Vitamin E anti-aging face mask recipe:

• 2 capsules – Vitamin E
• 1 tbsp – Kefir or plain yogurt
• ½ tbsp – honey
• ½ tbsp – lemon juice

Mix the ingredients. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Turmeric anti-aging face mask recipe:

• ½ tsp – turmeric powder
• ½ tbsp – honey
• ½ tbsp – sour cream

Mix very well. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. First, rinse off with lukewarm water. Make sure to clean well your eyebrows and the opening of your nostrils. Now, turn the water ice cold, and rinse off a second time to close the pores.

Rejuvenating mask recipe:

• 1 tbsp – grated cucumber
• 1 tbsp – Kefir or plain yogurt

Mix the ingredients. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Facelift mask recipe for oily skin:

• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp – powdered milk
• 1 tbsp – witch hazel
• Juice of 1 lemon

Mix the ingredients until smooth. Apply the mixture on your face and neck for 15 minutes. Use the leftover mixture along with warm water to remove the mask.

Anti-wrinkle banana mask:

• 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 mashed banana
• ½ honey
• ½ sour cream

Mix the ingredients. Apply on face for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Anti-aging aloe mask recipe:

• 1 tbsp- aloe vera juice
• 1 tsp – mayonnaise
• 1 tsp – honey

Mix very well. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off: first, with warm water, then, with cold.

Anti-aging apple mask recipe:

• 1 apple
• 1 tbsp – olive oil
• 1 tsp – honey

Bake the apple in an over or in a microwave. Mash it and mix with other ingredients. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

• Almond oil, coconut oil and castor oil also have the ability to tighten the sagging skin. Take some oil and massage it on your skin on regular basics.

• Try to apply apple, pineapple, grape or lemon juice on your face for about 10 minutes.

• Make fruit ice cubes to use for the face.

• Eat lots of fresh fruits and raw vegetables that will provide vitamins, minerals and natural antioxidants and keep your internal body replenished. Stay away from refined sugars and junk food.

• Dietary supplements for tightening a sagging skin involve vitamin C, vitamin E and MSM (methylsulfonyl methane).

• Keep the skin hydrated and smooth by drinking ample amount of water.

• Exercise regularly! Exercise that gets your heart rate high enough for 20 minutes or so (enough to make your skin flushed and sweaty) is a great way to rejuvenate your body.

• Here is a simple toning exercise that you can do everywhere, several times a day: Squeeze your buttocks as hard as you can for a count of three, then release. Repeat 10 times.

• Practice face yoga.

• Get massage or learn self-massage.

• Get fresh air.

• Get enough sleep.

Look gorgeous!

Clinical depression is radically different from a passing feeling of sadness. It is a phase of low mood that lasts for more than three to four weeks at a stretch. Typical symptoms of depression are social withdrawal, insomnia, change in appetite, weight gain or loss, extreme pessimism and a feeling of worthlessness.

Passing phases of sadness can potentially lead to clinical depression if not attended to. It is imperative that you arm yourself with some protection to avoid such a situation. Some simple procedures including natural remedies for depression can prove very helpful in boosting energy levels and avoiding depressive moods.

According to the ancient Indian therapy Ayurveda, disease is caused by an imbalance of the three aspects. These aspects are the basis of the healthy functioning of a body. They are vata (wind), kapha (phlegm) and pitta (heat). Depression occurs when this imbalance is accompanied by “lack of awareness of one’s deeper, inner Self.”

Apart from targeting diet and lifestyle changes that restore this imbalance the main focus of Ayurveda in treating depression is on natural meditation and awareness of the inner Self. Ayurveda uses techniques like meditation and yoga to help in combating depression. One does not need to be a yogic expert to perform these basic exercises. These exercises can be performed in the comfort of your home. They can help in achieving inner bliss and can promote positive thinking.

The most significant aspect of Ayurvedic treatment is that it does not have any of the side effects that are associated with conventional medication. Ayurveda can be very helpful in treating depression naturally.

