Natural Ways to Get Rid of Dark Underarms

While wearing sleeveless dresses or swim suit your underarms darkness makes you feel shy and conscious. To get rid of dark underarms you have to first understand the causes.
Top 6 Causes For Dark Underarms:

1. Shaving
2. Formation of Dead Cells
3. Excessive usage of Deodorants
4. Friction
5. Hereditary Factors
6. Diabetes

So many women have dark underarms and famous deodorant brands are advertised and promised you to whiten your underarms. Getting rid of darker underarms is not an easy task as we think.
Best Ways to Lighten Dark Underarms:

• Apply Lemon Juice

Lemon is one of the natural bleaching agent and many of us are not aware about it. Rub your underarms with lemon juice every day before taking a bath. It will slowly lighten the area. After bath, use moisturizer to soften the skin and skip deodorants for a few days.

• Use Waxing

The main reasons for dark underarms are shaving or apply hair removal creams. Instead of shaving or hair removal creams, try waxing. It will hurt you a lot but the hair will definitely be removed from the root and your underarms will appear fairer immediately.

• Apply Potato and cucumber juices

Like lemon, Potato also works as a natural bleaching agent. You can rub underarm skin with thinly sliced potatoes and leave it on for 15 minutes and wash. You can also apply potato juice to the affected area. Definitely you can feel the difference. Similarly, you can use cucumber and apply the juice under your arms.

• Use Lightening Masks

You can make a homemade whitening pack and apply it to remove underarm darkness. To prepare the mask at home, mix a handful of gram flour with yogurt, lemon and a little turmeric powder. Keep it for 15-20 minutes, and then wash it off. If you are decided to buy a readymade mask from market then try to buy clay-based lightening skin mask.

• Try Sandalwood and Rose Water

One of the greatest ways to remove dark underarms is to create a paste with sandalwood and rose water. Sandalwood has lightening properties and rose water will cool down the skin. Leave the paste for a few minutes and wash it. Use this paste every day to see a difference.

• Reduce the Use of deodorants

Deodorant is one of the main reasons for dark underarms. Instead of using deodorants, use natural remedies to overcome body odor for a few days. Anti-fungal powders and alum are also great alternatives. Once your underarms changed to lighter, then use the deodorants that made for sensitive skins.

10 Surprising Uses of Lip Balm You Should Know

10 Surprising Uses of Lip Balm You Should Know

We all know that lip balm is best use when the weather begins to get cold and skin starts to dry out. But did you know that you can use it for other things as well? Below are the 10 genius ways to use lip balm other than on your lips.

1. Tame those flyaways

Your hair never gives you attitude when you’re actually near your hair products (pffft!) – lucky for you, you can use your lip balm to fight back. Just rub a small amount on your palms or fingertips and then run through your unruly hair to spruce up your ‘do in a pinch.

2. Groom your brows

I have this one eyebrow hair that has to stay in place no matter what. Otherwise, it looks like I have three eyebrows. Lightly dab some lip balm along your brows as you brush them into place to make sure they stay put.

3. Treat dry cuticles

If you’re out of cuticle cream or forgot your moisturizer, rub lip balm onto dry cuticles. It’ll help keep them moisturized and prevent hangnails from causing any more trouble.

4. Prevent blisters

So, you’re trying to break in a new pair of shoes. You poor soul sole. As you’re breaking them in and your feet start whimpering, rub lip balm on the friction-frazzled areas of your feet to offer up some relief.

5. Use as an eye primer

Instead of spending oodles of money on eye primer, just use your lip balm! Spread on your lids before doing your makeup to keep it looking fresh. You can also dab some around your eye area before bed to keep your peepers moisturized.

6. Shine your shoes

If your heels are falling a little flat (ha!), add some sparkle to your step by using lip balm to shine them. Simply spread some onto a clean, dry rag and buff away!

7. Remove a stuck ring

When you’re trying to slide a stuck ring off your hand, you never picture the experience ending with your finger still attached to your body. Bust out your lip balm and coat your finger to wriggle the ring loose.

8. Keep your hair color on your hair

To prevent hair color from ending up on your skin, rub lip balm on your hairline and ears to keep them so fresh and so clean.

9. Combat shaving nicks

If you’ve cut yourself shaving and your tub’s starting to look like a murder scene, dab some lip balm on the cut. It’ll help stop the bleeding and heal the cut that much faster.

10. Nix mascara smudges

Mascara smudges are the worst. One wrong move and you end up back at square one. Apply lip balm to the smudges. Believe it or not (I tried it because I didn’t), the oils in the lip balm gently lift away the smudge without massacring the rest of your makeup. You’re welcome.
Do you use your lip balm for anything non-lip-related? Tell us!

 

 

12 possible Heart Symptoms You Should Know

 

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of U.S. men and women, accounting for 40% of all U.S. deaths. That’s more than all forms of cancer combined.
Why is heart disease so deadly? One reason is that many people are slow to seek help when symptoms arise. Yes, someone gripped by sudden chest pain probably knows to call 911. But heart symptoms aren’t always intense or obvious, and they vary from person to person and according to gender.
Because it can be hard to make sense of heart symptoms, doctors warn against ignoring possible warning signs, waiting to see if they go away, or being quick to blame them on heartburn, muscle soreness, or other less serious, noncardiac causes. That’s especially true for people over 65, as well as for people with heart risk factors, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease.
“The more risk factors you have, the higher the likelihood that a symptom means something is going on with your heart,” says David Frid, MD, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “People often don’t want to admit that they’re old enough or sick enough to have heart trouble. Putting off treatment for other medical problems might not be so bad, but a serious heart problem can mean sudden death.”

