Custom Search

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Causes For Puffy Eyes, Make The Changes Now To Stop It!

  • What Are Puffy Eyes?
Puffy eyes are a condition where the eyes begin swelling due to different factors. The skin around the eyes is very thin and is full of blood vessels which make it very sensitive. Usually puffy eyes will go away after a little bit of time or some treatments done at home. However, puffy eyes are also symptoms of other eye conditions that may require examination by an eye care professional. In cases where puffy eyes are severe and persistent or are accompanied by pain, discomfort, blurry vision, or other conditions, an optometrist should be contacted about the problem.

  • Causes of Puffy Eyes
Puffy eyes can be caused by many factors. These include
  1. Fluid retention and stress.
  2. When we cry: If you have just had a nice big cry, your eyes may be puffy and uncomfortable. This is due to the amount of salt that is in your tears. Salt causes the body to retain water, keeping your skin overly hydrated and therefore puffy looking. Eventually, the salt is washed away naturally by your blood stream, lessening the puffy look. Also, due to the fact that are body reacts to emotions and causes more blood to flow through the eyes which leads to swelling, the production of too many emotional tears can strain the eyes.
  3. After sleeping. This can be caused by different factors such as too much sodium in a diet causing water retention, tossing and turning and not getting enough sleep, excessive drinking of alcohol, and others as well.
  4. Allergies. For some individuals, allergies and sickness are the cause of their puffy eyes. In this case, you will need to take medications to control these symptoms. Severe cases should be reported to your doctor.
  5. Did You Sleep? The eyes can also look puffy (not to mention the big bags) under the eyes if you do not get enough rest. If you haven’t slept well, your body is off and is retaining water.
  6. A Salty Diet? Those that eat excess amounts of salt will have water retention throughout their body. Reducing the amount that you consume will drastically help to improve a condition like this.
  7. Too Much Alcohol? Alcohol is another reason for puffy eyes. The ingredients here cause your body to retain water in many places, in fact.
  8. Hormone changes
  • Natural Treatments and Home Remedies for puffy eyes
For normal puffy eyes that are not caused by other eye conditions, there are many ways to get rid of puffy eyes.Or it's may be your eyes just not getting enough sleep. Nevertheless, there are medicines and natural remedies for puffy eyes. The following is a list of what to do for treating puffy eyes: 
  • Some Steps For Curing Puffy Eyes
1-Reduce swelling directly. Eye puffiness is a type of fluid build-up (edema) in the tissues around your eyes, called the orbits. Therefore, the steps taken to reduce puffiness are similar to those taken to reduce any kind of swelling. The following are "quick fixes" to temporarily encourage fluid to drain away from under your eyes:
  • Place cold cucumber slices on your eyes. It is the cold temperature that is helping rather than the product itself. The aroma, however, can be soothing and relaxing. Slice them into 1/8" discs and let them float in cool tap water for a few minutes. Shake them off well before applying to your eyes.
  • Use cold, refrigerated used tea bags. Like the cucumber slices, the coolness reduces circulation, but the tea actually has a slightly astringent (tissue-shrinking) effect as well.
  • For a less messy alternative, try putting 2 metal tablespoons in the fridge and use them daily by placing the backs against your eyes.
  • Strange as it sounds, hemorrhoid cream, which is meant to reduce swelling, may work well. Be careful not to get it in your eyes. This only works if you live in Canada, as hemorrhoid creams in the U.S. are no longer made with the active ingredient that reduces swelling.
2- Rinse your face with ice cold water and pat dry.

3- Get enough sleep. If you have puffy eyes all day, it could be that you're simply not getting enough sleep, or the quality of the sleep you are getting is poor. Puffiness under the eyes is a common symptom of sleep deprivation.

4- Elevate your head when you sleep. It's not unusual to have puffy eyes upon waking. A possible explanation for this may be that when you are laying down for several hours in a horizontal position and then stand up, the fluid that was resting under your eyes is suddenly being pulled down by gravity.This swelling, however, should subside shortly. To reduce it, you can try elevating your head while sleeping so that the fluid is not as drastically drawn down when you get up.

5- Cure puffy eyes from the inside out. Puffiness is a manifestation of excess fluid retention. By addressing your body's tendency to tuck fluid away, you may be able to indirectly reduce swelling around your eyes.
  • Reduce your salt intake. A high intake of sodium may increase your fluid retention, in which case reducing the salt in your diet may produce good results (not only for your eyes, but also for your health in general).
  • Snack on bananas and raisins, both of which alleviate fluid retention
  • Consume cabbage or cranberry juice. Both are diuretics, which will help you "evacuate" some excess fluid.
  • Don't turn to caffeine as your diuretic of choice, as it can interfere with sleep and bring back the puffiness.
  • Exercise to improve circulation, which will help your body move fluid through your body, rather than letting it accumulate.
6- Determine if you have any of the conditions associated with puffy eyes. Sometimes the swelling is a side effect of another condition, which is temporary, or must be treated individually:
  • Pregnancy - commonly associated with fluid retention
  • Hormonal variation in the menstrual cycle - commonly associated with fluid retention
  • Dermatitis - sensitive skin is more likely to swell in response to irritants
  • Allergies - can cause leaks in the subcutaneous capillary beds around the eyes
  • Mononucleosis - puffy eyes may be an early symptom of infection
  • Medication - puffiness or water retention could be a side effect
7- For allergies and puffy eyes, find out the item causing the allergic reaction and minimize its use; doctors may also provide medication in the form of shots or prescription drugs


8- Drink plenty of water to clean out your system


9-Cream for puffy eyes: Try a soothing eye cream with aloe and Vitamin E, which can be applied to the eyes

10- Accept yourself: If you've checked with your doctor, then your puffy eyes are probably only a cosmetic issue. It happens with age, and sometimes it just happens. Learn to draw attention to other features that haven't aged, such as the color of your eyes, the curl in your hair, or your attitude towards life.
  •  Tips
  1. Make a potato compress. Try searching the Internet for "raccoon eye eraser."
  2. You may notice that puffiness is worse in hot weather; the body is less efficient at removing fluid from tissues when it's warmer.
  3.  Alcohol and tobacco use can cause puffy eyes indirectly by affecting your sleep and hormonal cycles
  4. Drink lot of water before going to bed and after waking up. 
  • Warnings
  1. If the swelling is extreme or persistent, it may be a symptom of a serious illness, such as a blood clot, thyroid disease, or renal failure. Check with a doctor to investigate if the puffiness won't go away.
  2. Be careful about what type of tea you use. If you have allergies, an herbal tea like chamomile might swell your eyes.
  3. Do not apply ice or extremely cold water directly to the skin around the eyes for more than a couple of seconds.
  4. When using a new cosmetic product or trying a home remedy. If the condition worsens, or if you exhibit other symptoms, discontinue use immediately and contact your primary care physician or dermatologist for severe or persisting symptoms.
  5. If the puffy eyes does not reduce with any of the home remedies, then it would be hereditary. Blepharoplasty can fix the problem.
Have a nice day!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Olive Oil for Wrinkles, Hair and More!


Did you know that olive oil was originally used medically and cosmetically? Olive oil was considered a necessary ingredient to create perfumes, cosmetics, and ointments. In its pure state, olive oil contains large amounts of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals. These act as antioxidants protecting hair and skin from damaging free radicals.
  • Olive Oil for Wrinkles
Olive oil has been used topically to prevent wrinkles since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians, including the famous King Tut, used olive oil as an emollient to soften skin

Olive oil treatment for wrinkles

     Method
You can take olive oil orally, by eating a green salad with an olive oil and lemon juice dressing. Taking olive oil this way also gives you the benefit of the antioxidants and anti-inflammatories contained in dark green leafy lettuce. There are many other ways to incorporate olive oil into your diet, but putting it on salad is probably your healthiest alternative.
You can also use olive oil topically:
First, steam your face by boiling water, pouring it into a bowl, and then draping a towel over your head to make a steam tent. Steam for five to 15 minutes.
Second, Massage olive oil into damp skin.

Why It Works?
Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fat, which makes up about 25 percent of the fatty acids in the skin. Monounsaturated fat helps the skin to resist damage caused by oxidation. Olive oil is also high in vitamin E, which many health practitioners consider to be the most important fat soluble vitamin in the body. One tablespoon of olive oil contains almost nine percent of the RDA for vitamin E. Olive oil is high in other antioxidants as well, including polyphenols. Olive oil also contains oleocanthal, an anti-inflammatory.

Be sure to use extra virgin olive oil, which has lower acidity than other varieties. If you are using olive oil in cooking, be careful not to overheat it.

Sales of skin and hair care products are a multi-billion dollar business and growing. Many of the latest “miracle in a jar” options are marketed as high-end, but costly, solutions to everyday challenges: how to keep skin moisturized, hair healthy, and facial skin free of wrinkles. Some of the most popular products, promoted as “natural” solutions, even incorporate olive oil as a key ingredient in their formulas.

