, due to the presence of theanine (amino acid). It gives the flavor to green tea & helps soothe your nervous system. Please do not substitute it with coffee as it is known to have a negative effect on the mood due to caffeine.

5. Go outdoors. This can be just a matter of few minutes & the change in the surroundings can really calm your nerves & relax. Just looking at something else helps out, just staring the sky or looking at passing by people.

6. Take a hot bath, the heat relaxes the muscles & releases the stress. Some bath salts & soaps do wonders. Scented candles & other aroms can be used for better results.

If none of this work, go pack your bags & take a small trip. And do not reach for your mobile & laptop when on your vacation, a place where you will have time to yourself, meditate, eat & be merry. Works very well for most, why not try it once. Thanks!

Dry Skin Care- Home Remedies

Hi Friends! Our bodies are affected by the season cycle, whether metabolism, sleep, mood swings or skin. In summers whatever you like to eat might not be the coolest ideas for winters. Also similarly the changing seasons can create a havoc for your skin. Oily or Dry skin both can have its toll when the seasons change. I have already written an article on home care tips for Oily skin, today will list down a few for people with dry skin. People with dry skin keep on complaining about dry, flaky, lifeless dull skin, so I would just like to give them some tips for a beautiful skin.

Tips for Dry Skin Care

1. Warm is OK, Hot is not: Make sure you do not bathe or shower with hot water, it can be lukewarm. Hot water strips your skin off the natural oils, and once this layer of oil is gone the moisture can also leave your skin almost immediately. So keeping the moisture locked in the skin is important for people with dry skin, so no hot water baths.

2. Cleanse with Mild Cleansers: It is advised to use soaps which are non-fragrant, as the deodorants &  other antibacterial additives can be harsh on skin. Consider using Ceramides which are fatty acids which help you restore the moisture to your skin. You can also use milk or yogurt can be used 3-4 times a week which help to cleanse the skin & get rid of bacteria and other dryness causing agents. Also the lactic acid present in the milk products act as an antioxidant & anti-inflammatory agent, giving the skin a cooling effect, it exfoliates the dry skin & moisturize the skin, in turn gives you a brighter vibrant skin.

3. Oil your Skin: It is necessary that you keep providing your skin the right kind of nutrition, Dry skin is devoid of moisture & natural oils which makes it dull & flaky. Olive oil & coconut oil are known as the best oils for a softer & moisturized skin. It has antioxidants & fatty acids which will help the dry skin condition well. A very small amount Olive Oil can spread across your body so before applying the moisturizer apply a thin coating of Olive Oil. Or you can apply coconut oil at night & wash it off in the morning, both the oils are great choose yours.

To sum up, I have mentioned milk, yogurt, olive oil, coconut oil which help you get the soft skin you wish. Apart from that avoid harsh soaps & hot water to cleanse, you will definitely benefit. Hope this article helps you. Thanks!

Beat the Heat

Hi Friends! With half of May gone all of us are facing the heat wave. Let's list down a few health tips you need to take in consideration for the long summers. Beat the heat with home remedies!

5 Tips to Beat the Heat

1. Drink lot of water: Keep yourself hydrated whether the summers are dry or humid. If the weather outside is dry then the sun tends to suck away the water from your skin. You will feel dehydrated, though you are not sweating. In case of humid summers, you tend to sweat a lot, slowly the body becomes dehydrated & there are chances that you might even faint. So make sure to remain hydrated and keep yourself safe.

2. Eat Onions: Onions are a crucial part of the Indian cuisine, this is because of the medicinal values rather than the taste. They are rich in amino acids methionine & cystine also good amount of Vitamin C, this can help detox the body. Onions are known for treating inflammations & heat stroes almost instantaneously. Not only this our mother always told to carry an onion in the pocket when out in the sun, it is said to save you from the heat wave.

3. Avoid the sun: It is best to stay away from the sun during the summers. If you have to go out make sure you wear a good amount of sunscreen to avoid harmful rays. When inside your home pull the curtains & close the windows as soon as the sun is up. If in a dry place then you can place a desert cooler on your window so that the hot air passing through the water circulated pads can make your home cooler. If you do not have a cooler, then place watered pads on the windows & the wind passing through them will keep your home cool.

