Monday, February 28, 2011

Eczema Home Treatment and Natural Remedies

Eczema is a terrible dry skin affliction. It is ugly, embarrassing and is a very difficult disease to cure.  The biggest problem for eczema sufferers is to find a drug that relieves the symptoms. It is possible that no matter what drug your doctor may prescribe, your condition may not improve. At best you can hope to get some relief from the symptoms. People try varieties of eczema treatment and will be lucky if they can find something that works. But there are effective methods for eczema home treatment. It is not necessary that you depend on entirely on your doctor to find relief. There are certain natural remedies to get relief from skin rashes, itching and other symptoms of eczema.

Clothing

Certain types of clothing can irritate your eczema. Man made fibers generally irritate sensitive skin. Cotton fabric can reduce the irritation. Wear cotton clothing as far as possible. Make sure that your bed is made of cotton. Perfumes fragrances and alcohol cause irritation if they come into contact with your skin.  Alcohol dries the skin by reducing the protection provided by natural oils. Make sure whatever you use on your skin is made of natural ingredients. This is an important step in eczema treatment.

Water

Use filtered water to bathe. Most municipalities’ use chemicals like chlorine to purify water. Chlorine adversely affects your skin and aggravates eczema. You can use a simple shower head filter to remove these chemicals.

Ph levels

You should also restrict the acid ph levels on your skin. Whenever you buy soaps or shampoos check the labels and buy those with low ph levels. Higher ph levels will make the rashes to flare up.

Sugar levels

Sugar intake will also aggravate eczema. It has been established that there is a link between eczema and elevated sugar levels. Try to avoid sweets and sugar drinks like the colas. This will help to reduce the skin itching and discomfort.

Moisturizers

It is necessary to use moisturizers to keep the skin hydrated as eczema always irritates dry skin. Whenever you wash your skin, your skin pores will open up. So make sure that you apply moisturizer whenever you wash your skin. The moisturizer will penetrate the open pores and keep your skin hydrated much longer. Most of the moisturizers that are available over the counter do not provide any protection against eczema. An important part of eczema treatment is to use natural products such as olive oil, coconut oil or creams containing Aloe Vera.

Honey and Neem Oil

Mix honey with cinnamon powder and apply it on the affected skin. It will provide symptomatic relief. Neem oil is also useful in providing symptomatic relief.

Diet

It is generally said that “you are what you eat”. Your immune system depends on what you eat.  The diet we eat these days consists too many chemicals and preservatives. It is difficult to digest the food you eat as the body is attuned to digesting natural foods. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. This will help the body to fight diseases like eczema.

The above steps will help to reduce the symptoms of eczema and help you fight the disease more efficiently. Eczema home treatment methods will not only save you money but will provide better relief.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

How to Protect Your Skin and Look Younger

Skin is the outermost organ of the body and it helps to protect the internal organs. It is the first defense against all infections. It is necessary to protect your skin. People take greater care to protect their internal organs and neglect skincare. Skin may get wrinkled, darkened by sun and spotted with moles and freckles. The melanin pigment may turn malignant and skin cancers may develop. It could destroy the entire body by skin cancer. Healthy skin is not only essential for good looks but is essential for good health. There are several steps that have to be followed to help protect your skin.


  • Wash your face regularly several times a day. This helps to remove the sweat, grime and dust. It also helps to open the pores of the skin and keep it clean.


  • It is essential to use a moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated. This helps to protect your skin. There are several moisturizing lotions available. Natural moisturizers can also be used. It helps to keep the skin smooth and soft.


  • For dry skin oil based moisturizers are better. It would be better to apply the moisturizer on the entire body.  Olive oil and almond oil can be applied overnight and washed off in the morning. Mashed banana is also very good for the skin. It can be applied at night and washed off in the morning. Aloe Vera gel is also in keeping the skin moist. Keeping the skin moist is essential to protect your skin.


  • Wear proper clothing in accordance with the climatic conditions. In winter gloves and woolens will help to protect your skin.


  • Do not over expose yourself to the sun in summer. Your skin can get sun burnt. You are also exposed to skin cancer. Application of sunscreen helps to protect your skin.


  • Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated. It helps to keep the skin moist.


  • Take small quantity of mustard seed and grind it with a few drops of milk. Apply the paste on your face. This will help to protect your skin and keep it healthy and fair.

