The ingredients that follow [should] make up the foundation of your new beauty routine. You can probably find some of them in your kitchen already, because they’re all edible. They are incredibly potent on their own, and learning to mix and match them will teach you the basics of being your own little chemist.

1. Fine-grain sea salt

Especially great for acne or quick treatments during flare-ups. It can be used on the face or body and cleans deeply, removes dead skin cells, eliminates fluid retention, balances moisture, pulls toxins from pores, and relaxes muscles. The simplest way to use sea salt is to wet your skin, put some salt on your wet hand so it sticks, then pat it gently onto your skin. You can leave it for a few minutes or rinse immediately. Just make sure not to scrub too hard — it is too abrasive by itself.

2. Apple cider vinegar

The best astringent in nature because it helps to balance your skin’s pH, making you both less oily and less dry. Plus, it promotes blood circulation and kills bacteria, yeasts, and viruses. Always dilute apple cider vinegar! It is pungent stuff. Apply to your face with cotton or a spritzer. No need to wash it off.

3. Coconut oil

An amazing body moisturizer that glides on easily and soaks in, leaving you hydrated for hours. It’s antibacterial and antifungal, meaning it will help heal rashes, scars, infections, and acne. Coconut oil is full of healthy fats and antioxidants, so it offers a lot of nutrition for your skin. Apply coconut oil right after you shower, when your pores are hydrated and ready.

4. Olive oil

A light moisturizer that’s great for the face and is especially affordable. Olive oil protects against sun damage and skin cancer. And it’s so gentle that even the most sensitive human on the planet is probably not allergic to it. Use olive oil like coconut oil, except more freely on your face and in your hair.

5. Ground oats or ground almonds

Gentle exfoliants that leave skin super-soft. Both of these ingredients are incredibly soothing and healing to the skin, and they reduce inflammation (the root of most skin evils). The simplest way to use oats is to pour a heaping cupful into a warm bath and soak.

6. Baking soda

A great spot treatment, toothpaste ingredient, deep cleanser for getting rid of shampoo buildup in hair, and odor fighter. The best way to use baking soda is as a once-in-a-while zit treatment. Make a paste with water and dab it on a blemish. Or spread onto a stinky area, leave on for however long you’d like, then rinse.

7. Honey

Kills bacteria while soothing and moisturizing skin. It’s also anti-inflammatory and hydrating to your pores. Honey makes a great addition to any exfoliant or mask — it even makes a great stand-alone mask. Rub it onto your face and leave on for a chunk of time (not overnight, unless you want a sticky pillowcase!), then rinse with warm water.

8. Shea butter

A little bit goes a long way, leaving your skin hydrated for up to a full day. Shea butter has a natural SPF of 6 and absorbs some ultraviolet radiation. All shea butter comes from Africa and most of it is fair trade, but it’s a good idea to check the label. The simplest way to use shea butter is straight on your face or body.

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Article Courtesy: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/

There are myriad alternate healing methods and each and every one of them is a complete science in its own right. All alternate methods address the whole body and are not limited to just one system, organ or disease. You could use the same method to heal cancer or the common cold. There are so many methods to choose from, depending on which one resonates better with you.

Excerpts taken from ‘The Alternate Healing Compendium’

Note: It is advised that people, especially those with serious illnesses, do not delay or forgo scientifically-based medical treatment in favour of crystal healing as this can be dangerous or even fatal.

What is Crystal Healing Therapy?

The oldest known usage of crystals is believed to have been by the Lemurian Civilisation followed by the Atlantean. The Lemurian civilisation is supposed to have predated the Atlantean, and is believed to have existed about 12 million years ago, somewhere between the American continent and Australia. They evolved to live more on the mental plane, encompassing the fourth dimension. Crystals were their source of energy. They used crystals in every aspect of their life, including power generation. However, the earliest documented records of crystal healing are in the Ebers papyrus (1,550BC), Egypt, where the medicinal uses of many different crystals (gems) have been listed. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine also have records of crystal healing dating nearly 5,000 years back.