4. Eat Light:  Summers are a time when it becomes difficult for your poor stomach to digest easily. It is advised to eat light food. It will help you keep light & cool. Eat more salads & green veggies to keep yourself healthy. Avoid carbonated beverages, they might col you for the time being but the loads of sugar present in the drinks can make you gain weight & lazy. Also it is seen if you eat chilies, the capscain found in them would help you generate & cool your body eventually.

5. Dress Accordingly: Wear clothing which helps your skin breathe, cotton & summer cool allows your skin to come into contact with air which helps you remain cooler as you perspire freely. Silk or thick synthetic clothing covers your skin but meanwhile your skin is not able to come into contact with air & the sweat accumulating can cause rashes & outbreaks. Even your feet should be allowed to breathe & make sure your shoes let your feet passage of air. You will avoid smelly feet & also any kind of fungal infections, taking care for diabetic patients is even more important.

Hope these simple tips help you have good summers. Also share your tips! Thanks!

Have a Safe Holi

Hi Friends!! Wish you all a very Happy Holi in advance. Holi is a festival of colors & a tradition we love to indulge in, follow some pre & post tips to have a safe Holi.

1. Colors: Use organic colors instead of chemical colors as they can cause severe irritation on the skin & have been associated with carcinogenic effects. If allergic to dust & pollution avoid playing with dry colors as they enter your lungs & cause allergic problems.

2. Cover your body: You cannot choose what your neighbor & friends buy for Holi , you can still be exposed to chemicals. Wear clothes which cover you the most. Additionally oil your body & hair to minimize the contact with colors. Use a lip balm to keep your lips soft. Avoid make-up as these colors might have unwanted reaction with the make-up. Apply thick coating of nail lacquer to avoid multi-colored nails. :)

3. Wear glasses or goggles: Do not wear contact lenses as they do not protect your eyes from any irritation rather might increase any irritate on contact with any irritant. Wear glasses or goggles instead to avoid chemical contact with eyes.

4. After playing Holi: Instead of using soap to clean your face use a cleanser to avoid drying up of the skin. Use a mild shampoo to wash your hair, if still colors don't go, oil at night wash your hair the next day.

Have a Happy & Safe Holi! Enjoy Friends!!

Some More Tips to Lose Weight

Hi Friends! Welcome back after the weekend. Hope you all had a great one. I want to start your week with maintaining weight or losing unwanted weight. Again these are just a few simple tips which are not very difficult to follow. This is in continuation to my previous post 10 tips to lose weight

1. Work out in short intervals: If you walk for 10 min in 4 slots a day rather than walking 40 min at one shot you will have a better workout. This will ensure that the calories you take are burnt out at regular interval & does not let it add up. Also the hunger you feel after a long work out will also not be there.

2. Ditch the juice, rather have the fruit: This will help you to avoid the calories added from the sugar added to the drinks & also the fruit has fibers which help your digestive system.

3. Do not eat till you are hungry: You must have seen that kids are very choosy & avoid food at times, this is the natural instinct of the human body which we tend to lose as we grow up. We eat at regular intervals whether hungry or not. We eat any time if we are sad stressed or anything else. This is the reason why we put on extra calories.

4. Drink Water before meals: It will suppress your appetite so you will restrict your eating. This will also count your calories & eventually weight loss on your way.

5. Take your Multivitamins regularly: It has been seen that a regular dose of multivitamins help you maintain weight & helps reduce your appetite when on a weight loss plan. This has been proved in research taken place.

I hope this would help you plan your week ahead well. Friends these points are the things which can be followed very easily. If these points are there on your mind you can follow them more consciously. Our motive is to live a normal life & remain healthy. Enjoy your day friends!

