Tips for healthy feet:

Don't neglect your feet

You spend hours on end in front of the mirror admiring your beautiful face and thinking how to make it more beautiful. Every time there is a new beauty enhancing product in the market, you just can't wait to grab it.

But how much importance would you give to other parts of the body? Say, the feet? The feet area is perhaps the most neglected part of the human body. Even when we shop, foot care products definitely don't figure among the list! The result: painful and cracked heels! One shouldn't forget that feet too is a vital organ in the body considering it takes your entire body weight and gives you a balance to smoothly carry out any activity. Picture this: you are all decked up with a flawless beautiful face and wearing your best skirt/gown. But your heels are cracked! How does it look? It's best ensure you are clean and clear from head to toe!

Here are some tips for healthy feet:

- First and foremost, keep them clean. As much as you care for your body, do the same for your feet too. When having shower, spend a minute on scrubbing your feet with the soap so it's dirt-free and the bacteria doesn't accumulate

- Clean your feet every time you remove your shoes, dry the place and keep the area moisturized

- If your heels are cracked and dirty. Then do a home pedicure at least once in two weeks. Place your feet in warm water in which a few crystal salt has been added. Once the skin on your feet gets soft, rub the sole with a pumice stone. This will remove dirt and kill bacteria. Rub a scrub on your feet and rinse with water. Pat dry and apply Vaseline or a moisturizer.

- Should you have cracked heels more often then always choose footwear that covers your heels. Never expose your heels to dust. Also, wear socks at night after cleaning and moisturizing your feet.

- You could also rub insides of used lemon on your feet to remove discolouration

- Always keep your nails trimmed and dirt-free

- Always buy shoes that are a right fit. Tight shoes causes cramps and affect the feet.

- To keep the heel area soft, apply a combination of coconut, sesame and castor oil at night

Eat your way to a more beautiful beard

There's not too much you can do about a receding hairline, other than curse your gene pool.

But facial hair is a different story. "The condition of your facial hair directly corresponds to the health of your body," says Jim White, registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesman. Specifically, he continues, "The same nutrients that have a positive effect on our heart and other major organs also benefit our skin and hair."

In other words, you can literally eat yourself to a shinier, smoother, more healthy-looking beard. We asked White to tell us which vitamins are an essential part of a healthy facial hair diet, what they do, and how to get them into our diet. Results of our conversation below.

Vitamin A amd Beta A Carotene

How they better your beard: "Vitamin A maintains and repairs skin tissue," says White. "And keeping your skin healthy allows for better hair growth." Beta carotene is a nutrient that your body converts to vitamin A. Since it's found in foods that are lower in saturated fats than those that are rich in vitamin A, you're better off eating foods that are high in beta carotene.

Where to find them: Vitamin A is present in milk, cheese, butter and egg yolks. Beta carotene is found in yellow and orange produce (e.g., carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and papayas) and leafy green veggies (e.g., spinach and kale).

Vitamins C and E

How they better your beard: Vitamins C and E promote the production of sebum, a natural oil that is produced by our bodies and lubricates and moisturizes hair, making it look thicker and more lush. Additionally, vitamin C assists in the growth of bodily tissues, including those that comprise our skin and hair follicles.

Where to find them: Citrus fruits, green peppers and broccoli are good sources of vitamin C. Wheat germ oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, safflower oil, peanut butter, corn oil, spinach, broccoli, mangoes and spinach all contain high amounts of vitamin E.

Protein

How it betters your beard: Our skin and hair are composed primarily of keratin, a structural protein made up of amino acids. We don't produce amino acids on our own; instead, we need to eat protein, which the body then converts to amino acids.

Where to find it: Fill up on fish, lean meats, poultry, eggs, rice, beans and milk.

Vitamins B6, B12 and Biotin

How they better your beard: B vitamins help your body synthesize the protein you eat so it can be used to build new skin cells and hair. Getting enough B vitamins, says White, also helps reduce stress and prevent hair loss.

Where to find them: Fish, poultry, leans meats, eggs, nuts, and whole grains such as brown rice and oatmeal are chock-full of B vitamins. Foods that are rich in B12 include beef, milk, cheese and wheat germ.

Omega-3 fatty acids

How they better your beard: Essential fatty acids are just that: essential to normal growth, including that of facial hair. They also protect cell membranes, helping to prevent your whiskers from getting dry and brittle.

Where to find them: Make sure flax seed oil, walnuts and fatty fish (e.g., salmon) find their way into your diet.