12 Heart Symptoms Never to Ignore

Here are a dozen symptoms that may signal heart trouble.
1. Anxiety. Heart attack can cause intense anxiety or a fear of death. Heart attack survivors often talk about having experienced a sense of “impending doom.”

2. Chest discomfort. Pain in the chest is the classic symptom of heart attack, and “the No. 1 symptom that we typically look for,” says Jean C. McSweeney, PhD, RN, associate dean for research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing in Little Rock and a pioneer in research on heart symptoms in women. But not all heart attacks cause chest pain, and chest pain can stem from ailments that have nothing to do with the heart.

Heart-related chest pain is often centered under the breastbone, perhaps a little to the left of center. The pain has been likened to “an elephant sitting on the chest,” but it can also be an uncomfortable sensation of pressure, squeezing, or fullness. “It’s not unusual for women to describe the pain as a minor ache,” McSweeney says. “Some women say the pain wasn’t bad enough even to take a Tylenol.”
Women, more so than men, can also experience a burning sensation in their chest, rather than a pressure or pain.  “Sometimes people make the mistake that the pain comes from a stomach problem,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City and another expert on women’s heart symptoms.
3. Cough. Persistent coughing or wheezing can be a symptom of heart failure — a result of fluid accumulation in the lungs. In some cases, people with heart failure cough up bloody phlegm.
4. Dizziness. Heart attacks can cause lightheadedness and loss of consciousness.  So can potentially dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities known as arrhythmias.
5. Fatigue. Especially among women, unusual fatigue can occur during a heart attack as well as in the days and weeks leading up to one. And feeling tired all the time may be a symptom of heart failure.
Of course, you can also feel tired or fatigued for other reasons. How can you tell heart-related fatigue from other types of fatigue?
“If you don’t feel well and all the wind is knocked out of your sails, don’t try to figure it out on the Internet or from a book,” says Goldberg.  “Wasting time is dangerous.”
6. Nausea or lack of appetite. It’s not uncommon for people to feel sick to their stomach or throw up during a heart attack. And abdominal swelling associated with heart failure can interfere with appetite.
7. Pain in other parts of the body. In many heart attacks, pain begins in the chest and spreads to the shoulders, arms, elbows, back, neck, jaw, or abdomen. But sometimes there is no chest pain — just pain in these other body areas like one or both arms, or between the shoulders.  The pain might come and go.
8. Rapid or irregular pulse. Doctors say that there’s usually nothing worrisome about an occasional skipped heartbeat. But a rapid or irregular pulse — especially when accompanied by weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath — can be evidence of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. Left untreated, some arrhythmias can lead to stroke, heart failure, or sudden death.
9. Shortness of breath. People who feel winded at rest or with minimal exertion might have a pulmonary condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But breathlessness could also indicate a heart attack or heart failure.
“Sometimes people having a heart attack don’t have chest pressure or pain but feel extremely short of breath,” Goldberg says. “It’s like they’ve just run a marathon when they haven’t even moved.” During a heart attack, shortness of breath often accompanies chest discomfort, but it can also occur before or without chest discomfort.
10. Sweating. Breaking out in a cold sweat is a common symptom of heart attack. “You might just be sitting in a chair when all of a sudden you are really sweating like you had just worked out,” Frid says.
11. Swelling. Heart failure can cause fluid to accumulate in the body. This can cause swelling (often in the feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen) as well as sudden weight gain and sometimes a loss of appetite.
12. Weakness. In the days leading up to a heart attack, as well as during one, some people experience severe, unexplained weakness. “One woman told me it felt like she couldn’t hold a piece of paper between her fingers,” McSweeney says.

Natural Remedy to Rid of Wrinkles

Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Wrinkles on Face Naturally

1. Honey

Honey was believed capable of removing wrinkles, can be purchased at the drug store, pharmacy or convenience store. It is very easy, wash your face first with warm water and rub a little honey to your face and leave on for 20-30 minutes later rinse your face with warm water again and refresh with ice cubes, make sure to wash all the parts in rubbing honey.

 

2. Olive Oil and Lemon

Olive oil can help provide moisture to the skin. Rich in vitamin C, D, and E, antioxidants and iron are useful to regenerate the skin. While lemon makes skin brighter and radiant, olive oil and lemon can help reduce wrinkles on the skin.

3. Milk Powder

Nutritious milk powder can restore skin moisture. Mix 4 tablespoons of milk powder, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons warm water mix well, then apply to face evenly avoiding around the eyes and mouth, cover your face with a small towel that has been wet with warm water let stand until 10 minutes, clean the rest of the mask on the face with a small towel, then dry face.

 

4. Banana

Bananas are the most effective natural ingredients and easy to make anti-wrinkle face cream. Mash one or two bananas until crushed and soft like cream, apply throughout the surface of the face leave on for about 30 minutes then wash with warm water, pat your skin should never rubbed until dry.

 

5. Cucumber

Cucumbers can cleanse the face. Cucumber thinly sliced ​​then placed on a clean face, cucumber can soften and refresh the skin, remove wrinkles.