Hypertension: High Blood Pressure

Hi! Today's topic is about Hypertension after discussing the counter part Hypotension yesterday. We know lot of people who would be suffering from this condition. The causes for hypertension listed out have been obesity, stress, sleep apnea, alcohol consumption, diet etc. Now, if you analyse the reasons carefully you will see that the reason accounting to Hypertension is mainly due to the lifestyle we indulge in. These conditions are known as lifestyle disorders or diseases & seen frequently in today's youth, though you can say there are factors which cannot be removed or changed from our daily life but we can still ensure certain corrective actions.

What to do?

Reduce your salt intake, it will reduce the sodium intake in your diet which has been considered to be one of the major reasons for increase in blood pressure. It takes extra fluid to flush out the salt from the system & thus pressurizing the heart to increase the blood pressure. Avoid packaged & processed foods, because they account for maximum salt intake in the body. You can also limit your intake if you cook yourself.

Drinking Coconut water has shown good effects on working of the heart. It has good amount of potassium and magnesium which helps in well being of the muscles & heart. Also the Sodium Potassium pump responsible for the smooth movement of fluid across the plasma membrane will create a less pressure on the heart.

Avoid Alcohol as it has shown negative effects on the blood pressure, also has shown negative effects on the medication for high blood pressure. It also has unwanted calories which add to your waistline & cause more trouble. It has been seen that losing 4-5 kg (10 pounds) can effect your blood pressure positively & not only weight but the waistline has shown correlation with blood pressure. Read my post on how to reduce waistline for help http://healthyyumfood.blogspot.in/2015/02/why-cant-i-fit-in-my-old-jeans-after.html

Introduce Garlic to food, this is an easy home remedy known for years to reduce the blood pressure. Allicin has shown positive effects on production of nitric oxide which helps reduce the diastolic & systolic pressure. Eat it raw in 1 large clove in the morning empty stomach to get best results alongwith addition to your food.

Sesame or til has shown good effects on hypertension, It relieves the oxidative stress in the body & also shows anti-inflammatory effect on the arterial walls thus lowering the blood pressure. It can be had in form of oil or also in food directly.

These are a few tips you can follow to help your hypertension & aid with your medication. Our lifestyle today is making us more & more prone to these lifestyle disorders. Try to live a happy & healthy life, because without these two life is meaningless. Thanks!!

Hypotension or Low Blood Pressure

Hi Friends!! My today's topic is to address a problem which you might not have heard much about. Rather all of us are always talking about high blood pressure or high BP. Jokingly also people say do not take too much of stress else your BP would go up. Then why at all talk about Low blood pressure or Hypotension. There are many equally suffering from low BP like high BP and is equally dangerous. Many of us do not take proper care or understand the symptoms of low BP. First of all lets try to know what would be considered as low BP. Normal resting human adult blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. Usually this is not stable & can vary from 100-120/ 60-80 for normal human beings, if a persistent 90/60 mm Hg or below is recorded for a person this is considered as low BP.

The symptoms experienced by the person are dizziness, lightheaded, fatigue, nausea, hard breathing, palpitations caused due to decrease in arterial flow & blood pressure beyond a point, the perfusion of the brain decreasing critically. Sometimes the arterial pressure drops suddenly on standing after sitting, this is caused due to gravity which doesn't allow blood back to the heart & the cardiac output is reduced. The cause of this kind of condition is dehydration, prolonged illness, nutritional deficiencies, decrease in blood volumes, pregnancy, sepsis, toxins, some medication etc.

Some things a person should immediately take care in such a condition is
1. Drink more Water to keep yourself hydrated & Avoid Alcohol as its property is to make you dehydrated.
2. Change your body positions slowly, this would help in reducing dizziness & lightheadedness.
3. Eat food which have low carbohydrate content to help preventing the blood pressure to drop drastically after meals. Also have meals in small gaps.
4. Eat healthy food, to fulfill any nutritional deficiencies. Eat good amount of lean proteins.