Vitamins A and E in Olive Oil really help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution, and other modern-day environmental hazards – like cigarette smoke and fast food. These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate cells and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state.
  • Skin Moisturizer
Whether applied to face or body, olive oil will penetrate deep into the skin and provide a long-lasting shield of moisture to keep skin smooth and supple. Used either as a night cream or daily moisturizer, it is best applied to damp skin, when water can help reduce any feeling of greasiness.
Some people have also suggested that a little lemon juice mixed with olive oil can provide a more bracing and refreshing feeling.
  • Exfoliator
If dry and scaly skin is a problem, mixolive oil and sea salt in a rub and massage it into the affected area to slough off dead skin and enrich the healthy layer beneath it. Or add a few tablespoons of olive oil with a drop or two of lavender essential oil in a bath. This is a luxurious way to relax, soothe and moisturize the whole body.
  • Nail and Cuticle Care
Extra virgin olive oil makes the perfect, simple solution for dry nails and cuticles. Simply rub a few drops into the cuticle area and around the nail. Cuticles stay plump and moist, and nails respond with a natural shine.
  • Eye Makeup Remover
Just a drop or two of extra virgin olive oil on a cotton pad is all it takes to gently and effectively remove eye makeup without irritating the delicate skin around the eye area. The biggest added advantage is that when used consistently, olive oil can soften the skin around the eyes and smooth out wrinkles.
  • Hair Care and Olive Oil
When used on hair and scalp, olive oil can be considered two products: a deep conditioner and a dandruff controller. After shampooing, massage a mixture of equal amounts of olive oil and water into your hair. Leave on for 5 minutes, then shampoo and rinse. Your scalp will benefit from healthy conditioning; your hair will respond with more shine and strength.

Have a Beautiful Day Everybody!

Best Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism!

Metabolism gets blamed when people put on weight or have trouble losing weight, but you can learn how to speed up your metabolism. Increasing your metabolism can help you burn calories, replace fat with muscle and give you more energy.
Remember the days when your metabolism was like a caffeinated mouse in a wheel? If you aren’t one of those lucky girls who can eat whatever she wants and burn it off thanks to an annoyingly fast metabolism, look to these helpful foods to boost your metabolism.

  • Grapefruit
This diet super fruit lowers the insulin levels in your body that trigger your system to store fat. Plus, it is rich in fiber, and your body must burn extra calories in order to break it down.
  • Green Tea
Green tea is the main source of epigallocatechin gallate, known better as EGCG. This healthy catechin speeds up your brain and nervous system, causing your body to burn more calories.
  • Yogurt
The high levels of protein present in natural yogurt require a lot of energy to be processed. Plus, the probiotic cultures found in yogurt help regulate your digestive tract.
  • Almonds
Almonds’ essential fatty acids help raise your body’s metabolism. Just don’t overdo it because they’re also very high in calories.
  • Coffee
Coffee has caffeine, which does give you a boost. Just ensure that you don’t exceed 2 or 3 cups a day, or you risk a host of side effects, including irritability and jitters.
  • Apples
Like grapefruit, this low-calorie snack is high in fiber, which your body must burn calories to break down. Plus, since apples help you stay full for longer, you’ll eat less.
  • Spinach
Spinach can help make you strong and healthy. In addition to speeding up your metabolism, it’s a great source of antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron and vitamin C.

  • Beans
Low in fat and packed with protein, beans keep you full for long durations, and your body must burn extra calories in order to process this fiber-rich food.
  • Jalapenos
The capcaisin found in jalapenos causes your body to burn extra calories for hours after you ingest them, speeding up both your heart rate and metabolism.
  • Soy Milk
Fortified soy milk is loaded with calcium, which helps boost your metabolism. Just stay away from the sweetened varieties.
  • Curry
Like jalapenos, curry increases the amount of calories your body burns and speeds up your metabolism.
  • Cinnamon
I just love cinnamon. A little bit of cinnamon can go a long way. Add some zing to your daily cup of tea with this tasty spice to help your body metabolize sugars more effectively and maintain steadier blood sugar levels. Cinnamon can also help lower your cholesterol.

More Tips:
  1. Never ever skip meals, espesially breakfast
  2. Don't starve yourself  because the body will automatically register that it needs to switch to survival mode. The metabolism will adjust, slow down and fat will accumulate to be used to survive when no food is available.
  3. Drink plenty of iced water
  4. Get plenty of sleep
  5. After lunch and dinner, take a brief walk ( 20-30 mins)
  6. Tone your muscle with weight training  at least 3 times a week
  7. Eat more protein. Protein requires the most energy to digest.It is also less likely to be stored as fat because of this it will also help you to build up your muscle.