Dry skin is a common problem and a very irritating one. I have dry skin which can get itchy with no real reason at all. When I apply make-up, my forehead and cheeks show up white dry patches in spite of using a moisturizer. Well, a few years back I was troubled by T-zone and acne which prevented me from using moisturizers on face. Now, my skin tends to gulp down all the moisture fed to it without hesitation. I could not find how this change came about. But I could find remedies for my thirsty skin.

Dry skin can be caused by a change of weather, harsh soaps and cleansers, air conditioning, hot showers and certain medical conditions. Normally, the skin on your hands, thighs and lower legs are the driest. Skin conditions are also influenced by your age, health conditions, your locale and the amount of time you spend outdoors (exposure to wind and sun). As a result, skin can be red, itchy, scaling, tight and lined. Woman have more issues than men as their skin loses moisture faster. Eczema and Psoriasis are skin irritations which can cause dry skin. Eczema is an allergic response to environmental factors while Psoriasis is a life-term skin disease. Remember that dry skin can also occur if you have thyroid, diabetes and as reactions to medications like diuretics, antispasmodics, and antihistamines. You will have to seek medical attention if your skin is dry and itchy and disturbs your sleep, if you are scratching it too much into infection and if you have scaly skin which does not improve at all.

Just drinking a lot of fluids does not help in this case. You may need an additional supply of Vitamin E and moisture.

1. Break open a Vitamin E oil capsule and apply on face for a light massage. You can follow it with a face pack for oily face. An ideal face pack for dry skin should contain egg yolk, olive oil, honey, (chickpea flour or fuller’s earth) milk cream, almonds, oatmeal and the like.
2. Almond oil and honey can be used as moisturizers. They will also help reduce wrinkles.
3. Use Aloe Vera directly from plant and wash off when dry.
4. Use Petroleum jelly on your body and a hypoallergenic moisturizer on face regularly.
5. Coconut milk and red sandal powder is a great combination to soften skin, hydrate it and get rid of the blemishes.
6. Do not wash your face often. Try to use fertilized water if possible as normal tap water can further dry out your facial skin.
7. Use lukewarm water while bathing and a short shower
8. Use less of soap in winter and pat dry gently.
9. Apply your lotion immediately after your bath.
10. Do not use cosmetics with alcohol. Some of the acne products have alcohol as their main ingredient.
11. Use a humidifier if your room is too dry.
12. A mixture of rose water and glycerin (and avocado oil) can be a soothing night lotion.
13. Chamomile, Geranium, Hyssop, Lavender, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood and Ylang-Ylang are essential oil for dry skin. You can use toiletries and cosmetics with these ingredients.

Your dry skin should not deprive you from make-up and beauty enhancements.

1. You can use a souffle foundation or oil-based or water based foundations on dry skin. It will be easier to apply cream or liquid foundation than a paste one. It will give a matte-finish too.
2. Use chap stick or lip balm before applying lip stick.
3. Exfoliate your face and lips gently for good results. Almonds and oat meal with milk cream work as great scrubs.

A positive change in the diet with all the vital nutrients and protection from extreme Sun and wind are all crucial for dry skin.

• Eat a lot of fruits and leafy vegetables for vitamins. You will need Vitamin A, B and E for glowing skin. Apricots, avocado, cantaloupes, wheat germ, natural yogurt, milk are all great to tackle dry skin. Keep aside a little of your fruits for an enriching face pack.
• You will also need beta-carotene present in yellow and orange veggies like carrots.
• Sulfur rich foods like garlic, onions, eggs, and asparagus are great for dry skin. Sulfur prevents drying of skin by stimulating the metabolism.
• Flax seeds are known for their health benefits as well. Throw in a few into your breakfast bowl or add some flaxseed oil into your salad if you can.
• Keep away from alcohol, caffeine, soft drinks, chocolate, chips and sweets.

-Aparna K V

Those who know the art of make-up would definitely know this. If you wear pink lipstick your teeth (however fair they are) would look pale and yellow and if you wear red lip color, they would look whiter. In our daily life, we come across many people who have yellow and even blackish teeth. Some may not be confident of showing their happiest of emotions in fear of betraying their unpleasant stained teeth. Well, a pretty smile would add a spark not only to your face but to your over all appearance.

Teeth Stains

Your teeth can be stained due to various reasons. One of the main reasons for discoloration of teeth is the use of smoke or tobacco. Unhealthy eating and drinking (soda, coffee, tea) habits also contribute to it. The drinking water has fluoride in it, the excess of which may stain your teeth rather than whitening it. Certain medications and health conditions may also be responsible for yellow teeth. As you age, your teeth may turn yellow exposing the yellow-colored Dentin under the enamel. To an extent, improper dental care also leads to stained teeth.

If you feel that your teeth discoloration is not due to your life style or poor dental care you need to visit your Dentist. But yellow teeth does not steal anything more than a beautiful grin. There are no health issues tied to it and you don’t need to go for any expensive teeth cleaning sessions unless your insurance covers it. You can take some extra care and try out some home remedies to bring back your brightest smile.

