Fact or Fiction: Does Glucosamine Relieve Joint Pain?

Glucosamine is now one of the top-selling dietary supplements in the United States. It is used by many older adults at risk for or suffering from osteoarthritis, a population that is exploding as baby boomers now enter their 50s and 60s, and as our expanding waistlines put more long-term pressure on our knees and hips.
Glucosamine is used to treat joint pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis. It is usually packaged by itself or in combination with chondroitin. Suppliers of glucosamine and chondroitin claim that they reduce osteoarthritis pain, promote healthy joint function, and nourish joint cartilage.
Both glucosamine and chondroitin are sold over the counter as nutritional supplements (and thus are not regulated by the FDA). Physicians also may prescribe or recommend a three-month trial of an oral glucosamine/chondroitin complex for patients with more severe knee or hip pain.
While there have been some anecdotal reports of benefit, and it is well established that the health risks associated with supplementation are low, real clinical evidence of glucosamine’s analgesic (pain relieving) and structural effects have thus far been inconclusive.

Read More

Could Melatonin Relieve Pain?

What Is Melatonin?

Melatonin is naturally produced in the brain from tryptophan but can also be found in dietary sources such as tart cherry juice, tomatoes, grape skins and the seeds from fennel, celery, poppy and sunflower. Although dietary sources may not contain the dosage similar to the synthetic version, the natural hormone may act as an antioxidant protecting against free-radical damage.
Have you ever been in pain? Chances are you’re wincing as you answer that question. Pain is the most common symptom of all medical conditions. Therefore, pain relief is not only essential for recovery but also key for keeping you sane. We may now be able to turn to nature for help with this ubiquitous ailment. A recent review examined the use of the hormone, melatonin as a painkiller in fibromyalgia, irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) and migraines.

Read More

Top 3 Bogus Fad Diets

Before you spend any money on a fad diet, read this first. Because your fad diet may be making you fat.
It’s time to retire three bogus fad diets, which not only do not work, but can also be quite dangerous if followed for too long. Studies consistently show that the vast majority of weight lost–particularly on fad diets– is regained. Why? For one thing, to cope with an ultra-low calorie diet, your body goes into starvation mode and down-shifts its metabolism. When that happens, weight re-gain is likely to ensue even at lower calorie levels than before when regular food intake resumes. Either way the proof is in the numbers. The diet industry is a $ 60 billion industry, but all that money spent on the ever-growing number of quick-fix diet books, foods and products available has certainly not translated into results: the number of overweight and obese Americans has been steadily growing for the past few decades and remains at an all-time high.
Read on to learn about three of today’s bogus fad diets…

Read More

The Psychology of Procrastination

We’re all familiar with the scenario: a deadline for a big project is looming, but rather than tackling the job head-on we procrastinate. We’ll do anything, from watching television to cleaning, to avoid starting the “big project.”  This avoidance causes other emotions such as guilt and anxiety. Procrastination is a common problem, and experts believe that there’s more to it than just laziness or a poor work ethic.
It is widely believed among psychologists that procrastination can be a symptom of depression—people who become depressed often lose their sense of motivation. Furthermore, procrastination is also a common trait in found in maladaptive perfectionists, or people who have high levels of anxiety and an unhealthy fear of failure. Certain types of maladaptive perfectionists set such stringent personal goals, or believe that others hold them to unrealistic standards, that they experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and consequently procrastinate.

Read More

How to Choose the Best Light Therapy Box

Mother nature shuts off the lights earlier in winter and for millions of people darker days bring a bout of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you’re experiencing the blues this winter, it might be time to get a dose of sunshine from light therapy. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, between 50 and 80 percent of people using light therapy to treat SAD experience complete recovery from symptoms.
Read on to see our tips for finding a light therapy box…

Read More

Blood Pressure Numbers: What Do They Mean?

On a recent beautiful morning while I was taking my two-mile power walk, I was surprised when one of my companions asked, “What’s the story with those blood pressure numbers, what do they mean?” And, in fact, the other walker chimed in that it was a mystery to her as well.
Those are hugely important numbers, I explained, because when they’re consistently too high (hypertension), the result can be a stroke, a heart attack, kidney failure and even blindness. It’s also a “silent killer.”  You can be walking around with very high blood pressures and feel perfectly fine.

