Sunday, January 10, 2010
HOME REMEDIES TO WHITEN YOUR TEETH
TEETH WHITENING TIPS
The following are some of the simple tips for teeth whitening:
Do not take sugary foods in any form. Chocolates are also not good. If you do consume such foods, never forget to wash your mouth thoroughly with strong gargles so as not to leave any sweet residue in the mouth.
Do not take excess tea and coffee. These beverages contain strong alkaloids which can stain the teeth.
Smoking also makes the teeth lose the white coloration of the teeth.
Chewing betel leaf (paan) is done in several Indian regions. This is also disastrous to the whiteness of the teeth.
Include pungent, bitter and astringent foods in your daily diet. These tastes have an astringent effect on the teeth that helps to maintain them clean. They also take care of the excess buildup of plaque on the teeth, which makes them lose their pearly white color.
Brush your teeth after every meal, or at least in the morning and before going to bed. While brushing your teeth, take care to sweep out all the embedded food particles.
Excess consumption of antibiotics is also harmful for teeth and gives a stain.
Eat guava, apple, sprouts, carrot, sugarcane, and cucumber fruits to prevent yellowing of teeth.
Drink lots of water as this makes your skin hydrated and removes plaques from your teeth.
Include green and fibrous vegetables in your diet to keep your teeth white and bacteria free.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
HOME REMEDIES FOR ACNE
HOW TO DEAL WITH BODY ODOR
Wellness Program
Lifestyle changes
There are certain lifestyle changes to make if you have a constant problem with body odor. Occasional problems can be treated if you know the cause. We suggest a program of daily bathing, changes in diet, and changes in clothing.
Bathing
Bathe daily to remove bacteria from your skin, especially the armpits and groin area where the bacteria is most prevalent. Scrub the armpits with a soapy washcloth as that will work better to remove the bacteria than just soap in your hands. Deodorant soap is preferable as it helps fight bacteria more than regular soaps. If you have a serious odor problem, soak for fifteen minutes or longer in a tub of water with three cups of tomato juice added. Don't forget, tomato juice works on you and your pets if you have been "skunked"!
Clothing
Clothing is an area many people overlook. Loosely fitting clothes allow the body to breathe better than tight clothes. The perspiration escapes and doesn't become a breeding ground for bacteria. The type of fabric is also very important. Synthetic fabrics for shoes and clothes don't allow the body to breathe, so use all natural fabrics. Wash your clothes often!
Dietary
Dietary changes are also very important in eliminating various sources of odor. Certain foods, such as meat, onions, garlic, exotic spices, and drinks such as coffee and alcohol can lead to body odor. Try eliminating these from your diet for a week or two and see if this makes a difference. Although you can usually smell your own B.O. if it is from your armpits many people don't realize they have general body odor because they have become accustomed to it. Have someone you can confide in do a "smell test" - before and after you start eliminating certain foods. That may be the only way you will find out.
Sweating
As we mentioned above, excessive sweating may have underlying causes, so it is wise to be diagnosed to see if you have a medical problem. Women going through menopause and perimenopause may experience bouts of sweating accompanied by terrible body odor. The sweating may occur even when the woman is not warm. We'd like to thank Sue Berkenstock for this tip and the remedies she suggested as being quite effective, mentioned below, are baby wipes, vinegar, and bauxite crystal deodorant.
Caffeine
and medications may also be the cause of your sweating. Reduce your caffeine intake and note if there are changes when you stop taking medication.
Tobacco
Although we have mentioned it in the Bad Breath section, tobacco use is a major cause of body odor. Not only does it come back through your lungs, but it comes through the skin. It probably mixes with other elements of your body's chemistry to create a distinct odor. If you stop smoking it may take several weeks for the body to rid itself of odor causing substances.
Supplements
Chlorophyll
One or two chlorophyll tablets or chlorophyll liquid taken with each meal may also help, as chlorophyll is a great deodorizer.
Magnesium
Take magnesium supplements or augment your diet with food sources high in this important mineral. Between 200-500 mg of magnesium have been recommended. You will have to try different doses until you get the amounts that are right for your body.
Vitamins A
High-potency B vitamin (50 mg or higher), when combined with magnesium, will help reduce certain secretions that can be a cause of odor. Make sure you are getting 100 mg of PABA and 100 mg of B6.
Zinc
If you have body odor, try taking zinc tablets. Zinc, plus magnesium, will help balance your body's metabolism and reduce the cause of bad odor. Studies have shown that taking 30 to 50 mg daily will dramatically reduce certain body odors, although you may need less. Zinc may also reduce perspiration and sweaty feet. However, it is wise to go above 15 mg only with a doctor's supervision as zinc may interfere with the absorption of copper, another essential trace mineral.
Home Remedy
Lifestyle changes
There are certain lifestyle changes to make if you have a constant problem with body odor. Occasional problems can be treated if you know the cause. We suggest a program of daily bathing, changes in diet, and changes in clothing.
