Homemade facial mask : Avocado, Honey & Oatmeal 


Avocado is not only good for your inside. It does wonder on your face as a mask.  You can make a homemade facial mask with it. Avocado based face wash will not only hydrate and calm dry or sensitive skin it also gently exfoliate your skin. Blend 1 ripe avocado with 2-tablespoons of raw, organic honey and 1/4-cup uncooked oatmeal flakes. Apply a  layer to your face and let sit for 10-15 minutes. The avocado and honey will both work to moisturize dry skin while the oatmeal balances and calms reactive, red and sensitive skin. To exfoliate away dry, dull skin, use gentle circular motions to scrub your face.

The lifesaving numbers you need to know

Dr. Oz reveals the 5 numbers every person needs to know, imparting critical medical insights that can help you save your own life.

1. Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can cause different medical problems including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and stroke.

• Your blood pressure can be tested in several places like your doctor’s office or at a pharmacy. Learn to test your own blood pressure and invest in a device you can use at home.
• Get in the habit of testing your blood pressure once a month. Make sure each time to test it at the same point in the day, when you’re most relaxed. For accuracy, take 3 readings and figure out the average number between them.
• Pay attention to the top number – the systolic pressure, which indicates the pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood – the best lifelong measurement for hypertension. A systolic reading above 140 is considered too high and warrants seeing your doctor.

 2. Waist Size

If you’re sporting a large waistline, your risk of dying prematurely is nearly double. The reason is because belly fat, often fondly referred to as a spare tire or a beer gut – sends out a toxic stream of chemicals impacting the whole body.

• Take your waist size once each month with a measuring tape.
• Measure at your natural waistline, which is above your hipbone and below the ribcage – not where your belt lies or around your hips. Be mindful of your posture and suck in your stomach since the fat you’re measuring is deep inside the belly.
• A waist size over 35 inches in women and over 40 inches in men greatly increases the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and more.
• The ideal waist size for women is 32 ½ inches and 35 inches for men.

 3. Weight

Stepping on a scale and finding out your body weight is one of the easiest numbers to calculate and an excellent indicator of your overall health. Over weight can cause a numbers of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gout, hypertension, high blood pressure and cancer.

• The average woman of approximately 5’4” tall should weight less than 175 pounds.
• The average man of about 5’9” tall should weigh less than 196.
• Taller folks can add 5 pounds per inch; if you’re shorter, subtract 5 pounds per inch.
• Write your weight down monthly. Studies show that by tracking this number, you’ll do a better job keeping it down.

4. Cholesterol

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

• To test your cholesterol levels, you need to see a doctor or someone in the health care field who can administer a simple blood test.
• You don’t need to memorize your total cholesterol number, which can be misleading. Instead, memorize the 2 forms it’s carried in: HDL and LDL. Your HDL, the healthy cholesterol, needs to be 50 or better; your LDL, the unhealthy cholesterol, should be under 100. If your numbers do not fall in this range, discuss strategies for lowering your LDL and increasing your HDL with a health care professional.

5. Fasting Blood Sugar

Fasting blood sugar (FBS) measures your risk for diabetes, a chronic disease that can lead to blindness, cardiac disease, kidney failure, nerve problems and an impaired immune system.

• Your fasting blood sugar number must be measured after an 8-hour fast. Fasting is a key since ingesting food—say, a banana an hour beforehand—would raise blood sugar levels and could create a false pre-diabetic or diabetic reading. Your FBS can be determined with a simple blood test or a finger stick test.
• A fasting blood sugar number above 100 is considered pre-diabetic; treatment measures should be discussed with a physician.

 Source: www.doctoroz.com

Beautiful bride : Kate Middleton

How to Get Natalie Portman's Oscars Makeup Look

Oscar winner Natalie Portman already benefits from that pregnancy glow, and makeup artist Eileen Kastner-Delago amplified it even more with a cosmetics palette featuring luminescent, purple shades. Natalie, the face of Miss Dior Chérie (get a first peek at her commercial here, wore Dior Beaute products to complement her purple gown. Find out here how to get the complete look

Makeup

Natalie's Dior artist Eileen Kastner-Delago says she wanted to make her look blend smoothly with her Rodarte gown: "I was inspired by her dress so I went with more purple tones."

1) Eileen began by priming her skin with Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Foundation. She touched up any imperfections with Diorskin Nude Hydrating Concealer.

