The Habits Of Successful Weight Loss

by shabnamahsan

Wendy Hearn

Tired of battling with your weight? Well, the latest quick-fix diet will probably leave you feeling frustrated. To make permanent, successful progress, you’ll need to make changes in your lifestyle. Here’s how you can get started!

Making changes for life

The route to permanent weight loss is to make changes. I’ve found that when most people want to lose weight, they decide to go on a restrictive diet. This type of dieting calls for many changes at once and although most people are able to stick with this for a short while, they usually find they can’t sustain it.
Unfortunately, the feeling of failure creeps in and leaves us feeling worse than when we started to lose weight. I’ve found that many people who follow restrictive diets lose some self-esteem each time they feel they’ve failed. They have not failed, it’s the system of restrictive dieting which has failed.
Permanent weight loss requires changes and these changes need to stay with you for the rest of your life. So what’s the point of even starting to follow a diet plan which you know will be difficult to sustain forever? I encourage you to make changes which will be easy to maintain. Start with small steps and build on them.
Successful weight loss comes from actions you take on a daily basis. Developing healthy habits is the way to lose weight. It will be slower and it will take time, but the results will last. Surely this is what we all want?

Shaping personal habits
Your weight loss will be achieved through your personal habits. These habits can be changed and supplemented. I encourage you this week to add one daily habit which will move you towards your goal of health and weight loss. This habit needs to become an integral part of your life, which eventually happens naturally. You won’t need to think about it or make yourself do it. You’ll just do it
Let’s take a look at a habit we all do, probably without conscious thought or questioning it – brushing your teeth. Do you consider each morning whether you want to brush your teeth or not? Do you ask yourself whether you enjoy doing it? Is it exciting or unusual? Probably not! From an early age you developed the habit of cleaning your teeth and you’ve carried on ever since. It’s this type of habit that you need to adopt when eating healthily and exercising. No excuses, just get on and do it.

Change one habit at a time
Instead of tackling each different habit you have regarding eating and exercising, choose one to concentrate on. Keep doing it every day until it’s such a habit that it comes naturally. Then you can add or change another habit. When you’ve incorporated a habit into your life so that it becomes totally natural, you’ll find it’s easier to continue with it for the rest of your life. You’ll never need to start a restrictive diet again. How would that feel? Which single habit are you going to add to your day? Perhaps, you could…

  • Choose a piece of fruit instead of biscuits with your cup of tea;
  • Take a walk;
  • Adopt a new exercise class or routine;
  • Eat breakfast;
  • Stop eating when you’re full, even if there’s still food on your plate.

Choose for yourself the one habit that you feel will be of benefit in your life, and commit to doing it every day for the next 40 days. This will give you a good chance of developing the habit and maintaining it. You can make such changes to your habits and I encourage you to get started. Your successful weight loss will come about because of what you do each day. 


Wendy Hearn is the author of “The Top 10 Things That Stop YOU From Losing Weight” http://www.PositiveWeightLoss.com
source:http://www.familyresource.com/health/weight-management/the-habits-of-successful-weight-loss

Whiten Your Teeth By Eating Apples

by shabnamahsan

A smile enhances your face value and more so if it is backed by healthy sparkling teeth. But you just can’t do without those steaming cups of tea/coffee. They are that indispensable to you & you highly need them to stimulate you, to get you going and to brighten up your day. One of the consequences of this indulgence: over a period of time you will develop stains on your teeth, which will dull your smile.

Easiest way to fight this stain .Ttry this good old but a highly effective home remedy. Bite into a juicy apple after lunch. Your teeth will look noticeably whiter! The mildly acidic and astringent quality of apples cleanses and brightens your teeth. Chewing foods like apples, celery, sugarcane and carrots, actually help scrub away stubborn stains over time. It is almost like brushing your teeth with a nature’s toothpaste; a toothpaste which not only acts as a teeth whitener from the outside but also promises good dental health from the inside. Being a tea/coffee drinker, if you weren’t consuming these foods earlier, do so now. You will begin to notice the cleansing effect of these foods on your teeth right away.