Some foods which have shown positive effects on hypotension are:
1. Salt: the presence of sodium helps to increase the blood pressure but this remedy should not be taken for a long time, as prolonged high consumption of salt can lead to other functional problems.
2. Lemon juice: It helps body fight dehydration and taking it with a small amount of salt & sugar serves the purpose, also in the long run it does help in maintaining blood pressure also, avoiding problems of fluctuating blood pressure.
3. Raisins: They are considered excellent remedy in Ayurveda, soak them overnight in water & have them in the morning for a few days & you will see change. The same can be done with almonds also which has shown very good results.
4. Coffee: Caffeine as mentioned in my previous post has sight effects on blood pressure can help. Especially having it with meals help you fight orthostatic blood pressure which is caused due to gravitational forces.
5. Holy basil leaves with honey: Have holy basil leaves or tulsi in the morning with honey, this has been recommended in Ayurveda for years. Also it helps fight common flu & cold.

Thanks Friends, I hope this article would be of help.

Whiten your Teeth at Home

Friends, all of us want a beautiful smile, and teeth should look great to smile freely. We try to take care of teeth by lots of means brushing, flossing, but still sometimes we do not get stain free teeth. I am sharing three home tips which can brighten your teeth.

• Baking Soda & Lemon Paste: Make a paste & put it on the toothbrush, apply it on your teeth & leave for a minute. Wash it off as any excess use can affect the enamel & gums. Ensure wiping your teeth before applying the paste.
• Orange/ Lemon peel: Use it regularly at night before sleeping it will lighten your teeth, the presence of Vitamin C & Calcium helps fight microorganisms.
• Eat crunchy fruits: Eat fruits like apples, strawberries, helps clean the teeth due to the presence of malic acid it removes stains on teeth. Also it helps clean your teeth by removing the bacteria & left over food.

Keeping the post short.. Try these to get a beautiful smile. Thanks!

Why can't I fit in my Old Jeans after losing 5 kgs? :(

I know there are lot of people who would have lost weight but it doesn't show at the right places. I mentioned in one of my blogs "10 Tips to Lose Weight" (http://healthyyumfood.blogspot.in/2015/02/10-tips-to-lose-weight.html)  to wear a skinny jeans & set goals to maintain schedule but even after enough the waist line seems to remain unaffected. Now skinny jeans really doesn't look nice then. There are surgical methods like targeted liposuction but its costly as well as risky. I will never dare go for that.

Here goes easy 5 tips which you can follow & :

1. There are several exercises recommended at the gym or people who exercise at home for a flat belly but a lack of time is really the reason where we find it difficult to follow those. But our yoga asans pranayam are very effective & consumes very less time. I am talking about Kapalbhati pranayam, it is an exercise which is very easy & can be done any time of the day (when your stomach is empty) not only helps you lose the inches but also helps in digestion & relieves you from problems related to stomach. If you are unaware of the method, please check a video online before trying it out.

2. When talking about yoga & exercising, I cannot miss on Stretches. Side stretches as seen in the picture below can be great in burning fat on your hip, as most of the hip is not moved, this creates a stress on the area for the fat to burn. This will also help you become more flexible.

3. In the morning have a good breakfast which I have said a lot of times before as this is the prime meal of the day & decides the activity of the body during the day. Especially a breakfast with eggs instead of sugary carbs has shown great effect on the waistline. Add a cup of coffee or tea (caffeinated) to increase the burning of fat.

4. At night if you read a book for an hour it has shown to help lose inches. It relaxes your body & help fight the stress around the day which is blamed for some belly & hip fat. So, keeping a light schedule at night helps you relax & fight stress,

5. Sleep well for 7-8 hours everyday, it has been seen that people who sleep less than 5-6 hours a day have shown to put on weight easily. Or you can say that the people trying to lose weight will lose less. The efforts taken up by you will be rewarded with an extra hour of sleep. :)

Thank you all for your support & reading my blog. Awaiting your comments & suggestions.

Will you have a cup of Tea?

A cup of tea can be very useful to have a healthy life. There are several good benefits attached to the cup. Here is a list of the benefits you will love your cup of tea a bit more.

1. Tea is full of antioxidants (polyphenols) which acts as an anti-aging agent and ravages the effect of pollution. The antioxidants present also boost your ability to burn fat and improved muscle endurance. Most importantly helps you fight a range of cancers breast, colorectal, skin, lungs, eosophagus, stomach etc.