Want to make your beard even more beautiful? Of course you do! Supplementing the above foods with a multivitamin, or with any of the individual nutrients listed above, might do the trick.

Just don't overdo it: Your body will excrete any extra water-soluble vitamins (e.g., vitamin C or B12), but it'll hold on to extra fat-soluble vitamins (e.g., vitamin A). Excessive doses of vitamin A could actually lead to hair loss. Ask your doctor to recommend a proper dosage, and you'll soon be on your way to winning whiskers.

Content courtesy: Men's Life Today, Global

Eat slowly, lose weight

Researchers at the University of Rhode Island have found that eating faster increases the amount of food consumption.

Results of their two new studies revealed that men eat significantly faster than women, heavier people eat faster than slimmer people, and refined grains are consumed faster than whole grains, among other findings.

In one laboratory study, Kathleen Melanson, URI associate professor of nutrition, and her lab team found that fast eaters consumed about 3.1 ounces of food per minute, medium-speed eaters consumed 2.5 ounces per minute, and slow eaters consumed 2 ounces per minute.

The researchers also found what Melanson described as 'very strong gender differences' in eating rates.

At lunch, the men consumed about 80 calories per minute while the women consumed 52 calories per minute.

The second study, which examined the characteristics associated with eating rates, found a close association between eating rate and body mass index (BMI), with those individuals with a high BMI typically eating considerably faster than those with a low BMI.

"One theory we are pursuing is that fast eating may be related to greater energy needs, since men and heavier people have higher energy needs," said Melanson.

While the link between eating rate and obesity is still being studied, Melanson said that her research has demonstrated that eating slowly results in significantly fewer average calories being consumed.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of The Obesity Society in Orlando this month.

Natural Skin Care Tips

* Cleansing the face 2-3 times a day; is adequate for normal skin. If your skin is oily a more frequent cleansing i.e. 4-5 times a day is necessary. If your skin is dry it is best to avoid frequent washing and you may have to use a suitable oil-based cosmetic cleanser instead of soap, which has a dry effect.

* Avoid heavy cheesy, fried foods and sugary food stuff.

* Never sleep with your makeup on as this will not allow your skin to breathe at night, leading to skin problems.

* Be aware that two kinds of factors affect your skin’s health – uncontrollable
and controllable. Uncontrollable factors include sun exposure, extreme climate
conditions, wind, humidity, pollution and natural skin aging. A regular skincare
regimen can help in controlling the effects of these factors.

* In very cold conditions skin blood flow drops very low, retaining heat in the center of the body and preserving the flow of warm blood to the vital organs within the chest and abdomen and to the brain.

Yoga to cure sciatic pain

Yogasutra: Any inflammation or injury to the sciatic nerves can significantly restrict our movements and cause pain or numbness in the hips, knees or legs. Yoga asanas help in relieving sciatic pain.

Tips for Healthy Natural Hair

*. Make an Herbal Hair Mask
Combine 1 teaspoon of triphala powder (an Ayurvedic herb you can purchase online), with 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel and a small amount of water until a paste is formed. Wet hair and apply paste to scalp and hair. Leave mask on for at least 20 minutes and then rinse.

* we absorb all nutrients from our food, can help reduce your hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth.

* Use beer as shampoo to add more body to your hair. Also it will make your hair appear shiny and bounce. You need to heat 1 cup of beer in a saucepan until ¼ cup is left. Let it cool and store it in a clean and empty bottle of shampoo. Apply it in your hair just like your ordinary shampoo. Do not forget to rinse well.

* Grab a spray bottle, fill it half way with water and add three tablespoons of olive oil. Shake well and use daily to add moisture to the hair. Spray liberally.

* You can use natural hair care products like henna, shikakai, lemon, coconut oil etc. for hair care. Rinse dry hair in lemon juice to get back the lost shine.

Jessica Alba talks pregnancy weight gain and post birth weight loss

Weight Loss After Pregnancy

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D actress Jessica Alba has revealed how she got her perfect body back in to shape following the birth of her second daughter Haven Garner. Jessica admitted that she did not put on too much weight during her pregnancy, which made it much easier for her to lose the extra baby weight once she had given birth.

Alba explained, "I didn't gain as much weight with my second pregnancy, so I think that really made a big difference." She then revealed how she went about losing the baby weight. Jessica added, "I did prenatal yoga up until the very end. I just made healthier choices. I started working out and not going too crazy, but I did what was safe and what the doctor approved."

