7 foods that heal

Here are some foods that boost your health

Are you in the habit of popping a pill for every little malady? Well, don't. There are many ways to heal your body without pumping medicines into it. For example, you can cure minor conditions using simple medicinal foods. Here, take a look.



Garlic
Garlic is a known natural antibiotic. It is antiseptic and heals wounds quickly. It also fights infections such as cold and cough, lowers the blood pressure, reduces harmful cholesterol and keeps the heart healthy. Garlic boosts our immunity and acts as a nasal decongestant, apart from cleaning up the digestive system.

Oily fish
Now, this one comes with many benefits. Firstly, it is good for your brain and eyesight. Their fat is a natural painkiller with anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show that eating oily fish regularly helps reduce the pain of arthritis as well as lowers back and neck pain. They even work against menstrual cramps.

Milk
Milk, it seems, can make kicking the butt easier. Drinking milk before smoking worsens the cigarette's taste.

Oats
Finding it difficult to sleep? Eat a bowl of porridge before you hit the bed. Oats contain Melatonin that aids the regulation of your body's internal clock. They also have Tryptophan that helps the brain to produce Melatonin, and Serotonin, a relaxing chemical.

Ginger
It is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. It's an effective cure against nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, food poisoning, heartburn, migraines and menstrual pain. Ginger also works wonders against common cold and flu.

Bananas
It's good to make bananas a part of your diet if you suffer from heartburn or indigestion. Bananas are natural antacids that work against stomach ulcers. They also reduce the risk of strokes and low blood pressure.

Green tea
It aids the treatment of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea increases metabolism and fat oxidation, thus reducing heart diseases and attacks. It improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, treats impaired immune function, keeps your teeth healthy, increases stamina, boosts endurance and aids digestion.

What your eyes say about your health

Here is what a few common eye symptoms could reveal about your body's health

Is there more to your health than meets the eye? According to experts, your peepers may hold clues to undiagnosed health problems and a routine eye test could reveal the truth.

Eyes are the window into the body, offering a great pre-warning for many life-threatening illnesses. Most of us think we only need their eyes checked for vision problems, but all of us should have regular examinations, as conditions such as diabetes can be detected in the eye before they start to cause problems in the body.

Here are some common eye symptoms that can be detected by opticians and what they could reveal about your health.

Red eyes
Could be: High Blood pressure
When an optician shines a light into your eyes, they see the tiny blood vessels in your retinas - the sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

High blood pressure can make these blood vessels appear twisted - or even cause them to burst so the eyes look red. A quarter of adults with high blood pressure don't know they have the condition, which can cause strokes.

Yellow deposits behind the eye
could be: Diabetes
Yellow deposits of fat, or small tears in the retina, are signs of Type 2 diabetes. A big change to your glasses prescription is another. Early diagnosis is key to avoiding long-term, sometimes fatal, complications.

Iris rings
Could be: High cholesterol
White rings around the iris — the coloured part of the eye — are a sign of high cholesterol levels.

Another clue is 'xanthelasmas' — flat, white fat deposits under the skin on or around your eyelids. Studies show people with both these symptoms have a higher risk of heart disease.

Pale inner eyelids
Could be: Anaemia
If the inside of your lower eyelids look pale when pulled down, you may be anaemic - lacking iron, which helps makes red blood cells. Anaemia can be treated with iron supplements, but can be a sign of internal bleeding, so see your GP.

Bulging eyes
Could be: Thyroid problems
Prominent-looking eyes can run in families, but eyes that appear to bulge may be evidence of an overactive thyroid. Abnormal levels of thyroid hormone cause the tissues around the eye to swell, making it appear the eye is popping outwards.

Droopy eyelid
Could be: Bell's Palsy or Stroke
A drooping eye can indicate Bell's Palsy, a temporary facial paralysis. It can also be a symptom of a stroke, especially if the speech is slurred.

More rarely, it could also be evidence of a brain tumour or an autoimmune disease that is known as myasthenia gravis

Yellow eyes
Could be: Liver disease
Liver conditions, including hepatitis and cirrhosis, can turn the whites of your eyes yellow — a symptom which requires an immediate doctor's trip. The colour is caused by bilirubin, a chemical created by the breakdown of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule inside red blood cells.

Pale optic nerve
Could be: MS or Brain tumour
The optic nerve, which transmits information from the retina to the brain, is visible at the rear of the eye to an optician. A pale optic nerve can be an early manifestation of MS or evidence of a brain tumour.

Different sized pupils
Could be: Stroke or tumour
Healthy pupils are around the same size and react similarly to light. If this is not the case with you, check yourself for problems such as stroke, brain or optic nerve tumour, a brain aneurysm or MS.

Treat yourself to a spa at home

Who says you need to spend megabucks on a spa treatment every week? Here are some simple pampering tricks that you can indulge in at home

Begin to relax
Shut down your phone and television. Switch on your favourite relaxing music and sip on some camomile green tea.

