Top five winter foods for that beautiful radiant skin!

Once again the cold winter season has arrived and the chilly dry wind can play havoc on your skin, lips, cheeks and other parts of the body. To avoid the harsh skin conditions caused by the cold winter winds, you need to prepare yourself not just changing your outward skincare regimens but also eating the right foods for your inner beauty.

After all, a healthy diet plays a vital role in sustaining an angelic complexion. Hence, what you consume can provide a powerful protection from dryness, UV damage as well as reducing the wrinkle lines lavishing you with a smooth silky skin. Here are five of the best foods which are believed to keep your skin healthy and beautiful during winter:

Carrots: Carrots have carotenoids beta carotene and lycopene - both of which may guard your skin against UV damage. Eating carrots can help prevent skin dryness and removes pigmentation as well as blemishes from the skin due to presence of vitamin A. Carrots have many health benefits apart from acting as a skin care food.

Grapefruit: Eating grapefruit can keep your skin healthy and reverse the signs of ageing. Grapefruit extract has been used in anti-ageing potions for hundreds of years. Grapefruits are the best sources of anti-oxidants that has ever been found, which is keys to healthy, younger looking and supple skin.
All citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines contain high amount of anti-oxidants but grapefruit has the highest quantity of it.

Omega-3-rich fish: Try having omega-3-rich fish like tune twice a week. This may help you keep your skin looking younger and may even prevent cancer. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), one of the omega-3 fats in fatty fish, has been shown to conserve collagen, a fibrous protein that keeps skin firm. They are not just good for your skin but beneficial for your heart as well.

Spinach: Spinach is considered a winter super-food. Packed with full nutrients, it has a special role in skin care. The vitamins and minerals content in spinach can give you a radiant youthful look and help you avoid having dry and irritated skin. Eat spinach regularly for a healthy skin.

Broccoli: Research has shown that eating more vitamin C-rich foods like broccoli may help ward off wrinkles and age-related dryness. Broccoli, which is filled with skin-boosting ingredients like vitamins A, C, and natural estrogens, is a perfect winter food as it achieves the objective by soothing the skin by addressing the free radicals as well as building the collagen levels in the body

Tips to treat diabetes revealed

: An expert has suggested certain things that everyone who has diabetes needs to do to be healthy. According to Shubhda Bhanot, Nutritionist and Senior Diabetic Educator at Medanta, the Medicity, Gurgaon, with having a meal (eating) plan, diabetics need to pay attention to how much physical activity they engage in, because physical activity can help the body use insulin better so it can convert glucose into energy for cells, Diabetic Living India Magazine reported.

Some people with type 2 diabetes can manage their disease without medication by appropriate meal planning and adequate physical activity.

The expert suggested that everyone who has diabetes should be seen at least once every six months by a diabetes specialist (an endocrinologist).

Everyone who has diabetes should have regular eye test (once a year) by an ophthalmologist to make sure that any eye problems associated with diabetes are caught early, and treated before they become serious.
Bhanot said that all people with diabetes should get regular blood tests done, which should include lipid profile, kidney function and liver function test at least once a year.

Ten simple ways to boost your self-esteem

Low self esteem can be damaging to one's life and career.In such a modern and competitive age, it is necessary to harbour optimism and hope instead of indulging in self hate and despair.Accept and forgive yourself everyday and harness the power of your thoughts and beliefs to build a sense of strong self esteem.Here are a few ways to help you with it:

Start your day with a smile: Everyday when you wake up, look at the mirror and smile at yourself. Just a simple smile can relieve your tension and brighten up your mood. Starting your day with a smile can keep you happy and positive throughout the day.

Practice Confidence and say ‘I can’: Inculcate confidence within you which is the most important thing for survival in today’s world. Concentrate on your positive aspects and work on them to achieve success. Never have a loser’s attitude and always say to yourself that you are capable enough to accomplish anything that you have set your heart upon.