6. Coconut oil

Virgin coconut oil can lift dry skin that cause wrinkles, just by applying a warm coconut oil to all parts of the face, do this activity anytime you need to keep your facial skin firmness.

7. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a great fruit to nourish the skin, can be cut into pieces and squeezed, added a bit of honey and mixed evenly, applied to the face, effective to remove wrinkles.

 

8. Watermelon skin

Watermelon skin after washed, used to rub the face, then washed your face with clean water, it can refresh and smooth the skin.

 

9. Pineapple

Pineapple is a fruit that contains a lot of vitamin C but it is also very effective to remove wrinkles on the face. Apply the pineapple flesh on the face, such as around the eyes and mouth, and others. Let it dry for 20 minutes then rinse with warm or cold water.

10. Tea

Tea leaves rich in content 400an chemical elements, the most important of them are catechins, compounds Aromatic Oil, compound carbohydrates, proteins, various amino acids, vitamins and minerals, pectin etc., tea is a natural healthy beverage. in addition to healthy can keep the skin clean and glowing, delaying and reducing the appearance of wrinkles on the face, can prevent a variety of skin diseases.

6 Amazing Benefits of Skin Icing 

 

Do you want to know more about skin icing? Do you want to find out how this chilly facial beautifies your skin? Read on below to find out more about skin icing and its benefits.

Skin icing is a popular morning and evening ritual to get better looking skin. Cold therapy has been used in spas and in skin care treatments for several years and for numerous reasons, including cryotherapy (treatments using cold temperatures), to destroy fat cells (CoolSculpting), and get rid of spider veins (through Cryo 6, a new method of sclerotherapy).

 

PROPONENTS OF SKIN ICING BELIEVE IT CAN BE USED TO:

Refresh the face

Fight the formation of wrinkles

Heal blemishes and fight acne

Gives skin a healthier appearance by promoting blood circulation

1. SKIN SMOOTHER

Skin icing tones the face, making it look smoother. It also helps tighten and shrink enlarged pores by helping to unclog pores that can appear larger due to debris and excess sebum.

2. PORE PRIMER

Before applying makeup you first ice the face and then apply primer because it acts as an inexpensive skin toner. It minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores underneath the makeup, helping foundation look smoother and flawless.

3. IMPROVES CIRCULATION

Ice is known to improve circulation in the skin. This is how it works cold constricts the blood vessels so that less blood goes to the surface of the skin (which reduces any inflammation or swelling). The body responds by gradually by sending an increased flow of warm blood to the area.

4. RELIEF FOR PUFFY EYES

The swelling under the eyes are reduce due to the ice.

5. WRINKLE BUSTER

Skin icing can ease the signs of wrinkles and slow the appearance of new wrinkles.

6. BLEMISH CONTROL

The redness of pimples are reduced due to the ice. It also soothes irritated skin.

At the first sign of a pimple use ice cubes on blemishes to slow inflammation. This can help reduce the size and number of blemishes. Hold the ice on acne for a few seconds or until the area feels a little numb. Ice the blemishes every other night.

Another bonus of icing acne prone skin is that it actually helps antibacterial agents and topical antibiotics get into the pores. The topical medications are more able to penetrate the skin because icing makes the skin surface more permeable. How? The cold helps reduce inflammation that has clogged the pores with swelling. Swollen skin makes it difficult for topical creams to reach the bacteria inside the pores. By reducing the inflammation the pores will open (i.e. they will be unclogged). This also helps keep the other pores from getting clogged, thereby reducing the appearance of new blemishes.

 

 

10 Beauty-Boosting Foods For Healthy Hair and Nails

10 Beauty-Boosting Foods For Healthy Hair and Nails

Give your hair and nails a boost

Looking good is just as much about taking care of your body on the inside as it is about using products on the outside. And we’re not just talking about your skin: “A nutritious diet promotes healthy nails and hair, too,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. But there’s no need to add a refrigerator’s worth of new foods to your diet. “Since both hair and nails are made of keratin, through a similar process in the body, it’s thought that nutrients that help one can also help the other,” says Dr. Zeichner. Ready to say bye-bye to brittleness? Read on for foods that give your hair and nails a boost.

Whey protein

“Your hair needs protein to produce keratin, the proteins that make hair strong,” says Dr. Zeichner. “If hair doesn’t receive enough protein, it can go into a ‘resting phase,’ causing noticeable hair loss,” adds Beth Warren, author of Living a Real Life with Real Food. Try adding a scoop of whey protein to your morning smoothie for simple boost. (Bonus: Whey protein may help control your appetite. In one study, people who drank whey protein ate 18% less two hours later than those who drank a carb-heavy beverage.)

Red Meat

A juicy steak is loaded with protein, and it also has another nutrient that’s important for hair and nail health: iron. “People with iron-deficiency anemia often have thin hair,” says Dr. Zeichner. And according theAmerican Family Physician, iron-deficiency is associated with koilonychia—a nail disease characterized by spoon-shaped nails. That doesn’t mean you should eat red meat every day of the week. Red meat is high in saturated fat, and eating a lot of it has been associated with an increased risk of several health problems including heart disease, several types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes. But you can safely indulge in a lean cut of beef once a week. If you think you may be deficient in iron, talk to your doctor about starting a supplement.

