Unhealthy Facts About Everyday Foods!

Salad, bran muffins, fat-free foods...They're good for you, right? Not always. Nutrition experts reveal surprisingly unhealthy foods. Eating bad foods without even knowing it's unhealthy for you can make you feel like crap, lead to weight gain and cause all sorts of health problems. Read more facts about everyday foods

• Cereal bars: Cereal bars have the appeal of being a healthy snack on the go. We tend to think of these bars as nutritious and packed with fiber, but in reality many of them are made with high-fructose corn syrup and have quite a high amount of carbs and fat packed in a single bar!
• Turkey burgers: If you're going with a turkey burger for dinner, make sure that the decision is based purely on taste and nothing else. Turkey burgers actually pack in much more fat than beef or chicken burgers. It's easier to make burgers with lean ground beef or a chicken breast.
• Healthy Margarine: Margarine actually has around the same calories as butter does, so what's the difference? Unlike butter, margarine is loaded with trans fat, making it one of the top unhealthy foods you can purchase straight off the shelf. 
• Non-dairy whipped topping: Saturated fat and high fructose corn syrup, these are two ingredients that are used plentifully in non-dairy whipped toppings. Need some whipped cream? Just whip up a small portion of pure whipping cream to go with the dessert you're serving.
• Sushi rolls: For those who watching their weight, sushi is often a go-to meal when out for a night on the town, but few people realize that sushi rolls pack a sizable amount of rice and very little protein. When having sushi, opt for sashimi instead to get your protein fixing.   

• Dried fruit: Have you ever wondered about the health benefits in dried vs. fresh fruit? Dried fruit stacks up calories quickly and easily, and though they contain fiber, you can gain all the benefits of dried fruit and more by eating fresh fruit.
• Flavored low-fat yogurt: Low-fat yogurt is usually high in carbohydrates. Why not buy some greek yogurt and slice up fresh fruit? A much healthier alternative to processed jelly-like fruit preserves sitting on the bottom of those low-fat yogurt cups.
• Ramen and Cup Noodles: Don't be fooled by their speedy prep instructions and convenience. Cup noodles/ramen tend to be high in sodium, fat, carbohydrates, and cholesterol!
• Low-fat salad dressing: Another example of how something marketed as low fat can actually be bad for you. Low-fat salad dressings are everywhere, but what they don't have in fat they make up for in carbs and other unnecessary processed ingredients. Do yourself a favor and make an easy vinaigrette from scratch.
• Canned vegetables: Not all canned veggies are bad for you, but there are definitely certain brands that pack on way too much unnecessary sodium or sugar. Next time you shop canned vegetables, opt for the ones labeled 'no salt added' and season the food yourself!  
• Trail Mix: Pre-packaged and processed trail mixes are actually high in fat (from peanuts, chocolate, etc.) and high in carbohydrates (from the candied fruit, dried fruit, and chocolate), making trail mix one of the most unhealthy snacks out there. When it's snacking time, go for some fresh fruit or make your own trail mix from scratch

• Healthy sport drinks: The benefits of Vitamin Water is a touchy subject for diehard Vitamin Water drinkers, but unfortunately a look at the label tells us that it's basically just sugar water with a small dose of vitamins. For a sweet drink, why not pick up some fresh squeezed orange juice or opt for a lightly sweetened tea?                

Have a nice weekend!

Home Remedies for Hair Care!

With this humidity, our hair is the first to drop. And our comb keeps ending up in clusters of hair and the entire process becomes heartbreaking. Home remedies are a natural and inexpensive way to treat and cure common disorders. Let's try some simple remedies for attaining beautiful and lustrous hair.

Beautiful and healthy hair boosts up our beauty and confidence. But chaotic and deskbound lifestyles give us an excuse for ignoring hair, which bring about common problems such as dry hair, dandruff, graying, hair loss and split ends.

Here are some simple home remedies with natural ingredients that will bring back life to damaged hair.

