How to Substitute Natural Foods for Refined Foods

Most convenience foods are refined, which means while they may be affordable and tasty they are really bad for your health. So, if you are interested in getting healthy then you need to substitute natural foods for refined foods. It will take some time to get accustomed to eating natural foods, but you will find they taste better and are much healthier for you.

1- The first thing you need to do is eliminate all the refined foods from your kitchen. Once you have them cleaned out then you can make a grocery list of what you need. Believe it or not, you can find many natural foods that are just as good as their refined versions, but natural and healthy. A good example of this is peanut butter. Natural peanut butter has no hydrogenated oils in it and is good for you. That's not the case with traditional peanut butter. Cakes and cookies are traditionally full of refined ingredients like white sugar and white flour. But, you can find plenty of cakes and cookies made with natural ingredients that are healthier for you and taste better. The easiest thing to do is clean out your cabinets and then go shopping at a natural foods grocery store like Whole Foods.

2- When you buy fresh ingredients you will almost always be making a good choice. However, choose fresh ingredients that are organic or naturally grown. Natural foods are not refined so they are always a better choice than refined foods even if they aren't organic. However, if you are serious about your health then you will be better off spending a few more dollars and buying organic and natural foods. It really is worthwhile and will benefit you significantly.

3- You may find that changing all of your food eating habits at once is a little overwhelming, so start slow. Switch refined white bread for whole grain breads. Also, don't buy any pre-packaged cookies, cereals, or snacks unless they are natural or organic. Once you have made this switch, then you can start changing other things you eat, too. When you make the change gradually ,you will see that it is easier to do and easier to stick with.

4- Finally, you may want to carry your own natural foods with you when you travel, go to the movies or just to have in the car. These days more places are likely to carry natural or organic products. However, you won't always find this and it is better to be safe than sorry. So, buy natural foods and take them with you on a picnic, keep some in your purse for quick snacks and simply enjoy the fact that you are eating healthier than ever before.

How to Avoid Junk Foods

Junk food can have a terrible effect on your body. There are countless cases of people eating themselves to obesity. Why do they do this? Think of it like a drug: It makes them feel better in the moment, so they forget the future costs. Consider this piece of information published on the health site Mercola, quoting a Yahoo! News piece. "Research has shown that almost one-third of the U.S. diet consists of sugar-filled cans of soda and bags of potato chips." So how do you stop doing eating bad foods? Dieting is never easy, no matter what certain infomercials say. However, there are painless ways to diet and avoid junk foods. Start by understanding why you like them so much

1- Understand your thinking. Maybe chocolate does help your mental thinking for a moment. It’s apt to make you smile. So how do you avoid junk foods like chocolate? Find healthier eating escapes at all times of the day as junk food eating is often based on impulse. Bread is good and you can add peanut butter to have a healthy, high protein snack that can replace a chocolate candy bar.

2- Act. Do you find yourself eating late at night? This actually isn’t a bad thing; the myth of eating late at night and gaining weight has been discounted in many studies. But what are you eating? Are you more apt to go to the ice cream carton to fill up? You can stop this junk food habit by either deciding to cut out late night eating or replace the food you eat with healthy alternatives, such as fruits or even a large glass of water to fill you up. Yogurt is a good alternative to ice cream. Cookies can be traded in for the popular “100 Calorie” snack packs. Look to canned fruits next, which are much healthier than downing ice cream and potato chips. A nice vegetable mix can do wonders for your health. Look at the sodium contents of vegetables, because certain products like creamed corn are far from vegetables.

3- Consider the costs. Obesity can lead to countless health problems at the cost of your quality of life and even your life itself. The monetary cost of junk foods adds up, too. A good strategy is to write down your expenditures on junk foods from morning to night: That candy bar cost you a dollar, the bag of chips a few more, a half a carton of ice cream and so on. This financial reminder gives you another reason to quit. Bread and butter is far cheaper and healthier than consistently downing soda, sugar and bags of chips. Often, if you choose the right foods, you will be saving money from the start.

4- Other escapes. There are other escapes for you to do than snack. So how do you avoid filling your spare time with junk food? Junk food addiction is a battle of the mind in many ways, and where you think you need something, you really don’t. Read a book, do a craft, go for a walk, talk on the phone or write in a journal when you would usually head to the pantry.

5- Defeating impulses. The last hurdle is fighting the impulse. If you sense an impulse coming, examine it as you would any other irrational thought. Will this item truly make you happy? The next time you decide to take one box of cookies to bed, consider this strategy of eating right. Avoid your impulses—they are the enemy. Junk foods may hurt your wallet, but high starch and saturated fat does more than just add to your belly—they tend to lower life spans.

11 Ways to Boost Your Lymphatic System for Great Health

Glands, lymph nodes, the spleen, thymus gland and tonsils co-create the lymphatic system, which cleans our body’s cells and carries the body’s cellular sewage away from the tissues to the blood, where it can be filtered by two of the body’s main detoxification organs: the liver and kidneys.

The main symptoms of lymphatic problems are felt in your shoulder and neck area. If you have been suffering from injuries, excess weight, cellulite, pain disorders like arthritis, bursitis, headaches or others, a sluggish lymphatic system may be playing a role.

1. Breathe deeply.

Breathe in that sweet smell of healing oxygen. Breathe out toxins. Our lymph system relies on the pumping action of deep breathing to help it transport toxins into the blood before they are detoxified by the liver.

2. Get moving.

Exercise daily to ensure the lymph system flows properly.

3. Drink plenty of water.

To help ensure the water is readily absorbed by your cells add some fresh lemon juice or oxygen or pH drops.

4. Forget the soda, trash the neon-colored sports drinks, and drop the fruit “juices”

This sugar, color- and preservative-laden beverages add to the already overburdened workload your lymph system must handle.

5. Eat more raw fruit on an empty stomach.

The enzymes and acids in fruit are powerful lymph cleansers

6. Eat plenty of green vegetables

Green vegetables give you adequate chlorophyll to help purify your blood and lymph system.

7. Eat raw, unsalted nuts and seeds

These seeds are packed with fatty acids that may power up your lymph nodes.

8. Add a few lymph-boosting herbal teas

Astragalus, echinacea, goldenseal, pokeroot or wild indigo root tea are beneficial to your lymph system.

9. Dry skin brush before showering.

Brush your dry skin in circular motions upward from the feet to the torso and from the fingers to the chest. The lymph flows towards the heart, therefore you should work in the same direction.

10. Alternate hot and cold showers for several minutes

The heat dilates the blood vessels and the cold causes them to contract.