However do not forget to rinse your mouth with water after eating apples. If you don’t get a chance to do so then at least drink some water to rid your teeth of the sugar or acid that it may have deposited. Alternatively, try a stick of sugarless gum. This chewing action stimulates flow of saliva. Saliva neutralizes acids produced by plaque bacteria and helps clear the mouth of food that plaque bacteria usually feast on. So chew gum and smile on


source:http://myblogonbeauty.blogspot.com/2007/04/whiten-your-teeth-by-eating-apples.html

For A Good Night’s Sleep

by shabnamahsan

Everyone of us, at one time or the other has been pestered by sleep problems. Sleeplessness could be transient and short-term or chronic. When it becomes a chronic problem it takes the form of insomnia and requires special attention. The first noticeable signs of poor sleeping habits are dark circles under the eyes pale skin, hair loss. Getting enough sleep is a must. Without proper sleep, your mind does not work as clearly and efficiently. You feel drained physically and mentally. Exactly how much you need to sleep depends on your own individual internal system. While some can do with 4-5 hours; most of us need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. But instead of reaching for a pill or a glass of wine, it’s wise to try out these time-honoured remedies and lifestyle changes.

* See a doctor to find out if you are suffering from any physical or psychological ailment like depression, which may be the root cause of your insomnia.

* Regular exercises are a must for a good sleep. But don’t overdo it.

* Try to relax in the last hour or two before bedtime. Do not do any stimulating, tiring or exciting work at that time. If you have a favourite relaxation exercise, do that instead.

* Get your internal clock in good working order. Start by keeping a fixed time to go to bed every night. Get up at the same time everyday, even if you went to bed late, did not sleep well or want to sleep in. Getting up at the same time is an important part of getting your internal clock to work properly. When you get your internal clock to function well, it will make you sleepy at bedtime and wake you up at the proper time every morning.

* If you want to take an afternoon nap, do not let it last more than 20 to 30 minutes. If you nap longer you may have trouble sleeping that night.

* Soak in a warm, relaxing bath before going to bed, or drink a glass of warm milk. The tryptophan in milk elevates the important chemical serotonin in the brain, with the result that you fall asleep naturally and quickly.

* Don’t eat a heavy meal in the evening, especially late in the evening

* Don’t drink any alcoholic beverages after your evening meal. Also don’t drink any tea, coffee or colas late in the day. Especially if you are sensitive to caffeine, avoid it completely.

* Don’t worry about not going to sleep. As a matter of fact don’t worry about anything, just tell yourself that you will deal with it in the morning only with a fresh mind.

KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM SAFE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

by shabnamahsan
by Dan Solloway
Fat loss is all a question of balance. Upping the thermogensis, without releasing the stress hormones is the secret, but you must do it right. Overdoing it won’t get you there faster, but the combination of using the supplements we talk about, correct eating choices, and exercise often lead to the desired weight. Utilizing the keys below will give you the greatest results and a life-time of leanness. 
Do not skip meals. Skipping breakfast and eating large meals late in the day has been shown to cause people to gain excess weight. Always eat your most hardy meal early in the morning and your lighter meals in the evening. This eating pattern has been shown to maximize fat loss. Eating only a few large meals and consuming them late in the evening is a way to guarantee fat gain. 
For maximum fat loss, exercising first thing in the morning before breakfast, when the body is drained of stored glycogen will stimulate the body to burn fat stores and become more efficient at burning fat throughout the day.



