General Health Tips - Natural Ways to Lighten Your Skin

Dark spots, and freckles, and skin-damage - oh my! Looking to lighten your complexion? Every shade of skin is beautiful, but as we grow older our skin tone can change. Freckles may appear, dark spots can arise, and skin may not be as light as it once was. So, if you're still not ready to embrace your dark side, read on for a few natural whitening tips and tricks.

Use Sunblock

One of the easiest ways to stay fair is to use sunblock on a daily basis. Find a moisturizer that includes an SPF of 15 or higher and use it every morning after washing your face. Sunblock not only prevents your skin from getting darker, but also blocks harmful UV rays that can cause cancer and premature aging. Remember your hands when applying sunblock, as they are a prime area for age spots.

Exfoliate

Exfoliating once a week will remove dead skin cells to lighten and brighten your skin. Mix two tablespoons oatmeal and two tablespoons brown sugar with a quarter cup of milk, and stir until a paste forms. Gently scrub your face, rinse, and moisturize.

Make a Mask

A homemade mask is a great way to lighten your skin and a good excuse to kick back on the couch. Try using one once a week. Use one tablespoon of each of the following: sandalwood paste, lemon juice, tomato juice, and cucumber juice. Mix them all together to form a paste. Spread the mixture on your face and wait until it dries. Rinse and moisturize for a natural glow.

Licorice Extract

Licorice extract contains glabridin, a component that acts as a natural skin whitener. Apply a thin layer of the extract morning and evening, after you wash your face and before you moisturize. Licorice extract can be found at any health food store or ordered online. Be sure to store the bottle in a cool, dark place to maintain freshness. Note: test a small amount on the back of your arm before using on your face to be sure you do not have an allergic reaction. Remember to love your skin no matter what color it is. It's a part of who you are and that's what makes you beautiful and unique.

Source : DSD Group Email

Stop that slipping disc !

Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc (PID) or 'slip disc' can be painful. So make simple lifestyle changes to heal your back!

In the past, problems like backaches and neck pains were seen only amongst older age groups. However, there's been a huge change in the last decade as an increasing number of young people cope with back problems. The most common condition is caused by a 'slip disc' which causes pain in the neck and back.

The soft cushion between two adjacent bones of the spine is called a disc. When the disc gets displaced from its original position its called a slip disc. This can lead to pain in the legs or sciatica. Slip disc in the neck causes pain in the arm.

FACTORS LEADING TO SLIP DISC :

Lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, physical and mental stress and bad posture. The various reasons leading to faulty posture are smoking, obesity, inadequate sleep, deficieny of vitamins and calcium, etc.

TREATMENT :

To reduce the problem of slipped disc, people should rest. For pain, the doctors recommend medicines, physical therapies, exercises and even surgery if symptoms are severe.

FOR PREVENTION :

Exercise regularly

Manage your stress

Balance your work and recreation

Maintain proper posture

Balance your diet

Adequate rest

Ample water intake

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment

Take advice to plan workout and diet

Do take regular breaks while working continuously

Take periodic vacations to recharge your energy.

DON'T :

Do not indulge in fast food

Do not neglect early fatigue and back pain

Do not smoke

Do not work with a computer continuously without breaks

Dont use vehicle with bad suspensions on bumpy roads

Do not use big pillows

Do not use very soft mattresses

Don't neglect to pay attention to details regarding your posture while working.

AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL :

Develop a positive attitude to remain healthy.

Source : Dr.Rajesh Parasnis, Leading Spine Surgeon.

How Does One Benefit From Consuming Green Beans ?

Green beans, while quite low in calories (just 43.75 calories in a whole cup), are loaded with enough nutrients to not only power up the jolly Green Giant, but to put a big smile on his face.

Green beans are an excellent source of viatmin C, vitamin K and manganese. Plus green beans are very good source of Vitamin A (notably through their concentration of carotenoids including betacarotene), dietary fiber, potassium folate and iron.

And green beans are a good source of magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, copper, calcium, phosphorous, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin. The vitamin K provided by green beans - a spectacular 122.0 per cent of the daily value in one cup - is important for maintaining strong bones. Vitamin K1 activates osteocalcin, the major non-collagen protein in bone. Osteocalcin anchors calcium molecules inside of the bone.

Source : TOI

Five Foods for Better Sleep

If you’re among the estimated 65 percent of people who have trouble sleeping at least a few nights a week, you’re probably tired of hearing about all the possible culprits for your bedtime woes, from too much caffeine and late-night TV to not enough exercise or unwind time in the evenings.

