Foods Good for Healthy Skin and Hair

There are several foods good for  healthy skin and hair. Green tea, avocado, salmon, strawberry, raspberry and blueberry provide excellent nutrition for the skin. Salmon promotes hair growth

Healthy skin needs good nourishment. This will mean including foods that provide good nourishment to the skin in your diet. Processed foods are not good for the skin as they make the skin discolored, dull and oily. No matter what skincare creams and cosmetics you buy, it is not possible to keep the skin healthy and nourished unless you include right foods in your diet.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

 Benefits of Green Tea for Skin and Hair

Foods that have high antioxidant content are recommended for the skin. Green tea has very high content of anti-oxidants. It contains polyphenols which help to reduce the signs of aging like wrinkles and skin sag. Antioxidants help to fight the damage caused by free radicals. Most of the skin damage is caused by UV radiation of the sunlight. Antioxidants in green tea help to contain the damage and rejuvenate the skin cells.

Green tea rinse is highly beneficial for hair growth. It is a very good remedy for dandruff and psoriasis. It stops hair loss and stimulates its growth. It is also an excellent hair conditioner and is recommended for soft lustrous. 

Benefits of Avocado for Skin

Avocado contains vitamin E and monounsaturated fats which are essential for the health of the skin. Avocado also contains vitamin C which helps to prevent skin inflammation due to the exposure to sunlight. Fats contained by avocado are beneficial to skin as they help to absorb the nutrients.

Berries for Skin

Different varieties of berries like blueberry, blackberry, strawberry and raspberry contain flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants and are good for the skin.

Blueberries taste good. They also help the blood circulation and make the skin glow. They contain compounds called anthocyanins which are antioxidants. They help to keep the skin firm and prevent sagging.

Strawberries have very high water content. They keep the skin hydrated. The moisture helps to reduce the skin wrinkles.

Blackberries contain vitamin C along with the antioxidants which are essential for healthy skin.

Benefits of Salmon for Skin and Hair

Salmon contains omega 3 fatty acids which are necessary for healthy skin. Omega 3 fatty acids keep the cell membranes healthy by allowing the nutrients of enter. They also reduce the production of anti-inflammatory agents by the body that damages the skin.

Omega -3 fatty acids in salmon are essential for the health of the scalp. Salmon is also rich in vitamin B-12 and iron. Iron reduces hair loss and essential for the health of the scalp. 

Benefits of Water for Skin and Hair

Water is extremely important for the health of the skin as it helps to keep the skin hydrated. It is essential to drink at least two liters of water every day. Water helps to stimulate the circulation of blood and other fluids inside the body. It helps to control and restore skin’s normal balance. 

Drinking sufficient quantities of water keeps the hair hydrated and promotes its growth.

These are some of the foods that are good for the health of the skin and hair

What Causes Cracked Fingers and Heels: Home Remedies

There are several causes of cracked skin fingers and heels. Cracked dry skin is a very common problem. Women seem to be more prone to the problem than men. Hands and feet are common areas that suffer from cracked skin. At times it could just be a cosmetic problem. But if left unattended cracked dry skin may bleed and lead to infection.

Some of the reasons for the condition are

-       Frequent hand washing

-       Use of harsh detergents

-       Extreme winter and prolonged dry conditions

-       Prolonged standing on hard floor

-       Open backed footwear

-       Diabetes

-       Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis

 Home Remedies for Cracked Fingers

It is necessary use a moisturizer on the skin. Petroleum jelly is very useful for the purpose. It is essential to apply it generously to the affected skin. It is advisable to wash your hands with mild soap before the application of the jelly. The hands can be covered with gloves after the application.

Almond oil, coconut oil and olive oil are also very good moisturizers. They can be used instead of petroleum jelly. Using hot water may aggravate the problem. Before going out in cold weather, it is better to cover your hands with gloves

Some of the other remedies for cracked fingers are   

-       Mix vitamin E with almond oil and apply it

-       Mashed banana is a very good remedy. It can be applied on the affected skin

-       Mashed avocado can also be used. It helps to produce body oils

-       Castor oil, bees wax and lanolin can be mixed and melted together and applied

-       Honey can be mixed with egg yolk and applied

-       Yogurt and lemon juice are a very good combination to cure cracked skin.

If the reason for the condition is cold weather or detergents the above remedies can cure the condition. If it is due some underlying illness a doctor has to be consulted.

Home Remedies for Cracked Heels

-       Apply mashed ripe bananas over the cracked heels and wash it off after half an hour

-       Glycerin is an excellent moisturizer. It can be mixed with rose water and applied to the heels

-       Mix lemon juice with petroleum jelly and apply it to the affected skin

-       Petroleum jelly can be substituted by coconut oil, almond oil or olive oil, all of which are very good moisturizers.

-       Coconut oil can be melted together with paraffin wax and applied.

Cracked skin on the heels can be prevented by using footwear which covers the feet properly. Feet have to thoroughly cleaned at night before going to bed. A thick layer of moisturizing cream or lotion has to be applied to get rid of the cracked dry skin.

Home Made Face Cleansers

Home made face cleansers are very soft on the skin. There are several recipes make natural face cleansers at home. It may take some time and effort to prepare them. But it is worth the trouble. They would not contain any of the chemicals that commercial products have. It would also be much cheaper to prepare them at home.  Even soap can be harsh on the skin as it removes the essential natural oils. 


Oatmeal Face Cleanser  
                                                                                                          Cooked oatmeal has to be mixed with yogurt to make a paste. This paste should be spread over the face except the eyes. It has to be washed of after 15 minutes. 2-3 tsp of honey can be mixed with this combination. Honey is a natural skin toner.


Milk Lime Face Cleanser


Milk, lime juice, orange juice, cucumber and pineapple can be mixed together and made into a paste. Sugar and water can be added to it. This mixture can be used effective every day as a face cleanser.


Banana Facial Cleanser


Mashed banana also makes very good cleanser. Put banana in a blender.  Add a tsp of honey and make a paste. This can be applied to the face and washed off after fifteen minutes.


Almond Oil Facial Cleanser
                        
Almond oil is an extremely effective face cleanser. It can used on any type of skin.  Almond oil has to be applied to the dry skin without wetting it. It would be good be take steam directly on the face after 15 minutes.  Otherwise the face can be wiped with a wet cloth. Almond oil mixed with sugar also makes an excellent facial scrub. It can also get rid of circles under the eye and crows feet. Almond oil is also very used for face massage. It removes the dead cells, prevents aging and is soothing and relaxing.


Avocado Facial Cleanser


A peeled avocado, a cup of coconut milk and a tea spoon of honey will have to be mixed in a blender. Apply it to the face. Wash the face after fifteen minutes. This is also very effective face cleanser.


These home made face cleansers can not only be prepared easily but also quite economical. Using these cleansers would definitely make your face glow.