Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has many uses. Externally, it is applied for burns and sprains. Internally, it can be taken for jaundice, constipation, loss of appetite and gas formation in the stomach. In burns, the juice or the pulp of the fleshy part of the leaf is applied externally. For sprains, the pulp or the juice may be gently rubbed over the affected part two to three times.

For all these ailments the juice or pulp of this plant is given. You can add a pinch of salt or sugar to the juice, which is bitter. For treating children with aloe juice, you can add honey, sugar, or jaggery to it. For a patient suffering from jaundice, the juice or pulp should be given by adding jaggery or sugar (salt should not be added).

The dose: Both pulp and juice of the aloe should be given in a dose of one teaspoonful (5 ml) thrice a day, preferably on an empty stomach. Keep a growing aloe in your kitchen windowsill handy as it is a great first aid treatment for burns. Aloe Vera will stop the pain almost immediately and even help in healing if a little of it is freshly applied after a few hours.

Red meat link to breast cancer ?

Burgers, bacon, hot dogs, bologna - their effect have taken another hit. Researcher are now reporting that younger woman who indulge a taste of red meat may their chances of getting a common type of breast cancer.

The connection between eating red meat and breast cancer has been studied before, with no clear conclusions. This study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, zeroed in on premenopausal woman between the ages of 26 and 46 and looked not just at overall rates of breast cancer but at the incidence of different types of the disease.

About 60% of breast cancers are fuelled by the hormones oestrogen and progesterone; the thought is that certain components of red meat, including compounds that develop when is cooking and hormones fed to the animal to spur growth, could encourage the development of that kind of cancer.

Researchers analysed the diets and health records of more than 90 000 women over a period of 12 years. About 1000 cases ofbreast cancer developed. Of those, the women who deveoped cancers sensitive to oestrogen and progesterone (about half of all cases in study) had a histry of eating more red meat than either women who didn't get cancer at all or those who had cancers not fuelled by the hormones.

The extra risk range from 14% more for those who ate between three and five servings per week up to nearly double for who ate more than 1.5 servings a day. Red meat included beef, lamb or pork even as a main dish in sandwiches, and in processed form.

The study does not difinitively prove cause and effect. But given that red meat has also been implicated in other forms of cancer and heart disease.

Source : Premium Health News Service/TMSI

Simple Solutions for Better Skin

Here are a just a few natural skin care solutions for you to try. You'll be very pleased with
the results:-

1. Once a week, rub your skin with baking soda while in the shower, for a smooth, silky feeling. You can also do this on your face to remove blackheads.

2. Fresh tomatoes are great for the oily areas of your face. (Please makesure to try the tomato juice on your arm first, as your skin may be sensitive to it). Rinse thoroughly immediately after using the tomato juice.

3. For a great moisturizer try olive oil. This healthy fat is good for you and is great for your skin. You can also use it to soothe sunburned skin.

4. Vinegar can work wonders for smelly feet and armpits. Mix water and vinegar 50/50, and use in place of deodorant: it will keep the unpleasant sweat smell away, without any irritation. As for your feet, if you suffer with athlete's foot, a week of vinegar foot bath will help a lot, sometimes completely getting rid of your condition.

5. Egg yolk mixed with honey makes for a really great mask. Apply it on your skin, leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse off. Excellent for sensitive skin. Honey gives a tingling/ticklish sensation, so if you are sensitiveto that, use the egg yolk alone.

6. Another use for egg yolk: for those with eczema, use it instead of soap.It doesn't smell great, but it will heal your damaged skin.

7. A great treatment for dry skin is avocados. What you have to do is mash it, smooth it onto your face, and rinse off after 20 minutes.

8. Lastly, make sure you drink 8 glasses of water every day to keep your skin cared from the inside out.

Fiber in Your Diet

Why do I need fiber in my diet?

Dietary fiber is the part of plants that cannot be digested. There are 2 kinds of dietary fiber. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to keep foods moving through the digestive system. Soluble fiber holds water which, in turn, softens the stool for easy bowel movements. Fiber is an important part of your diet even though it passes through your body. A high-fiber diet can:

reduce cholesterol levels
promote regular bowel movements
improve blood sugar levels in diabetics
treat diverticular disease (inflammation of part of the intestine) and irritable bowel syndrome (abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation that come and go).

A high-fiber diet may help prevent some cancers, such as colon and breast.
If you do not have enough fiber in your diet, you may have constipation. Your bowel movements may be small, hard, and dry.

What foods contain fiber?

Breads, cereals, and pasta made with whole-grain flour and brown rice are high-fiber foods. Many breakfast cereals list the bran or fiber content, so it's easy to know which products are high in fiber. All fruits and vegetables also contain fiber. Dried beans, leafy vegetables, peas, raisins, prunes, apples, and citrus fruits are all especially good sources of fiber.