11. Get a gentle massage.

There is nothing more relaxing than a well done massage, and it can be extremely healing as well, studies have shown that a gentle massage can push up to 78 percent of stagnant lymph back into circulation.

9 Foods That Help You Sleep Well

Are you one of the 50 million Americans that have trouble falling asleep? Adding these foods to your diet may help to increase your odds of a successful slumber.

The health benefits of a good night’s rest are countless: it helps keep you happy, your brain sharp, your immune system strong, your waistline trim, your skin looking youthful and lowers your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

1. Fish

Most fish, especially salmon, halibut and tuna, boast vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness.

2. Jasmine Rice

The greater amounts of insulin triggered by the high-glycemic-index meals increased the ratio of sleep-inducing tryptophan relative to other amino acids in the blood, allowing proportionately more to get into the brain.

3. Tart Cherry Juice

Melatonin-rich tart cherry juice has been shown to aid sleep. Drink a cup of tart cherry juice twice a day for relief of severe insomnia.

4. Yogurt

Dairy products boast healthy doses of calcium, helping to prevent being calcium-deficient, which can make it difficult to fall asleep.

5. Whole Grains

Whole grains are rich in magnesium and consuming too little magnesium may make it harder to stay asleep.

6. Kale

Green leafy vegetables boast healthy doses of calcium too.

7. Bananas

Bananas are well-known for being rich in potassium, they are also a good source of Vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin.

8. Chickpeas

Chickpeas boast vitamin B6 too, which is needed to make melatonin.

9. Fortified Cereals

Fortified cereals also boast vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin.

7 Powerful Foods To Naturally Calm Your Nervous System

Today’s crazy lifestyle can do a lot to our central nervous system, especially if we are not taking proactive steps to counteract this perpetual negative effect on our body.

An overtaxed nervous system typically expends most of its resources just trying to defend the body against attack, whether it is in the form of anxiety, panic, or stress; all of which deplete your energy reserves and potentially even harm your endocrine system.

There is a simple way to counteract this damage, consume foods that minimize the amount of time and energy your nervous system spends in catabolic mode. There are many foods that nourish, heal, and regenerate the body.

Here are seven powerful foods that can help calm your nervous system naturally for maximum health:

1) Whey

Whey is naturally rich in L-tryptophan, which has been shown to assist in the production of serotonin, which regulates endocrine, digestive, nervous system, and blood health, and also a whole range of other healing amino acids and nutrients, which are excellent for calming your nervous system.

Whey is also rich in L-glutamine, a non-essential amino acid that is the precursor to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a substance that helps regulate the nervous system and promote calmness.

2) Sweet potatoes, yams

This starchy vegetable has bulk to keep you satisfied and an impressive nutrient roster, containing high levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, and B vitamins, sweet potatoes are a nutritionally-dense food that can help calm your nerves, eliminate stress, and even lower your blood pressure.

Similarly, yams contain an array of nutrient compounds that feed the glandular system and promote respiratory, urinary, and nervous system health.

3) Bananas.

This handy, easy-open package fruit is packed with high doses of potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and other nutrients that help boost production of digestion-enhancing mucous, as well as promoting feelings of happiness and calm inside the body. They aid in the production of serotonin and melatonin, which are crucial regulators of mood and sleeping patterns.

4) Green herbal tea

Green tea contains an amino acid known as L-theanine that enhances mood by stimulating the production of alpha waves in the brain and reduces stress and promote relaxation naturally.

5) Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate and cacao are packed with antioxidants, essential minerals and protective plant nutrients called flavanols, they also contain L-tryptophan, and magnesium, a mineral widely recognized for its ability to calm the nervous system.

Dark Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter known as anandamide that has the ability to alter dopamine levels in the brain, causing a sense of peace and relaxation.

6) Brazil nuts

Said to be nature’s richest source of selenium, Brazil nuts are virtually unmatched in the nut world when it comes to relaxing the nervous system

7) Spinach.

Spinach is the best way to obtain a high input of fat-soluble vitamins that contribute to the building up of the fatty layers that protect your nerves from damage, such as vitamin K, in order for your brain and nervous system to function as they should

How to Treat Sweaty Palms and Feet Naturally

Sweaty palms and feet can be caused by hyperhidrosis, a rare condition in which the sweat glands on various parts of the body are overactive, or they may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Once the latter is ruled out, excessive sweating of the palms and feet may be treated with several natural remedies. These treatments may work well for some and not so well for others, depending on body chemistry and severity of the condition. However, they are all safe to use in moderation, so experiment and find what works best for you. There's nothing to lose but those embarrassing sweaty palms and feet

1- Steep five regular tea bags in one quart of hot water. Allow the mixture to cool completely, and then soak feet or hands for 30 minutes. This treatment works by clogging the pores that produce sweat, but may only provide temporary relief. However, it can be repeated as necessary and daily treatments are recommended. The tea treatment should prevent sweaty palms and feet for 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the severity of the condition.

2- Combine several tablespoons of Epsom salt with water as hot as you can tolerate. Soak the feet every night for at least 30 minutes in the solution. Prepare a separate batch for soaking the hands and you can treat sweaty palms and feet at the same time. Although it's not exactly clear how the salt works to treat excessive sweating, it has been used to successfully treat various types of hyperhidrosis according to a 2004 article published in "Podiatry Today."

3- Sprinkle alum powder, which can typically be found in the spice aisle of the grocery store, inside your socks before putting them on each morning. Dust a light coating over the palms first thing in the morning as well, and sweaty palms and feet should be eliminated for most of the day. Carry the powder with you and reapply if necessary in the afternoon. Alum has the ability to block the pores and prevent excessive sweating. It is extremely effective for most people, but frequent reapplication may be necessary for severe cases of hyperhidrosis.

4- Sprinkle 1 to 2 ounces of boric acid into a pair of white cotton socks. Put the socks on and leave them in place for 48 to 72 hours. Remove the socks and wash your feet thoroughly using soap and hot water. Follow with one of the soaks mentioned above for the best results, and then dry with a clean towel. There is strong anecdotal evidence that this treatment works for even the most sever cases of excessive sweating. Perform the same treatment using white cotton gloves for the hands, and you can treat sweaty palms and feet simultaneously.

10 Natural Remedies to Preventing Dementia

Dementia is characterized by emotional, mental, and physical deterioration caused by damage to the brain. Symptoms of dementia can develop suddenly or slowly over a long period of time, and the risk of dementia increases as you get older. There are different ways of treating the symptoms, which include: difficulty concentrating and planning things, memory loss and confusion, short attention span, lack of motivation, depression, personality, mood and behavioral changes, delusions or hallucinations, incontinence, muscle weakness, stiffness, or paralysis, slow and unsteady movements, trembling in arms and legs, sleeping difficulties, aggression and frustration, among others.

