How To Use Tomatoes To Get Rid of Varicose Veins

As you age, your skin begins to change in ways you probably won’t enjoy. Whether it be liver spots wrinkles or spider veins; skin aging is the #1 thing women wish they could avoid.

Although natural remedies can’t give you back the firmness or look you had in your 20s, they can significantly improve the health and appearance of your skin.

What Are Varicose Veins?

As you get older, your veins can lose elasticity causing them to stretch.

The valves in your veins may become weak, allowing blood that should be moving toward your heart to flow backward. Blood pools in your veins, and your veins enlarge and become varicose. via MayoClinic

Some pregnant women also develop varicose veins. Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in your body, but decreases the flow of blood from your legs to your pelvis.

Alternatively, spider veins can be caused by hormonal changes (from birth control), exposure to the sun, and injuries. via WomensHealth

What Tomatoes Can Do For Your Skin…

Tomatoes contain vitamins C, E and A (1), as well as beta-carotene, which are all important nutrients for skin health (2).

Drizzle them with a bit of olive oil for some skin-healthy omega-3 essential fatty acids.

One of the carotenes tomatoes contain is lycopene, which has been proven to fight cancer and provide protection against acute and potentially longer-term aspects of photodamage (3).

After being ingested, lycopene can be detected in the skin (4). This suggests that it may also be absorbed through the skin if used topically (5).

How To Use Tomatoes For Varicose Veins

There’s a popular Russian remedy that says to place slices of red tomatoes on varicose veins and bandage them into place. They should be left on 3-4 hours at a time, 5 times a day until the veins are no longer visible.

Realistically, it’s easier to incorporate more tomatoes into your diet and coat your varicose veins with atomato-based skin mask.

Here’s how you make it:

Ingredients:

• 1 tomato
• 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp of honey
• 1 tbsp of olive oil

Instructions:

1.  Squeeze out the juice of the tomato and lemon into a glass bowl.
2. Whisk in the oil and honey until smooth.
3. Apply this mixture lightly on your skin & refrigerate any remaining mix.
4. Let it sit for about thirty minutes. You can place plastic wrap over the skin and bandage it into place to avoid staining your clothes.
5. Rinse off the mixture with cold water.
6. Pat dry with a clean towel.
7. For best results, repeat the mask 2-3 times a day for two weeks or more.

Just remember that how you look on the outside says a lot about what’s going on on the inside.

Factors like an unhealthy diet, dehydration, inactivity, stress and lack of sleep can all affect the appearance of your skin.

sources:
[1]http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2682/2

14 Best Foods You Can Eat Every day To Cleanse Your Liver

If you owned a magnificent race car, no doubt you would do what is needed to keep it running in tip-top condition.

You would change the oil and filters regularly, you would only use premium gasoline and you would make sure to it in for the required tunings etc. without a second thought.

But do you realize your body is more finely tuned than any race car could ever be—and just like that car, it needs to be treated with respect.

That means, it requires optimal nutrition and regular maintenance—in the form of cleanses

Apple Cider Vinegar Isn’t A Fad, It’s A Weight Loss Weapon Against Stubborn Belly Fat

Weight loss isn’t easy. It takes dedication and discipline to succeed.

There are a lot of “miracle” pills or supplements on the market that claim to help you lose weight, but very few are proven to work effectively.

Even worse, most haven’t been properly tested and approved for human consumption. That’s why it’s always better to go with the basics; Eat real food and exercise.

How Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Causes Weight Loss

Apple cider vinegar may not be your cup of tea, but it’s certainly worth a try!

1. ACV Makes You Feel Full

A 2005 study (1) published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that patients fed white bread soaked in vinegar felt more full than the control group, who were fed the bread alone. Satiety was measured by subjective rating.

Taking ACV before a meal may help you eat smaller portions at mealtime since it’ll help you feel more full before and during the meal.

2. ACV Improves Blood Sugar Levels

The higher your blood sugar, the more you are likely to crave sweet things. Low-sugar and complex carb meals supply your body with constant energy as they take time to convert into glucose. This is what your body prefers, since blood sugar levels are kept in balance.

High-sugary snacks are quick to metabolize and only supply a quick boost of energy. When your blood glucose levels go up and down quickly, your body will crave more sweets. This is why sugar cravings are such a vicious cycle.