2) For Natalie's eyes, Eileen mixed different shades of shadow -- gold, purple, and pink -- to achieve that her sultry look (Dior 1-Colour Eyeshadow in #546 Gold Touch, Dior 2-Colour Eyeshadow in Purple Look #885, Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Extase Pinks #804). Two different mascaras thickened and lengthened her lashes, Diorshow Waterproof Mascara -- anticipating a win and any potential tears of joy -- and Diorshow Iconic Mascara in Navy Blue for a hint of reflective color.

3) Her cheeks were done with DiorBlush in Peechy Keen to give her a rosy tint.

4) Her lips were perfect, in a combination of Dior Addict Lipstick in Infamous Pink -- with just a touch of Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in Apricot Cloche for extra shine!

Hair

Now, about that perfect 'do! Frederic Fekkai's Didier Malige, who styled Natalie, gave us all the details on how to get her glamorous bohemian style, that really romantic and feminine look!

1) Apply an anti-frizz product and volumizer before blow-drying the hair smooth using a round brush.
2) Then curl the hair using a 1” curling iron to create soft and feminine waves.
3) Next, create a foundation for the style by backcombing the bottom layers.
4) Sweep the hair to the left side of her face, securing with bobby pins.
5) For a finishing touch, Didier used one of Natalie’s earrings as a shimmery accent piece.
6) Secure the look with a sheer hairspray.

Oscar 2011- Best Dresses

Halle Berry was looking super gorgeous at 2011 Oscars wearing a nude and crystal encrusted corset Marchesa gown with organza and silk tulle ruffles. She paired her gown with exquisite silver jewelry and nude makeup.

Natalie Portman was seen wearing a violet off shouldered gown with a v-neck and Swarovski crystal detailing by Rodarte. She wore great satin sandals by Jimmy Choo and Tiffany jewelry pieces.


Mila Kunis, the beautiful lady chose a light lavender lace gown from Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture collection. She went for Neil Lane jewelry and carried a clutch by Bottega Veneta.

Oscar 2011 best dresses



Anne Hathaway Oscar 2011 Dresses

Anne Hathaway Oscar Dresses - Anne Hathaway looked stunning in all eight dresses she wore last night Oscar.

Romantic Valentine's look

Fiber controls Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Foods high in fiber such as oatmeal, oat bran, legumes, whole grain, fruits and vegetables help control high blood pressure. Studies shows if you get 20 percent of your daily calories from whole-grain, high-fiber foods instead of refined "white" carbs, it could drop your systolic BP 4 to 8 points and your diastolic BP another 6 to 8 points.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol frequently occur together. They both put you at risk for cardiovascular disease. If you have borderline high cholesterol (200-239 mg/dL) and prehypertension (120-139/80-89 mm Hg), it's time to take action.

Both soluble and insoluble fiber were shown to lower blood pressure in middle-aged people with high cholesterol and prehypertension.

5 Inexpensive foods that boost up your health

These 5 inexpensive foods you should eat everyday for optimum health:



Swiss chard

 1. Leafy greens

Leafy greens like Swiss chard, kale and spinach are high in nutrients like folate and vitamins A and C that can lower your risk of cancer. Just one cup of dark, leafy greens a day could also prevent diabetes and high blood pressure.

2. Nuts

Nuts like almonds, cashews and walnuts are high in natural fiber. Fiber slows your digestive process, keeping hunger and unhealthy mid-afternoon snacks at bay.

3. Onions

Studies show that consuming onions on a regular basis may reduce symptoms of asthma and the risk of developing stomach cancer. Add them to soups and stir-fry, and just remember -- the stronger the onion, the greater the health benefit.

4. Whole grains

Refined grains, like white rice and pasta, have lost 90% of their nutritional value through the refining process. So choose whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and whole oats. A recent study showed that a diet rich in whole grains help flatten your belly by reducing fat storage in your lower abdominal region.

5. Yogurt

Making yogurt part of your daily eating routine can improve your digestion -- if you're buying the right stuff. Check that the label lists "active cultures" to make sure you're getting healthy probiotics, and pick a yogurt rich in vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis.

Choosing the right foundation

Choosing the right foundation can be very tricky. Here are some tips for choosing the right one :

- Always choose your foundation in daylight.

- Look for the shade that most closely matches your own skin.

- Test a small amount on your face, near the jaw-line, and never on your hand. If you hold your hand up to your face you will find that they are not the same colour.

- Remember to stand in a doorway or outside to see if the color matches

- A foundation with sunscreen is a safe bet, but you will still need to wear sunscreen under your foundation.

Natural Bridal Look

This is a wedding season. Here is a tutorial for a natural bridal look. Hope you will like it.

Clubbing Makeup tutorial

The Fruit That Fights Wrinkles

It's papaya. What makes papaya so perfect? Easy. Vitamin C. Papaya has loads of it, and getting lots of vitamin C may mean more youthful skin -- fewer wrinkles and less thinning and dryness. A recent study in women over 40 confirmed it.

