Do Spices Have Healing Powers?

Going around the mall on your free day for some window shopping with your friends is really awesome, and a bit tiring. While wanting to relax those tired arms and legs, chances are you are also a bit hungry by now. “Let’s have some snack girls. Am famished”. Off you go to a nearby fast food chain to order your favorite pizza and pasta. Before taking a bite, you go to the spice rack for some herb spice. Then you sprinkle your fettuccini with cinnamon and add a dash of oregano to your mozzarella cheese pizza but without giving the spices much thought.

You may not be aware, but do you know that your favorite flavors can actually do your body good? That spices have healing powers. I will explain further. Health studies revealed that while dried herbs and spices are only effective when eaten at least daily, each has its own specific health benefits. When included in your regular diet, these additives can help burn unwanted fats, soothes a sore throat or even allows you to have a good sleep. Let us study few of them.

• Cardamom - Fruit of the Elettaria cardamomum plant in the ginger family.

Health Benefits – alleviate belching, flatulence and indigestion; cures respiratory conditions like coughing, asthma and loss of voice; helps in the removal of toxins through your skin.

Regular Dose - Mix the additive after you ground a few pinches of cardamom pods into a shot of OJ or on your morning fruit salad. Can also be mixed with white or brown rice before you boil it.

• Cayenne - Fruit of the Capsicum annuum plant in the Solanaceae family, along with chile pepper.

Health Benefits - Removes gas from the stomach and intestines; soothes sore throat, cold and flu symptoms; increases metabolism for weight control.

Regular Dose – For a contrasting flavor kick, mix it into a cup of hot chocolate or any sweet juice drink.

• Cinnamon - Bark of a small evergreen tree.

Health Benefits – Relieves nausea and stomach ulcers; functions as a mild anti-inflammatory; increases insulin sensitivity to help focus fat burn.

Regular Dose - Mix into coffee/tea, yogurt, oatmeal or any boxed cereal.

• Cloves - Flower bud found at the base of an evergreen tree.

Health Benefits - Soothes digestive tract muscles and is a potent antihistamine.

Regular Dose - Mix into your nightly ice cream treat or sneak into mustard spread.

• Nutmeg - Fruit of Myristica fragrans,an evergreen tree.

Health Benefits - Improves digestion; eases the symptoms of menstruation; induces calm and sleep.

Regular Dose- Grate a small amount into applesauce or plain yogurt. (Note: It’s safe to grate the entire nut, which you can usually buy whole at the supermarket, but you never want to consume more than one nutmeg per day because too much of this potent spice can cause stomach pain, double vision and other uncomfortable reactions.)

• Celery Seed - Seed of the Apium graveolens plant in the parsley family.

Health Benefits - Flushes out toxins from the liver; lowers blood pressure; combats water retention.

Regular Dose - Think salads—tuna, potato and egg all work—which can be tossed onto a bed of lettuce, eaten alone or spread onto bread.

• Coriander - Also known as cilantro; the leaves and seeds of the Coriandrum plant in the aromatic Apiaceae family.

Health Benefits - Acts as a diuretic; eases seasonal allergies.

Regular Dose - Cook into couscous and quinoa, which you can store and eat with leftovers.

• Fennel - Seed of the Foeniculum plant in the aromatic Apiaceae family.

Health Benefits - Calms bowel distress; supports milk production in nursing mothers; combats water retention.

Regular Dose - Add to canned minestrones and vegetable soups.

• Oregano - Leaf of the Origanum plant in the mint family.

Health Benefits - Loosens mucus; helps treat respiratory illnesses; and calms indigestion.

Regular Dose - Use in any tomato-based foods, like marinara sauces, pizza and soups.

• Thyme - Leaf of the Thymus plant in the mint family.

Health Benefits - Relaxes the muscle tissue of the gastrointestinal tract; stimulates immune system.

Regular Dose - Toss into any meat-based dishes.

• Turmeric - Root of the Circuma plant in the ginger family.

Health Benefits - Reduces inflammation (joints, airways); detoxifies the liver.

Regular Dose - Mix in with oil-and-vinegar-based salad dressings.

Nutritional Therapy - Natural Way To Prevent Cancer

Yes, cancer can be prevented in natural ways, even cure it.

It was only recently that international health experts reported that cancer will overtake heart disease as the world's top killer by 2010.