When taken with meals with complex carbohydrates, vinegar has an antiglycemic properties, meaning that it can help stabilize blood sugar (2). In fact, vinegar lowered postprandial glycemia (plasma glucose concentrations after eating) by 20% compared to placebo.

3. ACV Prevents Fat Accumulation

In another study (3), the dietary acetic acid in apple cider vinegar was shown to reduce  total cholesterol and triacylglycerol in the blood. This occurs through the inhibition of lipogenesis (the transformation of energy into fat) in liver and to an increase of faecal bile acid excretion.

4. ACV Impacts Insulin Receptors

Insulin affects the digestion of dietary fat and how it gets used in the body. It also affects how fat is stored.

If insulin levels are high, then the lipases (the enzymes that break down fat) are highly active; if they are low, the lipases are inactive (4). In this last case, fatty acids are made into fat molecules and stored as fat droplets.

In insulin-resistant subjects, vinegar ingestion reduced postprandial glycemia (post-meal blood sugar levels) 64% as compared with placebo values (5). It also improved postprandial (post-meal) insulin sensitivity by 34%, demonstrating that vinegar helps manage insulin levels and insulin sensitivity in diabetic and non diabetic patients.

5. ACV Detoxifies The Body

AVC absorbs toxins in the digestive tract and helps eliminate it. It also prevents toxic buildup by regulating bowel movements. When your body can get rid of toxins efficiently, other processes, like metabolism and digestion, become easier to manage.

6. ACV Reduces Belly Fat & Waist Circumference

A study published in 2009 found that obese people who consumed between 15ml and 30ml of vinegar diluted in 500ml of water daily for 12 weeks experienced reduced belly fat, waist circumference, lower blood triglycerides and weight loss (6):

• 15mL (1 tablespoon): Lost 2.6 pounds, or 1.2 kilograms.
• 30mL (2 tablespoons): Lost 3.7 pounds, or 1.7 kilograms.

How To Take ACV

When possible, always choose an organic, raw and unfiltered vinegar that has cloudy deposits at the bottle of the bottle. This indicates that it hasn’t been filtered too much, meaning that all the good stuff is still in the bottle.

Here’s how to incorporate more ACV in your diet:

• Start by adding 1 teaspoon of ACV to a cup of water and drink it once a day. Increase the amount of vinegar over time.
• Eventually, you should get to 2 tablespoons of vinegar in your cup of water and drink it 1-3 times a day.
• Take it an hour before a meal as well first thing in the morning to kick-start your metabolism.

ACV is very acidic, so you need to dilute it to protect your teeth, throat and the lining of your stomach. Never drink undiluted ACV!

You can also use ACV as a salad dressing and flavoring in your cooking. Incorporating a little turmeric will also boost your body’s ability to lose weight.

Weight loss is never as simple as just doing one thing. If you want real, permanent results, you need to change your lifestyle. A healthy weight comes from a balanced diet, daily exercise, proper hydration and getting enough sleep.

sources:
[1]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16015276

Garlic Soup Made With 52 Cloves of Garlic Can Defeat Colds, Flu And Even Norovirus

It’s difficult and nearly impossible to go through winter without catching a cold.

Most people rely on Tylenol or cough medicine to get though a nasty cold, but these pharmaceuticals can do more harm than good – especially to your liver!

Luckily, there are a lot of non-toxic DYI recipes to get you back on your feet.

Some can be a little harder to stomach, so this yummy garlic soup is a great way to get your health back!

How Can Garlic Heal A Cold ?

Garlic has been used traditionally to heal the common cold. It’s actually the main ingredient of most natural cough syrup recipes. Many studies have shown that garlic can cure and prevent the common cold (1).

Garlic contains Allicin, a powerful compound that’s activated when it’s crushed. This gives garlic its antifungal, antiparasitic, antimicrobacterial, antiparisitic and antiviral properties (2).

How To Make Garlic Soup

This soup will warm you up from the inside out !

