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5 Best Home Remedies for Cracked Heels!

Diposting oleh Unknown Senin, 26 Desember 2011 0 komentar

Get 5 sure shot home remedies for cracked heels! These home remedies for cracked heels have to be applied based on levels of cracks. For example, first home remedy is for very minor cracks, second for some more serious cracks and so on. Fifth or the last of the home remedies for cracked heels is for curing the most toughest cracks with wide painful fissures in dry feet!

We all know how the cracked heels pain and create difficulties in even walking smartly! So, without going into the details as to why we get cracked heels (we all know that the dry winds in winters, lack of moisturizing elements and improper care of feet, especially dry feet, cause the cracked heels), I will just write down the 5 best home remedies for cracked heels! The tips for curing cracked heels listed here goes from simpler to tougher depending upon the level of cracked heel problem. This simply means that you have to apply the first home remedy for cracked heels if you want to prevent cracked heels or you have just begun to get the cracks in your feet and the last home remedy if you have very painful cracked heels (with wide fissures in skin)!

Home Remedy for Cracked Heels #1 - Lemon, Salt, Glycerin, Rose Water Foot Mask!

This is one of the best home remedies for preventing cracked heels as well as to cure cracked heels at the very first stage. Add raw salt, lemon juice, glycerin and rose water in warm water. Soak your cracked feet in this warm water for about 10-15 minutes. Scrub off your dry skin from heel (which gets loose after soaking) with the help of pumice stone or foot file or scrubber. Now take 1 tsp raw glycerin (thick one), one tsp rose water and 1 tsp lemon juice and mix them well. Apply this thick paste to your cracked heels. This might feel a little sticky but you must tolerate it if you want to get rid of cracked heels. If needed, wear a pair of socks and go to bed. Wash off in the morning. You might require to follow this regime for 2-3 days or even 7-10 days to cure cracked heels!

Home Remedy for Cracked Heels #2 - Feet Oil Massage!

This is again a very good and easy home remedy for cracked heels and even for dry feet that get cracked very easily. Massage cracked heels with one of these oils- sesame oil, coconut oil or any other hydrogenated vegetable oil before going to bed. Wear a pair of socks (better if old because you might not be able to use them afterwards) and go to bed. Follow this schedule for 3-5 days or as per your requirement- till you heal your cracked heels.

Home Remedy for Cracked Heels #3 - Mashed Fruits Massage!

Take a ripe banana and mash it. Apply this to the cracks of your heel. Leave it for about 10-15 minutes and then wash it off. This instantly smooths the dry feet. In fact, it is the simplest dry cracked heel remedy which can even be done on a daily basis. If you have a little more serious cracks in feet, you can take half an avocado or half a coconut (its flesh) and add this to banana. Blend the things together to form a paste and apply this to cracked heels. Avocado and coconut contain essential oils, minerals and vitamins that will nourish your dry feet skin as well as prevent cracked heels. Instead of banana, ripe papaya can also be used after mashing it properly.

Home Remedy for Cracked Heels #4 - Natural Exfoliate & Oil Treatment!

If you have the tendency of getting cracked heels due to the dry skin on your heels, regularly exfoliate your feet but do not use harsh cosmetics. Instead make natural exfoliating scrub with honey, apple cider vinegar, and rice flour. To make this, grind 2-3 tablespoon of rice to get a coarse flour (don't make it fine). Add a few spoons of honey and apple cider vinegar to coarse rice flour to get a thick paste. If your heel cracks are very deep, add a spoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil. Soak your feet for about twenty minutes in warm water and then gently massage with this paste. This is one of the best natural cracked heel treatment and will also prevent further cracking.

Home Remedy for Cracked Heels #5 - Wax & Mustard Oil Treatment!

If you have tried everything else and yet not able to cure cracked heels, you need to give the wax treatment for cracked heels. You need paraffin wax for this. To make this more simpler, you can even use the wax melted from a regular candle lying in your home! For this, make pieces of a candle after removing its wick (thread). Now take some mustard oil. Heat the wax and the mustard oil to make a paste like formation. After soaking your feet in warm water and scrubbing the dry skin off, apply this wax-mustard oil paste on your heel cracks. If you have deep cracks, fill this wax paste into those fissures. Then wear a pair of sock. It will be more effective if you do this cracked heels treatment before going to bed. Do it for about a week and you will be astonished at your smooth feet without cracked heels! Save the wax-mustard oil paste in a bottle. Next time when you need it, you just have to heat it a little or keep it out in sun for sometime and its ready to heel cracked heels!