While all of these factors certainly play a role in your quality of shut-eye, there’s one sleep saboteur that often goes unrecognized even though it can have a profound effect on how soundly you snooze–your diet.

In fact, food and sleep actually affect one another: If you don’t eat right, you lose sleep; and when you’re sleep-deprived, your eating habits suffer, says Sally Kravich, a holistic nutritionist and author of Vibrant Living: Creating Radiant Health and Longevity (SPK Publications, 2003). “It’s the ultimate catch-22,” she says. “A lack of sleep causes leptin, an appetite-regulating hormone, to crash, which causes you to eat more,” she says. “Not only does eating more eventually lead to weight gain and an increased risk of obesity–both of which can affect how well you sleep–but the foods you’re most likely to reach for when you’re tired will keep you up at night.” So what’s an insomniac to do..?

For starters, get clear about which foods promote good shut-eye, and which have the potential to keep you up at night, and adjust your diet accordingly.

Sleep-enhancing foods

Whole grains : Fiber-rich foods, such as brown rice and quinoa, do more than keep you full; they contain large amounts of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that increases the levels of serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system) and melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone secreted in response to darkness) in the brain. What’s more, whole grains slowly nourish the body throughout the night after you digest them, says Lauren Taylor, CTN, a naturopath in Boulder, Colorado. That makes them an especially good choice for anyone who wakes up hungry during the night. Whole-grain carbohydrates also have a soothing effect. “Certain grains, like oats, act as natural relaxants and help calm the nervous system,” says Taylor.

Legumes : The high levels of B vitamins in legumes, such as black-eyed peas and lentils, also help calm your nervous system, says Kravich. Adds Taylor: “Legumes can be a great choice for an evening meal because they often replace animal protein, which can cause sleep problems.” But legumes are not for everyone, warns Taylor. They can be hard for some to digest. To know if you fall into this category, pay close attention to how you feel after you eat them. If the legumes satisfy your hunger without making you feel overly full or gassy, they could be a good addition to your sleep-inducing arsenal. Have an upset stomach or feel sluggish after a meal of legumes? Skip them altogether or eat them only in moderation.

Herbal teas : Tempted to have a glass of vino to unwind at night? Kravich recommends reaching for a cup of tea instead, especially blends with chamomile, lavender, and mint. “Drinking caffeine-free tea, particularly gentle herbal varieties, relaxes the body, calms digestion, and soothes the stomach,” says Kravich. Taylor agrees, but also says that the environment in which we eat potentially relaxing foods can have a profound effect on our nervous system. “That calming chamomile tea isn’t necessarily going to be so calming if you drink it while you’re on the computer paying your bills at 10 o’clock at night,” says Taylor. Instead, take your tea to a cozy spot where you can relax, smell the tea, and fully enjoy drinking it. “Unwinding in the evening–emptying out–that’s what’s important,” says Taylor. “It’s a way of clearing your nervous system. If you haven’t let go of the day’s activities, where is all that energy going to go? If it remains pent up inside of you, it’s certainly going to affect your ability to sleep.”

Fruit : Especially high in sleep-inducing tryptophan, bananas, mangoes, and dates are also great substitutes for higher-calorie desserts. “It’s all about changing your habits,” says Kravich. “Instead of cutting out dessert completely, replace cake and cookies–which can keep you up at night because of their high sugar content–with fruits that will satisfy your sweet tooth and help promote sleep. While fruits do contain sugar, it’s natural–not processed–and fruit also comes packed with fiber.” Another benefit from fruits: their high antioxidant content. “Think of nighttime as clean-up time for the body,” says Taylor. “If you go into the evening having just eaten foods that are cleansing and detoxifying, you’re helping that clean-up cycle. Vegetables and fruit are the most detoxifying foods you can eat.”

Soups and stews : Adding sleep-inducing foods to your diet will certainly help you get your beauty rest, but you should also pay attention to how you prepare them. “Cooking sleep-inducing foods at low temperatures for long periods of time is ideal,” says Taylor. “Soups and stews–particularly those filled with fiber-rich veggies and legumes–and low-fat casseroles are much more calming and relaxing than seared meats and hot, spicy foods because when you cook something for a long time, the cooking process acts almost like our own digestive system,” says Taylor. Long cooking times break down the starches and sugars in foods, so your body doesn’t have to work very hard to access their nutrients.

Source : DSD Group Email

Disclaimer : The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions of this article. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the Writer/Sender.