This report maybe disturbing, but realistically, cancer is talked about more frequently each day. It can truly devastate a whole family once a member learned that he or she have cancer. It takes a lot to battle cancer. In fact, hearing words like surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can make a person feel worse.

Doctors and other health experts are one in saying that many types of cancers can be cured if found early enough. This was proven many times, past and present, and many cancer survivors have testified to this. But for people who does not want to use the normal but yet toxic methods to battle the illness and prevent cancer, there is such a method called nutritional therapy. As you know, eating a healthy diet can be the difference between a healthy and non-healthy person. But, aside from keeping your body healthy, there are some foods that are known to prevent and cure certain types of cancer. Here are some of them.

Green tea contains catechins, which can help retard tumor growth. It is also a powerful antioxidant that helps hasten the death of cancer cells. Green tea should be steed for at least five to eight minutes to release the catechins. Drink two cups of green tea a day and drink within two hours of preparation. Choose the non-caffeinated variety to lessen any side effects like heart palpitation.

Turmeric and yellow curry are potent food ingredients to fight inflammation. In the laboratory, these substances enhance the effect of chemotherapy and also reduce tumor growth.

Cabbages (like bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts) contain sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinols, which are potent anti-cancer substances. These molecules can prevent precancerous cells from turning into real cancer cells. To prepare cabbage, steam briefly or stir-fry quickly with a little olive oil. Don’t boil them or you’ll destroy their anti-cancer properties.

Ginger root has long been used in Asia to treat nausea, vomiting, cough, colds, headache, stomach ache and arthritis. Its pungent odor comes from gingerols or shogaols, which are likely responsible for its anti-nausea and anti-vomiting effects. Aside from these benefits, ginger also helps reduce inflammation and helps retard the creation of new blood vessels used by cancer cells.

Garlic, Onions and Leeks. When tested in the laboratory, garlic and leeks were the top inhibitors of cancer cells. Garlic and leeks contain ally sulfides which promote cell death in colon, breast, lung and prostate cancer, as well as leukemia. To best release its anti-cancer ingredients, the garlic clove should be crushed and gently fried with a little oil. Garlic can also be eaten raw, and added to salads.

Shitake mushrooms and other mushrooms contain polysaccharides and lentinian, which increase the activity of our immune cells. These protective cells kill off any cancer cell that wants to replicate and invade the body’s organs. The stronger your immune system, the lesser your chance of getting sick. In Japan, cancer patients are encouraged to eat mushrooms to complement the effects of chemotherapy.

Carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruits. Yellow-orange colored fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin A and lycopene, which may prevent cancer. These healthy foods include carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and tomatoes. In a six-year study on breast cancer patients, researchers found that those patients who ate more foods rich in carotenoids lived longer compared to those who ate less.

The Omega-3s in oily fishes (like sardines, salmon and mackerel) help reduce inflammation and may retard cancer cell growth. Omega-3s also reduce the spread of cancer. Some studies show that more fish you consume, the lesser are your chances of getting some types of cancer.

A study shows that eating tomato and tomato sauce (rich in lycopene) leads to longer life for men with prostate cancer. In order to release its lycopene, tomatoes should be cooked with a little olive oil. Ideally, we should consume at least 10 tablespoons of tomato sauce a week or approximately 150ml a week. So remember, red spaghetti sauce is very healthy, just skip the meatballs.

Probiotics and yogurt. Our intestines contain good bacteria, called lactobacillus, to help digestion and bowel movement. Probiotics, like yogurt, help increase these friendly bacteria and help inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells.

Soy-products, like tofu and miso soup, contain genistein, a substance that blocks the stimulation of cancer cells by the body’s estrogen and testosterone hormones. In a study of Asian women, those who consumed more soy since their teen years had fewer incidence of breath cancer. Instead of drinking regular milk, you can try soy milk. You may take tofu and vegemeat as an alternative source of protein to reduce your meat intake.

Strawberries, blueberries and cranberries contain ellagic acid and polyphenols. These substances help eliminate cancer substances in the body. Fresh berries are ideal but frozen berries have also similar beneficial effects.

If you wish to acquire the most benefits from these superfoods, you should try adding more of them to your diet. Likewise, you should also lessen your consumption of “unhealthy” and possibley cancer-causing foods, especially the traditional Western fast-food diet of hamburgers, hotdogs, preserved meat and steaks.