To prevent dementia in late life, it helps to keep physically and mentally active. There are other factors to consider regarding your general health and well-being. Pay attention to the following:

• Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

• Limit foods that are high in saturated fat.

• Reduce your salt intake to no more than two-thirds of a teaspoon per day

• Don’t drink alcohol excessively. Men should have no more than two drinks a day, and women no more than one.

• Maintain a healthy body weight, obesity can cause high blood pressure.

• Get regular exercise to maintain good circulation.

• Avoid smoking.

If you are diagnosed with dementia a health care plan will be drawn up, the following natural remedies are also very helpful to relieve the symptoms of dementia:

• Add a few drops of calming lavender essential oil to a vaporizer to relieve stress, agitation, and depression.

• Take 60 milligrams of ginkgo biloba twice daily to support the central nervous system, increase blood circulation to the brain, and improve memory.

• Music therapy, despite the deterioration of mental function associated with dementia, people with the condition are often able to enjoy music. This therapy can reduce agitation and improve mood, thus enhancing quality of life.

9 Easy Ways to Boost your Metabolism Every Day

You can trick your body into burning calories more efficiently, here are some ways you can help revive and boost your metabolism.

Never skip breakfast

your metabolism slows down, every time you don’t eat breakfast, sending the body into “hoard mode,” thinking it’s starving because you’re going a long period of time without food.

Leave less for last

Dinner should be your lightest meal, and some experts recommend you shouldn’t eat any later than 3 to 4 hours before bedtime, to help your body process and burn the food when you’re awake and moving around, burning more calories.

Don’t starve

If your calorie intake is below 1,000 calories a day your body will send signals of starvation, and will slow down your metabolism.

Avoid or minimize snacking

Contrary to popular opinion, it may be better to eat three scheduled meals, and avoid snacks. This allows the body to go into fat-burning mode.

Get moving

As much as you can, its really a big help for your metabolism, and if you do it in the morning, you’ll raise your metabolism all day.

Build muscle

Add weight training or progressive resistance exercises at least two to three times a week to build muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat.

Water

The energy burning process of metabolism needs water to work effectively, therefore, water, water, water!!

Chinese Herbs

Schizandra, a Chinese herb that is used for fatigue may help as well as ginseng for energy.

Try mate tea

Mate, is an herbal tea native to South America. Mate is considered far more nutritious than black tea or coffee, and though it also has some caffeine, its effects are energizing, rather than making people jittery.

About Menopause

Menopause is when menstruation has ceased for at least a year and the function of the female reproduction system ends. This marks the end of fertility in a woman's life. Many women experiencing menopause refer to it as "going through the change." These women are indeed going through a normal change of life, which will affect every woman differently. There are many treatment options available for the symptoms menopausal women experience. Menopause may be the end of one chapter in a woman's life, but it is also the beginning of another.

Significance

Menopause marks a very important time in a woman's life. Although men are usually able to father children their entire lives, menopause ends a woman's ability to reproduce. This signifies the aging process in a woman's life. Becoming infertile as a result of menopause can have mental, physical and emotional effects on a woman as her body continues to change due to hormonal fluctuations.

Time Frame

Women usually begin going through menopause in their mid- to late 40s or during their early 50s, with the average age about 51. Some women begin menopause before this time and may be as young as their 30s, or in extremely rare cases, their 20s. Women who experience premature menopause do so as a result of premature ovarian failure that may be caused by conditions such as eating disorders, diabetes, radiation or chemotherapy, thyroid disease or other illnesses. Many cases of premature menopause are a result of unknown causes. There are also cases of late menopause that occur after the age of 55.

Features

Although each woman's experience with menopause is different, some common symptoms and experiences include irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, night sweats, urinary symptoms, sleep disturbances, headaches, vaginal dryness, and decreased sex drive. Other effects women may notice after menopause include a decrease in collagen and skin elasticity, changes in hair growth, and increased risk for serious health issues such as osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes.

Considerations

People should keep in mind that menopause will have many effects on women. Some women experience depression, mood swings, anxiety or erratic behavior as they go through menopause. It is important to know that these symptoms can be attributed to the change in hormonal rhythms that are a result of menopause. Estrogen production is decreased during menopause since the ovaries stop making it. Women have to adjust to their fluctuation in hormones, and some of the effects can be hard to deal with. If you experience changes in your behavior or mental state, speak to your doctor about treatments to help you to deal with these changes.

Misconceptions

Although complete menopause results in a woman no longer being able to get pregnant, a woman can still get pregnant when she is in the process of going through menopause. If she is still having menstrual periods, even if they are irregular, that means she is still ovulating and is still capable of becoming pregnant. It is important to practice safe sex and use birth control during menopause if you do not want to become pregnant.

Menopause Tea

Menopause marks the end of menstruation, which happens at around the age of 50. There can be disorientating side effects such as hot flashes and memory loss. Clary sage is a great mood enhancer and also balances the hormones, place a few drops on to a handkerchief and inhale as required throughout the day. To reduce the incidence of night sweats, take a bath before bed, simply add a few drops to a warm bath.

MENOPAUSE TEA

Mother wort is a traditional remedy for helping ease the body through the transition. Drink

mother wort tea as often as needed:

1. Steep 25g. (1 ounce) dried motherwort in a cup of boiling water.

2. Leave to infuse for ten minutes, strain and then drink while still warm.

You can also try:

NETTLE TONIC

1. Place several handfuls of nettle tops in a large saucepan

2. Cover with boiling water

3. Boil for 30 minutes

4. Strain through a muslin cloth and drink as needed.

7 Natural Remedies for Toothache

Severe or throbbing pain around a tooth, sensitivity to extremes of temperature, red, swollen gums and bleeding when brushing or flossing are some of the symptoms before this annoying ache appears in your mouth.

Most toothaches are caused by dental decay, gingivitis, (gum disease) or an abscess, often due to poor dental hygiene. If your gums become inflamed and infected they can recede, exposing the root of the tooth. The affected tooth can be sensitive to hot and cold food or liquids and may start throbbing.

Conventional painkillers are not always effective and may have side effects, so you may prefer to try natural remedies instead to deal with the nagging pain of tooth and gum disease while you wait to visit your dentist:

• The traditional way to ease the pain is to dab the painful tooth and the gums surrounding it with some cotton balls soaked in clove oil.

• Alternatively, you can chew on a clove with the affected tooth, biting into it will release the oil.

• Chewing a peeled garlic clove may also bring some relief.

