Ultimate Diet Tips For Beautiful Hair And Skin

The appearance of your skin and hair shows your body condition. A beautiful skin or hair starts actually from taking a right meal. Whether your hair is pin straight, wavy or curly, whether your skin is ebony or golden, ageing or radiant you can make them look healthy and beautiful, because your allure comes from your inside. You can set your own beauty standards by making simple changes to your diet.

Manage to take sufficient quantities of beauty food to acquire all the beauty you ever wanted. This beauty food contains nutrients such as carbohydrates and essential fats, micro-nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, fiber rich, fresh and organic unprocessed foods.top_foods_for_beauty

When we eat poorly, it shows through rough and damaged hair and skin. Luckily, it’s easy to change diet and the results are rapid and radiant. When your skin or hair is really nourished, you will use little maintenance products, your skin will be supple and your hair looks glossy. Know the ultimate diet tips for beautiful hair and skin for a healthy and beautiful you.

Super Beauty Foods You Should Never Forget:-

1. Protein: 

Protein is the main structural component and plays a prominent role in building the cell structure of skin, nails, hair, muscles or bones. Our body needs a constant supply of proteins for the growth and repair of cells. Our body does not store proteins. So, you need to take sufficient quantity of protein foods everyday to keep the skin and hair cells healthy.

Some healthy sources of protein:-

Chicken Breast, 3oz ……………………………………………….26 gm

Lean Beef, 3oz…………………………………………………………23 gm

Tuna, 3oz …………………………………………………………………20 gm

Salmon, 3oz……………………………………………………………..19 gm

Shrimp, 3oz ……………………………………………………………..18 gm

Crab, 3oz…………………………………………………………………..18 gm

Plain Yogurt(non-fat), 1 cup……………………………………..10 gm

Lentils, 1/2 cup………………………………………………………….9 gm

Milk(non-fat), 8 oz……………………………………………………..9 gm

Pumpkin seeds, 1 oz………………………………………………….7 gm

Egg, 1…………………………………………………………………………6 gm

Oatmeal, 1 cup…………………………………………………………..6 gm

Almonds, 1 oz ……………………………………………………………6 gm

2. Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates supplies beauty nutrients for your body and healthy carbohydrates keeps the skin and hair healthy. It is important to know which carbohydrates are better and what quantity is required. Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables are the sources of healthy carbohydrates with natural sugars and fiber. Low fat milk and yogurt are good sources of healthy carbohydrates with beauty enhancing calcium and protein. Sweet potatoes, yogurt, low fat milk, fruits rich in vitamin-C are the top beauty foods with healthy carbohydrates.beauty food 4

Healthy Carbohydrates:-

Fruits: Apples, avocados, apricot, kiwifruit, oranges, grape fruit, bananas, berries.

Vegetables: Spinach, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, tomatoes.

Whole grains: Brown rice, whole wheat, oatmeal, millet, corn

Nuts and seeds:  Almonds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds

3. Dietary Fiber:Dietary fiber

Fiber increases food volume without increasing calorie content and provides satiety which reduces appetite. This helps in controlling unnecessary weight gain and obesity. Current recommendations from the United States National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine, suggest that adults should consume 20–35 grams of dietary fiber per day.

Lentils, cooked 1 cup…………………………………………………16 g

Kidney beans, cooked 1 cup …………………………………….16 g

White beans, small, cooked 1 cup………………………….. 19 g

French beans, cooked 1 cup …………………………………….17 g

Mung beans, cooked 1 cup ………………………………………15 g

Raspberries, raw 1 cup ……………………………………………….8 g

Blueberries, raw 1 cup……………………………………………….. 4 g

Currants (red and white), raw 1 cup………………………… 5 g

Peas, split, cooked 1 cup ………………………………………….16 g

Peas, green, frozen 1 cup ………………………………………..14 g

Turnip greens, cooked 1 cup ……………………………………5 g

Mustard greens, cooked 1 cup………………………………… 5 g

Collard greens, cooked 1 cup………………………………….. 5 g

Spinach, cooked 1 cup……………………………………………… 4 g

Beet greens, cooked 1 cup………………………………………. 4 g

Amaranth, grain 1/4 cup ………………………………………….6 g

Barley, pearled, cooked 1 cup ………………………………..6 g

Spaghetti (whole wheat), cooked 1 cup ……………….6 g

Sunflower seeds 1/4 cup ………………………………………..3 g

Pumpkin seeds 1/2 cup …………………………………………..3 g

Sesame seeds 1/4 cup …………………………………………….4 g

Flaxseed 1 ounce …………………………………………………….8 g

Broccoli, cooked 1 cup …………………………………………..5 g

Brussels sprouts, cooked 1 cup …………………………….6 g

Red cabbage, cooked 1 cup …………………………………….4 gbeauty food 5

4) Vitamin-C:

Vitamin-C plays an important role in the synthesis of collagen. Vitamin-C has great anti-oxidant properties which helps to quench the free radicals from the body. It helps in cell repair and in keeping the skin younger. Vitamin-C is a most effective nutrient to help grow and strengthen the hair.