Face up to it
Clean your face: Use a makeup remover and then use a gentle face cleanser to get rid of impurities.
Scrub and exfoliate: Dermatologists say that this process helps in removing the superficial layer of dead skin. Be careful not to use harsh products nor scrub too hard, otherwise it could prove to be abrasive and harm skin.
Moisturise well: Use a rich creamy nourishing moisturiser generously on your face. With circular and upward movements gently massage it in. Wash off your face with cold water.
Mask it right: Use a soothing face mask that has nourishing, moisturising, brightening and tightening properties.

Body beautiful
Polish and shine: Exfoliating the entire body is essential. Use a body scrub to get rid of dull deal skin. Rub it all over the body in a circular motion and then wash off with lukewarm water.
All steamy and hot: Take at least two sets of hot towels and wrap yourself in them one after the other. You can also use hand-held, table-top steamers along with this. The hot steam improves your circulation and gives you a radiant glow.

Do-it-yourself foot spa
- Fill a wooden bowl (any pretty bowl will do) with warm water, epsom salts, a few drops of shampoo or foot soak, a few drops of your favourite essential oil and of course fresh rose petals. Let your feet luxuriate in your homemade spa bath for eight to 10 minutes.

- Trim your nails. Use a nail file to shape them. Avoid trimming and filing too deep at the corners to prevent painful in-growing nails. Toe nails are best left square.

- Apply a cuticle gel and push back your cuticle one after the other with an orange stick. Rub in a cuticle cream or a few drops of argan or olive oil.

- Scrub your feet with a scrubbing gel or cream for ten minutes and then wipe it clean.

- Use a pumice stone to give a light brush to your heels. Slough off the dead skin. Wash it off.

- Wipe your feet dry and then apply a foot cream or a moisturiser generously. Massage it in.

Want radiant skin? Make this body scrub at home...
Here is a simple home-made mask that can bring a radiant glow to your skin...

Creamy lentil exfoliant
Ingredients:
Half-a-cup of masur dal (red lentil)
1 tablespoon of milk
1 tablespoon of cream
2 teaspoon of besan (gram flour)

Method:
Soak masur dal for a few hours and grind to a coarse paste. Add milk, fresh cream, besan. Avoid cream if you have oily skin. Apply this paste all over your body and scrub gently. Wash off.

How to deal with grey hair

You may be petrified of seeing that grey hair on your head. But before you jump the gun and try to get rid of your greys, here are some interesting facts that you probably didn't know about them.

This is the most common fact we've about grey hair that plucking one leads to many more greys. But it's just a common myth. One grey hair doesn't turn all the surround hair white. But you must pluck your hair as this act can damage your hair follicles.

Just because you have grey hair doesn't mean that you don't have to maintain them anymore. They require the same amount of care and grooming as much as your regular pigmented hair. Since they have a coarse texture, they tend to be dull and so need conditioning treatments regularly.

Another myth is a fear that people have when they start getting grey hair. People think graying of hair is a sign of ageing and turning old. But that's not completely true. Genetics is also responsible for greying hair.

Your hair could also turn grey prematurely if you're a smoker. So apart from health issues, smoking affects your skin, teeth and hair too.

6 steps to get gorgeous mane at home

Follow these tips and skip those frequent trips to the salon.

Shiny hair can now be achieved without splurging on beauty treatments. Just make sure that it is strong enough to be styled at home (styling brittle hair is a bit risky as it will break).

Use the right tools

If you want to straighten or curl your hair, apply a styling serum first. It will ensure that your hair texture does not look rough. After you are done styling, apply hold spray to keep your hair in place. With the right tools, products and some key blow-drying tricks, you can easily create magic.

Wash and condition

Gently massage a small amount of shampoo on your roots and let the runoff cleanse the ends. Without washing it off, slather some hair conditioner — concentrate on the mid-shaft to the ends; avoid the scalp and roots. If you have coarse hair, opt for a creamy conditioner.

Tip: When towel-drying your hair, gently squeeze — don't rub. After that, apply a good styling product. Then use a wide-tooth comb to remove the tangles and to evenly distribute the styling gel.

Section your hair

To make blow-drying easier, work your hair in sections. Part your hair from ear to ear and separate the front section from the back. Now divide the sections into smaller ones. Twist each section into loose mini buns and secure using hair clips. If you have thick or curly hair, divide your hair into as many sections as you can. This will make styling easier.

Blow dry

This leaves your hair with bounce and lustre. Use the nozzle of the dryer to regulate airflow. Work on one section at a time. Place a round brush near the root and pull your hair taut with it. Aim airflow down the hair shaft and slowly roll the brush out — from roots to ends. Repeat until the section is completely dry.

Tip: Avoid damaging your scalp or burning your hair. Make sure that you keep the dryer moving back and forth in small circles, instead of concentrating on a single spot.

Hold it with spray

Once the rollers are on, spray your hair lightly with a fine mist of medium-hold spray. Leave on the rollers for sometime. Hold the spray 10 to 12 inches above your head and apply in a long, single spray over your entire head.

Beautiful hair requires more than just oil and hair masks. What you eat is equally important. Here are a few ways to keep your hair healthy...