What is the difference between the two numbers?

Let me first explain the two numbers:  The higher recording, systole, occurs when the heart contracts. The lower number, diastole, occurs when the heart relaxes between beats.

Read More

Can You Fight Cancer with Fruits and Veggies?

Most people think a diet high in fruits and vegetables will prevent them from getting cancer. However a recent review of the research indicates that there might be less of an association than previously suspected.
Just because broccoli may not be the veggie version of Superman–does not mean you should skip your greens. As the professor who wrote the review indicated, it might be difficult to truly assess this relationship because of other factors that could play a role, such as smoking, alcohol use, environment, how long the person has eaten a diet high in fruits and vegetables and other dietary factors.
So should you still bother eating your fruits and veggies? Read on to find out…

Read More

Fight Acne without using Medication

Acne is a serious issue for most of us, but don’t worry. Now we have a various measures to keep acne away from you.

Mostly, almost all of us have acne problems especially during our teenage years. Indeed, it is very irritating and it leads to serious problems like depression in many people if it doesn’t get fine. But there are ways to fight acne without taking strong medicines like antibiotics etc which may subside acne for a little while and make acne grow faster again anytime too. Therefore, follow these simple steps to prevent acne and see the results yourself.

• Never Pop Zits

Many teenage girls and boys too, try to pop out their pimples and acne hit areas especially on weekends or when they need to attend any party or special occasion. Popping out acne zits is a major sin that you can do to your already acne hit skin. This leaves dark spots, marks and worst of all, deep cracks forever. Moreover, most of the time, pimples have pus in them. When you break pimples, the chances of pus spreading all over are at its maximum which causes more and more acne and pimples.

• Live a Stress Free Life

Stress has become a crucial part of our lives. It is now as important in our lives as eating or drinking. But this is very wrong and it is the major cause of bringing acne to your skin. Moreover, your skin loses its glowing complexion and you are likely to have wrinkles soon with more acne on your face. Therefore, try to avoid taking stress as it is the best way to fight acne and have a smooth and glowing complexion of skin.

• Avoid Over-Washing Your Face

Washing your face twice or thrice is good to prevent acne but don’t over wash. The reason to it is that, an overdose of chemicals through soaps and face washes is not good no matter how good anti-bacterial and anti-acne soaps and face washes you are using. Rather, a better option is to wash your face just with water every now and then. It helps in refreshing the skin cells which fights better and effectively against acne.

• Avoid Touching Your face

Our fingers and hands have lots of bacteria on them which we cannot see. This is one of the prime causes that lead to acne. Moreover, touching acne irritates the skin and if you touch the same fingers at some other point on your skin then the chances of having acne at that place gets higher. Therefore, try to avoid touching your face and acne hit areas as much as possible.

• Wash Your Hair Frequently

Regular and daily cleaning of hair is as important as washing your hands and face. Hair is the area which is like a warehouse for storing large amounts of oil, dirt and eventually leading to dandruff. All this drastically impacts skin by causing acne. Therefore, wash your hair daily to keep them clean and smooth and ultimately protecting your skin from acne too.

• Change Your Pillow Case Frequently

Pillow cases are another reason which aggravates the acne. It is because of the fact that when we sleep, many pimples break and the pus and dirty blood spreads over. Moreover, rubbing the acne hit skin with the pillow case and then placing the acne free areas on the same pillow case creates more acne. So, in order to avoid all this and minimize the bacterial growth, it is best advised to change the pillow cases regularly.

Last but not the least, the best medicine to prevent your skin from acne is to drink lots and lots of water and avoid junk and oily foods. You will see the changes yourself in skin and the acne will taper off within a few months.

Read More

Apple Cider Vinegar - your beauty kit to flawless skin

Every girl dreams of flawless skin, ‘a universal truth’ and to live that dream you spend thousands of rupees to get various chemical-laden products from the market, but have you ever thought a bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar placed in your kitchen cabinet, that your mom uses to make delicious salads is actually a little beauty kit to flawless skin!