Blueberries

“Antioxidants help protect your body’s cells against free radical damage,” says Erin Palinski, RD, author of Belly Fat Diet For Dummies. “This damage increases stress hormones and inflammation, which impacts all cells in the body, including those in the hair and nails.” Among other fruits and dark greens, Palinski calls out blueberries: “They have one of the highest antioxidant properties of all fruits,” she says.

Almonds

Not only are almonds a good source of protein, they’re loaded with magnesium, which helps maintain healthy hair and nails. “Magnesium is Mother Nature’s anti-stress mineral, and stress is a major factor in hair loss,” explains Ashley Koff, RD. “Vertical ridges in your nails may be a sign of inadequate magnesium,” adds Palinski. You can also get more magnesium through leafy greens, cacao nibs, and soybeans.

Beer

Beer is one of the richest sources of silicon in the average diet, says research from the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. “Silicon is a trace mineral thought to increase circulation to the scalp, which is good news for hair growth,” says Rebecca Kazin, MD, dermatologist at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery and the Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology. That explains why a daily 10-milligram silicon supplement was shown to reduce hair and nail brittleness after 20 weeks, according to the Archives of Dermatological Research. No need to go overboard, though: Most single servings of beer contain more than 10 milligrams of silicon. Experts recommend that having no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman, and two if you’re a man.

Oysters

“Zinc is needed for many biological processes, including making proteins like those in your hair and nails,” explains Dr. Zeichner. Oysters have 74 grams of zinc per serving, far more than any other food, says the National Institutes of Health. Not lucky enough to eat oysters every day? Beef, poultry, fortified cereals, and baked beans can also help you up your intake.

Milk

More research still needs to be done, but some studies suggest a link between vitamin D and hair loss. Example: Women with hair shedding had lower vitamin D levels than women with healthy hair, according to a Skin Pharmacology Physiologystudy. Plus, Koff says calcium is a key mineral in building healthy hair and nails (note: you need vitamin D to absorb calcium). Of course, vitamin-D fortified milk offers both, but speak to your doctor about a vitamin D supplement if you think you might be deficient.

Eggs

Eggs are a good source of protein and contain some vitamin D, and they also have biotin. “Biotin, a B-complex vitamin, may play a role in the development of keratin,” says Dr. Zeichner, who explains that patients with biotin deficiency often have weak hair and nails.
Note: If you have a major nail concerns, you may want to consider a biotin supplement. A daily dose of 2.5 milligrams may strengthen brittle nails, says a Journal of Drugs in Dermatology review, and that’s too much to get from food (you’d

Salmon

Salmon is a good source of biotin and protein, along with omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, and promote healthy, moisturized skin. And don’t forget, your scalp is skin, too: “A healthy scalp means healthy hair follicles, which mean healthy hair,” says Dr. Zeichner. Omega-3s’ inflammation-reducing effects are also good for your nails: “Inflammation impairs the healthy development of your nail plate,” says Dr. Kazin.

Brazil nuts

Rats deficient in selenium (a trace element linked to protection against oxidative stress) have sparse hair growth, says a study in PLoS One. Just six to eight Brazil nuts meet almost 800% of your recommended daily value, according to the National Institutes of Health.

9 Simple Ways To Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Disease

Kidney 

The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that serve several essential regulatory roles in vertebrate animals. They remove excess organic molecules (e.g., glucose) and it is by this action that their best-known function is performed: the removal of waste products of metabolism (e.g., urea, though 90% of this is reabsorbed along the nephron.) They are essential in the urinary system and also servehomeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and regulation of blood pressure(via maintaining salt and water balance). They serve the body as a natural filter of the blood, and remove water soluble wastes, which are diverted to the urinary bladder. In producing urine, the kidneys excrete wastes such as urea and ammonium, and they are also responsible for the reabsorption of water, glucose, and amino acids. The kidneys also produce hormones including calcitriol,erythropoietin, and the enzyme renin, the latter of which indirectly acts on the kidney in negative feedback.

Located at the rear of the abdominal cavity in the retroperitoneum, the kidneys receive blood from the paired renal arteries, and drain into the paired renal veins. Each kidney excretes urine into a ureter, itself a paired structure that empties into the urinary bladder.

Renal physiology is the study of kidney function, while nephrology is the medical specialty concerned with kidney diseases. Diseases of the kidney are diverse, but individuals with kidney disease frequently display characteristic clinical features. Common clinical conditions involving the kidney include the nephritic and nephrotic syndromes, renal cysts, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, urinary tract infection, nephrolithiasis, and urinary tract obstruction.^[1] Various cancers of the kidney exist; the most common adult renal cancer is renal cell carcinoma. Cancers, cysts, and some other renal conditions can be managed with removal of the kidney, or nephrectomy. When renal function, measured by glomerular filtration rate, is persistently poor, dialysis and kidney transplantation may be treatment options. Although they are not normally harmful, kidney stones can be painful, and repeated, chronic formation of stones can scar the kidneys. The removal of kidney stones involves ultrasound treatment to break up the stones into smaller pieces, which are then passed through the urinary tract. One common symptom of kidney stones is a sharp to disabling pain in the medial/lateral segments of the lower back or groin. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney

9 Simple Ways To Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Disease

1. * Eat healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and lean cuts of meat
2. * Stay fit by exercising regularly
3. * Maintain your blood sugar level and keep it under control
4. * Regularly check your blood pressure and try keeping it low
5. * Lower your salt intake and drink lots of water so that the kidneys will be flushed
6. * Quit smoking
7. * Limit our consumption of over the counter pills, try natural remedies
8. * Have your doctor check your kidney functions regularly
9. * If you have a family history of kidney disease then you should have regular kidney checks.