Apart from taking these anticancer foods, what is equally important is that you have an anticancer mindset. Health studies reveal that one’s state of mind has an effect on whether we develop cancer or not. Meaning, people are more inclined to develop illness, or cancer to this effect, if they always feel helpless, hopeless, desperate and persistent anger, especially hidden negative emotions.

But to have positive emotions like acceptance, openness, support from family and friends, along with meditation, yoga and prayer, it can activate one’s immune system and helps the body fight off the cancer cells and even cure the dreaded cancer itself.

Soy-products, like tofu and miso soup, contain genistein, a substance that blocks the stimulation of cancer cells by the body’s estrogen and testosterone hormones. In a study of Asian women, those who consumed more soy since their teen years had fewer incidence of breath cancer. Instead of drinking regular milk, you can try soy milk. You may take tofu and vegemeat as an alternative source of protein to reduce your meat intake.

Strawberries, blueberries and cranberries contain ellagic acid and polyphenols. These substances help eliminate cancer substances in the body. Fresh berries are ideal but frozen berries have also similar beneficial effects.

If you wish to acquire the most benefits from these superfoods, you should try adding more of them to your diet. Likewise, you should also lessen your consumption of “unhealthy” and possibley cancer-causing foods, especially the traditional Western fast-food diet of hamburgers, hotdogs, preserved meat and steaks.

Apart from taking these anticancer foods, what is equally important is that you have an anticancer mindset. Health studies reveal that one’s state of mind has an effect on whether we develop cancer or not. Meaning, people are more inclined to develop illness, or cancer to this effect, if they always feel helpless, hopeless, desperate and persistent anger, especially hidden negative emotions.

But to have positive emotions like acceptance, openness, support from family and friends, along with prayer, MEDITATION and YOGA, it can activate one’s immune system and helps the body fight off the cancer cells and even cure the dreaded cancer itself.

Is Memorizing Your Memory a Cure to Alzheimer?

A cure to Alzheimer?

Experts say that not all memory loss leads to Alzheimer. “Generally, people who worry about getting Alzheimer’s do not have the illness.”

As we get older and near middle age, usually our memory capabilities tend to become a bit dull. It starts from forgetting little things like the time slot of our favorite TV show, to important matters, like our phone or social security number. Although this can be extremely annoying for us, it is still perfectly normal and there are still some remedies for this problem.

However, for some, this is a very serious and frustrating matter, especially if it gets in the way of their work. Some people may have even become paranoid, thinking they have just been afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.

Fear not. To help your memory get back on track, here are a few tips you can try:

• Revisit the things you need to remember. For example, to memorize a telephone number, keep repeating it to yourself. Take a break and try it again.

• Fish and nuts are excellent brain foods. It is a great idea to study after eating these foods. Also take vitamin supplements every morning and stock up on energy drinks to give your brain and your whole body more staying power.

• Say the things you want to remember aloud to yourself. For example, if you want to remember where your car keys are, say out loud: “I’m putting my car keys on top of the TV.”

• Play some puzzle games with a friend to help power up your brain. Try playing scrabble, hangman, bridge and take one some crossword puzzles on your favorite newspapers.

• Engage in more conversations. Be the one who starts the talking and try to talk to a diverse group of people as much as possible. This will help you use your memory much better. Also, spend more time with your kids. Tell them what you used to do when you were their age and / or your favorite bedtime stories. And make a habit of telling your spouse the happenings of your busy day. This will also help you get closer with your loved ones.

• Link new information to known facts. For example, while you are in your garden, you can state that a new flower which has bloomed is darker than the one in your front yard.

• Use mnemonics when studying for an examination. They have been proven effective for a long time now. Also, don’t just memorize the lesson. Understand it fully. Over-memorizing something will only give you a harsh and painful headache.

• Keep a personal journal or diary and jot down everything you’ve done during the day. This will help you remember all the important and daily tasks and chores that you do.

• Get enough sleep. When you arrive home early from work or school, take a short nap (about an hour). This will refresh your brain and make it ready to accept new information while retaining everything else.

• If you’re trying to remember something from your past, like your childhood memories, try associating them with figures / objects which were prominent during that era, such as, actors, movies, songs, TV shows, etc.