• A soothing saltwater mouthwash can be repeated several times a day to fight infection, use one teaspoon salt to one cup hot water.

• Add five drops tincture of myrrh to a small glass of warm water and the use as mouthwash. You can apply a tincture of calendula to swollen gums to ease pain and swelling.

• Rub a little clove or chamomile oil around the affected tooth.

• Try applying pressure to the area between your thumb and index finder for up to a minute.

5 Natural Treatments for Intestinal Worms

Have you heard about this? Infestation of worms in the digestive system is common throughout the world, particularly in young children. Worms can sometimes be seen around the anus or in the feces, and they inflame the area of the bowel or rectum where they attach themselves. The most common worms in humans in the United States are pinworms. Other type of worms occurs, too, such as hookworms in tropical countries.

Intestinal worms present many symptoms such as diarrhea, bad breath, dark circles under the eyes, restlessness at night, anemia, and itching around the anus.

There are many natural ways to treat this situation depending on the type of worm such as:

• Rescue Remedy is good for discomfort or distress. Rub into the pulse points, around the anus to relieve itching. Crab Apple is excellent if you feel unclean or polluted.

• Rub a drop each of eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree oil into a bland ointment, such as petroleum jelly or chickweed. Rub around the anus to prevent itching and to prevent eggs from being laid. This is particularly helpful at night.

• A teaspoon each of cayenne pepper and senna can be combined in a cup of yogurt with live cultures and taken by teaspoon before meals. The former stuns the worms and the latter encourages their explosion.

• Wormwood tea will stun the worms, but should only be taken under the supervision of a registered herbalist.

• Garlic is toxic to worms. Crush and add it to a tablespoon of honey and take before meals, followed by a tincture of laxative herbs, such as licorice and dandelion root to aid expulsion.

Conventional treatment is always necessary for any tapeworm infestations. Call your doctor if treatment is not effective after two courses, or if you begin to lose weight.

10 Anti-Asthma Foods

Even though there might not be a perfect cure for asthma the correct super-foods can help you ease it as much as possible, alleviating asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.

Avocado

This buttery and exquisite fruit is one of the prime source of glutathione, which has been shown to protect cells against free radical damage and to detoxify foreign substances such as pollutants.

Avocados are also a good source of vitamin E, particularly helpful for people whose asthma is linked to a nut allergy (nuts are one of the most common sources of vitamin E)

Broccoli Sprouts

These miniature cabbages share many of the benefits of their larger cousins, they are a true nutritional treasure and a great addition to your diet if you suffer from asthma. Broccoli sprouts can increase the antioxidant compounds that control the airway inflammation associated with bronchial asthma.

Apples

This crunchy, juicy, fiber-rich snack also possesses some extraordinary properties that may provide protection against asthma. They are also high in concentration of bioflavonoids, such as quercetin. Quercetin is known to possess strong anti-histamine, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties reducing the chance of suffering from wheezing by 50%.

Rosemary

The antioxidant power of rosmarinic acid is believed to be even stronger than that of vitamin E. In addition, rosmarinic acid encourages cells to create prostacyclins, which help keep the air passages of the lungs open and thus promote easy breathing.

Ginger

Ginger’s asthma fighting properties are thought to be attributed to gingerols, strong anti-inflammatory substances that give ginger its distinctive flavor.

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are brimming with anti-asthma nutrients, as these mild nutty tasting seeds are loaded with vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of the foods that are least likely to cause allergic reactions, which is great news since asthma is often linked to allergies. They also contain plenty of vitamin C and potassium as well as unique root proteins which, according to preliminary studies, may have significant antioxidant properties.

Turmeric

Turmeric possesses strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Kale

Kale is a great source of vitamin C, it is also one of the most concentrated dietary sources of beta-carotene, which can help with allergens.

Mustard Greens

One of the best sources of beta-carotene, chock-full of antioxidants and nutrients, mustard greens can make an excellent addition to your diet if you are susceptible to asthma attacks.

They also provide a good amount of vitamins C and E, which can remove free radicals that cause smooth muscle contraction and airway constriction in people with asthma.

Natural Treatments for Lung Cancer

Let’s begin with the obvious, if you smoke, stop. Tobacco use is responsible for 87 percent of lung cancer deaths. But what can you do to protect yourself, besides run screaming from cigarettes? Something as simple as eating more vegetables can help, they contain a grab bag of cancer preventive compounds, like the carotenoids in dark green and deep yellow, orange, and red produce.

Cruciferous vegetables:

Cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and broccoli are packed with sulforaphane, considered one of the most potent cancer fighters found in food.

These vegetables also contain a substance called indole-3-carbinol, which works like a clean up crew, repairing damage that carcinogens do to cells before they can turn cancerous.

Oranges, papayas, peaches, red bell peppers, and carrots:

The colors red and orange come from a type of carotenoid called beta-cryptoxanthin that specifically seems to safeguard smokers.

Soy food:

Estrogen may encourage the growth of lung tumors, and blunting estrogen’s effect may help slow or even stop lung cancer’s development.

Salmon, sardines, mackerel, and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids:

The combination of cigarette smoke and animal fats promotes lung cancer. Substituting fish high in omega-3 fatty acids for meats appears to minimize the effect.

Spinach, kale, beans, and other food rich in folate:

Folate can reduce the risk of lung cancer up to 40%. Smoking and alcohol drain folate from the body.

Organic food ( The meaning of organic )

Organic food is produced by farmers that want to protect the environment for future generations, rotating crops, conserving and renewing the soil and protecting water sources.

These crops are grown, handled, and processed without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, for the most part. Some are grown with natural pesticides, not synthetic ones. A great organic pesticide that is toxic to different species of insects but harmless to wild life and people is bacillus thuringiensis.

Is organic food healthier?

organic food

The systematic review, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined 240 studies organic and non-organic fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, poultry eggs and milk 17 studies of humans and 223 studies of nutrient and contaminant levels.

It found that more one-third of conventional produce had detectable pesticide residues, compared with 7 percent of organic produce samples. It also found organic meats were one-third less likely to carry bacteria resistant to antibiotics than conventionally produced meat.

The study also found that organic foods, on the whole, don’t contain any more vitamins or nutrients than conventional foods.

It’s good to have a wide-ranging review of organic foods. Even more interesting is the media coverage of the study. Some new stories, like this one from the Guardian, have focused on the lack of a difference in nutrient levels. Other news coverage has pointed out that the purpose of purchasing organic foods is to avoid pesticide use because of its impact on human health and the environment.

Is it safe?

Is organic food safer to eat than conventionally produced food? That’s a big debate, all the chemicals and pesticides use by farmers can certainly have an effect on the consumer’s health, what needs to be determined is the effect of lower levels of intake over a lifetime, which is more difficult for research to establish.