Ingredients :

• 26 unpeeled organic garlic cloves (equivalent to 2-3 heads of garlic)
• 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of organic, grass-fed butter (1/4 stick)
• 1/2 a teaspoon of cayenne powder
• 1/2 a cup of fresh ginger
• 2 1/4 cups of sliced onions
• 1/2 cup of coconut milk
• 26 more cloves of peeled and crushed organic garlic cloves, set aside
• 1 and a half teaspoons of fresh chopped thyme
• 4 cups of organic vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 4 lemon wedges

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350F.
2. Place the 26 unpeeled cloves in a small glass baking dish and add the olive oil. If you don’t have a baking dish, you can also use tin foil to wrap the garlic and olive oil.
3. Cover and bake for about 45 minutes or until the garlic is light brown.
4. Allow to cool, then squeeze the garlic between your fingers to release the cloves in a small bowl.
5. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add your onions, thyme, ginger, and cayenne powder. Cook until onions become translucent. Takes about 6 minutes.
6. Add the roasted garlic and unroasted raw garlic cloves and cook for 3 minutes.
7. Add vegetable broth.
8. Cover your pot with a lid and simmer for about 20 minutes.
9. Puree the soup in a blender until smooth.
10. Put puree back in sauce pan; add coconut milk and bring to simmer.
11. Season with sea salt and pepper for flavour.
12. Squeeze juice of 1 lemon wedge into each bowl and serve.

This recipe can be prepared 1 day ahead and can last a few days in the fridge, but it’s always better to eat it fresh.

If you do eat it over the course of a few days, don’t microwave it! Instead, slowly reheat in a saucepan over medium heat.

sources:
[1]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0013804/

Losing Just 1 Gram of Fat In The Pancreas Will Have THIS Effect On Your Body

Losing a single gram of fat could be enough to reverse type 2 diabetes – as long as that fat comes from the pancreas, according to researchers in the UK (1).

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition caused by too much sugar in the diet. It often occurs in overweight and inactive individuals, but can caused by a multitude of factors. Currently, the disease affects roughly 9 percent of the global population (3).

The bodies of diabetics are either unable to produce enough insulin to keep up with their blood sugar levels or their body’s cells no longer recognize and utilize the insulin created.

Losing Weight Changes Everything

Weight loss has always been an important part of treating and reversing diabetes. This study discovered that losing weight is important because high fat levels in the pancreas (the organ which produces insulin) influences the onset of diabetes.

In fact, previous work conducted by these researchers demonstrated that going on a very low calorie diet can remove the fat which is clogging up the pancreas, thus allowing normal insulin secretion to be restored(2).

“What is interesting is that regardless of your present body weight and how you lose weight, the critical factor in reversing your Type 2 diabetes is losing that 1 gram of fat from the pancreas,” said Taylor, the lead researcher of the study.

Study Details

The study followed 18 obese participants with type 2 diabetes, as well as non-diabetic control group, both before and after gastric bypass surgery.

Using a modern and sensitive MRI scan, the researchers revealed that the diabetics had abnormally high levels of fat built up in their pancreas, even when compared to other obese people without type 2 diabetes.

In the non-diabetics participants, who had never had elevated fat levels in their pancreas in the first place, the amount of fat in the organ stayed the same after surgery. But the participants with type-2 diabetes lost on average 1.2 percent fat from the organ, which took them back down to healthy levels.

Following the surgery the diabetics were able to come off their medication, and, incredibly, their insulin secretion levels returned to normal, meaning that their diabetes had been successfully reversed. via ScienceAlert

“This comes across as a simple explanation for type 2 diabetes and for patients it will be a strong motivating factor in losing weight” said Taylor.

“But it also presents a very clear target for future research. If you can block the uptake of fat by the pancreas, you can reverse the disease.” (5)

12 Types of Pain That Are Directly Linked To Emotional States

You may have noticed that people who are often ill tend to be pretty negative.

Of course, it’s hard to be happy when you’re always sick or in pain. However, science is saying that your emotions may be the cause of the chronic pain you’re experiencing – and not the other way around.

How Does Stress Affect The Body?

In response to psychological stress or certain physical stressors, an inflammatory process may occur.  via ScienceDirect

According to Science Daily, a recent study by Carnegie Mellon University demonstrated that chronic psychological stress is associated with the body losing its ability to regulate the inflammatory response.

This research shows for the first time that the effects of psychological stress on the body’s

How Poor Digestion Is Hurting Your Thyroid And What You Can Do To Fix It

Your thyroid gland plays a big role in your digestion and your metabolism.