• If you have the time, feel free to visit your basement / attic or wherever your old stuff is stashed in. Inspect your old toys, clothes, memorabilia, etc and take time to reminisce about the ’good old days’. You should also watch old family movies or audio cassettes. Have them transferred to a CD in order to make them easier to understand.

• Of course, practice makes perfect. If you’re trying to store a new lesson, recipe, skill or task into your memory, keep doing until you’ve mastered it and it becomes second nature.

• If you are into art, visit museums once in a while. The paintings, sculptures and classical music may remind you of persons or events in your life.

• Stress releases high level of gluocorticoids, which inhibit memory. So rest and relax once in a while. Meditation works extremely well. Do it for 15-30 minutes a day.

5 Foods that Cannot Help You to Sleep

Sleep Inducing Foods - Common Mistakes

"Getting enough sleep seems to be a challenge nowadays"

With the onset of cable TV, internet and video games nowadays, staying up late every night is quite easy while getting enough sleep seems to be a challenge. Even for grown ups, falling asleep become harder because of too much work, caring for the family, all the stuff that needs to be done around the house ... and so on.

People resort to many sleep inducing ways just to have the rest their bodies are longing. Unfortunately, these unproven methods seems to cause more problems than benefits that people are looking for. And some of these mistakes come from our food intakes. Let us see these 5 foods that cannot help you to sleep.

Common Mistakes

Warm Milk – Drinking warm milk at bedtime maybe comforting, however, it does not increase the promotion of sleep in contrast to a known folk remedy. Research had shown that when trytophan, an amino acid in milk known to have sleep-inducing effects, produces a serenity –boosting neurotransmitter called serotonin when released into the brain. But when milk was tested, it failed to affect sleep patterns, perhaps because other amino acids in it competed with trytophan to get into the brain.

Herbal Tea - Known for their sleep-promoting qualities, chamomile, lemon balm, hops and passionflower are used as “sleep formula” tea combinations. However, their effectiveness are not yet proven in clinical studies. Some experts say that these teas may work for some, and a warm liquid before bed may make you sleepy by generating body heat.

Caffeine - Most people thought coffee is a major source of caffeine (71 percent). However, there are other major sources of caffeine in our daily diet like soft drinks (16 percent), teas (12 percent) and even chocolate. Caffeine affects everyone differently, so if you’re sensitive it might be worth trying to cut down—or limit caffeine to the morning only. Our ability to eliminate caffeine in our body system decreases as we grow older. If we use to tolerate 4 cups of coffee daily when we were 20, we may need to limit or cut down with our coffee intake as we grow older.

Alcohol - Taking a glass of wine may help you fall asleep. Bu excessive use of alcohol cause a reverse effect and can make you wake up in the night. One theory is that alcohol suppresses the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep state that’s critical to a good night’s sleep. So, it is better that we drink moderately, if at all; avoid drinking within a few hours before going to sleep.

Sleep Supplements - A lot has been said regarding sleep formulas. According to a survey conducted a few years back, about 1.6 million people tried complementary or alternative therapies like these. Over half of them reported to have positive improvements with their insomnia problems. However, those glowing anecdotes haven’t been backed up by rigorous scientific study; and evaluations of most nutritional supplements have not shown any effects whatsoever. One word of advice, do not waste your money on sleep supplements until a rigorous scientific study has been made.

Do You know?

Dinners Rich in Carbohydrates – It is hard to sleep when you are hungry. But taking a light bedtime snack especially carbohydrates that are easily digested can help. Study shows a person tend to sleep faster at bedtime after eating dinner rich in carbohydrates of vegetables and tomato juice over high GI jasmine rice. It was speculated that meals with high-GI meals trigger greater amounts of insulin, which increased the ratio of tryptophan relative to other amino acids in the blood, allowing proportionately more to get into the brain and make people drowsy. You can try this one.

Natural Beauty Tips in the Kitchen Part 3

Do-It-Yourself Natural Beauty Tips 3

"In your kitchen lies a treasure chest of natural beauty secrets awaiting to be revealed"

For natural beauty tips in the kitchen part3, it is obvious that you only need to look around your kitchen as it holds countless alternatives of effective natural remedies that is inexpensive as well. You will find here multiple selections of natural skin treatments for a dry skin or oily skin toner, acne treatment, organic skincare, facial treatment and even a herbal mixture for a portable spa that will both calm your nerves and relax your mind and body.