Good sources of vitamin-C:

Guava, 1 medium sized………………………………………..188 mg

Kiwifruit, 2 medium sized……………………………………141 mg

Orange, 1 medium………………………………………………….78 mg

Red sweet pepper, 1 medium sized…………………….59 mg

Broccoli (cooked), 1/2 cup…………………………………….50 mg

Strawberries, sliced, 1/2 cup………………………………..49 mg

Cantaloupe, 1/4 medium………………………………………48 mg

Papaya, sliced, 1/2 cup………………………………………….47 mg

Pineapple, 1/2 cup…………………………………………………37 mg

Spinach, cooked, 1 cup………………………………………….18 mg

5) Essential Fatty-acids: 

Essential fatty acids include both Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s play a key role in keeping the skin young and healthy. Increasing dietary omega-3 fats plays a great role in healing the skin. Most of the health benefits of omega-3 fats are possessed in animal-based EPA and DHA, not the plant-based ALA. These omega-3 fats are abundant in cold water fatty fish such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, anchovies, and black cod, among many others. Researchers found that omega-3 intake have reduced inflammation of skin and reduced the risk of risk of acne, psoriasis, sun damage and even skin cancer. Omega-3 combats the dry, brittle hair, scalp conditions and adds luster, sheen and elasticity to the hair. It can restart hair growth and reverses hair loss.omeg3

Rich sources of Omega-3:

Flax, 3oz………………………………………………………………………. 11.4 gm

Hemp, 3oz……………………………………………………………………. 11.0 gm

Herring, sardines, 3oz……………………………………………….. 1.3–2 gm

Mackerel: Spanish/Atlantic/Pacific, 3oz…………………. 1.1–1.7 gm

Salmon, 3oz………………………………………………………………… 1.1–1.9 gm

Halibut, 3oz………………………………………………………………… 0.60–1.12 gm

Tuna, 3oz…………………………………………………………………….. 0.21–1.1 gm

Swordfish, 3 oz…………………………………………………………… 0.97 gm

Greenshell/lipped mussels, 3oz………………………………. 0.95 gm

Tilefish, 3oz………………………………………………………………… 0.9 gm

Tuna (canned, light), 3oz………………………………………….. 0.17–0.24 gm

Pollock, 3oz………………………………………………………………… 0.45 gm

Cod, 3oz………………………………………………………………………. 0.15–0.24 gm

Catfish, 3oz…………………………………………………………………. 0.22–0.3 gm

6) Antioxidants:

Antioxidants are molecules that inhibit the process of oxidation caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unbalanced molecules that cause the skin to become inflamed and they damage our skin cells. Antioxidants occupy a prominent place in skin care and hair care. They inhibit the fine lines, ageing process and even sun damage. Antioxidants also reduces the hair damage and scalp conditions. Some common antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, Selenium, Beta carotene, Alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, retinoic acid, flavonoids, and Vitamin B.beauty food 3

Rich sources of Anrioxidants:

Small red beans, dried 1/2 cup……………………….. 13727

Wild blueberries 1 cup……………………………………… 13427

Red kidney beans, dried 1/2 cup…………………….. 13259

Pinto beans 1/2 cup………………………………………….. 11864

Blueberries, cultivated 1 cup……………………………. 9019

Cranberries 1 cup……………………………………………….. 8983

Artichoke hearts, cooked 1 cup……………………….. 7904

Blackberries 1 cup……………………………………………… 7701

Dried prunes 1/2 cup…………………………………………. 7291

Raspberries 1 cup………………………………………………. 6058

Strawberries 1 cup…………………………………………….. 5938

Red delicious apple One…………………………………… 5900

Granny Smith apple One…………………………………… 5381

Pecans 1 ounce…………………………………………………… 5095

Sweet cherries 1 cup………………………………………….. 4873

Black plum One ……………………………………………………4844

Russet potato, cooked One ………………………………..4649

Black beans 1/2 cup ……………………………………………4181

Plum One ………………………………………………………………4118

Gala apple One …………………………………………………….3903is_your_hair_beautiful

Nourishing from within makes the skin and hair healthy and beautiful. Start with the right diet before you have to use all those toxic chemical products on your skin and hair. Its easy to choose the right diet for preserving your beauty, when you really know what you are eating.

healty_foods_for_skin_and_hair

 

 

35 Beauty Tips A Girl Should Always Remember

Every girl is beautiful in her own way. Some have expressive eyes, while others have lustrous hair or a sweet smile. Some have a shiny skin texture while others have bold features. How beautiful a woman looks can affect her self confidence, overall performance and they way she socially interacts. While the true beauty comes from within, these beauty tips can make you more attractive, more self confident and healthy from inside and outside.beautiful orange young brunette girl expression portrait with daisy flower

1. Smile: Always keep smiling. The little cute curve of your lips can do wonders for you. Every woman looks sweet by wearing a little cordial smile on your face.

2. Vitamin-C:  Make it a routine to add fresh oranges or other fruits rich in vitamin-C to your daily menu to keep your skin fresh, younger looking and to slow down the ageing process.

vitamin-c-fruits

3. Teeth care: A simple way to keep your teeth whiter and to avoid yellowing is to eat a guava, carrot, apple or cucumber daily.white teeth

4. Look at your heels: At the end of the day rub a little sesame oil on your heels and sleep with it to give your cracked heels a good care and to make them ready for the next day. Don’t forget to wear cotton socks to your feet before going to bed.

5. Biotin: Ask your doctor for the biotin supplements and take it daily for long lasting hair health and also too keep your nails strong.

