Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon

Finally summer is here, you probably be needing something cool and delicious to beat the heat. What if you get these entities boosted with a pack of health? 
Yes! The solution is Watermelon. It is having 92% of water content & is soaked with the nutrients. One cup of watermelon contains only 46 calories in it. A watermelon has mostly fiber and water which can make your stomach feel full with so much less calories. So if this summer you're having a resolution of shredding your body then this article is for you.

                                                        Nutrition facts

Here are the top 15 health benefits of eating watermelon.

1. AIDS WEIGHT LOSS 

The best watermelon health benefits is that it aids in healthy weight loss. It has high water content, which can fill you up for fewer calories. 

Watermelon also speed up metabolism and flush out toxins and fats, which may contribute to weight loss.

2. STRENGTHENS IMMUNITY

Watermelon contains Vitamin C which helps in strengthening the immune system.It protects our body from infections and helps in formation of red blood cells.

There has been a controversy whether Vitamin C can contribute to the prevention of common cold or not. The cells of immune system accumulate Vitamin C and need the Vitamin C to perform the task especially phagocytes. Thus deficiency of Vitamin C results in reduce resistance against pathogens.

The intake of Vitamin C may reduce the duration of illness in healthy persons.

. 3. PROVIDES HYDRATION

Watermelon is 92% water so it is best source of hydration. so during summers if you feel really hot then try watermelon juice it is far better than all those carbonated drinks.

4. REGULATES BLOOD PRESSURE: 

  Watermelon is a good source of potassium which lowers the blood pressure.

 It has citrulline in it, which is an amino acid that is converted to arginine into the body when eaten. These both citrulline and arginine help in production of nitric oxide which is a vasodilator. It helps to relax and dilate the blood vessels,due to which more blood can pass freely which leads to lower blood pressure.

5. IMPROVES DIGESTION:

One of the most common problem is Constipation. It is due to lack of fiber and water in the diet. Water melon has both in it,so it keeps our digestive tract healthy and helps in easy passage of the stool.

Now you must be wondering that how fiber helps in constipation. 

Do you know that our body cannot digest fiber? well that is true.... Even though our body cannot digest fiber, eating enough of it is very important for your gut.

This is because fiber increases the size of your stool and make them softer.

So Larger and softer stools help keep you regular, as they are easier to pass.

6. GOOD FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

The minerals present in the fruit can help prevent third trimester muscle cramps.it also reduces morning sickness.

it also reduces swelling in feet and hands and also supports fetus bone formation.

7. PREVENTS CANCER

Watermelon contains Lycopene.  Lycopene. in watermelons has been found to reduce the cancer insurgence. The red color of watermelon is because of Lycopene, so it is a very powerful antioxidant.

 1 cup of watermelon contains about 20 milligrams of Lycopene which protects us from numerous types of cancer. 

Lycopene is also one of the free radical fighting antioxidants. Free radicals are damaging molecules that float around in the body disrupting cells and promoting cancer. They destroy free radicals so they can't attach to your cells.

Lycopene  also prevent lung,prostate,pancreas,colon,rectum and stomach cancer. 

8. GOOD FOR HEART HEALTH:

Again it has Lycopene which is good for heart also. It is very effective at protecting cells from damage and so lowers the risk of heart disease. 

Watermelon is very important for older women.It is found that after Menopause women face increased aortic stiffness. If they take watermelon extract for several weeks their blood flow will be normal and arterial stiffness will be reduced.

Again it has arginine which help improve blood flow and may help reduce the accumulation of excess fat.

9.  IMPROVES SKIN AND HAIR HEALTH:

It has vitamin A and Vitamin C. these both are helpful in good health of skin and hair. 

Vitamin C helps build collagen, which is highly important for hair growth, but maintaining the strength of hair is also crucial. Vitamin C plays a necessary role in absorbing iron which keeps our hair strong and healthy.

Vitamin C also maintains healthy skin by promoting the expansion of collagen. It also helps in creation of ligaments and scar tissue. It also helps in slowing the age process by slowing the rate of free radicals.

Vitamin A is a group of compounds that includes its active forms (retinol,retinal and retinoic acid) and other pro vitamin A carotenoids, like beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is form of vitamin A that we get directly from the Watermelon.

This slows down the ageing process and encourages healthy skin production.

It smoothens the wrinkles and give the even skin tone.

