Of course, we all know that honey is one of nature’s most delicious treats, but did you know that there are many topical uses for honey as well? Because honey contains vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, it is a wonderful beauty aid that nourishes the skin and the hair. Honey acts as an antibacterial and antifungal agent and helps disinfect and speed the healing process in wounds, scrapes and burns.

For best results, use raw honey. Raw honey is unprocessed and has up to 50 percent more vitamins than processed or cooked honey.

Following are the various benefits of honey:

• Honey mixed with ground almonds makes an excellent facial cleansing scrub.
• A tablespoon of honey whisked together with an egg white, 1 teaspoon of glycerin and about 1/4 cup of flour makes an excellent firming mask. Just smooth on the face, leave on 15 minutes, and rinse off with warm water. You’ll love the results.
• Honey also makes a great moisturizing pack. Just mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 2 teaspoons of whole milk, smooth over the face and throat, and let it do its job for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, and finish splashing with cold water.
• Honey also makes a great lotion for dry patches of skin on hands, elbows, or other parts. Just mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply to hands, elbows, heels of your foot, etc., and wash off after 15 minutes. Instant relief!
• Honey works well on chapped lips and for acne because it has antibacterial properties.
• To give your hair lustrous shine, mix 1 teaspoon of honey into 4 cups of warm water. Use as a hair rinse. And if you’re a blond, add the juice of 1 lemon, too.
• Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with a cup of warm water. Use it as a mouthwash. Honey cleans teeth and dentures, and kills germs in the mouth. 

 

