Friday 3 January 2014

Disclaimer

Some of the information in this site has been collected from various sources available on the internet.
I hereby do not claim to own any of these. 

Top 10 home remedies for cracked heels!!

Home Remedies for how to cure cracked heels:

Here is our list of 10 simple home remedies that will help soothe and makeover your cracked heels, and let you step out in style. Read, on how to heal cracked heels for more!

1. Lemon, salt, glycerine, rose water foot mask:

rose water foot bath
Shutterstock
One of the first steps towards having a pair of beautiful feet is to heal them, and that is why this foot mask is absolutely perfect home remedy for cracked heels.
  • Take a basin of warm water in which you’ll be dipping your feet and add raw salt, lemon juice, glycerine and rose water. Soak in your feet for about 15-20 minutes in this water.
  • Using a pumice stone or foot scrubber, scrub your heels and sides of the feet.
  • Take 1tsp undiluted glycerine, 1 tsp rose water and 1tsp lemon juice and after mixing, apply over your cracked heels. Since this will be a sticky mixture, you can wear a pair of socks and leave on overnight.
  • Wash off with lukewarm water in the morning.
  • Repeat for a few days till heels are soft and healed.

2. Vegetable oil:

vegetable oil for cracked heels
Shutterstock
Dry skin on the heels is one of the foremost reasons behind the cracking. This home remedy for dry skin helps combat this problem.
  • After washing your feet and cleaning and drying them up completely, apply a layer of vegetable oil on the cracked parts of your feet.
  • Wear a pair of thick socks and leave overnight.
  • In the morning, wash off and repeat for a few days to get smooth and healed feet.

3. Banana along with banana and avocado foot mask:

barreling along banana for cracked heels
Shutterstock
  • Take the pulp of a ripe banana and apply over cracked parts of the heel and feet.
  • Keep on for about 10 minutes and wash off.
You can also create a foot mask at home using a ripe banana and avocado.
  • Take a ripe banana and half an avocado, or the flesh of half a coconut (green coconut). Blend everything in a blender together.
  • Apply this thick creamy paste over your heels and feet.
As avocados and coconut are rich in several essential oils and vitamins and fats, this paste will help treat cracked heels and keep them soft and moisturised.

4. Vaseline and lemon juice:

Lemon Juice for cracked heels
Shutterstock
  • Clean and dry your heels. Once all the dirt is out, soak your feet in warm water for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
  • Take 1tsp Vaseline and the juice of a lemon. Rub this mixture over your heels and other cracked parts of the foot. Rub this in nicely, till it gets absorbed in the skin.
  • Apply this mixture before going to bed and keep on overnight, wearing a pair of woollen socks, as these socks help trap body heat and increase the effectiveness of the mixture.
  • Wash off in the morning.

5. Paraffin Wax:

paraffin wax foot
Getty
This is an especially good treatment if you have really cracked and painful heels.
  • Take some paraffin wax and mix it with mustard oil or coconut oil.
  • Heat the mixture in a pan till the wax melts properly. Allow this to cool at room temperature and once it’s cool, apply over your feet. To get the best results, apply before going to bed and cover with a pair of socks.
  • Wash off properly in the morning.

6. Honey:

honey badger
Shutterstock
Honey is great to moisturise your feet and has great antibacterial properties.
  • Mix one cup of honey to half a bucket of warm water.
  • Soak your feet for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Scrub off gently for soft and supple feet.

7. Rice Flour:

rice flour recipes for cracked heels
Shutterstock
Make this scrub that’s great for scrubbing your feet.
  • Take 2-3 tbsps of ground rice and add a few spoons of honey and apple cider vinegar to make a thick paste.
  • If your heels are extremely dry and cracked, add a spoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil.
  • Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes and gently scrub it with this paste to remove dead skin from your feet.

