Fuller’s earth, which is known as “Multani Mitti” in Indian Ayurveda, is one of the very vital ingredients for beauty and skin care treatments.

Fuller's earth

Face Packs:

Health in style tips is going to bring you some Face-packs that can be easily fabricate at home. Using these you can always boast of the in thing that is “Indian Ayurveda” which only few follow and preach.

For Normal or Oily skin:

A very commonly available yet very effective is a pack made by Fuller’s earth.Take one table spoon of Fuller’s earth; add a little rose water to make it a thick paste.

Apply it on your face leaving the eye area clear. For better precaution you can cut cucumber slices and put on your eyes before you apply the pack. Wash your face with fresh water after the paste on your face dries up.

Follow this for a month and see the change.

For Dry skin:

Take one table spoon of Fuller’s earth; add a little milk to make it a thick paste.

Apply it on your face and make sure to be careful to keep it away from the eyes. Keep till it’s dry. Wash it with fresh water.

Follow this for a month and see the change.

For Acne:

Take one table spoon of Fuller’s earth; add a little milk and a pinch of turmeric powder to make it a thick paste.

Apply it on your face leaving the eye area. Keep till it is dry. Wash it with fresh water.

Follow this for a month and see the change.

For Instant glow:

Take ½ a table spoon of honey and ½ a table spoon of lemon juice and apply it on your face. Keep it for about 10 min and see your face glow instantly.

Alternatively you can take a spoon of curd and gently massage it on your skin for about five minutes and then wash it with tap water and see the glow on your face.

Just think what would happen if a few whiffs of some fragrances may help you lose weight, crank up your workout, or sleep better which will help you move towards health, in style.

“HealthnStyleTips” will help you discover five nose-pleasures that will help you look and feel better than ever before.

Sniff: Grape Fruit

Researchers at Osaka University in Japan found that exposing rats to the scent of grapefruit oil for 15-minute intervals, three times a week helped reduce not only their appetite, but their weight. Inhale this fresh citrus scent and dial back the portion of your next meal.

Try: Grapefruit-scented oil diffuser as your room freshener. You can also keep a designer fruit bowl on your dining table or study, full of Grapefruit. Make sure you enjoy the aroma of grapefruit before you eat it.

Sniff: Green apple, Banana, or Peppermint

Battle temptation with a whiff of your favorite fruit or peppermint. In a study at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, overweight people smelled banana, green apple, and peppermint when they felt a craving—and lost more weight than the non sniffers. (Remember they just sniffed it and not eat it).

Try: Fresh fruit sniffing. Keep these fresh fruits on your table in a fancy fruit bowl and it will enhance your decor as well as give you a great health.

Sniff: Peppermint To Ramp Up Your Workout

Studies have shown that peppermint fragrance improves your workout, increases alertness, reduces perceived fatigue, and enhances your mood. Take a whiff of the minty aroma when you feel low and need a quick fix to your mood.

Try: Have potted mint plant in your gym, exercise room or the part of house where you spend most of your time. It will freshen the air and help you workout better.You can also try a peppermint flavored tea in the morning.

Sniff: Lavender To Get Sound Sleep

Scents that help relieve your stress. (Read: Sleep)
A beautiful bouquet of flowers can add a touch of warmth to any bedroom, but the scent of petite purple petals may also help you sleep better. According to Wesleyan University researchers men and women who smelled lavender oil experienced deeper sleep and higher levels of vigor in the morning. Well you get one more reason to decorate your house with beautiful Lavenders to fill your life with color and vigor. What could be more happening.

Try: L’Occitane Aromachologie Relaxing Pillow Mist or get fresh Lavenders whenever available, to decorate in a beautiful vase that you can keep on your side table of your bedroom, besides that book you want to read.

Sniff: Eucalyptus To Boost Your Mood

Nicole Vitale, senior director of The Spa at Equinox in New York City says “The smell of eucalyptus oil has a stimulating effect, and may reduce exhaustion and mental sluggishness”. And because of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, you can also massage your skin with eucalyptus oil to relieve muscle aches. Eucalyptus also helps you keep common cold at bay and helps you breath better.

Try: Aromatherapy massage with eucalyptus oil. You can also use it as room freshener. Grow Eucalyptus in your back yard it will give your house a country side kind of decor, it also keeps some type of germs and viruses away from your house and you can always keep a earthen pot or any fancy pot full of Eucalyptus leaves as a decor in your house. So all you need to do is find that place to keep the leaves of health.

