10 SUPER BEAUTY FOODS

In the course of my research for collagen and what it does for the skin and our health, I discovered several 'Beauty Foods' but the following are my favourites. Will write on collagen in my next post.

Blueberries are touted as one of the best sources of antioxidants out there. And they have a huge side benefit: They are indescribably delicious too. Wish they are available in our part of the world all the time.

Strawberries are filled with vitamin C, and guess what loves that? Our skin. So these wonderful berries, so good on cereal and ice cream, not to mention strawberry shortcake, keep our skin looking its best while we say "yummy." Wished they weren’t so expensive  though. ..sigh..

Don't peel these babies! You probably heard that from your mother, and she was right on target. The skin of the apple contains quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that protects against skin cancer. Apples also are a good source of fiber, meaning we feel full for hours after eating one.

Nuts, especially walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts, are high in omega-3 fat. And our skin really benefits from the moisture that brings. Nuts are also high in arginine, an amino acid that helps  burn fat.

Whoa! Chilis really turn on the heat. And capsaicin, which is the source of that heat, cuts back on those hunger pangs, according to a study in the June 2009 issue of the "European Journal of Nutrition." So that burning mouthful might be worth it.  Just wondering if the ‘belacan’ (shrimp paste) added to it will spoil the nutrients..:D

Vitamin A and potassium both make our skin radiant. And both are found in greens, particularly romaine lettuce. Dark leafy greens contain antioxidants that help our skin fight sun damage, such as wrinkles and skin cancer.

Salmon and tuna are known for their abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, and these fats help our body on the outside as well as the inside by keeping skin radiant.

Tea of all kinds is a major source of antioxidants, which fight free radicals and work against signs of aging. Green tea is also known for the compound EGCG, which gets some of those dying skin cells back in the alive zone!

Ahhhh, the fruit of the vine. Reservatrol is found in red wine, especially cabernet sauvignon, and this antioxidant is known to slow aging. So wine is one thing we can drink for our health, as they say. Just drink in moderation or all of its good effects are for naught.  Yes, sip slowly baby and feel how it penetrates into the system..:D

Chocolate! The happiest food... Bring it on. Dark chocolate is a good source of those age-fighting antioxidants, and it also contains the mood elevator phenylethylamine, according to the California Academy of Sciences. So no, it's not our imagination that we feel happy when we eat dark chocolate. Just don't overdo it; too much of a good thing might turn out to be a bad thing in this case.

Source:    http://www.ehow.com/

ARTIFICIAL RIPENING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fruits and vegetables are known to posses a lot of antioxidants and anti-aging miracles. But if they are loaded with harmful chemicals, then are you heading for fitness or drowning in the pool of unhealthy body??

Nowadays, there are plenty of buzz about artificial ripening of foods, mainly fruits and vegetables. 

Actually ripe foods are not easy to carry and they rot fast. So the traders use chemicals to ripen them and also to prolong their shelf life. They inject these chemicals into fruits and veggies which will increase their size overnight. Artificial coloring is also injected to them to make them appear juicy and fresh.  This is done to maximize their sales and profits.




But this process poses health hazards. For example, Ethylene, Bethylene and Ethephon are some of the chemicals that are used for this purpose. These chemicals give rise to many health disorders. It could damage the neurological system, eyes, skin, lungs, memory and prolonged hypoxia (a condition in which lack of oxygen supply occurs). 

Farmers are also known to use pesticides for their crops. These are detrimental to health.  To remove these pesticides, place fruits and vegetables in a sink filled with water. Add salt and lemon juice to it. Let the fruits float for around 5-7 minutes and then wash them with plain water. You should also avoid plastic-looking foods. Choose only normal-sized fruits or veggies with normal appearance.

Cheers.

Source: The Guiding Light

NUTRITION FACTS ABOUT DRAGON FRUIT

Dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C which boost the immune system and prevent free radicals which causes cancer diseases and helps in healing colds and flu.

It is also a source of dietary fiber which

 is important for the digestive system. It prevents constipation, reduces fats and remove toxins from colon which may lead to colon cancer. Dietary fiber also controls sugar level so it plays great role in controlling diabetes.

Dragon fruit is important for skin health as it contains high amount of vitamin C, collagen and for healing wounds, for bones strength, teeth , cartilage, ligaments and tendons. 

Dragon fruit also contain vitamin B1 which helps in increased energy.  

The presence of vitaminB3 in the dragon fruit helps in reducing bad cholesterol levels.

How to eat the Dragon fruit

To eat the dragon fruit, cut it into halves and eat the flesh, you can make a cold fruit juice or make delicious fruit salad with ice cream.   Enjoy.. :)

TIPS FOR HEALTHY SKIN

Wash your face at least twice each day, using a pure soap such as Ivory, and clean water. Hot water opens pores, so wash with hot water. Cold water closes pores, so splash your face with cold water after washing to ensure that your pores are protected from the environment. Splash with cold water before applying makeup as well. 

·    Reduce the use of cosmetics as much as possible. These clog pores. If you must wear makeup, make sure that you are using hypoallergenic products, or products for sensitive skin. Splash your face with cold water before applying, and make sure you wash all the makeup away before going to bed.

·     Keep your hair and hands off your face. Hair and hands contain oils that can cause acne breakouts. When applying creams or makeup to the face, use applicators - not your hands. In the absence of applicators, ensure that your hands are completely clean.  Don't lean with your hands on your face either. Keep your hair pulled back off your face.

·       Hydrate the body - and the skin - with water. Hydrated skin is healthy skin. Water helps to detoxify our bodies, and our skin, ridding us of elements that make us ill, as well as elements that can cause acne.

·        Eat a well balanced diet, and make sure that you include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain quite a bit of natural vitamin A and vitamin E, which is essential to good skin care.

        Source: The Guiding Light 

HOME REMEDY: 3 Ways to Get Rid of Cold Sores Naturally

Hi Folks
I found this useful tip from who else...hehehe ..but from lovely Krishna's blog.    Please find the link to her blog below.

She's got so many useful tips but I thought I'd share this one as I too always get this especially if I do not drink enough water and the body is said to be 'heaty' or dehydrated.

Krishna says: 

WHAT CAUSES COLD SORES?
Stress
Anxiety
Cold
Too much exposure in sun

NATURAL TREATMENTS:

First of all AVOID salty and acidic foods as they can aggravate the cold sores and make them painful.

1.   Dab some tea tree oil on the cold sore with a cotton. It should disappear in 2-3 days. Dab it a few times in a day and before going to sleep.

2.   Place a damp tea bag on your cold sore. I would suggest green tea and keep it on for 1-2 mins. Don't wash it off after that.

3. You can also dab some coconut oil or lavender essential oil.

You can prevent them by using lip balms that has some SPF in it. I use Maybelline's Baby Lips Lip Balm. 

It is the SOFTEST and the most gorgeous lip balm ever. It isn't that expensive and it has SPF of 15.

You should take care you don't pass it on to someone because it is very contagious as it is a virus.
I hope you found your way out of those painful sores :( I know how it feels.

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Thanks for the useful tip Krishna...xoxox.. 
Do visit Krishna's blog for more awesome home remedies at
http://diybeautytutorials.blogspot.com

Cheers