Jessica Alba got back in to her training and fitness regime just two weeks after she gave birth to her daughter. She took to the gym and did a workout session consisting of cardio which lasted for 40 minutes on both the stationary bike and the elliptical. Jessica now does a more intense workout session which lasts for 90 minutes, four days a week at the L.A. Fitness Factory with the fitness guru Yumi Lee.

redness around your nose, or the lines forming near your eyes?

Redness Around Nose
How do you treat redness around my nose and eyes.I believe I had a allergic reaction yet it it is not itchy, but the area is beginning to dry

Environmental conditions influenced by unnatural forces such as being in an airline cabin or the heat emitted by a furnace is also likely to cause dryness around the eyes and nose. If the skin remains dry for a significant period of time, it is likely to develop wrinkles as a result of the loss of elasticity. Dry skin is becoming more of a common issue given the highly polluted state of the natural atmosphere. It is only normal for a number of dust particles to accumulate over the surface of the skin, making it seem very dry and dirty.

Since the condition is very common and has a significant impact on the aesthetic features of an individual, a number of home remedies have been developed and perfected in different parts of the world over the course of a few decades.

* For example, you could try creating a puree of 1 papaya and 1 banana and apply it over the skin. Leave it on for about 20 minutes before you wash it off with the help of warm water.

* Apply a good moisturizing lotion such as margarine or natural vegetable oil for best results.

* You can also grate a piece of cucumber and apply it all over the affected area. The juice is known to be extremely beneficial for the skin around the eyes making it tighter and refreshed. It also has a very cooling effect on the skin.

* Another option would be to massage some amount of mayonnaise into your skin and leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes and wash it off thoroughly with the help of some warm water.

* Vitamin E is considered to be one of the most beneficial healing agents for dry skin and the application of some vitamin E oil directly to the dry skin will show quick results.

Sex thrice a week, a must!

Trainers have been suggesting that their clients and visitors to the gym have sex thrice a week. Sex has been known to burn calories but how many and depending on what factors. Here's an insight into it.

Some may call it synchronized gymnastics and others choose to call it "making love", but it all just eventually boils down to a three letter word s-e-x. The age old practice we so proudly flaunt as our own since the advent of the Khajuraho Temples to the ultimate guide to sex called The Kamasutra, we have always been known to be the pioneers in innovative and complex love making.

We transcend from being flamboyant, curious teens to more experienced and well-read adults. Giggles and sniggers prevail over new found discoveries after endless surfing over the net, reading dirty magazines and receiving the dirty bits from experienced friends. We live in a country where we proudly wear the fact that we wrote the sex book but we also live in times where it could be taboo, making us complete aliens in the society. Well, heads up for what's coming then. It' not the million crunches and squats you do that help you burn up your calories, its much more than that! Don't be surprised if your fitness charts read, "Sex thrice a week" because that's exactly what trainers have been advising their clients to get down to their business.

A Human Movement specialist states that sex is aerobic in some parts and anaerobic in others. "Sex unfortunately as practiced today, as an act of pent up stress, an act of lust etc will burn calories. But that by itself is not sufficient to replace jogging". Badrinath focuses on the fact that jogging, running and other forms of aerobic activity actually help people to have better sex that last longer, helps them recover faster after climax and have more energy and endurance to last. When his trainer asked him to turn up the heat, Gokul Govardhan, a fitness was under the notion that he would have to increase his workout sessions and get into a more rigorous routing. Little did he know that his trainer was actually asking him to have sex thrice a week. "I didn't think it was not possible.

I believe in what my trainer tells me to do. Sex removes the fat content that sticks on to the body and wipes out all the toxins". Gokul has been working out under the same trainer for the last 2 years and he believes if this is a solution for burning calories, then be it! Shreya, another regular visitor of the gym says that sex is an amazing way to lose weight and it also defies the statement "no pain, no gain". "I don't see anything wrong in having sex thrice a week, if not everyday.

It's a great cardio and ab workout." Hollywood celebs have sworn their toned bodies on amazing sex and that is proof enough to say that trainers are right about this. "The trainer is my guru and according to me, the teacher is always right!" says Shreya.

The calories burnt of course depends on a lot of factors like age, duration of sex, foreplay, and the intensity with which the act is done.

Calories burnt (depends on factors like age and gender)

On average 170 calories or more are burnt in the age group of 18 to 25.

On average 135 calories or more are burnt in the age group of 25 to 40

If a man's not doing much work, then he burns about 120 calories, in the age group of 40 plus Indian male.

Women burn more calories only if they're doing the work during sex. On an average, men and women burn about the same because the work they do is similar.

