Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Bad breath is a common problem and a cause for social embarrassment faced by majority of adults; in children it is comparatively rare. Very rarely will people tell the sufferer that he/she has it and the sufferers themselves may be quite unaware of it. One simple test that helps to detect it is to lick the back of your hand and sniff it. This puts your saliva and mouth odor under your nose and is a good guide to the state of your breath. Once bad breath is confirmed, the next step is treatment which will be based on the factors causing the same.

Pearls

Pearls are amongst the oldest and most universal of all gems and the only gem made by a living animal, the pearl oyster. Throughout history, the pearl, with its warm inner glow and shimmering iridescence, has been one of the most prized and sought-after gems. Pearls have been considered ideal wedding gifts because they symbolize purity and innocence.

Beauty and emotions - kinship between them

Beauty isn’t skin-deep. This saying is true as far as our health and looks are concerned. Emotions rule our life and have a powerful effect on our health. There are two types of emotions viz. positive and negative. Positive emotions enhance the beauty of the face, whereas pessimistic ones lessen it. Some facts about positive emotions:

Feet-Pamper them

Though we cannot do without them, feet are probably the most neglected areas of our body. They do not receive as much care and attention as do our face, hair and hands. Our feet endure a lot of wear and tear in the course of the day. So it is our duty to protect them, pamper them and guard them from infections. Strong, clean and well-looked after feet invite admiring glances from everyone. 

Here are a few suggestions for foot care:
* Always try to keep your feet clean and dry. Wash your feet as soon as you come from outside or if you have just finished gardening. Pay special attention while drying your feet. Always ensure that you dry your feet well, especially between the toes.

* Pamper your feet with the luxury of foot bath when they ache. Foot bath not only relieves pain, but also banishes bad odor of the feet and prevents cracking. Add 1 tbsp common salt and a few rose petals to warm water kept in a tub, and soak your aching feet in it for 10-15 minutes. During winter use 1 tsp mustard powder instead of salt.

Powder for perfect makeup

At one time, applying only face powder constituted the total make-up and one depended entirely on it to look good. The heavy and pure white powder of yesteryear was the favorite beauty aid to augment one’s appearance. But, today we have fine powder in varied shades to match individual skin textures.

Translucent face powder is most popular and easiest to use since it has very little of a color and allows natural skin tone to glow through it. Applied over a foundation or on its own, it helps to take a shine off the face. It is good for oily skin as it absorbs excess oil, does not clog pores and blends well into the skin. Found in 3 tones, light, dark and medium – you can select the one that suits you.

Shampooing your hair

Why should you shampoo the hair?
Shampooing is an integral part of hair care. Dirt from the air, natural oils and scalp secretions, hair dressings, hair sprays, gels etc. cling to the hair shaft and make thorough cleansing absolutely essential.Shampoo cleanses the hair and gives it a pleasant, lingering fragrance. Clean hair is beautiful hair.
Use a shampoo and not a soap to clean hair
It is a must to use a shampoo and not soap. Soap has carbonate in it, which remains on the hair after it has been rinsed and over the long haul makes the hair coarse and brittle.
Choosing the right shampoo
The ideal shampoo is the one which removes dirt and oil from the hair without drying or damaging the hair, leaving it clean, bright and manageable. Today the market is flooded with various brands of shampoos. Choose your shampoo very carefully according to the condition & type of hair. Shampoos are ‘tailor made’ to suit different needs. For instance, dandruff prone scalps require medicated shampoos, greasy & oily scalps need shampoos with a formula to combat oiliness, dry hair needs a mild shampoo enriched with vitamin oil. Herbal shampoos solve the problem or falling hair & split ends to some extent.
Steps to a successful shampooing
1) A basic tip of shampooing hair is to comb it first. It removes the surface dirt and eliminates all the tangles in the hair and makes it more manageable after a shampoo.
2) While washing, it is best to make hair soaking-wet first and then taking a dollop size shampoo in your hands, working the shampoo from the ends up to the scalp.
3) The application of the shampoo should be such that it is spread evenly across the hair and scalp, massaging in well gently using fingertips for the scalp. Concentrate much on areas where dirt and debris collect.
4) A common way followed by most people while washing is lathering the hair at the top and then vigorously rubbing it. Stop that immediately if you are doing the same. It is very harmful to hair cuticles to be washed that way and makes the hair weak, finally resulting in split ends.
5) Rinse well removing even the slightest trace of the shampoo from the hair.
6) If the hair is still greasy then shampoo once again and then rinse thoroughly once again until your hair has that squeaky feel.
7) Finish with a cold water rinse to make the hair shine.
8) Keep in mind, if you wash your hair with too harsh a shampoo, or too often it will become dry and brittle.
Intervals at which the hair should be shampooed
Normal hair: Weekly
Dry hair: Weekly
Oily hair: As often as necessary, but at least twice a week.
Dandruff prone hair: Twice a week.
See also: How to make your hair a crowning glory / Fight Dandruff yourself / Care of dry hair / Care of Oily hair / Care of Normal Hair