• Regular massage with mustard, coconut or almond oil for 15 minutes twice a week will strengthen and rejuvenate your hair. Following the massage, go for a “steam-towel-wrap” for 10-15 minutes.
• Soak multani mitti (Multani Mitti is Fuller's earth. You can find it is small local stores or one of those weekly markets. It look likes clay and is kind of creamish in color except that its hard, sometimes even in a brick form) in water overnight. Mix into it 2 tablespoons of curd and a few drops of lemon. Apply this paste over scalp and hair and leave for an hour. Wash off with water. It is a very effective home remedy for softening hair and imparting a lustrous shine.
• Take 3 tablespoons of ghee (clarified butter) and heat it. Mix into it a teaspoon of finely powdered almond. Massaging the scalp with the same will strengthen hair roots and give them a natural luster.
• Mix equal amounts of almond oil and castor and warm it. Massaging the same into scalp once a week, will beneficial for hair loss.
• Prepare a natural conditioner by mixing a cup of curd and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply it on scalp and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. This treatment is also effective in curing dandruff.
• Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice in 2 tablespoon of mustard oil and apply over the scalp. Rinse off with a mild shampoo. Follow this treatment twice a week for curing dandruff.
• Take 3 tablespoon of coconut oil and warm it lightly. To it, add a teaspoon of camphor and massage the scalp. This is another effective remedy for treating dandruff.
• Eating 3-4 teaspoons of sesame seeds every morning gives nourishment to the hair.
• Add 6-8 drops of lemon juice to an egg. Beat well and apply on your hair followed by washing with a herbal shampoo. 
• Use a very mild shampoo and condition your hair at least twice a week. Make sure to rinse out the conditioner thoroughly.
• Massaging with aroma oils once a week reduces hairfall and makes them soft and silky. Rosemary oil and titri oil can also be used.
• Add few leaves Hibiscus (China rose) to a glass of water. Heat it. The juice of a lime should be squeezed in the sieved mixture and it should be applied to the hair before shampooing.                           
• Use lavender or lemon shampoo if your hair are oily and if dry, use titri oil or rosemary shampoo too.
• Rinse hair with lemon juice or vinegar
• Soak a towel in hot water and squeeze lightly. Cover your hair with this for 10 minutes and do try this for almost a week.
• Dry peels of lemon and oranges should be used. This will maintain soft and silky hair and also removes dandruff from the scalp.
• Drink 10-12 glasses of water daily and have a high protein diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
• Mustard oil boiled with henna leaves is useful for the healthy growth of hair.

These home remedies are effective in keeping hair problems at bay, but there are other important factors one should take care of. Always eat a balanced diet that includes green leafy vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products, sprouts and whole grains. Maintain hygiene and brush your hair daily with a comb with widely spaced teeth. Don’t comb when hair are wet. Avoid use of dryers, synthetic hair colors and dyes. Do exercise and meditation to remain healthy and stress-free.

How to Clean Your Skin Properly!

Leaving on makeup longer than necessary can damage your skin, especially if it is thick makeup or there is a lot on. Removing your makeup as soon as you back home is a key to keep a beautiful-clear skin, especially overnight. However, it can be tricky to make sure all of it is gone. But first you need to know your skin type:

Different skin types need different care. It's very important to know what type of care you need to get the best methods for clearing your skin.

• Dry Skin: Usually has a dull appearance, feels dry and itchy and is sometimes sensitive. Dry skin must be hydrated regularly from the inside (with fresh water) and outside with (lotions), as well as moisturized with rich hydrating creams.
• Oily Skin: Usually looks slippery and shiny and has a greasy texture. This type of skin is prone to acne. Oily skin benefits from periodic herbal steam treatments and clay masks.
• Normal Skin: This type is a gift. Not too oily and not too dry. Normal skin looks consistently plump, moist, and vibrant. What a great blessing but it still requires no less attention than other skin types. It benefits from regular cleansing, toning and moisturizing.
• Most people have at least two different types of facial skin at any given time. The combination of skin is frequently characterized by an oily “T-zone” area, which covers the forehead, nose and chin. While the skin around the cheeks, eyes and mouth is normal or dry. People with combination skin should assess their skin regularly and use different products on different areas of the face.