And what’s even more amazing is that it’s cheap and totally natural! Apple cider vinegar is made by crushing fresh apples and allowing them to ferment. The best quality apple cider vinegar is made with organic apples, allowed to mature in wooden barrels to make vinegar. The best brand is Braggs Natural Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, which is not available in Pakistan; the most commonly available in Pakistan is American Garden Apple Cider Vinegar, which is the next best and can do wonders on your skin.

Apple cider vinegar contains natural enzymes, vitamins and minerals and is rich in antioxidants.   It contains Vitamins A, B and C, beta carotene, bioflavonoid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, sulfur, iron, fluorine, silicon, boron and pectin.  It naturally balances the pH balance of the skin and the entire body.

This little beauty secret not only cures acne; mild and severe, but also improves skin tone, blood circulation, oxygen delivery, maintains elasticity, purifies and revives. It’s the best anti angling natural ingredient that can make you look years younger. Plus it is a natural anti-fungal and an antiseptic.

Apple Cider Vinegar can be taken internally and externally for best results. For internal use, a teaspoon of Apple Cider vinegar diluted in a glass of water can be taken first thing in the morning and in the evening before meal. It will not only cleanse your system but will also boost your metabolism reaction and immune system for effective working and healthy body.

For external use, mix Apple Cider Vinegar in water in equal quantities and apply it on face directly with a cotton ball as a toner and let it dry naturally. You can use it 1-3 times a day or you can even use it before sleeping and rinse in the morning.

And I bet, it will not disappoint you, within a week or two, your skin will look tighter, younger, soft, dewy and above all acne and blemish free. So go grab this little beauty kit hidden in the darkest corner of your kitchen and place it on your dressing table for flawless skin.

Read More

How to Handle Dry Skin Problem

Dry skin and skin dryness is not a big problem now. All you need is skin cleansing, toning and moisturizing with good quality skin care products.

Glowing, shiny and beautiful skin is the ultimate desire of every woman. To make her skin shinny and glowing, every woman does lots of things from the use of skin beauty products to skin exfoliating techniques. But, unfortunately, all practices go in vain when one has dry and patchy skin. Dry and patchy skin not only damages the entire facial beauty but also create bad impression of your over all look.

However, dry skin and skin dryness are serious skin problems/issues for women, but now, because of medical advancement, dry skin and skin dryness are not a big problem at all. Usual skin dryness is not a big issue but if you are suffering from XEROSIS, (the medical form for a dry skin, begins as a loss of moisture in the upper most layer of your skin), then you must consult to a dermatologist or a skin specialist.

Usual skin dryness can be the result of your carelessness towards your skin care and skin cleansing and moisturizing. Remember, your skin is your body’s largest organ. It needs much moisture in the body to remain healthy.

Here are some very easy and simple tips on how to handle dry skin problem or how to pamper your skin with extra and rich moisture.

• Tips to handle dry skin:

Cleansing: The first and fore most step to eliminate skin dryness is cleansing. A healthy, shiny and glowing skin needs gentle cleansing. Numbers of good quality cleansers are available in market which will help remove dirt, oil and impurities without diminishingyour skin’s natural moisture level. So, gentle cleansing is a must to handle dry skin problem.

• Toning:

Skin toning is another important tip to get rid of dry skin and skin dryness problem. Toning not only controls your breakouts, blemishes and shines, but also leaves your skin clean and refreshed. Toners are also easily available at all beauty shops.

• Moisturizing:

After cleaning and toning, now is the step for moisturizing your dry skin. Skin moisturizing is very very important to diminish skin dryness problem. Always hydrate your skin with good quality moistures. Use moisturizer whichcontains SPF particles. These moisturizers also prove as your best anti-aging defense. Try Nouri fusion Moisturizer SPF 15 for your dry skin. You can also use it as a sun block. In spite of these easy and simple tips, also:

Drink plenty of water. Water works as a natural skin and body moisturizer.

Use Fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit fluids regularly for healthy, soft and glowing skin. Always use branded and good quality skin care products to avoid any type of skin problem.

Read More

How to use Safe Cosmetics During Pregnancy

To look smart, beautiful and glamorous is the natural desire of every woman. Even in pregnancy, women hardly avoid the use of cosmetics. To know the harmful effects of these beauty products and cosmetics on your unborn child, read on!!