But did you know that it goes the other way around too? The health of your gut can actually influence the health of your endocrine system, including your thyroid.

You’ve probably heard of hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) but you’d be surprised at one of it’s underlying causes.

What Is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

According to Web MD, also called Hashimoto’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease, a disorder in which the immune system turns against the body’s own tissues, leading to inflammation and decreased function of the organ affected.

In people with Hashimoto’s, the immune system attacks the thyroid. This can lead to hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid does not make enough hormones for the body’s needs.

Poor digestion and diet affect your microbiome, the bacteria in your gut which forms a part of your immune system. In addition, poor digestion can also cause Hashimoto’s disease over time.

How Are The Gut And Thyroid Connected?

The thyroid gland makes hormones that affect your breathing, heart rate, digestion, and body temperature, among other functions (1).

Stomach Ulcers

The thyroid also produces hormones that protect the gut. T3 and T4 are thyroid hormones that actually play a role in preventing stomach ulcers by modulating the way your stomach lining responds to stress (2).

Weight And Food Sensitivities

Thyroid problems can change hunger levels, weight and food sensitivities. In patients with hypothyroidism, appetite is usually reduced, but weight gain may reach 10% because of fluid retention (3).

Celiac Disease

Also, compared to the general population, patients with autoimmune thyroiditis have an almost 5-fold increased risk of developing celiac disease.

Constipation

More serious symptoms of thyroid dysfunction include constipation, which can cause bacteria overgrowth in the intestines and colon and other serious issues.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Although rare, patients with hypothyroidism are more prone to developing leaky gut syndrome, a condition in which lining becomes permeable and food waste enters the body.

As you can see, the thyroid gland and digestive system are incredibly interconnected.

How To Naturally Improve Thyroid Function

1. Manage your stress and blood sugar: nothing causes chronic inflammation like stress and refined sugar.

2. Recognize food intolerance: these can cause inflammation in your gut and severely affect your endocrine system. Common triggers include dairy, gluten and alcohol.

3. Eat more fruits and veggies: dietary fiber helps absorb toxins and waste within your digestive tract. Natural foods are also full of thyroid-healthy vitamins and nutrients.

4. Stay hydrated: this prevents constipation, toxic overload and poor digestion.

5. Eat probiotic foods: look for whole foods that contain gut-friendly bacteria to replenish and restore your microbiome.

6. Exercise daily: moving is great for digestion and metabolism!

There are a lot of ways ways to keep your thyroid healthy, regardless of what’s affecting it!

sources :
[1]https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/sep2015/feature2

She Drank Warm Honey Lemon Water Every Morning For a Year…(Must See What Happened)

The health benefits of honey and lemons are undeniable.

They’re so good for you that simply adding them to your water will yield positive results. Not a believer? Neither was Crystal Davis, until she gave it a try.

This is her story.

Crystal Davis embarked on a 12 month journey, during which she drank fresh honey lemon water every morning.

She wanted to confirm for herself if there truly was any benefits to this drink. At the end of the experiment, Crystal was simply amazed by how much her health had improved!

In her experiment, Crystal used raw honey and fresh lemon juice instead of buying artificially pre-made packets.

After 1 year, despite having skipped a few days, she was pleased to report that the experiment was a success.

This is what she had to say in her own words;

1. I have not had a cold, flu or gastro illness in the entire year.

Literally. On reflection, this actually blows my mind. All of my life I’ve been a serial tonsillitis-getter, and always seemed to pick up whatever was going around. With a large family, including lots of little ones, there is always someone around who has the latest bug. I am happy to report I no longer catch them, even when it rips through the rest of the gang.

Confession: there were days I skipped totally, and though I have felt very early signs of sickness sometimes (too many sneezes in a day, run down, extra tired, suspicious tummy rumblings) nothing at all has materialised. Sure I’ve had tired days and a few headaches, but nothing to write home about.

As soon as I got back on the regime these stopped happening, and I now absolutely swear by honey/lemon—to the point I’ve become prematurely old-aged and carry them both in my bag when I stay at friend’s places or hotels. (Should I be worried I’m also proud of this?)