Main steps of removing makeup:

• Do not start by washing your face, this dries out the skin and does not get off most of the makeup.
• Do not over exfoliate the skin or use abrasive products. These can damage the skin and leave it looking dull and wrinkled.
• Remove any eye makeup. Use a gentle makeup remover just for eye makeup. Regular makeup remover can irritate the eyes. Make sure you get most of any eyeliner and mascara you had on, as well as some eyeshadow.

  Note: If you don't have eye makeup remover, baby oil on a cotton ball works really well (just make sure to rinse the oil off afterward to prevent break-outs). Alternatively, you can skip the step to remove eye makeup, especially if you don't have mascara on, because the steam will dislodge most of the makeup.
• You may also use the HydraMitt which is a microfiber mitt that removes makeup in seconds by using warm water only. It's also very gentle on your eyes and will not scratch your skin like your typical microfiber cloth.
• Remove your lip color. Apply a small dab of petrolatum jelly to your lips, and gently rub it in with a tissue. Fold in the tissue, and blot the lips.
• Pat your face dry with a towel and rub in a light moisturizer. The rigor of the applying of makeup and removal of makeup can dry out your skin in irritation. Soothe this with a light moisturizer.
• For a more relaxing treatment, try adding orange or eucalyptus scents.
• Vaseline/ Paraffin Oil is also a good makeup remover, Some Olive Oil on a soft tissue will work, too.
• Always use a non-comedogenic moisturizer.They don't clog pores.(Noncomedogenic is a term applied to oils, lotions, and skin creams that do not block pores. Noncomedogenic products are also sometimes referred to as non-occlusive)

General Skin-care Tips:

• Drink alot of water: Water cleanses your body, helping eliminate toxins. It also hydrates you and rids your skin of dirt and oils. Try to drink half your body weight in ounces (for example, if you weight 100 lbs, drink 50 ounces of water a day).
• Don't get too much sun: Too much sunlight to the skin can cause freckles. So if you do go out in the sun, if needed, wear sunscreen! Remember to use NATURAL sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher.Try not to go in the sun for long periods between 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. That time of day is when the sun's rays are their strongest. Sunlight on your skin is a great source of vitamin D but it it can also lead to wrinkles and skin cancer.
• Change your diet. Eat lots of fruits, nuts, seeds, beans etc. Eating healthy along with taking in the right vitamins can do wonders for your skin. Try going vegan for a week to see what it does for you.
• Avoid eating fried foods, white flour and white sugar products, soft drinks, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, including contraceptive drugs, and any other stimulating over-the-counter medicines.
• Do not use creams containing Vitamin A or Vitamin D as these vitamins are not absorbed by the skin and thus such lotions are unnecessary.
• Do not pick your acne or touch your face and avoid anything that puts pressure on or rubs against the skin (such as headbands or hats) as this increase the irritation of acne. Picking your acne spreads infection and causes permanent scarring by forcing the oil and bacteria into the deeper skin layers, which causes cysts, the inflamed acne that causes scarring.
• If you like to use a facial scrub, only do so once a week, scrubbing gently and lightly.
• Exercise, around 15 minutes a day. Exercising properly can make your skin glow. Be sure to wash your face afterwards, sweat and dirt can clog your pores.
• Do not clean your face with soap, which is harsh and irritates the skin follicles and the oil glands. “Twenty-five percent of acne can be managed successfully by washing the face four or five times a day...But this cleansing should not be done with soap...The sebaceous glands are irritated by soap and the irritation causes the glands to secrete still more sebum than normal." Soap has been documented frequently in medical literature to have irritating qualities.
• Drinking three cups per day of organic red clover tea as a natural blood purifier can help your acne clear up. Besides purifying the blood.
• Avoid using cosmetics as much as possible. If you do wear cosmetics, try to use as many natural cosmetics as possible or choose cosmetic products that state that they are either oil-free (water based) or non-comedogenic, which means that they have a low potential for producing acne. Also, always remember to wash off your make-up at night.

Have a Beautiful Week! ツ