6. Dry brush: Exfoliating the skin daily with a dry brush for few minutes can eliminate dead skin and improve circulation. It keeps your skin glowing.Dry+Skin+Brushing+Techniques

7. Eye care: Give your eyes a bright glow by washing them frequently with cold water. Dab cool rose water on the eyes before going to bed daily. If you wear mascara. remove it completely at night, otherwise it may cause the eye lashes to break.

8. Hair-oil: Give your hair a hot oil massage at least once a week.

hair_oil_massage

9. Cellulite: Fight cellulite by drinking plenty of water daily in regular intervals. Always remember to keep your body hydrated. Exercise regularly.

10. Eye lashes: Massage a little almond oil on your eye lashes. This helps them to grow thicker and longer.

11. Conditioning: Condition your hair whenever you shampoo. Use a wide tooth comb to spread the conditioner evenly from root to tips.Wide_Tooth_Comb_For_Curly_Hair_7

12. Blush: Use a brighter blush shade to look younger. Deep shades may make you look a little elderly.

13. Lipstick: Before putting on the lipstick, apply a little moisturizer or lip balm on the lips and leave for few minutes. Then proceed to apply your lipstick. This makes it spread evenly and smoothly.

14. Acne: Workout regularly. Do not forget to wash your face after the workouts. Otherwise the sweat can clog the pores and worsen the acne.

15. Hair wash: Always use a mild sulfate free shampoo to prevent hair fall or scalp conditions. Prevention is better than cure. Avoid hair fall even before you experience it.

16. Green tea: Make it a habit to have a cup of green tea once or twice a day. It is rich in antioxidants which can keep you fit and beautiful.drinking green tea

17. Face masks: Use avocado or papaya regularly in your face masks. Add yogurt as well.

18. Be gentle: Do not be harsh on your skin when you rub it. Always be gentle.

19. Coffee: If you drink coffee, try shifting it to mid-morning or afternoon instead of early mornings.

20. De-stress: De-stress your mind and body daily by doing yoga regularly. It can keep your mind calm and your body beautiful.yoga-3

21. Express gratitude: Expressing gratitude for every simple thing you get makes you feel better.

22. Love: Spend 20 minutes of happy moments, talking and sharing with your loved ones daily. It keeps you healthier and happier.

23. Face: Do not touch your face unnecessarily. Keep your face hydrated and protect from UV rays with a good sunscreen.

24. Soft lips: Use a soft damp cloth to gently rub your lips daily at night to remove the flaky layers. Rub a good lip balm or  milk cream before bed.

25. Moisturize: Use moisturizer daily. The better time to apply moisturizer on your skin is immediately after shower while your skin is still damp.

26. Body scrub: Exfoliate your body with a gentle body scrub once a week. It helps slough the dead layers and the moisturizers get easily absorbed into the skin thereafter.

27. Legs: Keep your legs elevated while you rest, at least a few minutes daily. It helps you improve the circulation and prevent the risk of appearance of  unattractive veins in your legs.A woman's legs lay down on a pillow for relaxing and preventing varicose vein

28. Cleanser: Choose a cleanser with salicyclic acid.

29. Sunscreen: Reapply sunscreens twice or thrice a day although it claims to work all day through.

30. Foundations: If you live in a humid or hot areas, your foundation gets flaked or patchy after some time. Try wearing tinted moisturizers or creams such as cc-cream instead. You can mix a tiny amount of your  foundation in your regular face cream to avoid such patchiness.

31. Makeup: Always remove your makeup completely before bed. Otherwise your skin looks dull in the morning.remove makeup

32. Sleep: Sleep sufficiently everyday. At least 6-8 hours of quality sleep is essential.

33. Meditation: Never underestimate the power of meditation. Spend at least 10 minutes daily in a peaceful place for meditation. It helps you to be stress free and beautiful from inside.

34. Hydrate: Drink plenty of water regularly. It eliminates the toxins from the body and keeps the skin clear.Enjoyment - free happy woman enjoying sunset

35. Be yourself and be positive :))

 

Top Foods That Trigger Acne

Acne:

Nearly 85% of people have acne at least in one phase of their life. Usually started during puberty, acne may impact any age group, even 50’s. Acne is actually a sign of deeper imbalance in your system. The first step to prevent acne is not taking the prescribed drugs or topical creams, but keeping the gut healthy by avoiding foods that trigger acne. In a survey, it is found that Americans spend more than $2.2 billion per year for acne treatments and drugs, yet many proved to be useless.acne

Some of the top foods that trigger acne, which you are taking almost everyday are listed below:

1) Aspartame:

aspartame_products1
read label for aspartame and avoid such foods

Research showed that when people with acne prone skin types started drinking diet coke, their acne got triggered and when they stopped drinking, their complexion cleared up. This is because of the artificial sweetener called Aspartame contained in it. Aspartame is also contained in many of your favorite chewing-gums which can trigger acne. Most of the acne caused due to consumption of aspartame is found to be cystic acne on face or other parts of the body.

2) Sugar:

A good way to improve the health of your skin is to eat foods that keeps your blood sugars balanced. Some foods raise the blood sugar levels and trigger the insulin levels in the bloodstream. Insulin plays a major role in causing acne which is proved through researches. By identifying and avoiding foods that have high glycemic index and those which have the nature of triggering acne, you can prevent and heal acne effectively. It is better to substitute sugar with pure honey if you have acne prone skin.glycemic index

3) Dairy:

The-Dairy-Acne-Connection
milk products can trigger acne due to the growth hormone contained in it

There is abundant amount of a growth hormone called IGF-1 in milk,  which can trigger acne. IGF-1 is one of the huge factors that cause inflammation in humans, which is the main reason for causing acne. Milk and dairy products also triggers insulin production which causes the liver to produce more IGF-1. Dairy consumption increases the sebum production and makes the skin a breeding ground for propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria that causes acne.