10. HELPS IN RELIEVING MUSCLE SORENESS:

When we workout we feel so good but after some hours of workout our muscles get sore. It hurts a lot. Fortunately, scientists have been making progress in assessing natural muscle relief for those who experience pain after workout.

They have discovered a nutrient which is L-citrulline, which only found in one food i.e Watermelon.

Citrulline has been found to accelerate the process of lactic acid removal, hence relieving muscle soreness. Drinking watermelon juice can also help your muscles receive more oxygen , this helps them recover faster.

So drinking watermelon juice before an intense workout helps reduce next-day muscle soreness and heart rate.

Recommended for you: Dry skin causes & remedies

Read More

Dry skin causes and remedies

Dryness is a condition of the skin when your skin is not able to hold moisture. Dry skin is also called xerosis. Some people are born with dry skin and for some people dry skin occurs during winters. If left untreated, dry skin can cause flaky skin and itchiness .

You should keep your skin moisturized, but the moisturizers we get in the markets are way expensive and they also have chemicals in it. I have a very dry skin. During winters it gets worse as my face gets white patches. I want to share some home remedies that i use myself, which helped me change my skin into combination from dry one.

CAUSES OF DRY SKIN: 

There are  external or internal reasons for dry skin

EXTERNAL REASONS: 

1. Washing skin with harsh soaps
2. Cold temperature
3. Overuse of sanitizer
4. Taking bath multiple times with hot water
5. Using moisturizer which contains perfumes or alcohol
6. Low humidity

INTERNAL REASONS:

1. DEHYDRATION: Skin can also look dry if it has lack of water.Even oily skin can experience dehydration.Excessive drinking of alcohol, coffee, tea can also cause  dehydration.                                                                                                                             
2. MEDICATION: A number of medicines have the side effects of drying out the skin.for example medicine for high blood pressure, of medicine for acne like retinoids. this can really make the skin dry.

REMEDIES FOR DRY SKIN.

A HOME MADE MOISTURIZER:

No need to apply so many things on face multiple times. Just use this moisturizer twice a day or right after when you wash your face and you are done.You will feel your skin so soft.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Aloevera gel
2. Lemon
3. Olive oil(optional)
4. Coconut oil
5. Honey.

PROCEDURE

1. I have an aloe vera plant at my home so i used the fresh aloevera leaf. 

and then i extracted the gel out of it. It will look something like this

If you do not have aloe vera plant at home, then you can ask for it from your relatives neighbors or friends.and if still you are not able to find it then you can use this one. This      is patanjali's aloe vera gel.

2. Add 1 table spoon of both  lemon juice and honey

3. Add 1 table spoon of coconut oil. I have used this green valley coconut oil. This one is pure. You can buy this from amazon or can use any organic coconut oil.

4. Add 1 table spoon of olive oil. This is optional. If you can afford this oil then add it otherwise it is OK. Coconut oil will do the work. 

Here i am assuming that you have extracted the gel of only 1 leaf of aloevera. 

Now grind this mixture in the mixer for 3 seconds and a gel will be formed. It will look something like this.

You can store this mixture in any bottle. 

 HOW TO APPLY THIS MIXTURE.

This mixture has got no chemicals and is in pure form. Take 4-5 drops on your palm and apply it on your face. 

You can apply this mixture whenever you wash your face because your skin feels more dry when it is washed. 

Do not forget to apply this mixture before going to bed.

Store this mixture in refrigerator during summers.

 And if you are going out in sun do not forget to apply sunscreen after applying moisturizer. sun will make your skin more dry. if you want to know about sunscreen like how to use it , which one to buy you can go on this link. 

THINGS YOU NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU ARE FACING DRY SKIN PROBLEM:

1. FACE WASH: Always use gel based face wash. Avoid  using foam based as it will extract all oil from your face.  This himalaya's face wash is really good and its been a year that i am using this face wash. You can use any gel based face wash of a good brand

       2. Never rub your face vigorously with towel: Always clean it gently with towel. Try to tap towel on your face instead of harshly rubbing on it.

      3. DRINK 4-5 GLASSES OF WATER EVERYDAY: Keep yourself hydrated. This will give glow to your face. 

     

     4. TRY TO AVOID JUNK FOOD.: Keep your food clean. If you are healthy from inside you will look healthy from outside too. Try to include every nutrient in your diet.

      5. EAT LOTS OF FRUITS AND GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES: Fruits and vegetables also nourish your skin. Try to include fruits in your diet.