Every body talks about not eating and here I say eat more to loose weight how on the earth is that possible.

Well it is and there is a jolly good reason for it.

Eating small, frequent healthy meals/snacks every two hours will help the body’s metabolism ‘up’ and prevent you from eating more during one particular meal which helps against bloating in-turn.

Having 5-6 small healthy meals in a day instead of 2-3 large meals helps loose/maintain body weight, regulates blood pressure, blood sugars and even ‘bad’ cholesterol.

Consuming food triggers digestion, and digestion requires calories. By eating smaller meals frequently, you are continuously supplying your body with nutrients, while allowing it to properly break down the food, and digest it. This, in turn, can have a net effect of raising your metabolism and hence, lose weight.

Make sure that while snacking/ small meals you consume the food that releases less calories then the calories required for digestion or breaking down of food, like apple or green vegetable salad or fruit salad etc instead of having high calorie food like potato chips/wedges etc. For more details of such food visit ‘my blog‘.

A regular exercise regime will also help achieve weight loss goals sooner and help maintain a good metabolism.

Bell peppers are not spicy unlike chili peppers and give a good aroma, color, taste and health to your food.

1. Bell Peppers are high source of vitamin A and Vitamin C, B6 beta carotene and folic acid. As far as vitamin C and bell pepper is concerned 1 Bell pepper is equivalent to 2 Oranges. Presence of beta-carotene (powerful antioxidant) makes it very useful to neutralize free radicals and hence reduce cholesterol, chances of developing cataract, helps in asthma by avoiding tightening of airway and protects against Rheumatoid Arthritis.
2. Red bell peppers also contain Lycopene, which is a carotene that helps to protect against cancer and heart disease.
3. Presence of antioxidants helps reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease.
4. Consumption of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folic acid, all found in bell peppers, is associated with a significantly reduced risk of colon cancer.
5. Vitamin A present in bell pepper helps you to have healthy lungs.
6. Helps against Liver disease, Obesity, Constipation, Arthritis, High blood pressure, Acidosis deficiency of alkalinity in the blood).
7. Nutrition per 100 gm
   1. Vitamin A: 630 I.U.
   2. Vitamin B : Thiamine .04mg
   3. Vitamin C : 120 mg
   4. Calcium: 11 mg
   5. Phosphorus : 25 mg
   6. Potassium : 170 mg
   7. Carbohydrates : 5.7 gm
   8. Protein:  1.2 gm
   9. Calories : 25

History

Bell pepper also known as sweet pepper or capsicum. Bell peppers are the relatives of the chili pepper and just like them they have originated in South America with seeds of wild variety that belongs to 5000BC. Like many other foods native to this region, sweet peppers were carried throughout the world by the Spanish and Portuguese explorers who traveled through this continent.

Currently, the main producers of sweet peppers are China, Turkey, Spain, Romania, Nigeria and Mexico.

Selection

Choose peppers that have deep vivid colors, taut or firm skin, and that are free of soft spots, blemishes and darkened areas. Their stems should be green and fresh looking. Peppers should be heavy for their size and firm enough so that they will gently yield to slight pressure. Avoid those that have signs of decay including injuries to the skin or water-soaked areas. The shape of the pepper does not generally affect the quality, although it may result in excessive waste or not be suitable to certain recipe preparations. Peppers are available throughout the year but are usually in greater abundance during the summer months.

Storage

Unwashed sweet peppers stored in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator will keep for up to one week. Sweet peppers can be frozen without first being blanched. It is better to freeze them whole since there will be less exposure to air which can degrade both their nutrient content and flavor.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

1. Adding finely chopped bell peppers to your salad will add taste, health and color at one shot.

2. Steam cored peppers for five minutes, stuff them with your favorite rice salad or grain pilaf, and bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven until they are hot.

3. Healthy sauté chopped peppers, celery and onions, then combine with tofu, chicken or seafood to make a simple Louisiana Creole dish.

4. Purée roasted and peeled peppers with healthy sautéed onions and zucchini to make a deliciously refreshing soup that can be served hot or cold.

5. Bell peppers are one of the best vegetables to serve in a crudité platter since not only do they add a brilliant splash of color, but their texture is also the perfect crunchy complement for dips.

