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Friday, 8 March 2013

Benefits of Honey


Health Benefits Of Honey



Honey is considered to be an elixir of life. This lustrous brown liquid works wonders for your health in more than one ways.


Honey is considered to be an elixir of life. This lustrous brown liquid works wonders for your health in more than one ways.

1. Immunity booster

The antioxidants and anti bacterial properties that honey contains, aids the improvement of the digestive system. Consuming this liquid can help boost your immune system and keep you healthy and fit in life.

2. Skin Care

Variety of beauty products available in the market contains honey as their prime ingredient. Honey not only helps to smoothen your skin but also keeps acne at bay. The anti-bacterial properties of this liquid can give your skin a nourishing look and feel.

3. Aids Weight Loss

Experts recommend eating honey mixed with warm water every morning. This unique combination helps you digest the fat in your body and aid the weight loss process.

4. Cancer preventive properties

Honey contains a number of antioxidants and flavanoids that help diminish the risk of a few types ofcancer. These antioxidants kill the collagen in the body.


5. Vitamins and Minerals

Honey is rich in a number of vitamins and minerals too. Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron are primarily derived from this golden ingredient.

6. Relaxes the throat

A commonly known benefit of eating honey is the soothing effect it provides to the throat. You must consume it or gargle with a honey and water mixture when you have a sore throat. It is known to kill the infection causing bacteria, reliving you of the irritation.

7. Healing Properties

Honey is considered to be a natural healer when applied to wounds. It cures the wound by killing the bacteria and cleans the infection too. The antibacterial property it contains does this magic to any kind of injury.

8. Induces Sleep

Enjoying a sound sleep is a problem for many especially amongst the older people. Drinking a glass of warm milk mixed with honey can solve your problem. This mixture is known to soothe you and induces sleep too.

                                         
                         Consuming a spoonful of honey on a daily basis can help you extract a number of golden benefits from this thick liquid. Making this tad bit effort can shower your body with miraculous benefits and promise a healthy life too.

5 Home Made Remedies to Cure Dark Circles

Home Remedies to Cure Dark Circles


Dark circles look unpleasant and concealing them with makeup is hardly effective. Most of the cosmetic products designed to remove them are expensive and laced with chemicals that can be harmful to the delicate skin under your eyes. However, there are certain effective natural remedies that can help you greatly in getting rid of these awful marks around your eyes and will also prevent its occurrence in the future. Here are five natural remedies for treating dark circles around your eyes. 




Tomato paste
Tomato paste is one of the most effective remedies for dark circles. You can make it easily at home. Take one or two fresh tomatoes, one tablespoon of lemon juice and a pinch of gram flour and turmeric powder. Blend these ingredients nicely until they become a thick paste and apply it very gently around your eyes. Rinse it off gently with clean water after 10 or 20 minutes. Repeating this process twice or thrice every week will make your skin tone around your eyes lighter and will eventually make your dark circles go away completely. 




Cucumber and Potato
Putting slices of fresh cucumber or potato over your eyes can help reduce dark circles to a great extent. It also provides your eyes a soothing touch which further prevents the occurrence of dark marks around your eyes. Besides the slices, you can also apply fresh juices of cucumber or potato around your eyes with the help of a cotton ball. It will better to apply the juices for entire night for quicker and more effective results.



Almond oil
Almond oil is another natural ingredient which is very beneficial for the delicate skin around your eyes. All you need to do is to apply a little almond oil over the dark circles before going to bed and wash it off with cold water the next morning. Repeating this for at least a month will make your dark circles disappear almost entirely.





Crushed mint leaves
Applying crushed mint leaves over your eyes will not only soothe your eyes but will also help you in getting rid of dark circles. Apply freshly crushed mint leaves all around your eyes and leave it for 5 or 10 minutes. Then gently wipe it off with a clean and cold cloth. You will feel extremely relaxed and will also get rid of under eye circles gradually.