Herbal Remedies for Yellow Teeth

Ayurveda maintains that yellow teeth is a result of Kapha dosha. Ayurveda offers some medicinal herbs for proper dental care. Tulsi (Ho­l­y­ Bas­i­l­-O­c­i­mum s­an­c­tum), Babul­ (Ac­ac­i­a ar­abi­c­a), Ban­­yan­­ (F­i­c­us­ reli­gi­os­a), Mar­gosa (Neem- Az­ad­ir­ac­h­th­a in­­d­ic­a) and the like are medicinal herbs which can bring back the sparkle to your face. Tulsi is the Queen of herbs and plays an important role in dental care. It can prevent teeth discoloration and bleeding of gums (p­yorrhea). Twigs of Babul and roots of banyan are great natural tooth brushes. Chewing of Babul bark aids loose teeth and dental disorders while the ingredient, tannin will help teeth whitening. Banyan will render health to the teeth and gums as it whitens the teeth with its astringent properties. Neem is both antibacterial and antiseptic. Brushing with neem twigs will get rid of mouth odor, eliminate plaque and reduce dental cavities.

Home Remedies

Most of the home remedies mentioned here are not scientifically proven. They stem from either folk medicines or individual experiences.

1. Brush your teeth with baking soda. A little of baking soda cannot do any harm to your teeth enamel but will help to make it shine.
2. The white inside of orange peels can be rubbed on your teeth for whiter teeth.
3. Try a tiny pinch of salt with your usual tooth paste. But salt in excess can damage your teeth enamel. The abrasiveness in salt helps to remove plaque and food particles from the teeth while too much of abrasion can weaken your enamel.
4. Using burnt rice husk for brushing (cleaning with fingers) is an age old practice. I have personally done it at my ancestral house and it works wonders to clean your teeth.
5. Many people are against the use of strawberries (sugar content) and hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening. Better go to a dentist than trying out anything dangerous.

Change the Diet

Quit smoking, chewing tobacco and yes, betel leaves. Avoid too much of coffee and black tea if you have colored teeth. Eat less of sweets and chocolates and always remember to gargle after eating. Foods which are pung­ent­, bit­t­er­ and astringent are good for whitening your teeth.

My teacher was so right when she said ” a smile takes only 14 muscles where as it takes 144 muscles not to smile.” I am not sure of the numerals but what she said is so right. Have a smile, always!

-Aparna K V

It was a busy day for John. He attended the day long seminar in London and flew back to Texas the same day. He then had to attend his cousin’s engagement. The party went on till late night and he danced by the hours. The busy schedule of the day was forgotten in the night’s party. However it was tough for John’s wife to take him back home in a half drunken state. He then slept like a kid. All not through… But the unfortunate part is that he still continues to sleep…the next day never existed in his life’s itinerary. He suffered a massive heart attack and never woke up. The anger in his wife’s mind is now converted to sorrow for her husband.

Heart attack is one of the most common causes of untimely deaths in developed countries. High levels of cholesterol is one of the reasons behind it and this excess cholesterol gets deposited on the blood vessels to give rise to clogged arteries and veins and hence disrupted blood supply. This gives rise to interrupted blood supply in the body and the excessive pressure on the heart gives rise to heart attack.

To understand this apparent contradiction as to how cholesterol can be both “bad” and “good”, it is important to understand that cholesterol is manufactured in the liver and transported through the bloodstream to the sites where it is needed. Since It is a fatty substance; and because blood is mainly water; it has to latch on to molecules called lipoproteins in order to travel around successfully.

When we talk about “good” and “bad” cholesterol, we are actually distinguishing between the two different types of lipoproteins cholesterol latches on to:

1. High density lipoproteins (HDL’s) are considered “good cholesterol” because they carry unneeded cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver, where it is broken down for removal from the body. If everything is functioning as it should, this system remains in balance. However, if there is too much cholesterol for the HDLs to pick up promptly, or if there are not enough HDLs to do the job, cholesterol can form plaque that sticks to artery walls and may eventually cause heart disease.

2. Low density lipoproteins (LDL’s) are the major transporters of cholesterol in the bloodstream and are considered “bad cholesterol” because they carry fats out of the liver to the blood vessels. LDLs seem to encourage the deposit of cholesterol in the arteries.

Diet can play an important role in lowering your cholesterol. A few simple tweaks to your diet — like these — may be enough to lower your cholesterol to a healthy level and help you stay off medications.

Oatmeal and oat bran

Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, apples, pears, psyllium, barley and prunes.

Soluble fiber appears to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in your intestines. Ten grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your total and LDL cholesterol. Eating 1 1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal provides 6 grams of fiber. If you add fruit, such as bananas, you’ll add about 4 more grams of fiber. To mix it up a little, try steel-cut oatmeal or cold cereal made with oatmeal or oat bran.

Walnuts, almonds and more

Studies have shown that walnuts can significantly reduce blood cholesterol. Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, walnuts also help keep blood vessels healthy and elastic. Almonds appear to have a similar effect, resulting in a marked improvement within just four weeks.

A cholesterol-lowering diet in which 20 percent of the calories come from walnuts may reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 12 percent. But all nuts are high in calories, so a handful (no more than 2 ounces or 57 grams) will do. As with any food, eating too much can cause weight gain, and being overweight places you at higher risk of heart disease. To avoid gaining weight, replace foods high in saturated fat with nuts. For example, instead of using cheese, meat or croutons in your salad, add a handful of walnuts or almonds

Fish and omega-3 fatty acids

Research has supported the cholesterol-lowering benefits of eating fatty fish because of its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids also help the heart in other ways such as reducing