Organic food has much lower levels of organophostphate pesticides that in large amounts are toxic to our nervous system.

There’s no clear evidence that there’s a risk to eating conventional food or a benefit to eating organic ones. Enviromentaly speaking there are more benefits to organic methods which help prevent soil erosion, protects groundwater, and preserves wildlife.

2 Foods That May Reduce Lupus Risk (and what to avoid)

Lupus remains one of medicine’s biggest mysteries. Researchers still don’t fully understand exactly what triggers this autoimmune disease, but it’s thought to develop when certain types of genes that may predispose someone to lupus interact with the environmental factors like common viruses. The immune system gets misdirected and produces antibodies that target the body’s tissues and organs. As these antibodies, called auto-antibodies, build up in various organs, inflammation results. There are several types of lupus, the most common being systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). It can be mild, causing fatigue, joint pain, or skin rashes, or severe, affecting major organs like the kidneys.

Although there is no lupus diet per se, some very preliminary studies in animals and humans suggest that nutrition may be useful for reducing the severity of flare-ups and encouraging remission.

Fish:

There’s some evidence that in cultures like Japan and the Eskimo communities in Greenland, where people consume a lot of omega-3 fatty acids from fish, seafood, and other sources, the rates of autoimmune disease are lower than in countries where intake of omerga-3s is low. That doesn’t mean necessarily that fish lowers the risk of lupus, but it’s worth noting that there’s already a fairly well established association between high fish consumption and lower rates of conditions like depression and heart disease, so the idea isn’t very farfetched.

Green tea:

Some population studies suggest that lupus incidence is lower in countries like China and Japan, where green tea is a diet staple. One explanation may be that green tea contains potent compounds called polyphenols that are both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It’s possible that adding green tea to your diet or even applying it directly to the skin rashes that often accompany lupus may be helpful. When green tea polyphenols were mixed with skin and salivary gland cells in lab studies done at the Medical College of Georgia, researcher noted a significant decrease in the markers for SLE.

Stay away from safflower, sunflower and corn oils, as well as most margarines, since they are rich in omega-6 essential fatty acids, the polyunsaturated fats believed to increase inflammation.

Packaged and commercially fried foods, since they are often loaded with trans-fat also contribute to inflammation.

Alfalfa seeds and sprouts contain the amino acid L-canavanine, which appears to aggravate lupus symptoms.

Finally avoid foods high in zinc, zinc is one of the most effective natural immune system boosters, and Echinacea, because this herb stimulates immune function, and can initiate flare-ups.

17 Foods To Avoid Celiac disease

Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or non-tropical sprue, is a disorder that typically becomes apparent when young children start eating food containing wheat, rye, barley, and other cereal grains. The problem is caused by gliadin, one of the proteins collectively known as gluten, found in these grains.

Gliadin combines with antibodies in the digestive tract to damage the walls of the small intestine and interfere with the absorption of many nutrients, especially fats and certain starches and sugars.

Eat plenty of:

• Low-fat milk, eggs, fish, meat, and poultry for protein

• Vegetables and fruits for vitamins and minerals

• Legumes, potatoes and rice for starches, minerals, and protein

Daily Dosages of Supplements:

• Green food supplements, 1 tablespoon

• Evening primrose oil, two 500 mg capsules three times daily

• Multivitamin supplement, as directed on the label

• Medicinal clay, dissolve 1 teaspoon clay in ½ cup water at room temperature and drink twice daily.

• Papain, 500 mg three times daily

• Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate, 50 mg daily

• Silica, 3-6 capsules in gel form, follow the directions on the label

• Vitamin B complex, 50 mg twice daily

• Vitamin B12, 100 mcg

• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, 5,000 mg one to three times daily

Avoid:

• Bread, pasta, cereals, cakes and other wheat, rye or barley products

• Foods using wheat products as a thickening agent or coating, such as breaded foods, meat- loaf, frankfurters, sausages, sauces, and soups

• Beverages containing gluten, such as beer, malted drinks, and chocolate milk

• Many commercial salad dressings except pure mayonnaise

6 Natural Aids for Infertility

Many couples assume that infertility rests with the woman, in fact men are just likely to be infertile. In 40% of cases, the problem lies with the male, and in 40% of cases, with the female. The cause can’t be identified in the remaining 20%, or both partners may have contributing factors. While nutrition is not a leading cause of infertility, consuming a healthful diet enhances the chance of conceiving and delivering a healthy baby.

It is highly recommended to follow a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meat, fish or poultry, whole-grain breads, cereals, and grains, as well as low-fat dairy products. Limit coffee consumption and avoid alcohol and smoking.

• Sperm do poorly at temperatures over 96 °F (which is why the testes hang below the rest of the body to stay cooler.) Avoid elevated scrotal temperatures by wearing boxer shorts. Do not wear briefs, tight fitting underwear or jeans.

• Avoid hot tubs and rowing/ski machines, treadmills or jogging unless the testes can hang free.

• Avoid aspirin, Motrin or similar medications which block the hormone prostaglandin (prostaglandins in the seminal fluid may assist sperm.)

• Avoid melatonin, testosterone, Verapamil and Nifedipine (latter two are heart/blood pressure medications) which can cause reversible infertility.

• Increase liquid vegetable oils and avoid cottonseed oil (may contain gossypol which inhibits sperm function) palm or coconut oils, or trans, hydrogenated or saturated fats as able.

• Women should avoid vaginal lubricants such as FemGlide, Replens and Astroglide which can damage sperm.

Anemia Natural Treatments

Low iron levels in the blood can cause feelings of weakness, dizziness, and fainting. You have anemia when you have too few red blood cells or too little hemoglobin in your blood. This is most likely caused by an iron deficiency, but can also be due to a deficiency in vitamin B12 or folate. Anemia is most likely to occur in pre-menopausal women, especially during pregnancy.

The symptoms may include tiredness and lack of energy, palpitations, light-headedness, pale skin, shortness of breath, feeling cold, headaches, changes in taste, a sore or smoothing tongue, and dry, peeling, or spoon-shaped nails.

As well as treating any underlying problems that may be making you anemic, your doctor may prescribe iron supplements to address an iron deficiency and bring your iron levels back to normal. Your red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels will be monitored carefully to make sure you are responding well to treatment. It may also be necessary to make dietary changes and take vitamin B12 or folate supplements.

Here is some natural treatment you might consider:

• Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that may help to treat anemia. Try taking one heaping teaspoon per day.

