Damaged Skin Care

Skin care always tops my list, maybe because even a little negligence gets reflected as pimples on my face.

For me pimples occur due to many factors like changes in diet, taking more spicy food, lack of sleep, stress and strain. Dealing with pimples basically requires prevention. 

And even then if you spot one take quick action like applying ice packs and if you have enough time at hand then rub either cucumber or potato slices frequently to reduce the intensity. Trust me these tips actually work.

 One common advice we often get to hear is never try to pop the pimple. Also, frequent touching should be avoided to stop bacterial growth.

Always remember that most of the tips do work but what actually lacks is consistency...! Yes I personally fail to follow a regular skin care regimen and curse myself for the same. 

But sometime back I used honey plus banana face pack for almost 15 days continuously and could actually see results. And banana works wonders for your skin and hair as well. Even now every time I have a banana, I rub my face with its peels for 15 minutes and let it stay for as long as possible. The result is soft glowing skin.

Damaged skin requires special and consistent care. Rub your face with cotton balls dipped in raw milk.

 Let it stay for 15 mins then apply face packs of your choice. Few effective ones include, banana + honey + oat meal,  
besan+ milk + haldi,
  multani mitti + pudina + yogurt,
  ground methi seeds + tulsi leaves + yogurt.

Let it stay for some 30 mins and wash with cold water. Then apply some sesame oil or olive oil and leave it.

Do not use any soap or cosmetics on your face for up to 5 hours to get optimum results. Follow this regimen for at least 15 days to see the results.

One should adopt a holistic approach to deal with pimples. Regular exercise, especially suryanamaskaras and pranayama show results quickly. 

One should also be careful to consume only healthy food with lots of fruits and whole grains that come loaded with vitamins and minerals. 

Other pointers include, timely intake of meals, avoiding spicy food, getting 8 hr sleep, drinking enough water, green tea and butter milk to keep body cool...all add up to a healthy body.

Kids - Healthy Snacking

Recently when I attended a Science Fair organized at my daughter's school I couldn't help notice the lack of healthy glow on any of the kids there. No, I'm not exaggerating but I could actually see few white spots on cheeks (obviously indicating deficiency of vitamins) and pale skins. Our skin mirrors our health and  I could actually see lack of it. 

I also keep inquiring my daughter what other kids bring as snacks to which my kid answers (scornfully) that she is the only one in her class who eats fruits and nuts for snacks, while others bring cream biscuits, chocolates, chips, kurkure daily. 

Luckily my daughter understands when I explain the side effects of eating junk food and ask her to not take even when anyone offers her. Of course I treat her to such goodies once a while, but I guess schools have to come forward and make it compulsory for parents to send only healthy food as snacks. 

I normally pack fruits, popcorn, boiled chana, sandwich made with brown bread, home made muffins, dry fruits, dark chocolates. My point is - parents pls don't ignore the importance of snacks and use it as an opportunity to pack something healthy for your kids.

We can make our kids eat healthy by trying new recipes or altering our cooking styles to make food more appealing. For instance, make parathas with veggies, make laddus with finger millets and sesame seeds, chikkis with dry fruits, doasa with brown rice, oats, muffins with bananas, apples or apricots. Keep experimenting and see for yourself the change in the eating habits of your kids.

Simple Tips to Handle Respiratory Problems

 Hi everyone,

Most of us often suffer with common respiratory problems such as cold, blocked noses, throat pain, wheezing and breathing problems. But a little care would help us manage all cold related problems.

First and foremost do away with all dairy related products for few days. People who cannot give up coffee, teas...can either have them without milk or take with milk in moderate quantities.

Next is drinking a glass of warm water either plain or mixed with little lemon and honey in the mornings. Green tea is another healthy option. Alternatively one can have a concoction made of cinnamon, mint and black pepper corns. This provides great relief. 

Gargling with warm water and salt is another age old remedy.  Drink lots of water (lukewarm), avoid deep fried foods and sweets.

Another great tip is doing pranayama regularly. Breathing exercises (inhaling and exhaling) through nostrils pushes out toxins from our body and helps stay fit. Steam bath or give steam only to face also helps relieve us of cold.  

These tips alongside a healthy diet rich of green veggies is sure to alleviate your cold-related problems.

Not the least, maintain personal cleanliness and clean surroundings.

Eat Right to Fight Cholesterol

Simple Foods that Help Maintain Cholesterol Levels

Here is a list of foods that when taken on a regular basis would help our body maintain healthy cholesterol levels. These foods contain different healthy nutrients and anti-oxidants such as soluble fiber, niacin, vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene. The list is quite elaborate and provides great options for appetizing meals.

Flaxseeds (better taken as powdered form in salads, yogurt, desserts, juices or drinks), curry leaves (better to eat few leaves daily for quick results), green tea, green peas, soy, whole grains, oats, brown rice (I substitute regular rice with brown rice for dosa, payasam and pongal recipes), fenugreek seeds (soak them in water for 8 hours then drink the water and swallow the seeds), sunflower seeds, olive oil, sesame oil, almonds (better to eat after soaking for 6 hours), walnuts (two nuts a day can do wonders), cinnamon (can be added to salads, curries, yogurt, tea or make a decoction with water), bell peppers, carrots, pumpkin, finger millets (ragi), yogurt, avocado, kiwi fruit, cranberries, blue berries, garlic, onion, ginger.

Additionally a little exercise like brisk walk for 20 minutes, vajraasana for 15 minutes after every meal or 10 minutes cycling would go a long way in maintaining optimum cholesterol levels.