For natural black hair, brew one strong cup of espresso and let cool completely. Pour on dry hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse. For blond hair, brew some chamomile tea and let cool completely. Pour on dry hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse. For red hair, use lemon-balm tea. If you have been contemplating adding a little ‘gold’ to your locks go ahead. Summer is the perfect time to do it. Keep the bleach and chemicals off of your scalp and have a professional do it. It is worth the money. Don’t do the do-it yourself highlighter kits unless you really know what you are doing. Using Mehendi : * While it is true that hair dyes contain chemicals that may damage your hair in the long run, that does mean that there is no hope for people with gray hair. Our very own Mehendi is a very good alternative. Further if used properly, it will not give your hair the traditional red colour. Here are a few pointers to help you colour gray hair the right way. First of all always use Mehendi of a good quality. * Soak mehendi overnight in an iron vessel and then use it the other day. * If you do not want to colour your hair and only want to use it as a conditioner, then oil your hair before applying it and leave it on only for an hour or so. * If you wish to give your hair a reddish tinge, add ‘katha’ to it. Or boil and add grated beet. * If you want a bronze effect, add coffee powder to mehendi. You can also add oil to the mehendi paste. * For jet black hair, soak Amla overnight and then add this to the mehendi paste and keep this overnight in an iron vessel. Apply it the next day. * Wrap a cloth around your shoulders and use gloves to apply mehendi in order to avoid soiling your clothes. Take care that mehendi does not touch your ears or face, or else the colour won’t go for some days. For best results, do not shampoo your hair after applying mehendi. Rinse your hair with plain water. Shades of Grey : While it is true that hair dyes contain chemicals that may damage your hair in the long run, that does mean that there is no hope for people with gray hair. Our very own Mehendi is a very good alternative. Further if used properly, it will not give your hair the traditional red colour. Here are a few pointers to help you colour gray hair the right way. * First of all always use Mehendi of a good quality. * Soak mehendi overnight in an iron vessel and then use it the other day. * If you do not want to colour your hair and only want to use it as a conditioner, then oil your hair before applying it and leave it on only for an hour or so. * If you wish to give your hair a reddish tinge, add ‘katha’ to it. Or boil and add grated beet. * If you want a bronze effect, add coffee powder to mehendi. You can also add oil to the mehendi paste. * For jet black hair, soak Amla overnight and then add this to the mehendi paste and keep this overnight in an iron vessel. Apply it the next day. * Wrap a cloth around your shoulders and use gloves to apply mehendi in order to avoid soiling your clothes. Take care that mehendi does not touch your ears or face, or else the colour won’t go for some days. * For best results, do not shampoo your hair after applying mehendi. Rinse your hair with plain water. Here is a very good natural remedy for gray hair. Ingredients : 250 Gms mehendi [old and of a good quality] 2 spoons Amla powder 2 spoon Shikakai powder 2 spoon Aritha powder Method : Mix all of these together. Dissolve half a cup of coffee powder in water and boil it. When it cools, mix all the ingredients and make a smooth paste. Keep this paste for 12 hours. Before applying to hair, add some curd to it. Instead of curd you can also use an egg. Hair should be preferably clean and specifically not oily before applying this paste or else the treatment won’t work. Wash off the hair pack after 4 hours. Take this treatment once in every 15 days regularly to effectively darken gray hair and reduce their further appearance.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. There are 200,000 new cases of breast cancer each year, resulting in 47,000 deaths per year. The lifetime risk of breast cancer is one in eight for a woman who is age 20. For patients under age 60, the chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in about 400. Did you know that in 1999, 175,000 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (1 every 3 minutes). Pathophysiology The etiology of breast cancer remains unknown, but two Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Mastectomy breast cancer genes have been cloned-the BRCA-1 and the BRCA-2 genes. Estrogen stimulation is an important promoter of breast cancer, and, therefore, patients who have a long history of menstruation are at increased Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Mastectomy risk. Early menarche and late menopause are risk factors for breast cancer. Late age at Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Mastectomy, birth of first child or null parity also increase the risk of breast cancer. Family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Mastectomy and history of benign breast disease also increase the risk of breast cancer. The use of estrogen replacement therapy or oral contraceptives slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. Radiation exposure and alcoholic beverage consumption also increase the risk of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Facts – by Kalpana Narang. * Breast cancer is 100 times more common among women than men. * A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. * Only 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary. * Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease, or who themselves had previous bouts of breast cancer. * Women who have had no children or who had their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher breast cancer risk. * Long time use of Hormone Replacement Therapy, after menopause, may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. * Regular consumption of alcohol, cigarette smoking, and a diet high in polyunsaturated fats increases your risk of developing breast cancer. * Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for women aged 40-59. * Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. * Every thirteen minute a woman dies from breast cancer. * One in every eight women is at risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. * During 2000, it is estimated that 182,800 women and 1,400 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. * Approximately 40,800 women and 400 men will die with breast cancer this year. * During the 1990s, approximately 1.8 million women and 12,000 men were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. * When breast cancer is confined to the breast, the five-year survival rate is over 95 percent. How to Do A Self Exam – by Kalpana Narang. 1.While Lying Down * Place a pillow under your right shoulder, and your right hand under your head. * Check the breast tissue using a circular, rubbing motion without lifting the fingers. * Vary pressure of your fingers to examine the different layers of breast tissue. Light pressure: enough to move the skin, but not the underlying layers. Medium pressure: checks the mid layer of tissue. Deep pressure: press almost to the ribs, just short of causing discomfort. * Use one of the three techniques for your examination (remember to include the underarm tissue in your exam) Lines: start in the underarm area and lower your fingers until they are below the breast, move back upwards toward the middle. Use this up and down movement over the entire breast area. Circles: start at the outer edge of your breast, moving your fingers slowly around the breast in a circle. Examine the breast in smaller and smaller circles, moving toward the nipple. Wedges: at the outer edge of the breast, move your fingers toward the nipple and back to the edge in a V shape motion. Perform the same movement around the entire breast. 2.While Standing in the Shower (follow the same techniques outlined above) 3.Mirror Exam * With arms lowered to your sides, look for any dimpling, puckering or other abnormality. * Look for any discharge from both nipples.

Want to Quit?

You promised yourself that you would finally quit smoking.

It isn’t easy giving up something that is so much a part of what you do every day.

But you are not alone. Over 1 million people each year decide to quit and are successful.

Tried Quitting Before?

Maybe once, maybe more…

You started out feeling the time was right, but for whatever reason, you’re smoking again. Now, you’re asking whether it’s worth it to try quitting again. You bet it is!

Quitting is hard, but don’t give up!

Some smokers try a number of times before they quit for good. Studies show that each time you try to quit, the more likely you will be to eventually succeed. With each try, you are better able to know what helps and what hurts. Any attempt to quit is a step in a healthier direction.

Pregnant?

There’s no better time to quit.

And for two very good reasons:

• You.

• Your baby.

Even if someone you know smoked during pregnancy and had a problem-free delivery, smoking puts your baby’s health at risk. Quitting at any time during pregnancy is still the best chance for you and your baby to get a fresh start.

It is also important to remember that infants and children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop health problems such as chronic ear infections and asthma. Helping to eliminate these health risks is another good reason to quit.

How Do I Start?

Make a Plan

You may want to:

• Consult a health care professional to choose a quit smoking plan that is best for you.

