Sunday 3 July 2016

Non Conventional uses of salt.

Hello guys
                   There is much use of salt in eating. There are super ways to use a salt. Let me tell you that salt is a versatile mineral most commonly used , readily available with inexhaustible supply. Here I'm talking about good old Sodium Chloride - NaCl. Most responsible for the salinity of oceans , and extracellular fluid of many multi cellular organisms and major ingredient of edible salt.

Here are the uses of salt other than eating :

Clean Teeth : Use one part of salt and 2 parts of Baking Soda , few drops of water to make a mixture. Use it to brush your teeth . This removes yellow stains from teeth . Use once a week after brushing your teeth with a regular paste.       

                               

Mouth Wash : Equal parts of Table Salt and Baking Soda in water for refreshing your mouth and deodorizing it
                             

Transforming your hair : Salt is used on hair to treat dandruff, adding hair volume, boost hair growth and purify scalp. For volume , mix equal amount of salt and conditioner , apply it on the roots of your hair. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse of.
                          

Salt Shampoo : Salt adds softness and bounce and body to your hair due to presence of essential minerals . Heals damage hair. Measure 2 tbsp. of salt in 1 bottle of shampoo. Shake it well so that it dissolves the salt. Use it as you use you shampoo but focus mainly on the damaged area.
Salt Scrub - Anti Dandruff : Salt helps loosen and remove existing flakes of dandruff while stimulating circulation for healthy scalp. Part your hair, sprinkle salt on scalp using wet fingers  and massage your scalp for few minutes and then wash and condition hair. The results will be immediate.
Ease Mouth Problems: For canker sores, rinse your mouth with weak solutions of warm salt water several times a day .It really heals .
Relieve Bee-Sting Pain: Immediate dampen the area and pack on small pile of salt to reduce pain and swelling.
                                 
Mosquito Bite : Salt water soaks do wonders.
Throat Pain: Hot saline gargles relieve pain and inflammation of throat.

                                        
Exfoliating Massage: After bathing, still wet; massage with dry salt .It refreshes skin and boosts circulation.
                                      
Face cleanser: Add pinch of salt in two tea spoonful of milk .Cleanse your face using cotton ball. It helps removing makeup and dirt from the skin pores.

                                  
Deter Ants: Sprinkle salt at the door ways ,window sills, and anywhere else ants sneak into your house.
Deodorize your sneakers: Sneakers and other canvas shoes get smelly specially if you wear them without socks in summer. Knock down the odour and soak up the moisture by occasionally sprinkling salt in your shoes.
Laundry :Attack Wine spills: If wine spills on the clothes or table cloth ,cover it with pile of salt.it will soak the wine from fabric. Then soak it in cold water for 30 minutes before laundering.
Remove blood stains: Soak the blood stained clothes in cold salt water. Afterwards launder in soapy water.
Tackle Rust stains: Moisten stained spots with a mixture of lemon juice and salt .Spread the clothes in sun for bleaching,then rinse and dry.

Set color: If the fabric isn't color fast ,soak the garment for half an hour in half gallon of water to which you add half cup of vinegar, half cup of salt. Then rinse it off. If the rinse has any color, repeat .(Use it for single color fabric).

Freshen up artificial flowersYou can quickly freshen up artificial flowers — whether they are authentic silk ones or the more common nylon variety — by placing them in a paper bag with 1/4 cup salt. Give the bag a few gentle shakes, and your flowers will emerge as clean as the day you bought them.
                
                              

Hold artificial flowers in place :Salt is a great medium for keeping artificial flowers in the arrangement you want. Fill a vase or other container with salt, add a little cold water, and arrange your artificial flowers. The salt will solidify, and the flowers will stay put.

Keep wicker looking new: Wicker furniture can yellow with age and exposure to the sun and elements. To keep your wicker natural-looking, scrub it with a stiff brush dipped in warm salt water. Let the piece dry in the sun. Repeat this process every year or every other year.

Give brooms a long life :A new straw broom will last longer if you soak its bristles in a bucket of hot, salty water. After about 20 minutes, remove the broom and let it dry.

Monday 27 June 2016

DIY: Acne , Blackhead, Whitehead Removal at home


Hi Sweethearts
                        Acne, whiteheads and blackheads are the most common and most stubborn skin problems , especially for the younger age group. These can be treated with various methods , using variety of expensive creams and treatments. sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn't. But what if I tell you that you can cure acne and blackheads at HOME , FOR FREE !!! All natural and safe for skin.
Lets take a look at why ACNE happens and some very easy home remedies to prevent and cure them.