How much fiber do I need in my diet?

You should have at least 14 grams of fiber for every 1000 calories that you eat every day. Read the label on food packages to find out how much fiber a serving of a food will provide. Foods containing more than 20% of the daily value of fiber per serving are considered high in fiber.

How to maintain your contact lenses

Don't leave your lenses lying around. When not in use, store them in the appropriate container with the cleaning solution. A dusty atmosphere and chemical fumes may damage your lenses, if they are left uncovered. Utmost hygiene must be maintained as contact lenses come into direct contact with your eyes.



Always wash your hands before you handle your lenses. Daily sterilisation of your lens is a must for soft lens users. Sterilisation refers to cleaning of the lenses with the prescribed cleaning solution, which are sold along with the lenses. Clean the lenses daily ONLY with a cleaner prescribed by your doctor. Regular water must not be used for this, as it is not sterile and may damage the lenses. Change the storage fluid daily.



If the cleaning solution or the storage fluid is unclean, or the container is dirty, this may damage the lenses and, in turn, your eyes. If your lenses do not settle on the eye, get them checked. If you experience any sort of pain, watering, redness, discharge, decreasing vision or heaviness, remove the lenses immediately and consult your doctor. Change the lenses periodically, depending upon their life span.

Weekend Beauty Read

A Touch of Blusher ----> Bring It Back!! Calvin Klein Cosmetics
Ageless in Los Angeles ----> Celebrity Beauty: Cameron Diaz
Beautiful Makeup Search ----> Don’t just bronze, bronze yourself with benefits.
Beauty and Fashion Tech ----> Benefit Cosmetics Realness of Concealness Kit
Beauty and Personality Grooming ----> Choose the right sunglasses for your face
Hello Dollface ----> Awake Cosmetics new Stardom line, love it!
Pretty by Nature ----> How Burt’s Bees is Setting the Natural Standard.
Spa Blah Blah ----> The Girl’s Guide to Biking and Baking: LUCA Sunscreen Review
The Life of a Ladybug ----> Lips by Rimmel and Sally
The Mineral Makeup Blog ----> Mineral Makeup Review : Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Base

Skin Care Throughout Life

From the day we are born, our skin requires much care to remain smooth and healthy. It begins with soap to keep us clean. Then, there are creams,powders, and ointments to keep diaper rash from our bottoms.

During the first few years of our lives, our skin will do well with soap for cleaningand the occasional lotion or cream for moisture. Then come the teen years. Our raging hormones bring out the oily skin, the pimples, and a host of other conditions. It's important to understand that everything that comes in contact withour body affects our health and the condition of our skin. That's why choosing natural skin care products and ingredients is important.

The liver filters the toxins and poisons from the food we eat, but whatever we place on our skin is directly absorbed. This includes deodorant, lotions, gels, cleansers, toners, make-up, perfumes, and more. As we age, our skin becomes more sensitive, and we need to be even more careful with the beauty treatments we use.

Hair Loss : Avoid using too many hair-styling products

Gels, waxes, sprays all add to the build-up of deposits on your scalp.

Don't colour, perm or straighten your hair too frequently
Repeated exposure to chemicals while colouring, perming or straightening could lead to permanent damage and loss of hair. Colouring should be done by a professional and always insist on a pre-colouring hair protective conditioner before applying colour.

For brittle hair, apply an egg white over your hair for 15 minutes and shampoo.

For dandruff, apply tea tree oil (available at shops selling essences and natural oils). Lemon juice or vinegar mixed with a spoon of olive oil can also be applied an hour before shampooing.

Weekend Beauty Read

Beauty read from my friends from Beauty Blog Network :

PJ at A Touch of Blusher tells us about Dior's Summer 2007 Collection.

Beth at Ageless in Los Angeles talks about Prom: No Longer Just Gowns And Corsages, Now Botox And Restylane.

Michelle at All Lacquered Up breaks down the who, what and why about toxic chemicals in nail polish.

Carleen at Beauty and Fashion Tech talks about the top 5 skincare products for any skin type.

Aparna at Beauty and Personality Grooming has a quick remedy for dandruff.

Henna at Canadian Beauty talks about great Mother's Day Presents.

Elke of the Elke Von Freudenberg [Blog] ponders a new way to make it in the makeup business. Briefly.

Anden at Let's talk about beauty and health shares some information on skin cancer, learning how to self screen.

Teri at Pretty by Nature tells us all about PhytoOrganics - a hair care line from Nexxus.

Toya at the Life of a Ladybug tries lips by Rimmel and Sally.

Christina at eBeautyDaily addresses a common home hair coloring problem and its solutions.