Every crystal has a unique electromagnetic charge and vibration, which is a result of its colour, chemical composition and inner and outer form. This is what gives each crystal its unique healing ability. By applying the right crystals, the body’s energy can be balanced, its natural healing abilities can be boosted and blockages can be removed, bringing healing into place. Crystal healing is a gentle, non-invasive form of alternative healing.

Directions for use:

The crystal must be cleaned before and after every application.

The methods to clean a crystal are:

1. Wash the crystal under running water and visualise all impurities being washed away.

2. Place the crystal in the sunlight, moonlight, wind or rain for a few hours. The natural elements work as amazing cleansers.

Programmed crystals work a little more effectively than non-programmed ones. You can energise or program the crystal by holding it in the palm of your hand and visualising the healing you want it to perform. 

Keep the crystals on your body for 15 minutes for the first time and for 30–45 minutes at each subsequent session.

Drink a lot of water after each session to flush out all the toxins released.

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Article Courtesy: http://healthmeup.com/

You’ve probably heard conflicting reports about cancer prevention. Sometimes the specific cancer-prevention tip recommended in one study or news report is advised against in another. In many cases, what is known about cancer prevention is still evolving. However, it’s well accepted that your chances of developing cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices you make. So if you’re concerned about cancer prevention, take comfort in the fact that some simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Consider these seven cancer prevention tips.

1. Don’t use tobacco

Using any type of tobacco puts you on a collision course with cancer. Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer — including cancer of the lung, bladder, cervix and kidney. And chewing tobacco has been linked to cancer of the oral cavity and pancreas. Even if you don’t use tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke might increase your risk of lung cancer. Avoiding tobacco — or deciding to stop using it — is one of the most important health decisions you can make. It’s also an important part of cancer prevention. If you need help quitting tobacco, ask your doctor about stop-smoking products and other strategies for quitting.

2. Eat a healthy diet

Although making healthy selections at the grocery store and at mealtime can’t guarantee cancer prevention, it might help reduce your risk. Consider these guidelines:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Base your diet on fruits, vegetables and other foods from plant sources — such as whole grains and beans.
• Limit fat. Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer high-fat foods, particularly those from animal sources. High-fat diets tend to be higher in calories and might increase the risk of overweight or obesity — which can, in turn, increase cancer risk.
• If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation.The risk of various types of cancer — including cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver — increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you’ve been drinking regularly.

3. Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active

Maintaining a healthy weight might lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney. Physical activity counts, too. In addition to helping you control your weight, physical activity on its own might lower the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer. Adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits. But for substantial health benefits, strive to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic physical activity. You can also do a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. As a general goal, include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine — and if you can do more, even better.

4. Protect yourself from the sun

Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer — and one of the most preventable. Try these tips:

• Avoid midday sun. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
• Stay in the shade. When you’re outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible. Sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat help, too.
• Cover exposed areas. Wear tightly woven, loosefitting clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible. Opt for bright or dark colors, which reflect more ultraviolet radiation than pastels or bleached cotton.
• Don’t skimp on sunscreen. Use generous amounts of sunscreen when you’re outdoors, and reapply often.
• Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. These are just as damaging as natural sunlight.

5. Get immunized

Cancer prevention includes protection from certain viral infections. Talk to your doctor about immunization against:

• Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can increase the risk of developing liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for certain high-risk adults — such as adults who are sexually active but not in a mutually monogamous relationship, people with sexually transmitted infections, intravenous drug users, men who have sex with men, and health care or public safety workers who might be exposed to infected blood or body fluids.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical and other genital cancers as well as squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. The HPV vaccine is available to both men and women age 26 or younger who didn’t have the vaccine as adolescents.