 

 

12 Super Foods for Preventing Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common ailment that a number of people face today, and it is really infuriating to see your hair strands in your hands every time you comb, shampoo, oil, or even on your pillow when you wake up in the morning. Healthy and nutritious food is the key to triumph over the problem of hair loss. The following article will tell you about some of the eatables that have been considered as super foods to prevent hair loss.
1. Spinach
Popeye’s favourite spinach is packed with a number of nutrients because of which, it is highly recommended to people of every age group to consume every day. Spinach is loaded with vitamins, minerals, potassium, calcium, iron, and omega fatty acids, which are all highly advisable to maintain the health of the hair.
2. Salmon
The omega-3 fatty acids and protein in salmon are excellent for treating hair loss. They are effective in maintaining a healthy scalp and hair shaft. Consuming salmon also solves the troubles of dry and frizzy hair by hydrating the scalp and hair.
3. Beans
This incredible superfood should be part of your daily diet. They are rich in protein, which is an important element for strong and shiny hair. The nutrients of beans safeguard your hair especially in cold months when they easily get dry and frizzy fast. Beans include chickpeas, black beans, soybeans, kidney beans, pinto beans, etc.
4. Oats
Oats are one such eatable that contains every nutrient, which is needed by our hair. Oats deliver a good quantity of zinc, copper, B vitamins and protein, which are some of the salient micronutrients for putting an end to the problems of hair loss.
5. Sweet Potato
Consumption of sweet potato is the easiest way of consuming loads of vitamin A, protein, iron, and copper, which are essential for keeping the problems of hair loss at bay. It makes the tissues of the scalp and hair strong.
6. Egg
As a matter of fact, we are well aware that hair are made of proteins, and hence; it is a requisite to consume more and more protein-rich diet to keep our hair healthy. Eggs are one of the wealthy sources of protein, and therefore, it is a most excellent source for providing strength to your hair. Eating and applying, both the ways are effective in preventing hair loss.
7. Green Peas
Do not underestimate peas because of their size! In fact, they are massively powerful in terms of their nutritional benefits. They are also a healthy source of protein, beta-carotene, and vitamin C, which are excellent for strong hair.
8. Nuts
Almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and various other nuts are regarded as an effective therapy to avert hair loss. The essential oils and vital nutrients that they enclose in them are fantastic for skin, brain, heart, and also for hair health.
9. Beef
It is believed that people, who face the troubles of hair loss, are deficient in iron and protein. Beef is a kind of red meat, which is regarded as the extraordinary source of iron, fatty acids, and protein. Beef keeps the proper check on supply of blood to hair, thereby combating the problems of hair loss.
10. Wheat Germ
If you are struggling a lot with the problem of hair loss, include wheat germ in your diet before long. It is a powerhouse of various such nutrients that promote the healthy growth of hair. Wheat germ is a superb source of dietary fibre, copper, and zinc, all of which are cooperative in keeping the hair healthy.
11. Carrot
Besides being good for eyes, carrots are also proficient in keeping the scalp and hair healthy. Adding them once in a week in your diet can prove to be really effective for you. Carrots are copious in vitamin A, which produces a healthy oily chemical on scalp, called sebum. Sebum safeguards hair and scalp from getting dirty and dry.
12. Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are one of the best foods that we can choose to consume for getting long and strong hair. It is well-off with nutrients, such as magnesium, protein, zinc, vitamin E, selenium, iron, potassium, copper, biotin, B vitamins, and calcium. These all are cooperative in providing healthy hair.

8 Natural Remedies for Large Pores

No matter how well you take care of your skin especially your face, large pores can always pop up, which make the appearance of blemishes even bigger. Enlarged pores is really due to oily skin and may continue getting larger as you get older.  There are various treatments you can do to treat enlarged pores, however, natural treatments are better than industrial ones, both in terms of quality and price.  This can bother both men and women, here are some natural ways to treat them.

1.  Mayonnaise

Awkward? No! It’s vinegar and egg ingredient shrinks the pores and leave skin looking and feeling tighter.  Apply a tablespoon of mayonnaise to your face and let it sit for 20 minutes. However, it is not recommended for those who have oily skin.

2.  Milk Serum or Whey

Besides being an old product for clarifying your skin, milk serum helps reduce the size of open pores. The treatment consists of washing your skin at night. Scrub a cotton ball that has whey on your face. After 20 minutes, you should wash it with cold water.

3.  Honey, Lemon, Apple, and Yogurt Mask

Perfect to apply during bedtime.  Add a tablespoon of yogurt to a sliced apple. Also add a tablespoon of honey and lemon. Mix the ingredients until you get a homogenous mixture and then apply it to your face for 15 to 20 minutes. This mixture will also smooth your skin.

3.  Almond Mask

Blend 1/3 cup of almonds until they become a powder. Then, add water gradually until you get a dough. Apply this starting with your nose and going out to the areas that have the enlarged pores. Let sit for 30 minutes and then wash your face with warm water. Do this treatment at least twice a week.

