Saturday, October 29, 2011

How to Get Rid of Oily Skin Naturally

It is necessary to take good care of your skin. The type of skin you have could be due to hereditary factors. As you get older skin may start sagging and wrinkles may form. It is not possible to prevent the effects of ageing on skin. But it can be slowed down. Oily skin is less prone to damage by sun and formation of wrinkles. The natural oils are good for the skin. But if the body produces excess oil it is necessary to control it. A variety of products are available in the market for oily skin. But most of them contain harsh chemicals which may damage the skin in the long run. There are several products which help to get rid of the oily skin naturally.

Oily skin leads to the formation of acne and blackheads as dirt clogs up the skin pores.  It is necessary wash your face at least three times a day.  Water will open the skin pores clearing all dust and dirt.


Cucumber for Oily skin
Wikimedia Commons
Milk

Milk can be used to clean oily skin. Pour some milk to a bowl and add a few drops of lavender oil as a perfume. Mix it thoroughly and apply it to your face. Wash it off after an hour. It will open up the pores and clean the oil and dirt.

Almonds

Almonds are used for various skin treatments. Grind a few almonds add honey and mix it thoroughly. Gently apply the paste to your face. Wash it off after ten minutes with cold water.

Aloe Vera

Mix aloe vera with oatmeal and apply it to your skin. Wash it off after 15 minutes

Citrus Juice

Mix lemon and orange juice with honey and apply it to your face. Wash it off after 15 minutes.

Cucumber

Make some cucumber pulp and mix it with lemon juice and apply it to your face. Cucumber is a natural toner. It also helps to clean the skin.

Avocado and egg white

Beat egg white thoroughly. Mash avocado and add it to egg white. Add some lime juice and put it in a blender. Apply the resultant mixture to your face. Your skin will become soft, oil free and smooth.

It is advisable to stop smoking. Stop consuming deep fried and oily food.  Excess of alcohol and caffeine drinks are also bad for oily skin. All these substances increase the production of oil in the body. It is necessary to keep the skin moist. Drink 6-8 glasses of water every day. Your diet should include also plenty of fruit juices which keep the skin hydrated. Naturally hydrated skin will help to keep the excess oil out. Following the above methods will help to get rid of oily skin naturally.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Diet to Relieve Constipation

Constipation is a very common digestive disorder. Proper diet can help to relieve constipation. Anyone including children could be affected by constipation. Constipation is a result of reduction in bowel movement. This leads to difficulty in passing stools. It may also pose difficulties in emptying the bowels completely. The major cause of constipation is the non inclusion of sufficient quantities of fiber in the diet. Sometimes serious ailments like colon cancer could lead to constipation. A variety of home remedies for constipation relief are available.

Generally people have one bowel movement daily. Some people could have fewer bowel movements without getting affected by constipation.
Symptoms of constipation include bloating, abdominal pain and rectal discomfort. It could also result in loss of appetite.

One reason for constipation is that the large intestine absorbs too much of water from the stool making it dry and hard. It is also possible that bowel walls do not contract sufficiently to push the stools out.

Diet for Constipation

Deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the diet will lead to constipation. Another reason is excessive consumption of coffee and tea.

You should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water every day. The diet should include fiber rich foods. Fiber includes both soluble and insoluble fiber foods.  Fruits and vegetables have very high fiber content. 

Soluble fiber absorbs water and forms a soft gel which would be easy to expel. Foods with soluble fiber include oats, flax seed, beans, berries and apples. Fiber softens up the stools and makes it passage easy through the intestine. 

Foods with insoluble fiber include nuts, bran, whole wheat, certain fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber cannot be digested but helps to move the stools out of the body

Home Remedies for Constipation

Mix a teaspoon olive oil and lemon juice with hot water. Take this three times a day.


Add 10-12 raisins to milk and boil it. Eat the raisins and drink the milk.