4) Gluten:

gluten
gluten foods should be avoided to control pimples

Glutinous proteins, found in wheat, barley, and rye, known as prolamines makes your digestive system to allow more liquids and gases through it. Because of this partially digested proteins gets into your bloodstream which should actually be excluded from the body. This makes your your immune system sensitive and triggers inflammation, worsening acne.

5) Soy: 

soy-acne
soybeans and other soy products can trigger acne

Soybeans have a great estrogen-mimicking effects on our body. Soy contains huge amounts of omega-6 which causes inflammation if not balanced with omega-3, but it is not easy to take omega-3 in quantities more than that of omega-6 in soy. This increases the inflammation and caused the acne to breakout.

6) Spicy foods: 

spicy foods acne
avoid spicy foods to prevent acne

Spicy foods doesn’t cause acne but it increases the circulation and also keeps the oil producing glands in the face active. Spices increases the temperature of the body, causes inflammation of the body and increases sweating. This can worsen the acne.

7) Nuts:

phytate-nuts
eat only roasted or soaked nuts if your skin is acne prone

Nuts are very healthy for the body. But one drawback is that they are rich in proteins. If these nuts are not digested properly, the high proteins and fats effects the immune system and causes the production of antibodies that can inflame the sebaceous glands. One way to prevent this is either to roast nuts or to soak them in order to improve the digestion.

8) Fast foods:

fast-foods-cause-acne
avoid fast foods like pizza, burger, french fries to avoid acne

Numerous studies have linked junk foods to acne. Processed foods cause inflammation of the body and increases the sebum, triggering acne. Pizza, burgers, chocolates and all other junk foods are associated with acne and it is an undeniable fact that our skin condition depends on the food we take.

Tamarind Face Mask For Skin Brightening

Most of you know that tamarind is used for culinary purposes, but it may be new for you to hear that it can do wonders for your skin on topical application. Yes and indeed its a best home remedy for making the skin glow. On regular use, it can lighten the skin and remove dark spots, blemishes and nourish the skin. This is probably because of the high tartaric, citric , malic acid levels present in it. It is probably a fruit with highest content of tartaric acid on earth.

tamarind

Tartaric acid is well known to the beauty and cosmetic industry. It is a most effective skin care ingredient used in many moisturizers, skin toners, shampoos, hair conditioners, sun protection products and anti-aging treatments. This alphahydroxy acid is a weak kind of acids just like the glycolic acid, with great exfoliating properties. Tartaric acid stimulates the collagen production in the dermal layer of the skin.

 

tamarind skin lightening products

A good news for acne prone skin is that Tartaric acid and other Alphahydroxy acids are ingredients in some acne treatment products. This tamarind face mask with its huge quantities of tartaric acid, apart from all the benefits it does for the skin can also prevent acne.

How to extract tamarind pulp?

For making this excellent face mask, do not use the packaged tamarind paste. Its always better to make your own tamarind paste at home with this simple procedure. It takes less than 10 minutes to make this paste at home.tamarind1

All you need is:  Half cup of boiled water and a small lemon sized de-seeded tamarind. Soak for 5 minutes. Squeeze the tamarind with your hands to extract the pulp, and separate the veins and flesh. Extract the tamarind paste as thicker as you can. Do not bother if it is juicy, it is equally effective.

How to make the skin brightening and glowing face mask using tamarind paste?

tamarind paste
tamarind paste

You need :

  • at least a tbsp full of fresh tamarind paste,
  • two tbsp fullers earth and
  • a little rose water enough to make a smooth paste.

Mix all the ingredients to make a smooth face mask. Apply this over the face and neck and leave for at least 15 minutes. Wash with plain water. The remaining face mask can be stored in a refrigerator for later use.

how-to-make-tamarind-face-mask

This face mask gently exfoliates the skin and deep cleanses the pores. It makes the skin bright and glowing. This is also one of the best home remedy to remove sun tan and can also be used as a skin lightening face mask or acne control face mask. It has all the best properties to be used as a home based skin care product.

Skin Bleach Face Mask:-

You can easily create natural whitening mask by mixing tamarind pulp with lemon juice and honey. Add 1/2 tamarind paste, 1/2 tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 tbsp honey in a bowl and mix well. Apply the paste all over the face and leave for at least 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Repeat at least once a week for best results.

Exfoliating Mask:-

Mix one tbsp tamarind paste with one tbsp brown sugar and mix well. Use this to gently scrub the skin to reveal a fresh and glowing skin in a natural way.

Beautiful Mehndi Designs For Wedding Season

Wedding ceremony cannot be as great anywhere else as in India. All the festive glory starts even before months and before the big day, many other pre-wedding and post-wedding ritualistic  ceremonies such as Mehndi, Sangeet are celebrated in some regions. Indian wedding may last from one day to a week depending on the tradition, culture and certain other factors varying from place to place within the country. Mehndi designs are the integral part of Indian weddings and occupied a place in the bride’s heart since ages. Mehndi is given a very important place in weddings and other ceremonies in India.

