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How to troubleshoot dry skin

Almost everyone would love to have great skin. An even toned, blemish free and glowing complexion not only makes one look beautiful but feel beautiful as well, giving a great boost to self confidence. Winters, however, can wreak havoc on your skin, making it dry and chaffed. Even prolonged exposure to the sun or severe winds can lead to dryness. The condition could be worse for people who have naturally dry skin types. Not only the face but your arms and legs, in fact, your entire body can get dry skin. Dry skin feels tight and uncomfortable. You constantly feel like itching and when you do, it leaves awful white marks streaked across your skin. If your skin remains dry most of the time, it is likely that you will develop wrinkles and other skin age signs much faster than those having a combination or oily skin type. Here are some quick tips on how to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized:

 

1.       The best way to prevent or cure dehydrated skin is to have plenty of water and fluids. Doctors recommend 8 glasses of water a day as a healthy quantity. In addition, you should take plenty of juices and soups that will provide nourishment in addition to hydration.

2.       Don’t use excessive hot water while bathing no matter how good it feels! Hot water dries skin up so use a moderately warm water.

3.       Applying body oil before bathing is a great way to lock in the moisture. Olive oil is known as the best body oil as it nourishes, protect and hydrates the skin while allowing it to breathe at the same time.

4.       Consuming alcohol or smoking can further damage your skin so these should be avoided as much as possible.

5.       Standard soaps steal moisture from your skin and make it rough. Instead use a soap free, preferable herbal, face wash and body wash as part of your skin care.

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Curing a cough at home

Cough can be painful and terribly irritating. They cause a lot of discomfort to the person suffering from the cough as well those around him or her. Cough can break up a good nights sleep, leaving you feeling tired the next morning. A person suffering from a cough will also find it difficult to concentrate on work. Also, if you are having a cough, you can forget having that ice cream you are raving for! There are several over the counter medicines, cough syrups and lozenges that one take to remedy the ailment. However, most medicines and syrups cause drowsiness while lozenges are not that effective and take a lot of time to cure the cough. Here are a few home remedies that will come in handy when you are suffering from a cough that refuses to go away:

 

1.       Grapes are an effective way to treat a cough at home. They are known to tone the lungs, can clear chest congestion and can cure the basic cough and cold in a matter of days.  Just mix a teaspoon of honey into a glass of grape juice and have this mix at least once a day and your cough will be gone before you know it!

2.       If you are suffering from a dry cough then almonds would be a great remedy. Soak 7 almonds in warm water over night. This will soften up the skin which should be peeled off. Make a paste of the peeled almonds and add butter and sugar (20 grams each). Take this mixture every morning and evening to quickly cure your cough.

3.       Take 100 grams each of raisins and sugar and grind it to form a paste. Heat this paste till it gets the consistency of a sauce. Store this concoction in a cool and dry place or refrigerate it. Take 20 grams of the ix before going to bed and this will cure that troublesome cough.

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Home remedies to control cholesterol levels

Having an unhealthy diet can lead to high levels of cholesterol in your blood. Although it is necessarily required for a healthy body, excessive amounts of the wrong type of cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotien or LDL) can be terrible for your death and can often lead to death. Cholesterol is related to several heart ailments and is highly prevalent in people suffering from obesity. In addition to food intake, high levels of cholesterol can also be a genetic disorder. Stress smoking and alcohol consumption are also known to raise LDL in the body. Treating heart ailments can be an expensive affair. Here are a few cost effective home remedies that can potentially save your life as well as your money!

 

Sunflower seeds: Instead of having butter or cream that are high in fat content, have sunflower seed substitutes. The contain linoleic acid that reduces cholesterol deposits on heart artery walls.

Coriander seeds: Boil two teaspoons of dried coriander seeds in a glass of water. Once the water cools, drain it into a vessel. Having this concoction twice a day is known to be a great remedy for treating cholesterol. It also has diuretic properties and is good for the kidneys as well!

Ishabgul: This is the oil of Psyllium seed, a plant that is known for is extraordinary ability to reduce cholesterol. The oil contains 50% linoleic acid and two teaspoons consumed daily with greatly reduce LDLs.

 

In addition to the above treatments, people suffering from poor cholesterol levels should have high fiber foods like green leafy vegetables, whole cereals, wheat bran and corn bran as fiber is known to lower cholesterol. Also, patients should avoid foods that are rich in fat as these can be a major source of LDLs. Palm oil, coconut oil and animal fats should also be avoided. Work out regularly and have at least 10 glasses of water in a day in order to effectively treat poor cholesterol levels.