Know your ABCs

Vitamin A: It protects the nourishing oil of your scalp and also boosts shine. In case you are lacking vitamin A in your diet, make sure to take supplements. Sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach are said to be rich in vitamin A.

Vitamin B: There are 11 B-complex vitamins and all of them are essential for increasing blood supply to your scalp. Walnuts, salmon and oysters are known to be excellent sources of this vitamin.

Vitamin C: To prevent dry scalp, hair breakage and stressed hair, vitamin C is important. It also boosts your immune system. Blueberries, broccoli and oranges are a few options.

Roll it up

Once you've blow-dried your hair, wrap it around a medium-sized Velcro roller and secure with bobby pins. Make sure not to wind the rollers too tightly, or else, the hair might get stuck. Repeat it. To give your curls more staying power, choose smaller rollers.

Your under eye dark circles guidebook

Fighting dark circles seems like a dying cause as their stubbornness is only added by the fact that dark circles can be a shadowy curtain on our impeccable skin.

No wonder how well you dress or how perfect your make-up is, dark circles can take the spotlight in a very unattractive manner. Dark circles, bags under the eyes and tired eyes can be unappealing and the sad truth is that no amount of make-up or designer clothes is going to hide dark circles. But there must be a solution, right? Today, we will try to uncover the dark secrets of dark circles and find out the causes of dark circles and ways to prevent and treat dark circles.

What are dark circles? 

We have tiny blood vessels, which are like a web under the skin. But these capillaries are so fine that the red blood cells queue up to pass through; in the process some of them leak in the surrounding area. Enzymes are produced during the cleaning up session. The breaking down of these red blood cells leaves them black and blue. The reason why this is so visible is that the skin around the eyes is the thinnest.

Causes of Dark Circles #1 

Sinus and Allergies can cause dark circles 

If you thought sinus and allergies can only drive you crazy, well it can also be the cause of dark circles. Dark circles around your eyes are a sign for allergies. Histamine reaction and constant rubbing of the eyes are the reasons of the dark circles.

Causes of Dark Circles #2 

Anemia and Kidney Infection 

Kidney problems or iron deficiencies translates to dark circles. Increase your iron intake and drink plenty of water to reduce dark circles. But before you self-diagnose yourself and claim that anemia and kidney infection is the cause of dark circles, we advise you to get a professional opinion.

Causes of Dark Circles #3 

Aging can be responsible of dark circles 

Unfortunately, aging not only loses elasticity of the skin but also responsible for dark circles. Aging makes the skin thinning, which increases the chances of damaging the skin and becomes far more visible.

Causes of Dark Circles #4 

Sun exposure can cause dark circles 

UV rays damages the skin, hence it is important to apply sunscreen under direct sunlight. The sun increases the melanin in the skin and brings it to the surface of the skin. Dark circles are obvious after a trip to the beach or the park.

Causes of Dark Circles #5 

Dark circles are attributed to insomnia and lack of sleep 

Dark circles appear if you are tired and lack sleep. It is also a reason for bags under your eyes. If you don't sleep enough, your skin turns paler.

Causes of Dark Circles #6 

Hormonal changes 

When women go through hormonal changes during their period or pregnancy, they will start noticing dark circles. Hormonal changes make the skin paler, enhancing the dark circles around the eyes.

Causes of Dark Circles #7 

Lack of nutrition 

It is rare but lack of nutrition can make dark circles more noticeable. Lack of iron is one cause of dark circle, but dark circles appear if you lack nutritious diet. A healthy diet or a balanced diet can help you fight dark circles.

Causes of Dark Circles #8 

Hereditary 

Genes can make the capillaries weak, genes can also be responsible for skin tone and the texture of the skin.

Causes of Dark Circles #9 

Smoking and drinking 

Late night parties, smoking and drinking can play havoc with your skin and result in dark eye circles. Dark eye circles could be a sign of loss of water from the body (dehydration) due to excessive drinking and intake of caffeinated drinks.

Causes of Dark Circles #10 

Dehydration 

Dehydration is one of the most common reasons for dark circles under the eyes. The reason is the close proximity to the skin underneath the eye in relation to the underlying bone. When the body does not have a proper amount of water, the symptoms are often evident in this specific area.

Causes of Dark Circles #11 

Dark circles and liver disease 

Dark circles also indicate liver dysfunction due to various liver ailments. An example of such a liver ailment is hepatitis.

Treatment for Dark Circles #1 

Healthy diet 

A healthy and nutritious diet filled with vitamins like A, C, K, E and nutrients can help to get rid of dark circles.

Treatment for Dark Circles #2 

Avoid unhealthy habits 

Smoking, drinking and insomnia are causes of dark circles, but adequate sleep, avoid smoking and alcohol can help you achieve healthy skin. Cutting back or stop smoking and drinking couple of days before an important day can reduce dark circles.

Treatment for Dark Circles #3 

Be active 

Lack of exercise or fitness can be the cause of dark circles. Lack of activity in your life prevents the follow of blood and oxygen to different parts of the body. Hence you will see dark circles around the eyes if you are inactive.