2. Tea helps fight free radicals, it helps fight free radicals which destroy the DNA. This activity of free radicals is also linked to cancer, heart disease and neurological disorder. 

3. Tea reduces the chances of heart attack & stroke. Drinking tea helps keep the arteries smooth and clog free, thus reducing the chances of heart attack which is mainly stimulated by unwanted blood clots due to cholesterol.

4. Tea is also acknowledged for improving bone mineral density. Tea is also known to improve the dental looks as it has fluoride & tannins which keeps plaque away. Please keep it unsweetened else no use :).

5. Tea also helps improve the immune defenses of the body as shown in research. 

Ek cup chai ho jaye!!

Have a great day and thanks!!

The dreaded Hypothyroidism: Combat it!!

Friends most of you must have people complaining of thyroid & getting obese. They are talking about hypothyroidism. This is a condition of the thyroid gland not producing enough thyroid hormone to run the body's mechanism. And surprisingly most of the people do not know their thyroid hormone deficiency.So, the number of people affected with this deficiency is far higher than the no. recorded. The main causes identified are autoimmune thyroiditis i.e. leaving the part of the gland inflamed leaves the cells dead and no producing enough hormones this is triggered by the patient's own body's immune system, this is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The second case is of medical treatments, in some conditions surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland and can leave a small part which is not enough to meet the body's requirement.

There are no such foods which can cure your situation of hypothyroidism, but eating well & avoiding certain food can help you stay better. These hormones are attached with your mood swings, depression, lethargy, body temperature, heart rate & blood health. Along with the thyroid medication a well balanced diet helps in bolstering the thyroid hormone.

I will list down a few foods which would boost your system & also the ones which you should avoid.

EAT THESE MORE

1. Fish: The Omega-3 fatty acids present in fatty fishes are responsible to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and also increase immunity and decrease the inflammation due to presence of Selenium which helps in reducing inflammation. Also in sea fish especially the Iodine content is high which helps the normal functioning of the gland.

2. Whole grains: Whole grains have dietary fibers which help with bowel regularity, as constipation is a symptom highly noticed in these patients though it has shown interference with the synthetic medication, so medication for hypothyroidism is advised to be taken much before the consumption of any high fiber food.

3. Fresh Vegetables: Early signs of hypothyroidism includes massive weight gain, so  low calorie & nutrient rich food like bell peppers, sweet potatoes etc. is recommended in this scenario. Additionally foods like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, spinach, radish, soybean etc.are goitrogenic in nature which interferes with the production of the thyroid hormone. Research has shown that the cooking of these foods have made them effective in making the goitrogens inactive. There are also certain fruits which are effective in reducing your calorie intake eg strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches etc.

4. Dairy Products: Milk has always been a good source of nutrients, and in this case has shown to fulfill needs of Vitamin D commonly seen to be lacking in people with hypothyroidism, as well as provides calcium, protein and iodine in good amount. The good bacteria in yogurt has shown effects in digestion & help other gut bacteria, as digestion is also affected in people with hypothyroidism.

5. Bananas, Avocados & Almonds: These foods are high in tyrosine an amino acid which has shown to combine with iodine & produce thyroid hormones. Zinc, Vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12 and the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E are also known to improve the thyroid function.

6. Beans: They are a great source of protein & dietary fibers and can be consumed in various ways in our daily diet. It has shown good effect on energy levels as this disease leaves you drained & fatigued. They contain variety of nutrients which helps you.

AVOID THESE FOODS

1. Fatty Foods: The lowering of metabolism associated with this disease will make you more susceptible to weight gain. Also it has a negative effect on the production of the hormone.

2. Sugary Food: The body becomes less active & lethargy prevails with the less production of the hormone which will reduce you capability to burn out the sugar. It can lead to problems of blood sugar etc.

3. Processed Foods: These food usually have high sodium content an underactive thyroid can lead to blood pressure issues. Look out for food with low sodium content.