This EMAIL is provided as general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.

How To Quit Smoking !!

Quit Smoking Definition

Smoking tobacco or other substances can be dangerous and addictive.

The tobacco contains nicotine which can cause heart diseases and cancer.

More over smoking causes: yellow teeth, bad breath, and bad smell of cloth, difficulties to breathe, and much more. To quit smoking is not an easy thing to do because the materials are addictive.

How to Quit Smoking with Natural Treatments

• Put mustard seeds on the lungs and tape them with plaster, also rub the spot.

• Drink a lot of water, that will help you to quit smoking and will clean your body from the toxic.

• Every time you have the urge to smoke, put some salt of the tip of your tongue. Repeat for 1-2 month.

• When you feel an urge to smoke, take a gum or a candy.

• Drink a lot of celery juice and carrot juice, that will reduce the urge for cigarettes.

• Work out daily.

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Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer. Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

Women’s Symptoms for Heart Disease

Heart disease is on the increase among young men and women in the US as well as among those above 65 years of age. Obesity, lack of exercise, improper diet, stress are factors often held for heart disease in both the sexes. Women are also vulnerable to heart disease. Cardiovascular disease amounts to about 43% of death among women. Despite this, women do not consider heart disease as a major health risk.

Since women are also prone to heart disease, it is advisable for them to understand the symptoms of heart disease that afflicts them.

 

What are the symptoms of heart disease among women?

Menopause places women at risk of heart disease. Prior to menopause, the estrogen, a female hormone protects the heart by maintaining sufficient levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which protects the cardiovascular system. Estrogen also relaxes the artery muscles.

Symptoms of heart attack:

• Unusual fatigue.

• Sleep disturbances.

• Indigestion.

• Shortness of breath.

• Anxiety.

• Chest pain.

• Discomfort.

• Dizziness.

• Cold sweat.

• Irregular heart beat.

• Discomfort or pain in either one arm or in both arms.

Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease

• Angina.

• Burning or hot sensation.

• Tenderness while touching.

• Nausea

• Vomiting.

• Shortness of breath.

• Extreme fatigue.

• Tingling.

Chronic Angina

• Aching.

• Burning.

• Sharp pain.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

• Severe leg pain.

• Increased fatigue.

Women need to take the health symptoms of heart disease seriously. If a woman suffers from any of these symptoms she needs to consult a doctor immediately.

Know Your Fruit And Its Benefits !!

Different fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre. Take Your Pick.....

APPLE :

Key Nutrients : Vitamins C, Iron, Potassium, Sodium, Phospohorus, Calcium, Sulphur

Benefits : Apples detoxify, help intestinal infections and acidity.

BANANA :

Key Nutrients : Potassium folate, Sodium, Chlorine, Iron, Glucose, Amino Acids

Benefits : Bananas detoxify; treat constipation, ulcers, enhance immune system.

ORANGE :

Key Nutrients : Vitamin C, Folate, Potassium, Sodium, Citric Acid, Iron, Manganese, Calcium

Benefits : Orange improves weak digestion, immunity.

PAYAYA :

Key Nutrients : Vitamin A and E, Silicon, Potassium, Calcium, Copper, Folate, Fructose

Benefits : Papaya improves digestion, rids intestinal worms, eases inflammation and constipation.

WATERMELON :

Key Nutrients : Phosphorous, Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Iron, Sucrose, Vitamins B and E

Benefits : Watermelon is a diuretic, helps weight loss, treats kidney and urniary tract problems.

PINEAPPLE :

Key Nutrients : Vitamins B, C and E, Phosphorous, Potassium, Iron, Folate, Sucrose

Benefits : Pineappple is a diuretic, detoxifies, purifies blood, prevents blood clots and increases circulation.

POMEGRANATE :

Key Nutrients  : Calcium, Phosphorous, Iron, Sodium, Vitamin C

Benefits : Pomegranate aids digestion, destroys intestinal worms.

GRAPES :

Key Nutrients : Iron, Potassium, Phophorous, Glucose, Salicylates, Vitamin B and E

Benefits : Grapes are a good source of energy. They purify the blood (useful for anemia, liver malfunctions such as hepatatis and jaundice).

GRAPEFRUIT :

Key Nutrients : Potassium, Folate Iron, Amino Acids, Zinc, Vitamin B and C

Benefits : Grapefruit protects arteries, aids digestion and boosts the immune system.

Source : Inputs from Clinical Exercise Specialist Namita Jain