Stop comparing yourself to others: Yes! You must have heard it number of times, and I will say it again, ‘You are unique and supremely special! Trying to be like someone else or trying to live up to someone else’s expectations makes you lose your individuality. Accept your flaws and concentrate on being the best version of you not somebody else because there can be no other ‘You’

Learn to appreciate and reward yourself: Don’t hesitate to compliment yourself and always remind yourself of your constructive qualities. Make a list of all your positive qualities in a diary which will boost your morale. Also groom yourself and try to dress and look nice. That will increase your confidence in social situations. Adopt good hygiene and work on improving yourself by maintaining a proper lifestyle.

Avoid negative people and embrace optimism: People who harbour negative thoughts can only do bad to your mental psyche. Surround yourself with positive people, the people who make you laugh and those who bring out the best in you. Life is too short to be spent in the company of people who suck the happiness out of you.

Focus on your goals: Make a checklist of your goals. Prepare systematically on how to achieve them. On accomplishing every other goal, whether big or small, your self- worth will increase manifold.

Eat and exercise better: A healthy lifestyle and proper exercise regime fill you with positive energy. A healthy body is necessary for a healthy mind. So pay attention to what you eat and choose wisely. Regular walking and running habit helps in overcoming stress and promotes a healthier self.

Explore your hobbies and passions: Apart from your studies or job/business there must be some things about which you feel passionate. Don’t let this crazy paced routine life take away from you your passion which you so dearly value. Make time for your little hobbies or become part of volunteer group which will provide you with a sense of purpose contributing to overall happiness.

Be grateful and find something positive in each day: Life indeed is beautiful and despite of little hitches there are always a few things which make our life blessed and worth living. Be thankful for them and also to the presence of your loved ones. Be kind and generous towards the people around you and compliment them on a regular basis. Also even if it’s a small thing, do something special and memorable every day.

Murder negative thoughts: Negative and pessimistic thoughts can seriously ruin your life and affect your self- worth. Start seeing the good in everything and even if things go wrong, never stop believing in that four lettered word called ‘Hope’. So banish out negative thoughts from your system and see the brighter side to everything. Treat yourself with kindness and encouragement and notice the difference.

3 ways to prevent wrinkles

 Doesn’t that first wrinkle line on your face trouble you day and night? Yes, it does. Growing old is inevitable. Ageing is the process that occurs when the body cells fall prey to external elements and wither off. So, don’t just sit and wait, rather indulge yourself in some implausible ways that help you regain that vigour and vitality.

Stay away from sun rays: Since it is winter time and most of us enjoy sitting out and soaking that sun, but sun rays are beneficial only in moderate amounts. The UV rays from the sun are a major cause of wrinkles.

Eat foods rich in Vitamins: Foods rich in Vitamins especially Vitamins A, C and E are not just beneficial for the skin, but also improve overall health and keeps wrinkles at bay.

Sleep right:  A good night`s sleep of at least eight hours is a must to keep your skin healthy and wrinkle free.

Ten reasons why you should have sex often

  

 

 

Thinking of making love? Good. Go ahead, as sex not only gives you the pleasure but also helps you relieve stress, sleep well and burn calories.
Let us take you through some of the great health reasons...

-Improves cardiovascular health
Having sex more than twice a week decreases heart attack risk among men.

-Relieves pain
Yes, sex is a great pain-reliever.  Having a headache, just jump on to the bed as when you are  about to orgasm, the level of oxytocin, increases by five times.  The body also releases endorphins which help reduce aches and pains.

-Increases immunity
Regular intercourse increases the level of immune-boosting antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA), which makes your body stronger against illnesses.

-Reduces stress
Regular action between the sheets can help you handle stress better and makes you feel happier.

-Improves sleep
The sleep that you get after making love is much more relaxed, which in turn makes you feel alert and healthy.

-Improves overall fitness
Need to lose the extra flab? Then sex is indeed a good option as half an hour of love making burns more than 80 calories.

-Increases life span
Dehydroepiandrosterone a hormone released during sex improves your immunity and helps maintain and repair tissues thus improving your life span.

-Increases blood circulation
Having sex automatically increases your heart beats which in turn augments the supply of fresh blood to your organs and cells.

-Increases levels of estrogen and testosterone
So you think testosterone only keeps the men active during intercourse. Think twice. Testosterone not only gives you the high, but also makes your muscles and bones fit, checks on your cholesterol and keeps your heart healthy. Estrogen in turn protects the women from heart disease and also determines her body scent, which is very important to turn your man on.