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How to be Stress Free on Christmas!

Diposting oleh Unknown Jumat, 23 Desember 2011 0 komentar


As far as stress related to Christmas preparation is concerned, it depends on you. If you want to be stress free during holidays, you have to plan and prioritize while preparing for Christmas celebrations. Then only, you can remain stress free over the holidays. The tips on how to plan and organize for stress free holidays include the following:

  • Always Plan, Prioritize and Prepare
  • For planning, use ' to-do-lists' and make these list days before Christmas arrives. 
  • Stick a master 'to-d0-list' or your Christmas planner somewhere you can see every time like on the fridge or Kitchen wall. Keep one in your handbag and/or pocket so that you can keep track when you go out shopping.
  • Set your priorities about what is most important and what is least important for your Christmas celebrations. Work accordingly!
  • Prepare in advance. For example, set the Christmas dinner menu beforehand, write the Christmas cards when you get some free time even if it is a couple of months before Christmas.
  • Delegate your works. Involve children, senior members, spouse everyone in your preparations for Christmas.
  • Remember to have a good time during holidays. Take out some time for yourself too- go to spa, parlor or just relax. Believe it, if you plan and work accordingly you sure will get time to relax too.
  • No matter what, remind yourself to laugh and smile all through the holidays and Christmas day. A little mess here and there is all right. Christmas is meant to be happy and not being perfect! And happiness is what you get from within and from your loved ones. If they are happy just spending time with you on these special days, it won't matter whether your home is perfectly decorated or not. It is also not important that you make lots of dishes for Christmas dinner, what is important is that you enjoy the few dishes that are on your table with your family and friends, making merry, laughing and smiling.

If, however, you have not planned and organized for your Christmas this year, you can still remain stress free! To know how, read How to Remain Stress Free on Christmas Day – Even if You Have not Organized Anything!

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How to Lower High Triglycerides Level Naturally with Diet?

Diposting oleh Unknown Kamis, 15 Desember 2011 0 komentar



If you have recently gone through a blood test and you have seen a 'High Triglycerides Level' in the blood test report, you might be amazing as to what is triglycerides and how to lower triglycerides naturally without the help of medicines? Here you will know what is triglycerides, its causes, risks, normal triglycerides level and how to lower triglycerides naturally with diet & lifestyle management. You will also get list of foods included in Triglycerides Diet.

Right Lifestyle to Lower Triglycerides Level Naturally
What is Triglycerides?
Triglycerides can be defined as a type of fat which is present in our blood and is used for generating energy. However, like any other thing excessive tryglyceride level is harmful for our health.

What is Normal Level of Triglycerides?
While we need triglycerides for sound health, high triglyceride level can pose a risk of heart diseases, high blood pressure and cholesterol problems. Therefore, we need to maintain optimum or normal triglycerides level. This can be understood from the following chart.

Status of Triglyceride
Triglyceride Levels
Normal Triglyceride Level
Less than 150
Borderline-high Triglyceride Level
150 - 199
High Triglyceride Level
200 – 499
Very High Triglyceride Level
500 and above
How is High Triglycerides Level Risky?
As stated earlier too, high triglycerides levels pose the risk of heart diseases diabetes and stroke. High triglycerides level is a symptom of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome can be explained as a combination of such diseases as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high fat deposit around the waist, low HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and high triglycerides.