Acne
    Acne is also called Acne vulgaris which is a disease of hair follicle. It affects almost all teenagers during puberty and affects face, shoulders, chest and back.
    Acne occurs when the sebaceous glands (oil glands) attached to the hair follicle are overstimulated at the time of puberty due to hormonal changes. These glands secrete the oil called Sebum which naturally lubricates the skin.
    Hair pores ,also called follicular pores, secrete sebum. Plugging of hair pores is another reason for acne. Over secretion of sebum and plugging of hair pores lead to formation of  a red bump. As it enlarges, the wall ruptures ,allowing irritants and bacteria to access into deeper layers of skin ; producing an inflammation called a Pimple.

Factors which flare up Acne
  • Junk food like Pizzas , burgers, deep fried food items ,cold drinks ,sweets ,chocolates worsen Acne and excess should be avoided.
  • Improper cleaning of the face is a major factor which causes clogging of the hair pores ;leading to white heads ,blackheads and acne.
  • Repeated touching of face with hands (cuz hands are not always clean 😁) is a flaring factor for acne.
  • Unhygienic bedspreads and pillow covers are not good for acne.
  • Some cosmetics and skin care products are Comedogenic  (Clogging pores) which cause acne.
  • Some types of medicines also cause acne ; like Birth control pills .
Now let take a look at various DIY methods to get rid of Acne. Remind you, these methods will not only cure them, but also prevent further breakouts. These remedies are suitable for both men and women and for almost all age groups.
DIY: Acne Remedies 

These are some one step methods that you can do everyday , without wasting time. Any of these will be very helpful in reducing acne.

1: Lemons
 Lemons are one of the cheapest and easiest methods to get rid of acne and pimples. They exfoliate, lighten and disinfect skin  to reduce the appearance of scars and prevent new pimples from breaking out.
                              


Method : On a clean face, dab acne prone skin with a cotton ball or cotton swab dipped in lemon juice and simply rinse with cold water.


2 : Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains malic and lactic acids that exfoliate skin, reduce red marks, and treat acne Method : Make a DIY Apple cider vinegar toner at home. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water. Apply to skin with a cotton ball . Just make sure to shake well before every use.                                 
3. Acidic Foods
Acidic foods like citrus fruit juice like orange juice have anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties.


Method: Dab a little onto a cotton ball, gently swipe the cotton on the affected area . Let it dry and then wash it off. Repeat as often as possible.
In addition to the above mentioned methods, these are some more ways to aid and prevent any kids of breakouts.

The right Face Wash :Proper washing of face with good quality face wash is first step towards Acne Skin Care . I have used Brands like The Body Shop (Tea Tree Skin Cleansing Face Wash) , Neutrogena (Oil Free Acne Wash) , Himalaya Herbals (Purifying Neem Face Wash) and they have excellent results .You can use any face wash that you like, but an antibacterial face wash will be better.Wet your face , take coin sized amount of face wash in your palm , make a lather  and gently rub the face wash on your face in circular motion using your finger tips, avoiding eye area .Rinse off  thoroughly.
Face Toning With Lemon Ice Cubes : Mix 1 teaspoon full lemon juice in 100 ml of mineral water. Freeze it in ice try. Gently rub 2 ice cubes after washing your face as often as possible. Lemon has antimicrobial properties ,natural astringent and antioxidant. Ice helps in decreasing inflamed skin due to acne . Ice also helps in healing of pimple by cooling the surface of the skin and increases blood flows to the skin , resulting in healing of acne.


Acne Face Mask : (Honey, Lemon, Green Tea, Curd ) Take two teaspoon full of sour curd , two teaspoon full of  green tea (cold), one teaspoon full of honey , half teaspoon of lemon juice .Mix them well .Apply thoroughly on face and neck. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with tap water.
Use this mask everyday if possible.

DIY: Black heads and White heads Removal 

Follow the above explained steps and in addition to that ,you can use the methods given below for a fast and effective blackhead and whitehead removal.

Baking Soda Paste to get rid of blackheads.