• Vitamin C helps your body to absorb iron from food. Good sources include broccoli, bell pepper, tomatoes, berries, and citrus fruits

• Ferrum phosphoricum is a tissue salt that is used to treat iron deficiency. Try taking four tablets of Ferrum phosphoricum twice daily until relief is obtained.

The following food contains iron, vitamin B12, and folate, and they will help your body make enough red blood cells and hemoglobin.

Iron: dried fruits, such as apricots, raisins, and prunes, green leafy vegetables, meat, nuts, beans, and molasses.

Vitamin B12: meat, dairy products, eggs, and fortified foods.

Folate: fruits and vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, beans, peas, oranges, bananas, yeast extract, liver, and fortified foods.

6 Foods That Increase Hunger

Have you been feeling like you have been eating way too much, like you don’t have control over it and you don’t know why? Maybe you have been choosing your foods unwisely, even though you have the strongest willpower, there are some foods that are simply addictive.

Try to avoid the following foods, since they are the reason why sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you fill up on certain foods, you never seem to feel satisfied.

So, what foods should you avoid when you’re trying to get the most for your hunger buck?

1. Chewing gum

This bad habit stimulates the gastric juices, therefore saliva is produced and moves to the stomach fooling it into thinking there is food to be digested, making you hungrier.

2. Diet soda

This is not only highly harmful to your health, it can also make you hungrier, that to its high amount artificial sweeteners that could have the effect of triggering appetite but unlike regular sugars they don’t deliver something that will squelch the appetite.

3. High fructose corn syrup

Moderation is seemingly impossible with this evil ingredient, it interferes with the body’s metabolism so that a person can’t stop eating. It slows down the secretion of leptin in the body, which is a crucial hormone that tells you that you’re full and to stop eating.

4. Frozen dinners

These dinners don’t have enough calories or nutrients to fill you up, and there is not enough roughage to expand in your stomach.

5. Pastries and baked goods

White sugar and flour have no fiber or nutrients and they are normally packed with white sugar as well, this will send you through the roof and then you come crashing down much hungrier than you were before.

6. Sugary breakfast bars

This is practically the same as pastry, they are high processed and full of sugar, exchange them for real oatmeal, fruits and honey, or eggs and vegetables for a much better way to start your day.

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The Science of Vitamins and the Body

Most of us know vitamins are essential to our bodies, but many times we don’t know what they actually do, or take them as seriously as we should. We should reach for the foods that give us what we need, as our diet is the most powerful and accessible tool for a healthy life. It is important to know a little bit about them, which ones to take, where to find them and how much we need. Vitamins are essential for cell function, growth and development, and are essential to good health.

There are 13 essential vitamins that are necessary for the body to function properly, without them we are a target for diseases and debilitating illness.

Today, vitamin deficiency is still a national epidemic. Around 90% of Americans have a potassium deficiency, 80% don’t get enough vitamin E, 70% need more calcium, and the list goes on and on.

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4 Foods to Improve Eyesight

Have you heard of AMD? Molecular Degeneration is the most common cause of severe, irreversible vision loss. Its target is the macula, a tiny yellow area near the center of the retina that’s highly specialized to allow you to see details and provide clear central vision, the kind you need to read or drive.

It is usually characterized by a loss of pigment in the retina as well as yellowish deposits called drusen. And there’s strong evidence that nutrition plays a big role in preventing it.

Load your plate with the right foods:

1- Spinach, collard greens, kale and other green leafy vegetables: they are loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, a pair of natural plant pigments often found together in food. These antioxidant pigments are part of the carotenoid family, and they’re the only caretoids found in the eye.

2- Fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids: fish has been touted as a heart-healthy food, but is can also lower the risk of AMD as much as 40%. The two main compounds of the omega-3′s found in fish are known as EPA and DHA, essential for the development and functions of the retina.

3- Carrots, red bell peppers, almonds and sunflower seeds: High doses of beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, coupled with zinc, stop or slow the progression of AMD by 20-25%.

4- Oysters, crab, beef, baked beans, and other food rich in zinc: Zinc, an essential mineral found in meats and seafood, acts as a partner with vitamin A, ensuring that it can be used by the body, including the retina. The retina has high levels of zinc, which help to protect its membrane.

Off the menu: fatty meats, butter, and other sources of saturated fats, which can boost free radical activity undermining antioxidant’s work, also alcohol, corn, sunflower and safflower oils.

Dramatically Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk

Prostate cancer may seem inevitable for some men; in fact it’s the most common type of cancer in men.

Growing evidence suggests that you can dramatically reduce the risk of this cancer, and slow its progression if you already have it, simply by making moderate changes in your diet.

Most prostate cancers are slow growing; with early detection many doctors will choose a wait-and-see approach rather than attacking the cancer immediately. But why sit back and wait if you can take a big step toward delaying the cancer’s development or inhibiting its growth by improving your diet?

Tomato and tomato products:

An antioxidant called lycopene gives tomatoes their fire-engine hue and helps prevent prostate cancer. Lycopene does this by preventing free radicals from damaging cells, including the all-important DNA inside. DNA damage is what leads healthy cells to turn cancerous.

Tofu, soymilk and other soy foods:

They contain estrogen-like compounds called isoflavones that are thought to delay the development and growth of cancer cells and encourage them to destroy themselves.

Green tea:

A powerful compound in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) blocks many processes involved with cancer development and growth. Studies suggest it may protect against several cancers, including those of the prostate, stomach, colon, and breast.

Pomegranate juice:

Pomegranate juice is full of colorful plant chemicals called polyphenols, the same chemicals that make grape skins red and lend brilliant colors to autumn leaves. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, and that’s probably why pomegranate juice is shaping up to be an important cancer fighter.

Salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, and other fatty fish:

Fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids lower the risk of prostate cancer by 30%.

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other cruciferous vegetables:

These vegetables contain several anticancer compounds that actually help rid the body of (cancer causing) substances before they have a chance to damage them.

Garlic and onions:

Garlic, onions, and their cousins, like scallions, shallots, and chives, may help prevent tumors by eliminating cancer-causing substances before they can damage cells to self-destruct.

6 Ways to Say Goodbye to the Yellow Smile

Have you noticed that smiles have gotten whiter and whiter? No matter how white you want your teeth, there are plenty of natural teeth-whitening home remedies for a beautiful smile.

There are things you can do to avoid stains and embarrassing discoloration and fortunately, these natural teeth whitening home remedies solutions don’t require hundred dollar bleaching trays, dentist visits, or unknown chemical solutions. All you need is probably in your kitchen right now, it is funny how the solutions are simpler than what we imagine, try the following ideas for a perfect homemade smile:

1. Eat Strawberries

The astringent found in strawberries helps to remove surface stains, while vitamin C washes away plaque. Mashing a few strawberries and brushing with the mixture once or twice a week can have positive results, or make sure you chew really well. Strawberries can also help whiten teeth due to containing an enzyme called malic acid and vitamin C.