Latest-Mehndi-Designs

embellished_mehendi_designs

 

Girls love to do experiments with different mehndi designs during occasions. It adds a rich compliment to the traditional attires worn during certain ceremonies or events and gives a more attractive look to the woman. It is believed in India that putting mehndi on palms and feet can absorb excess heat from the body and balance the body temperature. The scent of mehndi have the ability to cure headaches. It is believed in Unani medicine that putting mehndi on the palms and feet of women can treat Menorrhagia and is good for ovary health.

mehendi_designs_bridal

African Bridal Mehndi

Mehndi contains a strong pigment known as lawsone which has a tendency of temporarily staining our skin. It gets absorbed in porous surfaces like skin and hair. The longer you keep, the darker the color gets.

beautiful_mehendi_designs

Bridal-Mehndi-Designs-For-Hands-And-Feet-012

Mehndi artists add more hennotannic acid to the Mehndi paste to help you get a darker shade. Hennotannic acid is found in most essential oils like tea tree oil, clove bud, lavender and eucalyptus oil.

mehendi_designs_for_wedding

bridal mehandi1

A good design is sign of good luck for the martial couple. The most popular symbols of Good luck in mehndi design’s are Peacock, Lotus, an elephant with the raised trunk, Shehnai, kalash with mango leaves around it. One of the common belief is that the deeper the color of mehndi will be-the deeper the love you receive from in-laws particularly the mother in law.

mehendi_designs_for_feet

best_henna_designs_for_hands

Many different mehndi designs are invented day-by-day such as jardosi designs, motifs, theme designs, arabic style, shaded design, moghul designs or even portraits. If you are allergic to mehndi, then temporary mehndi is also available with the mehndi artists which goes away completely once you wash your hand. The use of black “henna” should be avoided as it contains a dangerous   chemical called Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) found in hair dyes which causes skin irritations.

gorgeous_mehendi_designd

Studded-Mehandi-2

wedding_mehendi_for_legs Bridal-Mehndi-Designs-For-Hands

To add more attraction to your mehndi designs for the mehndi nights, wedding or receptions, body   glitter and gems in different colors can be applied on the skin to match   the outfits. Note that manicure or pedicure should be done before applying mehndi and not after that. Leave the design for at least 4-5 hours or overnight before scraping it, for a darker color. Do not use soap for 24 hours after scraping away the mehendi. Just wash with plain water.

simple_mehndi

mehendi

Mehendi_desin_with_bride_and_groom

20 Gorgeous South Indian Wedding Hairstyles

In South India, it is a tradition to decorate the bride’s long plait with beautifully patterned flowers, beads, gold or anything which adds to her stunning looks on her big day. Brides love to show off their lustrous long hair beautifully plaited and decorated usually with flowers, known as poola jada (plait made of flowers). Sometimes hair extensions are used to keep the plait longer for an enhanced look.

pelli_poola_jada_designs

These gorgeous South Indian Wedding Hairstyles also requires to be ended with a ball shaped or hairy type of decorative things at the bottom of the plait, usually known as jada kuchulu or jada gantalu in Andhra Pradesh, which adds a more embellished appearance to the total bridal hairstyle. On the day of wedding, it is as important to the bride as her wedding saree and great care is taken in choosing the best design which syncs to her saree.

south_indian_bridal_hairstyles

Usually the flower patterns comes in long pre-stitched ready-made form which is carefully attached to the bride’s long plait. Some patterns requires to weave the flowers, beads or other decorative materials on the plait. According to your taste, these South Indian wedding hairstyles can be ordered for a customized design from a specialist. Different flowers such as jasmines, roses, chrysanthemum flowers or leaves are used in these wedding hairstyles. southindian_wedding_floral_hairstyles This elegant South Indian Hairstyle is also worn by girls on any other special and traditional occasions and goes well with a rich bordered half saree or a silk saree or even a heavy lehenga or salwar. Apart from flowers, a precious plait-ornament made of gold or pearls is also used for this wedding hairstyle usually known as jadanagam.

south_indian_pelli_poola_jadalu

The overall South Indian bridal make-over looks incomplete without this flattering hairstyle. A silk saree, bridal makeup, mehandi, jewelry and a flaunting floral hairstyle is all that makes the bride look like an angel on the prominent once in a life time moment.

Photo Courtesy: Pinterest

Homemade Lip Balm For Chapped Lips

Though there are several most effective home remedies to try at home for the dry and chapped lips, you may not be able to try those when you are away from home. Harsh winter days are approaching making the skin and lips dry and scaly. You need to add a good lip balm into your hand bag to protect your lips whenever you need through out the day. Homemade-Lip-Balm-Finished-and-ready

Lip balms usually contain alcoholic acids and other chemicals which can dry the lips and make more worse. When you smear it on your lips you may feel your lips moisturized and supple, but the chemicals in it often makes the lips get addicted to lip balm i.e., your lips will be good only when you are wearing lip balm. This is not healthy for the lips. Some people find that several lip balms turn their lips darker.beeswax (1)

So, here is a homemade lip balm for chapped lips, using beeswax and essential oils. This is simple to make and works great to heal the lips.

Ingredients to make the lip balm:-

beeswax

  • 1 tbsp Beeswax
  • 1 tbsp Sesame oil or Olive oil.
  • Few drops of honey.
  • Any essential oils of your choice. (Rose hip oil is used here)
  • vitamin-E oil.