6. Avoid risky behaviors

Another effective cancer prevention tactic is to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to infections that, in turn, might increase the risk of cancer. For example:

• Practice safe sex. Limit your number of sexual partners, and use a condom when you have sex. The more sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the more likely you are to contract a sexually transmitted infection — such as HIV or HPV. People who have HIV or AIDS have a higher risk of cancer of the anus, liver and lung. HPV is most often associated with cervical cancer, but it might also increase the risk of cancer of the anus, penis, throat, vulva and vagina.
• Don’t share needles. Sharing needles with an infected drug user can lead to HIV, as well as hepatitis B and hepatitis C — which can increase the risk of liver cancer. If you’re concerned about drug abuse or addiction, seek professional help.

7. Get regular medical care

Regular self-exams and screenings for various types of cancers — such as cancer of the skin, colon, prostate, cervix and breast — can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Ask your doctor about the best cancer screening schedule for you. Take cancer prevention into your own hands, starting today. The rewards will last a lifetime.

Article Courtesy: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/

Long nails have always been associated with femininity and beauty, but they can be an open invitation to diseases and other health problems if not maintained properly.

A recent study conducted by the Infectious Disease Society of America revealed that nails that are longer than three millimetres beyond the tip of the finger carry harmful bacteria and yeast under them. The study also suggested that most people do not wash their hands well enough to get rid of all the germs under their nails. According to Dr. Carol A. Kauffman, co-author of the study, people should spend at least 15 seconds washing their hands and clean underneath their nails to get rid of the unseen germs.

Your hands come in contact with hundreds of objects every day, and you use them for activities like cooking and eating. Long nails have the potential to cause a number of health problems since they are a perfect place for germs and dirt to stay. Health experts agree that nails should be trimmed short and kept clean.

Many women prefer to keep their nails long either by growing them naturally or by wearing artificial enhancements. It is important to be informed about the potential risks that are associated with long nails and take adequate precautions to ensure that you are taking good care of your nails.

Here are some of the reasons why long nails are bad for health:

• You could injure yourself when your nails get caught in zippers, windows, or other such objects.

• You could strain your fingers when you type with longer fingernails. Typing texts in your phone also takes longer.

• Artificial nails are prone to infection if worn too long.

• Using your hands to eat food when you have long nails can allow bacteria and other infectious agents to enter your system.

• You have to constantly worry about maintaining your nails.

• You can avoid accidentally hurting yourself with your nails or scratching your skin.

• It is difficult for you to get a grip on anything. You end up dropping a lot things in an effort to not break your nails

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Article courtesy: http://healthmeup.com/

Between work, family and play, it can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep. While it’s easy to tell you’re tired after a night of tossing and turning, there are a few more subtle signs that indicate you’re not getting the beauty rest you need and deserve.

If you find that many or all of the following signs are true for you, consider taking steps to improve the quality of your sleep:

1. You can’t stop hitting the snooze alarm.

Hitting the snooze alarm often is usually a sign that you either haven’t had sufficient sleep or that the quality of your sleep is poor.

2. You sleep late on weekends.

If you find that you’re constantly sleeping later on weekends, this may be due to the sleep debt you built up during the week.

Unfortunately, this catch-up sleep can’t make up for your lack of sleep. Even worse, it may throw your circadian clock off, making it more difficult to fall asleep on Sunday night.

3. You’re irritable and moody.

It’s unfortunate that so many of us fail to realize how insufficient sleep affects our moods. Sleep is very important in our processing of emotions.

4. You get frequent coughs and colds.

Many studies have demonstrated the importance of sleep in relation to our immune system. In fact, in my book I examine sleep and its relationship to the immune system.

5. You can’t shed those pounds.

Insufficient sleep is a major cause of obesity. When the body does not get enough sleep, it tends to overproduce an appetite-stimulating hormone called ghrelin, and underproduce an appetite-suppressing hormone called leptin.