I have enumerated below a few more natural beauty tips in the kitchen for proper skincare and will help you set up a spa-shop in your kitchen.

• Lemon Exfoliant - To make an effective exfoliant, mix a cup of oatmeal or wheat germ, a cup of non-fat powdered milk, 2 egg whites and juice of 1 big lemon. Blend well all the ingredients until they form a paste. Apply a layer of this mixture to your face, neck, and arm and let it dry for 10 to 15 minutes. After wards, you can remove the mask by rubbing it lightly and making a circular movement of your palm. You can do this every evening after taking a rest for an hour from your grinding regular routine. Apply this mixture twice a week for about 3 to 4 months. This is a good skin toner as well. You will observe a smooth and even skin with a beautiful tone and mixture.

• Avocado Face Mask – For dry skin to be soft and smooth you can use avocado, lemon and non-fat powdered milk. To prepare, mash a large avocado in bowl. Then add 2 toss of lemon juice and about 4 to 6 toss of powdered milk that is non-fat. You may use mayonnaise as an alternative. Blend well until you make a smooth paste. Apply the paste to the face to form a mask and use the excess mixture on your arms, neck, nape and other surfaces of your skin that were regularly exposed to wind and sunlight. Let the mask stay for 15 minutes before going to sleep. Do this regularly every 2 to 3 days. After several weeks, you will observe a mark improvement on your skin. This mixture is also a good facial treatment. However, it is not applicable for those with oily skin.

• Honey exfoliates – As an exfoliate that can even out rough and blemished skin, use honey, egg whites, oatmeal, and non-fat powdered milk. To make a paste, mix together 1 cup of oatmeal, 1 egg white, ½ cup non-fat powdered milk, and 1 tablespoon of honey. Rub the paste vigorously on rough or blemished skin and allow it to stay for 5 to 10 minutes. Do this before taking a bath at least once or twice a week.

• Pandan Leaves Facial Treatment – A good skin toner, this mixture will improve the tone and texture of a tired dry skin. You can use as a facial wash a warm tea made from boiled panda leaves, a dash of anise seeds, with a few sprigs of mint, basil, and rosemary. Do this every now and then in the morning and evening.

Cuticle Remover and Softener

• Cuticle Remover – Due to irritation caused by overuse, the soles of our feet, our elbows, and sometimes the palms of our hands thicken and develop calluses. To make the skin smoother and remove the callus or thick skin, firmly rub the specified area with a mixture of crushed raw papaya and pineapple in the evening. Do this daily or every other day for at least a month.

• Cuticle Softener – To soften the cuticles of your fingers and toe nails, so it can be easily removed, make a solution of 1 tablespoon vinegar or baking soda to a cup of water. Soak your nails on this solution for a few minutes before trimming.

More Body Odor Tips

• Scalp, Foot and Armpit Odor Remover – Rinse your scalp or rub your armpit with a solution of 2 cups of vinegar to ½ cup water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Allow it to dry for a few minutes before rinsing it with warm water. Also massage feet while being soaked with the same solution. Let it dry for 5 minutes then rinse with warm water. If done twice a week, this solution will also whiten armpit and feet.

Portable Spa

• Herbal Bath - For a soothing herbal bath that will relax your mind and body, prepare 2-4 cups mint leaves chopped coarsely, rosemary, minced; 1 cup chamomile leaves, chopped coarsely; 2 cups rose petals, minced; ½ cup fresh oregano leaves, chopped coarsely; a few drops of tea rose oil; 2 quarts boiling water; 6-8 quasars warm water.

Procedure: After mixing together mint, rosemary, oregano, chamomile leaves and rose petals in a clean container, preferably clay, ceramic or enamel-coated, pour boiling water and allow to drench for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid with warm water then add drops of tea rose oil for bathing or after rinsing. To relax yourself before having a massage, you can also double or triple the recipe and use it while you submerge yourself in the bathtub for about 15 minutes.

As an alternative, you can replace rose petals with coarsely chopped 2 cups of orange peel with tea rose oil and 6 toss of orange rind. And as replacement for oregano, use 2 cups of crushed eucalyptus leaves. For tea rose oil, use a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Depending on your preference and mood, you can do variations.

