Keep up with the changing trends in hair and make up

The trends keep changing but beauty stays in vogue, always. It's new year and like every time, we need to keep ourselves up to date with the changing trends in hair and beauty. So here’s a guide for you from Bharti Taneja, renowned beauty expert and aesthetician, also the Founder Director of Alps Cosmetic Clinic,to be the trendsetter and the centre of attraction wherever you are.  

Eye Effect
Dust the eyes with the halo of citron orange or coral. When you want to look alluring, there is nothing better than classic smoky eyes. You can also get edgy and unforgettable cat eyes with a real turquoise blue or electric navy eyeshadow, extending the inner and outer corner of the eye. For a trendy look, apply a white pencil on the waterline that will also make your eyes appear bigger. Pastel hues like lavenders, baby blues, buttery yellows can dress up your eye in the day. 

Perfect Kiss
The red pout seems to be classic and timeless. It is not going anywhere this season. Wear it shine-free keeping your eyes and cheeks completely neutral. A fluorescent pop of orange and hot pink will also make an intense statement. Be sure to adorn your lips in matte candy colours like bubblegum pink, cherry red or tangerine orange. 

Hair Story
An unfussy blow-dry, near perfect French braids or tousled romantic waves are going to steal the limelight. While the look is modern, the idea is to keep it really simple. Say bye to flouncy hair and embrace your straightening irons. Invest in simple to dramatic headbands for the different occasions and outfits. 

Golden Effect
Concealer is the most important tool from your vanity kit this season. Create a bare minimum makeup look by using your concealer. Play up your cheeks a little with the bronzer to get the tanned glow. Bronze the cheeks, bridge of nose and forehead to achieve glowing skin.

Simple tips to prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)  

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can be defined as an infection involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. While not all urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be prevented, experts suggest one can still reduce the risk by taking certain steps and precautions.

Fluids intake: Drink plenty of water and other liquids, but cut back on caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder. This will make you urinate frequently, which flushes bacteria from your urinary tract. If the urine appears darker than the usual very pale yellow colour, you should increase the fluid intake.
Cranberry juice has been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections.

Toilet hygiene: Do not hold your urine for a long time, urinate when you have the urge. When you're done, always wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from the anus entering the urethra.

Constipation: Try to avoid constipation as it has been linked to increase the chances of getting a UTI. Steps like increasing the amount of fibre in your diets, drinking plenty of water and other natural fluids can help relieve constipation.

Sexual intercourse: Take special precaution when you engage in sexual activity since it may also increase the risk as it can bring bacteria into the bladder area. Practice good hygiene by washing your genitals every day using a mild detergent and before having sex. Make sure that the bladder is emptied after intercourse by drinking plenty of water and other fluids.

Clothing: Avoid wearing tight-fitting undergarments, which is made of non-breathing materials. Instead opt for loose-fitting and cotton materials, which allows a woman's private part to remain dry preventing from bacteria growth.

Tips to lose weight and keep it off

  

Washington: Every overweight person would agree that losing weight is an uphill battle and maintaining the weight loss is a completely different story.
But with the right tools and advice, shedding the extra kilos and keeping them off will make your life a lot easier.
According to Grandparents.com, seeking the help of a dietitian will help you stay focused on your weight loss goals and infusing small changes in your diet will give you better results than trying to make your diet healthy overnight.
It is also advisable to avoid thinking of certain foods as "off-limits", switching from a 12-inch plate to a 10-inch dinner plate and consuming food-rich in protein , like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts and seeds, chicken, fish, beans, with every meal.
Lastly, to keep the weight off have a meal plan for each day of the week.

Three ways to keep your heart healthy  

 

 

Zee Media Bureau
Washington: Though cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, there are ways by which you can significantly reduce the risk.
Judith Mackall, MD, Cardiologist at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Centre in Cleveland, Ohio, offers three tips to help reduce risk of heart diseases.