Beauty Masks for a glowing complexion

Masks are a marvelous way to pamper yourself with, besides their being one of the oldest forms of beautifying treatment. You put on a preparation, leave it for 10 to 20 minutes and then wash it off. There are many different kinds of masks: some act as pick-me-up, some have nourishing, healing or cleansing actions, some whip up the circulation and some others have an astringent action.

Unfortunately, masks cannot perform miracles but they do freshen up the skin and leave it soft and glowing. They cannot be used everyday, but once a week or just when your skin needs a boost. One of the most important things to remember, when using a mask, is to relax completely. Lie with your feet up, put on eye-pads and relax. 

Blackheads-Get rid of them

These are visible as black dots on the skin surface. These occur when there is an increased activity of the sebaceous glands and an accumulation of oil, dirt and dead cells in the pores. Mostly, people with oily skin have them. These are mostly found on the face, nose, chin and forehead. You should never pick them up as this sometimes results in infection and even permanent marks. Although obstinate and persistent, they usually respond to treatment and can be removed. Treatment advised is deep cleansing, steaming, extraction, mask & avoiding faulty food.

Spectacle frames- tips on choosing the right one

So you need to wear glasses. A neat pair of glasses can actually enhance your features or compensate for your not- so- perfect facial features to make you look good. Frames first. These are basically either plastic, metal-rimmed or half eyes, with a whole range of permutations and colors, couture designs as well as conservative styles.

Here’s how you can choose the correct spectacle frame for your face: 
Color of the frames:Fair persons should opt for pastel shades, clear or metal frames, leaving the horn-rims and dramatic shades for people with a dark complexion. Basically, as regards frame color, emphasis can be made on eye color by echoing it in a deeper shade, or the frames can match the hair color.

Normal Hair care

Normal hair is glossy, healthy and sleek with a clear shine. It is neither greasy nor dry. This type of hair looks good in any style. You are really lucky if you have this type of hair. The flip side is that this type of hair can have dry ends. Normal hair also needs good care to maintain the natural beauty. If you have this kind of hair, maintain it by following these simple steps:

*Massage your hair twice a week with warm coconut oil.
*Give your hair hot-towel treatment twice a month. Then shampoo it. For this refer article on dry hair.
*Use a mild shampoo enriched with vitamins for normal hair. Always buy a shampoo with conditioner.
* While conditioning, massage the conditioner into the ends to give them extra protection
*Let the hair dry the natural way.

Keep your voice young and healthy

Speech is unique to human beings, and voice is a powerful medium. The voice is not only the medium for conveying the message, but also an outlet for expression of feelings. 

While most of us use voice only for conversing with fellow beings, there are others who need to use their voice a lot for their professions; teachers, clergymen, preachers, singers, actors, dubbing artists, TV presenters to name a few. 

It is these people who need to take utmost care of their voice so that they don’t develop problems. Like other faculties, age too takes its toll on the voice. 

Around the age of 45, subtle variations in the voice start occurring in both sexes. In males, the habitual pitch starts to go up and in females it tends to slide down. 

Self esteem-Why is it so important?

Go and stand in front of a mirror. What kind of image do you see? Do you see yourself as a confident, healthy, pleasing person?

Do you love yourself? Do you accept yourself fully with all your plus and minus points? Are you happy with your self image? If you are not, it means you do not have adequate self-esteem (self-respect).

Besides good health and other basic needs of life, self-esteem is a requisite to keep you happy. Self-esteem is also important for maintaining good mental health. It is one of the major ingredients in the formula for success.

According to Brian Tracy: "Your self-esteem is probably the most important part of your personality. It precedes and predicts your performance in almost everything you do."