4. Alcohol: It acts as a toxic agent on the gland and suppresses the ability of the body to use the hormone completely. The medication or synthetic hormone becomes inactive in such a condition.

5. Uncooked Cruciferous Vegetables: Do not eat uncooked vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy etc which falls under the cruciferous categories of vegetables. As previously mentioned they are goitrogenic in nature and should be cooked to inactive the goitrogens.

6. Dietary fiber with medication: Keep sufficient gap between medication and eating anything with fiber, as it affects the functioning of the synthetic hormone. Do not consume too much dietary fiber as well.

Friends hope this is helpful. Circulate it friends & family for more & more people to be aware. People with history in family & women nearing menopause should be more careful. Thanks!!

Now you Will Know Why Tomatoes are Great...

Hi Friends! Today I will talk about Tomatoes, a super food. This is one ingredient which is used in food in various form, we have it in salads, soups & as a spice in most foods.Well talking about the goodness of tomatoes you cannot overlook the treasure of nutrients present in the food. It is rich in various anti-oxidants and most importantly the presence of Vitamin C & Beta carotene. It is also rich in Vitamin E & the mineral Manganese. If you come down to phyto-nutrients you will not find better substitutes, the super food is rich in Flavonones, Flavonols, Hydroxycinnamic acids, Carotenoids (lycopene, lutein etc), glycosides, fatty acid derivatives.

This amazing super food has the benefits which will make you love it.

1. Cardiovascular Support: The presence of excellent anti-oxidants like Vitamin C & E makes it an excellent food for heart & the second credit is to Lycopene which is more famous for its actions to prevent lipid peroxidation, in which lipids are oxidized in the blood & makes the immune system trigger leading to blockage of the heart vessels.

2. Anti-Cancer Benefits: The presence of lycopene & dietary fibers have proved its anti-cancer benefits in specific cancers of prostrate & colorectal. It has been tested by researchers to work well on test groups.

3. Maintains Blood Pressure: The presence of good amount of Potassium in tomatoes work great for maintaining blood pressure as only a low sodium diet is not enough for a good blood health.

4. Good for Skin: The presence of Vitamin C works great for collagen, the skin's support system. It helps your skin fight against the UV rays from the sun, pollution & smoke, smooths wrinkles.

5. Relieves from Constipation: The high water content & dietary fiber in tomatoes helps keep the body hydrated & ease the bowel movements.

6. Supports Bone health: Recent research has confirmed that the Lyopene present is excellent for for the protective bone tissues. The removal of lycopene from diet for weeks in women have shown indication of oxidative stress in bones.

7. Good during Pregnancy: Folic acid presence makes it great during pregnancy for the protection against infections in the neural tube in infants.

8. Improves Vision: Presence of Vitamin A (Beta carotene) has shown it to be important for the eyes.

So, now enjoy tomatoes ;) for all it offers you. Take care & stay healthy!! Thanks friends...

Fight Acne

Hey Friends!! Summers are around and all of us become worried about the outbreaks in summers. Most of us suffer from acne, mostly people with oily skin are seen to face this problem. Puberty triggers this problem in most, the causes are unclear & are majorly estimated to be genetic.

What is Acne?
It is medically known as Acne Vulgaris, a skin disease involving the base of hair follicle. It is seen to affect during puberty when the sebum is started to produced stimulated by hormones produced by adrenal lands both in males & females. It has been seen to affect 650 million people across the world. It is a chronic disease characterized by areas of pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, oily skin. It can leave scars on the face and can affect a person's self confidence. It can be affected by menstrual cycles, oil based make ups, hot and humid climate etc.
It is seen to occur when the hair follicle is clogged & oil, hair & skin cells form a plug. This plug can get infected with bacteria & on break down becomes a pimple. It can be in different forms and can have effect on the looks.

How to treat Acne at home?
1. Gram Flour (besan) & milk, with small amount of turmeric: This is an amazing way of reducing acne or oil on face. Make a thick paste of the three & apply it on the face. Massage your face for a while, it acts like a natural scrub as well. Then let it dry on your face. Wash your face after that. A fresh looking skin awaits you. The anti-microbial effect of turmeric helps in wading off any bacterial infection. Besan acts as a base & helps suck extra oil from skin, and milk or yogurt will not let your face feel dry after washing.