6 servings, about 2/3 cup each

Active Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup bulgur, (see Shopping Tip)
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• 6 teaspoons walnut oil, or extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
• 12 cups thinly sliced mustard greens, (about 1 bunch), tough stems removed
• 1/3 cup chopped pitted dates
• 2-3 tablespoons water
• 4 teaspoons white-wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Prepare bulgur according to package directions. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cool water; drain. Toast walnuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring, until lightly browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Place 5 teaspoons oil and shallots in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook until the shallots start to brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add mustard greens, dates and 2 tablespoons water and cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are tender and the water evaporates (add another tablespoon of water if the pan is dry before the greens are tender), about 4 minutes. Stir in vinegar, salt and the prepared bulgur; cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Drizzle with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and sprinkle with the walnuts before serving.

Tips & Notes

• Shopping Tip: Bulgur is made by parboiling, drying and coarsely grinding or cracking wheat berries. Unlike cracked wheat, it simply needs a quick soak in hot water for most uses. Look for bulgur in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets, near other grains.

Nutrition

Per serving: 169 calories; 6 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 4 g protein; 5 g fiber; 199 mg sodium; 192 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (57% daily value), Vitamin C (33% dv), good source of omega-3s.

1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fruit, 1 1/2 fat

1. Maximize your muscle.

Muscles are fat-burning furnaces, so be sure to do enough resistance training to build and maintain them and follow your workouts with a snack or meal balanced in protein, carbohydrates and fat.

2. Stretch

Don’t forget to stretch for warm up. It can help your muscles work better so you can more effectively isolate your problem areas.

3. Don’t ever skip the cardio workout regimes.

It improves definition and blasts the fat that covers your muscles. Combining regular aerobic exercise with strength training will give you the slimming effect you’ve been looking for. After all, toning up without cardio is like building a house on a weak foundation.

4. Focus on your assets.

Playing up your favorite body parts can boost your confidence and draw attention away from spots you want to minimize. Sculpting your shoulders, arms, chest, and back, for example, can help balance heavier hips so you look more proportionate. Plus, you’ll be firmer all over.

5. Don’t starve yourself.

Under eating causes your metabolic rate to drop and your body to hold onto fat. It is recommended that the average, active woman should consume at least 1,800 calories daily and women with sedentary lifestyle should consume 1,500 calories a day.

6. Graze-y.

Eat 6 small meals a day to avoid blood-sugar spikes and minimize urges to binge.

7. Get real food.

Fuel your body with wholesome, nutritious foods, and limit your intake of refined carbs (anything sugary or white-flour based). Include a handful of nuts to your diet that will help lose weight.

8. Drink more water.

Staying hydrated will help you feel full longer and keep you healthy.

9. Sleep well.

Get minimum 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Studies found that women who did not get enough sleep ten to put on faster.

10. Control stress

Keep stress levels in check by managing your time, focusing on the present and not over-committing. Often stress makes you over-eat so control whatever you can.

Whole Grain
Replacing refined grains with whole grains can do the miracle. Research says that whole grains may help reduce total body fat and abdominal fat. . In the study, adults who ate about 3 servings of whole grains a day had about 2.4 percent less body fat and 3.6 percent less abdominal fat than those who ate less than a quarter of a serving. Researchers speculate that the fiber from whole grains may help you feel full with less food—and possibly fuller than fiber from other sources, such as fruit and vegetables. Aim for at least three servings of whole grains daily (one serving equals 1 cup of whole-grain cereal or a slice of whole-wheat bread). You can try various whole grain salads or variety of non-fried whole grain snacks from the market.

Nuts
As we have discussed earlier and researchers in Harvard study found that amongst fifty thousand women studied those who consumes nuts at least twice a week gained less weight than women who did not eat nuts at all. Although nuts are high in calories and fat, researchers think that the combination of protein, fiber and healthy fats (mono- and polyunsaturated) help keep you feeling full. One should include an ounce of nuts (about 14 walnut halves, 20 to 24 almonds and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter), a few times a week to make a balanced diet. It is said that handful of nuts a day makes world beautiful.

