Skin Basics

All skin types benefit when you cleanse, tone and moisturize twice a day-once in the morning and again before bedtime. In addition, two simple treatments-steaming and exfoliating-can help make your skin look spa-pampered.

Know about your Skin type.
 

Cleansing-

Choose a cleanser based on your skin type, and perform this essential daily ritual gently to remove makeup and grime.

Toning-

After cleansing, use a toner to remove cleanser residue and close the pores.

Moisturizing-

Based on your skin type, choose an appropriate moisturizer and smooth over face and neck twice a day.

Steaming-

Once or twice a day a week, give your face a 10-minute steam cleaning. Steaming works naturally to improve microcirculation to the skin's surface. It also flushes out toxins and debris by opening pores and makes it easier for your skin to absorb the essential oils and aromatic herbs in the water.

Exfoliating-

Once a week, go over the skin with a simple, homemade scrub blend. This will remove dead skin cells, promote circulation, and improve clarity and radiance.

 

Healthy,Smooth Skin

You know what healthy skin looks like. It sparkles, no matter how old you are. Even if you haven't inherited a flawless complexion, you can make the most of what you have got without restoring to beauty products whose prices make you weak in knees.

 

First, know your skin type and how best to care for it.

Normal Skin-is clear, supple and soft, neither too dry nor too oily. It is not overly sensitive to sun, climate or the environment.

Dry Skin-looks dull, feels tight after washing, and needs constant protection and moisturizing to avoid flaking and peeling.

Oily skin-might feel soft and supple, but it looks shiny and needs to be cleaned several times a day. Pores are larger than those of either normal or dry skin. This type of skin is often prone to blackheads and pimples.

Sensitive skin-reacts badly to sunlight or irritants. It burns easily and may develop rashes, blotches or spots when exposed to new substances, such as chemicals often found in commercial skin-cleansing products.

Most people have a combination of skin types-for example, basically normal with some oily areas on the forehead, around the nose and on the chin, and maybe some dryness around the eyes.

 Look for Skin Basics.

 

10 Best Recipes of Bitter Gourd Juice

          

Bitter gourd is always proved as beneficial for health, specially for Diabetes Disease.

Bitter Gourd vegetables has lots of names like Bitter Melon,Bitter Cucumber ,African Cucumber,Bitter squash,Balsam-pear, Karela and many more. 

Bitter Gourd vegetable comes with lots of Benefits.Bitter gourd juices are used as medicine for diabetes. These juices are refreshing, energizing and ready to start our day.

In Asia, it is used as a household medicine because of its medicinal and curative properties. It is very nutritious vegetable. It contains hypoglycemic substance which helps in lowering blood and urine sugar levels.

These juices are good for diabetics and fight against insulin resistance. Bitter melon is good option during treatment of diabetes because it has sugar reducing and blocking functions. It has ability to balance out sugar levels in the blood. It also helps in weight loss.

10 Best Recipes of Bitter Gourd Juice

1.Simple Bitter Gourd Juice

Ingredients:
Half piece of bitter gourd
half lemon
a pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder

Wash bitter gourd thoroughly and cut into pieces. Soak pieces into water with little salt and turmeric powder for 15 minutes. Remove pieces from water and grind it into blender with enough water. Then, add lemon juice and stir well.

2.Bitter Gourd with Honey

Ingredients:

1 Bitter melon seedless, chopped
Ice to taste
Honey to taste
lemon to taste

Put bitter melon and ice pieces into blender. Stir until smooth and blended. Then, put lemon juice and honey as per your taste.

3.Bitter Gourd with Spices

Ingredients:

1 bitter melon, chopped
1 tsp. grated ginger
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 pinches of chat masala
pinch of pepper powder
salt

Blend the chopped bitter gourd, ginger and salt with enough water. Strain the juice. Add lemon juice and spices into it. Stir well.

4.Bitter Gourd with Bottle Gourd

Ingredients:

2 Bitter Gourds, chopped
100 gms Bottle gourd, chopped
1 lemon
1/4 tsp. salt

Peel bitter gourd and bottle gourd. Slice them to fit into blender. Mix it properly. Add lemon juice and salt to it.

5.Bitter Gourd with Beetroot

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup Beetroot ,finely chopped
1/2 cup bitter gourd, chopped
1 Tbsp gingers
1 tsp. honey
1/2 cup water

Grind all ingredients except honey in blender. Strain the juice through sieve. Add honey into it. Stir well.