Add psyllium husk seed (isabgol) to warm water. Drink the mixture. This is one of the most effective remedies for constipation as psyllium husk seed is rich in fiber.

Guava is an effective remedy for constipation. Eat guava pulp without breaking the seeds. 

Add a teaspoon of epsom salt to a glass of water and drink it. This is an effective and easy remedy for constipation.

Apple cider vinegar is rich in water-soluble fiber called pectin. This helps to aid digestion and bowel movements. Add two table spoons of apple cider vinegar to water and drink it three times a day. Alternatively it can be mixed with apple or grape juice

Add a teaspoon of honey to warm water and drink it regularly every morning on an empty stomach. Honey also protects you from a variety of health hazards.

Grapes are very a good constipation remedy. Drinking grape juice regularly keeps constipation at bay. 

Coriander leaves aid digestion and help to get rid of constipation.

These are some of the foods and diet to relieve constipation

How Can You Strengthen Your Immune System with Food

Food can help you to strengthen your immune system. Our body is susceptible to a variety of diseases. But it is possible to lessen the susceptibility to a certain degree by strengthening our immune system. This can be done by including certain foods in our diet. These foods help to increase the number of white cells in the blood that fight the diseases 
                           
                      Fruits ; Source : Dani Luri Wikimedia Commons

Minerals, vitamins and antioxidants are necessary to strengthen the immune system. All these cannot be found in a single food item. Certain mixture of foods are necessary to get these absorbed by the body efficiently. It has been found that some nutrients help to fight the ill effects of radiation and chemotherapy used for cancer treatment. It would be advisable to use recipes  which contain these combinations of food. For example chicken soup which is such a popular remedy for colds contains the right ingredients for that particular problem. The immune system can be weakened by our lifestyle and environment. Pollution, sunlight, poor diet can all contribute to the weakening of the immune system. This makes the body vulnerable to attacks from viruses and bacteria. Here is a list of foods to boost your immune system naturally.

Garlic

Garlic is a wonder food and an antioxidant. It is described as a miracle food. Garlic contains sulfur which gives immune boosting properties. Sulfur also gives garlic its pungent aroma. It contains an antibiotic called allicin in minute quantities. Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties. As an antioxidant it also has anti-ageing properties. It is also capable of cleaning the body of chemical residues of drugs, alcohol and pollutants.

Green Tea

Green tea is an antioxidant. It contains catechins which boost the immune system. It can kill cancer cells without affecting the healthy cells. It also gets rid of the free radicals. It helps to fight against heart disease and obesity.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a probiotic which contains good bacteria. It helps to stimulate the disease fighting white blood cells. Yogurt also helps to overcome gastrointestinal infections. It is recommended for children suffering from diarrhea. Yogurt helps to minimize the ill effects of antibiotics on friendly bacteria. It is a very good remedy for yeast infections of the vagina. It contains lactic acid which helps the absorption of minerals. It also increases the absorption of calcium.

Carrots

Carrots contain beta carotenes which is an antioxidant. It induces the immune system to target cancer cells. It also protects the cells against free radicals. It contains potassium, calcium, vitamin A, B and C. Carrot acts as an antiseptic. It can be used as a laxative and a vermicide. It can also be used to treat certain liver conditions and also as poultice.

Seafood

Salmon, tuna, crabs and oysters help to boost the immune system. All these contain vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. They can also help to prevent cancer, arthritis and heart diseases.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms contain beta glucans which inhibit the replication of viruses. They are also found in yeast, barley and oats. They help to boost the production of white blood cells and remove toxins from the body.

A change in life style like stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption and regular exercises will also help to boost the immune system. Broccoli and cabbage can also be included in the list of foods to strengthen your immune system naturally.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Facial Exercises for Cheeks, Mouth and Forehead to Get Rid of Wrinkles

As you age, wrinkles will start to appear on your face. Facial exercises for cheeks, mouth and forehead will help you to get rid of them.  

