Intellectual grooming

Women spend a lot of time and thought on ‘personal grooming’ selecting dresses, cosmetics and accessories ever so carefully, yet intellectual grooming-being well-informed, knowledgeable and in tune with the times – is never given a thought as part of self improvement and grooming.

Unfortunately, the education system in India, with its emphasis on degrees, diplomas, percentages on the mark sheets hardly leaves any room for creativity and self-development. It fails to project education as a lifelong journey in pursuit of information and knowledge.

It is commonly seen that conversation among most housewives revolves around household chores, family, TV soaps, children and related problems and working women talk mostly about traffic jams, servant problems, crèches and problems at the workplace.

For most women, marriage, career and getting out of educational institutions mark the end of intellectual pursuits.


Though gossiping, backbiting and bitching are stress-busters, as claimed by psychologists; it is not wise or decent to always indulge in that. Keeping track of interesting subjects, current trends and topics is what is required in a conversation. 

A well-informed knowledgeable person is held in high esteem by one and all. Knowledge bridges generation gap too.

Some suggestions:

1. Read good books instead of watching mindless soaps on television. It is a complete and rewarding hobby in itself, which enlightens you. It improves the hold on the language.

Groom your intellectual self

2. Devoting half an hour for the day’s newspaper is not too much to ask for. Spend time solving crossword puzzles and sudokus. This will exercise your brain also and decrease the risk of the dreadful ‘Alzheimer’s disease’ in your old age.

3. If your career is concerned with non-tech, then its time for you to get acquainted with technical subjects to pep up your mind and be abreast with the times. 

Become a computer literate by joining a suitable course. 

For tech persons, it will do get if you move over to non-tech interesting subjects like culture, music, arts etc. to diversify your personality.
 
4. Correspondence courses in any interesting subject can also be considered. Age is never a constraint to learn anything new.

5. Keep tab on your family’s investments, savings, liabilities etc. and how they are managed. It gears you up in case of an emergency.

6. Mingle entertainment with enlightenment. Your friends could also be a source of knowledge to you.

7. Maintain a small diary to note down interesting and useful things or services that may come in handy.

Education is a lifelong process. So go ahead and expand your horizons. Groom your intellectual self.

See also: Self-esteem- Why is it so important? / Test your level of self-esteem/Concentration/Cultivating Quality Time /Cultivate inner beauty with better mental health /The art of listening / Tips to beat stress / Tips to regain sense of humor

Tulsi (Basil) for beauty

Nature has provided us with a variety of medicinal herbs and shrubs to preserve health and beauty. Among these, Tulsi (Holy Basil) holds an important position.

This wonder herb has bactericidal properties and from ancient times has had the reputation of being a bestower of health and beauty.

Aroma emanating from Tulsi leaves is beneficial to health

Early in the morning, after your bath, spread a mat in the proximity of a Tulsi plant and inhale the fragrance of the Tulsi leaves. Take deep breaths and allow the aroma emanating from the leaves to sink in and pervade your system.

This fragrance has a great capacity of purifying the blood and correcting any unfavorable alteration in it. Your will feel refreshed and your face will acquire a radiant glow.

Beauty for teenagers

Teenagers normally have youthful glowing skin. The innocence of their age reflects on the skin. They shouldn’t go overboard and cover their baby soft skin with layers of makeup, just to look ‘hip and happening’. It will give them a clumsy look. No doubt they have the urge to follow the latest fashion trends, but while following these fads they should not use very bold and harsh colours which might make them lose the innocence of their age.

In the daytime, a good sun bloc lotion and a moisturizer is ideal. A light touch of a lipstick is all that is needed, no need of outlining the lips. For a party in the evening, choose a very soft and light shade of translucent powder. It will give your skin a youthful radiance.

For a dreamy effect use a good quality mascara. Curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler. Apply a natural shade of shimmer lipstick. This much make-up is sufficient for an innocent youthful looking teenager. But for those who want more, can add a natural shade of blusher to their make-up kit. While going out in the evening, a light touch of blusher on your cheekbones will look just fine.