 

vitamin e oil

How to make:-

  • Melt the beeswax by heating it in a bowl on low heat, along with the sesame oil or olive oil, until it melts properly. Stir frequently.
  • Once it is completely melted, add a few drops of essential oil, 2-3 drops of honey and 2-3 drops of vitamin-E oil and mix well.
  • Pour this solution into a small lip balm container.
  • It starts hardening very quickly. So work fast once it is melted.lip balm container
  • Let it cool until it becomes firm.lipbalm
  • Your lip balm is ready to use :))

Amazing Homeopathic Hair Loss Therapy

A miracle remedy for hair loss has been provided by the popular homeopath of Srilanka, Dr. Joe De Livera. Joe has a good experience in treating patients with hair loss through his therapies and yielded good results. He chose Arnica oil as a wonderful remedy to treat all kinds of hair solutions including hair fall and recommended a unique formula for many patients. He found the results to be excellent and he presented this formula through his articles to help the world of hair fall sufferers.

the wonder flower arnica.. a precious remedy by nature to promote hair growth
the wonder flower arnica.. a precious remedy by nature to promote hair growth

Joe’s Formula for Hair Loss Solution:

Joe’s formula arrests hair fall and stimulates hair growth in about two months. The prescription typically consists of a topical treatment as well as oral dose of Arnica, to be used simultaneously.

For topical treatment, Arnica Q and olive oil are prescribed whereas for oral dose, Arnica 30c in the Liquid Dilution in Ethanol is suggested.

Let us see the prescription in detail.

Requirements:

  • Arnica Q or Mother Tincture 30ml bottle
  • Olive Oil 200 ml

arnica mother tincture

Preparation:

  • Pour 80 ml Olive oil into a bottle and add 20 ml Arnica Q to it. Shake the bottle well and an emulsion will be formed;
  • Wet your fingers with the emulsion and apply all over the hair section by section. Also apply to scalp and gently massage with finger tips.
  • Repeat daily after shower to control hair fall, hair damage and scalp conditions.

 

Wet dose for oral use:Arnicachart

Joe suggests Arnica 30c in wet dose to be taken twice daily to combat hair loss and to treat Alopecia Areata.

Requirements:

  • Arnica 30c in the Liquid Dilution in Ethanol
  • A 500ml bottle of Spring water sold in supermarkets.
  • Any good Fish Liver Oil in capsule form

How to prepare wet dose ? 

Order Arnica 30c in a 5ml in the Liquid Dilution in Ethanol in a bottle with a dropper arrangement.

Get a 500ml bottle of Spring Water from the nearest supermarket.

Pour out about 3cm of water from the bottle to leave some airspace.

Insert 3 drops of the remedy into the bottle.

Shake the bottle hard before you take a capfull which is a dose twice daily.

This is best taken first thing in the morning and last thing before bed.

Shaking the bottle hard is homeopathic succussion and this shaking must be done every time before a cap full of the bottle is sipped as directed.

It is suggested to take a capsule of  Fish Liver Oil daily.Medicine

Patients who suffered from severe hair loss who were losing over 200 hairs daily have confirmed that they discovered in about a week that the loss of their hair was arrested. They also noticed that the new growth was plainly visible above their scalp when their hair was parted in about 6 weeks,says the 82 year old well experienced therapist.

Joe also recommends to take homeopathic medicine  Ferrum Phos 6x 3 tablets twice daily.natural-remedies

He also suggests to to avoid coffee, processed foods and canned foods.

Joe recommends to prefer mild shampoos like Johnson’s baby shampoo.


exercise

It is recommended to drink plenty of water and to exercise daily to sweat out, so that blood circulation will be promoted, for the Arnica therapy to be effective.

Joe says that the success rate for this homeopathic treatment is more than 80%.

For more information visit:

http://www.joedelivera.com/?p=110 ,

http://www.homeopathyandmore.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2736

Remedies To Heal Dry And Chapped Lips

A sweet smile can touch the heart of the world and make it smile :)) But when weather is harsh or body is sick, one of the most common side effects on the list is dry or chapped lips, or an aggravated Cheilitis.

There are several reasons for dry and chapped lips apart from bad weather, wind and exposure. Some of the most common causes of dry or chapped lips are listed below:

get-rid-of-chapped-lips

 1) Licking your lips:- 

When you feel your lips dry due to exposure or dry weather, you want to lick them. But this habit makes the lips more prone to dryness. Because as the saliva evaporates, it takes away more moisture with it from the lips, making it more dehydrated. Sooner, a dry, rough and separated layer forms on the lips making them chapped and worse. Biting and chewing the lips also does the same thing. So first and foremost thing to help combat dry or chapped lips is to kick off the habit of licking or biting lips.