These skin treatments generally make over your complete inner and outer appearance even if you look no further than your own kitchen cabinet. You only need to grow your viewpoint a bit to better appreciate the natural beauty tips in the kitchen part 3.

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Natural Beauty Tips in the Kitchen Part 2

Do-It-Yourself Natural Beauty Tips 2

"In your kitchen lies a treasure chest of natural beauty secrets awaiting to be revealed"

The natural beauty tips that we have talked about are inexpensive facial and skin mixtures that can be found and prepared in the kitchen. This will help you enhance your natural beauty the way expensive methods of modern technology in cosmetology does.

After our previous lesson, you have already learned by now the easy to prepare natural mixtures for an effective organic skincare, i.e. body scrub, facial cleanser and a skin whitening lotion for a smooth skin.

Now it’s time to reveal more secrets …

Everyday, you see a lot of people in the streets frantically going to work in the morning, sometimes forgetting to eat their breakfast so as not to be late in their offices. In the evening, you see the same busy bodies hurrying to get home to attend to their families. Sometimes, they even have to bring home their work and stay up late or past bedtime just to meet their deadlines.

Can you imagine all those smoke, dust and sunlight that they are exposed to everyday? What about their haggard looks and swollen wrinkled eyes in the mornings because of too much work and lack of sleep? Even people who stay and work at home are not exempted.

With all these daily punishments, a lot of them experience dry hair, sunburned and wrinkled dry skin, tired dry eyes and body odors due to excessive sweating.

Once again, we will open your kitchen’s treasure chest for more of these natural beauty tips. Let’s see …

For Hair Treatment and Rejuvenation

• Tomato Juice Hair Rejuvenation - Juice from fresh or canned tomatoes is rich in vitamin C and makes the hair strong and lush. Rinse and towel dry your hair then rub 1 cup of tomato juice on the moist hair making sure that the juice reaches the scalp. Rinse with water again after massaging for 10-15 minutes.

• Coconut Oil Hair Treatment - Warm coconut oil, when massaged on the scalp and rubbed on the hair will result to thick shiny and soft hair. Allow the coco oil to stay for about 30 minutes. This coconut oil treatment is good for dry, brittle or falling hair.

• Citric Shine for Short Hair - To have short and shiny hair, rub it with a mixture of 1 cup of mayonnaise, 2 toss of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of vinegar and 1 egg yolk mixed and blended well. Allow to dry while massaging the creamy mixture. Do this in the morning or evening once or twice a week for 6 to 8 months. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. A rinsing solution of 1 part each of water and vinegar or 1 tbsp of baking soda to a liter of water. This hair treatment will remove the acidic smell from your hair.

For Healthy Skin and Tired Dry Eyes

• Carrot Face Mask - Mix an egg yolk with 1 tbsp of lemon juice and half cup of shredded carrots in a high speed blender for 1-2 minutes. Put the mixture or cream over the face and let dry for 10-15 minutes. This “mask” will make a healthy skin and makes you look younger. Do this once a week, preferably in the morning.

• Eye Relaxer - Cucumber slices help relax tired dry eyes. They also prevent swelling around the eyes due to lack of sleep. Likewise, the cool cucumber removes and prevents “crow’s feet” or laugh lines around the eyes. Put a slice of cucumber over the eyes for 5-10 minutes as you relax and you will feel the result immediately. You can do this daily before sleeping and after waking up.

Body Odor Due to Excessive Sweating and Skin Whitening

• Deodorant - To remove the acidic smell of armpits and feet because of excessive sweating, put a small amount of powdered alum between the toes of your feet before putting on your socks. Stockings and shoes this will keep your feet dry and free from the acidic smell. Do the same to your armpits. The alum will even serve as skin whitening to the dark areas of your armpits. Baking soda will also have the same absorbing effect on your skin. Do the same thing with baking soda as you do with alum.

• Skin Whitener Mousse - Papaya and lemon are excellent skin whitening mixtures. It also helps to have a clear skin. Make a mousse out of 1 cup of overripe papaya, 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 2 tbsp of non-fat powdered milk. Blend all the ingredients until smooth. Apply a thin layer on the face, arms, and neck and let the mousse stay for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. Do this for 1 month.

