Make yourself over Beautiful By Follwing these 23 steps

Make that call to your dermatologist:
If you have problem skin, or excessive hair, then innovations such as microdermabrasion, lasers and peels help. Dermatologist will tailor a simple but effective routine that takes little time, and will help you look good, and keep your skin young and healthy, says Dr Mukta Sachdev, dermatologist, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru. Dont just switch cosmetics or add to the home-cure routine to tackle such problems.

Start your anti-ageing now:
Experts advise that you start using anti-ageing products as early as your mid-20s. So if you havent as yet, start today! Good choices include the Ponds Age Miracle or Gold Radiance ranges. Prioritise sunscreen; it goes a long way in fighting wrinkles. Pick a broad spectrum product with active agents such as Avobenzone and Mexoryl for UVA rays, and zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for UVB rays. Use the sunscreen on your hands, feet, ears, neck, and the back of your neck as well. Try Lakme Sun Expert SPF 30 (Rs 250; 100ml) or Neutrogenas Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50 (RS 450), which glide on without a hint of oiliness. Think of it as a lifelong habit �V this single decision will help you keep looking younger, longer.

Cut down sugar:
The food diary helps you balance your meals but remember to be extra vigilant about sugar. The calories from sugary foods are worse than the calories from fatty foods, as they lead to an unregulated metabolic rate, says Hyderabad-based fitness expert, Dinaz Vervatwala. Cut down on the consumption of sugar and refined foods permanently. You should only be eating them 20 percent of the time in a month. Sugar can cause premature ageing as it can trigger a breakdown of collagen and elastin. It also makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, the prime cause of ageing.

GETTING THE MOST FROM THAT SIP of MILK

ONE ARE the days when the only kind of milk we knew was plain and boiled. Today there is a range of milk in the market — full cream, skimmed, tetra pack, organic and flavoured. Condensed milk has become popular in most households and milk powder has replaced the fresh kind in offices and commercial establishments.

But do all these different kinds of milk really offer the same health benefits? We check the facts.

SKIMMED VS FULL CREAM

SKIMMED or toned milk is milk minus fat. It is made by spinning full cream milk at a high speed, a process that separates fat from milk. “ If you spin the milk once, it’s toned milk. If you spin it twice, it results in double toned milk,” says Rashmi Cherian, dietitian, Qua Nutrition Clinic, Bangalore.

POPULAR BRANDS:

Amul Lite Milk, Nestle Slim Milk, Mother Dairy’s Toned and Double Toned Milk.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

Skimmed milk contains around 30 per cent calcium, 17 per cent protein and 4 per cent carbohydrates. It’s also packed with good amount of Vitamin B12 ( 16 per cent), riboflavin ( 20 per cent) and phosphorus ( 25 per cent) besides other minerals. While full cream contains 6- 8 per cent fat, skimmed milk contains 0.5- 2 per cent fat. Skimming leads to higher concentration of calcium.

EXPERT TAKE:

“ Skimmed milk is a good choice for those predisposed to high cholesterol and obesity. It is also preferable for pregnant women in urban areas who are at a high risk of gestational diabetes,” says Cherian.

Top 10 healthy breakfast options

 

Porridge and berries

Use oats and skimmed milk to make your porridge, then add any berries such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries and honey. This is a great way to start the day as the oats have a low GI (Glycaemic Index) this tells us that oats do not raise the blood glucose level very quickly, which is good as it can help stabilize the appetite. Just go easy on the honey!

Beans on toast

Beans (whether they are just ordinary baked beans or kidney, borlotti or black eyed beans) also have a low GI like oats. They are full of soluble fiber, which helps keep you full for longer and can therefore help you manage your weight. Serve the beans on granary toast and pass on the butter; a great, low-fat breakfast.

Bagel with reduced fat cream cheese and smoked salmon

Bagels are high in starchy carbohydrates, which help kick start the body into action for the day after a fast of at least eight to 10 hours. The smoked salmon provides the body with omega-3 fat which is essential for the body. Many of us eat far too much saturated fat (which is bad for us) and not enough omega-3 fat that is vital for our health.

10 surprising things that age you

Watching TV

While we all know that spending hours in front of the television is bad for your waistline, you may not know that it can also shorten your lifespan. Researchers from the University of Queensland found that for every hour you watch TV you may shorten your life by as much 22 minutes. Furthermore, research has suggested that watching TV could increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Drinking from bottles and through straws

You probably know that what you drink can affect your looks, but you may be surprised to hear that how you drink can also influence how well you age. In fact, sucking on straws and drinking out of sports bottles causes the same pursing action – and therefore the same fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth – as smoking. Try drinking directly from the glass whenever you can to help keep the wrinkles at bay.