2. Honey & Cinnamon paste: You may feel that honey is sweet & cinnamon is spicy then how it will help reduce acne. But surprisingly the combo acts as an antimicrobial (cinnamon) & antibiotic (honey) agent. Take 2 teaspoon honey & 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder, mix it well. Apply on your face and leave it for 15-20 min. Then wash it off with water. You will see visibly the reduction of acne.

3. Fuller's earth, Sandalwood & Rose Water: Rose water has extremely good effects on the skin. It acts an antiseptic & antimicrobial agent. It also regulates the pH of the skin. On applying a paste of fuller's earth (multani mitti), sandalwood & rose water you will see that your skin will be cleaner & less susceptible to acne. The sandalwood & rose water help the skin to cool as well.

Some simple tips to avoid outbreak of acne is avoiding oil based make up or similar kinds of creams, sunscreens etc. Wash your face regularly to clean up any dirt settling on the face. Do not clog your pores and regularly scrub your face with light natural scrubs. Avoid Oily food!

Acne is a problem which we all face at some time or the other, some have mild whereas others may have acute problem. In today's world of pollution our skin has become more susceptible to allergies & other problems. So, we need to take good care to look beautiful. Have a great day friends!! Happy Mahasivratri!

Oily Hair:How to tackle?

Hi Friends!! I know how difficult it is to manage oily hair. I am a victim myself, even in coldest days I have to shampoo my hair. Oily hair is a due to secretion of sebum which creates a coating of oil on the scalp. It gives a greasy look to the hair and it feels dirty even though washed regularly. It also makes the roots weak. The causes can be many like heredity, hormonal fluctuation, excess consumption of oily food. The symptoms have to be taken seriously as oily hair means weak roots and progressive thinning of hair.The excessive sebum blocks the follicles of the hair and disturbs the blood circulation. Also the sticky surface provides bacteria & fungi feed to grow. Some easily available remedies for oily hair:

Eggs: Take an egg mix it well. Add a few drops of lemon juice, this will remove the bad smell. Apply the mix on your wet scalp. Let it stay for half an hour. Rinse it well and then wash it with mild shampoo. Use this therapy 2 times a week to get rid of oily hair.

Organic Vinegar: Take 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar and mix it in a mug of water. Rinse your hair with this mixture and let it stay for 5 min. Wash off the mixture well, this would take away the excess oil from the hair. Try this 2-3 times a week, it will give you help in managing your oily hair.

Aloe Vera Gel: Cut a fresh aloe vera & take out the gel, take a tablespoon of the gel and a some lemon juice. You can mix it with a mild shampoo & you can use it daily for a few days. When you shampoo leave it on the scalp for some time for it to let it work.

Tea: It is an extremely helpful remedy for oily hair, the presence of tannic acid helps the removal of excess oil in hair. In light warm water dip a tea bag & after a few minutes apply the tea to your scalp. Leave on for some time & rinse out with a mild shampoo.

A simple tip just in case you have to go for a party suddenly & no time for a head wash. Use some talcum powder on your scalp & let it stay for a few minutes. Brush it through your hair & you will see that the excess oil is gone. Also do not brush your hair very often if you have oily hair it increases the secretion of sebum. Enjoy a smooth silky hair sans the oil. Thanks!!

Ginger: What it can do for You?

Friends enjoy ginger in your food to help you fight against lots of ailments. I have mentioned ginger in my previous posts as well. This post is an extension of my previous post to emphasize on the good effects of ginger.

Indian food is already known for good spicy content in food. Probably our ancestors knew all this much before science could prove it. Ayurveda has spoken of many such ingredients to be helpful in keeping ailments at a bay much before the western world spoke about it. The western world has now accepted the healing effects of many Indian spices & ingredients as factors to fight lots of diseases.
Enjoy ginger in your food, drink ginger tea, and you can keep yourself fighting against so many problems. Wish you all a very good health & take care. Thank You!!