2. Floss Your Teeth

Flossing is more important than brushing; it can easily remove the staining between your teeth, helping them to look whiter.

3. Baking Soda and Lemon

The chemical reaction of baking soda with the citrus of lemon juice has a smile-brightening effect. Brush with this solution up to once per week.

4. Eat Crunchy Fruits and Veggies

Crunchy fruit or vegetables act like nature’s toothbrush just chewing those removes excess food and bacteria from your mouth and they also help to scrub away surface stains, and the acid in the fruits and vegetables actually keep the teeth whiter.

5. Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide prevents the growth of bacteria, can help to  prevent infections, and prevents bad breath, which often results from bacteria.

6. Use a Straw

There are many drinks that can cause serious damage to the enamel of your teeth such as coffee; tea, soda, and wine, whenever you can try to use a straw to reduce direct exposure to teeth, its not very common to drink wine or coffee through a straw, if not possible just make sure to brush after drinking these beverages

Homemade Natural Wrinkle Removers

Even though they say wrinkles make you wiser, there are many ways to look wiser without the wrinkles that are natural, there is no need to buy expensive anti-aging cream or treatments. You won’t need to expend more than a couple of bucks… here is where the real wisdom is. Bananas and their peel have been used for centuries to help with many skin conditions, including acne, wrinkles, warts, psoriasis and poison ivy.

1. Mash a banana until it has a creamy texture and apply it to your entire face for 30 minutes, bananas have so much more going for them than just a delicious and nutritious treat.

2. Coconut oil is the best option when it comes to natural wrinkle removal, since it rebuilds our skin tissue and will also leave your face skin moisturized and feeling smooth and beautiful.

3. Pineapple juice can easily rival any treatment, in fact it is much better, because they are packed with the enzyme bromelain which naturally eats away our top layer of skin when applied topically and leaves the new fresh skin underneath.

Birthday Cake Ideas for Girls

Girls can be particularly picky when it comes to the perfect birthday cake. It can be tempting to give up and make them the usual (boring) birthday cake. Instead, think of symbols that your daughter likes, such as butterflies, princesses or flowers. Then roll up your sleeves and recreate the symbol into the shape of a cake.

A Butterfly

Butterfly cakes are simple to make. Bake a large sheet cake. Cut a butterfly shape out of the cake, and set aside the extra scraps. (Your daughter will appreciate snacking on them later.) Ice the middle of the cake with brown icing, and each wing with your daughter's favorite color.

Use other colors of icing to decorate the wings with several large circles. Add two gumdrop eyes and a thin licorice mouth, and your butterfly is ready to soar right into your daughter's heart.

A Castle

If you're willing to put in the effort to make a triple-decker cake, you can create a castle for your princess's birthday. Make three layers of cake, each one progressively smaller than the last. Stack them in descending order, and ice them with white or pink frosting. Place several sugar cones upside down on the cake to act as turrets. (If you'd like, stick princess-type flags through the pointed tops of the cones.) Decorate the rest of the cake with small gummies and other candies.

A Flower Pull-Apart Cake

Cupcake cakes are easy and fun, and nowhere near as messy as regular cakes. To make a flower pull-apart cake, ice several cupcakes in pink icing and one in yellow icing. Surround the yellow cupcake with the pink ones, and put the candles into the center cupcake. When the time comes to blow out the candle, pull the cupcakes apart and hand them to each of the guests. The birthday girl may choose to eat the yellow one, because it was the center one, or she might want a pink one instead.

How to Decorate Cakes & Cupcakes With Swedish Fish

Cakes and cupcakes are sweet confections and the mere mention of their names often makes mouths water. Adding decorative details to these tasty treats turns them into a sensory experience, as their decorations add visual appeal, making them even more tempting. Whether you're hosting a birthday party for a child who is wild about fish or you are baking the treats for an ocean-themed school function, consider using Swedish Fish as decorative accents on your cake or cupcakes. These gummy fish, available in fruit punch, orange, lemon and lime flavors, will add color to your baked goods and infuse the treats with even more tasty goodness.

1- Place white icing and four to five drops of blue food coloring into a mixing bowl and use a rubber spatula to mix the icing and food coloring together. The icing will turn blue, meaning that it can used to simulate the look of water on the cake or cupcakes.

2- Place white icing and four to five drops of green food coloring into a mixing bowl. Mix the icing and food coloring with a rubber spatula. The icing will turn green and can be used to draw plants onto the cake or cupcakes.

3- Spread the blue icing over the surface of the cake or cupcakes with an icing knife, creating the look of a water backdrop.

4- Use a spoon to scoop the green icing into an icing bag, then use the icing bag to draw seaweed and aquatic plants along the base of the cake. On the cake, create as many seaweed or aquatic plant images as you think looks appropriate. On each of the cupcakes, draw only one aquatic plant to avoid cluttering the small space.

5- Place the Swedish Fish onto the surface of the cake and cupcakes. To ensure proper adherence, gently press the fish into the surface of the icing. Use the appropriate amount of Fish for the size of the treat. For example, on a cake, a small bag of candies can be used to mimic a school of fish swimming through the water. For cupcakes, place only one or two of the mini variety of Swedish fish on each to avoid overwhelming them.

6- Arrange the fish to suit your theme. For example, you can place individual fish onto the cake and draw the icing plants over them to create the look of fish swimming through plants. Alternatively, insert the candy into the cupcake's icing tail-first to create the look of the fish jumping out of the water. For large cakes, you can replicate the look of several schools of fish swimming around by placing small groupings of Swedish Fish on them.

How to Treat Hiccups With Home Remedies

Hiccups are the bane of children everywhere, and even adults are not entirely immune from them. Caused by muscular contractions in the diaphragm that are often brought on by inadequate chewing or eating too fast, hiccups interfere with eating, breathing, drinking and speaking. They can also be tenacious, sometimes holding on for hours at a time if no remedies are employed at home to stop them. Fortunately, there is no need to suffer. There are several very effective home remedies you can use to treat hiccups in children and adults.

1- Swallow a spoonful of table sugar. This remedy was popular in the mid-20th century and was often used to treat hiccups in children. It is not known why the sugar works to cure hiccups, but it does.

2- Hold your breath and bear down internally on your diaphragm. The longer you can hold down your diaphragm with your muscles, the better chance you'll have of stopping the hiccups. As you bear down on the diaphragm, it relaxes and stops the contractions that cause hiccups.