8. Olive oil:

olive oil for cracked heels
Shutterstock
Virgin olive oil is one of the most natural ways to get smooth soft healthy heels.
  • Apply some extra virgin olive oil with the help of a cotton ball and gently massage your feet in a circular motion for 10-15 minutes.
  • Wear a pair of thick cotton socks and wash off after an hour.
  • Next, take 1 tbsp olive oil, a few drops of lemon oil or lavender oil in a small bottle and add an equal amount of water to it. mix it properly to get a thick solution.
  • Apply this homemade foot cream on your feet a few times in the day and also overnight.

9. Oatmeal:

oatmeal for cracked heels
Getty
Take 1 tbsp powdered oatmeal and some jojoba oil to make a thick paste.
  1. Apply this over your feet, especially well over the heels and any cracked parts.
  2. Leave this on your heels for about half an hour and rinse off with cold water.Pat dry.
Do this every alternate day to remove all cracks.

10. Sesame oil:

sesame oil for cracked heels
  • Apply sesame oil on your heels and any cracked parts each night before going to bed. This is a great cracked heels solution for feet.
  • Massage well till it mixes in the skin.
Do this every night to get rid of cracks and have beautiful smooth heels.

Thursday 2 January 2014

Top 10 home remedies for chapped lips!!

Chapped or dry lips are a common problem that can be painful and unattractive. Common symptoms are dryness, redness, cracking, flaking, and tender or sore lips. Some of the main causes are vitamin deficiency, allergic reaction, dehydration, smoking, excessive licking of lips, sun exposure and harsh weather.

There are many commercial products available to treat chapped lips. But you can save money and easily get relief with some easy-to-follow natural remedies.

1. Sugar

Exfoliating dead cells off your chapped lips will help restore their natural softness faster.
  1. Mix two teaspoons of sugar with one teaspoon of honey. Apply the paste to your lips and let it sit for a few minutes.
  2. Then use your fingers and gently rub the mixture around on your lips to loosen the dead cells.
  3. Wash it off with lukewarm water.

2. Honey

Honey is a great moisturizer that also has healing and antibacterial properties to treat chapped lips.
  1. Simply apply pure honey on your chapped lips several times a day.
  2. You can also make a paste of honey and glycerin and apply it before going to bed to enjoy softer lips in the morning.

3. Rose Petals

The rose plant in your garden can also come to your rescue when suffering from chapped lips. This remedy will help your lips stay moisturized while also enhancing their beautiful color.
  1. Wash a handful of rose petals thoroughly in water. Soak the petals in milk for a few hours. (If you have issues with dairy products, you can soak them in glycerin instead.)
  2. Mash the rose petals into a thick paste.
  3. Apply the paste on your dry lips two to three times a day and every night before going to bed.

4. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer that can help heal chapped lips caused by cold or dry weather. Simply apply pure coconut oil several times a day on your lips to keep them moist. You can also use olive oil or mustard oil.

5. Castor Oil

Castor oil is another good treatment for dry and chapped lips.
  1. Simply apply castor oil to your lips several times a day.
  2. You can also make a soothing treatment using one teaspoon of castor oil, one teaspoon of glycerin and a few drops of fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and apply it on your lips before going to bed. In the morning, wash it off with a cotton ball dipped in lukewarm water. Repeat this daily until your lips are healed.

6. Milk Cream

The high fat content of milk cream makes it a great natural lip moisturizer.
  1. Apply fresh milk cream on your lips and leave it on for 10 minutes. Then gently wash your lips with a cotton ball dipped in lukewarm water.
  2. Do this daily to help your lips heal faster.

7. Aloe Vera Gel

The healing qualities of aloe vera are well known. Putting a small amount of aloe vera gel on your lips daily will help them heal and relieve the pain. Aloe vera gel has an unpleasant taste but its amazing healing quality is worth it.

8. Cucumber

Another simple and natural solution for chapped lips is cucumber.
  1. Rub a small slice of cucumber across your dry lips gently so that the juice is applied well over them.
  2. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash your lips with water.
  3. Do this several times a day to help your lips heal faster.

9. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is also very effective in treating dry lips.