4.  Lemon Mask

This lemon mask is formed by mixing a small amount of water and lemon juice.  Use a cotton ball upon application . Let sit for approximately a half hour and avoid contact with your eyes. Lastly, remove the mixture with cold water.

5.  Papaya

Wash your face and then rub a pealed papaya on it. You should do this with the part from inside the peal. After 15 minutes, wash your face with a little bit of hot water. The treatment is also good for the possible reduction of pimples.

6.  Cucumber, Apple, Egg, and Milk Mask

Just mix an egg white with a tablespoon of powdered milk. Blend these two ingredients without any foam getting out and then add in the sliced apple and cucumber. Mix it until you get a uniform paste and apply it to your face for 15 minutes. Then remove the mask with  warm water.

7.  Clay Mask

This clay mask is prepared a week before and can be used once a week  In this way, the clay can make your pores breath better and remove dirt and grease from them. It reduces the enlarged pores, and absorbs excess oil.

8.  Lemon Drops

The only thing that you need to do is add a few drops of lemon to your facial cream in another container. After, mix it and apply it to your face as if it were a mask for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, remove the mixture with warm water.

You can also try these other alternatives:

1.  Exfoliation

The glycolic acid in exfoliants helps smooth deeper salicylic acid and the superior layer of the skin. In this way, your pores become unblocked and their size gets reduced.

  2. Microdermabrasion

With this, your skin is smoothed, enlarged pores are shrunk, it eliminates wrinkles and dry spots. For this reason, it is a good option for those that have mature skin and bad pores.

3.  Laser 

Laser treatments are recommended as the last option because it is expensive but lasts longer.  Laser treatment processes consists of a pulse of light that is directly pointed on your skin. If you use it, you have to avoid contact with the skin so that your skin does not get damaged.

 

27 Amazing Home Remedies for Removal of Acid Reflux

27 Amazing Home Remedies for Removal of Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a term given to a phenomenon when the stomach acid flows upwards in the oesophagus, resulting in what is commonly known as heartburn. Acid reflux is scientifically called as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Due to a drastic change in eating habits, it has become very common in people now-a-days. Acid reflux can be treated with several over-the-counter antacids available in the market, but it can also be treated with natural home remedies.
Causes
•Over-eating
•Obesity
•Excess intake of fatty foods
•Caffeine
•Alcoholic drinks
•Smoking
•Lying down soon after eating
•Stress
•Hernia
•Pregnancy
Symptoms
•Burning sensation in the chest
•Bloating
•Burping
•Nausea
•Hiccups
•Bloody stools or vomiting
•Dysphagia – when the oesophagus becomes narrow
•Loss of weight
•Dry cough or sore throat