source:http://healthandfitnessforum.com/diet.html

Meet the New YOU

by shabnamahsan
By Bill Mansell
A wise comedian once joked, “wherever I go, I must take myself along – and that spoils everything!” If you woke up on January first this year, and realized, to your dismay, that you have taken the “old you” into the new year. I have good news: the “new you” is just around the corner, waiting to meet you. What is this person like, this “new you?” Thinner? More organized? Better educated? A great communicator? A more caring spouse, parent, or partner? The exciting thing is that you get to decide. Take a moment and think about it. If you could improve any area of your life right now, what would you change? If you were about to be introduced to the ideal “new you,” what kind of person would you expect to meet? Write down 3 or 4 of the top attributes that you see in this new you.
Now for the all-important question. What are you going to do about it? If you say, “I sure wish I were that person.” Then you will never become that person. Because wishing and wanting are not enough. Listen to the message in this insightful poem by Richard G. Welch.
                 Decide to Do
The easiest thing, in the world of things,
Is to sit and wait, until somebody brings
Complete instructions on what to do,
And how to do it, and when, to you.
It’s easy then to go straight ahead
And follow orders, just do what they said.
If it comes out wrong, and your work is vain,
Why, that’s for somebody else to explain.
Yes, it’s easy to sidestep and pass the buck,
But, the person who does it is out of luck;
Since the big success always seeks the man,
Who can plan his work, and work his plan.
The power of the one whom the world consults
Is based on this: that he gets results.
If you’d follow in his footsteps, you yes you,
You must learn to decide, then decide to do.
When I was 37, I decided that I wanted to go back to college to get more education. Juggling a full-time career, family, church and community responsibilities were difficult enough without the additional time commitment of school. But it was something that I really wanted to do. I could see the person that I wanted to become and I knew this was an important step. So, I made the commitment and jumped in. At first it was a little strange, sitting in classrooms with other students in their early twenties (they all looked 14 to me). But, once I got started, and developed a regular routine, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I had worried. In almost no time, I had completed my degree and was well on my way to becoming a new me. 
I challenge you to get started today. Write down the things you want to change. Identify the resources, groups, books, or CDs that can help you. Write out your plan, commit to it, and then take action! Small steps, acted on each day, can effect major changes in your life. Soon, you will walk tall knowing that you have embraced the new you

source:http://www.mindperk.com/resources/articles/74/1/190/Meet-the-New-YOU.html

How to Be Over 40 and Fit

by shabnamahsan
by Billy Carney
Imagine having a body that’s a fat burning machine and able to build lean muscle tissue in less time than it takes to read the very blog this entry is in!
Now are you really that busy not to exercise?
Heart Disease, Bad Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Sexual Dysfunction, Cancer.With all the warning signs with all the words of caution with all the telltale indicators that your body is slowly breaking down  how come a good portion of people approaching forty years of age and beyond, just don;t get it?
Have you ever looked at two people who were both middle age and noticed that one of them looked like they were much older and the other looked much younger? Did you ever wonder why? Read on, this article could be the fitness breakthrough you have been waiting for.
Research tells us that a date on a calendar doesn’t measure a person’s true age anymore. The healthiest people in this world are those who devote time, energy and a little bit of effort to get that way. What that means is that there is no free lunch when it comes to being fit, lean and healthy.
Unfortunately, most people don’t feel the need to work out until they get a friendly reminder from their physician. Let’s face it, we all know exercise is good for us, but until the consequences hit us square in the face, we’ll have a hard time doing something about it.
If you don’t know where you are going or how to get there, you’re bound to get lost.
So, if you’re frustrated, overworked, dissatisfied and fed up about losing control of that ever expanding waistline, there’s still hope for you. Just by putting a little bit of lean muscle tissue on your frame will start reversing the aging process almost immediately.
As we age, we need to realize that our bodies aren’t what they used to be. We’re no longer the star athlete or the one envied by all for being able to fit in that size 2 dress all the time. 
Our bodies begin to lose strength, bone density and muscle mass. Scientific experts have proven that being overweight is more detrimental than you think. it now accounts for increased rates of death by cancer. If cancer is not enough to scare you, you should also be concerned with osteoporosis. Exercise (intense exercise/high resistance exercise) is the only way to reverse this process.
If you’re over 40 and feel as if life is passing you by, stop by your local fitness center for a Fitness Makeover.
Your health is your greatest asset. Make it a priority and watch how good you’ll start to feel (and look) every day!

source:http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/How_to_Be_Over_40_and_Fit.html

Applying Concealer

by shabnamahsan

Helping to even out the facial skin, concealers are sometimes the only cosmetic that many women prefer to use along with powder for daily purposes. For summer, you may need a shade darker to match your skin tanned and baked in the sun. It basically camouflages facial imperfections and balances out your complexion by hiding out the skin blemishes and under-eye circles. For accurate results, apply the concealer using a small fine tipped brush and blend it well. A yellow-based concealer is a best match for most of the skin tones while translucent powder helps it to set.