  • Simply apply some petroleum jelly over your dry lips several times a day to keep them well protected. Reapply before going to bed to keep your lips well nourished during the night.
  • You can also first put a light coat of honey on your lips, let it dry for a few seconds and then apply a light coat of petroleum jelly. Wait a few minutes and then remove it with a cotton ball dipped in warm water. Repeat this remedy twice daily.

10. Water

Dehydration can be the reason behind your chapped lips. It’s important to drink plenty of water during the day to keep your body well hydrated. Try to start your day by drinking one or two glasses of water before eating or drinking anything else. Also, before going to bed drink at least one glass of water. In addition to keeping you hydrated, water helps flush toxins out of the body.
These remedies are effective in treating dry and chapped lips. But to prevent recurrence, keep your lips well moisturized and your body well hydrated, avoid extreme temperatures, and eat a proper diet.

How to be happy to stay healthy?

Look...let me tell u the secret of being healthy..it's very easy, just stay HAPPY!!
Now, u must be wondering how to stay happy..cuz there r so many problems and difficulties that we face in our day to day life...so here r some quick tips-

ACCEPT WHAT YOU HAVE
Research shows that happy people have modest levels of expectation and aspirations — they want what they can get — while unhappy people never seem to get what they want. They also know how to avoid disappointments and how to generate pleasant surprises. This is because they strive for realistic goals and are happy with their lot. As Dr Jose de Jesus Garcia Vega, of the University of Monterrey, Mexico, confirms, we must accept things as they come. 
‘We spend a lot of time complaining about the things that happen to us, but this is a waste of time and effort,’ he says. ‘To be happy, we need to enjoy what we have.’
ENJOY WHAT YOU DO
Happy people do what they enjoy and enjoy what they do — and don’t do it for the money  or glory. There’s no point being stuck in a job you hate, surrounded by unfriendly colleagues just because the money is good — people forget that they are allowed to be happy at work, too. Many spend the best years of their lives trying to make money, sacrificing their health and family in the process, says Dr Garcia Vega. Later, they spend the same money they made working trying to recover their lost health and estranged family. 
LIVE FOR TODAY
Don’t dwell on the past, on things that went wrong or previous failures. Similarly, don’t dream about an idealised future that doesn’t exist or worry about what hasn’t happened yet. Happy people live for the now; they have positive mind sets. If you can’t be happy today, what makes you think tomorrow will be different?
CHOOSE HAPPINESS
Don’t be afraid to step back and re-evaluate your goals. Imagine your life as a story that you can edit and revise as you  go along. This kind of flexible approach requires positive thinking and an open mind — you need to actively choose to be happy.
NICELAND
Iceland has the happiestpopulation, while Britain came ninth in a world survey
‘You always have the freedom to choose the manner in which you wish to approach any given situation,’ says Dr Garcia Vega.This theory is backed up by Ingrida Geciene of Vilnius University, Lithuania, who researched the happiness of people in 31 European countries. 
She found that ‘voluntarists’ (people who feel they have free choice and complete control over their life) were happier than fatalists (people who think little can be changed by personal intervention). 
Luckily for us, Northern European countries contain more voluntarists while Latin European countries such as Spain and Italy have a higher percentage of fatalists.  
RELATIONSHIPS
We get our happiness from other people, and from supporting other people. Remember that just as other people can make us happy, we are all ‘other people’ to someone else. And cherish people who are important to you. Research also shows that married people are happier than single people.
STAY BUSY
If you want to be happier, develop an outgoing, social personality — accept that drinks invitation, join the walking club, book group or choir. The best way to savour pleasure is in the company of others. Build a rich social life, says Eunkook M. Suh, a psychology professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, not as an obligation, but because it is rewarding, meaningful and fun.
Active, busy, social people are the healthiest and happiest, in society. Get involved: make your motto ‘use it or lose it.’ 
In the World Book Of Happiness, Leo Bormans has drawn together research from the world's leading experts on the psychology of happiness
In the World Book Of Happiness, Leo Bormans has drawn together research from the world's leading experts on the psychology of happiness
DON'T COMPARE
Ambition is healthy and makes people happy, explains Claudia Senik, a professor  at the University of  Paris-Sorbonne, but envy makes them unhappy. Yet comparisons with others can spoil the benefits of ambition and are only useful if you learn something from them. Focus on your goals and dreams  so you can enjoy  your ambition and achievements.
BE YOURSELF
Just as you shouldn’t compare yourself with others, it’s important not to worry about what others think about you — then you can truly be yourself. 
Happy people are spontaneous, natural and real; they  say what they think and  feel, and aren’t concerned what others think of them. Being oneself makes one feel free  and authentic.
STOP WORRYING
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Happy people don’t worry  and they recognise that 90 per cent of worries never come true.
GET ORGANISED
You might envy those laid-back bohemian types who just do things on the spur of the moment, but don’t be fooled. Happy people plan and organise, they have goals and a purpose. You can only get what you want or desire if you know what it is you want or desire in the first place. So while those chilled-out friends might seem happy, they’re actually just drifting along. 
THINK POSITIVE
Bottling up emotions and bad feelings creates psychological distress and physical discomfort. Happy people get things off their chest, their motto is: get rid of it, or it will get rid of you. Similarly, work at developing optimistic thinking; happy people always look on the  bright side. 
Successful athletes know to focus on winning, not losing, explains Miriam Akhtar, one of the first positive psychologists in the UK. We need to switch from a negative, glass-half-empty outlook to a glass-half-full and put optimism into practice to be happiest. Optimism is the mind’s natural self-defence mechanism against depression.
VALUE HAPPINESS
Happiness can be learned, but finding meaning and a purpose in life is what leads to it, not the other way around. The happiest people appreciate and realise that being happy adds years to their life, and life to their years.