According to Ayurveda one should sleep before 10pm, which is the start of the “kapha” time. This ensures a sound sleep that is not disrupted by emotional distress and tossing in bed. Sleeping late makes you feel hungry. Eating at odd hours in the night puts an undue burden on the digestive system. The digestive system, therefore, does not get the rest and is unable to carry out the natural detoxification process effectively. Sleeping through late mornings leads to a choking of the system and causes dullness and reduced communication between the heart and mind.

Ayurveda proposes getting up early in the morning and performing some basic deep breathing exercises. Exercise is a great stress reliever and it also helps you remain in good shape. The early morning sun provides positive energy and uplifts moods. A walk in early sunlight also helps in easy bowel movement, which is necessary for the energy that you need to meet the challenges of the day.

Ayurveda recommends dietary changes that are easy on the digestive system for easy elimination. These are natural foods that help in creating stability in emotions, balance in the natural body systems and therefore aid in attaining a healthy body. Oily and fried foods should be avoided. Instead opt for healthy foods like milk, clove, walnut, pear and coconut. Fresh cheese, raisins, nuts and dates are natural sources of healthy proteins. Coffee is a stimulant that increases anxiety, a major cause behind depression. Homemade buttermilk prepared from fresh yogurt is a healthy substitute to coffee.

Exercise

Both cardio and weight training should be included in an exercise routine. The greatest impact on your metabolism is the amount of lean muscle you have relative to the rest of your body weight. Unlike fat, which primarily stores calories, muscle causes your body to use calories. By exercising regularly, a person sheds fat and builds up lean muscle mass.

Healthy nutrition

- Eat more small meals frequently. This spreads out your calorie intake and will keep your metabolism revved up. Aim for 5-6 small meals with protein, veggies and good fats. – Always have a breakfast to get your metabolism moving! If you don’t have time or want to sit down to a large meal, try a smoothie.

- Eat foods that take more calories to digest than they do to store (also called negative calorie foods). These foods include: asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green beans, zucchini, watermelon, oranges, papaya, and raspberries. – Ingesting complete protein, whole wheat and spicy foods increase metabolism.

- Green tea is “the closest thing to a metabolism potion” (Lakatos, 2004). It contains a plant compound called ECGC, which promotes fat burning. According to one study, consuming two to four cups of green tea per day may torch an extra 50 calories.

- Drink water. Researchers at the University of Utah found that volunteers who drank eight to 12 eight-ounce glasses of water per day had higher metabolic rates than those who quaffed only four glasses. Try to drink it cold: your body may burn a few calories heating the cold water to your core temperature.

Healthy sleep

You need this time for your body to rest and repair itself. Sleep deprivation is a leading factor in weight gain. It may make you put on pounds by disrupting hormones that control your eating habits and that may trigger fat cells in the abdomen to increase in size and encourage food storage. Try to go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.

Source: Lakatos, S. (2004). Fire up your metabolism: 9 proven principles for burning fat and losing weight forever.

Related posts:
Living the active life
How to make exercise a habit
Yoga for weight loss
Simple home remedies for weight loss
Some precautions while using herbs for weight loss

Sedatives are the easiest way to induce sleep. A sleeping pill taken before bedtime is all it takes to make you get into deep slumber. A sedative acts upon the body quickly and within a few minutes the drowsiness sets in. The irony is that most people use sedatives without realizing that they have addictive properties. Just as treating depression naturally can be of great help to you, herbs for insomnia can help in getting rid of insomnia without causing any side effects.

The herbs that are used for treating insomnia depend on the specific case. In some cases a standalone remedy is required. In other conditions herbal preparations containing a combination of herbs that complement each other is used. Herbs focus on boosting energy levels, curbing stress levels and relieving mental and physical fatigue to treat insomnia. Not only do these herbs cure insomnia but are also effective in treating various other conditions.

For example, valerian root is a common herb used for insomnia. It also eases anxiety and pain.

