Do you have problem with ECZEMA?

Eczema is a condition that causes skin to become red, itchy, and dry. If you have eczema, you might notice that you are prone to getting itchy rashes - especially in places like where your elbows and knees bend or on your neck and face. The symptoms of eczema can vary from person to person. Though you can't cure eczema forever, there are things you can do to prevent it from flaring:

1. Stay away from things like harsh detergents, perfumed soaps, and heavily fragranced lotions that tend to irritate the skin and trigger eczema.

2. Because water tends to dry out the skin, take short, warm showers and baths. If you're going to have your hands in water for a long time (like when you're washing dishes or your car), try wearing gloves.

3. Soothe your skin with regular applications of moisturizer to prevent itching and dryness. Creams generally moisturize a bit better and last longer than lotions for most people. Creams work best if applied when the skin is slightly wet, like just after bathing.

4. Be careful what fabrics you wear. Cotton is good because it's breathable and soft. Try to stay away from materials like wool or spandex that may cause irritation or allergic reactions.

5. Keep stress in check. Because stress can lead to eczema flares, try activities like yoga or walking after a long day to keep your stress levels low.

6. If you wear makeup, look for brands that are free of dyes and fragrances that can aggravate eczema.

If you're having trouble managing your eczema, talk to a dermatologist. He or she will be able to suggest ways you can better control it.

How much water do you need a day?

Water is an important structural component of skin cartilage, tissues and organs. For human beings, every part of the body is dependent on water. Our body comprises about 75% water: the brain has 85%, blood is 90%, muscles are 75%, kidney is 82% and bones are 22% water. The functions of our glands and organs will eventually deteriorate if they are not nourished with good, clean water.

The average adult loses about 2.5 litres water daily through perspiration, breathing and elimination. Symptoms of the body's deterioration begins to appear when the body loses 5% of its total water volume. In a healthy adult, this is seen as fatigue and general discomfort, whereas for an infant, it can be dehydrating. In an elderly person, a 5% water loss causes the body chemistry to become abnormal, especially if the percentage of electrolytes is overbalanced with sodium. One can usually see symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles, lethargy and even disorientation. Continuous water loss over time will speed up aging as well as increase risks of diseases.

If your body is not sufficiently hydrated, the cells will draw water from your bloodstream, which will make your heart work harder. At the same time, the kidneys cannot purify blood effectively. When this happens, some of the kidney's workload is passed on to the liver and other organs, which may cause them to be severely stressed. Additionally, you may develop a number of minor health conditions such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nosebleeds, urinary tract infection, coughs, sneezing, sinus pressure, and headaches.

The Benefits of Eating Wheat

An important battle in the war against disease may be whole-grain wheat. While it has long been believed that wheat's fiber content might prevent cancer, new research shows that wheat contains powerful antioxidants that strongly contribute to the prevention of colon cancer, and possibly diabetes and heart disease. These antioxidants are found in the wheat's orthophenols, and orthophenols survive the baking process. --Kansas State University.

Sodas Settle Around the Waistline

Drinking just one can of sugary soda per day, without adjusting the amount of food eaten or increasing one's exercise level, can add 15 pounds of body weight over a year's time. A 12-ounce can of sugary soda has 150 calories. Americans now drink twice as much sugared soda per person as they did 25 years ago. Fruit and vegetable juices, and water with a bit of lemon, are great alternatives to the soda habit.--University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Pure water can be a WONDERFUL Doctor!

If you are suffering from fatigue, you feel depressed or too stressed, and you are looking for more energy, water could be just the ticket. Also, if you are interested in losing weight and/or controlling your appetite, if you suffer from dry skin, indigestion, backaches, or headaches, drinking more water might be the solution, at least partly. Water makes up between 70 and 80 percent of our bodies--the blood and brain are 90 percent water! Your cells need it to do everything they're assigned by God, and your kidneys use it to filter out harmful elements. It also helps to lubricate our joints, metabolize fat, keep the brain thinking, and a host of other life-sustaining processes.
Water is a great way to help control one's physical body--as more water consumption typically results in less food consumption. In addition, drinking adequate amounts of water will significantly reduce the daily calories so readily consumed when drinking juice, soft drinks, and milk.
There are several ideas about how much water we need to consume to maintain good health. One rule of thumb is eight ounces a day for every 25 pounds of body weight. You should check with your doctor before changing your diet, but it is a fact that for most people more water will greatly benefit their health.
Your body recycles water in a way only God could have devised, but you will naturally lose water through breathing, sweating, and elimination. To avoid losing excess water, stay away from alcohol, caffeine, and sugar, which slow the absorption of water.--Adapted from Amazing Facts, Inside Report, May/June 2003

Almond + Milk : For fairer skin

Yesterday, I have posted how useful the yogurt to lighten your skin. Today, I've found another tip which I think might be useful, if you wish to have fairer skin. Same as yogurt, apply the mixture as masker.

Take 6-8 pieces of almonds. Add about 2 tablespoons of water and heat for 30 seconds in microwave. Set aside for about 8 hours. After that time period, peal the skin off the almonds and discard the skin. Add about 4 teaspoons milk and grind this into a smooth paste using either a small blender or mortar and pestle. Apply this almond milk preparation on your face gently. If it does not bother you, it is best to leave it applied overnight and then wash your face with cold water in the morning. But if it does not feel right to sleep with the mask on the face, then apply it in the evening for at least 2-3 hours and then wash before going to bed. Application of this mask is recommended every day. You can use more quantity of the ingredients and make paste enough for 4-5 days and keep it in refrigerator. When ready to apply, just add a little milk if it becomes too dry in the refrigerator.

Yogurts : Helps to lighten your skin

If you wish to have fairer complexion or lighten up the scars, try yogurt. Yogurt can help to lighten your skin. Just apply the yogurt as masker and leave it about 20 minutes. Then, wash your face with warm tap water. Apply this masker 2 ~ 3 times a week .

But remember, DO NOT USE THE FLAVOR YOGURT. Use the original plain yogurt. Try it at homes and see the differents.

Beauty treat 10 : Prawns

For : Soft and dewy skin

Prawns are ideal if your skin has lost some of its lustre and softness. They contains copper, vital for creating collagen and springy elastin, which form the deeper layers of the skin. Copper also helps to absorb ultraviolet rays and create an even, natural skin color.

Also eat seaweed.

What food are rich in antioxidants?

Single antioxidants, like Vitamin E or beta carotene, have never lived up to hype that they halt heart disease, cure cancer, eradicate eye disease or prevent Alzheimer's disease.

That shouldn't be suprising. The notion that antioxidants are good for you comes from studies showing that people who eat food rich in antioxidants have better long-term health. Trials, of single supplements, usually taken in pill form, have yeilded disappointing result.

Antioxidants stabilise harmful by products of the body's energy-making machinery. These by product, known as free radicals, can damage DNA, make LDL (bad cholesterol) even worse, and wreak havoc elsewhere in the body.

It's possible that single antioxidants haven't panned out because it takes a network of antioxidants - like those that exist in foods, to neutralize free radicals. If that's the case, then it would be helpful to determine the antioxidant of various foods.

An international team of researchers, did just that for more than a 1 000 foods. Topping the list were, blackberries, walnuts, strawberries, artichokes, cranberries, coffee, raspberries, pecans, blueberries and ground cloves.

The researchers were careful not to claim that eating the top of the list will keep you healty. Instead, they believe that rating the antioxidant potential of different foods could help test whether antioxidants really do prevent disease.

In the meantime, the list toppers are healthy foods, so don't hesitate to dig in.

Source from : Havard Heart Letter/Premium Health News Service