Now that you know the secrets of preparing these natural mixtures, all you need to do is to follow the simple steps I gave you for immediate satisfying results. This will surely eliminate body odors caused by excessive sweating, have effective hair treatment, relax tired dry eyes, proper skincare for a clear skin, and a healthy skin.

More do-it-yourself natural beauty tips coming up on my next post. I will be revealing to you the natural recipe secrets for cuticle remover and cuticle softener, natural solution to dry skin, and ways to improve skin tone and texture.

Meanwhile, why not share these secrets to your family and friends. Try them yourself and experience the natural beauty wonders that you have learned here in Natural Beauty Tips in the Kitchen Part 2.

Natural Beauty Tips in the Kitchen

Do-It-Yourself Natural Beauty Tips

"In your kitchen lies a treasure chest of natural beauty secrets awaiting to be revealed"

Natural Beauty Tips are what almost every individual, young or old, are asking for and wishes to have beauty that they can keep for as long as they can. To those who can afford the luxury of modern technology in cosmetology, they resort to skin peeling, sanding, toning, bleaching, stretching, hair and scalp rejuvenating and care by the professionals.

But to many who are not as lucky, they always turn to their kitchen for help. For they know that inside their kitchen cabinet lies a treasure chest of natural beauty secrets for making facial cleanser and body scrub that can show the same smooth skin results as offered by expensive methods.

Below are natural beauty tips that you can try for yourself. These healthy recipes can be easily prepared in your kitchen.

Facial Cleanser For Smooth Skin

• Tea Astringent - Warm tea is a very good facial cleanser and also as a skin cleanser. It has astringent effect. Wash your face, neck, and arms with warm tea in the morning to remove excess oil, and again in the evening before sleeping to remove the dust that have accumulated in the pores of your skin. Tea contains elements that stimulate tired skin, and relaxants that soothe tense skin. This is also a good body scrub.

• Peeling Mask - Egg whites can serve as peeling mask to remove dirt deeply embedded in the pores of your skin. Mix an egg white with 1 tbsp baking soda and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly blended. Apply several layers on the skin until a “firmly” texture is achieved. Allow to dry 10-15 minutes then remove by peeling slowly. You will see the dirt coming off together with the peeled egg white and will result to a smooth skin. Do this facial cleanser mixture once a week.

• Cucumber Lotion - Yogurt and cucumber can be made into a lotion that can refresh the skin and add up to your natural beauty. It is also a good body scrub. It also helps relieve sunburned skin and restore the damaged skin tissues fast. Combine a cup of yogurt and cucumber cubes with a teaspoon of honey in a blender. Mix until smooth then apply on sun burnt or irritated skin for 10 minutes. Do this daily for 5 -7 days. Store the mixture in a chiller when not in use.

Wrinkle Remover and Skin Whitening

• Olive Oil Wrinkle Remover - Olive oil, especially the extra virgin variety, gives aging dry skin a new and healthy life. Rub the oil on the face, arm, neck, and back. Massage the skin lightly for 10 minutes everyday. Massage your face upward then sideways, using your finger tips to stretch the skin and remove wrinkles. Do this daily for 1-3 months.

• Elbow/Knee Whitener - For a skin whitening mixture, a slice of radish will make dark rough elbow and knees white and smooth. Rub a piece on the affected surface for a minute daily. Radish extract is believed to treat infections such as tine flake, ring worms and acne. However, be careful when using the fresh radish because the juice maybe strong and irritating to sensitive skin.

On my next post, I will be giving you more natural beauty tips for hair treatment/rejuvenation, treating body odor due to excessive sweating and kitchen health recipes for skincare, healthy skin and skin whitening.

Hope you enjoy reading Natural Beauty Tips in the Kitchen.

Health Juices – Ailments Natural Cure

Natural Cure

"Healthy living, good exercise plus glasses of health juices are keys to ailment natural cures"

Health juices are natural cures for ailments. A lot of people may not be aware, but juices extracted from fruits and vegetables act as natural vitamins that have amazing healing powers , offering a lot of natural remedies and health benefits. It even provide natural cures for facial treatment or an effective body scrub for a healthy skin.

Yes, it may have been an advantage to have cures and medicines for tuberculosis and chicken pox but when diabetes, heart disease or any dreaded diseases are almost a doorstep away from a person, I think one needs to take notice and heed the positive effects of discovering new medicines and alternatives. And this is where health juices comes in.