-Helps you look younger

Making love at least thrice a week can make you look 10 years younger. During sex the body releases anti-inflammatory molecules such as oxytocin and beta endorphins which help repair damaged skin. Sex also releases the human growth hormone, which helps keep the wrinkles and bay. The improved blood circulation in the body during the act gives your skin a healthy glow.

Adopt healthy pregnancy habits to avoid preterm birth

  

 

Being pregnant is one of the happiest moments in life. Despite the excitement that comes with it, it could be hard for you as you need to take extra care of your body and the foetus inside you during this time.

What is preterm birth?
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), preterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. There are sub-categories of preterm birth, based on gestational age:

• Extremely preterm (born at less than 28 weeks of pregnancy).
• Very preterm (born between 28 to 32 weeks of pregnancy).
• Moderate to late preterm (born between 32 to 37 weeks of pregnancy).

Sometimes, even a healthy pregnancy may make you go into preterm labour because it is usually not anticipated. Preterm birth also happens because the causes are not completely understood.
But adopting healthy pregnancy habits may help keep your baby until he or she is fully ready to face the world.

How to prevent it?
Below are some simple tips as suggested by health experts that may help avoid preterm birth:

Eat healthy: This is the time that you eat a balanced diet which is good for you, your baby and pregnancy. Make sure that you get all necessary nutrients in right proportions every day — such as Vitamins A, C, E, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and most importantly, the well-known baby- friendly folic acid. This can help avoid preterm labour.
Adopt healthy lifestyle: If you smoke, drink or use any kinds of drugs, you must quit.

Get enough fluids: Remember to take at least 8 glasses of water or fluids daily to keep yourself hydrated. Dehydration can cause premature contractions. Keeping yourself hydrated can also increase the chances of keeping baby put.

Say ‘no’ to stress: Stress is not directly linked to preterm, but try not to take stress for your own benefit during this time. Instead ask for help and try to relax.

Check your weight: Gaining too much or too little weight during pregnancy can up your preterm labour risk. Being overweight can increase your odds of getting gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (both of which up preterm) whereas being underweight can advance your due date as well as make your baby born too small.

Prenatal vitamins: Do not neglect taking those pills, they are not just good for you and your growing baby’s health, but will also increase the chances that you’ll carry to term.

Don’t hold your urine: During pregnancy, you should never hold your urine. Doing that can inflame your bladder and as a result of which, your uterus could be aggravated leading to contractions. Holding your pee could also cause urinary tract infections (UTI), another source of preterm contractions.

Five easy ways to kick up your metabolism

New Delhi: Metabolism is the set of chemical transformations within the cells that is necessary for the maintenance of life. Putting it simple, right from breaking down the food to transforming it into energy, metabolism is the sum total of the entire internal biological processes.
Some people have great metabolism, as what they eat is never seen on their bodies, whereas some have it real slow. Though you can’t blame yourself for the slow metabolic rate you can definitely notch it up by following the simple tips:

Don’t skip your breakfast: ‘Eat breakfast like a king’ goes the adage. Your metabolism slows down during the night and if you skip your breakfast it further goes for a toss to conserve energy. This in turn can lead to unhealthy food choices in the day leading to weight problems. Having a healthy breakfast only helps improve metabolism.

Exercise: Muscle burns more calories than fat. So, the harder your muscles work, the more post-workout rebuilding they have to do, thus increasing your metabolic rate. Go for 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day and 30 to 40 minutes strength training twice a week to keep your metabolism up
Switch to Green tea: Green tea contain antioxidant catechin which according to researchers help improve fat oxidation and thermogenesis, your body's production of energy, or heat, from digestion.

Spice it up: Capsaicin, which gives peppers and spices their heat, helps increase energy expenditure by 50 calories a day. So if you like it spicy, do not worry, all that spice only gives that extra need kick to your metabolism.

Sleep well: Not getting enough sleep throws off your levels of leptin and ghrelin, the hormones that help regulate energy use and appetite thus slowing the metabolism and increasing the risks of obesity.