• Set a quit date and stick to it.

• Get the support and understanding of your family, friends, and co-workers.

• Get rid of all tobacco products and ashtrays.

• Get Support and Encouragement

U.S. Public Health Service (PHS)-funded research shows the more support you have, the greater your chance for success.

Join a quit smoking program or start your own quit smoking group. Check with your health care professional, local hospitals, the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, or American Heart Association for schedules for existing groups.

Learn How to Handle the Urge to Smoke

First and foremost, always comb your hair gently to prevent breakage. Hair is at its weakest when wet. So never brush your hair when wet. As far as possible let your hair dry naturally. Use dryers only when you are pressed for time or when you want to set them for an occasion. Detangle your hair before you wash it. Wet hair is very fragile so brush your hair thoroughly before getting into the shower.

Oiling and shampoos :

Oil your hair at least twice a week or for a day before washing. Oil really does wonders for your hair; coating each strand and making it shine. Besides oil massage also increases the circulation in the scalp and promotes hair growth. Avoid using harsh shampoos and conditioners as they can harm your hair and make them dry. Tackle dandruff with good antidandruff shampoos. Most of all try to keep your hair clean and do not expose it to strong wind, dust and pollution. Use a scarf while on a two-wheeler.

Taking care naturally :

Do you want to have beautiful long hair, but cannot because of problems like dandruff, split-ends, greying etc which compel you to cut your hair? Well, here are some easy home recipes for good growth of hair. So get going to have hassle free bouncy hair!

1. Wash and clean a bunch of Methi leaves in water. Without adding water, add black pepper, a few drops of lemon and salt to taste and boil. Churn this in a mixer or juicer and drink this concoction. Drinking this regularly will increase hair growth.

2. Eat pieces of coconut or if you get cough because of coconut, have jaggery instead. Also include coconut in your daily food like dals, vegetables, etc.

3. Half an hour before washing your hair, rub coconut milk onto your scalp. This will also make your hair shinier.

4. Just as you massage oil, massage raw milk in your hair. Wash off after an hour.

5. Cashewnuts are very nutritious and good for your skin and also enhance hair growth.

6. Grandma’s advice still holds true. At night before going to sleep, give your hair a hundred strokes with a brush. This increases the blood circulation in the scalp and promotes hair growth. However brush your hair gently for vigorous stroking will cause breakage.

7. Drink coconut water atleast twice a week. It is good for your skin, digestive system and really a miracle ingredient for your hair.

8. Heat olive oil and massage into hair and then take steam. By doing this regularly you will get rid of split-ends.

9. Make a paste of jaggery, curd, and Multanni mitti and apply on scalp an hour before shampooing to get rid of dandruff. Take this treatment once in 15 days.

Blackhead is caused when excess skin oil, sebum and congesting toxins are expelled through your skin from the blood and lymph fluid that supplies your skin with nutrients. These congesting toxins combined with skin oil and sebum clogs your pores causing blackheads, whiteheads, and full blown acne.

Thus after knowing the cause of blackhead you can easily deal with it. All you have to do is stop the formation of these congesting toxins combined with skin oil and sebum that builds up in your sebum channels. Thus applying anything externally will not help because blackhead is basically an INTERNAL problem. Thus to get rid of blackheads you’ve got to normalize your skin’s sebum or oil production and purify your blood of congesting toxins. The key to effective blackhead prevention lies in your liver function. Thus you have to improve and strengthen your liver function.

Follow the following diet and free the body of harmful toxins in order to have a beautiful and vibrant skin. This diet will also improve and strength your liver functions. However you have to take care that from now on you follow a healthy and well balanced diet. This journey is very difficult and thus start only if you have the confidence in you and don’t give up in between.

A SIX-DAY DIET REGIMEN

BREAKFAST FOR EACH OF THE SIX DAYS:
Fifteen minutes before you are ready to eat breakfast squeeze the juice of one lemon in a medium glass of hot water and drink it. The rest of the meal consists of 250 ml of fruit juice (orange or grape), 5 level tablespoons of cottage cheese, 250g fresh fruit – you can eat only one kind of fruit or combine fruits in a salad (no bananas or avocados). You may drink one cup of tea, with milk and sugar if desired. Between breakfast and lunch you should drink all the vegetable broth (recipe provided) as you can hold. Also eat fresh raw fruit. Make a large quantity of the vegetable broth and store in the refrigerator.