1. Exercise: Thirty minutes of moderate exercise every day can have a big impact on heart health. If 30 minutes is too much time to dedicate, then divide it into ten minutes and exercise thrice a day. Within ten weeks your cholesterol numbers will improve, blood pressure will come down and you will lose a few pounds. Just running a few miles can help improve cardiovascular fitness by increasing the flexibility of the coronary arteries.

2. Eat healthy: Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Remember the "Five Rule", i.e. consume at least five fruits and vegetables every day as part of a balanced diet. This helps manage blood pressure and decrease inflammation in the body, preventing risk of cardiovascular disease. Replace saturated fats with mono or polyunsaturated fats and reduce salt intake to ensure blood pressure and cholesterol levels remain in healthy ranges.

3. Quit smoking: If you are a heavy smoker or even a social smoker, it's time to call it quits. Smoking knocks off seven years of your life. And, if you have cardiovascular disease and you smoke, you'll die 15 years sooner than you would otherwise, Dr Mackall adds.

Healthy ways to prevent cancer in teens!

 

 

Zee Media Bureau/Salome Phelamei
Cancers in teens may sound little awkward but yes it's there. And most cancers in teens do not have a known cause, so it's not feasible to prevent all of them. But, by following some steps you can prevent or reduce your risk of getting certain kinds of cancer.
Unlike adults, lifestyle-related and environmental risk factors are not considered to play a major role in cancers in teens.
Young people, as they grow into adults, go through many many changes physically as well as socially, which is good for them as these changes create unique opportunities for them in preventing cancer.
Below are some useful ways to lower the risk of getting cancer in teens:

Fruits and veggies: Eat lots of veggies and fruits (at least five servings a day). Fruits and veggies contain antioxidants, which protects body cells from cancer. They also contain plant chemicals called phytochemicals that fight cancer.

Vaccines: It is believed that some vaccines might lower your risk of cancers. For example, HPV vaccines are given to protect against HPV (human papilloma virus) infection, which viruses are also linked cervical and some other cancers. HPV vaccines work best if they are given before a person becomes sexually active.

Maintain healthy habits: Practice healthy habits early in life like- not smoking, limiting alcohol intake, keeping a healthy weight (try to get about 30 minutes of physical activity every day), and eating a healthy diet. By adopting these healthy habits, you will lower your risk of developing cancer as well as many other health problems later in life.

Limiting exposure to sun: Avoid long time exposure to the sun to prevent skin cancer. Also, use sun-block cream/lotion of at least 15 SPF whenever you step out in the sun. 

Holi special: Safety tips for pregnant women  

Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: For women, becoming a mother is one of the most exciting times in their lives.
However, this sweet golden phase of time of pregnancy is as fragile as your newborn. Hence, a woman needs to take extra care as soon as she gets to learn that she is pregnant.
With Holi round the corner on Monday, doctors recommend some basic care so as not to let pregnancy mar the festive spirit. It is important to know that some colours, despite being branded "natural" or "organic" can still be harmful.
"Some colours termed natural are made from fruits and flowers, but their powder base could have harmful chemicals such as lead and mercury which can get absorbed and affect the foetus in a pregnant woman," Anuradha Kapur, gynaecologist at Delhi's Max Hospital, was quoted as telling to IANS.
"For example, natural henna is considered safe, but black henna with paraphenylendiamine (PPD) may cause allergic reactions. Colours containing either of these forms of henna will probably be labelled as natural. So pregnant women should only use homemade Holi colours," she added.
Consultant gynaecologist at Gurgaon's Columbia Asia Hospital Chetna Jain agreed, saying that while the term "natural" may be used loosely, there are doubts over the regulation of the colours.
"The quality control may not be good and there is a huge possibility of contamination of colours which are labelled herbal and considered safe. And these can be harmful to the foetus as they can be inadvertently swallowed or get absorbed from the skin," Jain said.
During pregnancy, immunity level in women is reduced and they are more susceptible to illnesses and infections. Their skin is more sensitive as well. Therefore, reaction to colours that one may have played with before is not uncommon.
Doctors suggest playing with colours made at home to avoid harm. They say even new mums who are still breastfeeding their children should also note the warning. "Chemical colours are made of synthetic, industrial dyes or oxidised metals which can be dangerous and have harmful health effects on the baby through breast milk. Some colours are even carcinogenic. So lactating mothers should practise the same caution as pregnant women," Kapur said.
According to doctors, home-made colours can be made by using turmeric, roli (sindoor), boiled beetroot and onions. Tradition, if it must be followed, can be respected by placing a sandalwood or saffron tika on the baby's forehead.
Apart from the above caution with colours, doctors also listed a few guidelines to keep off harm during the festival.
Gynaecologist Anjali Kumar of Paras Hospital said: “Be careful about what you eat. It is essential that you avoid heavy or exceptionally oily food that can cause indigestion or heartburn. Avoid drinks and stay hydrated”. One should also keep a count of caffeine intake which is present in tea and coffee and even chocolates.
Jain also recommended wearing well-fitting clothes, anti-skid shoes and goggles, as well as the support of an adult or even a wall since playing with water can increase one's chances of slipping and falling. Applying moisturiser on the skin and oil on the hair will help washing off colours with greater ease.
“Mischief-mongers hurling water balloons during Holi is common and to avoid getting hurt, pregnant women must carry an umbrella while stepping out,” Kapur said. Washing oneself properly is especially important for lactating mothers who otherwise risk their baby ingesting colours.
“With a little caution, Holi can be enjoyed by all, including mothers-to-be and new mothers. Just don't over-exert yourself,” Kapur advised.
So, follow the above safety guidelines and enjoy the festival of colours without worrying.