Tuesday 31 December 2013

5 easy health tips that will change your life

Let's face it: Life is busy. With all of our to-do lists piling up, undergoing a major health overhaul can seem a little daunting and unrealistic. The good news is you can take baby-steps that can dramatically improve your energy, reduce your waistline and help you burn unwanted fat. You can improve the quality of your life by putting the nutrition tips below into action. 

1. Put a dot on your hand. Often times, we fall into an unhealthy trap of overeating and weight gain from being so busy that we are not conscious of our food choices. Instead of practicing thoughtful eating, we tend to grab quick pick-me-ups, like coffee or sugary and starchy snacks. To snap yourself back to awareness eating, the first step is to put a dot of ink on your hand. For the next three days, prior to eating anything, look at your hand and ask yourself two following questions; 

• Am I really hungry? 
• How will this food make me feel 20 minutes from now? 

If you are not hungry and the food you are about to eat will make you feel bloated, guilty, tired or mentally foggy, put it down. At its most fundamental level, food is meant to be the source of fuel for your body. Any side effects that occur from a meal are typically from over-consuming (i.e. portion distortion) or by choosing the wrong foods. 

2. Cut your caloric intake by 10 per cent. 
One of the largest bodies of research in the study of nutrition clearly identifies that mildly cutting back on the calories you take in is one of the greatest techniques to ward off disease and prolong your life. This is not to suggest that you should go on a fad diet that advocates strict caloric limitations (so, no 600 calories per day madness). However, by making the right small choices, you can eat until you are sufficiently sufficed, not stuffed! Start implementing this simple tip by leaving a little bit of food behind on your plate at each meal, trimming down your protein size by an ounce or so, or by eating one piece of instead of two (try an open-face sandwich at lunch). You'll soon realize your body doesn’t need as much food as you were giving it.
3. Drink it up. There's no faster way to increase energy, lose weight and optimize digestion than to increase your daily intake of water. I can't tell you how many weight-loss seekers I see who drink almost no water. In order to start making a habit of drinking water, feel free to jazz it up with a small amount of juice, some fresh mint or slices of lemon or lime. I also recommend investing in a water system in your home – anything from a charcoal filtered system to a reverse osmosis dispensary. The more water is available to you, the more likely it will become something you get used to. 