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Ways to treat Anemia at home

Anemia is basically the deficiency of hemoglobin in your blood stream. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to various parts of our body’s where it is used by cells to but energy and cell renewal. Due to the lack of hemoglobin, the body cells do not receive enough oxygen. This can lead to a patient feeling tired and fatigued with low energy levels all the time. Even moderate levels of physical exertion can lead to dizziness. Anemia can be caused by excessive loss of blood, lack of iron in your diet, presence or parasites or worms in the stomach or be genetically inherited (Sickle Cell Anemia). While several allopathic medicines are available to raise hemoglobin levels in the blood, here are some home remedies that can provide equal boost:

 

1.       Beets are excellent sources of iron and having a glass of red beet juice every day is known to be a great way to treat anemia is children and teenagers.

2.        Honey is known to quickly boost hemoglobin levels in the blood. Although it cannot be given to infants and toddlers, you can include in the diet of older children as a sugar replacement in order to treat or prevent anemia.

3.       Remember Popeye The Sailorman? Spinach is one of the richest sources of iron and should be included in the regular dietary intake of anemia patients.

4.       Soak a teaspoon of black sesame seeds in warm water for a few hours. Grind and strain the paste and mix the juice with milk. This should be given to the patient after adding sugar.

5.       Almonds are a rich source of iron, copper and vitamins that boost hemoglobin production in the body. Soak seven almonds for a few hours, peel the skins and grind to a paste. Consuming this paste on a daily basis for 3 months is known to cure anemia.

6.       Lettuce is rich in iron and fiber which aids the absorption of iron during digestion.

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Home remedies to treat dandruff

Dandruff is not a disease, it does not affect you general health but it does impact your self esteem and peace of mind. Despite being the most common problem for your scalp, most people find it difficult to get rid of dandruff. Dandruff is nothing but dead skin being shed by your scalp. Just like the rest of your body, your scalp also rejuvenates its skin cells naturally. When fresh skin is ready, it pushes the old skin out and this flakes and forms dandruff. Some scalps rejuvenate faster than other and such people have excessive dandruff. This can be a cause of embarrassment as no one like flecks of white peppering their hair! So how do you solve this messy problem?

 

Although several over the counter shampoos, gels and applications are available for treating dandruff, these often end up causing some other problems for your scalp like hair fall, dryness and even allergies. Natural, home remedies work well as they cause lesser complications, are in-expensive and can be as effective as any chemical based treatment. Here are some homemade remedies that can help you solve your dandruff problem:

 

1.       Massage your scalp with hot olive oil and then wrap your head with a towel soaked in hot water. This helps moisturize your scalp and reduce shedding.

2.       Boil some dried tea leaves with lime juice and use it as a final rinse for your head when you take a bath. In addition to reducing dandruff, it also adds shine to your hair.

3.       Apply the gel or sap from the leaves of an Aloe Vera plant to your scalp, leave it on overnight and wash off, preferably with a herbal shampoo.

 

Although some experts suggest using pure lime on your scalp to get rid of dandruff, this usually leads to discoloration of hair and weakening of hair roots. So try out these safe and effective remedies to rid your head of dandruff.

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Workout at home without equipment!

Obesity has been a growing health concern all over the world. With people leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles and binging on junk food, losing weight and staying fit is a difficult but necessary challenge. There seem to be only two ways out of the obesity circle – exercise and diet. While many people have tried and failed at diets, exercising seems a good way to lose weight and keep it off. However, rising demand has lead to s steep increase in the cost of gym memberships. You may consider having some fitness equipment at home but face problems with space and money. So what do you do when you have the will to lose weight but can’t find the means at home? Here are a few great ways to stay fit at home without using a single fitness equipment:

 

1.        Walk, don’t drive: People have become so used to taking the easy way out when it comes to travelling. Driving to work is fine but getting your car out to go to pick vegetables from the market a few blocks away seems unnecessary. So put on your walking shoes and walk instead of driving short distances.

2.       Lose the elevator: Most people use time saving as an excuse to use the elevator but seriously, using the stairs to climb a few floors does not take hours, although it does burn a lot of calories!

3.       Move your body: Household chores can be boring. However, add a little music and dance to it and even dusting will be fun! Sing and do a little dance as you work, exaggerating body movements and you will burn extra calories without even noticing!

4.       Extra activities: While its tempting to spend your free time on the couch, in front of the TV, eating a chunk of ice cream, taking on an extra activity like gardening or thoroughly cleaning your house is more likely to burn calories and lose weight.

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Health Problems in Pregnancy

If you’re currently in the process of building a new human being, you should stay informed about the various health problems that can occur as a result of pregnancy. Since the body goes through so many changes during pregnancy, it’s inevitable that some problems occasionally crop up.

One of the first problems that can occur during pregnancy is an ectopic pregnancy. Rather than implanting in the uterus, the blastocyst implants in the fallopian tube. Since the fallopian tubes are ill-equipped to handle a human fetus, this problem can cause death to mom and baby. Doctors are always on the watch for this early on in pregnancy.

The majority of pregnancy problems occur later in pregnancy. For instance, cholestasis is a problem that pops up within the third trimester. It is very rare, but very serious. It’s characterized by extremely itchy hands and feet, particularly the palms of the hands. When the organs fail to filter out the blood properly, toxins back up into the blood and cause cholestasis. When this is caught, doctors typically induce women early. Letting a pregnancy go for too long when cholestasis is occurring can lead to stillbirth.