Bathing
Bathe daily to remove bacteria from your skin, especially the armpits and groin area where the bacteria is most prevalent. Scrub the armpits with a soapy washcloth as that will work better to remove the bacteria than just soap in your hands. Deodorant soap is preferable as it helps fight bacteria more than regular soaps. If you have a serious odor problem, soak for fifteen minutes or longer in a tub of water with three cups of tomato juice added. Don't forget, tomato juice works on you and your pets if you have been "skunked"!
Clothing
Clothing is an area many people overlook. Loosely fitting clothes allow the body to breathe better than tight clothes. The perspiration escapes and doesn't become a breeding ground for bacteria. The type of fabric is also very important. Synthetic fabrics for shoes and clothes don't allow the body to breathe, so use all natural fabrics. Wash your clothes often!
Dietary
Dietary changes are also very important in eliminating various sources of odor. Certain foods, such as meat, onions, garlic, exotic spices, and drinks such as coffee and alcohol can lead to body odor. Try eliminating these from your diet for a week or two and see if this makes a difference. Although you can usually smell your own B.O. if it is from your armpits many people don't realize they have general body odor because they have become accustomed to it. Have someone you can confide in do a "smell test" - before and after you start eliminating certain foods. That may be the only way you will find out.
Sweating
As we mentioned above, excessive sweating may have underlying causes, so it is wise to be diagnosed to see if you have a medical problem. Women going through menopause and perimenopause may experience bouts of sweating accompanied by terrible body odor. The sweating may occur even when the woman is not warm. We'd like to thank Sue Berkenstock for this tip and the remedies she suggested as being quite effective, mentioned below, are baby wipes, vinegar, and bauxite crystal deodorant.
Caffeine
and medications may also be the cause of your sweating. Reduce your caffeine intake and note if there are changes when you stop taking medication.
Tobacco
Although we have mentioned it in the Bad Breath section, tobacco use is a major cause of body odor. Not only does it come back through your lungs, but it comes through the skin. It probably mixes with other elements of your body's chemistry to create a distinct odor. If you stop smoking it may take several weeks for the body to rid itself of odor causing substances.
Supplements
Chlorophyll
One or two chlorophyll tablets or chlorophyll liquid taken with each meal may also help, as chlorophyll is a great deodorizer.
Magnesium
Take magnesium supplements or augment your diet with food sources high in this important mineral. Between 200-500 mg of magnesium have been recommended. You will have to try different doses until you get the amounts that are right for your body.
Vitamins A
High-potency B vitamin (50 mg or higher), when combined with magnesium, will help reduce certain secretions that can be a cause of odor. Make sure you are getting 100 mg of PABA and 100 mg of B6.
Zinc
If you have body odor, try taking zinc tablets. Zinc, plus magnesium, will help balance your body's metabolism and reduce the cause of bad odor. Studies have shown that taking 30 to 50 mg daily will dramatically reduce certain body odors, although you may need less. Zinc may also reduce perspiration and sweaty feet. However, it is wise to go above 15 mg only with a doctor's supervision as zinc may interfere with the absorption of copper, another essential trace mineral.
Home Remedy
- To prevent body odor, drink a glass of water in the morning, on an empty stomach, along with 500 mg wheat grass. The chlorophyll present in the grass will help in reducing body odor.
- You can also apply baking soda to your armpits as well as to your feet, to reduce body odor.
- While bathing, add alcohol or white vinegar to a mug of water and use it to rinse the armpits. This will definitely help in lessening the body odor.
- One of the simple home remedies for body odor is to put a few drops of rose water in the bathtub, before taking bath. It will give you a long lasting freshness and serve as a good substitute for deodorant.
- To reduce the pH of the skin and eliminate armpit odor, one can use apple cider vinegar instead of deodorant. Put it in a mug of water and use it to rinse the armpits, while bathing.
- Take showers, at least thrice in a day, in the summer season, when one tends to sweat a lot.
- Prepare a homemade deodorant with the juice of about two dozen radishes and 1/4 teaspoon glycerin. Mix the liquids well and pour into a spray-top bottle. Spray this in the armpits to fight body odor. Remember to store it in fridge.
- During summers, you can apply the baby powder or talc to your armpits, in place of deodorants.
- Pour some white vinegar on a cotton ball and wipe your underarms with the cotton. While the vinegar smell would fade in some time, you would remain smell-free for the rest of the day.
- Mix two drops of the tea tree oil (essential oil) and one ounce of water. Pour this in a spray-top bottle and use as a deodorant. Since tea tree is an antibacterial herb, it would act favorably in preventing body odor.
- Mix 10 drops of the essential oil in 30 ml water. Apply this mixture on the armpits to reduce body odor.
- Turnip juice is also effective in removing body odor. Grate a turnip and squeeze the grated pieces to extract the juice. Apply this juice on your underarms.
- For excessive underarm odor, try using a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%) that is cheap and can be picked up at the pharmacy. Put a teaspoonful in a glass of water and wash the underarm. If that doesn't work, increase the amount of peroxide.