6.Bitter Gourd with Water melon

Ingredients:

2 bitter gourd, chopped
1 cup watermelon chunks
2 springs of mint

Put all into blender and strain juice through sieve. Garnish with 1-2 mint leaves.

7.Bitter Gourd with chili Tomato juice

Ingredients:

1 Bitter melon seedless, chopped
2 tomatoes pulp
1 green chili

Put all the ingredients in blender and strain through sieve. Stir well and serve.

8.Bitter Gourd with Banana pulp

Ingredients:

2 Bitter melons
1 cup of banana cuts
1 cup of crushed ice

Put all the ingredients into blender. Garnish with mint leaves.

9.Bitter Gourd with Carrot juice

Ingredients:
1 Bitter Gourd ,chopped
1/2 cup carrot grated
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1 cup water
salt to taste

Grind all ingredients in blender. Filter it through sieve. Add salt and lemon juice.

10.Bitter Gourd with Mint leaves

Ingredients:

1 Bitter gourd, seedless and chopped
1 Tbsp mint leaves, chopped
2 cups water
lemon for garnish
pinch of salt

Blend together all ingredients in a juicer and filter through sieve. Squeeze lemon juice if needed.

Wheat substituions for Gluten Free Diet

What can be Wheat substitutions for Gluten-free Diet

 

We always eat wheat and believed that whole grain food is food for us.But it simple not true for everyone.Some individuals are allergen to wheat or other grains.People who have health issues like irritable bowl syndrome,autism,ADD,ADHD,chronic fatifue and other conditions may also need to avoid gluten.

 

Listed below are some flours that you can use and what they are best used for:

 

1.White Rice flour:

White rice flour is somewhat of a grainy ,bland flour that is milled from polished white rice.It works best in combination with other flours, such as potato, buckwheat or corn flour.It can be used in cakes,breads and cookies.It stores well.There are different textures of white rice flour.The most common texture is fine, but regular is also available in health food stores.

2.Brown Rice flour:

This is one of the good flour because it contains more nutrients.It is milled from unpolished brown rice.It has nutty taste.It can be used in muffins and cookies.It contains oil and has a shorter life span, so store in refrigerator.It is also great combined with flours like sorghum,millet and almond meal.

3.Bean flour:

Garbanzo bean and lentil flours can be used in making cookies.They can be added to rice flour as well.They offset the grainy texture of rice flour and give it a nice flavor.These flours make good thickners as well.They do not need refrigeration.

4.Buckwheat flour:

Buckwhet flour is a member of rhubarb family.It is not related to wheat.It is not even a grain.Its name is very confusing.It is rich in iron,vitamin B and calcium.It has stron grainy flavor.It is best used in waffles,pancakes,breads and noodles.

5.Quinoa flour:

Quinoa flour is high in protein,containing 20 amino acids,including the 10 "essential amino acids".It also contains vitamins A,C,D,B-1,B-2,E,folic acid,niacin,calciu,iron and phosphorus.It is used in cookies,pies,cakes and pasta.It has light pleasant taste and works well when combined with other flours.

6.Almond Meal flour:

almond meal flour is comprised of blanced almonds,muffins,cakes and other desserts.It is a great source of protein,rich in fiber,vitamin E and magnesium.It can also be used for breading.It should be stored in refrigerator.

7.Tapioca flour:

Tapioca flour can be referred as Tapioca starch.It can be mixed with other flours to provide chewy texture.Tapioca mixed with brown or white rice flour and potato flour makes wonderful flour.

8.Amaranth flour:

This flour has a strong taste.It is good used in breading,thickening sauces and baking.Mix 25% of amarnath flour with other flours, such as brown rice flour,quinoa flour or oat flour to make up 100%.It should be stored in refrigerator as it develops stronger taste as it ages.This flour is high in protein and fiber.It contains amino acids,high levels of lysine,vitamins C,B,calcium,potassium,iron,zinc and niacin.

9.Oat flour:

It is a nice flour and is good for cookies and muffins.It tends to brown, so use it with caution for sauces.It is too heavy to use for cakes, but does make nice cookies.It can be combined with other flours like white or brown rice flour.If you are allergic to oats,don't use this flour.

10.Potato flour:

Potato flour and potato starch are confusing.Potato flour is made from cooked potatoes.Potato starch is made from raw potato.This flour can be combined with rice flour.

11.Sorghum flour:

Sorghum is another gluten-free flour that is very easy to work with.It is one of the main food crops used in India and Africa.Sorghum flour is high in soluble-fiber, and tastes very similar to wheat.when baking with sorghum flour, you will need sornstarch to your recipes and also add in xanthan gum to bind it together.It is great in cookies,pie crusts,cakes,etc.