Gestational diabetes is another condition that doctors look for in pregnant women. Caused by the hormone changes in pregnancy, gestational diabetes tends to start early in the third trimester. The first sign may be increased weight gain. Like cholestasis, doctors tend to induce women with this condition. It can lead to abnormally fast growth of the fetus, and early delivery may be required for the baby to stay safe and healthy.

The key to avoiding or managing these pregnancy health concerns is staying in contact with your doctor. Keep a list of any strange symptoms that crop up and discuss them at all prenatal appointments. Your doctor can do the appropriate testing and keep you and your baby healthy.

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4 Easy Ways to Cut Calories During the Holidays

ContentThe holidays are always associated with lots of sweet snacking, big family dinners, and tantalizing desserts. It is reported that the average person will gain between 7 and 12 pounds over the holiday season. In order to avoid being part of the statistics, here are 4 easy ways to cut calories during the holidays.

Go Green
Almost all holiday parties and dinners include a vegetable tray as an appetizer or snack. Go ahead and dig in. Eating more veggies from the start will fill you up, making you less likely to indulge in the sugary desserts. At mealtime, have more veggies on your plate than proteins and carbs, again saving unnecessary fat and calories from being consumed.

Be a Kid Again
Go ahead, round up the kids and head outside to burn some energy and calories. Organize races where you challenge the kids, they will get a kick out of trying to run faster than you. A classic game of chase or tag is also a way to break up the day, spend time with the kids, and burn some calories.

Save the Best for Last
Save your favorite holiday sweat treat for last. Think of it as a reward after eating healthy from the beginning of the event. This will help you to avoid wasting calories on foods that you don’t really care about, and then allowing yourself to indulge in your favorite dessert after you’ve already filled your belly with the healthy stuff.

Don’t Eat Late
The later in the day food is eaten, the less time a body has to burn it off. Many weight conscious people, including celebrities, do not eat after 7:00 p.m. If you have to eat high calorie or high fat foods, eat them earlier in the day and as the end of the day approaches, stick to healthy and low carb foods like fruits and veggies.

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Health Care Choices in Pregnancy

At no other point in her life is a woman subjected to as many tests as she is during pregnancy. Advances in obstetric technology have made health care practitioners more skilled in detecting and fixing problems in pregnancy. However, there are still several decisions you have to make about your health care during this important time.

One of the earliest decisions to make is which ultrasounds you want. Most doctors do a dating ultrasound early in pregnancy to determine an accurate due date. If you are sure about your conception date, you can probably refuse this ultrasound. At about twelve weeks, many doctors offer a nuchal scan. This ultrasound checks for markers of Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. This ultrasound benefits those who make decisions about continuing the pregnancy based on the results of the scan. Finally, the anatomy scan at 18 weeks tells you if everything is forming properly as well as the baby’s sex.

Later in pregnancy, you may be asked to take a gestational diabetes test. This involves drinking a syrupy, sugary drink and then getting blood drawn. If your levels are too high, you need to take a longer test. A test like this determines if you are high-risk or not, if you are induced or not, and how safe it is to let the baby go past his due date.

At the very end of pregnancy, most ob-gyns do weekly cervical checks to determine effacement and dilation. However, these tests can be painful and obtrusive to some women. If you want to refuse, you have every right to do so. Cervical checks have been shown to be an unreliable determination of when you go into labor.

When you make health care choices in pregnancy, you are making the decision for you and your unborn baby. Make the most informed and safest choice you can make.

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Jaundice in Babies

Many people have heard of jaundice, but you may be wondering who is susceptible to it, and also exactly what it is. Jaundice is most commonly seen in newborns, but can also effect anyone.

With a newborn, some things that you can look for is that both the white of the eye, as well as the skin, may take on a yellow or even orange tint. In infants, this is because they have too much bilirubin in their blood. This is a substance in the body that breaks down red blood cells that are old. Generally, jaundice is not a problem in newborns. In fact, a large number of newborn babies experience jaundice to some level. In some cases, though, too high levels of bilirubin can cause damage to the brain. For most babies that have jaundice, it will usually appear between day two and four of the baby’s life. In a large majority of these cases, the jaundice goes away by itself within about a week or two.

If your newborn is showing signs of jaundice, your doctor may require a blood sample. Depending on the severity of the jaundice, you may or may not have to have your baby go through treatment. In some cases, the baby with jaundice will be put under fluorescent lighting in the hospital for a small amount of time. When the light is absorbed by the body, it changes the bilirubin in the body enough so that the body is able to get rid of it much more easily. It is possible that the treatment may need to be continued at home, as well. In this case, you will generally get what is called a bili-bed from the hospital that you will need to keep your newborn in as much as possible. A repeat test and checkup with the doctor will generally happen about five days after the initial diagnosis of jaundice.

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