Stress, pollution, malnutrition and illness are likely to cause premature facial wrinkles. Constant blinking and exposure to sun are also some of reasons for the appearance of wrinkles round the eyes and sagging skin. Exposure to sun may cause loss of moisture from the skin and wrinkles may appear. Smoking causes bags under the eyes.

Facial Exercises for Cheeks

The best exercise for wrinkles on the cheeks is filling air in the mouth and holding it for a few seconds. Move air from one side of the cheek to the other. Blow the air out after 5-10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times. This helps to stretch and tone the cheek muscles and remove the wrinkles.

Facial exercises for wrinkles help to reduce and to get rid of them. They tighten the facial muscles and skin. These exercises can be done at any time during the day, sitting, standing or watching TV. They will make you look younger.

Facial exercises for the forehead

Sit in a comfortable position and bring your eyebrows down over your eyes as if you are frowning. At the same time flare up your nostrils and pull up your nose. Hold this position for a few seconds and repeat the exercise 5-6 times.

Lie down flat on the back with the head hanging over the edge of the bed. Then open your eyes and pull up the eyebrows as much as possible. Hold this position for ten seconds and repeat the exercise 5-6 times.

Exercise for Mouth and Lips

Stretch your lips and mouth as much as possible. As you stretch your lips, make sounds EEE, OOO and AAH. This would help to prevent wrinkles on the mouth and lips. Pull your lips in like a fish after sucking in the cheeks. Next pull in your lips and smile. Repeat the exercises a few times.

It is necessary to keep the skin moisturized always. The loss of moisture leads to the formation of wrinkles. Use a good moisturizer after cleaning and toning the skin. It is a very good idea to apply a moisturizer before going to bed. This is even more important for dry skin.

These facial exercises for wrinkles will not only help you to get rid of the wrinkles over a period of time but will also make you look younger.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Home Remedies for Under Eye Circles

Dark under eye circles appear because of  skin discoloration. It troubles people of all ages. Even with all the available cosmetics it is hard to hide them. There are several home remedies for under eye circles. Genetics may also play a part in their appearance. Some of the other reasons of appearance of the dark circles under the eye are


  • Exposure to sun
  • Vitamin K deficiency
  • Lack of sleep
  • Iron deficiency
  • Mental stress
  • Allergies
  • Deficiency of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Excessive smoking
  • Sinus infection
  • Pigmentation irregularities

Some of the home remedies to get rid of under eye circles are

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is very useful in getting rid of these circles. It not only removes the circles but also repairs the skin. It is available in abundance in green leafy vegetables, cauliflower, collard, spinach, turnip greens, cabbage and fruits. Avocados, pistachio nuts, green tea and soya beans are also rich in vitamin K. Including some of these foods in your daily diet will help to get rid of circles under the eyes.

Almond oil

Almond oil provides excellent nourishment for the skin. It also improves blood circulation and will keep the skin hydrated. Wash your face before going to bed, apply almond oil below the eyes and gently massage the skin. Apply it regularly and you will see the results after several days.

Almond oil can also be mixed with honey and applied. 

Olive oil

Apply olive oil on the skin under the eyes before going to bed every night and wash it off next morning. It will slowly get rid off the circles under the eyes.

Potato and cucumber

Potato has skin rejuvenating properties. Keep potato or cucumber slices on the skin under the eyes for 15 minutes. Potato contains enzymes that strengthen the skin and remove the wrinkles. Cucumber strengthens the skin by binding the collagen. It makes the skin firm as well as supple.

Tea bags

Take used tea bags. Wet it and place it on the skin under the eyes for 15 minutes. Tea contains caffeine which helps to remove the dark circles by reducing the puffiness. Make sure that tea does not enter your eyes. Tea is also an antioxidant and is beneficial to the skin.

Drinking plenty of water regularly keeps the skin hydrated and is essential for its health. Good nourishment is essential as lack of vitamins can cause under eye circles. These are some of the home remedies for under eye circles.