12.Soy flour:

It has very nutty flavour.It is high in fat and also in protein.It is yellow in clor and has a very distinct flavor.it can be mixed with other flavors such as white rice flour.It tastes good in products containing nuts and fruits.Store in refrigerator.

 

Sugar Alternative for Gluten-Free Diet

What can be sugar alternatives for Gluten-free Diet

Sugar,everyone's favourite, comes from cane,which is a form of grass related to wheat or from beet which is a tuber.People who have diabetes or problems with yeast conditions , such as candida, you will want to avoid all forms of sugar.

There can be more alternative to sugar and they taste delicious too, we will see what are they.

1.Fruit sweeteners:

Fruit sweeteners are made from a combination of fruit that has been pressed into juice,creating a concentrated juice that is then reduced for long time.Its consistency is slightly thinner than honey.The flavor is quiet good.You can find them in combinations too, like peach,pear and pineapple combination or apple,white and red grape and raspberry.

These fruit sweeteners can be found in refrigerator section of most natural food stores.You must keep them refrigerated, but use them at room temperature for best results.

When using fruit sweetner instead of sugar, always remember that you are going to cut the amount of sugar by up to half in all your recipes.If your recipe requires 1 cup sugar means you will need 1/2 cup sweetner and check for any after-taste.

2.Amazake:

Amazake is a whole grain product made of water,brown rice,koji.The mixture is fermented into a thick liquid.It is high in iron and vitamin B.Plain is best for baking, but it comes in other flavors.It can be found in natural food stores in either the freezer or refrigerator.It has texture similar to honey and can be used like concentrated fruit sweeteners.

3.Brown rice syrup:

Brown rice syrup is made from Brown rice ,water and 1% natural fungal enzymes.The product is made using entirely natural processing.This process converts the starches to natural sugar called maltoses.The liquid is cooled until it thickens.It is very easy to bake with.It can be used used in place of honey,molasses or other syrups in recipes.

4.Agave cactus Nectar:

It comes from the pineapple-shaped core of the Agave, a cactus-like plant native to Mexico.This sweetner is low on the glycemic index,has no after-taste, and 25% sweeter than sugar.It comes in 2 varieties.The dark version contains more minerals,calcium,iron,potassium and magnesium.The lighter version is filtered , and has a lighter taste.One teaspoon of the cactus nectar contains 16 calories,0 gm of fat,5 gm of carbohydrates,5 gm of sugar,5 gm of sodium and 0 gm of protein.Be sure to cut the amount of sweetner by 1/4 cup and reduce heat by 25 degrees.

5.Kiwi sweetner:

Another altenative to suagr,suitable for those with diabetes or hypoglycemia, is a kiwi sweetener.It is made from natural fruit glycosides,polysaccharides and ketohexose monosaccharides of the kiwi fruit.It contains 0 fat,0 calories and 0 carbohydrates.It is about 15% sweeter than sugar, and has no after-taste.

6.Honey,Molasses and Maple syrup:

If you want to use honey instead of sugar, you need to cut half amount beacause honey is twice sweet as sugar.Honey,maple syrup and molasses all change the liquid-to-dry proportions in a recipe.

How to prevent dry eyes

What is dry eyes condition?

Dry eye is a condition where the eyes don't produce enough tears or the right quality of tears to be healthy or comfortable.

If you have dry eyes, you will often feel like you have an eyelash stuck in your eye. Your eyes may feel like burn, redden, and itch. Sometimes, your vision will also blur. Dry eyes become more noticeable as you age because your tear glands naturally stop producing as much fluid.

The Dry Eye Remedy: The Complete Guide to Restoring the Health and Beauty of Your Eyes

Dry eyes can happen any time. Your eyes feel tired. You rub them. You look at yourself in
the mirror and see lines, wrinkles, bags, redness that were never there
before. Dry eye often starts as a minor irritation but can develop into a deeper
problem affecting your vision and appearance.Dry eye is a real disease, with increasing prevalence and long-term effects if not treated properly

The Dry Eye Remedy is the first book to give dry eye sufferers simple and practical ways to restore eye health and appearance without surgery..

From causes and diagnosis to treatment options, this book is a great resource
not only for Sjögren's Syndrome patients but anyone suffering from dry eye.

It offers comprehensive and up-to-date info (as of the date of its publication)
about the latest in dry eyes.

It offers all-around practical advice to dry eye patients who may have otherwise
lost hope.

How to Prevent Dry Eyes?