3- Drink water in tiny sips while holding your nose. You should sip again and again without a break until you feel as if the water may start coming out of your nose. After about 25 sips, the hiccups will usually stop.

4- Turn yourself upside down. You can either stand on your head or lie across a foot stool with your head hanging down. Bringing your head below the level of your diaphragm like this often stops hiccups in their tracks.

5- Drink some chamomile tea that has been steeped for at least half an hour. The muscle relaxant properties of chamomile work to ease the contractions in your diaphragm that are causing the hiccups.

How to Care for Mums

1- Choose the area of your garden where you wish to plant mums. Mums are beautiful when they line a sidewalk entrance to your home. In the fall you will be able to find mum plants at many local stores, Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and other major chains sell these colorful flowers. You may also purchase mums from your local growers. Plant mums in the morning. That way the newly planted mums will have a full day of sunlight. Ensure that that there is good drainage for your plants to survive during the winter months.

2- Mums may also be used as a decorative accent to your porch. When using the plants in containers, remember that the potted mums need to be watered every other day.

3- Newly planted mums should be watered at least three times a week. If you have established mums, these do not require additional watering unless there is a drought, normal rainfall should be sufficient for the welfare of your mums.

4- Fertilizing should be accomplished every month. The soil of the plants should be fertilized with a general purpose fertilzer and top dressed with compost. Fertilizers may be purchased from local stores such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot or Lowe's, follow the directions on the back of the fertilizer bag. When planting in the fall the mums usually do not require fertilization, however it is wise to look at the plant regularly, if the new plant looks weak, add a liquid fertilizer like Miracle Gro.

5- Pinch back the mums starting in the spring and continue through the summer months. Pinching will encourage branching and the development of bushy plants. Monitor the growth of the branches, when the new growth on the branch reaches approximately six inches, pinch half off of every branch. Take the branch between your fingers and break off around half, or you can use a small shear to cut the branch. Allow the plant to grow another five to six inches before you repeat the pinching.

6- Cease pinching as the summer ends because the plant will slow it's growth. The mums will start to develop flower heads near the end of the summer. The mums should start to show new blooms starting near the end of August and flowers should last until late November.

7- In late November or early December, before the first frost approaches make sure that the soil is very moist. Use mulch or straw around the plant roots to protect the plant bulb through the winter months. In the spring remove the dead mum material and mulch that you put down in November. Replace the old mulch with a hardwood or cypress mulch when the mum begins to show new growth .

How to Make Homemade Beauty Treatments With Bananas

In addition to being one of nature's perfect foods, bananas are also an excellent beauty treatment. They're full of tryptophan, an amino acid that is very nourishing to hair and skin, potassium, which is an excellent natural moisturizer and have plenty of skin-enhancing vitamins A,B,C and E

1- Have a banana beauty treatment. Mash a ripe banana with a fork and apply it to your face, and even your hair. Leave it a few minutes and rinse it out.

2- Create a simple exfoliant by mashing a ripe banana with a small amount of oatmeal. Apply it gently to your face and rinse it with warm water.

3- Make a banana avocado face mask. Mash a small, ripe banana with a ripe avocado, 3 tbsp. of plain yogurt and 3 drops of vitamin E oil. Mash the banana and avocado until they form a paste, and then mash in the yogurt. Leave the mask on for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

4- Mix up a banana anti-aging mask. Mash a small banana, add 2 tbsp. heavy cream, 1 tbsp. oat flour and 1 tbsp. honey. Apply the anti-aging mask to the face and leave it for 30 minutes. For best results, apply the mask 3 times a week.

5- Deep-condition your hair with banana. Puree a ripe banana in a blender or food processor and add a few drops of wheatgerm oil. Spread the mixture through the hair and leave it for a few minutes. Wash your hair as usual, and apply conditioner.

How to Repair Hair With Olive Oil

Olive oil is very useful in improving the state of damaged hair. Olive oil is a versatile product that can be used for cooking and for personal use. Mediterranean women have long been using olive oil to treat their hair. Olive oil has the ability to treat split ends, heal dandruff and add shine. Olive oil contains omega fatty acids, specifically omega-6 and omega-3 which has a positive effect on health, skin and hair. For example, those deficient in omega-3 and omega-6 may experience the onset of hair loss, as well as other health issues

1- Measure the olive oil. Count 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil.

2- Massage it onto your scalp. Make sure to that you massage the olive oil in a circular manner and that you distribute the olive oil from the roots to the ends of your hair.

3- Cover your hair. Make sure that your hair is tucked inside a plastic bathing cap.

4- Wait for the olive oil to fully saturate your hair by letting the olive oil settle for 30 minutes or more.

5- Rinse your hair. Thoroughly wash your hair with shampoo. Repeat if the olive oil residue still remains. Conduct this olive oil hair treatment once every two weeks.

How Often Should You Wash Your Face

Normal Skin

Normal skin should be washed twice daily. Wash once in the morning with cool water and a mild cleanser, to remove any dirt or oil that has built up while sleeping. Dry the face, and go about your daily moisturizing and makeup application. In the evening, wash with a mild cleanser, and follow up with a facial scrub if you wear heavy makeup. If wearing long-lasting eye makeup, be sure to use an eye makeup remover designed specifically to remove thick mascara and eyeliner.

Oily Skin

Oily skin requires a bit more treatment, as oil and dirt build up in the pores more quickly, leaving skin with a greasy look. Wash the face at least twice daily, with a face wash designed specially for oily skin. If wearing makeup or moisturizer, use oil-free products that will prevent excess oil from building up. Wash the face in the morning, afternoon when possible and again before bed. With your nighttime regimen, use a face wash and follow up with a toner that is designed to remove excess oil and buildup. Toner can also be used throughout the day to absorb excess oil, if dabbing with a tissue does not pick up the excess.

Dry Skin

Dry skin also requires special care, as washing too often can over-dry, causing cracking and peeling of the skin. Wash the face in the morning with cold water only, do not use a cleanser. Choose a moisturizer made for dry skin, and apply as directed. Wash the face again at night, this time using a mild cleanser, and makeup remover if applicable. Exfoliate with a face scrub to remove dead skin cells, then follow up with moisturizer again to replenish the skin.

Skin With Acne

It is important to handle acne with care. First, determine your skin type from the categories mentioned above, and follow that cleansing routine. Be sure to use a soft washcloth when washing the face, as scrubbing hard will further irritate acne and cause inflammation. While some facial cleansers are designed specially for skin with acne, if your problems persist, purchase an acne cream designed to be dabbed on the acne itself, and left on overnight.