The Mysteries of C

Vitamin C is a natural friend to skin. The nutrient is essential for making collagen, the protein fibers that give skin its strength and resiliency. And being a powerful antioxidant, C also disarms free radicals that would otherwise chip away and weaken collagen.

More Food for Your Face

A little extra vitamin C isn't all it takes to plump your complexion. Here are a few more food tips that can help keep your face fresh:

Munch on walnuts. In the vitamin C study, researchers also noted that diets rich in linoleic acid -- an essential fatty acid in walnuts -- meant moister, plumper skin.

Ease up on fats and refined carbs. Scientists found both were linked to aging skin.

Think whole grains. The magnesium and B vitamins you get from them help with the regeneration of skin cells.
By RealAge

3 Fruits for Great Summer Skin

Cherries,

Nectarines, and
Watermelon.

These juicy treats not only cool your mouth in warm weather but may shield your skin from warm weather, too. Compounds in the fruits may boost your skin's natural resilience against wrinkles and sun damage, according to Allison Tannis, author of Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles.

Cherries: Eat a daily handful and you may enjoy fresher, less puffy skin. It's all thanks to the inflammation-fighting anthocyanins and melatonin in cherries, writes Tannis. Melatonin may boost UV protection and cell growth as well -- two great ways to keep wrinkles at bay. Tart cherries tend to be highest in melatonin.

Nectarines: These smooth-skinned sisters of the peach provide a mini-spa's worth of nutrients that may help correct sun damage from the inside out, according to Tannis. They offer skin goodies like lycopene, lutein, niacin, copper, and vitamins A, C, and E. The A, C, and E trio also works to control inflammation and free radical damage in both the watery and the fatty layers of skin.

Watermelon: Nibbling on watermelon wedges has the power to refresh your face as much as your palate, thanks to the high water and lycopene content. Lycopene helps protect and preserve connections between skin cells so skin is tighter, smoother, and better able to retain moisture.
 
By RealAge

5 Foods to Prevent Heart Disease

Eating a healthy diet is a key for preventing heart disease. Here are five heart-healthy foods that can literally save your health. These are not the only five foods that protect your heart, but they stand out as star performers and great additions to any diet.

1. Garlic: This herb is ideal for heart health. Numerous studies have shown the potential benefits of regular garlic consumption on blood pressure, platelet aggregation, serum triglyceride level, and cholesterol levels – all of which keep your heart performing. Garlic also makes a great seasoning for food so you can greatly reduce salt.

2. Salmon: Omega-3 in salmon can prevent erratic heart rhythms, reduce likelihood of blood clots inside arteries, improve the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, and prevent cholesterol from becoming damaged, at which point it clogs arteries.

3. Berries and Cherries: They are high in polyphenols, which prevent cell damage that creates unhealthy blood vessels and heart. During the winter, opt for frozen berries. Try thawing a bag of frozen strawberries in the refrigerator. Then, add unsweetened, steel-cut oatmeal with the berries.

4. Quinoa: This tiny sprouted seed is an excellent source of magnesium, the mineral that relaxes blood vessels. Low dietary levels of magnesium lead to some scary health issues like increased rates of hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heart arrhythmias.

5. Hot Cocoa: Hot cocoa is brimming with antioxidants – two-times more than red wine and three times more than green tea. Since hot chocolate mixes are full of sugar, use 100% cocoa and combine with a teaspoon of sugar. Plus you'll sweeten with the natural sugars in the milk.

Dr. Oz's 3 ways to fight the aging process

Dr. Oz's 3 ways to fight the aging process.

1.Wear SPF 30 sunscreen every day, even when you don’t feel like you’re going to be outside all day. The left side of the body ages faster and is more likely to develop cancer due to prolonged exposure from driving a car!

2.Wear a mega-moisturizer containing glycerin that locks in moisture.

3.Use a 1-micron pillowcase that fights inhalation of dust mites and their fecal matter. In addition, sleep on your back so your face isn’t fighting gravity to prevent wrinkles.

The 5 foods you should eat every day

Eating right on a budget can be a challenge, but it's certainly not impossible. Consider this your cheat sheet to the 5 inexpensive foods you should eat everyday for optimum health.

1 Leafy greens

Medical experts call them one of nature's miracle foods. Leafy greens like Swiss chard and kale are high in nutrients like folate and vitamins A and C that can lower your risk of cancer. Just one cup of dark, leafy greens a day could also prevent diabetes and high blood pressure.