Happy Mother's Day

Simple healthy tips to prevent cancer

1. Don't Smoke

Smoking is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. If you smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes, or use "smokeless" tobacco, stop now. (Avoid second-hand smoke as if your life depended on it. It may.)

2. Wear a Hat

Exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. Use SPF15 sunscreen,
wear a hat and cover up. Avoid tanning booths, too!


3. Watch What You Drink

Alcohol is not recommended, but if you do drink, the USDA suggests you do so in moderation.
If you must drink, make water your only choice.


4. Cut the Fat

Your daily consumption of fats should be 30% or less of your total calorie intake.
High fat diets contribute to several forms of cancer, including breast and colon cancer.


5. Eat Your Vegetables

Fruits/vegetables at least 5 servings a day will help provide Vitamins A, C, E and other substances that contain known anti-cancer agents. Especially good for you are deep green and yellow/orange vegetables.


6. Rough It

Roughage and fiber help prevent cancer of the colon; eat 6 servings daily (20-30 grams)
of fiber filled beans, whole grains and vegetables.


7. Stay In Shape

Overweight people are at greater risk for cancer and heart disease.
Get in the habit of exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet.


8. Learn to Relax
Stress weakens the immune system, which reduces your ability to fight cancer and other disease. Work out, walk, garden, meditate, etc. Find a method that works for you.


9. Keep a Healthy Home

Eliminate toxic chemicals and cleaners around your home. Switch to environmentally safe
cleaning and yard products.


10. Take Control of Your Health

Next to prevention, your best defense against cancer is early detection.
Make it a habit to get screening tests for cancer, such as a mammogram, PAP test and prostate exam.

Skin Cancer & You : Learning How to Self-Screen

YOU are your own first line of defense.

Most of the spots on your skin — freckles, birthmarks, moles — are normal, but some may be more susceptible to skin cancers. There are three main types of skin cancers:

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Melanoma

Melanoma is the third most common form of skin cancer and the most deadly. Fortunately, each of these can usually be discovered at an early stage when they are readily curable. If you ever spot any freckles, birthmarks, moles or other suspicious or changing growths, see your dermatologist promptly.

The A, B, C, D & E's of Skin Cancer

Learning how to check yourself for signs of skin cancer is the easiest and most important step in reducing your skin cancer risks.

Stand in front of a mirror and check your entire body for moles, freckles, birthmarks or other unusual spots. Use a hand mirror to check any hard-to-see places. Examine each one, and if you notice any showing any signs of the symptoms described below, contact your dermatologist and schedule a skin exam immediately.

Asymmetrical : Most early melanomas are asymmetrical, meaning a line through the middle would not create matching halves. Common moles are round and symmetrical.

Borders : The borders of early melanomas are often uneven and may have scalloped, notched and fuzzy edges. Common moles have smoother, more even borders.

Colors : Common moles usually are a single shade of brown. Varied shades of brown, tan or black can be the first sign of melanoma, and may progress to the colors red, white and blue.

Diameter : Early melanomas usually grow larger than common moles — generally to at least the size of a pencil eraser (about 6mm or ¼" in diameter).

Evolving : When a mole is evolving (changing), see a doctor. Be alert for any change — in size, shape, color, elevation, bleeding, itching, crusting or any other trait — in an existing mole.

LOSING HAIR !!!! Here some helps.

After the age of 20, most of us suffer from hair loss to some degree. What we don't realise, however, is that with proper care, precautions and a healthy diet, half of our hair problems would be over.

1. Identify your hair type

If your hair does not become greasy even after five days of your last shampoo, you have dry hair. Normal hair needs to be shampooed one or two times a week. More than a shampooings per week means you have oily hair.

2. Use a shampoo that suits your hair type

Avoid excessively drying shampoos for oily hair, as it may stimulate the scalp on the rebound to produce more oil. Instead, use a shampoo meant for normal hair. You can use it more frequently, even daily if needed. Frequent washing does NOT lead to hair loss.

3. Oil once a week

Olive oil or almond oil are your best options. Massage it in with your fingertips to boost scalp circulation. Don't leave in for more than one or two hours. Avoid hair oil if you have acne on your face and forehead.

4. Conditioning

Use conditioners as per hair type:

Oily: a light or volumising conditioner.
Dry: a smoothening one or almond oil-based conditioner.
Rough: papaya or aloe vera conditioner.
Dull: henna-based conditioner.

Don't apply conditioner to roots -- use only on the ends and the hair shaft to avoid loss of volume. Special intensive repair conditioners need to be left on for 20 to 30 minutes under a hot towel wrap. Use collagen based conditioners for excessively treated, permed or straightened hair and colour-protecting conditioners for tinted hair.