2) Dehydration:-

Lips do not possess oil glands like our skin does. They they become easily dry when compared to skin. It is a first sign of body dehydration and the remedy is to drink more water throughout the day. Exposure to wind or extreme humidity or dry air can make the the lips more dehydrated.

drinking enough water protects your smile
drinking enough water protects your smile

3) Not protecting them:-

As your skin needs sun protection, so does your lips. Always choose a lip balm with sun blockers. Keep reapplying it several times a day. Make sure that your lip balm does not contain dyes or alcohol. Lip balm or moisturizer made of Beeswax is better to protect the lips from getting chapped. Some lip balms makes the lips more dry and may also darken the lips because of the acids, phenol or other chemicals present in it. Holly Phillips suggests that certain types of lip balm can be addictive or contain ingredients that actually cause drying. While protecting lips from drying, be as natural as you can.

petroleum jelly

 

3) Toothpaste:- 

Many toothpaste products contain sodium lauryl sulphate which is a culprit in making the lips dryer and chapped. If you are struggling with dry lips, check your toothpaste label and try switching to another product. Also take good care of lips naturally, using olive oil, milk cream or petroleum jelly instead of harmful lip balms which contain drying alcohols.

toothpastes free from sodium lauryl sulphate
toothpastes free from sodium lauryl sulphate

4) Citrus and Cinnamates:-

When you already have chapped lips, the acids in the citrus fruits, the cinnamates in candies, toothpastes and gum can further irritate and aggravate the problem. Tomato sauce is another irritant of dry lips.

5) Too much vitamin-A:-

Chapped or dry lips may be a symptom of too much vitamin-A in your body. Make sure that you limit intake of vitamin-A to 25000 IU per day through diet or supplements.

6) Deficiency of vitamins:-

Deficiency of any of the vitamins-B12 , B6, riboflavin, vitamin-D, vitamin-E or  zinc is another factor for making the lips dry, cracked or chapped.

7) Sickness:-

Sickness makes the body dehydrated and makes the lips very dry and peeling. Some autoimmune diseases can make your lips more sensitive to sun. Some diseases like thyroid, psoriasis, perleche or angular cheilitis makes the lips cracked and peeling. Take good care of lips by continuously moisturizing when you have an internal body condition associated with chapped lips.

How to heal dry or chapped lips at home? :-

1) Coconut oil is a great remedy for treating chapped lips naturally. Smear a tiny amount of coconut oil on your lips several times daily.

2) Aloe Vera works as an effective healing agent for our skin, including lips. Put a small amount of Aloe Vera gel on your lips daily to cure chapped lips.

3) Soak a few rose petals in little water for few minutes. Crush them and add a drop of glycerin. Apply it on your lips every night before going to bed. It will help you to prevent darkening of lips due to dryness and restores the lost moister of your lips.

4) Applying a drop of castor oil on your dry lips can heal the cracks and make them smooth. Castor oil can also improve the color of lips on regular use.

5) Honey is a great moisturizer. Rub some honey to your chapped lips to heal them fast and to moisturize them.honey-for-dry-lips

6) Milk cream is one of the best home remedy to treat chapped lips. Apply fresh milk cream to lips daily before bed and leave overnight.It makes the lips soft and supple. At morning, gently rub with a soft bristled brush to exfoliate the dried layer on the lips which is already soaked in milk cream. Repeating it daily keeps the lips healthy and soft.

# And finally, always use homemade chemical-free lip balm using beeswax and essential oils, to protect the lips.

 

Benefits of Saffron for Skin, Hair and Health

Saffron

Saffron or Kesar is one of most expensive spice in the world. Originated from Greece, Saffron is also grown mostly in South Asia, India, China and Europe apart from Greece. The stigmas of saffron flower are the most precious part of the plant, which are carefully graded by hand and stored. The rich aromatic flavor, appealing color and high nutritious qualities make saffron very special. The brilliantly hued flowers range from light pastel shade of lilac to a darker and more striated mauve and possess a sweet honey-like rich aroma.

most expensive species, saffron
most expensive spice, saffron

A most special feature about saffron is that it contains more than 150 volatile and aroma yielding compounds and also certain non-volatile compounds. Saffron is rich in carotenoids such as zeaxanthin, picrocrocin and lycopene, which is mainly responsible for the deep orange and golden hues. A volatile oil Safranal, which is responsible for the rich fragrance of saffron is an anticonvulsant, antioxidant with huge qualities of scavenging away free radicals. Safranal possess the properties of curing and preventing cancers.

deepest color and rich aroma of Kashmiri saffron makes it so special
deepest color and rich aroma of Kashmiri saffron makes it so special

Saffron is mainly grown in Spain, Italy, Iran and Kashmir. Kashmiri saffron can be identified by its dark maroon-purple hue. It is among the world’s darkest, strongly flavored, highly aromatic with deepest coloring effect.

Amazing Benefits of Saffron

I. Saffron for Health

  • Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases:- A double blind study revealed that  Saffron is more effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease and beat out placebo in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease dementia symptoms. This tasty spice was compared to donepezil, a leading drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease and proved to yield good results comparatively. Saffron consumption can reduce cellular stresses and protect the central nervous system. It helps in recollection of data and aids in memory.
  • Heart Health:-  Cholesterol and lipoproteins clogs the arteries by causing the accumulation of fats. The rich antioxidants of saffron can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. The Crocetin present in saffron reduces the lipoproteins in the blood stream and helps in unclogging the arteries. It also improves the pumping of oxygen which can keep the circulatory system healthy and removes plaque from the arteries, helping the heart to be healthy.

saffron_strands

  • Cancer:- Crocin and safranal present in saffron can inhibit the growth of tumors and cancer cells in the body. The high carotenoid levels in saffron can prevent several cancers in ovaries, liver, colon or blood.
  • Depression:- Saffron contains 5-hydroxytryptophan which aids in the production of serotonin that works as a neurotransmitter. Serotonin levels are mostly responsible for maintaining mood balance and if it is deficit, it leads to depression. Consumption of saffron daily can help in maintaining the serotonin levels and works as a great anti-depressant.
  • Eye Health:- The high carotenoid levels present in saffron can keep the eyes healthy when consumed regularly. It is found to be helpful to fight age-related muscular degeneration and cataract. Consumption of saffron can help in  maintaining the fatty acid levels of the cell membranes and keeps the eyes strong. It can also protect the eyes from harmful radiation of sun’s rays.
  • Arthritis:- Saffron helps in preventing arthritis. It prevents bone erosion and heals joint pains. The anti-inflammatory properties of saffron can reduce swelling of joints.