2 Nuts

Many nutritionists recommend nuts like almonds, cashews and walnuts because they're high in natural fiber. Fiber slows your digestive process, keeping hunger and unhealthy mid-afternoon snacks at bay. Goodbye vending machine runs!

3 Onions

Studies show that consuming onions on a regular basis may reduce symptoms of asthma and the risk of developing stomach cancer. Add them to soups and stir-fry, and just remember -- the stronger the onion, the greater the health benefit.

4 Whole grains

Refined grains, like white rice and pasta, have lost 90% of their nutritional value through the refining process. As if that weren't reason enough to choose whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and whole oats, a recent study showed that a diet rich in whole grains actually flattens your belly by reducing fat storage in your lower abdominal region.

5 Yogurt

Making yogurt part of your daily eating routine can improve your digestion -- if you're buying the right stuff. Check that the label lists "active cultures" to make sure you're getting healthy probiotics, and pick a yogurt rich in vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis.

Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/the-5-foods-you-should-eat-every-day-710199/

Top Diet Myths

Dr. Oz cleans up some common misconceptions

Myth 1: Potatoes and bread are fattening.

Actually: It's just the opposite. Starchy vegetables and bread (whole-grain bread, that is) are quality carbs needed to fuel every part of you, from your brain to your muscles. What gets you into trouble is how you eat them: Smear butter on a slice of whole-wheat bread or deep-fry potatoes and you can double, triple, or quadruple the calories.

Myth 2: Drinking a glass of water before a meal curbs appetite.

Actually: Yes and no.Water tames appetite if it's incorporated into food, such as soup, or a thick drink, like V8 100% Vegetable Juice. Apparently, when water is bound to food, digestion is slower, explains Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet. That's why women in one study found chicken-rice soup more satisfying than chicken-rice casserole and a glass of water -- even though the soup had 27% fewer calories! One exception to this rule: It's easy to confuse hunger and thirst, so if you find yourself craving something -- but what? -- drink a big glass of water and wait a few minutes. You may find that's what your body really wanted.

Myth 3: Shellfish is high in cholesterol.

Actually: On the one hand, it's true: Just 3 ounces of shrimp delivers more than a third of your daily cholesterol. But there's a surprising flip side to this story: Shrimp is low in saturated fat -- the kind that becomes artery-clogging bad cholesterol -- and has a smidgen of heart-healthy omega-3s. In fact, University of Southern California researchers discovered that eating shellfish, such as shrimp, every week reduced heart attack risk by 59 percent!

Myth 4: The occasional burger and fries won't kill you.

Actually: It depends on your definition of "occasional."If occasional means every Friday night and then some, well, you may be pushing it. But if it means every few months, and you're fit, and you've got good numbers (i.e., weight, waist size, cholesterol, blood pressure), AND you're chowing down on vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and other nutritious fare most other days, hey, you'll live. But few of us are that perfect. If you do occasionally indulge, offset the effects of a fat fiesta with a brisk 90-minute walk afterward.

Myth 5: Women naturally gain weight after menopause

Actually: While you can blame a lot of things on hormones (everything from acne to PMS), in this case, slowing down physically is far more likely the cause. Study after study has found that older women who exercise regularly and vigorously can maintain their figures.

Myth 6: Diet soda is worse than the real thing.

Actually: Both types of soda -- diet and regular -- increase kidney and heart disease risk, plus both contain acids that erode tooth enamel, inviting cavities. But at least diet soda isn't also loaded with 150 empty calories of sugar. Still, we'd all be better off switching to water, diluted fruit juice, and green tea rather than drinking soda, diet or not.

By Mehmet C. Oz, MD, and Michael F. Roizen, MD
(Source: http://lifestyle.ca.msn.com/health-fitness/diet/hearst-article.aspx?cp-documentid=23386844)

Benefits of wheatgrass

Growing and juicing your own wheat sprouts is not only decorative and fun, but also highly nutritional. Wheatgrass is full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The juice has many health benefits due to the high concentration of chlorophyll, Vitamins B-12, B-6, K & C, and beta-carotene. Here are just a few:

• detoxifies the body

• improves digestion

• increases energy

• prevents illnesses such as cancer and diabetes

• boosts the immune system

Many wheatgrass fans grow it themselves. It takes about two weeks from planting to harvest time. People who grow wheatgrass usually blend the grass into a juice and add it to smoothies or other drinks. If you do not want to grow it yourself, you can find wheatgrass juice and dried wheatgrass powder or pills in almost any health food store.

Valentine's Make-up

Valentine day is just around the corner. Obviously, you would like to look your best on the special day. I have put some make up and hair tutorials. Hope you will enjoy them.