What are Causes of High Triglycerides Level?
The causes for high triglyceride levels can be listed as follows:
  • Obesity
  • Poor control over diabetes
  • Sedentary lifestyle (lack of physical activity)
  • High consumption of carbohydrates and sweets.
  • High consumption of alcohol
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Kidney diseases
  • Genetic lipid disorders
  • High estrogen levels ( like when undergoing estrogen replacement therapy during menopause)
  • Some medicines like steroids, beta-blockers, diuretics, and birth control pills.
How to Lower High Triglycerides Levels?
If you have borderline- high triglyceride level, you can lower it naturally by bringing changes in your diet and certain lifestyle habits. If wondering how to lower triglyceride level, read the following.
  • If obese, lose weight and stay at a healthy weight. You must reduce calories to lose weight when trying to lower high triglyceride levels.
  • Have a diet that is helpful in reducing triglycerides in your blood. Eat less carbohydrate foods and unhealthy fat.
  • Follow an active lifestyle. Get in habit of regular exercises even if its brisk walking for about 40 minutes a day.
  • If in habit of having alcohol, limit the drinks. Avoid binge drinking of alcohol as it causes spikes in triglyceride levels that in turn can trigger inflammation of the pancreas.
  • Quit smoking.
  • If diabetic, control your blood sugar and keep it as normal as possible.
What is Triglycerides Diet?
Diet to Lower Triglycerides Level Naturally
Here is a list of foods that can help lower triglyceride levels in your blood. Try to include more and more of them in your diet either in breakfast, lunch, dinner or while having snacks.
  • Fish, especially the oily fish having more of omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna, mackerel). Have fish at least twice a week. If you don't eat fish, have fish oil supplements.
  • Wholewheat bread
  • Oatmeal
  • Fat less milk
  • Lean Turkey
  • Lettuce
  • Tomatoes
  • Carrots
  • Apple
  • Low fat yogurt
  • Raisins
  • Peanuts
  • Brown rice
  • Broccoli
  • Cucumber
  • Olive oil

    All the above food items have been found effective when you want to reduce triglyceride level. Low triglyceride level will make you free of all health worries and you will be able to live life to its fullest. So, move yourself a little more and eat healthy to keep those high levels of triglyceride at bay!

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Vitamin D- Why Do We Need Vitamin D?

Diposting oleh Unknown Senin, 12 Desember 2011 0 komentar


Get facts about vitamin D- what is and why do we need Vitamin D? How to know about Vitamin D deficiency, its risks? Is excessive Vitamin D harmful? What are the sources of Vit-D? Also get list of Vitamin D foods!


Sources of Vitamin D
We all know that many vitamins are needed by our bodies to function properly. Of late, however, the role of Vitamin D has come under focus and everyone seems to be talking about this Vitamin D! After all, why do we need vitamin D? What is vitamin D deficiency? How can we know if we have vitamin D deficiency in our bodies? How much vitamin D do we need and whether too much of vitamin D is harmful? What are the sources of vitamin D? Are there something called vitamin D foods? Let's get answers to these questions and other facts about vitamin D?

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble hormone. It has two types or forms - Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 is present in fungi and plants as well as fortified foods and in supplements. The source of vitamin D3 is sunlight- it is synthesized in human skin when exposed to UVB light generated from the sun. Vitamin D can also be found in fish oil.

Why do We Need Vitamin D?

The following list will clarify as to why do we need Vitamin D?
  • We need Vitamin D for strong bones and teeth. 
  • It is required for normal absorption of calcium and phosphorus by bones which, in turn, reduces the risk of bone fractures and degeneration of bones. 
  • We need Vitamin D to prevent bone diseases. Weak bones lead to such diseases as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, rickets, arthritis etc.
  • Vitamin D is also needed to keep the immune system functioning in proper way so that our body can resist various types of diseases. 
The picture below very well explains the role of Vitamin D in various body functions and make it clear as to why do we need Vitamin D!
Why do We Need Vitamin D?

What is Vitamin D Deficiency and How to Know it?
Everyone needs to have enough of Vitamin D in body. If we do not have such enough amount of vitamin D in our bodies, it is termed as vitamin D deficiency. The table below tells about the optimum level of vitamin D in body of a child and an adult. These are the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) to know how much vitamin D do we need?
Person
Vitamin D (IU/Day*)
Children up to Teen Age 600
Adults up to 70 years of Age 600
Adults of 71+ years of Age 800
Pregnant Women 600
Breastfeeding Mother 600
*IU= International Units

Whether you have Vitamin D deficiency or not can be known through the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test. This has to be done through a blood test.

How does Vitamin D Deficiency Affect Us?