Lemon Balm, another herb for insomnia, has anti bacterial and anti spasmodic properties. It also helps in maintaining thyroid health and promoting digestion and appetite.

A word of caution needs to be added here! Not all herbs are suited for everyone. In a situation where everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon, it is difficult to sift the genuine products from the counterfeit. Simply because you saw an advertisement eulogizing the benefits of a particular herb or a formulation should not be enough reason for you to use it.

Admittedly, herbs do have an edge over conventional drugs because they do not cause any health problems as they cure. But rampant use of herbs can be detrimental to overall health and should be used only when required. It is imperative to know as to which herb will suit a particular condition of insomnia. The next time you need to know about natural remedies for depression or insomnia, check with knowledgeable sources. A specialist will guide you about the best herbs that suit your particular condition of insomnia.

Read also Best foods for healthy sleep

Few things are more miserable than lying awake, frustrated and tired, when everyone else is sleeping soundly. It may be caused by too much caffeine, alcohol, high-fat dinner or some anxiety, but sometimes insomnia really sticks around – for weeks or even years. One of the reasons might be a deficiency of minerals and vitamins in your diet.

When people don’t get enough iron or copper in their diets, it can take longer to fall asleep, and the sleep they do get may be less than refreshing. Put shellfish on the menu. Just 20 steamed clams, for example, will provide just over 25 milligrams of iron, or 139 percent of the Daily Value (DV), and 0.6 milligram of copper, or 31 percent of DV. Lentils, nuts, and whole-grain foods are also good sources of iron and copper.

Magnesium is another mineral that is essential for good sleep. Good sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ, and almonds.

Several of the B vitamins, including niacin, are important for brain function and help regulate both mood and sleep. Lean meat is an excellent source of all the B vitamins. Canned tuna is another good source, with 3 ounces providing 11 milligrams of niacin, or 55 percent of DV.

Have you ever wondered why you always nod off in front of the television after a holiday dinner? Traditional holiday foods such as turkey and chicken, as well as dairy foods, are very high in amino-acids called tryptophan, which has been shown to affect the part of the brain that governs sleep. For tryptophan to be most effective, however, it is important to get it in combination with starches (a bagel, for example). Obviously, you don’t want to stuff yourself with turkey before climbing into bed at night, but having a glass of milk with honey (heat can enhance the tryptophan effect of foods), or a piece of cheese on a cracker at bedtime will make getting to sleep a little bit easier.

Reference: Yeager, S. (2008). The doctors book of food remedies.

2. Leave your unhealthy habits behind. Quitting habits will never be easy, and you have to be ready for that. However, you have already admitted to yourself that you need a change, haven’t you? Stay on course!

3. You are what you eat. Your body’s internal health will reflect the foods you eat. A balanced diet can improve your general fitness, reinforce your immune system, raise your energy levels, nourish your skin and hair, and uplift your mood. Cut down on sugar and healthy food, and ease into a diet that supplies less fat and more vitamins and fibre. Fresh, unadulterated nutrition bring enormous health benefits.

4. Physical activity is essential. Ideally, body-toning exercise should be done every day, if only for 15 minutes. Simply by getting more exercise, the heart and lungs are stimulated, circulation is boosted, and the brain receives more oxygen and nutrition. Exercise helps stimulate endorphins, the body’s mood-enhancing chemicals.

5. Healthy sleep. Inefficient sleep, weather from too little time in bed or from insomnia, takes the gloss off even those who eat well. Try to go to bed about the same time each night, and wind down beforehand with a scented bath, a glass of warm milk with a spoon of honey, or listening to music.

6. Positive outlook. I personally believe that everything happens for a reason. Be grateful for what you have. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Remember, that you always have choices, and sometimes these are just choices of attitude.

7. Relaxation. Learn to relax completely by, for example, practicing meditation and breathing techniques. Regular swimming, yoga, walking and getting massage also help you to relax and therefore fell and look better.