Teenagers do not really need to take elaborate care of their skin and fuss over it. However if their skin breaks into pimples and acne, the bane of adolescence, they need to consult a dermatologist or for a less severe acne, they can try out a few home remedies. What is more important is to keep the skin clean. Wash your face twice or thrice a day with cold water and apply a good moisturizer.

Drink plenty of water and add lots of fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. This will maintain the natural glow of the skin. In the teens you really do not know which hairstyle is going to suit your face best. You can experiment with as many hairstyles as you like at this point of time.
Category: Skin and body care, Make up

Pranayama

To most people, the word Yoga is synonymous with the Asanas (Yogic postures) only. But since ancient times, Pranayama (yogic breathing exercises) has been practiced to control the body and the mind and make it steady and peaceful for achieving the pure consciousness stage (Samadhi). It was expounded by Patanjali, an ancient Hindu philosopher and yogi. Therefore, in all texts of yoga, Pranayama is highly spoken of and is called the gateway to meditation, as it strengthens the nervous system. There are so many techniques and varieties of Pranayama, through which body is purified and one can maintain good health.

Prevent gray hair

The first grey hair that is seen peeping out of your lustrous black tresses will probably make you sad, thinking that your glorious days of youth are over. But relax other causes-ageing apart –could lead to graying. Check out the problem and keep gray hair at bay.

Graying is a natural process when associated with old age. Graying is to hair what wrinkling is to skin. Both are signs heralding ageing. It is natural for hair to lose much or its body, volume and color with the passing of years. However, sometimes, young people, too, get grey hair and this gives rise to many psychological problems.

Hair gets its color from the pigment just below its surface layer. The more pigment there is, the darker the color. Due to ageing or other factors, these pigment cells become inactive; the hair is not colored and turns white or gray.
Some reasons:
* Fright or great shock.
* Severe illness
* Cessation of breast feeding.
* Infectious diseases like typhoid, scarlet fever, influenza.
* Defective pigment formation occurring at birth.
* The natural ageing process in humans.
* Exposure to very high temperatures.
* Nervous shocks etc.
Some tips to delay the onset of gray hair
* A proper diet with plenty of green leafy vegetables, fruits, and food rich in iron, calcium, etc., helps the hair retain its health and coloring.
* Good sleep and exercises are also important.
* According to acupressure or reflexology, rubbing the finger nails for 5 minutes twice a day promotes hair growth and delays graying of hair.
* ‘Henna’ is very effective in case your hair has grayed prematurely. Read through Henna Hair magic to get an auburn color to your hair. Also henna application is believed to prevent premature graying; it keeps a check on gray hair and is probably the best known natural colorant.
* Dyeing can be harmful to the hair and skin too. Youngsters who have premature gray hair should completely avoid it. They can try using hair colors from reputed companies. But even then they should exercise caution and use it sparingly.
* Regular hair care with products containing natural hair darkening and protecting agents that also have the added capacity to improve and maintain the health of the hair, combined with a suitable diet not only delays graying but can prevent it from spreading.
* Use product which contain ‘henna’(mehendi), soap nut (reetha), shikakai , amla (gooseberry), brahmi(Asiatic pennywort), hibiscus etc.
* Above all try to lead a tension free life.
Category: Hair care
See also: Do’s and Don’ts of Hair-care/ How to get rid of split ends / Fight dandruff yourself/ Home Remedies for dandruff / How to make your hair a crowning glory

Home Remedies for neck pain (cervical spondylosis)

Cervical spondylosis is a disorder of the neck and back that restricts movements of the neck and causes pain.