A concealer with a high pigment level and having mineral oil as its contents is best for camouflaging purposes as it covers the spot better and stays on the top of the face for more time. It is best to check whether a concealer matches your skin or not in sunlight for correct estimations. Buy the concealer that blends so well that it seems to disappear on the skin and yet hide the targeted spot. Here are some tips to use concealer wisely to get best results:
*Adding yellow eye shadow to the concealer can effectively cover dark circles.
Blue or green eye shadow added to concealer is helpful to mask ruddy tones and broken capillaries.

*Dry your pimple with the help of a blow dryer on low heat and then use a pointed brush to target the yellow-toned concealer that matches the tone of your foundation, which is dry and has a high pigment level, to the spot. Lightly press around the edges with fingers. Set with loose powder. You can also use concealer pencil for the purpose.

*Freckles and pigmentation must only be hidden when it is absolutely necessary as it takes a heavy layer of concealer to cover them up and can look worse. Moisturize the skin well and apply a creamy concealer, which is a shade lighter than your foundation and set it with loose powder. For added glamour, you can also dust it with subtle, skin-toned shimmer powder.

*The inside of the nose bridge, corner of moth and outer corner of eyes are the most susceptible areas and need special attention while applying concealer.
The slightly dehydrated residue in the cap of your foundation can be quite an effective concealer that matches your foundation perfectly.

*To eliminate under-eye dark circles, choose a creamy concealer with medium pigment level and matt finish. Loose powder may end up accentuating the aging lines in the area. A silky make-up primer with a high level of silicone applied to the area before using the concealer, helps to better mask the area while it also hydrates and smoothen the lines. Apply the concealer by using the synthetic concealer brush and then press into the skin with the fingertips.

*To get rid of red scars and birthmarks, use yellow-based concealers. Apply a matt primer to the scars before using drier concealers with high pigment level to cover them up. For raised scars use a slightly darker shade of concealer than your natural skin tone while lighter shade is for indented scars. Set with loose powder.
To hide broken capillaries, you need a yellow-based concealer with a high pigment level and pointed fiber brush for precise application. Press the concealer using the fingertips and then dust with loose powder to let it set.


source:http://beauty.iloveindia.com/makeup/applying-concealer.html

10 Reasons Why Sun Is Good for Our Health

by shabnamahsan

Even the Stone Age people knew the Sun brought life on Earth and that is why they used to worship it. But the sun waves can heal and destroy, they can be the kiss of life or death. It depends on the way we use them.

1. The sunlight kills microbes. That’s why it is important to put out in the sun carpets, blankets and eiderdowns that cannot be washed regularly. Exposure to the sun confers the skin a bright, healthy look and increased elasticity.

A moderately tanned skin is more resistant to infections and sun burning than an untanned one. Many skin diseases (dermatitis) can be
controlled and even cured through controlled exposure to the sun.

The sun rays are proven to strengthen the immune system.

2. Due to the sun our mood and morals improve. Sunlight helps in cases of chronic or acute depression, by stimulating the synthesis of endorphins (good-feeling hormones). That’s why we get depressed in the cold and dark days of the winter.

3. The sun is good against insomnia. Daytime exposure to sunlight increases the melatonin production during the night. This hormone helps regulate the sleep.

4. Under the action of the sunlight, the skin synthesizes vitamin D, which makes possible calcium absorption in the intestine, helping the organism grow strong bones. This way the sun prevents rachitism in both children and adults and osteoporosis in elders.

5. As vitamin D and some related compounds impede the development of some cancer cells, we can say the sun fights off this disease. Regular and controlled exposure to the sun has a preventive effect against cancer of colon, breast, leukemia and lymphomas.

6. Exposure to the sun strengthens the cardiovascular system. Blood circulation is improved, the pulse, arterial pressure, moderately high glycemia and cholesterol levels can be normalized.

7. Sun rays improve liver functioning, being effective in treating jaundice.

8. They help the kidneys with a part of their job, as the sun waves favor the elimination of waste products through the skin, when we sweat.