2. I no longer need coffee and have become a {gasp} morning person.

The zing I get from lemon and honey first thing in the morning has become something I crave, and doesn’t leave me with headaches or the dreaded caffeine comedown. I also have more energy for longer and am quicker to smile in the a.m.

It used to take me at least an hour to open my second eye and stop grunting at people like a cavewoman, but I’m now annoying the people that love me in new and wonderful ways like throwing deep philosophical questions at them as I bound into the kitchen. I’ll need to find a new challenge soon though if I am to keep them on their toes.

3. The people around me are becoming more healthy—the biggest reward.

So this has taken the longest: to convince my family that honey and lemon can help them prevent some of their man-flu incidents.

But after playing nurse and administering my magic potion to them when they are at their most desperate, they can finally see its benefits. “Whoa! That helped straight away!” never gets old and reminds me to keep going every morning so I don’t suffer the indignities of needing to be three feet from a toilet at all times, or running through a box of tissues an hour. 

It’s such a lovely feeling to know that I can help my loved ones feel more well through something so simple and available. I have become some kind of one-trick uber-nurse, and that’s awesome.

Her Recipe For Honey Lemon Water

1. Boil some water.
2. Pour it into a little mug and set it aside to let it cool a little bit until it’s lukewarm. (You can add cold water to speed up the process)
3. Squeeze half a lemon into the water (beginners can start with a quarter of a lemon).
4. Add in the raw, organic, unpasteurized honey. Make sure the water isn’t boiling hot or it will destroy all the good nutrients in the honey.
5. Enjoy the drink as soon as you wake up.

Why You Should Stop Using Vaseline Immediately And How To Make Your Own Non-Petroleum Jelly

Vaseline is a petroleum-based jelly that’s basically a byproduct of the oil industry.

But did you know that prolonged use of petroleum jelly not only disrupts the healthy bacteria living on your skin but also your body’s ability to expel toxins through its pores.

Many studies reported by Chemtox show that; “Petroleum based  chemicals are being found to cause significant attritional effects to the nervous system and immune system after prolonged exposure. Illnesses identified in the medical research include adult and child cancers, numerous neurological disorders, immune system weakening, autoimmune disorders, asthma, allergies, infertility, miscarriage, and child behavior disorders including learning disabilities, mental retardation,  hyperactivity and ADD (attention deficit disorders).”

Additional research done by the EWG adds that, “Many of the cosmetic industry’s chemical safety assessments reveal that common petroleum-based cosmetic ingredients can be contaminated with a cancer-causing impurity called 1,4-dioxane.”

It’s Banned In Europe

The European Union has banned many petroleum jelly products because experts are concerned they could be linked to cancer.

Women with breast cancer have twice the levels of hydrocarbons (substances found in petroleum jelly) in their breasts than women who haven’t had breast cancer.

Steer clear of any products that list petroleum jelly on the ingredient list.

How To Make Your Own Non-Petroleum Jelly

If you’re looking for an alternative to vaseline, here’s a simple recipe you can try.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons beeswax
• optional: tea tree or peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

1. Fill a sauce pan with water and add a glass of bowl in the middle.
2. Turn stove low to medium heat.
3. Add coconut oil and wax and allow ingredients to melt completely.
4. Remove from heat and add olive oil.
5. Whisk until all ingredients are well combined. (add a few drops of essential oil if you wish to use any)
6. Whisk until mixture is creamy but still pourable.
7. Pour into a glass jar or any container you want to use and enjoy!

This homemade non-petroleum jelly will keep fresh on the counter for up to a year.

Massage THIS Point On Your Leg To Stop Stress And Sleep Better At Night

Chinese traditional medicine has long documented the health benefits of various natural remedies. Some of them have been so effective that western doctors have adapted these methods in their daily practice.

The health benefits of acupuncture have long been acknowledged and studied, but did you know that you can get the same benefits without using needles? In fact, acupressure can sometimes be just as effective as acupuncture.

What Is Acupressure?

Traditional Chinese Medical Theory describes special acupoints, or acupressure points, that lie along meridians, or channels, in your body.

These are the same energy meridians and acupoints as those targeted with acupuncture. It is believed that by pressing these specific points on the body one can improve blood flow, which increases oxygen delivery and help heal the body.