 Pic credits: Wikipedia

Face mask with cucumber and yoghurt

Cucumber and yoghurt mask:
This has always been used to refine and tone the skin. Many cosmetics claim it as a vital ingredient.
Ingredients:
1/4th cucumber
2 tbsp of yoghurt
Method:
Finely mash and sift the cucumber and mix it with 2 tablespoonfuls of yoghurt. By making a paste you can apply it on the face for 20-25 minutes. If you want something stronger you can try this.
Ingredients:
Juice of 1/4th cucumber
1 egg white
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vodka
Method:
Mash and liquidize the cucumber, strain the mixture to give you the juice. Beat the egg white and slowly add the lemon and cucumber juices to it. Mix well and use it on your face. If your face is greasy, add the vodka. Apply this mixture on your face for 20-30 minutes and relax with cucumber eye pads on the eyes. Wash off with cold water and gently pat dry.
Category: Home made beauty aids
See also: Home facials / Beauty Masks for a glowing complexion/ The whole body softening mask/Home facial foul-ups / Natural skin masks / Herbal Beauty care products form home-1/ Herbal beauty care products from home-2

Ageing, mind and oxygen

Psychologists have found that many of the changes that take place in our bodies and minds are associated with ageing depend on our ‘programmed expectations’. In our society it is assumed for instance that at thirty the first wrinkles appear, at forty middle age starts and at seventy the mind begins to lose its clarity. But according to studies only 12 percent of the population has even the slightest predisposition to the kind of changes that result in senility; yet as people get older they become increasingly worried about it until they may work themselves into a kind of vicious circle of depression and anxiety which results in decline. How you age may have a lot to do with what you expect to happen. Change your expectation and that will help.
Ageing and oxygen:Oxygen plays an important, positive part in protecting the body from age-related damage too. ‘Maximum oxygen consumption’ is the way scientists measure your body’s ability to transport and make use of oxygen for cell metabolism. As you get older this ability decreases at the rate of about 1 percent a year. The lower your oxygen consumption, the less vitality you have and the more susceptible you are to many illnesses. An aerobic exercise program followed regularly over a few weeks can recapture 40 years worth of oxygen capacity which has been lost earlier.
Category: Health

Home Remedies for anemia

The term ‘anemia’ means lack of red blood corpuscles or of hemoglobin. Oxygen is very important for the maintenance and functioning of body cells, and this oxygen is carried from the lungs to different parts of the body through the red blood corpuscles.

When there is a deficiency of hemoglobin or red blood corpuscles (RBC), the patient suffers from weakness and palpitations even after a non-strenuous work. There is evident paleness in the face as well as other parts of the body.

Smooth silky skin with oils

Here is a brief profile of a few oils which help to keep your skin soft and smooth.

CASTOR OIL:
An emollient oil pressed from the beans of the castor plant is rich and used in most of the hair-treating products. It is applied regularly on eye-brows, eye-lashes and hair to encourage hair growth. It also gradually darkens the color of the hair. Castor oil is said to cure warts, corns and even blemishes on the skin. Today’s most of the eye cosmetics include a certain percentage of castor oil.

Oily skin care

To know if you have a oily skin refer the post Know your skin type. Skin that looks oily, feels greasy to touch and is prone to blackheads and pimples is known as oily skin. It is imperative to keep oily skin clean and to control the secretion of oil. A simple but regular skin-care program, coupled with well-balanced, healthy diet helps manage oily skin and minimizes skin-break-outs.

* It is essential to cleanse your face twice a day, once in the morning and once at bedtime. Always use a mild cleanser. They help prevent clogged pores and reduce pimples.
* Follow up the cleanser with an astringent as this removes all excess oil. It is best to avoid an alcohol-based astringent. Instead, it is advisable to use natural products. Alcohol-based products strip too much oil from the face.
* If your skin does break out, do not touch or squeeze the pimples. Pimples, if squeezed , may leave permanent scars. Try out these home remedies for pimples. There are a number of effective pimple creams available in the market today. Consult a dermatologist to know which one is suitable for you.
* If possible, get your face professionally cleansed once a month.
* Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day. Water helps flush out toxins from the body.
* Though there is no evidence to prove that fried foods and chocolates cause pimples, reduce their intake.
* Make sure that you eat a well-balanced diet which includes fruits and green leafy vegetables.
Home Remedies for oily skin
* Wrap an ice cube in a soft cotton cloth and lightly touch it on all the areas of your face. This cold compress will not only leave you feeling refreshed but will also tighten the pores.
* For marks and blemishes left by pimples use calamine lotion. Just dab some lotion on the blemishes at bedtime and they will gradually fade away.
* A great pack for oily skin is chilled cucumber. Finely grate cucumber or blend a cucumber in the blender to form a paste. Chill in the refrigerator. Apply it on the face and relax for 15 minutes. Wash off with cold water. For best results, repeat twice a week, on a clean, cleaned face.
*The powder of lemon peel can also be used as a face pack for oily skin.
Category: Skin and body care
See also: Dry skin care/ Normal skin care / Combination skin care/Daytime skin care