9. The sun also helps losing weight by increasing the metabolic rate through the stimulation of the thyroid. It also eases symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

10. The sun rays also ease the healing of the swollen joints during peaks of inflammation in cases of arthritis.


source:http://news.softpedia.com/news/10-Reasons-Why-Sun-is-Good-for-Our-Health-64327.shtml

2nd Most Important Meal of the Day-Post Workout Nutrition

by shabnamahsan
By: Jason Yun
The second most important meal of the day—Post Training, or Post Game, Post-Practice, Post Workout, Post Activity. During activity the body is stressed physically, mentally, and emotionally. Your muscle glycogen stores (stored carbohydrate) in the muscle and the liver have been depleted. Even with the best pre-workout nutrition, depletion of glycogen levels and amino acid stores is inevitable. You are currently in state of catabolism (muscle and tissue breakdown). You need to switch off the catabolic state and turn on an anabolic one (muscle and tissue repair). The window to do this is not long. Various studies have shown it to be as little as 30 minutes, while others have shown it to be up to 90 minutes after activity. I tend to give a recommendation of 45 minutes, 60 minutes at the most. But the sooner you get the nutrients you need into the body, the faster the body can recover to a normal homeostasis.
Carbohydrate is the most important nutrient needed at this time. The carbs that you consume should be simple sugars. You want foods that will elevate your blood sugar level and get into the blood stream as quickly as possible to replenish the lost glycogen. Sports drinks will do the job, fruits, supplement carbohydrate drinks work well, too. Baked potato is an ok choice. Sugary cereal like frosted flakes, sugar smacks are ok too, especially combined with no- or very low fat milk. But remember the window for this meal is small so if you have to drive home and prepare this stuff you might miss that window.
You want this meal to be in a ratio of at least 2 to 1 carbohydrate to protein. The reason being is protein is harder to digest. Post workout is the best time to take a liquid supplement, like Prograde Workout, because it’s pre-made with carbs and protein and liquid will digest a lot quicker than whole foods. Another good option is chocolate milk.
The protein you digest in this meal you also want to get in the bloodstream quickly. Again chocolate milk is a good option. Others are regular milk and a whey protein supplement, or a blended supplement, like Workout, as mentioned before. Whey is better than the other protein sources because it gets uploaded into the bloodstream and replenishes the amino acid pool much quicker than any other type. Whole protein foods aren’t as good choices post-training, but if that’s all that you have it is still much better than nothing. But stick with very lean or no fat choices like egg whites, chicken, turkey breast, and lean cuts of beef. However, if optimal recovery is your goal, I highly recommend a liquid form of carbohydrates and protein. Most of the time I do recommend whole foods over supplements, but liquids ensure that you get the proper nutrients in the right time.
As for fat, in the post-training meal, eliminate it. You do not want fat in this meal. Fat has the tendency to slow the absorption rate and digestion rate down, meaning it will take longer for the nutrients you need, carbs and protein, to reach their desired location. And it could even cause those nutrients to be less effective, or even miss the window of opportunity all together. Some fat is good– some is bad. All fat is bad post-training time. Don’t eat it!
As you can see this meal is very important. Second only to breakfast. It’s just as important to people trying to lose fat, as it is to people trying to gain muscle mass, or strength, or compete in a sporting event. If you skip it, your body has to work extra hard to make up for the lost nutrients, especially carbohydrates and protein, that occurred during the workout. Your body doesn’t like this extra work, and usually, if the workout was even moderately intense, won’t come close to reaching ‘pre-workout’ state. So in essence everything slows down, your fat burning ability, your muscle building ability, and your metabolism.

About Author
Want to learn more about fat loss and metabolism, and pick yourself up a free fat loss report? Head over tohttp://www.yuntraining.com
ason Yun is a certified sports nutritionist and strength and conditioning specialist. He is the owner of Yun Strength and Fitness Systems, LLC where is serves clients through fitness boot camps, sports, online and personal training, and nutritional classes. You can contact him via email at JYun@yuntraining.com.


source:http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/the-second-most-important-meal-of-the-day-post-workout-564952.html

10 Ways to Reduce Stress

by shabnamahsan

By:Sharon Reid

Finding ways to reduce stress is important as most of us lead busy lives that tend to get busier as we get older. If we’re not careful this can lead to feeling overwhelmed and can cause physical and mental symptoms such as high blood pressure, nervousness, depression and so on.
Learning to deal with stress could save your life. Maybe some of these tips will help to lower the stress in your life.