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Article Courtesy: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/

The Ebola virus was first reported from the African country, Sudan. This virus infection has become one of the most dreaded diseases in the world of late. The destructive potential of this virus is high with almost 80% of the victims reported dead. The virus has the potential to infect millions of people across the world if proper screening measures are not adopted by the countries of the globe.

Know About Ebola

Ebola virus diseases were earlier known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever and are caused by the virus belonging to Filoviridae family. This is a disease known to spread from animals to humans. The RNA virus infects the wild animals such as gorillas, monkeys, chimpanzees and fruit bats and can also spread to humans. According to World Health Organization, this disease is transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids such as blood, secretions and organs of an infected animal or person. Migratory populations are most likely to get the infection and they may transmit the Ebola virus.

Early Symptoms

The early symptoms may appear one week after the virus infects your body. The symptoms include headache, fever, rashes, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, body ache, cough, etc. It is difficult to identify the disease in the early stages as the early symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other diseases. The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of tests for antibodies against viral DNA and Ebola.

Later Symptoms

Within a few days of the patient expressing the early symptoms, the later symptoms appear. Later symptoms include: impaired liver and kidney functions, redness of the eye due to internal and external bleeding, bloody vomit and bloody diarrhea, etc. The patient may experience cardiovascular collapse and finally death.

Who Is At Risk?

The persons with high risk of Ebola infection are family members of the infected persons and the health workers who is in close contact with infected individuals and mourners of the deceased person who have direct contact with the body. People who are handling the meat of the infected animals are also at the risk of exposure to the virus.

The Countries Affected By the Virus

The present Ebola virus outbreak is the largest outbreak reported and is mainly limited to West Africa. The African countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Libya has reported more than 1600 cases of Ebola till August 2014. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises to avoid all “nonessential” travel to these West African countries.

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Article courtesy: ttp://www.myhealthtips.in/

You’ve probably seen this type of statement on food packaging or in commercials. It’s a statement that gives the impression of healthy eating to foods that are rarely healthy. Do you buy foods based on their calories per serving? If yes, it’s time to stop!

When you consume food, you are in fact consuming calories which your body needs to produce energy. If you’re consuming a high amount of calories but not burning them off, they will be stored. An excess of stored calories can be converted to fat over time and this can lead to weight gain.

Many moons ago, the food and diet industries used this scientific fact to create the calorie counting epidemic. It wasn’t about what you were eating, but the amount of calories you were eating. So basically you could eat whatever you wanted as long as you stayed within your body mass index (BMI) daily calorie requirement.

Calorie counting gave people a sense of control: if they knew they could only have so many calories per day and the labels on their food told them exactly how many calories per serving, it seemed like a foolproof way to lose and maintain a healthy weight. Many of you, including myself, became so focused on the number of calories in our food that we forgot to read the actual ingredients.

Fast forward to today.

We put calorie labels on all packaged food (as is required by law), but most of that packaged food is made up of junk ingredients. Even with everything we know about processed food, many people still look at the calories per serving rather than the ingredients.

Let’s use one of those low-calorie, frozen dinners, as an example. The “beef” in a low calorie beef dinner is referred to as “beef product” (beef, water, dextrose, modified corn starch, potassium chloride, sodium phosphates and artificial color). The list of artificial ingredients in a product like this goes on and on. “Low in calories and high in crap,” is what the label should read.

Guess what happens when processed food makes up a majority of your diet? Not only are you depriving your body of essential nutrients, you’re also filling up on empty calories, leading to more cravings which ultimately leads to poor food choices.

Are you ready to stop counting calories? Are you ready to change your relationship with food? Here is my two step action plan to help you break free from the calorie counting cycle.

1. Add more plant-based food into your diet.

This is key to feeling healthier and happier. Stock up on vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and legumes. These plant-based foods will give you the essential nutrients you need to fuel your body and mind with living calories your body will actually use to keep you energized.

The more plant-based food you eat on a daily basis, the less likely you are to crave junk food. I especially recommend adding a tablespoon of hemp seeds to all your meals. They will add extra nutrients to your meals and help satiate your appetite.