4. Finish your day off as healthy as you start it. Lots of my weight-loss clients start their day off beautifully, with yogurt, a protein shake or eggs, only to finish it off with a huge dinner, overconsuming and emotionally eating the wrong foods at night (cookies, cereal, crackers and cheese). Does this sound familiar to you? If so, it would be beneficial to start keeping a food journal. The path to getting more energy and a flatter stomach is to ensure that dinner time is early and not heavy in calories, fat and starches. If you're at the office until late, eat a snack later in the afternoon to ensure you're not ravenous by the time you get home; when you're that hungry, it's very difficult to make the right food choices. For optimal health, eat light and lean in the evening. 

5. Eat something "live" at every meal. We benefit from the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and hydration that comes from eating fresh fruits and vegetables. How can we expect to feel alive if we do not eat alive? Part of eating a live food at every meal involves preparation, so once you get your fresh produce home, cut up your broccoli, carrots, cucumbers and celery for nutrient-dense, calorie-light snacking options. Keep grapefruits, apples, grapes, oranges and an assortment of fresh and frozen berries on hand to toss into your morning smoothie or yogurt. When eating out, always opt for the side salad instead of the starchy fries that will sap your energy and clog up your digestion. 

Remember
We can all use a little health pick-me-up from time to time, but often feel too busy to start. Simply implementing the five steps above can have an enormous benefit to the way you feel, move and think on a daily basis. Changing the quality of your food will change the quality of your life!

5 home remedies to cure pimples

Acne is amongst the most common skin problems that people of all age groups, especially teenagers face. There can be many reasons that attribute to the cause of the acne like stress, puberty, hormonal changes, menopause etc.
A very common myth is that acne will clear on its own once a person reaches adulthood but it may not be true in most cases. So instead of waiting for that good time to come, it is wiser to apply some home grown remedies for a clearer face.
Here are our five tips to cure pimples naturally:
Honey and cinnamon powder paste: Add a little cinnamon powder to some amount of honey and apply this paste on the affected area. Next morning, wash it with lukewarm water.
Egg white: Spread an egg white on clean face. It clears the excessive oil from the skin thereby preventing pimples and prevents bacteria to return.
Orange peels: Orange peels works wonders on pimples. Take some orange peels, grind them and add a little rosewater to it to make a paste. Now, apply this paste on the face and wash it after about half an hour.
Neem leaves: Neem plant has anti-bacterial properties. Boil Neem leaves in some water. Now, wash your face with this water frequently. Neem water prevents clogging of oil in the skin and keep pores clean.
Raw potatoes: Raw potatoes can reduce inflammation caused by acne as it has anti-inflammatory properties. Put a potato slice on the affected area of the face. Later rinse it with normal water.

WINTER SPECIAL : 5 natural moisturizers for glowing skin

Everyone wants to grab attention and look their best and refreshing, be it any season. But, thanks to our stressful lives, faulty eating habits, pollution and most of all our lethargy, we neglect to take care of ourselves. A healthy skin and perfect radiance top the wish list of every woman irrespective of her age and profession.
It is not possible to rush to the salon to get beauty treatments or spend a lot on expensive cosmetic moisturizers, so we bring to you some easily available natural substitutes that will help you avoid harsh skin conditions caused by winter winds.
Honey: Honey is an excellent moisturizer for skin as it is a natural antibacterial, making it great for acne treatment and prevention. It also has antiseptic properties.
Aloe Vera: Aloe vera has immense benefits when it comes to skin as it has antioxidants and vitamins which will leave a perfect glow on your skin that you always longed for thereby repairing skin cells.
Olive Oil: Olive oil works wonders when it comes to banishing dry skin troubles during winters. The liquid gold contains linoleic acid which helps block the moisture of the skin.
Rose water: Rose water is really good for the skin as it removes skin clogs, blackheads and reduces stickiness on face as it acts as a natural astringent, thereby protecting skin pores.
Avocados: Avocado is one food that has an alkalising factor. Avocados are a rich source of Vitamin E which is essential for glowing skin, retains moisture of the skin, thereby prolonging ageing of the skin.