Treatment for Dark Circles #4 

Improve blood circulation 

Dark circles appear under the eyes when the circulation is poor, what you can do is slash cold water on your face. Cold water improves the circulation in the body, hence cold shower is a great way to relax and rejuvenate your body after a hot and tiring day.

Treatment for Dark Circles #5 

Sun protection 

Stepping out in the sun? Don't forget to use sunscreen and sun protection, these sun protection creams can help you reduce and prevent damaging your skin. Damaged skin brings out the dark circles which cause havoc to your flawless skin.

Treatment for Dark Circles #6 

Stay hydrated 

Lack of water makes the blood vessels to dilate and swell, making it visible under the eyes where the skin is thin. Drinking water will reduce this process. Even caffeine induce drinks can make you dehydrated and enhance dark circles.

Treatment for Dark Circles #7 

Moisturise every night 

Trying to fight dark circles? Try applying moisturizer every night to keep the kin nourished and hydrated.

Treatment for Dark Circles #8 

Apply make up 

Not a original idea, but concealer can help you hide the dark circles to a certain extent. If the dark circles are too prominent its time to visit a specialist.

Anti-ageing tips for oily skin

Oily skinned women have typically less lines and wrinkles visible as compared to women with normal and dry skin. Though there are a few benefits of having oily skin, here's how you can prevent your skin from ageing faster

1. Apply sunscreen regularly 

Whatever the skin type, using sunscreen is a must. If protecting your skin from damage caused due to sun was never your priority, start now. Sunscreen will protect your skin from sun and you'll look younger. Most importantly, go for sunscreens for oily skin to avoid clogged pores.

2. Don't wash your face too often 

Don't over cleanse your face even though your oily skin texture may tempt you into washing your face again and again. Yes you may want your skin to look fresh, clean and oil-free but washing your face several times in a day actually leads to increase in oil production. Also, over-cleansing may make your skin dry. You can wash your face twice a day and use blotting papers during the day to keep oil away.

3. Nourish your skin 

Antioxidants help prevent oxidising and help your skin stay supple. So antioxidants is certainly something that you need to incorporate in your skin-care routine. Opt for oil-free moisturisers that contain antioxidants. Also follow a diet that includes berries, beans and veggies to feed your skin

4. Get adequate sleep 

Sleep is extremely important not only for your skin but your overall health. This doesn't mean you sleep all day, just get adequate sleep of around 8 to 9 hours. Also, sleep on your back as sleeping on your face can wrinkle the skin and age skin at a faster rate.

5. Consume Omega-3 fatty acids 

Omega-3 fatty acids revitalises your skin and repairs it from inside. Eat foods rich on omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, halibut, eggs, soy milk and yogurt. They are not only delicious but also do a lot of benefit to your skin.

6. Avoid sugar, smoke and alcohol 

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can give yourself as it not only damages your health but also your skin. And if you have a sweet tooth and indulge in too many sweets, cut down on them. Studies have shown that consuming lots of sugar over long periods can cause skin to age and dull due to a process in our body called glycation. Limit your consumption of candies and eat healthy vegetables and fruits instead. Also, drinking alcohol dilates your blood vessels and increases blood flow near the skin's surface which makes your skin appear sallow. So limit your consumption of alcohol.

Quick tips for a shiny mane

Is the humidity and moisture wreaking havoc on your tresses? With the following tips you can make sure they do not lose their shine.

Aesthetician Ritu Singh Tanwar tells us about a simple hair mask that can be made at home. "Take a cup of thick curd and add two tablespoons of fenugreek powder to it. Apply this to your hair length properly. Let it stay for around 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. You do not need to shampoo your hair, but you must apply a conditioner and hair serum," she says.

Eggs, most of us know, are very good for hair and Ritu says that one should apply egg whites on your hair length and ends to make them lustrous. "You should leave it on for around 20 minutes and then use a shampoo — preferably egg-based — to wash off. Follow this with a conditioner," she says. Trichologist Dr Apoorva Shah says that one needs to condition hair well to give it a shine, (See box on conditioning). Hair masks like these, not only make your hair shiny but also softer and more manageable. Go on and flaunt your healthy, and shiny hair!

For lustrous tresses
- Take a large mug of water and add the juice of one lemon to it.
- Now use this water as a final rinse after your regular shampoo.
- You could also use three to four teaspoons of vinegar instead of lime juice.
- Rinsing hair with this, will make it lustrous.

Here are a few steps to conditioning your hair properly...

Step 1: Moisturising your scalp is very important. We have been following this since ages — oil the scalp and the hair shaft and let it stay overnight or keep it for at least four to five hours.

Step 2: Apply a deep conditioning treatment hair pack (there are many available over-the-counter or with your trichologist). You need to apply this only on the hair length. Keep this for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 3: Now wash off the hair pack. Shampoo your hair well and then apply a good wash-off conditioner on your hair, but avoid the scalp. You need to keep a wash-off conditioner on your hair for at least three minutes.

