Water has been used as a stress reliever
for centuries. Go for a swim, sit in a sauna or relax in a Jacuzzi. Twice a
month, soak your body in a hot bath to which you've added a cup of sea salt and
a cup of bicarbonate of soda. It will relax your muscles and make you drowsy,
helping you having a good night's rest and ensuring you wake up feeling
refreshed and energised.
The human skin grows from the inside out. We spend lots of
time and money to nourish and care from the outside skin. But, all this will be
in vain if we do not care, protect and nourish the skin from the inside.
Here is how:
Drink enough water
Water is most vital for a clear and healthy skin. Water
hydrates and cleanses it from the inside. Drink at least 8 glasses of water per
day, preferably purified water. Remember, hydrated skin looks plump, healthy
and glowing.
Eat fresh vegetables and fruit
Vegetables and fruit are very good for your skin, providing
essential phytonutrients.
Make sure you get sufficient essential fatty acids
The body needs fat. Without it the skin will look dull and
lifeless. Good-quality fats like the omega fats are the building blocks for
healthy cells. Therefore, make sure you include these good fats in your diet.
Good sources are fish, nuts, seeds and cold-pressed oils.
Limit refined carbohydrates
Excess sugar and refined foods, such as cakes, biscuits, and
confectionery are not good for your skin and can even slow the whole body’s
healing system. Limit your intake and make sure you include good sources of
protein to help balance blood-sugar levels that can lead to sweet cravings.
Get enough exercise
A good workout, even if it is just a brisk walk, will make
you sweat to eliminate toxins from the skin. The increased blood flow will also
bring nourishment out into the skin and encourages your skin to breathe. This
will give your skin a healthy glow.
Take an antioxidant
The modern world we live in exposes our bodies to pollution,
excessive radiation exposure, like computers, inadequate diets, overworking,
etc. Therefore, it is imperative to supply your body with optimal nutrition by
taking a good quality antioxidant that supplies natural vitamins and minerals
at optimal levels.
Manage your stress levels
Stress is part of life - you cannot get away from it.
However, when stress turns to anxiety and worry, it starts to affect your
health and skin. When you are under excess stress this affects your hormonal
system, which often triggers skin problems and sensitivities, as well as
lowering your immune system. Strain and worry is also worn on your face, so,
the best is to relax. Take time out, relax and nurture yourself.
Get enough sleep
Sleep in very important for good health. Sleep is nature’s
way to repair damaged tissues and during the sleep cycle there is a surge of
your growth hormone, which stimulates cell renewal. Therefore, make sure you
get enough sleep; at least 7 to 8 hours per night.
Cut down your consumption of red meat to reduce the chance
of heart disease; and if you do eat red meat make sure it is lean and cooked by
a healthy method, such as grilling.
Eat fish at least three times a week. It is a good source of
protein and the oily varieties give us essential fatty acids.
Eat at least five portions of vegetables, salads and fruit a
day. One portion is an average size fruit like an orange, an apple, a pear,
etc. A small glass of juice, about ⅔ cup, is a portion, but restrict juice to
one glass a day. A small bowl of salad greens, tomatoes, cucumber, celery, etc.
is a portion, or two tablespoons of vegetables such as peas, beans, spinach,
sprouts or cauliflower. The more fruits and vegetables you eat the better.
Restrict excess fat in your diet, particularly saturated
animal fats from meat and dairy products. Resist spreading butter too thickly
on your bread and piling it on your vegetables. In some cooking, oil can take
the place of butter. Try adding olive oil to your mashed potatoes and enjoy the
flavour. Lower-fat cheeses are available, or stick to the normal ones and
reduce the amount you eat. The same applies to yoghurt and cream. Low-fat and
skim milk are sensible options because they are lower in fat but still contain
all the valuable nutrients of full-fat milk.
Hidden fat is the greatest enemy in prepared foods like
cakes and snacks. Try to avoid these foods if possible, or read the label and
try to choose lower-fat alternatives. Remember, though, that a low-fat diet is
only a healthy option for those aged 5 and over - below this age a child needs
easily accessible energy.
Eat more whole-grain cereals. Instead of white bread, eat
whole-wheat and multigrain varieties and change to a high fibre breakfast
cereal or granola. Try whole-grain pastas and brown rice.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. You will feel
healthier and your body will benefit. Limit tea and coffee because they contain
caffeine, a stimulant that will keep your body in overdrive.
Always taste food at the table before you add extra salt.
Restrict salt in cooked dishes and try to cook vegetables without salt in the
water. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure.
Remember, eating healthily will not stop you getting some
diseases but it will affect how your body deals with them. A healthy diet will
help you have a healthy life.
Here are some good tips for keeping your cool when your
stress levels are high:
Eat more fruits and veggies; limit your intake of meat, sugar, coffee, processed
food, and preservatives (for healthy recipes visit my food blog - Recipes 101)
Drink more water(at least 8 glasses; choose warm water over cold)
Exercise regularly(take a walk for 30 minutes, you don't have to stretch too
much or lift weights)
Try meditation
Help others
Give thanks for what you have; count your blessings
Make a commitment to eliminate stress in your life and act on it. Get all the
help you need whether it be from books, resources, other people, etc.
Water – be it from a shower, a sauna, a Jacuzzi or a
swimming pool is the ideal treatment for body therapy.
