healthy and beautiful

The monsoon is here and shouts of joy can be heard through the streets! As the rain washes away the waves of heat, the crowds are simply loving the clear, clean, cold, windy weather. This season is a risky one as far as infection and disease is concerned. Until now, I'd known that it was easy to get throat infections, colds, coughs, bronchitis, viral fevers and the like, in this rainy weather. Yesterday however, I called up my tattoo-artist friend from Dragonfly Tattoo Studio (he's got a tattoo studio in G.K. Market, Delhi) to ask him about navel piercings. He advised me that this wasn't the right time to get that sort of stuff done, as the moisture in the air is perfect for infections to breed. He added that the best time during this season, would be in the end of August as the air is drier then and a piercing would heal quicker. By the same token, my dentist advised me to allow extra recovery time for my scheduled surgery this weekend, as the rainy weather is perfecting ...

Has the human race has proven to be resilient yet again? Rumors are surfacing that while scientists are struggling to find a cure for swine flu, many are recovering on their own. It is whispered that thousands around the world are being found to recover on their own with just bed rest and isolation. Although they still say that there are those at risk of it being fatal, such as the pregnant and those who have other resistance-weakening diseases.

It sounds simple, but it's really easier said than done. If you find that you're constantly breaking out with blackheads, pimples, boils, etc, try washing your hair every second day to keep oil and dander off of your face. Earlier I'd written on how it's important to change your pillowcases and sheets often to cure dandruff. The same remedy can be applied to treating acne.

No, drinking more milk, scientific research has found that taking a more calcium-rich diet does NOT help to prevent the much dreaded old-age symptom of osteoporosis, which is more common among the women species. It is just an old myth. To prepare against the eventualities of this deterioration disease, one must instead build up muscle mass which instead helps strengthen the bone. Calcium rich diets will only help you to build bone mass up until you are fully grown. After this, your body no longer needs to have excess milk (especially cow's milk) pumped into it. It is good as a protein yes, but not as a way of building bone mass. Only resistance training can do that for you. If you are trying to combat osteoporosis now, try seeking consultation from your doctor, or for going for some light aerobics and gradually working your way up to exercising with weights. Take dancing classes if you have to, but do something rigorous that will get your heart pumping and those muscles building.

Did you know that Aloe Vera is one of THE best purifiers for your skin? Among other benefits, this wonder plant has provided skin relief since time immemorial. It is also one of the only known natural vegetable sources of the crucial vitamin B12. Other benefits of Aloe Vera include: - Natural support to the immune system - Helps energy levels to rise - Maintains healthy skin and combats effects of aging - Natural way to replenish the body with vital mineral and vitamins - Has natural detoxifying abilities - Improves digestion - Increases protein absorption - Anti-inflammatory agents - Anti-bacterial/ viral - Weight loss - Curing digestive tract irritations such as colitis, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome - Natural body cleanser - Curing cancer, constipation, diverticular disorders, haemorrhoids, heartburn, heart disease, HIV, immune stimulation, indigestion, insomnia, kidney disease, leg cramps, vaginitis, vaginal douche - Aids in white blood cell production - And is a general heal...

Are you one of those women who find using public toilets against the grain of your being? Do you walk into a public restroom and go ‘Ew!’? Is your first reaction to stop drinking liquids on a long trip so that your visits to the less-than-hygienic restroom stops along the way are infrequent? If you are, shake my hand on it. I’m another one of those germ-conscious, I-hate-using-public-restroom people.  Unfortunately though, no matter what precautions we take, there will always be that inevitable ‘I gotta go now!’ situation where your mind simply does not yield to taking control over the matter. In those odd and sometimes freaky situations (local public restrooms and the like) there are ways in which you can keep yourself clean and still do your thing.  Here are some methods I’ve found to be especially clean and helpful. I hope it’s a help to those of you out there who are conscious and find it awkward to deal with such situations.  Take ‘The Stance’ The Stance is something every mother ...