Step 4: Finally, before washing off your conditioner, wrap a hot towel around your head covering your hair. Then wash off once the towel really cools off. After you are out of the shower, towel dry your hair. Now apply a hair repair serum on the hair shaft. Let your hair dry naturally. Comb through with a wide-toothed, preferably wooden comb. Do this once a week and you will be surprised at the visible change in your hair texture.

Unusual beauty tips that work

Here are two unusual but very effective beauty tips to get rid of blackheads and to get soft, supple hands.

Pepper to get rid of blackheads:

Fighting blackheads is a never-ending battle. Blackhead strips are a huge dud. Try pepper instead. Mix one tablespoon of pepper with yogurt and apply it on your nose. Scrub gently in circular motions. Keep it on for seven minutes and rinse. The grainy pepper works as a natural exfoliant and lifts blackheads more effectively than anything else.

Cinnamon for soft hands:

Mix two cups of water with a cup of milk, two tablespoons olive oil and a pinch of ground cinnamon. Warm it up and soak your hands in it for 10 minutes while gently rubbing them together. Cinnamon works as an exfoliant and stimulates circulation.

4 ways to whiter teeth

So, you have always been complimented for your dazzling smile. We hope you have a perfect set of pearlies to give you that radiant smile.

Yellowing of teeth are a thorough let-down. Dark lipsticks, especially shades of red and even neons, bring out the yellowness of your teeth. Thus, it is imperative to have a clean set of white teeth for you to flaunt that neon pout. However, whitening or brightening your teeth need not be an expensive affair. You don't always have to splurge on products and treatments that will leave a dent in your pocket. Here are some natural ways to whiten your teeth.

Mix baking soda
This is by far the cheapest and most effective way to whiten your pearlies. Baking soda is easily available in most general stores. Squeeze out a little toothpaste in a bowl. Add a pinch of baking soda to it. Mix it up and then brush your teeth with it. Indian food tends to stain teeth a lot, because of the use of turmeric. Try this mixture before bedtime. Ensure that you rinse your mouth thoroughly afterwards, as baking soda doesn't taste good if left in your teeth.

Gorge on strawberries
Strawberries are tasty and make for a great scrub for your teeth. The tiny seeds in the fruit scrub away the tartar off the teeth. Works well on days when you are feeling too lazy to do much else in the way of oral hygiene.

Use a straw
We all love our daily cuppa. However, caffeine addiction wreaks havoc on your teeth. Sad but true. Having too many cups of coffee or tea stains teeth like nothing else. The same goes for soda. You simply must give it up completely or restrict your intake to as little as possible. If you can't give it up, at least try using a straw to sip coffee or soda to avoid direct contact with teeth.

So, you have always been complimented for your dazzling smile. We hope you have a perfect set of pearlies to give you that radiant smile.

Yellowing of teeth are a thorough let-down. Dark lipsticks, especially shades of red and even neons, bring out the yellowness of your teeth. Thus, it is imperative to have a clean set of white teeth for you to flaunt that neon pout. However, whitening or brightening your teeth need not be an expensive affair. You don't always have to splurge on products and treatments that will leave a dent in your pocket. Here are some natural ways to whiten your teeth.

Mix baking soda
This is by far the cheapest and most effective way to whiten your pearlies. Baking soda is easily available in most general stores. Squeeze out a little toothpaste in a bowl. Add a pinch of baking soda to it. Mix it up and then brush your teeth with it. Indian food tends to stain teeth a lot, because of the use of turmeric. Try this mixture before bedtime. Ensure that you rinse your mouth thoroughly afterwards, as baking soda doesn't taste good if left in your teeth.

Gorge on strawberries
Strawberries are tasty and make for a great scrub for your teeth. The tiny seeds in the fruit scrub away the tartar off the teeth.  Works well on days when you are feeling too lazy to do much else in the way of oral hygiene.

Use a straw
We all love our daily cuppa. However, caffeine addiction wreaks havoc on your teeth. Sad but true. Having too many cups of coffee or tea stains teeth like nothing else. The same goes for soda. You simply must give it up completely or restrict your intake to as little as possible. If you can't give it up, at least try using a straw to sip coffee or soda to avoid direct contact with teeth.

Floss
Most people don't think much about it. However, flossing is one habit that you must inculcate. It is one of the best ways to dislodge the food that you have eaten all day long — even if you rinse thoroughly, food particless get stuck between your teeth. It helps in cleaning the stains in the creases of your gums while preventing gum disease. Grab some floss and make it your nightly routine.

Most people don't think much about it. However, flossing is one habit that you must inculcate. It is one of the best ways to dislodge the food that you have eaten all day long — even if you rinse thoroughly, food particles get stuck between your teeth. It helps in cleaning the stains in the creases of your gums while preventing gum disease. Grab some floss and make it your nightly routine.

Honey, the skin saviour

Honey is seen as an ideal natural ingredient to do away with skin dryness and there is more to this sweet kitchen ingredient.

