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.

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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.