Make-up-Precautions to follow

The beauty market is flooded with a plethora of cosmetics. Here are some precautions that you should exercise while using cosmetics.

• Stop using any product that causes an allergic reaction.
• Keep make-up containers tightly closed when not in use.
• Keep pressurized containers and aerosols away from heat, fire.
• Keep make-up away from sunlight to prevent destruction of the preservatives.
• Follow use-instructions on the product label.
• Do not exceed recommended applications.
• Don’t use eye cosmetics on infants and children
• Don’t use eye cosmetics in case you are suffering from eye infection such as conjunctivitis(pink eye).
• Throw away any make-up you were using when you first discovered the infection.
• Never experiment with the product by adding any liquid to bring back its original consistency unless it is written in the instructions. Adding other liquids could introduce germs that can easily grow out of control.
• Discard the product if you find change in color or odor. This might be due to degradation of preservatives over time, which may not be able to fight bacteria.
• Do not apply make-up while driving. Not only does this make for dangerous driving, but hitting a bump in the road and scratching your eyeball can cause bacteria to contaminate the cut and could result in serious injury, including blindness.
• Never share make-up. Try to use disposable applicator.
• Never use aerosol hairsprays near the heat or while smoking because they can ignite. Hairsprays and powders may cause lung damage if inhaled

See also: Make-up Why is it necessary? /The wonders of cream bleach / Powder for perfect makeup / Makeup with contact lenses-Is it permissible / Eyebrows shaping and care/ Applying lipsticks/ Caution with cosmetics / Make up for spectacle users

Exercise for the homemaker

A busy housewife has very little time for exercises. “Where do I have the time?” she retorts when anyone pesters her to devote some of her time for exercising. Little does she know that in simple everyday movements, as she keeps her busy schedule, there are valuable hidden exercises.

Home Remedies for flatulence/gas

Distension of the stomach and intestines due to wind is called flatulence. 

Normally wind is formed during the process of digestion, but is passed out in the form of flatus. If not, or if formed in excess, this leads to distension of the intestine and stomach. 

In Ayurveda, this condition is called ‘adhmana’. Due to distension, the patient experiences discomfort, loss of appetite, indigestion, breathlessness, headache and sleeplessness. 

Makeup for spectacle users

Clever but not necessarily heavy eye makeup can improve the look of your bespectacled features, compensate for thick lenses and make sure your eyes aren’t overshadowed by showy frames.

Eyeshadow:Lenses for short sight (myopia) are usually thinner in the centre and thicker around the edges, making the eyes look smaller and rounder. To counteract this, you need a positive touch-use two or three toning shades of eye shadow to add depth, don’t always stick to shades that match the color of your iris. Dark brown eyes, for instance, can look sultrier with deep green or blue shadows for shadowing, teamed with lighter, brighter, blue, green, silver or turquoise shadows used as lid highlighters. Gleamy eye shadows help emphasize small eyes. The long sighted (hypermetropia) lenses are thicker at the centre and thinner at the sides, making the eyes look bigger. Go in for subtle rather than striking shadows, and if you have large lids, avoid shades that are too shiny and bright. Take the middle road and pick dusty blues, mossy greens and soft browns.

Eye-liners: Eye-lining is also important to myopic eyes. The eyeliner should be definite, extending up and out at the outer corners of the eye, but never inside the rim of the lower lashes, since this can ‘close’ the eyes. Long sighted women can use just a suggestion of eyeliner following the natural line of the lashes. If you just aim to touch your pencil liner to the roots of the lashes and blend in, you’ll have the right kind of look.