10 lifestyle tips to prevent oral cancer

Oral cancer in India continues to be a grievous affliction affecting people from all walks of life, age groups and genders. To make matters worse, people tend to ignore their health in a bid to catch up to their hectic lifestyle.
The scenario in the country has grown so abominable that India is known as the oral cancer capital of the world, with 86 percent of the world’s cases recorded in it.
This is probably also due to the fact that India is renowned for cosumption gutka and tobacco products. Also, the rise in the number of cancer patients amongst the youth is a serious cause of concern, with many of them falling victims to the awful disease due to their consumption of oral forms of tobacco.
There is a misconception that cancer is an unavoidable disease, the general tendency among most people is to blame fate or bad luck for the disease.
The fact is that cancer like most other diseases are caused by a variety of lifestyle choices that we make throughout our lives. Smoking, drinking, eating junk food and a sedentary lifestyle as well as many more factors play a part in causing cancer. Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, Professor, Head and Neck Surgeon, Tata Memorial Hospital, suggests some tips and changes that you can make to your lifestyle to avoid the dreaded disease:

1. Quit Tobacco Chewing: It is a proven fact that tobacco whether chewed raw or in the form of gutka is the single biggest cause of oral cancer in India.

2. Quit Smoking: Smoking in any form whether cigarettes, bidi, pipes or hukka is well known to cause oral cancer.

3. Quit Betel nut and Pan masala: Betel nut or supari is an independent risk factor for oral cancer and it is the main ingredients of pan masala. .

4. Quit Alcohol: Alcohol is an established risk factor for oral cancer. The carcinogenicity increases many folds when consumed along with tobacco.

5. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss your teeth daily as bad oral hygiene is a known risk factor for oral cancer.

6. Regular Self Oral examination: Examine your oral cavity in good light once every month to look for non-healing ulcers, areas of bleeding, abnormal patches or any swellings, as these may be signs of cancer and early detection means better cure.

7. Regular Dental Checkup: The dentist may be the first person to detect oral cancer, also inform him about any sharp tooth causing repeated trauma.

8. Avoid Increased Sun Exposure: UV rays are a known risk factor for cancer especially of the lower lip. Try and limit sun exposure and ensure that you wear a good sun screen whilst going out.

9. Don’t ignore any ulcer / bleeding / pain: If you spot any ulcers or bleeding that do not respond to treatment for 2 -3 months, please get it checked out as it could be something much more serious.

10. Proper Diet and a Healthy Lifestyle: A diet rich in vegetables, fruits and nuts with regular exercise is known to protect from oral cancer. Most of us have sedentary lifestyles and we must try and balance this by doing some form of regular exercise.