10 Tips to Lose Weight

Dear Friends thanks for your support, I feel very optimistic about going forward. To lose weight is a tedious task & some ways you can avoid to control your cravings. These are some simple ways you can avoid those delicious looking snacks & dessert. Listing down a few very interesting ones:

1. Take a photo: Take a picture of yourself before your weight loss & look at it every time you feel like overeating or having that amazing dessert. The picture actually shows you how you look to others.

2. Wear a skinny jeans: If you see a perfect figure in those jeans it will give you a boost to control. Once you are in shape compliments will automatically come your way.

3. Skip the ads: Ads with high calorie foods stimulate the brain's appetite & makes you feel hungry. Just check your phone or talk to your family in the break.

4. Talk to your friends: When you talk to someone about your weight loss or your plans. They tend to ask & talk about it may be join with you, this boosts your morale.

5. Eat more times a day: Eat small portions multiple times a day. the body recognizes it as incoming source of energy & happily lets you invest it in calorie burning activities. If you eat after long gaps the body acts as a storage & does not let you spend the energy and rather store it for future use.

6. Carry light snacking items: Eat a nutribar or a fruit at intervals when you tend to feel hungry or your office is about serve you with samosas or bread pakoras. It will fill you & avoid those temptation to eat the oily samosa.

7. Change your menu: Do not eat same kind of food for days & months. Your body will become used to it & will not react, lowering the metabolism. Change in what you eat will trigger your body to act differently & improve the metabolism.

8. Don't buy snacks in your grocery monthly shopping: If you buy the potato chips & cookies in the monthly grocery, remove it from the list. When something is easily not available & you have to go to the store to get it when you crave might actually be ignored for inconvenience. Same applies to cold-drinks.

9. Music helps: It has been seen as a great source of stress-reliever. It helps you pep-up, also sets the mood for some good walk or workout. You might also feel like shaking your hip once in a while.

10. Set Goals: This is a very important part of this kind of an initiative. If you do not know what you want to achieve you cannot achieve. If you want to lose 5 kgs in 15 days check your weight after 15 days, if you have not achieved your goal, re-analyse what you are doing and if it needs a change.

So, friends I follow these small tips in my daily routine & have helped me. I hope you also get a good result on your goals. To lose weight is important & to maintain is equally important. Post about something you would like to know or talk about. Waiting for your responses. Thanks Friends!!

How I lost weight?

It is a dream for most of us to eat tasty as well as healthy food. It seems impossible at times to do so because tasty food doesn't seem so healthy at times. Today I decided to write about my personal experience. I was a victim of this situation myself a year back. I did not know how to lose the extra kilos I had gained over the last few years. I started trying lot of things like fat reduction therapies, dieting (in Indian terms), gyming like most of you but nothing seem to provide me with any benefits. I use to lose 2-3 kgs & after I would leave the therapy it felt like even air would help me put on the weight. In May 2013 I finally went to a Herbalife center, started to have Herbalife shake in the morning. Liked it!! Started to have it twice daily & did see results. I lost over 10 kgs in 7 months which was gradual & best was I didn't stop eating. I like to eat & have different kinds of food, and have figured out ways to enjoy eating and not fear it.
I won't lie saying that this was the only reason for the transformation in me. I came to know about other good habits which I started in my daily routine which is a key to success. I would list two of them here to start with:
1. Drink lots of water: I know most of you would know the functions of water, but you should know that water acts as a weight loss agent by replacing other high calorie beverages. It helps energize muscles as well. Also you will see digestion related problems will be helped with this.
2. Drink warm water over cold water: Regularly drinking very warm water, especially in the morning, it helps heal the body, by improving digestive power & reducing metablic waste that can build up in our immune system. Aid this with a polyphenol rich lemon in the morning increasing your metabolic rate in the morning. On drinking ice-cold water or juice it creates a base for chronic diseases.

I believe in "Eat & Eat Well". Share your thoughts on this topic... Would love to know about other things you will like to know & discuss.