II. Benefits of Saffron For Skin

  • For Glowing Skin:- Due to daily pollution, harsh weather and several other factors, skin tends to become dull and lifeless. Topical application of saffron over the skin can bring back the lost glow on the face.  Add 3-4 strands of saffron to 1-2 tbsp of very hot water in a small bowl. Cover and leave for at least half an hour. Before bed crush the strands well using your fingers to extract saffron solution. Add half tbsp honey and mix well. Apply a layer of this solution over clean skin. Leave for 10-15 minutes and wash with plain water. Do not use soap.

saffron milk face mask

  • For Brightening Skin:- Add a few strands of saffron to 2 tbsp hot milk. Leave for at least half an hour. Crush the strands well. Add one tbsp of pure sandal powder to it and mix well to make a smooth face mask, by adding little more milk as required. Apply this over clean skin and leave for at least 15 minutes. Wash with plain water.
  • To Remove Sun Tan:- Soak a few strands of saffron strands in one tbsp hot water for at least half an hour. Crush the strands. Add a tiny amount of fresh cream to it and mix well. Apply this over clean face and leave it over night. Wash with gentle face wash in the morning. Use honey instead of cream if your skin is oily.
  • To Tone the Skin:- Saffron serves you as a great natural toner. Soak 2-3 strands of saffron in a little rose water and crush to get the color. Dab it over clean face with a cotton ball. It keeps your skin, fresh, healthy and younger. It may also be added to bath water.
  • To improve complexion:- Saffron is a most popular skin lightening ingredient used in many cosmetic products. 1) To make a skin lightening mask, keep 2-3 strands of saffron in a little water in the morning. At night, crush the saffron strands and add a pinch of sugar, one tbsp milk, a few drops of olive oil to it and mix well. Apply this over the skin and massage gently. Leave for 10-15 minutes and wash with a gentle face wash. This face mask improves blood circulation, nourishes the skin and lightens the complexion on regular use. Saffron-Milk-Mask2) Soak a few sunflower seeds and 2-3 saffron strands in little milk overnight. Grind it in the morning to make a smooth paste. Apply this over clean face and neck and leave for at least 15 minutes. Wash with plain water. Regular use will make the skin fairer. 3) Drinking a glass of milk with 3-4 strands of saffron daily once or twice is known to improve skin complexion.saffron-milk

II. Benefits of Saffron for Hair

  • Hair Mask:- Hair loss can be combated using saffron since it is loaded with abundant quantity of anti-oxidants. It repairs hair follicles and promotes hair growth. It was found to be a best treatment of alopecia.  Soak well a few strands of saffron to milk and add licorice powder to it. Mix well to make a smooth paste. Apply this over the scalp and hair. Leave for few minutes and wash gently. Regular use can arrest hair fall and promote growth of new hair. It restores hair damage and makes it healthy.
  • Saffron Infused Hair Oil:- Add one teaspoon saffron strands crushed or a little saffron powder to almond oil or olive oil in a bowl. Heat on low flame for 5 minutes. Once it attains room temperature, pour it into a bottle and store. Day by day, the beneficial ingredients present in saffron gets mixed with the oil gradually. Shake the bottle well and apply a little quantity over the scalp and hair regularly. This will protect the hair from damage and promotes hair growth as well as arresting hair fall. This infused oil can also be used for skin. Saffron infused in extra virgin olive oil can be used for cooking and seasoning.saffron oil

How to Select Saffron?

High quality saffron appears dark red or maroon in color. All the strands should be of same color. Yellow strands are less beneficial. The smell should be very rich and powerfully aromatic. Though it is available in powder form also, it is not possible to assess the quality of powdered saffron by looking at the color.

How to Powder Saffron Strands?

You can make powder from saffron strands at home. Place the strands in a small pan and heat on very low flame for 10 seconds. Immediately place them in a bowl and crush with your fingers until it becomes a coarse powder. Or if you want to powder more quantity and store it, you can blend it in a mixer into fine powder. Saffron powder is very easy to use for skin and hair care, since it is very easy to soak and can effectively extract the beneficial ingredients.

How to Store Saffron? store saffron properly

Always store saffron in an airtight container. Keep away from direct sunlight in a cool and dark place. Humidity can reduce the shelf life of saffron. Saffron usually don’t get spoiled even after expiry date but the potency gets reduced gradually. If you find the aroma to be weak, then its time to replace with new strands.

Warnings

  • Saffron have strong effects on reproductive system. So it is warned against use by pregnant women to avoid miscarriage during early pregnancy. Always consult your gynecologist before using saffron during pregnancy.
  • Saffron should always be consumed in very meager quantities. The spice is very powerful and huge quantities may affect kidneys due to high crocin levels in it.
  • It is recommended that a person should not exceed three grams of saffron consumption in a month. More than this limit may cause side effects.

# Consuming saffron in limited quantities have huge benefits and it is very good for over all health.