Mascara: Mascara adds a definition to bespectacled eyes. Short sighted people, or anyone who wants to play up rather than play down their eyes will prefer the lash-lengthening variety for a more wide-eyed look.

Lipstick: Lipstick is very important to balance things out. Tone your lipsticks to your frames wherever possible. Brown and berry shades look good.

Hair style: Fluffy curls look out of place with business-lady horn rims. Heavy fringes, of course are disastrous with any kind of specs! Upswept hairstyles do most justice to attractive glasses and give a more uncluttered line to the neck and face.

Accessories: A woman wearing glasses must remember to wear small and delicate ear ornaments. Thin loops or rings, small studs or starts are nice. But heavy dangling earrings don’t go well with spectacles. Try and balance your spectacles with something nice around your neck. A strand of pearls is perfect. A thick short gold cord or a heavy pendant with a delicate gold strand too is very elegant.

See also: Spectacles – Choosing the right frames / Facts about contact lenses / Some quick tips for your eyes only / Make-up with contact lenses- Is it permissible?/ Contact lenses-helpful tips for care and maintenance-1/ Contact lenses-helpful tips for care and maintenance-2

Combination skin

To know whether you have a combination skin, refer to the post Know your skin type.
Skin that is oily in some parts but dry or normal in others is considered as combination skin. The oily skin is concentrated on the T-zone, which is across the forehead, down the nose and chin. Whenever you wash your face, you may find that some areas of your face feel tight after washing; and that these parts look dull or feel dry and rough whereas the T-zone looks shiny, feels oily to touch and is prone to pimples and blackheads.

Combination skin needs special attention because the dry parts of your face need to be nourished, whereas the oily parts need to be kept clean to avoid breakouts. Follow these simple tips each day and see what a difference they make to your skin.

* Cleanse your entire face twice a day. Always use a mild cleanser to gently remove dirt, grime and make-up from your face.
* The dry areas of your face need to be moisturized to prevent formation of premature wrinkles. Use a good moisturizer on the dry parts of your face, and if possible, use an oil-free moisturizer on your T-zone.
* If you use make-up, try and use oil-free/shine-control type of makeup on the T-zone. These products are easily available in the market today and help absorb all the excess oil secretion and control the shine.
* If you have combination skin, your skin will greatly benefit from AHA and vitamin C moisturizers and creams. Products that contain AHA tend to normalize your skin.
Home remedies for Combination Skin
* Always keep a small bottle of rose water in the refrigerator. Saturate a bit of clean cotton with cool rose water and dab liberally on your face. Enjoy the fresh feeling.
* Take 3-4 tbsp of ripe, deseeded papaya pulp. Mash well and cool in the refrigerator. Apply on face and leave it on 10-15 minutes, then wash off with cool water. Papaya helps normalize combination or oily skin and gives it a healthy, beautiful glow.
Category: Skin and body care
See also: 5 golden rules of skin care/ Dry skin care/ Normal skin care / Daytime skin care / Skin care at night

Beauty Uses Of Some Natural foods and Pulses

Fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds milk are some of the natural foodstuffs that can be beneficially used for their cosmetic value besides adding on to the health of a person. These are described herein in brief:

FRUITS
Custard apple(sitaphal):The seeds of custard apple have detergent properties. Their powder is used to kill lice and prevent dandruff. This powder also serves as a good hair wash when mixed with Bengal gram flour(besan).

Foody tips

You are what you eat. A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health.
True, but what happens when that food is just anything? We rush to work as soon as we wake up in the morning without breakfast and grab foods like burgers, chaats, pastries etc instead of our lunches!

We go out in the evenings which but of course includes a meal in the restaurant. However, the plush décor of the restaurants does not ensure good quality food neither do burgers and pizzas.