Water has many benefits: it is highly relaxing; it can tone
the skin and the muscles; and, in the form of steam, it can cleanse the pores
and rid the skin of impurities. One particular use of water for health and
beauty that has been employed since Greek and Roman times is hydrotherapy. This
entails using the pressure of water to break down the fatty deposits called
cellulite that form in the body’s connective tissue. Cellulite causes unsightly
puckering and lumpiness on the surface of the skin, usually around the upper
arms, buttocks and thighs.
Many health farms and solaria have special tubs called Jacuzzi designed for hydrotherapy, which work on simple principle of water
pressure. Jets situated around the side of the tub create a whirlpool effect,
forcing pressurized water against the body, which tones and stimulates. Some
swimming pools and saunas have a less sophisticated version - a machine fixed
to the poolside that pumps fixed jets of water. You attach yourself by a loose
belt and move those parts of the body that require treatment against the jets.
For more regular and cheaper treatment, you can make your
own home version of hydrotherapy by investing in a shower attachment for you
bath taps. Turn the taps on as full as possible - using warm water rather than
hot – and aim the shower at the areas you want to tone for about three minutes
at a time. Never spend more than 20 minutes giving yourself this water
treatment, to avoid drying out your skin, and always moisturize your body
thoroughly afterwards.
With a home shower, you can also create the ‘sauna effect’ of
a rapid change of temperature from hot to cold.
All you do is to run the hot shower over yourself, moving
from the feet upwards then switch the taps to icy coldness. This in turn
expands and contracts the skin’s capillaries, stimulating circulation.
Exercises
Your local swimming pool may be less glamorous than a health
farm, but is just as good a place to practice another type of water therapy
involving exercise. Any form of exercise in water is highly beneficial because
your muscles are forced to work against the pressure of the water. You can use
your sessions at the pool both for swimming and for exercise routines. Swimming
is an ideal way of firming up loose muscles, and is an excellent form of
aerobic exercise – it forces the heart to work faster, giving a boost to the cardiovascular system. The crawl is especially good for improving breathing,
while the breaststroke is a good remedy for flabby upper arms and thighs.
Isometrics in the bath is another effective form of water
therapy. Get into the habit of a bath exercise routine at least three times a
week. Start by breathing deeply while lying on your back, and push your abdomen
up and out against the water. Then slowly sit up, arms at your sides, pushing
against the water; this exercise is good for firming the waist and toning
flabby stomach muscles.
To strengthen your upper body and firm up you breasts, lie
back, arms at your sides. Then, slowly push your arms up, palms upwards, as if
you were trying to raise a weight. Now lie back and slowly lift your legs, with
your toes pointed, until they are at right angles to your body, holding onto
your feet as you do so. Repeat each exercise three times. In addition, you can
modify other sitting and lying exercises from any keep-fit routine to do in the
bath.
Massage
You can complete your water therapy programme with
underwater massage, which some beauty experts advocate as highly effective for
dissolving fat deposits. Lie in warm water, and first give your body a hard
all-over rubbing with the palms of your hands. A few drops of bath oil in the
water will make this easier. Then pay specific attention to flabby areas,
rolling and twisting the loose skin between fingers and thumbs, pinching as
hard as you can. Follow by massaging with your fingertips in a circular motion.
Finish with a cool shower and a brisk rub with a soft towel.
Simple everyday ingredients can be used to make safe and
environmental friendly household cleaners.
1. For Washing Dishes
Place small slivers of hand soap in a heated glass jar.
Cover with boiling water and let it dissolve. Add a tablespoon of vinegar and
the juice of one lemon. It is suitable for the hardest dirt and grime!
2. For Washing Clothes
Use equal quantities of soap flakes and washing soda.
Alternatively, a few tablespoons of washing soda added to biodegradable washing
powders work a lot better.
3. For Use As bleach
Borax can serve as a good and effective bleach and
disinfectant. Unfortunately, it is not as strong as commercial chlorine
bleaches but can still do the job. Borax should be kept out of reach of
children.
4. For Use As a Fabric Softener
Combine one part bicarbonate of soda, one part white
vinegar and two parts water in a bottle. Use the same way a commercial softener
would be used.
5. For Freshening the Air
Good and thorough ventilation of a room is still the best
air freshener! However, a nice smelling bar of hand soap unwrapped and place
where a draft is will do wonders.
Itchy skin may have many underlying causes, from dry skin to
serious skin infections. Here are some common tips on how to deal with this
problem:
Do not scratch
The foremost tip is not to scratch. The main reason is that
you may break the skin and sores may develop. Apply crushed ice wrapped in a
towel to the area.
Take a soothing bath
Tie a cup of oatmeal in a cheesecloth bag, and swish the bag
through warm bathwater until the water looks milky. Alternatively, add half a
cup of salt to a bath of tepid water. Soak in the bath for about 10 minutes.
Use calamine lotion
Calamine lotion will help for itchy skin. However, do not
apply it if you have an infection, in such cases; consult a doctor before
treating a rash in this way. Also, limit the use of the lotion to four or five
days. If the itching still persists, see a doctor.
Experiment with
different fabrics
Many people cannot tolerate wool; others react badly to dyes
and synthetics. Your detergent and fabric-softener may also be the culprit. Try
putting clothes through an extra rinse cycle. Wear plain white cotton, which
seldom provokes reaction, next to the skin.
Watch what you eat or
drink
If you tend to have itchy skin, watch what you eat and
drink. Coffee, alcohol and spicy or steaming hot foods cause the blood vessels
in the skin’s outer layer to swell and can trigger itching. Also try to avoid
excessive heat, especially from lying in the sun, and tension and stress.