  • 1. Simplify Things The best way to do something is usually the simplest way. Don’t choose a longer, more complicated route when going the easier route will produce the same results. Making life less complicated will reduce your stress.
  • 2. Exercise Getting the body moving is a good way to relieve stress. Doesn’t need to be complicated, just go for a brisk 20 minute walk. Do it regularly and you’ll maintain good physical health as well.
  • 3. Meditation and Prayer Take the time to just be alone and self reflect. Sit in a quiet spot, let your mind relax and let the stress just drift away. If you find it easier said than done there are many good meditation products that you can listen to on your iPod.
  • 4. Massage Getting a massage can relieve stress. All you have to do is lie on your back, and let someone else do the work for a change.
  • 5. Sleep Assuming the stress is not so bad that it’s causing insomnia, sleep is one of the best ways to fight stress. Everything always seems worse when fighting exhaustion as well. If stress is causing insomnia you’ll have to reduce stress using other techniques and then start good sleeping habits.
  • 6. Deep Breathing Taking deep, slow breaths helps relieve stress within the body. Just take a few quiet moments, take a couple of deep breaths and refocus.
  • 7. Writing Start writing, don’t think – just write about what is stressing you. Because stress is mostly mental getting it off your mind and onto a page can be helpful.
  • 8. Soothing Music Just listening to music with slow rhythms and relaxing sounds, can quickly put you into a more relaxed state of mind.
  • 9. Friends Take time to be with your friends. Have a drink, have a laugh! Doing this tends to put the stress into its proper perspective.
  • 10. Pets Is there anything more relaxing than patting and cuddling your dog, or cat? They listen, don’t judge, and ask for nothing in return. Studies have shown that people who have pets tend to live longer and are more independent than those who don’t.
    My hope is that these 10 ways to reduce stress are helpful in keeping your stress under control. Keep doing them and your health, both physical and mental, will be better for it.

    About Author
    Sharon Reid is creating a self improvement website for those wanting to create abundance in their lives. Visit her website here http://personal-development-for-abundance.com/.


    source:http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/motivation/index.pl?read=7190

    • CARE FOR LIPS

    by shabnamahsan

    A beautiful smile lights up a day. It makes your face more beautiful and lively. Your lips are the most important and exquisitely sensitive part of your body. And therefore you have to take special care of your lips.
    Beauty Experts tells you what are the common problems and how to take care of them…………..
    The common lips problems are:
    *Dark Lips
    *Cracked lips
    1) Dark Lips:
    You will be surprised to know that our lips unlike most part of our body do not have any melanin pigment to protect them. Lips are covered on the outside by a thin layer of skin and on the inside by virtually transparent mucous membranes.
    Therefore it is necessary to take care of our lips and to eat well-balanced food and lots of fruits.
    If you have dark lips you have to do the following���
    *Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
    * Stop smoking.
    * Avoid lipstick.
    * Apply a layer of oil and leave it on for several hours. Best apply before going to bed
    * Mix coconut oil and almond oil in equal quantity. Apply a coat of this on the lips and leave on overnight. This has to be done daily for at least two weeks for best results.
    * Massage lips: Every night with a mixture of 1/2 tsp. Glycerine and 1/2 tsp. Castor oil with 1/2 tsp. Lemon juice and leave overnight.
    *Apply cream from curds with saffron on your lips.
    Cracked Lips:

    Lips do not produce oil like our skin, because they have no oil producing glands. The skin on our lips is actually mucous membrane, so for them to remain smooth and chap free is a bit of a challenge. The most common cause of cracked lips are allergic reaction to cosmetics, skin infections, extreme weather conditions like excess sun and wind exposure, biting of the lips or a vitamin B deficiency.
    If you have cracked lips you have to do the following���
    *Protect the lips from weather by applying heavy plain cream.
    *Avoid licking your lips.
    *To cure dry chapped lips apply peanut butter or coco butter to your lips before going to bed.
    *Grind rose petals with cream on the top of milk and apply on lips to cure the cracked lips
    *Take vitamin B, C foods in diet.
    *Mix 2 drops of glycerine with 1 tsp of cream on the top of milk and apply to lips to cure the chapped lips and keep overnight to get smooth and shiny lips.
    *Mix equal quantities of nutmeg, turmeric, and fresh butter and apply to lips.
    *Hot water fomentation, followed by a mixture of Vaseline and honey applied on the lips at least thrice a week will prevent lips from chapping.
    *Lips should be moisturized and exfoliated. Exfoliate lips with your gentle facial scrub using a toothbrush or just the tips of
    your fingers. You can make a paste using baking soda and water to exfoliate lips as well. Work it for a minute and then rinse with lukewarm water.
    General Care for lips

    *Apply cold cream or moisturizer or lip balm before applying lipstick.
    *To get natural pink lips apply beetroot juice before bed.
    *Grind rose petals and apply on lips to get smooth pink lips
    *Apply menthol based lip balm and take an old brush and brush gently on lips (don t rub too hard, because lip are very sensitive) to get rid off chapped lips

    Natural Cold And Flu Relief

    by shabnamahsan
    Rely on home remedies to alleviate the discomfort of nasty cold and flu symptoms.
    By Elizabeth Cole 

    Whether you’re looking for drug-free alternatives or you simply prefer brewing home-made concoctions, find out why many swear by the following natural home remedies to fight cold and flu symptoms:

         Spicy kick
         Your favourite spicy dish might help you to breathe easy when you’re congested. That’s because the best mucokinetic (mucus-moving) foods are those that are spicy. These foods trigger a release of fluids in air passages that breaks up congestion by thinning mucus and flushing out sinuses. The mouth-burning agent in chilli peppers is capsaicin, which is similar to a drug found in many over-the-counter cough syrups and expectorants. Garlic, onions and horseradish also contain agents that have a chemical resemblance to drugs found in drugstore medications. For a strong � but nearly instant � method of breaking up chest congestion, try the following recipe from Jean Carper’s book, Food, Your Miracle Medicine (Harpercollins, 1993): Mix a half teaspoon of hot sauce in a small glass of water and drink the mixture quickly.

    Garlic power

    According to research by Dr. James North, at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, garlic can prevent cold and flu viruses if taken early enough. North’s findings show that garlic is effective in killing the human rhinovirus, which causes colds. Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D. and author of Natural Health, Natural Medicine (Walker & Co., 1998) also believes in the cold-fighting benefits of garlic: “The best home remedy I have found for colds is to eat several cloves of raw garlic at the first onset of symptoms… Cut in chunks and swallow whole like pills… I recommend one or two cloves a day.”

    Onion it out

    From Michael Murray, author of Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (Prima Health, 1998) comes this recipe for Onion Cough Syrup: “Put six chopped white onions in a double boiler and add half a cup of honey. Cook slowly over low heat for two hours and strain. Take at regular intervals, preferably warm.” A simpler suggestion, if you can manage it, involves eating one large, Spanish onion before going to bed. Raw or roasted, it doesn’t matter – your cold should be much better, if not gone, by morning because onions contain the same antibacterial components as garlic.

    Honey helps

    “Raw, unpasteurized honey soothes sore throats and raspy voices,” says D.C. Jarvis, M.D., and author of Folk Medicine (Ballantine Books, 1982). He suggests eating a spoonful or two as needed, or mixing it with fruit juice, herbal teas or pure water. 

    Ginger zapper

    Ginger is particularly valuable for flu-fighting, as it has been proven to attack and destroy influenza viruses. Try swallowing raw ginger, in the same manner as garlic, or making a strong ginger tea. To make ginger tea, grate about half a cup of fresh ginger root, place in a glass or ceramic container, cover with two cups of freshly boiled water and let steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Then add a dash of hot sauce, or the juice of one lemon, or two tablespoons of raw honey, depending on your preferred taste. Sip throughout the day. 
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