Home Remedies for Acid Reflux
Let’s see some of the natural home remedies of acid reflux that can be easily tried at home.
1. Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is a good remedy to take for acid reflux as it accelerates the flow of saliva, thereby washing out any extra acid that is accumulated in the gut. It relieves the symptoms of acid reflux.
2. Aloe Vera
Sip down some aloe vera juice to get instant relief from heartburn as aloe is very soothing for upset stomach. It reduces the inflammation caused in the oesophagus. It is recommended to drink half cup of aloe vera juice before taking the meal.
3. Licorice
You can also take tea made from licorice root, which is highly soothing and beneficial in treating acid reflux. A thin layer of mucus is formed in the lining of oesophagus, which protects it from the acids, coming up from the stomach.
4. Slippery Elm
This is one of the best herbal remedies to treat acid reflux. You can suck a slippery elm lozenge in order to get relief from chronic heartburn. It also gives relief from cough and throat ache, caused due to acid reflux.
5. Baking Soda
Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Drink it. It helps a lot in neutralizing the effect of acidity, caused in the stomach. But, make sure not to use it for chronic heartburn as it is high in salt content.
6. Holy Basil Leaves (Tulsi)
Simply chewing fresh tulsi leaves gives a quick relief from acid reflux symptoms.
7. Carrot Juice
A cup of carrot juice works well to give an instant relief from acid reflux. You can also drink cabbage juice.
8. Ginger
Crush some ginger and take out its juice and mix some lemon juice in it. Drink this mixture. This is one of the best remedies to stop acid reflux fast. Else, mix crushed ginger with a small piece of jaggery. Suck it till the juice reaches your stomach. It will instantly lower the acid reflux, providing you relief.
9. Indian Gooseberry (Amla)
Eat raw amla. It is one of the best cures for acid reflux. You can add a pinch of salt to it for taste. It improves digestion and therefore, prevents acid reflux.
10. Honey
Take a spoonful of honey before you go to bed at night. Honey is really soothing and helps in neutralizing the acidity, caused in the stomach. It is good to prevent acid reflux at night.
11. Papaya
You can also eat papaya in order to get relief from acid reflux. Papaya contains enzymes, which is helpful in the digestion process.
12. Fenugreek
Soak some fenugreek seeds in water and drink it after some time. Fenugreek seeds are a good remedy to get immediate relief for acid reflux.
13. Agrimony or Stickwort
It is a very good herb to treat acid reflux. You can take it with milk to cure acid reflux symptoms.
14. Hyssop
It is an effective herbal remedy for the treatment of acid reflux as it naturally cures the stomach lining while reducing the symptoms of acid reflux.
15. German Chamomile
It is a very useful herb for treating acid reflux as it quickly gives relief from heartburn.
16. Fennel Seeds
Munch on few fennel seeds in order to get a quick relief from acid reflux.
17. Wood Betony
This herb washes out excess acid from the stomach while also improving digestion.
18. Eat Raw Almonds
Raw almonds are a good source of calcium and help a lot in curing the problem of acid reflux.
19. Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in some honey and drink this mixture in order to get relief from acid reflux.
20. Lemon Juice
Mix some lemon juice in a cup of lukewarm water and drink it on an empty stomach early in the morning to relieve the symptoms of acid reflux. It maintains a proper balance of acidic level in the stomach and therefore, prevents acid reflux.
21. Cardamon
Take two cardamoms and grind them. Now, add 250 ml water to them and boil for 13-15 minutes. Strain and drink the water. It will definitely help you to get rid of acid reflux.
22. Clove
In order to reduce the discomfort caused due to acid reflux, chew some cloves.
23. Milk
Drink chilled milk to get instant relief from acid reflux.
24. Black Pepper
Black pepper stimulates the digestion process. Therefore, add it to your food. Alternatively, grind some black pepper. Mix some rock salt as per your taste. Take ½ teaspoon with water in the morning and evening, after having meals. It is extremely beneficial in removing acid reflux.
25. Coriander and Cumin Seeds
Mix and grind an equal amount of sugar candy, coriander seeds and cumin seeds. Take 2 teaspoon with cool water after having meals, twice a day. It helps in complete removal of acid reflux.
26. Bananas
Bananas possess high pH values. It stimulates the inner lining of belly to secrete more mucous, thereby decreasing the acid reflux.
27. Mint Leaves
Take some mint leaves and chop them. Add them to the boiling water. Drink the water when it gets cooled. It is an effective home treatment for acid reflux.
Homeopathic Remedies for Acid Reflux
1. Arsenicum album : This remedy is usually taken when there is a chronic pain in the stomach due to acid reflux. It is also accompanied by an acute pain in the throat. Symptoms, like diarrhea, can also appear. This medicine will stop acid reflux pain.
2. Pulsatilla : When the person feels an acute burning sensation in the stomach, this remedy is very useful. There is also a feeling of stuffiness after taking the meals.
3. Phosphorus : When acid reflux is accompanied by symptoms, such as bloating, burning pain in the abdomen along with a feeling of fullness in the stomach and vomiting, this remedy can be taken.
4. Nux vomica : This remedy is helpful when there is bloating, stomach ache, nausea, burning and belching due to acid reflux.
5. Carbo vegetabilis : When there is a feeling of heaviness in the stomach and chest, along with bloating and belching, this remedy is recommended.
Preventive Measures to Avoid Acid Reflux
•Eat a healthy diet.
•Decrease your intake of fatty and spicy foods.
•Chew your food properly.
•Avoid caffeine and citrus fruits.
•Avoid over-eating.
•Drink lots of water.
•Avoid smoking and alcohol
•Slightly elevate the head of your bed.
•Don’t lie down on the bed, just after having a meal.
•Exercise daily.
•If you are overweight, try to lose your weight.
•Avoid wearing tight clothes.

Argan Oil Benefits for Skin, Hair and Body

Argan Oil Benefits for Skin, Hair and Body

What is Argan Oil?

Argan oil is pressed from the nut of the fruit of the Argan Tree, which is only found in Morocco. The argan tree lives to be about 150 to 200 years old and does not start producing the fruit until it is 30 to 50 years old. Because the tree is found only in a limited area, the oil itself is quite rare.

What do Goats Have to Do With it?

Morocco’s mountain goat, called the Tamri goat, eats the fruit of the Argan tree. The goats literally climb the tree to get to the nut. Sometimes ten or more at a time in one tree. For a tree that only grows to be about 35 feet tall, that’s a lot of goats.
The argan oil producers would take the droppings of the goats, which had the seed completely undigested, and use that to produce the argan oil. While we’re sure that is still practiced today, we are hearing that some argan oil producers are producing the oil without the help of goats.

Argan Oil as a Food

Argan oil is nutty tasting oil that is good for sprinkling in salads, dipping bread in and used in many dishes.

Argan Oil Beauty Benefits

We’re about ready to declare argan oil as the best beauty ingredient, period. We’ve been using argan oil for some time and have yet to be let down. Here are some easy ways to include argan oil in your beauty regimen.

• Hair: Argan oil is a great product to calm frizzy ends, add moisture to dry hair as well as add a little shine. Apply to your hair while it is still damp for an all over treatment or apply just to your dry ends after your hair is dry.
• Scalp: If you’re dealing with dry scalp, apply some argan oil to a cotton ball and dab your scalp with the oil. If you do this before bed, you’ll give the oil plenty of time to moisturize your scalp before you wash your hair in the morning.
• Face: It might seem scary to apply a pure oil to your face, especially if you have finicky skin, but we have been doing just that and our skin is completely turning around. It’s smooth, clear and radiant, all thanks to using argan oil as our daily morning moisturizer.
• Body: You can use argan oil for a full body moisturizer, applying just as you would a body lotion or cream. Apply the oil right after you get out of your shower for best moisturizing results.
• Hands: Argan oil is a great oil to use on your hands, especially on your cuticles and on your nails if they are prone to cracking and peeling.