Acupressure practitioners use their fingers, palms, elbows or feet, or special devices to apply pressure to acupoints on the body’s meridians. Sometimes, acupressure also involves stretching or acupressure massage, as well as other methods. via WebMD

Massage This Acupoint Helps With Sleep And Stress

To relieve stress and help you sleep, you’ll want to stimulate the San Yin Jiao spot (SP6). It’s one of the most commonly used points in acupuncture.

Treating this point often helps with:

• Abdominal distention
• Digestion
• Menstrual disorders and pain
• Infertility and difficult labor
• Urinary dysfunction
• Lower limb problems
• Insomnia
• Stress
• Anxiety (1)

It also helps to cleanse and regulate the spleen and kidneys, which help keep your blood in optimal shape. The kidneys filter your blood, while the spleen produces new blood cells and removes the old and defective ones. This is why SP6 is a vital point in acupressure.  via TheCanadianGynecologyInstituteOfChineseMedicine

How To Find This Pressure Point

To find this spot, place four fingers above your ankle on the inside of your leg, just behind the shin bone.

To massage this acupoint, press your thumb on it in circular motion for 6 seconds. Release for 2 seconds. Continue to repeat this for 5 minutes and then switch legs. Use everyday before bed to help you sleep.

Warning: San Yin Jiao (SP6) should not be used in pregnancy because this point may induce labor (2).

After Reading THIS You’ll Never Throw Away These Little Bags Again…(#5 Is My Favorite)

Have you ever wondered what those little packets in your shoes boxes really do?

You’ve probably heard your parents say not to touch them as they were thought to be toxic. You probably even have the habit of throwing them away instantly.

However, a lot of people are discovering that these little packs of silica gel are much more useful than you think.

What Is Silica Gel?

Silicon dioxide (SiO2), also known as silica, is a natural compound made of two of the earth’s most abundant materials: silicon (Si) and oxygen (O2).

The Earth’s crust is 59 percent silica, and it makes up more than 95 percent of known rocks on the planet. When you sit on a beach, it’s silicon dioxide in the form of sand that gets

If This Doctor Was Diagnosed With Cancer, He Would IMMEDIATELY Do These 5 Things…

Conventional medicine uses chemo, surgery and radiation to treat cancer.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t try to understand the underlying cause of the disease. Healthy people have cancerous cells in their bodies too, but their immune system fights them off before it becomes a problem.

So why is it that some people end up overrun with cancer? According to Dr. Mark Hyman, a lot of it has to do with the lifestyle you lead. That’s why he’s in favor of functional medicine.

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine addresses the root causes of disease. It is a personalized way to diagnose and treat patients in order to prevent further health complications.

By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-

How To Remove Blackheads Naturally Using Only 2 Ingredients

Although these two conditions have multiple factors and often require a visit to the dermatologist to fully cure, there are ways to maintain the appearance of your skin and minimize your pores.

What Clogs Pores?

Our pores secrete a substance called sebum, or oil, which helps moisturize and protect our skin, but sometimes sebum and dead skin cells can clog our pores, causing acne. via HowStuffWorks

According to Web MD, white heads and blackheads are different kinds of acne:

Blackheads: Black bumps that are impacted pores in which material pushes out through the follicles. The black color is not from dirt, in fact, dirt doesn’t cause acne. The colour may be from bacteria, dead skin cells, and matter that react with oxygen.

Whiteheads: White dots are pores impacted with oil and skin covered by skin layers.

Acne can be made worse by:

• Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin; harsh scrubbing
  • Picking or squeezing blemishes, which drive bacteria deeper and causes scarring
  • Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars
  • Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women two to seven days before the start of the menstrual period
• Over-washing, which can lead to more inflammation and oil production
  • Stress

How Do Pore Strips Work?

Pore strips attach themselves to the sebum that’s clogging your pores. As it dries, it grips unto the sebum to make it easier to lift up. Removing your pore strip forces out the sebum that’s stuck unto the strip, emptying them completely.

Pore strips don’t always attach themselves properly or reach all your blackheads.  They also won’t prevent blackheads or acne, but they can help reduce their appearance.