Vinegar or Acetic acid

One of the Japanese studies found that adding 2 tablespoons of acetic acid (active ingredient of vinegar) a day to your regular diets for 3 months made obese people gain 4 times less weight, 5 percent less belly fat and 3.5 percent less total body fat. The acetic acid ramps up the enzymes that oxidize fat, so lesser fat would accumulate around your waist line.

So, to lose that extra flab around your waist, add at least one tablespoon of any type of vinegar to your daily diet.

Improve baby’s weight before birth
Taking garlic boosts the weight of babies inside the mother’s womb. Thus, when they are born, they are heavier than they would have been if you hadn’t taken garlic. Some babies are born too small, so garlic is a great help in such cases.

Garlic can be made a part of healthy lifestyle and can work wonders when consumed in moderation.

Allergies

Garlic is known to have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties, which helps the body fight against allergies. You can avoid allergies by taking one tablet of garlic supplement each day for 2 to 3 weeks before the usual allergy season begins. Alternatively you can try some garlic recipes or recipes that have garlic as one of its ingredients.

Coughing and respiratory ailments

Garlic and Ginger go hand in hand in lot of Indian recipes and both are very useful to fight the cough and cold. Garlic’s antibacterial properties make it very useful to treat cough and other throat or respiratory tract infections. Garlic is an excellent remedy for whooping cough. You can use garlic syrup in doses of five drops to a teaspoonful two or three times a day to cure whooping cough.

Few drops of garlic juice when taken with 2 teaspoon of honey, acts as natural remedy for asthma.

Hence by including Garlic in your daily food will work wonders to your health.

Diabetes

Garlic tends to increase the release of insulin in your body and that’s why it is very useful to diabetic people. Either you can take one capsule of garlic every day or you can try some recipes that have garlic in it and that will keep your diabetes and other problems causes by diabetes at bay. In Indian recipes garlic is used in such a way that it gives a good taste and aroma to the food.

Blood Pressure

Regularly eating garlic lowers the blood pressure. A suggested dosage is 600-900mg garlic capsules once daily.

Cholesterol

Studies have shown that taking 600-900mg of garlic everyday lowers cholesterol levels and reduces arterial plaque formation by 5–18%. Therefore, an effective natural remedy is to take one garlic tablet or capsule (600-900mg) once per day.

Toothaches

Garlic’s antibacterial, analgesic, and anesthetizing properties can help cure severe toothaches. Simply put some garlic oil or a piece of crushed garlic clove directly onto the affected tooth and the gum for instant relief.

Cancer

Garlic’s anti-carcinogenic properties inhibit the growth of cancer cells and helps prevent and fight cancer and tumors. It also helps reduces already formed tumors by 50 to 70 percent on increase on garlic intake.

Digestive Enzymes

It helps in secretions of digestive enzymes.
Garlic also promotes increased bile production in the body which helps in reducing fat levels in your liver. Swallowing a garlic clove with water in the morning (empty stomach) is also reduces bloating and constipation. By doing this it also makes your immune system strong and stable.

Nutrition
Garlic is very rich in vitamins and minerals, it contains vitamins A, B, C, B2, and amongst minerals it is rich in Zinc and Calcium.

Impotence:

Garlic aids in blood circulation and keeps veins and arteries youthful, but that is only one way it helps with impotence. According to researchers, to obtain an erection an enzyme is required called nitric oxide, and compounds in garlic stimulate the production of this enzyme in people who suffer from low levels of it.

Skin Disorders:

The external use of garlic helps to clear the skin of spots, acne, and boils. The process is further helped by taking the garlic orally also, to cleanse the blood-stream so as to secure a long term clearance of the skin. A regular course of three garlic capsules per day should help to clear minor skin infections quickly.

Garlic’s anti-biotic ability to fight infections and bacteria makes it an effective cure for warts and other skin problems too.

• Take a fresh clove of garlic and cut its tip off.
• Rub the cut area of the clove directly onto the wart for a few seconds.
• Repeat this each night before going to bed until the wart disappears.

If you feel any kind of irritation or strong burning sensation, simply rinse the area with water. Besides warts and acne it helps in reducing infections on open and bleeding wounds and also promotes healing.

Pregnancy

Garlic supplementation may help weight-gain for babies that may be at risk for low birth weight. Garlic is also useful for other at-birth risk factors, such as pre-eclampsia, which is associated with hypertension.

Garlic is very useful in various ways if you are pregnant. To know more read “Pregnancy and garlic”.