There are simple 5 ways to treat and Prevent dry eyes.

1.Use of artificial Tears-
Using a preservative-free artificial tears drops up to three times a day for a mild case of dry eyes.These over-the-counter drops will cleanse your eyes and restore the right kind of tears.

2.Massage with flaxseed oil-
The eye's coating of tears contains oils that can help prevent dryness.Study reveals that the fats in flaxseed help replenish that layer.

3.Taking a blink break-
Blinking helps keep eyes moist, sometimes we just forget to do blinking eyes when we are using a computer screen or reading continuously.We should put alar or sticky note on computer to take a break and blink several times every 10 minutes.

4.Moisturize home's air-
Sometimes evaporation is partly responsible for dry eyes.Put on humidifier whenever the heat is on or place pans of water next to heaters in your home or office.

5.Warm your eyelids-
Use eye compress which increase circulation and unclog tear ducts.Run hot water over a washcloth and hold it to your closed eyes for 10-15 minutes.
　


Home Remedies for Dry Eyes

Dry eyes condition can not be cured copletely and soetimes it is recurring condition.So,it is always better to use home remedies and avoid using expensive treatments.

1.Avoid rubbing eyes ost of the times.

2.Always use sunglasses while going out in sunlight preferably UV protection.

3.Avoid alcohol and smoking.

4.Avoid too much salt in your diet, because salty foods can cause dry eyes.

5.Don't expose eyes in front of air conditioner,blow dryers or heaters.

Benefits of Split Moong dal

With their skins removed, Mung beans are light yellow in color. These are Mung beans that have been skinned and split, so that they're flat, yellow, and quick-cooking.

They're relatively easy to digest. They are made into Mung bean paste by de-hulling, cooking, and pulverizing the beans to the consistency of a dry paste.

Split Mung Dal : Split Moong Dal is a type of Lentil ,specially used in India with rice or roti. Split Moong dal is prepared from Mung beans only. The outer skin is being removed and split. It makes this lentil in yellow color.

Health Benefits of Yellow Mung dal

1.It is good source of protein and dietary fiber.

2.It is low in fat and rich in potassium ,calcium and B complex vitamins.

3.It is easy to digest and not like other pulses which are heavy for digestion.

4.Dietician always recommend to eat fibrous lentils at least three times a week.

5.The fiber in these lentils help to decrease high cholesterol.

6.Mostly this dal is cooked for sick persons in home.

How to store Yellow Mung Dal?

Store yellow gram in an air tight container.

How to Use Yellow Mung Dal?

Yellow gram is cooked as any other dal is cooked. The dal is pressure cooked along with chopped onion, tomatoes, chilies and ginger garlic paste.Yellow lentils don't hold their shape well, so they're often cooked into soups or purées. Moong dal khichdi and vada are quite popular.Moong dal can be used as stuffing.

Healthy Food Combination

Some foods when combined with other food, are more nutritious and beneficial for our health. Most popular Food combinations for our daily meals.


Beans and Greens:

Beans are rich in proteins and iron. When paired with veggies rich in Vitamin C such as spinach, sprouts and potatoes, it is used for weight loss. Vitamin C rich foods do not aid weight loss directly. But they have water soluble nutrients which make them very low calorie foods.

The combination of beans and veggies won't let you gain those extra kilos. Also, iron content of beans gets better absorbed in the presence of vitamin C from vegetables.

Tomato and Olive Oil:

Tomatoes contains Vitamin C and the antioxidant. This antioxidant lowers the risk of cataracts, osteoporosis, cancer and effects of ageing. Olive oil , also rich in antioxidants, promotes the formation of good cholesterol in the body.

The combo also boosts liver function of protein synthesis and detoxification of the body. It's believed to reduce the effects of hypertension.



Turmeric and Salmon:

Turmeric has healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Salmon is low on carbohydrates and high on protein. When the two are combined, the properties of omega-3 fatty acids present in salmon get a boost and it guards the nervous system against effects of ageing.

It also increases level of good cholesterol which improves heart health. The combination also believed to  slow tumor growth by keeping the cancer cells from multiplying.

Broccoli and Mustard:

Broccoli is a good source of Vitamin C and antioxidants. It has anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties.

The two combat bacterial infections in the urinary tract, excretory system, digestive system and the colon



Whole Grains and Onions:

Whole grains contain iron and zinc in different quantities. The two minerals are absorbed by the body easily in the presence of sulphur in onions.

Whole grains are also rich in Vitamin E which, when combined with Vitamin C, become beneficial for the skin.