Sunlight- Best of Vitamin D Sources
Vitamin D deficiency affects bones and various other parts of our body. Lack of vitamin D in growing children may lead to weaker bones that are not able to support their weight- a state called rickets. Vitamin D deficiency in adults can lead to soft bones also known as osteomalacia. Its deficiency can also result into loss of bone mass in adults leading to fragile bones or osteoporosis.

Who are at High Risk of Vitamin D deficiency?

Following segments of population run the highest risk of vitamin D deficiency:
  • Aged people.
  • People having dark skin.
  • Obese people.
  • People having or prone to kidney and liver diseases.
  • People who do not get direct sunlight.
Is Too Much of Vitamin D Harmful?

Too much of vitamin D in body can lead to vitamin D toxicity. This might cause such states as nausea, mood changes and even organ damage. Therefore, one should not consume more than 4000 IU of vitamin D in a day. Children younger than 9 years of age should get even lesser vitamin D.

What are the Sources of Vitamin D?

There are three sources of getting Vitamin D- sunlight, Vit. D supplements and certain foods.

Sunlight for Vitamin D

Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D as skin synthesizes this vitamin when exposed to UVB sunlight. However, one must be careful not to get harmful UV rays. For this, you should expose yourself to sun rays either in the morning or in the evening when the sun is about to set. Afternoon sunrays should be avoided.

Vitamin D Supplements

People who find it impossible to get sun rays and proper vitamin D diet should take vitamin D supplements available in the market. Aged people and those with darker skin should positively have vitamin D supplements as well as fortified foods (foods fortified with vitamin D like fortified milk and fortified yogurt.)

List of Vitamin D Foods

Vitamin D Foods
Following foods are good sources of vitamin D and thus one should include them into daily diet.
  • Cod Liver Oil
  • Salmon.
  • Sardines.
  • Shrimp.
  • Fortified milk and yogurt. 
  • Fortified orange juice.
  • Eggs, especially egg yolk.
  • Fortified cereals like oatmeal.
  • Swiss Cheese.

The above discussion makes it clear as to why do we need Vitamin D. We need this vitamin not only for strong bones and teeth but also to keep our immune system in proper working mode.

Know More about Diet for Strong Bones

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World Aids Day- Condom Usage Tips

Diposting oleh Unknown Kamis, 01 Desember 2011 0 komentar

On December 1- the World Aids Day- it is always the right thing to be aware of how to prevent from getting infected to HIV AIDS virus. The biggest cause of HIV infection is unsafe sex with an infected partner. So, here are some useful tips on using condoms for safer sex and for avoiding AIDS.
  • Always check the quality of condom you are buying. For this, you may check the quality certificate (like the CE mark  for European countries and FDA approved mark for United States) on the package. So, find out what mark will ensure the quality of condoms in your country.
  • Always check the expiry date because expired condoms might not provide you with the essential protection.
  • Always wear the condom before you initiate physical contact between the penis and the vagina or even the anus. In fact, if you wear condom after getting a full erection, it gives you better protection. This will prevent sexually transmitted diseases and other viruses as well including the HIV.
  • Never forget to use condom for even a single occasion. If you have more than one partner and you enjoy sex even on holidays with 'not so known' partner, you must carry condoms with you all the time.
  • For longer sessions, it is always advisable to change condom with a new one every thirty minutes. They might break during these longer sessions with your partner and expose you to sexually transmitted diseases. Remember to change condom after ejaculation if you are in a mood to continue.
  • Always use a single condom and don't think that double condoms would give you better protection. There is always a risk of two condoms rubbing with each other and causing friction resulting into breakage- this fact is applicable to both male condoms or a combination of male and female condom.
  • If you are using latex condom, don't apply oil based products including moisturizers, creams and body oils for lubricating vagina or anus. They weaken condoms resulting into easy damage, leakage or breakage. You can always apply water based lubricants, like KY Jelly or Liquid Silk, easily available with chemists. Always put the extra lubrication on the outside of the condom.
  • After buying condoms, keep them away from heat and light- store condoms in cool dark places. If yours is a hot and humid atmosphere, store them in the refrigerator, more so in summers.
  • For disposing off condoms, wrap used condom in its foil packaging and then throw it in the trash. Never flush a used condom for disposing it off.
For more information on AIDS, you might like to read AIDS Awareness Day- FAQs

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