Movement analysis:
If you were to do a movement analysis of one nights sex - 5 to 10 minutes goes in foreplay (basically kissing, touching and caressing) caloric output is negligible (20 cal).

The act itself lasts for 20 minutes (100 calories), cool down and sleep (10 calories)!

If you have multiple sex (2) or intercourse in one hour then you may look at 300 calories

The additional 60 cal could get you back into the game and passion also increases the body temperature.

3-4 cups of coffee can cut stroke risk by 17 pc: research

Drinking three to four cups of coffee a day can make us 17 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke, a new research has found.

Antioxidants in the drink stop blood clots in the brain as they protect against cholesterol build-up, the report said.

Scientists came to this conclusion after looking at data from eight studies on consumption from the past 45 years, a media report said.

Meanwhile, researchers found those drinking two cups a day were 14 per cent less likely to suffer a clot in the brain than non-drinkers.

Caffeine addicts who get through six or more cups a day only see a reduction in risk of around 7 per cent.

But the Swedish study admitted coffee “may have both beneficial and harmful effects”.

The research has been published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

How to keep a healthy heart

Celine Dion may have to change the title of her famous love song - My Heart Will Go On, for according to medical experts with each passing day, our hearts are ageing faster than other parts of our bodies and are finding it difficult to go on. Your heart age can be different from your actual age.

A sedentary lifestyle, stress, long work hours, a growing appetite for junk food, excessive smoking and drinking are some of the factors that can make your heart older a lot faster than you actually age.

Age: Just a number?
You may know the shape of your heart, but there are sites online which claim to calculate the age of your heart (see box). However, cardiologist Dr Hasmukh Ravat says you shouldn't rely on them, "There is no way to calculate the age of your heart. When doctors use the term 'ageing heart', what they are referring to is a tendency among young people who would otherwise have a very low risk of heart disease now grappling with cardiovascular disease, which is largely prevalent at later stages in life."

Teens under attack
Heart age is an estimated 'age'of the heart as compared to a person's chronological age. It's based on the influence that physical and lifestyle factors have on heart health. The age group of people suffering from heart disease now includes teenagers, claims Ravat. He says, "I have had cases of 17 and 19-year-olds coming to me with heart problems."

It's essential that you measure your risk of heart disease and make a plan for how to prevent it in the near future. Shailesh Trivedi, a 21-year-old working professional, who suffered a heart attack a year ago, adds, "I was lucky to survive. Often, we do not realise the toll junk food and a stressed environment can take on your heart. I had to get an angioplasty done to rectify the damage to my heart. Counselling, quitting smoking, regular exercise and modifications in my diet helped me get through it."

Whatever your age, keeping your heart healthy is well worth it, because a strong heart is ultimately what keeps you young and vital.

Here's how to keep a healthy heart
If you have high cholesterol, avoid red meat Avoid fried, junk, salty and oily food Exercise regularly, go for a brisk walk, for 45 minutes to an hour, three to four times a week. It helps increase good cholesterol Avoid drinking too much alcohol. Drinking in moderation is not harmful. One or two pegs a day, two or three times a week, is okay Check your weight and maintain it Quit smoking and control BP and blood sugar levels.

Test your heart age
The heart forecaster reveals your age after getting your heart numbers, which are your blood pressure and your cholesterol ratio. With a few simple questions, the Heart Age Forecast will estimate the current condition of your heart. It will also give you insight into how healthy your heart is and also the effect that your lifestyle has on your body. You can do the test on heartagecalculator.com.au/. If you want to have very accurate answers, you need to submit your cholesterol levels and blood pressure. However, it will also do the calculations based on average numbers for your age and other risk factors.

Children's Nutritional Needs

A survey of 1,800 school-aged children to find out what they consumed in a typical day.

15% of the students did not eat any vegetables
40% ate only potatoes or tomato sauce (aka French Fries and ketchup)
20% of the students did not consume any fruit

Currently, children ages 6-12 eat an average of 2.5 fruits and vegetables a day, only half of the recommended servings. These poor eating habits have made today's children susceptible to heart disease and obesity and a prime target for improved nutrition and increased education. It is important to monitor your child's fruit and vegetable intake and find creative healthy ways to help increase fruits and veggies in children's diets.

Children need a variety of foods to grow strong and healthy. Their appetites decrease or increase as they go through growth spurts.

Men think about food, sleep more than Sex

The saying, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, seems to be true, as a study has shown that men, who are believed to have a one-track mind, actually think more about food and sleep than they do about sex.