Too little (or too much) exercise

 The benefits of exercise are immeasurable for keeping you looking and feeling young. Not only does a lack of exercise shorten your life and increase risk of obesity and heart disease, but exercise can also keep your brain young by protecting against Alzheimer’s, boosting your mood and leaving you feeling alert and energized. Furthermore, increased blood flow to your skin can help keep your complexion clear, bright and youthful-looking. On the flipside, while we should all make an effort to stay active, too much exercise can cause stiffness in joints and increase risk of arthritis.

10 cheap shortcuts to good health

Stay fit at home

If expensive gym memberships are out of your price range, luckily there are many other ways to get fit for free. Try incorporating exercise into your regular routine through everyday activities such as gardening and housework, and take up a free activity such as walking, running or cycling to stay in shape. For those who fancy taking up an exercise such as yoga or Pilates, it may be helpful to take a few classes to master the basics then you can continue to practice the poses at home for free.

The dos and don'ts of weight loss

Not sure about how to diet, or of the best way to lose and maintain your weight? Well, here are a few do's and don'ts to help you on the road to fitness.

10 global health habits we can learn from other cultures

From spices to siestas, every culture has their own solutions to staying healthy and managing their weight. To help inspire your healthy living, check out the top 10 global health secrets that could help you stay fit and trim.

Cook with fresh, quality ingredients

Many of us are guilty of turning to pre-prepared, processed foods when we’re in a hurry, but these are often packed with salt, sugar and additives which are damaging to our health. Instead, we should take our lead from countries such as Italy and Japan who rely on fresh, seasonal produce for their healthy cuisines. Try frequenting local markets to pick up fresh goods, or you could even take inspiration from Russia where it is common for families to grow their own food.


Choose fish over meat

Red meat is a staple of many of our diets, which is perhaps one of the reasons for the high levels of heart disease across the world. For a healthier protein option, take inspiration from the Japanese and Icelandic diets and stock up on seafood. Not only is fish good for heart health, but a study has suggested that the Icelandic diet – high in Omega-3-rich fish – may be responsible for their unexpectedly low rate of seasonal affective disorder, or the “winter blues”.

Work less and eat more chocolate, say heart experts

Eat dark chocolate, watch funny movies, avoid stressful jobs, and pedal hard when biking are all ingredients in the recipe for a healthy heart, according to experts meeting in Paris this week.

Whether one is afflicted by a heart attack, high blood pressure or constricted arteries depends in large measure on a host of lifestyle choices.

But the ideal formula for avoiding heart problems remains elusive: it is hard to tease apart the factors that impact cardiovascular health, and the right mix of things to do -- or not do -- can vary from person to person.

Even commonsense measures such as exercise or a balanced diet must be fine-tuned.

It is not, for example, how long one rides a bike but the intensity of one's effort that matters most, according to research presented Monday at a five-day gathering, ending Wednesday, of the European Society of Cardiology.

Top 10 healthy breakfast options

 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so it’s essential that you make the most of it. But really it’s not that difficult to get a good deal of nutrition from your morning meal. We’ve put down 10 healthy breakfast options to help you prepare a nutritional feast that will keep you going all day.

Porridge and berries

Use oats and skimmed milk to make your porridge, then add any berries such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries and honey. This is a great way to start the day as the oats have a low GI (Glycaemic Index) this tells us that oats do not raise the blood glucose level very quickly, which is good as it can help stabilize the appetite. Just go easy on the honey!

Beans on toast

Beans (whether they are just ordinary baked beans or kidney, borlotti or black eyed beans) also have a low GI like oats. They are full of soluble fiber, which helps keep you full for longer and can therefore help you manage your weight. Serve the beans on granary toast and pass on the butter; a great, low-fat breakfast.

Bagel with reduced fat cream cheese and smoked salmon

Bagels are high in starchy carbohydrates, which help kick start the body into action for the day after a fast of at least eight to 10 hours. The smoked salmon provides the body with omega-3 fat which is essential for the body. Many of us eat far too much saturated fat (which is bad for us) and not enough omega-3 fat that is vital for our health.

Try These to Give your Immunity a Boost - health is wealth

A healthy immune system is an aggressive age fighter that helps keep us feeling good, looking good and bustling with energy. If the immune system functions properly, we can put our health-related worries to rest. But as we age, our immune system, like an ageing cricketer, loses some of its vigour.
This amazingly complex defensive unit gradually deteriorates and its ability to tackle invading organisms fades out.

GETTING THE MOST FROM THAT SIP - Test the quality of milk

ONE ARE the days when the only kind of milk we knew was plain and boiled. Today there is a range of milk in the market — full cream, skimmed, tetra pack, organic and flavoured. Condensed milk has become popular in most households and milk powder has replaced the fresh kind in offices and commercial establishments.