Why wait for sickness to come and visit us when we can keep our loved ones and illnesses rigidly apart? Healthy living, good exercise plus a glass of health juice are keys to ailment natural cures and even skincare. If not, at least, the natural remedies for easing the sickness.

Since insomnia, migraine, back pain and asthma are already part of our lives in the busy and polluted 21st century, people are trying new health programs and natural ways to improve ones immune system to combat the said common illnesses. And studies have shown that certain juices indeed offer protective health remedies. Although one needs to note that drinking more of these health juices does not mean it will make you healthier. As with most things in life, having too much of anything is disastrous. Moderation is in order.

Healing Power of Health Juices

For centuries, naturopats use fresh fruit and vegetable juices to help treat a range of ailments and even as skin treatments. Juices extracted from these sources show remarkable health-promoting properties. In the sixteenth century for example, lime juice was found to be effective in curing scurvy. This saved the lives of thousands of sailors during their long trips around the world. In more recent times, scientists have identified the nutritional and biochemical properties of freshly-prepared fruit and vegetable juices which account for their use in helping treat so many health problems.

Many juices are indeed worthwhile and are proven effective as natural remedies in the prevention of various sickness, notably of which are those juices that help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease and even cancer. There are even juices that have rejuvenation and detoxification effects to the user. Indeed, health juices certainly play a major role in a healthy life. And most of these healthy recipes can be easily prepared inside your kitchen.

Below are some helpful healthy recipes for you to try.

•Carrot + Ginger + Apple = A good combination to boost detoxification and cleanse our immune system

•Apple + Cucumber + Celery = Helps reduce our body’s cholesterol and also helps prevent cancer ; eliminates headache and stomach upset

•Tomato + Carrot + Apple = Good news for the beauty conscious since it improves skin complexion and also helps in dealing with bad breath

•Bitter Gourd + Apple + Milk = Would help in reducing internal body temperature and avoids bad breath

•Orange + Ginger + Cucumber = Reduces body heat and also helps with improving the skin texture and moist

•Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon = A juice that nourishes the kidney and bladder while it dispels excess salts from the body

•Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi = Improves skin complexion

•Pear + Banana = Regulates Sugar Content

•Carrot + Apple + Pear + Mango = Decreases blood pressure and fights oxidation ; counteracts toxicity and clears body heat

•Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk = Increases cell activity and strengthens immune system with it’s rich Vitamin C and B2

•Papaya + Watermelon + Milk = Rich in Vitamin C, E and Iron and improves metabolism and also skin complexion

•Banana + Pineapple + Milk = Cure constipation

•Carrot + Apple + Ginger + Orange + Strawberry + Spinach = Cholesterol Reduction

•Carrot + Blackberry juice = Diarrhea

•Watercress + Apple with ¼ pure cream of tartar = For Infection

•Cucumber + Radish + Pepper Concord + Grape + Pineapple = For Rejuvenation.

It is best that you use organic produce and that you thoroughly wash the fruits and vegetables before juicing. Remove carrot stems and apple seeds as they are toxic. And you can also use salt, lemon juice, cinnamon or black pepper to garnish the juices for better taste.

Fruits and Vegetables Anyone?

“Why can't we just eat fruits and vegetables instead?”. The answer to this question is simple; it will take several hours for solid foods to pass through the digestive tract of the body and requires a healthy digestive system. While juice once taken, the nutrients are quickly absorbed into the blood stream and the body cells are nourished within minutes.

Freshly squeezed juices contain naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and enzymes, especially if they are freshly squeezed juices made from a home juice extractor due to the skin of any fruit is where you find the highest concentration of beneficial properties. Besides, it's often easier to drink a glass of juice than, say, start peeling an orange on your way out the door and in a rush.

A word of caution. Fructose, a sweetener found naturally in fruit juice, induce a hormonal response in the body that promotes weight gain.

Do you know ?

Excess abdominal fats can kill you. You may have thought that having excess abdominal fat is normal and is no cause for concern. Well, you are entirely wrong.

This excess abdominal fat increases your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea, various forms of cancer and degenerative diseases.

But the good news is … there is a solution to this problem. Have a good exercise, good diet and enjoy healthy life. Remember, health juices - ailments natural cure.