Argan Oil Product Picks

Because of argan oil’s increasing popularity, many skin care companies are jumping on the argan oil bandwagon. It is definitely a mid-range beauty product, but the concentration and small amount needed help with the cost. Plus, with the skin benefits we’ve seen, we’re almost at the point of ditching everything but the sunscreen and sticking with argan oil head-to-toe.
We recommend finding a product line that has 100% pure Moroccan Argan Oil for best benefits.

10 Health Benefits of Carrots

 Forget about vitamin A pills. With this orange crunchy powerfood, you get vitamin A and a host of other powerful health benefits including beautiful skin, cancer prevention, and anti-aging. Read how to get maximum benefits from this amazing vegetable.

Benefits of Carrots
1.  Improved Vision
Western culture’s  understanding of carrots being “good for the eyes” is one of the few we got right. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision.
Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat the most beta-carotene had 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.
2.  Cancer Prevention
Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. Researchers have just discovered falcarinol and falcarindiol which they feel cause the anticancer properties.
Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot-eating mice.
3.  Anti-Aging
The high level of beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism.  It help slows down the aging of cells.
4.  Healthy Glowing Skin (from the inside)
Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tone.
5.  A Powerful Antiseptic
Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used on cuts – shredded raw or boiled and mashed.
6.  Beautiful Skin (from the outside)
Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask.  Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey. See the full recipe here: carrot face mask.
7.  Prevent Heart Disease
Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease.  Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein.
The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots bind with bile acids.
8.  Cleanse the Body
Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fibers present in carrots help clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.
9.  Healthy Teeth and Gums
It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste.  Carrots stimulate gums and  trigger a lot of saliva, which being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria.  The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.
10.  Prevent Stroke:
From all the above benefits it is no surprise that in a Harvard University study, people who ate more than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or less.

Must Read: What Your Urine Can Tell About Your Health

The crazy—and creepy—things your urine could soon reveal about your health.
Consider this the next time you’re about to flush—you may be sending important health information down the toilet. We’re not advising a return to the old summer camp rule or anything (if it’s yellow…), but we do humbly suggest you give your urine a little more respect.
Why? Because we’re approaching a golden age of urine testing, thanks in part to a project called the Human Urine Metabolome, a recently completed analysis of more than 3,000 chemicals and compounds in liquid waste (a veritable encyclopedia of pee). “Instead of looking at urine through a keyhole, we’re now looking through a picture window,” says David Wishart, PhD, the University of Alberta scientist leading the project. In the next decade or so, Dr. Wishart predicts we may all have home testing kits that read our bodily fluids to foretell the risk of diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Here are six surprising things your urine could soon be saying about your health.

1. Breast cancer

Mammograms aren’t going away—but soon, your doctor may first run a pee test to look for malignancies in your breasts. Researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology are actively recruiting clinical trial participants to validate the test, which looks for metabolites called pteridines in urine. All humans excrete some pteridines, but levels rise in cancer patients; scanning for them could unmask tumors even before they appear on a mammogram, and also tell doctors the stage to which cancer has advanced.

2. Blood clots

Right now, when patients have symptoms or risk factors for potentially deadly blood clots—such as chest pain or extended bed rest after surgery—doctors detect clots either through imprecise blood tests or expensive imaging. But that may soon change: Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a urine test that can reveal hidden clots. A company developing the test will launch from MIT next year, and co-creators Kevin Lin and Gabe Kwong, PhD, say they’re working on a paper-strip version that could be used at home like a pregnancy test.

3. BPA (bisphenol A)

Sifting through someone’s trash can tell you a lot about a person, from what they eat to how often they order shoes online. Similarly, pee serves as a revealing part of the body’s waste disposal system. “Urine contains a lot of what the body is trying to get rid of, including excesses of toxins or drugs or nutrients,” Dr. Wishart says. That’s one reason why, when public health experts want to gauge a population’s exposure to a substance like BPA, they ask for urine samples. And in case you were wondering, the most recent analysis revealed measureable amounts of BPA—which has been linked to health issues such as asthma, developmental problems, and heart disease—in nearly every American’s urine.

4. Potential therapies for cancer and other diseases

In future decades, urinary stem-cell transplants could provide a rapidly regenerating source of material to heal damaged tissue throughout the body. Already, scientists at Wake Forest University have isolated stem cells in urine and, using existing tissue as a kind of scaffolding, directed them to develop into smooth-muscle cells and other types of bladder cells. With a little more coaxing, they could potentially transform into bone, nerve, muscle, and other types of cells. And because urinary stem cells come from a patient’s own body, they don’t run the same risk of rejection as transplants from embryonic stem cells.

5. Colon polyps

Detecting colon cancer without a colonoscopy? Sign us up. Based on research done at the University of Alberta, a Canadian company called Metabolomic Technologies Inc. plans to market a urine test for colon polyps as early as next year. Of course, if the test came back positive, you’d still need a more invasive procedure to confirm the results and remove precancerous growths. But the urine screening would offer an easy, inexpensive way to make sure the people who need colonoscopies the most receive them, Dr. Wishart says.

6. How long you’ll live

People with high-protein pee—typically a sign of kidney disease—die about seven to eight years earlier than those with normal levels, according to a study published earlier this year in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. “Proteins from the blood can leak into the urine when the filters of the kidney are damaged,” says study author Tanvir Chowdhury Turin, PhD, of the University of Calgary. Turin recommends anyone with risk factors for kidney disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, undergo yearly testing for urine proteins.