LUNCH FOR EACH OF THE SIX DAYS:
Drink two cups of vegetable broth during the meal. Make a salad by chopping fresh, raw vegetables in a bowl. Use four from the following list: Asparagus, beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, celery, green peppers, lettuce, onions, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomatoes. For dessert, slice fresh fruit and serve with drizzle of honey. You may drink a small glass of fresh milk if desired. Between lunch and dinner drink all the vegetable juice you desire and eat all the fresh fruit you want.

DINNER FOR EACH OF THE SIX DAYS:
Drink two cups of vegetable broth during the meal. Select two or three of the different kinds of vegetables listed and steam-cook them with a little butter. Eat a generous helping of each. Eat a medium slice of whole-wheat bread with butter. For dessert, eat a fresh fruit salad. If you feel hungry after dinner, eat as much fresh fruits as you want and drink vegetable juice.

RECIPE FOR VEGETABLE BROTH:
To make vegetable broth, dice 7 carrots and 1 small bunch of celery into small pieces. Place in 2 quarts water and boil for 15 minutes. Add one-third bunch of fresh parsley and a large handful of fresh spinach. Flavour with tomatoes, green peppers or garlic. Boil 10 minutes more. Drain off the broth, retaining the fluid. Flavour with salt of onion. This recipe makes about one day’s supply. It can be used hot or cold. The purpose of this broth is to flush the system, so drink lots of it during the 6 days. It’s loaded with minerals.

Garlic has been around for centuries and is known and recognized for its medicinal powers. From the earliest times right up until today, garlic has been used for various forms of healing, as well as building strength and endurance. Studies have proved that garlic is best for prevention of heart disease and cancer. In the ancient times garlic has been used to treat everything from leprosy to wounds in both world wars and different other diseases.

Garlic for your Heart
Studies have shown that garlic aids with circulation by widening blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. Garlic works in the body on the platelets, which are the blood clotting cells, making them less likely to stick together and cling to artery walls causing heart attacks. Garlic is also credited with dissolving clot forming proteins that affect the formation of plaque. It is also believed that garlic may interfere with the metabolism of cholesterol and aid with lowering the over all cholesterol count. All these factors lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Garlic prevents cancer
Garlic helps in preventing cancer and kills the growth if cancer cells. Garlic contains allium which is helpful in preventing cancer. Also one component of garlic, alliin, is an antioxidant. Some nutrients, such as selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E, and in particular alliin, scavenge free radicals, the free-roaming, unstable molecules that lead to cell damage and premature aging. Free radicals have also been implicated in the growth of tumors. In laboratory animals, garlic extracts have actually inhibited the growth of cancer cells.

Other Benefits of Garlic
Garlic helps combat colds and the flu. It is used to treat sore throats, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), digestive disorders, bladder infections, and liver and gallbladder problems. It’s believed to kill harmful bacteria in the stomach and protect against gastric cancer. It appears to be a potent antioxidant and may boost the response of your immune system. It also works as an anti-inflammatory. Garlic is effective against bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections.

Include Garlic in your diet
Garlic comes in many different forms including fresh herb or clove, liquid, oil, powder and capsules. If you find that the pungent odor of garlic is a bit more than you bargained for you can purchase the odorless garlic supplements. But it is best if you get your quota of garlic in food, as it may be more easily absorbed into your system.

A word of caution
Don’t use garlic supplements if you’re taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) or hypoglycemics (a type of diabetes drug). Do not take if breastfeeding. Rarely, may cause allergic reactions.

Water forms a major component of the tissues and cells of the body. Without water the human body will survive only a few days. Water is also a key part of any weight loss program. Water is very necessary for helping the body remove fat, and for general overall health.

The average person should consume 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water each day. Although water is the best “thirst-quencher,” other liquids (such as juices, milk, sodas, and teas) can help meet fluid needs. High sugar and high caffeine beverages are not the best choices because they can lead to increased urination.

The following are some of the benefits of water:

• Water suppresses appetite and reduces fat deposits in the body.
• Water not only fills you up and lessens your appetite, it prevents those “hungry horrors” we all encounter when our blood sugar drops and we reach for cookies, candy, ice cream, fries or other high-calorie treats. Thus it keeps a check on your health and diet.
• Water assists the body in metabolizing stored fat, because your liver is overloaded when your kidneys don’t get enough water. Your liver metabolizes fat, and it can’t do that 100% if it is doing the kidneys job.
• Water relieves fluid retention problems.
• It reduces sodium buildup in the body.
• It helps to maintain proper muscle tone.
• Water rids the body of waste and toxins and relieves constipation.

  Tips on water intake:
  

• Drink a minimum of 64 ounces per day (2 quarts).
• Drink an additional 8 ounces per day for every 25 pounds overweight.
• It is better to drink the water cold, it is absorbed quicker and may burn more calories.
• Drink clean water, bottled or filtered.
  

Fitness walking is easy, safe and inexpensive. It’s aerobic, it burns calories, and it’s an ideal fat-burning activity. It conditions the heart, improves muscle tone and strength, relieves stress, and can help with back pain, osteoporosis, respiratory problems, diabetes, arthritis, cardiac rehabilitation and a variety of other health problems. Walking is an injury-free way for everybody to keep fit, and fit kids are fitter when all the family walks together.

How to Walk for Weight Control

Weight is determined mostly by the balance of calories – how many you burn vs. how many you eat each day. To lose weight, you need to increase your activity to burn more and/or eat fewer calories each day.

A pound of fat equals 3500 calories. To lose 1 pound a week you will need to expend 3500 more calories than you eat that week, whether through increased activity or decreased eating or both. Losing 1-2 pounds of fat a week is a sensible goal, and so you will want to use the combination of increased activity and eating less that will total 3500 calories for 7 days.

Your weight x distance = energy used walking. Time does not matter as much as distance. If you speed up to walking a mile in 13 minutes or less, you will be burning more calories per mile. But for most beginning walkers, it is best to increase the distance before working on speed. A simple rule of thumb is 100 calories per mile for a 150 pound person.

Many young people go on a crash diet to lose weight without knowing the adverse effects that it can cause on your body. The notion that the solution to weight loss is a crash diet or the ability to stay off food is totally wrong and erroneous and should be avoided as it leads to serious health problems. To lose weight you need not deprive yourself of food or starve yourself. The solution is moderation and it involves making five simple changes in your daily food habits.

1. Don’t torture your body. You might think that the less you eat the more you will lose weight. You might go on an extremely low calorie diet and completely avoid anything that carries high calories. Well you will lose weight but then your body will be weak. If you make a habit of consuming fewer calories than your body requires, your body will automatically go into the ‘starvation mode’, which will definitely result into weight loss but you will be losing not fat but important components of your body like water and muscle. Thus although your size and your weight goes down, the fat still remains. With the result that you will experience lethargy, weakness, Fatigue, hunger pangs, headaches and loss of concentration. Thus try to avoid extremely low or extremely high calorie food intake. Just stop torturing yourself.

2. Balance your diet. Eat more of low calorie high fiber foods such as salads and fresh fruits with each meal. Avoid salad dressings. Eat more of whole grain food and also try out vegetable soups, which are great if you are on a diet. Avoid red meat (beef, pork, ham, sausage), organ meat (liver, brain, kidney) and egg yolks since they are bad for your health as they fall into the saturated fat category. These foods contain high level of calories. Saturated fats, oily stuff, sweets, ice cream and chocolates should be avoided as far as possible. Include sprouts in your food intake, as they are rich in protein.

3. Don’t skip meals. Don’t commit the mistake of skipping meals. If you are thinking that if you skip one meal you might work towards losing some weight but it is quite the opposite. Because when you eat you tend to eat more and this might work against all your efforts of losing weight. Breakfast is one meal that’s very important because as the first meal of the day it helps you to raise your energy levels and provides you energy for the rest of the day. Dinner should always be light. Your body burns few calories while you sleep and if you consume excess calories at dinner, it can easily get stored up in the body as fat.

4. Learn a few tricks.

• Instead of eating three large meals in a day eat six small meals.
• Drink two glasses of water prior to each meal.
• Focus on eating. Relish the food you are eating and don’t divert your attention to anything else while you are having your meal.
• Never eat while watching television since you don’t keep track of how much you are eating and you tend to eat more.
• Chew each morsel thoroughly to liquid consistency. This will help digest the food properly.
• Pause for a moment before taking an extra serving.
• Don’t overeat and don’t get swayed away by seeing your favourite food served on the table, which might contain high calories.
• When dining out avoid high calorie food.

5. Don’t lose heart. Everyone’s weight control efforts get sidetracked from time to time. You might get fed up of going on a diet over and over again without getting any result. Don’t worry. It is important to remember that temporary setbacks should, after the initial disappointment, serve as stepping-stones to future success. Use your past failures as learning experiences on the way to successful weight control. So pick yourself up and go ahead do it this time.