Home made herbal soaps

Our skin needs regular cleansing, toning and nourishing. Fragrant herbal soaps and cosmetic preparations cleanse the skin deeply, restore the natural pH and also nourish it deeply. Here is simple exotic, gentle and soft action soap. Use with warm or cold water only.
Ingredients:
100 gm. Pears soap (or any simple, uncolored, unscented soap)
50 gm. Mint (pudina), neem and tulsi (basil) leaves.
200 ml. pure water.
1 tbsp. rose or sandalwood(chandan) oil
Method:
Coarsely, grate the soap into a bowl. Make a normal strength *infusion of herbs. Add the soap shreds and cook on a very slow heat till the soap melts and whisk hard until smooth. Remove from heat and beat in oil. Pour into waxed paper cups. When cool, cover with butter paper and leave it in a warm, dry place for about 2-4 weeks until firm.

*How to prepare infusion of herbs?
The first basic knowledge required is the preparation of herbal infusions. For a weak infusion, use half a handful of fresh herbs. For normal strength use three handfuls and for a strong infusion, use six handfuls. Infusions should be made by pouring boiling water (say 100 to 250 ml.) over the herb. Then leave it covered for half an hour and then strain. It is always best to use filter water for cosmetic purposes for the infusion to last longer.
For other home made skin care beauty products refer these posts:
Herbal beauty products from home-1
Herbal beauty products from home-2
Herbal beauty hair care products from home
Category:Home made beauty aids
See also: Baths / Soaps / Sunscreen / Deodorants and anti-perspirants

Short Permed Hair

Permed hair has become very popular these days. Perming makes all types of hair look attractive. Though it suits long hair more, even short hair can be given a unique look by perming. Let us know about some new permed hairstyles.

Eye yoga

A lot of eye problems in later life are due to a loss of tone in the eye muscles. These muscles become rigid and the loss of elasticity reduces the ability of the lens of the eye to focus at different distances.

Take your posture:

While doing eye exercises, check on your posture. Is your spine erect? Hands on the knees? Body relaxed? Head straight?

That is how you should always remain while doing eye exercises. The whole body must be motionless; nothing must move except the eyes.

Raise your eyes and find a small point that you can see clearly without straining, without frowning, without becoming tense and, of course, without moving your head.

While doing this exercise look at this point each time you raise your eyes.

Next, lower your eyes to find a small point on the floor which you can see clearly when glancing down. Look at it each time you lower your eyes.

Exercise 1

Move your eyes upwards as far as you can, and then downwards as far as you can. Repeat 4 more times. Blink quickly a few times to relax the eye muscles.

Exercise 2

Now do the same using points to your right and to your left, at eye level. Keep your raised fingers or two pencils on each side as guides and adjust them so that you can see them clearly when moving the eyes to the right and to the left, but without straining.

Keeping the finger at eye level, and moving only the eyes, look to the right at your chosen point, then to the left. Repeat four times. Blink several times, and then close your eyes and rest.

Exercise 3

Choose a point you can see from the right corner of your eyes when you lower them, half closing the lids. Look at your chosen point in the right corner up, then to the one in left corner down. Repeat 4 times. Blink several times. Close the eyes and rest. Now do the same exercise in reverse.

Exercise 4

This exercise is called ‘palming’ and is very relaxing to the eyes. It is also most important for preserving the eyesight. Palming also has a beneficial, relaxing effect on your nervous system.

Remain seated on the floor. Draw up your knees, keeping your feet on the floor and slightly apart. Now briskly rub your palms to charge them with electricity and place the cupped palms over your closed eyes.

The fingers of the right hand should be crossed over the fingers of the left hand on the forehead. The elbows should rest on your raised knees and the neck should be kept straight. Don’t bend your head. Do the deep breathing while palming your eyes.

Benefits:

These exercises help to do away with eye strain and tension. Your vision will get better and clearer as the ophthalmic, or eye nerves receive a richer supply of blood.

See also:  

• Some quick tips for your eyes only 
•  Eye care for computer users 
•  First aid tips for eye emergencies

Caution with cosmetics

If you have an allergic reaction to a cosmetic, you should stop using all cosmetics until your doctor will try to determine which ingredient, or combination of ingredients, has caused the problem. It does not mean that you should not use the cosmetics at all.