Make honey part of your beauty regime to get natural glow...

Usage of honey:

Facial scrub: Women with sensitive skin can prepare a face mask made of honey, brown sugar, olive oil and lemon juice. It's less abrasive, yet removes dead skin cells to reveal a smoother and more vibrant complexion.

Hair removal: Mix honey and lemon juice and pour into a sugaring wax that's safe to use on your body. This will remove hair and also make your skin soft.

Scars: To make the scars leave your side, apply raw honey on the affected areas before bed and cover with a bandage. In the morning, remove the cover-up and cleanse the skin.

Bath treatment: Take bath with milk and honey. The alpha hydroxy acids in milk breaks down dry and flaky skin, while the enzymes in honey softens skin.

Sunburn: Honey helps to soothe sunburns. You just need to dab on a little honey on skin.

Chapped lips: Mix honey, brown sugar and olive oil, and apply on your lips. This mixture will moisturise chappy lips.

How to get rid of blackheads

Here are some sure shot ways to remove blackheads through some quick fix methods.

Squeeze them out: Warming your skin makes the pores expand, making it easier to squeeze out the blackheads. You can do this by taking a warm shower or applying a hot compress to the affected areas. Use an extractor tool or bobby pin to force it out. Be careful with these methods, and if you experience serious pain, try something else.

Use Toothpaste: Apply an inch-sized amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush. Wet the toothbrush and wet the affected area. Gently with your toothbrush, scrub the affected area for a short period of time. Make sure you do not apply it too close to the eyes, as the vapours from methanol toothpastes can irritate the eyes. If you have nose blackheads, apply an even smaller amount of toothpaste, and keep clear from eyes. Always sterilise the toothbrush with boiling-hot water after following this method.

Lime juice: Make a lotion with equal parts of lime juice, almond oil and glycerin. Apply your lotion to your face. It will not only cure blackheads but the discolouring spots on the face too.

Steam and moisturise: Put a hot towel over your face for 10 minutes. Letting it sit will bring the black heads to the surface. Wash with warm water and natural face wash. Close pores with cold water and apply oil-free moisturiser.

Natural remedies to cure skin problems

Are you looking for some natural remedies to get rid of skin related problems. Try out rosewater as it helps in removing skin clogs and blackheads or you can also opt for aloe vera pack for glowing skin.

Navin Sharma, head of research andDevelopment at Cholayil Private Limited shares some useful tips that can help in attaining a "healthy" skin.

Pearl pack: It improves the skin texture, balances moisture and makes the skin glow. It helps reduce dark marks, pimples and acne. It can be used both in form of paste and powder. Pearl helps in minimizing the large pores on the skin and therefore reduces redness.

Rose water pack: Wash your face regularly with rose water for softer skin. It effectively removes skin clogs, blackheads and reduces stickiness from the face. It helps clear all the impurities and dust. Rose oil contains anti-inflammatory properties.

Proper face massage with rose water will remove excess oil in the skin, keeping it evenly moisturised and exfoliated, thus restoring the lost pH balance and skin texture, preventing acne and pimples, removing the dirt that gets accumulated in the skin pores.

Neem pack: It is an ideal solution to all your summer-related skin problems. Neem benefits can be utilized the most during this season. Neem juice helps in purification of skin and blood. You can use facewashes that contain neem leaves as an ingredient.

Aloe Vera pack: It helps cure acne problems. It contains medicinal properties that help protect the skin's natural beauty. It also works as a moisturizer and provides oxygen to the body cells which strengthen the skin tissues and help to keep the skin healthy.

12 Simple Exercises To Reduce Belly Fat

Flab around the belly! This is one thing that can be source of constant embarrassment no matter what your age. Nobody wants their tummy protruding out and making their clothes fit them weird. And it’s the hardest part of the body to lose weight from! Here is how you can get rid of it. 


But before we tell you how, let us tell you why.

Why do you get belly fat?

• There are a number of reasons for belly fat in teenage girls:

  Your genes may be responsible for your tummy pouch.

  Weak metabolism is yet another reason. You must have noticed that some of your friends eat a lot of sugary foods, fried foods or cold drinks and still manage to keep a flat stomach. The reason being these girls have a very good metabolism. If your metabolism is not good, you may have a bloated stomach.

  If the muscles around your abdominal area are saggy, they may lead to fat belly.

  Learn to sit straight from your very childhood. Sitting with a curved back, may result in all the fat to accumulate in your stomach area.

  
  

  Exercise to reduce tummy:

  
• Dieting and exercise go hand in hand. If you had thought that only dieting will burn your belly fat, then you are wrong. Working out can be quite painful so many of you think of giving it a skip. If you want to really lose weight then you need to include an hour of exercise to reduce belly fat in your daily routine. Here are few exercises to reduce tummy for you!
• 1. Crunches:
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• Crunches take no.1 position when it comes to fat burning exercises. You have read in magazines and seen all over television that crunches are just magical when it comes to cutting down belly fat. Its time you start doing this ab crunching exercise.

i. Lie down flat on a mat with your knees bent and feet on the ground. Alternatively you can also lift your legs off the floor at 90 degrees angle. (See picture).
ii. Now lift your hands and place them behind your head or keep them crossed on your chest. 
iii. Inhale deeply and as you lift your upper torso off the floor, exhale.
iv. Again inhale as you get back down and exhale as you come up. 
v. Do this for 10 times as a beginner.
vi. Repeat another 2-3 sets.
One small tip is as you lift your torso; do not just sit up straight. You should be at 30-40 degrees angle off the ground. You’ll feel pressure on your abdominal muscles.