2. Get in the habit of reading ingredients first!

Forget the calories per serving — skip right to the list of ingredients. If the first few ingredients on a label are words you can’t pronounce, you probably want to avoid eating that product. Steer clear of products that are high in sodium, sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and processed grains (to name a few).

Notice I call them products and not food? Everything you need to know is on those labels. Remember: you are what you eat! If you eat healthy most of the time and get regular exercise, you’re going to live a better quality of life. It’s not about obsessing over a number. It’s about feeding your body the nutrients it needs to stay strong and thrive!

Article Credits: MindBodyGreen

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Imagine someone who is perfectly put together, right from hair and make-up to clothes and accessories. Shift focus to their feet and horror of horrors! The feet don’t seem to belong to the same person.

Your feet endure the most while carrying your weight around, being cramped in fancy, high-heeled footwear and the changing weather. Winter is the time when they take a beating. Dry skin eventually leads to cracked heels. And, ignoring the cracks will only worsen the situation. One must care for their skin and moisturise it but in winter, additional care is needed.

Removing rough skin
Rough, dry, chafed skin looks grayish and dull. Removing it is the first step towards good skin because moisturising dead skin does not serve any purpose.

Warm bath for soft skin: Soak your feet in a small tub filled with warm water. Remember you must use warm water and not hot water. Extreme temperatures aid in drying skin more. Add a little shower gel to cleanse your feet while they are soaking. Don’t have time for a luxurious soak? Do this while you are bathing. Soaking your feet in warm water for 10 minutes softens the skin and the rough patches. Towel dry your feet. Don’t rub them roughly.

Removing dead skin: While your feet are still damp, rub the heels with a soft pumice stone. Do not use the metal foot scrubbers that are available in the market. Don’t get frenzied while rubbing. The key is to be gentle. Rub until you see some of the rough skin sloughed off.

Foot scrub: Mix a little sugar with olive oil. You can also add a few drops of mint or tea tree essential oil. Start scrubbing your feet with the mixture in circular motions. The granular sugar will exfoliate your feet ridding it off the dead skin. Olive oil will soften the skin and moisturise it in the process. Just make sure you are not too hard while scrubbing your feet or it will defeat the purpose of the scrub.

Foot Masks: After getting rid of the dead skin, it is very important that your feet be wrapped in a nourishing mask. You will need an overripe banana. The blacker the skin, the better. Mash the banana along with the juice of one lemon. Apply a thick layer of the mask all over your feet and wrap with kitchen foil paper. Keep it on for 10 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Since this mask can be quite messy, it would be better to do this in the bathroom or spread a newspaper on the floor.

Moisturising skin
Before you turn in for the day, make sure you slather a thick coat of petroleum jelly or olive oil or a thick cream on your feet and wear a pair of old socks. If your heels are riddled with deep cracks, you should follow this tip religiously. You can also wrap your feet with gauze tape after moisturising it. Another way of getting rid of cracked heels is mixing glycerine, lemon juice and a little sugar together. Apply this concoction on your feet, cover them with socks and leave it on overnight. This will also help lighten ugly scars left by shoe bites.

Article Credits : TOI

Image Courtesy: http://www.sovranaspa.com/

World AIDS Day 2014 is an opportunity to harness the power of social change to put
people first and close the access gap.
Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible, but only by closing the gap between
people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and
people who are being left behind.
Closing the gap means empowering and enabling all people, everywhere, to access
the services they need.
By closing the HIV testing gap, the 19 million people who are unaware of their
HIV-positive status can begin to get support.
By closing the treatment gap, all 35 million people living with HIV will have
access to life-saving medicine.
By closing the gap in access to medicines for children, all children living with
HIV will be able to access treatment, not just the 24% who have access today.
By closing the access gap, all people can be included as part of the solution.
Closing the gap means that ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible.