1. Drink a plenty. Water hydrates your skin, improves its elasticity,hides ugly wrinkles and keeps it glowing. Enough reason to drink eight to ten glasses per day. And in case youre wondering,tea, coffee, colas, and alcohol are not adequate substitutes.

2. Eat natural. Fruits, nuts, and vegetables are rich in antioxidants.These chemical compounds are your natural defense against the free radicals that wear down your bodys cells and accelerate aging.Carotenoids (found in apricots, carrots, mangoes, papayas, sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli) vitamin C (found in amla, oranges, cantaloupes, grapefruit, guavas, litchis, strawberries, tomatoes, and cabbage) and vitamin E (found in almonds, avocados, and kiwi) neutralize toxins, fight infections, and keep you fighting fit.

3. Switch to green tea. Antioxidants are not restricted to fruits and veggies. The polyphenol ECGC, or epigallocatechin gallate, is a super antioxidant that is abundant in green tea. It rejuvenates dying skin cells, heals scrapes and bruises, removes blemishes, and protects against damage from sunlight.

4. Choose healthy oils. While fighting the flab, dont make the mistake of going off all fat. Monounsaturated fat in oils such as olive, canola, and flax seed, can actually help you stay lean and fit. Whats more, these oils help you absorb fat soluble carotenoids and vitamins that have an anti-aging effect on your skin.

5. Eat enough protein. Protein contains amino acids that are essential to build and repair your body cells. Eating an adequate amount of protein (about 120 gm daily) supports the growth of healthy skin, hair, and nails.

6. Shoot the sugar. Its official now, sugary foods are bad for your looks. This is because a rapid rise in blood sugar causes sugar molecules to bind themselves to the collagen, a kind of protein, in your skin. This process, known as glycation, makes skin hard and rigid, causing sagging and wrinkling.

7. Prevent sunburn. Get it right, sunlight is actually good for you. It provides vitamin D, helps absorb calcium and phosphorus, bolsters immunity, and relieves skin trouble. Its the extended exposure, especially to the overhead afternoon sun, that is harmful. This is because UV rays in sunlight break down collagen in the skin, making it rough and leathery, and causing wrinkles and premature aging. It also increases the risk of skin cancer. Protect skin against direct sunlight by covering all exposed areas or using a good sunscreen.

8. Use soap safely. Buy soap to match your skin type, such as dry, oily, normal or sensitive. Avoid soaps with high pH or acid content, as these can harm your skin. Also, herbal soaps are a gentler alternative to those containing chemicals. As a rule, use minimal soap to preserve the natural oils in your skin.

9. Look for retinoids. While buying cosmetic products, check labels for those containing retinoids. Derived from vitamin A, these compounds increase collagen production and cell regeneration in your skin, thus helping you stave off the effects of aging.

10. Lotion in bed. Apply moisturizers, creams, and lotions just before going to bed. Because your body temperature is slightly higher when you sleep, there will be better absorption of these products. As a bonus, the obstructing effect of sunlight will be absent.

11. Condition with care: Hair-conditioners tend to soften hair, so that it hangs flat and looks lifeless. One trick is to apply conditioner only on the outer tips of your hair. This way the lower portion of the hair retains its natural bounce.

12. Heal your hands. Your hands bear the brunt of the work you do. The result is discolored or hardened skin and chipped nails that make you look older. To keep your hands looking good, treat them with facial-care products such as creams and lotions. Occasionally, treat yourself to a manicure.

13. Pamper your feet. Feet, along with hands, are the neglected extremities of your body. Its important to keep them clean by scrubbing them daily with warm water and a brush. Using a pumice stone once a week will help to keep your feet smooth and soft.

14. Have a massage. An occasional massage offers immense physical and psychological benefits. It stimulates the skin, regulates blood pressure, purges toxins, and eases stiffness in the joints. In addition, it reduces stress and promotes relaxation, and makes you feel just great which in turn influences the way you look.

15. Go for yoga. The balancing, bending and stretching movements in yoga are excellent for improving physique, and toning muscles. Also, poses such as suryanamaskar and sirshasan increase blood flow towards the head, which helps to release stress and rejuvenates skin in the facial area.

16. Start jogging. Running helps you lose weight, keep fit, and fight off stress. The result is that you not only look, but also feel, much younger. And yes, the fresh air helps too.

17. Hit the gym. Vigorous exercises, such as aerobics or cardio, pump up your circulation and give your skin and face that healthy flush.

18. Keep smiling. Unbelievable but true. A simple smile lowers blood pressure, boosts immunity,and releases endorphins and serotonin that make you feel good. Plus, it is infectious, so that you set people around smiling back at you. Now thats reason enough to keep smiling.

19. Meditate daily. Meditation helps you connect with your inner self, calms you, cheers you up,and makes you feel tremendously good about yourself. The results are for all to see.

20. Enjoy good sleep. Adequate sleep is crucial for your body to perform functions of cell renewal and regeneration. Regularizing your patterns and sleeping early will ensure that you get the optimum eight hours sleep daily.

The summer time is ostensibly the time that the skin suffers the most damage. These damages done to the skin may be attributed to the harmful ultra violet rays that the sun generates. This is the time you need to give the skin maximum care and attention so that it continues to glow. Before you set out to take care of the skin, you need to know the composition of the skin so that you can understand its needs. The rays of the sun almost kill the healthy skin cells which results in the damage of the skin.

Though there are various external methods of protecting your skin, it is equally important for you to maintain your skin health through internal methods, for example consumption of foods good for skin especially during summer. Here are a few easy and effective suggestions that you can follow during the summer season to keep your skin safe from the sweltering heat.

• The best way to keep your health and skin safe from the harsh sun is to consume a lot of fresh fruits. They provide the required vitamins and minerals for the skin as well as the body and they work wonders especially during the summer.

• Some of the fruits that can help you tackle the summer heat are lemon, musk melon, water melons, sweet lemon, grapes, papaya and strawberries. All these fruits are rich sources of vitamins and minerals and help keep the body hydrated thus keeping the skin fresh and healthy too.

• Watermelons contain 90 percent of water and work best to not only to quench the thirst but also to give the body and skin the necessary hydration. The anti oxidants present in the water melons also do their part for the health of the skin.

• The different berries like the strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, etc contain a large amount of vitamin C which is an essential nutrient for the summer season. They are also low in calories and rich in antioxidants which help the skin stay healthy.

• Another one of the tips for healthy skin during the summer is to drink lots of water during the summer season as the skin loses its moisture and therefore the sheen. Atleast six to eight glasses of water is necessary everyday to regulate the functions of the body.

• Instead of eating the fruits you can extract the juice out of them and then drink them for a better effect.

• The green leafy vegetables that have a high content of water can also do the best for the summer season. Make sure you do not eat fried food items; instead you can steam the vegetables.

The secret of looking good is style. Today’s women are more cautious about their looks especially when they reach certain age like 40 plus. None of us, particularly women, want to feel that they are getting older. They want to keep their beautiful looks for ever.

Turning forty is a watershed to many of us. Wrinkles begin to appear and the odd grey hair start to pop up and you starts gaining weight while you are busy to bringing up your family and mot paying so much attention to yourself. You afraid of sagging muscle bulges and afraid of wrinkles showing their age. But do you really have to worry? As the old saying goes “Life begins at 40″. Of course not, there are few things you need to know and to work out on how to look good at 40 plus.

First thing is to realize and accept that aging is the process that we all have to go through. People at 40 are more interesting, confident and wise.

How to look good at 40 plus : Skin care at 40

(1) Create a sense of style. DO not wear clothes that you are used to wear when you were in your teens or 20s like min-skirts. Remember those funky dress are wear by young people to create their own style and you are on your 40s and you are already done.

(2) Skin care after forty – You need to follow some skin care routine like always remember to remove your makeup before going to bed, wash your face when you feel it something oily or after coming back from market. In addition apply homemade face pack. Here are few that can work:
(a) Paste of rice flour, tomato and grape juice
(b) Homemade white butter with turmeric.
(c) Use glycerin with rose water and lime juice.
Apply any of these on face and leave it for 15-20 minutes and wash with Luke warm water. Be careful if your skin is too sensitive for any of these.

(3) Most effective anti-aging tool is exercise. Add 30 minute exercise with healthy dose of vitamins and anti-oxidants nutrients in your diet like carrot, spinach, tomato etc.

(4) As we get older the grey hairs start to peep through and on some people it can look great but on the majority of us it is extremely ageing, so make sure that you choose a great color that will flatter your skin tone and not make you look drained. Initially I suggest consulting a good hairdresser about the shade.

(5) Use creams and lotion that contains antioxidants, Vit C & E, alpha lipolic acid and retinol. Antioxidants destroy rough molecules like free radicals and peptides and retinol stimulates collagen production.

Stress is a factor that most of them come across and the reasons for the stress can vary from person to person. It can be said that the women are more vulnerable to stress as compared to men as there are the ones who handle things both at home and at the workplace. It is usual for the women to worry for every other thing, eventually leading to stress. Some of the common symptoms of stress in women are migraine attacks, poor memory and concentration, suicidal behavior, frequent mood swings, anger, etc. It is important that you show immediate attention to the stress to avoid serious troubles in the future. Here are a few methods by which you can deal with stress.
Overcome your stress – Stress can be cured in simple and useful ways.

• Of the best methods of beating signs of stress in women, is to work out everyday. Some of the various exercises that can help deal with stress are yoga and aerobics. When you follow these regularly, there can be no doubt that your stress levels are reduced.
• Walking and jogging also help you relieve you off stress. When you are healthy and fit from within, there are least chances for the stress levels to increase.
• Once you recognize the symptoms of stress, you can impede it from rising by practicing meditation. This is one of the well known methods of managing stress. Confine yourself to a calm and clean place and then sit down cross legged and keep your posture erect. Close your eyes and then slowly inhale and exhale. Keep the position for a few minutes and then open your eyes slowly only to find that your stress has vanished.
• Be social. Find time to enjoy yourselves with friends and have fun. This can help you to forget all your worries thereby lessening your stress.
• You can also visit a spa and give yourself a soothing massage. They help you relax your muscles and drive the stress away.
• Develop optimistic thoughts and keep away the inferior ones. It is this positive thinking that raises your spirits.
• Listening to soothing music can also relax your mind and hence alleviates stress.
• Do the things that you are more interested in, like reading a book, writing a diary, dancing. Keeping yourself engaged is the best way of relieving oneself from woes and worries.
• Speak your problems out with your close ones so that you can lessen the burden in the mind and cope with stress.

Kiwi fruit, also known as “Chinese gooseberry” are very common in grocery market in recent years, is rich in many vitamins, minerals and falvonoids. Its high amount of Vitamin C, as much potassium as bananas, and a good amount of beta-carotene make it a healthy choice.

This kiwi fruit has a hairy exterior that many find quite unappealing but when this exotic looking fruit when cut in to half looks very appealing just because of its light green color and the black seed circle in the centre. The hairy skin of kiwifruit is also edible and rich source of vitamins but some people prefer to peel off the skin just because its taste – it might feel like sandpaper on your tongue.

By reading this your taste buds must be tickling and you want to taste this amazing fruit. Just go to your nearest grocery and look for kiwi fruit that are plump, wrinkle-free and a little firm. These fruits can be ripened at home and then eaten. You can leave it at room temperature. Don’t purchase kiwis that are very soft or are shriveled.

Nutritional and other benefits of having kiwi fruit in your diet:

Why kiwi fruit, it prevent you from asthma, prevents cough and cold in children, provides healthy amount of antioxidants and vitamins and more over protects our DNA from mutations.

- Having a regular intake of kiwi in one’s daily diet helps to improve the cardio vascular health by preventing accumulation of deposits and plaques on the walls of the arteries.

- Possessing a number of carotenoids, flavanoids and phyto nutrients makes the kiwi a good source of anti-oxidants to help fight against cancer.

- Kiwi contains lutein, a compound that helps in prevention of muscular degeneration or weakening of one’s eyesight, glaucoma and cataracts due to ageing.

- A good source of vitamin E, consuming kiwi in your daily diet is beneficial for maintaining healthy skin.

- Kiwi can help tenderise meat because it contains an enzyme called actinidin that is similar to papain in papayas that reacts chemically to break down proteins.

The winter is back, so do you felling that winter is playing with your skin and body?

Are you feeling dull and rough skin on cold windy season? So what will be the solution? May be most women just go behind cold cream or moisturizers to cover up the dehydration and dryness of the upper crust of the skin. But do you know as to how our skin behaves in the changing climatic conditions? So, before picking up any cold cream or moisturizers, it’s important to understand the behavior of the skin during the winter season.

In winter season dry wind makes our skin to lose moisture, so the upper most layer of skin become dull and dry and more prone to infections, allergies and wrinkle lines. Broken skin on the cheeks makes it itchy and sensitive.

The moisturizers and cold cream available in the market contains chemicals which may cause allergy. So the natural winter skin care products which are non allergic and baby soft to use can do wonders to achieving total skin care during winter season.

Here are a few tips for winter skin care:

- Cleanse your face with natural rose water or aroma water of either of Lavender, Chammomile, Neroli aroma oils (one drop in one bowl of water is enough).
- Aloe Vera juice or extract also offers a good option.
- Scrub your face with Oatmeal powder mixed with almond, orange peel powder and half drop of sandalwood or frankinsense Oil.
- Nourishing facial cream with sandalwood, cardamom or neroli aroma oils helps you to bring back the lost facial glow instantly.
- Face pack with milk powder mixed with one tenth of a drop of patchouli aroma oil helps to overcome extra sensitiveness of the skin and helps remove the fine lines.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/beauty/Winter-skin-care-with-aromatherapy/articleshow/5274530.cms

Salt is a nutrient that is needed daily by all humans. It is most important for proper cell maintenance andd creation and therefore is a critical nutrient in the diet of a pregnant woman. As a pregnancy progresses, a woman’s body will make additional blood (about 40 – 50% more) in order to ensure adequate oxygenation and nutrition of the unborn baby. To do this, the body must retain additional fluid and one of the properties of salt is fluid retention. If salt is restricted during pregnancy, this additional blood volume may not be made and the nutritional needs of the unborn baby will not be met. This may occur because the placenta’s growth is retarded or stopped or it may even peel off of the uterine wall.

The unborn baby is not the only one to suffer from too little salt. The pregnant woman will be more prone to hypertension, toxemia and other nutritionally derived diseases. Women who are put on low salt diets in the mistaken belief that this will keep them from retaining fluid and swelling, or keep their blood pressure down frequently become more edemic, rapidly gain weight from the water retention and find their blood pressures soaring. These are normal body responses to a salt deficiency and a coping mechanism to restore the necessary balance in the system.

When a woman meets her daily salt need by “salting to taste”, her body retains the correct amount of fluid to meet its needs and the excess salt is removed from the body via the kidneys. Edema in well-nourished women is not pathologic and may, in fact, have some benefits for the mother and baby. The pregnant woman will be more prone to hypertension, toxemia and other nutritionally derived diseases. Women who are put on low salt diets in the mistaken belief that this will keep them from retaining fluid and swelling, or keep their blood pressure down frequently become more edemic, rapidly gain weight from the water retention and find their blood pressures soaring. These are normal body responses to a salt deficiency and a coping mechanism to restore the necessary balance in the system.

What is folic acid and why is folic acid required for pre-pregnancy days? Folic Acid is a B vitamin that the body uses to make new cells. This is always in short supply in the body; the body does not store much of it. But you need it to stay healthy. Pregnant women need this vitamin even more than others. Diet and nutrition planning are necessary during pregnancy period. Foods that contain folic acid or are fortified with it are green leafy vegetables, such as peas, French beans, legumes, broccoli and spinach. Citrus fruits, peanuts, whole grains, white flour, nuts, bananas, grapefruit and some fortified cereals also contain folic acid. It’s very important that during pregnancy planning folic acid supplements are taken. As soon as you begin planning your pregnancy, start taking its tablets, if you have an unplanned pregnancy, take them as soon as you realize you are pregnant. Folic acid tablets should be continued till the 12th week of your pregnancy.

Why Take Folic Acid?

This is because; the unborn baby’s spinal cord, brain and skull require folic acid for them to form properly. When folic acid is not enough in the system, the baby’s spinal cord is malformed. This is called Spina Bifida.

The Right Dosage

Usually, doctors recommend 400 micrograms a day for pre-pregnancy care. It could be 500 micrograms for those women, who have a higher risk of having a baby with a spinal cord defect. A higher risk could be because of a previous birth of a baby with a spinal cord defect. It could also be because, you are taking medicine for epilepsy, you have sickle cell anemia, diabetes or thalasemia or your partner or a close relative has a spinal cord defect. That’s when your baby has more chances of developing NTD or neural tube defects. Its supplements during conception planning and once you conceive can bring down the chances of having a defective baby by 70%. It is important to note here that, folic acid is not a drug, but only a natural supplement that the body requires and is usually short off. There are no side effects involved. So don’t forget to take folic acid for pre-pregnancy days, to ensure that you have a safe and healthy nine months.

Women health care is an important factor in today’s busy life schedules. They have to work inside as well as outside house for better living. All women should spend some time for their personal care. They have to look after the children by providing good foods and help their children in their studies. With proper time management, they are able to do lot of tasks with care. To know more about menopause weight loss, internet is the best option. With good eating habits and proper exercise, a lot of diseases can be delayed and can enjoy the life peacefully.

Menopause is a natural condition in all women and they experience as they age. It marks the end of a woman’s ability to conceive children. It occurs after the age of 45 years. In some women it can occur earlier due to some medical treatments or surgeries. Women’s body makes less female hormones at menopause. The symptoms of menopause include falling levels of hormones, irregular periods, hot flashes, breast tenderness, stress, weight gain etc. These symptoms vary among women. Abnormal weight gain is the frustrating body changes during this time. You should eat less and exercise more so that menopause weight loss can be achieved. You can do exercise as per your choice namely indoor exercises like yoga, dance practice etc or outdoor exercise namely walking, playing tennis with friends or relatives.

Fresh fruits and vegetables should be included in diet regularly, which are rich in fiber content. In all natural fruits and vegetables vitamins and minerals are available. They are easy to digest also. Always remember that health is wealth. To maintain go health is one’s duty. Salad is the best option in between breakfast and lunch to prevent hunger.

You can take salad in the form of fruits as well as vegetables. Always purchase seasonal fruits. Store them in the refrigerator and it will be easy for you to prepare fruit salads and fresh fruit juices. Lots of women health care products are available in the world market.
Do proper research before purchasing and using them.

Instead of eating three times a day, you can eat five times with decreased quantity of food. The food should be healthy. Drink plenty of water instead of carbonated drinks. Menopause weight loss is possible with little care. Weight loss programs are available. You can select one such program and practice every day to achieve better results. Don’t choose a crash diet after entering menopause. Choose a different diet with low in fat and rich in fiber content. Eat only when you are hungry. Don’t use food to overcome depression, frustration etc that are common menopausal issues.
Menopause weight loss is a tricky subject with lot of psychological factors involved in it.

Nail health is a good indication of your overall health. People with clean and healthy nails are considered to be attentive, hygienic and also well-groomed. Maintaining healthy nails is neither difficult, nor expensive.

Most people tend to ignore their nails. Having clean healthy nails, enhances your appearance.Nails look beautiful as long as they are properly maintained and taken care of.

Following these simple tips will help you maintain healthy fingernails and toenails:-

Eat a well balanced diet

Healthy nails are pink in colour and shiny in appearance. Any change in the colour and texture of nails can reflect a wide range of health conditions but most often it indicates nutritional deficiency. Healthy diet that includes lots of fruits, nuts and vegetables promotes strong and healthy nails. Have foods that are rich in calcium, Vitamins, proteins, fatty acids, zinc, sulfur, silicon and biotin. Minimize your sugar consumption as well as the intake of alcohol. Drink lots of water and fresh fruit juices to keep your nails hydrated

Stop nail biting

Stop nail biting for good! Nail biting is a common habit among children and adults. Excessive nail biting can damage your nails and cuticles leading to uneven nail growth. Chewed nails look terrible and can invite infection.

Use moisturizer and nail oils

Moisturizing your nails is very important and can prevent dryness. Massaging nails with castor or coconut oil can stimulate their growth and strengthen them. Make it a habit to moisturize your nails regularly to keep them healthy.

Clean nails and keep them nails trimmed

Always keep your nails clean and properly trimmed. Proper trimming can help you avoid100 infections. Cleaning the nails regularly can strengthen them and make them shiny.

Manage your cuticles

The cuticles are an important part of the nail and should always be kept trimmed and properly maintained. The cuticle lies between the dead part of the nail and the part that of the nail that creates new cells. Excess growth of cuticle can restrict nail growth while cutting their visible part can make nails puffy and hard.

Avoid using harsh nail polishes, hardeners and cleaners

Nail cosmetics contain harmful chemicals that can cause stains on your nails or can make them dry and brittle. Acetone containing cleaners can harm your nails. In case your nails get damaged by a nail polish or a remover discontinue using it.

Handling ingrown nails
Ingrown toenails common in adults is a painful condition in which the nail penetrates the skin causing infection. Avoid wearing tight shoes and keep your nails properly trimmed.

Healthy nails can easily be maintained by being aware, regular grooming, nourishment and healthy hygiene. Healthy nails are a beauty statement and sign of good health.