2. Twist crunches:

Once you get used to the regular crunches, modify the basic crunch to get a even more effect tummy exercise!
i. Lie down on the floor with your hands behind your head.
ii. Now bend your knees as you would do in crunches keeping your feet on the floor.
iii. As in a crunch you would have lifted your upper torso; in side crunches you just have to lift your right shoulder towards left keeping your left torso on the ground.
iv. Again alternatively, lift your left shoulder towards right keeping your right torso on the ground. 
v. Repeat for another 10 times.

3. Side Crunch:

Same as twist crunch, only that you have to tilt your legs to the same side simultaneously with your shoulders.

4. Reverse crunches:

Time to do reverse crunches.
i. Lie flat on the floor with your hands by your side palms facing the ground.
ii. Lift your legs bent at knees and keep them suspended in the air at 90 degrees angle.
iii. Now lift your hips so as to bring your legs close to your chest. (See picture)
iv. You have to lift your hips applying pressure on your abdomen.
v. Loosen your legs and again bring it to your chest.

5. Vertical leg crunch:


• Lie flat on the floor with your legs extended upwards and one knee crossed over the other.
• Now that you have positioned your body perfectly, do the same as you would have done crunches.
• Do 12-16 crunches upto 3 sets together.

6. Bicycle exercise:

No, you don’t need a bicycle for this. Thinking how? We’ll tell you.

i. Lie on the floor and keep your hands either by your side or behind your head as in crunches.
ii. Now lift both your legs off the ground bent at the knees.
iii. Bring your right knee close to your chest keeping your left leg out.
iv. Now take your right leg out and bring your left leg close to your chest.
v. Alternate bending your knees this way as if you are paddling a bicycle.

7. Lunge Twist:

This is a beginner workout for starters who want to reduce belly fat fast.

• Stand with your legs hip width apart. Keep knees slightly bent.
• Lift both your hands in front of you keeping them straight with your shoulders.
• Lunge forward as shown in the picture. Take a big step forward with your right leg and sit yourself down as if on a chair so that your knees are at 90 degrees angle from the floor. The left leg should be backwards supported by the toes.
• The spine should be kept straight. Don’t bend your spine forward. That is a very wrong way of performing lunge.
• First twist your torso to the right and then to the left. Twist just the torso, not your legs.
• Continue repeating this for 16 times.

8. Rolling Plank:


• Position yourself on the floor with your knees and elbows.
• Keep your neck aligned with your spine. Look forwards.
• Lift the knees upwards and support your legs on the toes.
• Contract knees and keep breathing normal. This is the plank pose. Stay in this posture for 30 seconds.
• Now start moving to and fro for the next 30 seconds. This is the rolling plank.

9. Side Plank:


• Lie down on the floor sideways.
• Support yourself on your right elbow and right leg. Your elbow should be perpendicular to the shoulder and the left leg should be above the right leg keeping them together.
• Keep your knees straight and your hips shouldn’t be touching the ground.
• Hold this position for 30 seconds. Once you get comfortable, you may hold this for 1-2 minutes.
• Repeat with your other side too.
While in this position you may also lift the leg placed on top and bring it back again. This makes the exercise more effective. Then it works not only for your abs but also thighs and hips.

10. The Vacuum:

• Come down on the ground to sit on all fours, supporting yourself on hands and knees.
• Now inhaling deeply loosen your abdomen.
• As you exhale the breath, tighten the abdomen muscles.
• Hold the abdomen contraction for 15-30 seconds.
• Repeat again.

11. Captain’s chair:


• Sit on a chair with straight spine.
• Keep both hands beside you with palms by the side of your hips facing downwards.
• Inhale deeply.
• Now as you exhale bring both your legs upwards such that your knees are close to your chest. Hold for 5 seconds. Don’t bend forward and arch your back.
• Bring down your leg and repeat again.

12. Bending side to side:

This is the best workout to slim down your waist.

• Stand erect with your feet together. Raise your hands above your head in a namaste.
• Now keeping your legs grounded, bend your body to the right as much as possible till you feel a strain on your left waist. Stay for 15 seconds.
• Return back to the original position.
• Now bend left. Retain this position for another 15 seconds.
• Slowly you may increase the holding time to 30 seconds.
These are the five simple and effective abs toning exercises. You can do these exercises at home easily without any machinery. You just need a mat and a lot of stamina.

Read more:

Abdominal Obesity: Top 8 Home Remedies to Reduce Belly Flat

Belly fat is a return gift that our haphazard lifestyle and wrong eating habits give us. Belly fat has always been a major concern area. It not only destroys your image but also increases your risk to many health ailments.  Try these ayurveda tips to lose the fat deposits around your belly.

Abdominal Obesity: Top 8 Ayurvedic Tips to Reduce Belly Fat

Start your day with lemon juice

This is one of the best therapies to eliminate belly fat. Pinch some yellow juice into a glass of warm water and add some salt to it. Continue drinking this every morning to boost your metabolism and to get rid of that paunch.

Stay off from white rice

Replace white rice with various wheat products. Include brown rice, brown bread, wholegrains, oats and quinoa in your diet.

Avoid sugary substances

Stay away from sweets, sweetened drinks and foods rich in oil. Consuming these foods can increase body fat around various areas of your body like abdomen and thighs.

Drink plenty of water

If you want to get rid of your belly, then drink sufficient amount of water every day. Drinking water, after regular intervals will help to boost your metabolism and remove toxins from your body.

Eat raw garlic

Chew two to three cloves of garlic every morning, and drink a glass of lemon water after that. This treatment will double up your weight loss process and make your blood circulation smooth in your body.

Avoid Non-Veg food

To eliminate belly fat, it is recommended that one should avoid non-vegetarian food as far as possible.

Load up on fruits and vegetables

Eat a bowl of fruits daily in the morning and evening. This will fill you up with many antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

Spice up your cooking

Use spices like cinnamon, ginger and black pepper in your cooking. These spices are loaded with health benefits. They help to improve your insulin resistance and reduce levels of sugar in your blood.

6 Ways to Burn Your Belly Fat Fast

One of the most common questions I get is how to lose belly fat. Belly fat is actually the most dangerous type of fat – besides aesthetics, large waist lines are indicators of –disease-disease-disease.

It takes more than just crunches! We start to gain weight in our midsection when our cortisol levels spike. Stress is one of the primary culprits for high levels of cortisol secretion. When this happens cortisol breaks downs lean muscle (the type of tissue that burns calories most efficiently) and also holds on to fat storage in the abdominal region. That stress can even get WORSE with bad dieting; studies show that the stress caused by dieting can increase cortisol levels, making no change in belly fat even with calorie restriction. So how do you shape up? Incorporate these 6 things below and you will be on your way to a flatter belly in no time flat!

1. Sleep

If you want to work late at night, think again. When your biorhythms are off, you end up eating more. When you’re tired you produce more ghrelin, which triggers cravings for sugar and other fat-building foods. Losing sleep can also alter your hormone production, affecting your cortisol levels that cause insulin sensitivity, prime reasons for belly fat! Getting about 7 hours of sleep a night is one of the best things you can do for your body shaping goals.

2. Short bursts of exercises

1000 crunches a night may get you strong abdominal muscles, but with a full layer of fat on top, you will not get the results you really want. Instead of all those crunches, do exercises that engage multiple muscle groups and work your cardiovascular system. Try planking, where you hold yourself in a push-up position, resting your forearms on the ground. Try 3 or 4 sets of holding for 30 seconds each. Getting up and moving throughout the day by going for walks will also help.

3. Sugar is your Enemy

Fighting belly fat is 80% healthy diet. Reduce calories by filling yourself up with protein, vegetables, whole grains, and replacing bad habit snacks with good ones. For example, if you have a sugar craving, replace your calorie laden latte with a Muscle Milk lite, one of my favorites, because it has zero sugar and a ton of protein that will satiate while also torching my sugar craving! Another great trick is a sprinkle of cinnamon in your morning coffee or oatmeal- the spice has been shown to help stabilize blood sugar. It also slows the rate at which food exits the stomach, which helps you feel fuller longer.

4. Vitamin C

When you’re under extreme stress, you secret more cortisol hormone. Vitamin C helps balance the cortisol spikes that happen to you under this stress. Besides being a good way to counteract a cold, Vitamin C is also essential for making carnitine, a compound used by the body to turn fat into fuel, making this vitamin your fat burning friend.

If you’re going through an emotional crisis, stress from work, or a bad eating splurge, increase your vitamin C – it’ll help counteract the negative side effects. Try bell peppers, kale or kiwi fruits. These have even more Vitamin C than the famous Orange!

5. Eat Fat

Yup, you heard me! It takes fat to burn fat. Like I said above, it’s sugar that gets you fat, not fat. Good fats include foods rich in Omega 3′s, like salmon, avocados & walnuts. These foods are full of nutrients that help keep you satiated throughout the day.

6. Slowing down your breath

This is a very simple method that you can use even when you’re in the midst of doing something else. Whenever you notice you’re feeling tense and uptight check and see how you’re breathing. Most people under stress either alternate holding their breath with short breaths, or take rapid shallow breaths. After you become aware of your own breathing, consciously relax your belly and slow down the breathing. This works best if you focus on slowing down the exhalation rather than your inhalation. With each exhalation you can say to yourself “slow down”. That is all there is to it- Simple but surprisingly effective!!!