Orange juice and glycerin
Regular application of orange juice mixed with glycerin is an effective way to get rid of dark circles. However, besides removing your dark circles it will also provide your overall skin with an inner glow and will make your skin around your eyes smoother and softer than before.



          If you want to get rid of under eye dark circles without spending a fortune and without harming your skin, try these perfect homemade remedies.

Saturday, 2 March 2013

Advantages of Fish Oil



Fish oil protects dialysis patients from sudden cardiac death


Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils could protect dialysis patients from sudden cardiac deaths, says a study.

"We found that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood of patients who were just starting (haemo) dialysis were very strongly associated with a lower risk of sudden cardiac death over the first year of their treatment".

"This study is a first step toward identifying a possible treatment for sudden cardiac death in dialysis patients".

Sudden cardiac death is an unexpected death due to cardiac causes occurring in a short period (generally within one hour of symptom onset) in a person with known or unknown cardiac disease.

The study is based on 100 patients who died of such causes during their first year of haemodialysis, and 300 patients who survived, according to an Indiana statement.

"The risk of sudden cardiac death in haemodialysis patients is highest during the first year of treatment. The annual rate of such deaths is about six to seven percent, which may even exceed the rate in patients with heart failure".

"Because omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained from certain foods, such as fish oil, our findings also have important implications for the type of diet we recommend to patients on dialysis".

The five-year survival rate for patients on haemodialysis is 35 percent, with the risk of death highest in the first few months of starting treatment. The most common cause of death in these patients is sudden cardiac death, which accounts for about one out of every four deaths.

Red Wine



Red wine compound prevents hearing loss







Resveratrol, a red wine compound, also seems to prevent hearing loss, besides warding off heart disease, cancer and dementia, says a study.

In a study conducted by the Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, healthy rats administered reseveratrol were less likely to suffer noise-induced hearing loss for a long period of time.

Michael Seidman from Henry Ford, who led the study, says: "Our latest study focuses on resveratrol and its effect on the body's response to injury - something that is believed to be the cause of many health problems including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, ageing and hearing loss."

"Resveratrol is a very powerful chemical that seems to protect against the body's inflammatory process, as it relates to ageing, cognition (brain function) and hearing loss,".

Hearing loss affects half of people over the age of 60, but many begin to suffer problems in their 40s or 50s. It usually sets in with the death of tiny "hair" cells in the inner ear as a result of ageing, according to the Daily Mail.

Resveratrol lowered noise-induced hearing loss in rats exposed to potentially deafening sounds. "We've shown that by giving animals resveratrol, we can reduce the amount of hearing and cognitive decline,".

In January, Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists reported that washing down red meat with a glass of red wine can prevent the build-up of cholesterol in the body.

Drinking a large glass of red wine every day could help prevent bowel cancer as well, Leicester University researchers said recently.

Thursday, 28 February 2013

6 Advantages Of Water

DRINK MORE WATER

Scientifically speaking, water is the basis of life, but beyond being essential to your very existence, water serves all sorts of purposes that help you feel your absolute best. No, it can't cure cancer (though it may help prevent it), pay your rent (though it does save you money), or take out the trash, here are six reasons H2O can help solve many annoying day-to-day health issues-and possibly prevent a few big ones-from headaches to those last few pounds.




Drinkwater



1. Water boosts metabolism:
Trying to lose weight? Drinking water can boost your body's ability to burn fat. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that drinking water (about 17oz) increases metabolic rate by 30 percent in healthy men and women. The boost occurred within 10 minutes but reached a maximum 30-40 minutes after drinking.




2. Studies also suggest that drinking one or two glasses of water before a meal can fill you up so you naturally eat less, says Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD spokesperson for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Plus, even mild dehydration will slow down metabolism by as much as 3 percent. 2. It safeguards your heart: Speaking of essential for life…drinking a good amount of water could lower your risk of a heart attack. A six-year study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who drank more than five glasses of water a day were 41 percent less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses. Bonus: Drinking all that water may reduce cancer risk as well. Research shows that staying hydrated can reduce risk of colon cancer by 45 percent, bladder cancer by 50 percent, and possibly reduce breast cancer risk too.

3. Water prevents headaches: The most debilitating kind as well: Migraines. In one study published in the journal Neurology, scientists recruited migraine sufferers and divided them into two groups: one took a placebo, the others were told to drink 1.5 liters of water (about six cups) in addition to their usual daily intake. At the end of two weeks, the water group had experienced 21 fewer hours of pain than those in the placebo group, as well as a decrease in pain intensity.

4. Water boosts your brainpower: Your brain needs a lot of oxygen to function at optimum levels, so drinking plenty of water ensures that it's getting all it needs. In fact, drinking eight to 10 cups of water per day can improve your levels of cognitive performance by as much as 30 percent.
The door swings both ways: Research shows that a dehydration level of just 1 percent of your body weight reduces thinking functions, so staying well-hydrated is super important for your mental performance .

5. It makes you rich: Making water your go-to drink saves a lot of money in the long run. Even though 60 percent of the U.S. population buys bottled water , it's still cheaper, on average, than juices, sodas, and Starbucks- especially when you buy it by the case. What's even cheaper: buying a filter and drinking water out of the tap. To put it in perspective, replacing your daily can of soda at lunch with a free-from-the-tap glass of water (or water cooler if you have access to one) can save you about $180 a year.

6. It keeps you alert: Dehydration is the single most common cause of daytime fatigue , so if your afternoon slump is more like a desperate need for an afternoon nap, guzzle a glass of water. It can also make you better at your job, or at least prevent you from being bad at a it-just a two percent dehydration level can trigger short-term memory problems and difficulty focusing on a computer screen or printed page.

Manage Thick Hair

HOW TO MANAGE THICK HAIR



Thinning hair may be haunting you every day, but the problems of thick hair are no less. You need to upgrade your hairstyle from a boyish look to a dapper Mad Men style,

but thick hair wants to make you switch to dreadlocks. You want to look sharper, cleaner, and sleeker—and every year, hundreds of new grooming products promise to help you do just that. But you don't need them all. Help is on your way, as we have broken down the ABCs of hair glop for you that will provide a smooth do to match your smooth swagger.


Buzz it off

The easiest way to control very thick hair is to simply cut it short. A buzz-cut can be a great option for some guys. A short Ivy League haircut (a cut buzzed at the crown, but longer towards the front) is another good option that will help control thick hair, but still give you a bit of styling options.

On your shelf - Gels. Applied to wet hair, it holds shape and leaves hair shiny, and it comes in varying hold strengths—from light to strong. It keeps your hair stationary and gives your hair the required stiffness.

Grow it out






If you don’t want to go ultra-short, consider a longer style that will give the hair a little weight and hold it down. It will also give you more styling options. With thick hair, it’s best to go longer or very short. Mid-length styles often don’t work.

On your shelf - Use a hydrating product and a dense conditioner. This will add weight, and reduce the volume further. If your long locks are particularly thick and have a tendency to bouffant, then ask your hairdresser to cut some of the body out of them.

Say goodbye to grease






If your crowning glory needs some ‘dry cleaning’, then consider giving it a good wash every day. Thick hair is prone to attracting dirt and grime, due to which the scalp becomes oily very soon.

On your shelf - Water-based pomade. It’s softer, not greasy, and it gives the hair definition and smoothness. Another option can be hair tonics, a grease less alternative to get shiny hair without looking like some greasy punk kid.

Never have a dry patch

Thick hair with a coarse texture, however, is usually dry. A low moisture content can be the result of natural causes, such as insufficient production of sebum, which coats and protects the hair.

On your shelf - Creams and waxes. Wax has a matte or shiny finish and is applied to hair that's dry or slightly damp to define and control select pieces or areas. It's extremely versatile, good for everything from messier bed-head looks to more structured styles.

All said and done, do not go overboard with the usage of hair products. Use these products for an added style quotient, but also remember – natural often looks the best. Your hair is a social asset. But in case you mess up your work of art, don’t worry—it’s a washable canvas!

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Make Hair Grow Faster



HOW TO MAKE HAIR GROW FASTER

When you're struggling to grow out an awkward hair do, it can seem like everyone else has glossy long hair. For busy (and impatient!) women, how to make your hair grow faster is one of the biggest hair care questions. Some swear by kelp supplements while others rave about head massage, but is it really possible to speed up hair growth? 4 Beauty investigates...

Smiling woman with long brown hair



Do Kelp Supplements Work?

A quick search shows that the internet is awash with women claiming they've experienced quicker hair growth while taking sea kelp supplements (derived from seaweed). Others claim that whilst kelp doesn't speed up growth, it does strengthen hair, reducing breakage and split ends. So with less breakage needing fewer haircuts, you might be able to get long hair sooner.

The experts' opinion? Give it a miss. There has been no long-term research into the effects of kelp on our bodies, and there's no scientific evidence that it helps our hair growth. It's thought that some people can suffer thyroid problems and other side effects as a result of taking kelp, so dieticians advise leaving it on the shelf until we know more.






Head Massage

All is not lost though - Andrew Barton recommends head massage as another option. "Gentle scalp massage will stimulate the blood supply to the hair follicle, bringing it nutrition and helping increase hair growth," he explains. "The more we can do to help the follicle secrete oil and push out the hair, the better. You'll get better results in the evening, so before you go to bed each night, spend a couple of minutes gently rotating your fingertips around, massaging the scalp."

 "It's only possible to quicken growth by a small percentage - at most 10%. Considering hair grows about six inches a year, that means you can only speed it up by just over half an inch per year." No chance of getting that Rapunzel look in time for your Christmas party then...


Strengthen Your Hair

Even with a speed boost, no one can achieve luscious long hair without looking after its condition. "Growing your hair to below shoulder-length may take you about seven years, and the hair that's then at the very tips was originally at the scalp, so it's old, aged hair," . "It's very susceptible to damage from heat appliances, general wear and tear and the sun. It needs to be treated with protein-based conditioners and conditioning masks, to make it stronger so it doesn't split or break. The more we can do to those very tips to help them, the less you'll need to cut your hair."

Diet and Hair Growth

The growth of healthy, strong hair is closely linked to what we eat. "Increasing levels of protein in the diet can improve hair growth, nail growth and the quality of your skin," . "We know that protein is particularly well-absorbed during the morning, so eating things like salmon or low-fat cottage cheese for breakfast is a great start." Vitamins A, B, C and E are also good for your hair and scalp, so make sure you're eating some citrus fruits and plenty of leafy green veg as part of a balanced diet.

Regular Trims

Contrary to what you hear at the salon, six-weekly trims may not be necessary. "Trimming your hair will not stimulate growth," . "That's a myth that's probably been touted by many a hairdresser. Unless you've got a short, defined style you can probably get away with leaving it eight to 10 weeks between trims."

The important thing, however, is to head to the salon as soon as the tips of your hair start to look a little worse for wear. "Regular trims help to seal the hair tips," . "The ends are weak and prone to damage, and can easily split. Once that happens, splits can continue tearing all the way up the hair shaft, making one hair into two very fine, weak strands. That's when the hair becomes frizzy and difficult to manage."

To reduce breakage and help your hair grow as long as possible, always use heat protection products to create a barrier around the hair shaft before using appliances like straighteners. When you're brushing your hair, work from the bottom up to avoid snapping it. Start by detangling and brushing the ends before gently tackling the roots.
Hair Growth and Hair Type

The bad news is that long healthy locks just aren't possible for every hair type. "Someone who's got very fine hair, particularly from an Anglo-Saxon background, may find that they will only get five years' growth out of each hair before it falls out," . "Whereas someone who comes from southern European or Mediterranean heritage might even get nine years growth out of the hair. There's such a difference in texture and fibre, and so much of that is linked to heritage and genetics."