Method: Take two teaspoons full of baking soda and make a paste by adding small amount of water in it .Keep the consistency thick . After thoroughly washing face, apply this mixture on the affected skin . Keep it for about 7-8 minutes . If the paste gets too dry, dab a little water and gently rub in circular motion but don't be too harsh . Wash your face with cold water. Moisturise your face with Aloe Vera gel or Non Oily skin moisturizer . Repeat it every week .Gradually , all blackheads and whiteheads will be gone.
                                       

This method is very affective and you will see the real difference after the first use.
Remember, moisturizing the skin after this is very crucial. Also, don't use this method twice a week or the baking soda will disturb the pH of your skin.


Tomato and honey to get rid of whiteheads:

Honey contains antibacterial properties that will kill the bacteria if and any nutrients present in tomato soften your skin.
Ingredients: One slice of tomato, one teaspoon of honey and some crushed sugar






Method: Cut one tomato in half. Apply honey on the piece and crush sugar on it. You can also make a paste by crushing sugar , tomato and honey into a paste. Massage for 2 to 3 minutes and let it stay on for 10 to minutes on the affected area. Wash it off with water.

Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil can be used as a moisturiser after any of the above treatments. Coconut oil has anti bacterial properties and also replenishes skin and makes it rejuvenated. It is also very effective in curing acne scars and other scars as well. It is one of the best natural Moisturiser .  
                         

Dont's for acne prone skin.

  1. Don't touch your face with dirty hands rather touch your face minimally .
  2. Don't pinch your pimples or whiteheads and black heads.
  3. Don't use face scrub over pimples ; it will worsen them.
  4. Don't eat fried ,sugary food much .
  5. Don't use oily make up on face.
  6. Don't wash your face more than twice day . Otherwise  it will wash away all your natural oils and the natural glow of skin.
  7. Do moisturise your skin with gel based or oil free moisturiser.




Sunday 19 June 2016

Common Foods You Should Never Reheat

Hello Angels

Healthy body is a gift of God and to keep it healthy it has to be fed right food . In our busy professional life we usually ignore the way we should use the left over food in daily lives. According to the Food Standards Agency, the secret to make sure you eat safely is in four
 Cs :Cleaning, Cooking, Chilling and Cross Contamination or avoiding it.

But when it comes to reheating of the food, one must make sure that it is steaming hot all the way through and do not heat food more than once. There are several foods that one should take care to avoid reheating.

1) CHICKEN :
Chicken has high protein content and reheating causes several digestive  problems. Best reuse cold in salads and sandwiches .


2) SPINACH :
Spinach is full of Iron and Nitrates. If reheated, nitrates are converted into nitrites and other carcinogens.
3) EGGS :
High protein morning staple food, reheating at high temperature makes them toxic and they can wreck your digestive system.

4) MUSHROOMS :
Mushrooms have Complex protein composition . Ideally to be consumed same day. Before you cook them take exact amount that you can finish the same day.
Reheating may cause a change in the composition of proteins and even change in the taste. They cause digestive problems and lose their health benefit.

5) RICE :
Rice is common left over item, one can get food poisoning after reheating. It is not actually the reheating that's the problem ,it is the way it is stored before reheating.
Uncooked rice can contain spores of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. When the rice is cooked the spores can survive. Then, if the rice is left standing at room temperature ,the spores multiply and may produce poisons that cause vomiting or diarrhea. Reheating them won't get rid of these poisons. 
  • ideally, serve rice as soon as cooked.
  • if that isn't possible ,cool the rice as quickly as possible.
  • keep rice in fridge for no more than one day until reheating.
  • when you reheat rice ,always check that the dish is steaming hot all the way through..
  • do not reheat rice more than once .
6) TURNIPS : Common in soups, due to high nitrates, reheating is not advisable as it can get toxic.


7) OILS : Reheated oil contains toxic aldehydes which is linked to different types of cancers and neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's .


8) BEETS : Rich in nitrates like spinach, reheating causes trouble. So serve them cold if any left over .


9) LETTUCE : Best when eaten raw, cook if you must , but never reheat. It has high nitrates which on reheating, causes food poisoning .



(TIP :if you are making a dish with one of these items , adjust the amount you are making to a serving size that is appropriate for you and your family to eliminate the leftovers.)

Monday 13 June 2016

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE

Hi Angels
                I have always been preaching my family and friends the benefits of wearing sunscreen as it is the easiest way to protect the skin from Sun damage. Sun Protection is a beauty editor , but alarming amount of people  brave the Sun rays without applying the sun block.


HOW SUN RAYS DAMAGE SKIN :

So lets understand the basics first. There are 2 types of Sun rays that are harmful :

  1. Ultra violet A / UVA Rays :  (ageing rays) these cause skin ageing, wrinkles , age spots and are even capable of crossing the window glass.
  2. Ultra violet B/UVB Rays : (burning rays) these cause Sun Burn and skin tanning but these cannot pass through the window glass.
OVER EXPOSURE OF EITHER CAN LEAD TO SKIN DAMAGE AND SKIN CANCER .

TOP 5 REASONS TO WEAR SUN SCREEN :
  1. To prevent excessive and harmful tanning and darkening of the skin.
  2. To prevent discoloration and brown spots on the skin.
  3. To prevent wrinkles and premature ageing of skin.
  4. To prevent blotchiness and appearance of red veins on the skin.
  5. And above all, to make sure your beautiful skin is not prone to the cancerous rays of the Sun.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
  • Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going out on all exposed areas of the body . don't ignore the area around ears, your hands, back of the neck.
  • Apply generous amount , smooth it on rather than rubbing and let it dry and absorb into the skin.
  • Women must apply it under their makeup.
  • Don't forget to wear sunscreen on CLOUDY DAYS. Clouds do not block UV Radiations.
  • Snow, water and sand reflect sunlight more. So it is even more important to sunscreen if you are going to a beach, a pool , play in the snow or Abu Dhabi DO !! :D
Only the right type of sunscreen will protect your skin. The product should be SPF 30 or above,
BROAD SPECTRUM and WATER RESISTANT.  Only a broad spectrum sunscreen will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays .

A person can use any Sunscreen above SPF 30 but , a person with more sensitive skin should use atleast SPF 50 .However , above SPF 50 , there is no evidence of additional benefits proven yet.

Brand of the Sunscreen matters less than how you use the product . Make sure you check the expiry of the product and find the sunscreen you like.

A person with a dry skin is recommended to use a cream based Sunscreen, a person with Oily or Combination skin is recommended to use a water/gel based sunscreen. Other forms can be a spray or a roll-on that can be used as suitable.





                                                  MYTH BUSTER CORNER :
Some people don't use SUNSCREEN in winters BECAUSE THEY want their skin to absorb the SUN RAYS for VITAMIN D formation in their body.
                                                                         BUT
5 TO 30 MINUTES OF EXPOSURE  TO THE SUNRAYS ,TWO TIMES A WEEK FULFILLS BODY REQUIREMENT OF VITAMIN D .PROLONGED EXPOSURE GIVES NO EXTRA BENEFIT, RATHER EXPOSES SKIN TO PHOTO DAMAGE.


                                                          HAVE FUN;;;;;D














Saturday 11 June 2016

COOL LOOKS IN HOT SUMMER

Hi Angels
             In hot summers, glowing skin is no more a dream. Yes ,Yes !! Don't be surprised ! rubbing  of  ICE CUBES on face does all that magic.

HOW IT HELPS :
  • Rubbing of ice on face locks the moisture of the skin thereby leaving skin radiant                  
  • It  minimizes redness due to sun burns
  • It minimizes skin pores and controls oil production
  • It tightens skin thereby prevents premature aging and appearance of wrinkles on face 
  • It helps in curing acne on the face by decreasing the inflammation.
  • Rubbing of ice before makeup helps in even and easy spread of makeup .
  • It improves blood circulation. Ice constricts blood vessels of the face and the body responds to the cold treatment and sends increased flow of warm blood in the area.

Additional Tips
  • I recommend boiled water or mineral water instead of tap water to make the Ice Cubes.
  • Before applying ice, clean the face first and give soft massaging moves only.
  • Don't press too hard (oops!! it may damage the tiny ,sensitive capillaries under your skin.
  • Avoid eye areas as skin is too delicate .
  • Use a minimum of 2-3 cubes generously. 
 STAY BEAUTIFUL !!!



Wednesday 8 June 2016

MYSELF

hello angels
                   I am a new blogger and want to introduce myself, I am a doctor by profession and have interests in beauty and fashion as well. .Through my blogs I want to share awesome details about health ,beauty and fashion with you all. I hope you all will be benefitted with my scientific approach of my blogs.