Natural facial cleansers help to keep the face radiant and beautiful

High Protein Peanuts for Health

Peanuts are very good for health as they have a high protein content. They helps to boost energy levels. They also have a high fiber content 

Peanuts are grown in Brazil, India, Africa and China. Peanuts come in several varieties. The plants grow 30 to 50cm tall. Peanuts mature underground even though they originate on the stem. They are from the legume family and not from the nut family. Some of the common varieties are Virginia, Valencia, Spanish and Runner. They contain high levels of magnesium, fiber, folate, vitamin-E and copper. They are also rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Peanuts and peanut butter help to prevent heart disease. There are a variety of health benefits of peanuts

Peanuts
Source: Wikimedia Commons: H. Zell
Peanuts for Weight Gain

Peanuts are rich in protein. They are also are high in calories and fat content. It is a very good food for body builders and people who are weak. It helps people who are under weight to add weight. It boosts energy levels. It should be eaten in moderation to prevent weight gain 

.Other Health Benefits of Peanuts
  • It contains small quantities of calcium and vitamin D. It is good for the bones and teeth
  • As it contains good quantities of fiber, it promotes gastrointestinal health. It prevents the formation of gallstones
  • It helps to protect the heart from clogged arteries and lack of oxygen
  • Peanuts contain an antioxidant called polyphenol. Roasting increases the levels of polyphenol. It contains higher levels of antioxidants than apple, beetroot and carrots
  • Peanuts are a rich source of monounsaturated fats which help to reduce blood cholesterol levels
  • It contains niacin which protects against Alzheimer’s disease and other age related cognitive problems
  • Peanuts also contain vitamin E, an antioxidant which helps to reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease
  • It is rich in bioflavonoid resveratrol which increases the blood flow to the brain and prevents strokes
  • It is a rich source of fiber which helps to reduce the risk of colon cancer
  • It makes an excellent snack for people with Type 2 diabetes as it helps to avoid a severe insulin response. It levels out sugar spikes. The chance of developing Type 2 diabetes is reduced by eating peanuts regularly
These are some of the important health benefits of peanuts

Peanut Health Risks
  • People allergic to peanuts should not eat it
  • People with kidney and gall bladder problems should avoid it
  • Peanut contains goitrogens which occurs naturally in some foods. This can interfere with thyroid functioning. So people with thyroid problems should avoid it
These are some of the health benefits of high protein peanuts

Friday, February 4, 2011

Cloves and Cinnamon Health Benefits

Cloves and cinnamon are important spices which have wide ranging health benefits. Fenugreek is another spice which is useful in the treatment of diabetes 

There are several health benefits of spices. Obesity, lack of exercise and high calorie food lead to complications and increase the risk of heart attack in diabetics. To reduce the risk, blood sugar must be kept under control. Cloves and cinnamon are two spices that are available easily and can help you to fight diabetes.
Cloves
Wikimedia Commons: Jorge Barrios

Health Benefits of Cloves

Cloves are grown in Indonesia, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It is an essential ingredient of Indian cuisine. Studies have shown that cloves increase the function on insulin in type 2 diabetes, lower glucose and LDL cholesterol levels. They contain an active ingredient called eugenol. It makes a very good antiseptic and analgesic. It is a very good antioxidant. Researchers have found that it is a better antioxidant than garlic, pepper, ginger and onion. It also reduces blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. Eating two cloves a day can substantially reduce the chances of a heart attack in diabetics

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice grown in South East Asia. It is an inner bark of a tree. Cinnamon can lower LDL cholesterol. Half teaspoon of cinnamon powder with honey provides relief for arthritis. 

Studies have shown that cinnamon can reduce blood sugar levels significantly. In type 2 diabetes pancreas produces insufficient quantities of insulin. Cinnamon activates essential enzymes in the body and stimulates the receptor cells so that they respond better to insulin. This reduces the chance of heart attack in diabetics. 

It is suggested to add half teaspoon of cinnamon to hot water and drink it daily. Cinnamon can also mix with fruit juice or milkshake for drinking.
It helps keep blood sugar levels in check, avoids complications and helps to reduce the heart attack in diabetics.  

Health Benefits of Fenugreek

Fenugreek helps to control the glucose metabolism and is very useful in the treatment of type II diabetes. It helps to lower cellular insulin resistance. It is a blood thinner and helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes in diabetics.

Fenugreek has been found to reduce the blood glucose levels up to 46 percent in type II diabetes. It increases the levels of antioxidants and reduces the oxidation of lipids in case of type 2 diabetes. It also helps to fight against the diabetes related cataracts. It can reduce the density of cataracts in diabetics. The seeds are rich in a type of dietary fiber and help to reduce the absorption of sugar by the intestine.

These are some of the health benefits of cloves cinnamon and fenugreek.