But do all these different kinds of milk really offer the same health benefits? We check the facts.

Top 25 reasons to get running

Running is one of the best forms of exercise, not only for getting fit but for weight control too. A 30-minute run, three to four times a week, trims your waistline, strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves muscle tone and definition and helps foster a positive mental attitude. Running can also be a great social activity. Here are the top 25 tips on why you should start running today.

Sex and yoga, is there a connection?

Yoga can give you greater flexibility, better muscle tone, can help you to release stress, and set you on a path to explore your spirituality. But can it really give you better sex? Yes it can. Yoga offers many benefits that can help you in your love life. It could be by improving your confidence, physical fitness and also calming the mind. When we are relaxed and focused then pleasure takes on a whole new meaning.

Sex and yoga are both part of a healthy and happy life. Knowing this gives you another great reason to roll out the mat. Here are the major ways that yoga can help you in this area:

Do Yoga for a better sex life

How to Incorporate Fruits into your Daily Diet

Every time a new week/month begins, we remind ourselves that we'll incorporate more and more fruits in our everyday diet.
But it only takes 3-4 servings for us to realise how disinterested we really are in them. Add to this, the delicious fruits are not the staple ones. Most fruits like grapefruits, lychees, dark grapes and strawberries aren't as easy to get as the same-old, boring apple, oranges and bananas. So how does one get the recommended three to four daily servings of fruits in his daily diet? The trick lies in somehow tricking your taste buds (actually, your mind) into eating and enjoying more fruits every day.
Here's how you can do that:

Yummy haleem is now healthy too! THE holy month of Ramzan has just started and the fragrance of mouth-watering Hyderabad Haleem has spread to every nook and corner of the state capital. The delicious dish which is available only during this holy month, is a hot favourite of Muslims who consume it after breaking the fast. It is equally popular among Hindus.

Yummy haleem is now healthy too!

THE holy month of Ramzan has just started and the fragrance of mouth-watering Hyderabad Haleem has spread to every nook and corner of the state capital. The delicious dish which is available only during this holy month, is a hot favourite of Muslims who consume it after breaking the fast. It is equally popular among Hindus.

Top 10 healthy tips for saving money on food bills

At a time when money’s tight and you’re looking to make cut-backs in your weekly food bill, healthy eating does not need to go out of the window. Eating healthily does not have to be costly, and by considering healthier options, and making sure you actually consume them, can surprisingly bring down the cost of your shopping bill.

Here’s 10 tips that will likely improve your health and your wealth when shopping for food and consuming it the home or workplace: 

Top 10 worst male health habits

From workouts to healthy diets, many of us make an effort to look after ourselves. However, we could be compromising our health on a daily basis without even knowing it. From bottling things up to eating fast food, here are the top 10 male habits you should try to break.

Avoiding the doctor

Research by the charity Men’s Health Forum has revealed that men are 20% less likely than women to visit their doctor, despite the fact that they have shorter life spans than women and are more likely to die from

60 ways to look young (and feel great)

'Beauty is what health and happiness look like on the outside,' Good Housekeeping told readers in 1916.

Our advice has changed little since because we've always extolled the fundamentals: The right diet, exercise and spirit promote long life - and keep you looking and feeling young. (Of course, a fabulous haircut, lipstick, and the right pair of jeans can't hurt, either.)

Here's the ultimate clock-resetting guide - beauty how-to and health must-do.

Mind your brain
These strategies will help keep you sharp-witted(and healthy, too!) throughout your life

Once you are fat, chances are you will never get slim!

London, July 25 (ANI): Researchers claim that fat people, who lose weight either by dieting or exercising, will put it all back on again within a year.
Their study of 25,000 people provides further evidence of the prevalence of "yo-yo dieting" where slimmers get into a cycle of losing weight and regaining it, reports the Daily Mail.

The scientists, from the Medical Research Council"s National Survey of Health and Development, have concluded it is better to avoid getting fat in the first place.hey followed 5,362 men and women from their birth in 1946 and 20,000 from birth in 1958, measuring their weight and blood pressure and assessing their lifestyles. The researchers found both groups began gaining weight in the 1980s and have steadily increased in size ever since.
Dr Rebecca Hardy, the council's programme leader on body size, said: "Once people become overweight, they continue relentlessly upwards. They hardly ever go back down.
"A few lose weight but very few get back to normal. The best policy is to prevent people becoming overweight.
"For men [weight] goes up steadily through life. For women it starts slowly and accelerates in the mid-thirties," she added.
But the study's findings do not mean dieting is pointless, as eating less and taking more exercise can increase fitness and lower blood pressure. (ANI)