Serious problems from cosmetics are rare, but sometimes problems may arise with specific products which may cause you discomfort.

It is dangerous to use aerosol hairspray near heat, fire, or while smoking as it can ignite and cause serious burns if not fully dry.

Fires related to aerosol hairsprays have caused injuries and deaths. If inhaled, aerosol hairsprays or powders can cause lung damage.

Scratching the eye with a mascara wand should not be done, as it is the most common injury from cosmetics. It can also result in eye infections, ulcers on the cornea, loss of lashes, or even blindness.

To play safe, never apply mascara while riding in a car, bus, train or plane. Sharing cosmetics can also lead to serious problems.

Cosmetics become contaminated with germs that the brush or applicator sponges picks up from the skin. If you moisten brushes using saliva, the problem is much more severe.

Wash your hands before using make-up to prevent exposure of the make-up to germs.

Artificial nails, when not applied correctly, can be a source of problems. They must be completely sealed because any space left between the natural nail and the artificial nail, may cause fungal infection. Such infections can cause permanent nail loss.

Sleeping while wearing make-up can cause problems, too. If mascara flakes into your eyes, you might awaken with itching, sore, reddened eyes, and possibly infections or eye scratches. Remove all make-up before going to bed to avoid eye infections or injury.

Natural skin masks

Application of masks is an age old remedy to stimulate the skin. Apart from the commercially available masks, you can opt for some of these masks, available right inside your refrigerator and with a few minutes of effort you will be rewarded with a glowing skin.

Calcium for strong, healthy bones and teeth

“Calcium”, and most of us think of kid who are still cutting new teeth and growing in height. Adults hardly ever think of taking calcium supplements themselves. Actually, we never really outgrow our need for plenty of calcium. Calcium is important for you, no matter what your age or sex.
Before birth:Yes, even unborn humans need a steady supply of calcium to lay down a normal health skeleton, particularly the spine. No wonder pregnant women absorb calcium at twice the normal rate.
Childhood: A person who did not have enough calcium in childhood can be spotted a mile away, simply by his bow-legs and knock-knees. Calcium is what gives hardness and similarly, calcium is the major component of teeth. Shortage of calcium reduces the rate of teeth growth.
Adolescence and young adulthood: Calcium needs reach a peak because at this time the body goes through its final growth spurt. It is also now that it will build its maximum bone density that must be going to last a lifetime. Shortage of calcium at this stage results in thin bones that will bend and beak easily from middle age onwards.
Pregnancy and breast feeding: The unborn baby absorbs two thirds of the calcium that the mother consumes. Unless she increases her own intake, the baby will draw the calcium from her bones, leaving her with a weaker skeleton. During breast feeding, the daily loss of calcium through milk is between 40 and 60 mg. To keep her own calcium balance, a breast feeding mom needs extra calcium.
From 35 onwards to menopause in women: Calcium is essential to keep up the bone density, which you build up, in young adulthood. A deficiency will lead start the bone-thinning-process early.
Menopause to 60 years: Menopause starts off the bone-thinning process, leading to shaky teeth and stooping shoulders that are common in post-menopausal women. Go strong on the calcium to delay ageing of your skeleton.
After sixty: Calcium is vital to prevent bones from thinning down to a fracture threshold, where major bones like spine, hip and thigh break easily. This can turn a self reliant senior person into a dependent invalid.

Now that you are aware of the importance of calcium in leading healthy lives, it needs to be said that calcium can be consumed in the form of supplements. Calcium supplements are available under a lot of brand names which assure the goodness of the product.

So, you need your daily calcium. Even if you are well past childhood!
Category: Health, exercises
See also: Benefits of walking / Facial exercises for a youthful look-1 / Facial exercises for a youthful look-2 / Water-some health benefits of drinking it / For a good-night’s sleep / Bad breath (Halitosis) / Weight reduction diet tips / Simple tips for sitting