The research also found that contrary to popular belief, men do not think about sex every seven seconds, and that in reality, it is more like once every waking hour.

Professor Terri Fisher, a psychologist at the Ohio State University in the U.S. carried out the study on 163 students, both male and female.

They were asked to carry around a chart and mark it every time they thought about sex, food or sleep.

It was found the numbers varied widely, as one student recorded only one sexual thought a day, and another male wrote down 388 in 24 hours.

But on average, men thought about food and sleep more often than they thought about sex, but they thought about all three more often than women did.

"Men are more aware of need-related states such as being hungry or tired or sexually aroused, and focus on those," the Daily Mail quoted Fisher as saying.

"They are also better at detecting these states in themselves than women and more willing to express their thoughts," she revealed.

She added that even the student who thought about sex 388 times in a day was only thinking about it every 158 seconds - far fewer than the "every seven seconds" that myth suggested.

"When people hear about some of these differences, I think sometimes they don't question it because it fits the stereotypes we have of men and women," Fisher said.

"When you stop and take a closer look at the origins of some of these alleged differences, they sometimes have no empirical support," she explained.

Behavioural Psychologist Jo Hemmings, author of How To Have Great Sex, explains why men are so preoccupied with their stomachs.

"There tend to be more trigger mechanisms to thinking about food,"

"The sights and smells associated with eating, as well as simple hunger or thirst, tend to be more commonplace in everyday life than the trigger mechanism for thinking about sex, so inevitably we think more about it,"

5 Teas that make you slim!

The brew that energises can also help you lose weight. Here's how...

It's widely known that just one cup of tea can prevent strokes, arthritis, tooth decay and even keep cancer at bay. While it's regarded as nature's tranquiliser for its soothing properties, the brew also has another great benefit - it helps shed weight. Scientists have shown that tea has high levels of compounds that battle the absorption of fat.

Here are 5 teas that can result in a slimmer you...

1. Star anise tea: promotes digestion
Star anise, the fruit of a small evergreen tree (Illicium verum) native to China, can be used in the treatment of digestive troubles such an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea etc. One may drink a tea made from it by steeping a whole pod in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Strain this and sweeten it if required. Sip on this slowly when an upset stomach occurs.

2. Peppermint tea: controls what you eat
If you like peppermint tea then try and rotate that with a green tea drink as both speed up digestion and thus help you burn more calories. The peppermint leaves can be used to make a light, refreshing tea, which can be drunk either hot or chilled. To prepare the tea, take a tablespoon of fresh or dried leaves and add them to boiling water and let it steep for four to five minutes. Strain and add honey, if needed.

3. Green tea: builds metabolism
Research says the chemical EGCG found in green tea that speeds up the body's metabolism, is responsible for helping people lose the kilos - it can burn a whopping 70 calories a day! Green tea also raises the level of antioxidants. It's believed the antioxidant catechins in green tea boost metabolism and helps burn fat (can burn a whopping 70 calories a day!) Steeping time for the tea: two to three minutes at 85 Degrees Celsius.

4. Rose tea: prevents constipation
One of the oldest flavouring teas available, rose tea - made by mixing fresh roses and the bud of the tea - has a major therapeutic effect on the human body. Apart from clearing toxins and beautifying the skin, rose tea contains vitamins A, B3, C, D and E and is known to act against infections. It also prevents constipation and helps one lose weight.

5. Oolong tea: guards against obesity
Research reveals that oolong, a semi-fermented tea may have a stronger effect than even green tea. It promotes fat burning is said to help reduce cholesterol and the concentration of fat in the body. About two cups per day is recommended. Steep oolong tea anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes, for a more full-bodied cup.

Nimbu paani for good health!

Lemon juice has more benefits that you'd ever imagine. Lemons have five per cent of citric acid, which gives it its unique taste.

Rich in vitamin C, it also has vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, proteins and carbohydrates.

Here are some benefits.

- Suffer from indigestion? Mix a few drops of lemon juice with warm water and sip on it. This is useful for treating nausea, heartburn, diarrhoea, bloating and burping.

- Since lemon is a natural antiseptic, it is great to cure skin problems. It clears your skin and also acts as an anti-ageing agent by eliminating wrinkles and blackheads.

- Have a toothache? Apply fresh lemon juice where it hurts. If you have bleeding gums, applying lemon juice can curb the bleeding and stop bad breath.

- A sore throat can be cured by gargling with lemon juice and water regularly.

- Nimbu paani is high in potassium, which controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea and reduces stress. It also cures respiratory disorders like breathing problems and asthma.