Read More

Remedies for acne scars

Nobody likes a face full of pimples but worse than that is acne scars. A pimple usually goes away in 3 to 4 days but acne scars live there forever.There are 3 types of acne scars you can have after pimples.and there are different solutions for that.

DISCOLORED ACNE SCAR

It is red, brown or purple mark that is left after the pimple. It is technically known as post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation. This discoloration will fade away with time but it can take years. I waxed my face because i have too much of facial hair. Then after a week pimples started to appear on my face and they left acne scars.

You need follow these steps to get rid of these stubborn scars

STEP 1

Vitamin C:
 Vitamin C should be your best friend, because it lightens the skin tone. You should include vitamin c in your diet and should also apply on your skin.

You can apply lemon juice. Concentrated lemon juice may irritate  your skin. You can dilute it with rose water or simple water. 

Orange peel powder: It also has Vitamin C in it and is very helpful in removing dark spots. It is also useful in acne, blackheads,uneven skin tone . I personally use this one.

You can mix this powder with rosewater to make a paste and apply that paste on face until it dries.then wash your face with normal temperature water. You can use this mask for 
4-5 days a week for best results.

STEP 2: 

Sun Protection(Read my detailed blog here )
Try to protect your face from sun. Sun can really make these scars worse. Apply sunscreen before leaving home.
You need to keep these things in mind before buying any sunscreen
1) SPF is important. It is sun protection factor. It is always good to use a sunscreen of 30 or above than that. I suggest using Lakme Sun Expert UV Lotion SPF 50++ . It does not feel oily on the skin.
2)it is important to see what skin type you have and buy sunscreen according to that. If you have oily skin you can buy gel based sunscreen or if you have dry skin you can use cream based sunscreen.
3) Always use sunscreen 15-20 minutes before going out in sun.

STEP 3)
DRINK 4-5 LITERS OF WATER PER DAY
You need to do this for sure. Water flushes out the toxins from the body and makes the skin clear.Try to drink as much water as you can.

STEP 4) 
Do not squeeze the pimple it will make it worse. Let it take its time. 

STEP 5)
keep your face clean: Wash your face thrice a day.People with oily skin can use foam based face wash and people with dry skin can use gel based face wash.

STEP 6
Exfoliate: Exfoliate your skin at least 4 times a week. it will help you to get rid of dead skin and will make your skin look lighter. 

It's been 2 months that i am using these steps and dark spots are really fading. It just needs patience and care.

 RAISED BUMP ACNE SCAR:  

It is even worse. When pimples heal they leave slightly raised bump in that area.These scars are formed when body tries to heal from inflammation caused by acne. 
It is very hard to cure that at home. Vitamin C can help but it will take lots of time may be more than a year. If you need good results you need to go to a dermatologist.They will do laser treatment or inject the bump with cortisone which will help the bump to dry and match the skin level.

 DEPRESSION IN THE SKIN SURFACE:

 You need to visit a dermatologist for that too.It can be cured by lasers and they can use fillers injection or can do laser treatment depending on the type of skin depression you have.

I HOPE THIS HAS HELPED YOU. AND DON'T FORGET TO EAT HEALTHY. IF YOU ARE HEALTHY FROM INSIDE,YOU WILL LOOK HEALTHY FROM OUTSIDE TOO"

Read More

Best remedies to remove sun tan at home naturally (with photos)

Hello friends 

Summers are coming and many people expose their skin to sun and those sun rays can really tan your skin.I went to a beach few months back and spent my whole day in the sun. My skin became reddish in color that day. Something like this..... :/

. And next day first layer of skin started coming out,and by evening i was tanned.

my face was appearing 3 shades darker than my usual skin tone.

 I did a lot of research on internet and read so many books before applying anything on my face.Then i came up with these few packs and tips by which you can remove tan from your face fully with in 2 months.Many people have written that do these steps and remove tan from your face with in one day. Dear friends let me tell you there is no miraculous pack or cream that can remove tan instantly.

you need to follow few steps in order to get flawless and radiant skin again.

STEP 1

FACE PACKS

Here i am suggesting you 3 face packs
you can use any one of them or can choose 2 face packs and apply them on alternate days.