"Your level of self-esteem is really your level of mental fitness. To perform at your best and to feel terrific about yourself, you should be in a perpetual state of self-esteem."

When self-esteem is very low, it is difficult for you to achieve success. This is because you waste a lot of time worrying about what people think of you, worrying about your real or imaginary weaknesses, the mistakes committed in the past and what future has in store for you.

The time wasted in worrying could have been better utilized on studies or on equipping yourself with more information and training, to do better in sports, debates, singing, swimming or whatever work you have on hand. When your self-esteem is poor you will not be able to even communicate with your fellow beings.

You may be good-looking, born with a silver spoon in your mouth, talented and possess variety of skills. But, if you don’t value yourself, it will be reflected in your behavior and in turn others will also underestimate you. It’s not their fault really.

How can you expect others to value yourself, when you yourself don’t? Your other counterparts may not be as talented or as skillful as you are. But they will definitely score over you if they have a better self-image compared to you.


The moment you develop a better self image, you will be surprised to note the changes. If you are a student, your academic performance & performance in extracurricular activities will improve. I

f you are employed, you will perform much better in your job and rise high on the corporate ladder.

Feeling good about yourselves will enable you to enjoy life more and more. Feeling that you are accepted, liked and loved, means you have healthy self-esteem, and this feeling will be reflected in your relationships.

One of the major causes of broken relationships is low self-esteem.

Developing self-esteem enables you to invite happiness in your life. It is this feeling that makes you believe that you deserve happiness.


A person, who has the treasure of self-esteem, moves ahead. In addition, he/she can easily adjust to all kinds of people and situations, can relax, trust, help and appreciate others easily.

So go and hunt for that treasure of self-esteem. It is within you only.

See also: Cultivate inner beauty with better mental health / Laughter, the best medicine / Inner Beauty / Sense of humor-tips to regain it

Water – some health benefits of drinking it

Staying properly hydrated is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to stay in good health.

DAILY WATER CONSUMPTION
For normal metabolism, a human body releases 500ml of water in the form of urine every day. Through breathing and sweating, the body releases another 500ml-800ml of water. Therefore maintaining a content of 1000ml of water in one’s body is of utmost importance at all times.
IMPROVES BLOOD CIRCULATION
Water helps the blood in transporting nutrients, antibodies and blood cells to infected areas when sick and it removes toxin and waste from the body. With this, it smoothens metabolism and at the same time increases the immunity of the body.

Fruit juices for a cool summer

Though torrential rains have lashed most parts of South India, some parts of North India are still in the throes of the hot summer. Whether it is to quench your thirst or for a celebration, a cool refreshing drink is always welcome in summer.Benefits of drinking juices in summer

In summer, juices not only help in overcoming fatigue but also boost energy and work wonders in a state of dehydration. Moreover they are rich in various kinds of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, low in calories and boost the immune system. Water melons, juicy grapes, oranges, mangoes and melting pears are all filled with the goodness of summer. Mango, the king of the fruits is the hot favorite and a ‘welcome guest’ of this season. So make the most of this fruit while it is there.

Top 5 Tips To Regain Sense Of Humor

Our sense of humor abandons us right when we need it the most- on a really bad day. We seem to associate growing up with “getting serious”. Sometimes we suppress our laughter simply because we are afraid of what others will think of us. Our funny bone gets broken.

Aloevera, the wonder herb

Of all the herbs available in the kitchen garden, aloe is perhaps the richest in healing properties and has been rightly named the “first-aid” plant.

It has moisturizing and emollient properties and is used in cosmetic creams, sun-lotions, shaving creams and face packs. It can easily be cultivated as a house-plant in a sunny warm spot with good drainage.

Cosmetologists mix aloe with several other herbs and draft fancy names for it. Then these “herbal” avatars are sold at exorbitant prices.

Growing a plant and using fresh gel is much more effective than bottled gel, simply because it is alive and therefore is more potent. It is the only plant whose extract is applied directly from plant to face in its natural and purest form.

Oily hair and its care

This type of hair is straight, shiny and dull. It gives a bouncy look the day you shampoo, but the next day it starts looking dull and lifeless. It is lank, cannot keep its style and can easily become smelly as dust particles tend to stick easily due to oiliness of the hair. Dandruff is a major problem with this type of hair. If this is your hair type, maintain your hair in the following way.