How To Make Your Own Natural Pore Strips

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of natural gelatin powder (organic if possible)
• 1 tablespoon of organic milk

Instructions:

1. Mix well into a microwave-safe cup
2. heat the mix in the microwave for 10 seconds. (you’re not eating it)
3. Let it cool for a minute or two
4. Use an old makeup brush and apply some of the mix to the back of your hand.
5. If it’s not too hot, apply the rest of the mix to your nose.
6. Wait 10 minutes or so for it to dry completely.
7. Carefully peel off the strip.
8. follow up with your favorite moisturizer.

For optimal results, it is recommended not to use them more often than once every three days. Instead, try applying tea tree oil, which is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial to stubborn pores between treatments (1).

If You Ever See Your Kids Sitting Like THIS, Stop Them Immediately! Here’s Why…

Parents often mistake w-sitting for flexibility. In fact, to parents, the position seems harmless.

However, experts suggest that this way of sitting may lead to very severe development problems and even cause irreversible damage to the bones, joints and muscles, leading to severe orthopedic conditions.

W-Sitting Weakens Core Muscles

“W-sitting” is a position that is too commonly used by children when seated on the ground.

In this position, a child sits on their bottom, with knees bent, feet tucked under, and legs splayed out to each side in a “W” configuration.

The “W-sit” widens a child’s base of support, resulting in less need for weight shifting, postural control and stability as they are playing, moving and reaching compared to other seated positions.

This results in decreased trunk control and atrophy of core muscles.

It Can Lead To Hip Dislocation…

“W-sitting” can lead to hip dislocation, and for children with pre-existing orthopedic conditions, these conditions can worsen when major muscle groups are placed in shortened positions.

The muscles begin to tighten, and this can lead to a permanent shortening of the muscle, which can affect coordination, balance, posture, walking ability and development of motor skills.

It may also lead to pelvic and back pain, as it puts strain of the hip abductors, hamstrings, internal rotators and heel cords. via NorthShorePediatricTherapy

One of the important skill that w-sitters don’t develop is being able to catch themselves as they fall, which requires being able to rotate and shift their weight. They may also be delayed in developing hand dominance and mastering skipping, throwing and kicking.

How To Prevent It

North Shore Pediatric Therapy suggests that the best way to prevent w-sitting is consistency.

Every time your child sits in this position, immediately suggest that they sit cross-legged, long-legged or with their legs to the side.

Alternating between these positions will help your child develop core strength and practice important motor skills.

If you’re having difficulty monitoring your child’s sitting positions, provide them with a table and chair at which to sit during play time. You can also enlist the help of an occupational therapist and promote everyday exercise to help them along.

1 Lemon Peel Trick To Get Rid of Inflammation And Chronic Pain

Lemons are well-known for its health benefits. In fact, you’ve probably heard a lot about the advantages of drinking warm lemon water in the morning.

Considered one of the oldest and most cultivated fruit plants in the world, lemon trees are well worth adding to your diet.

When Life Gives You Lemons…

Lemons are filled with vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, A, B1, B6, magnesium, bioflavonoids, pectin, folic acid, phosphorous, calcium, and potassium.

They help to protect against many diseases and conditions. Consuming lemons on a regular basis offers many positive effects to your gut, stomach, liver, and your overall immune system.

The Ultimate Alkaline Superstar

Lemons are considered an acidic food. But because of its very, very low sugar content and high alkaline mineral content (calcium, potassium, magnesium), lemons actually have an alkalizing effect on the body that far exceeds it’s citric acid content.

That’s because when lemon juice has been fully metabolized and its minerals are dissociated in the bloodstream, its effect is alkalizing and therefore raises the pH of body tissue (pH above 7 is alkaline). via Vitalitylink

In addition, lemon peels have a nice antiseptic effect, and the leaves can be used to reduce fevers.

How To Use Lemons For Joint Pain

You probably didn’t know this but lemons can help with joint pain. The essential oils in the lemon peel can help relax blood vessels and possess anti-inflammatory properties, making them useful for joint and nerve pain.

Here are the two most effective ways to use lemons to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

1. Grate the peel, being careful to only get the yellow layer and none of the white. Rub the peel directly onto the affected body part and wrap with a bandage. Keep in place for up to two hours.

2. Put the skin of two whole lemons in a jar, and fill it with extra virgin olive oil. Close the jar and let the mixture sit for two weeks. Rub the oil onto the affected area and wrap with gauze. Let sit overnight.