1. CURD,LEMON, HONEY FACE PACK

PROCEDURE:
Take 1 tablespoon of curd of you want to apply it only on face. if you also want to include back or arms just take it accordingly.

then add 1 table spoon of lemon juice

now add half teaspoon of honey

mix this mixture well...

it will look like this

apply this mixture on affected area for 30 minutes if you are using this pack for alternate days but if you are using this pack everyday use it for 20 minutes only.

 REASON: 

CURD: curd has zinc and lactic acid.zinc is a cure for acne problem and lactic acid lighten the skin.

LEMON:it has citric acid in it which helps in lightening the skin tone, removes dark spots on skin and also helps acne problem. lemon is best suited for oily skin people

HONEY: Honey contains superior antibacterial, and healing properties and is super nourishing and hydrating.it also has anti ageing properties.

2.ORGANIC ORANGE PEEL POWDER FACE PACK: 

PROCEDURE: 

add  1 tablespoon of organic orange peel powder in a bowl 

mix gulab jal(rose water) in it

make a paste like this

apply this mixture on affected area until it get dried.and wash face with normal water.

REASON:

ORGANIC ORANGE PEEL POWDER:  This powder has vitamin c , calcium ,magnesium in it.which prevent acne, dark spots, lightens the skin tone,prevents ageing, makes skin wrinkle free.

I personally use this one.

and i have really seen good results on my face.

ROSE WATER: It has toning properties. It cleans pores of skin , helps to soothe the reddish skin, prevents acne

i personally use this one

3. HONEY AND LEMON FACE PACK:

PROCEDURE : 

Add 1 table spoon of honey and half lemon juice. Mix it well. 

Massage this mixture on face for about 10 minutes and let it stay on face for 20 min. Then wash your face with lukewarm water.

you can choose any one face pack or any two . If you are choosing two face packs then make sure you apply on alternate days.

STEP 2

WORKOUT:

working out is not about only shredding pounds or toning your muscles. There are numerous benefits of workout.

1.workout increases blood flow in body including face which helps     to heal faster.

2.It uplifts your mood. You feel happy after workout.

3.You will feel less stress and anxiety.

4.Your face and skin will look more radiant

5.Your immunity will be increased.

and there are numerous benefits.........

STEP 3: 

DRINK LOTS OF WATER AND JUICES:

This is very very important step....

water is like a medicine.It is a medicine for any problem in our body for eg fatigue,blood pressure,sugar,migraine,acne,ageing, helps in weight loss and what not.But there is a proper way to drink it. You should drink approx 4-5 liters of water per day..

PROCEDURE: 

1. Take 1 glass of warm water and mix two table spoon of lemon juice and drink this empty stomach in the morning.

this is the best thing to clear the skin..

2. Do not drink water during meal

3. You can take water half an hour before meal and half an hour after meal.

4.You can also include juices.

the best juices for skin are

1. apple juice

2.orange juice

3. beetroot juice

4.carrot juice

5.spinach juice

6.lemon juice

7.cucumber juice

8.pomegranate juice

9. bitter gourd juice

these juice are the best for the skin

STEP 4:

 ALOE VERA GEL:

Now this should be your best friend. Try to have an aloevera plant at home. This is best if not possible you can buy aloevera gel from market. Currently i am using this one

This patanlali's aloevera is pretty good.

but first try to give preference to homemade aloevera gel.

PROCEDURE TO APPLY IT ON SKIN:

Use this gel as a moisturizer.Do not apply any other moisturizer. this one is the best.Wash your face 3 times a day. That is in morning, afternoon and night and after that apply gulab jal on face which will act like a toner and then apply aloevera gel  as a moisturizer. this magical gel will lighten your skin with in a month.

STEP 5: 

APPLY VITAMIN E OIL ON FACE BEFORE GOING TO BED:

This oil is super nourishing. this oil takes time to absorb in skin so is suggested to use at night.

PROCEDURE:

 You can buy vitamin E oil bottle from market or can buy capsules

capsules are cheaper. 10 capsules will will cost you around 20-25 rupees.Take a capsule. Make a pore on capsule and pour that oil on your hand and apply that on the affected area.

BENEFITS: Vitamin E oil is very good for your skin. It lightens the skin tone, removes dark spots and very useful in removing tan. This can also be used as sunscreen. 

"I HOPE THIS HAS HELPED YOU. AND DON'T FORGET TO EAT HEALTHY. IF YOU ARE HEALTHY FROM INSIDE,YOU WILL LOOK HEALTHY FROM OUTSIDE TOO"

Read More