Every woman, no matter old or young, wants to look beautiful, smart and gorgeous. For this, she uses number of beauty products and cosmetics. In order to rejuvenate their natural and existing beauty, women use different beauty products and cosmetics from herbal to non-herbal and natural to artificial. The practice, to enhance their beauty and glow, don’t even stop even in pregnancy. Unfortunately, majority of women don’t know the hazardous and dangerous effects of these cosmetics on their unborn child.

Becoming pregnant is such an amazing and rewarding gift from God. During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through so many changes, hence the skin becomes too sensitive and raw. It is a shocking fact that even your face wash can also be harmful to you and your unborn baby. Therefore, it is very important for all women to know the dangers of the use of cosmetics during pregnancy.

Here you can find some very important and safe instructions/tips on how to use safe cosmetics during pregnancy in order to safe your unborn child and your skin and body.

Cosmetics you can use during pregnancy:

1. Tanning Cream: The use of tanning creams during pregnancy is safe. They only stain the skin and don’t enter in the blood stream. They also help you to feel glowing throughout your pregnancy.
2. Waxing: Waxing is perfectly safe during pregnancy. But it might be painful. If you tolerate the high pain, then you can continue your regular wax even during pregnancy.
3. Facial: Most of the researchers find facial a safe way to glow and to clean your face and skin. But you have to avoid the acidic ingredients in the facial as your skin become more sensitive and raw during pregnancy.
4. Bleaching: If you are doing regular bleach, then you have to review your practices. Stop regular bleaching during pregnancy. Bleaching and bleach related products may cause birth defects so be careful.
5. Body Wraps: Any type of body wraps that heat up your body and cover your stomach are not safe during pregnancy.  Body wraps can cause dehydration, which may increase your risk of pre mature labor.
6. Hot Bath: Hot baths are not safe during pregnancy. The high temperature water can over heat you and your baby. Remember, over heating can also increase your baby’s risk of developing neural tube defects so be careful and avoid hot baths during pregnancy.
7. Anti-Aging Cosmetics: Avoid anti-aging cosmetics during pregnancy. Anti-aging cosmetics contain high amount of Vitamin A which is not good for your face and skin during pregnancy.

Beside these above mentioned cosmetics, also avoid Accutane or retinoic acids, hair colors, Botox treatments and hair depilatories etc.

For more information and safety, consult a dermatologist or skin specialist to lower the chance of harm to your baby.

Read More

How to Deal With White Hairs As a Teenager

Hair Color

Having white hairs in teenage is a common problem nowadays. Many teenagers are facing the problems of having white hairs at such a young age. Though, white hairs are not always the sign of aging, but they can surely be a hindrance in the beauty of your overall persona. Especially, white hairs in the front of the head cause serious embarrassment at teenage.

To deal with white hairs in teenage, follow some of the points described below.

• Determine the cause of your white hairs

The most common reason of white hairs is the inheritance through genes. If your parents or immediate family relatives have white hair at early age, this might be the reason of your problem.

• Take care of your health

The healthier you are, the more efficient your body system can function. If your body functions are working efficiently, your body will be able to perform all the normal processes including growing hair etc. You can prevent having white hairs by taking proper diet and adopting healthy eating habit. Moreover, avoiding stress and refraining from smoking will also help you battling white hairs.

• See a doctor

Consult a doctor about your white hairs’ problem so that you may get help to know about potential causes of white hairs. A competent physician can also suggest your helpful ways to prevent white hairs in the future.

• Deal with white hairs you already have

Though, causes of white hairs may not be prevented completely, but still you can find effective method to make yourself look good and confident. White hairs are not always ugly. In fact, you can flaunt your hairs freely, as white hairs won’t make you look old if you have a youthful glow on face. You can color up your white hairs with hair dye that match the darker hair of your hair.

Tips & Warnings

• In some cases, white hairs will fall out over time
• If you are going for covering your white hairs with hair dye, always pick up a good brand.
• Before dying your hair, consider the potential hazards such as damaged hair, weakened hair, hair  falling etc.
• Don’t try to pluck white hairs, as it could risk more growing.

Read More