BODY ODOR. CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
Body odor refers to the unpleasant smell that is emitted by the body. The smell results from the presence of bacteria on the body. These bacteria rapidly double, when they come in contact with the sweat. The most common body parts that are associated with body odor include hair, feet, groin, skin, armpits, genitals, pubic hair, belly button and ears. Though sweating is seen as the most common reason for body odor, there are other reasons as well, due to which your body may emit a foul smell. In the following lines, we have provided the various causes and symptoms of body odor.
Causes Of Body Odor
Symptoms Of Body Odor
Giving off unpleasant smell is the only symptom, which occurs in body odor. This may happen when a person is sweating. It is seen that a person sweats either when it is too hot or he is extremely nervous or anxious. Such sweat usually has a foul odor attached to it. Unpleasant body odor is experienced after a strenuous workout as well. Another situation that results in body odor would be when a person is exposed to extremely hot temperatures. The smell varies from individual to individual. Though the smell disappears after bathing, it may come back immediately if the person puts on the clothes he was wearing earlier.
Causes Of Body Odor
- Sweating
Bacteria present in the sweat
Strong medicines
Alcohol
Smoking
Prolonged illness
Diseases, like kidney problems, liver problems etc
Stress
Skin problems
Gastrointestinal problems
Weak metabolism
Fungal infection
Bacterial growth
Deficiency of zinc mineral, cavities, toxins, etc
Poor hygiene
Heredity factots
Certain foods and beverages, like hot beverages, spicy foods, etc
Menopause
Low levels of male hormones
Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia
Fever
Overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism
Symptoms Of Body Odor
Giving off unpleasant smell is the only symptom, which occurs in body odor. This may happen when a person is sweating. It is seen that a person sweats either when it is too hot or he is extremely nervous or anxious. Such sweat usually has a foul odor attached to it. Unpleasant body odor is experienced after a strenuous workout as well. Another situation that results in body odor would be when a person is exposed to extremely hot temperatures. The smell varies from individual to individual. Though the smell disappears after bathing, it may come back immediately if the person puts on the clothes he was wearing earlier.
DARK UNDERARMS - CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
A darkened armpit can be described as a condition wherein the skin in the underarms assumed a darker hue, as compared to the rest of the body. More than anything else, dark underarms call for embarrassment and awkwardness. People with dark underarms avoid wearing sleeveless clothes. For people with a dark complexion, dark underarms do not matter much; they are a cause of concern for the fairer sect. Profuse sweating and unclean habits are the prime reasons for occurrence of dark underarms. To know more about the causes and symptoms of dark underarms, read the following lines.
Causes Of Dark Underarms
Symptoms Of Dark Underarms
Causes Of Dark Underarms
- Friction due to tight blouses and tops
Excessive sweating
Infections due to improper washing of underarms
Shaving
Dead skin buildup
Chemicals
Alcohol and strong fragrance in deodorants
Hyper pigmentation
Hair removal cream
Symptoms Of Dark Underarms
- Dark skin at armpits
Itching
Sweating
Bad odor
HOW TO DEAL WITH DARK UNDERARMS
Dark underarms is a condition when the skin under the arms or the armpits as we know gets dark. This is a common problem and it is a turn off for most people who equates them with poor hygiene. Ironically, grooming can cause dark armpits. Dark underarms can be caused by many things and it varies from one individual to another. For some people, it may be due to shaving products or deodorants containing alcohol. Dark underarms may be accompanied by itching, sweating and bad odor. There are also many ways to get rid of dark armpits but what works of one does not necessarily means that it will work on you too.
Shaving
There are many women who shave their armpits and there is nothing wrong with it. The down side of shaving is that the underarm region tends to get darker especially those who have brown or black hair. The hair is not pulled out from the roots, so it is often visible below the skin even after shaving. Kind of like the shadow on a man’s face after shaving the beard.
Hair removal creams
The regular use of hair removal cream on the underarms is not recommended since it will darken the region. The chemical in the cream can burn the skin and it is also harsh. Use of hair removal creams is okay once in a while, don’t make it a habit.
Waxing
Waxing removes hair from the roots, so no hair is left under the skin resulting in a lighter shade of skin. Waxing also removes the dead skin in the armpits. Make sure if you are having warm waxing done professionally that the wax isn’t too hot as the patch could burn, make sure your therapist tests the temperature of the wax before application.
Epilating
If you want to remain hair-free on a daily basis, use an epilator. It is not very painful if you remove hair when it is still very small and if done every few days. Your underarms will remain hair-free and clean.
Deodorants/Antiperspirants
Try to keep your underarms deodorant-free when you are at home. Use deodorants and antiperspirants that are aluminum chloride-free as they cause skin discolorations.
Laser
Laser hair removal reduces hair growth so this is the choice for people who have excessive underarm hair growth. This procedure though is a little bit on the expensive side.
Botox
Botox treatment eliminates underarm sweating.
Bleaching
Armpit bleaching and whitening treatments will peel off the dark skin.
There are also several ways to treat the problem naturally. In the following lines, we provide the home remedies to cure dark underarms.
The best and effective home remedy to treat underams is to use lemon. Take a piece of lemon and rub it on the armpits.
Baking soda also acts favorably in curing the darkness of the underarms. After bath, apply some baking soda onto the armpits.
Apply vitamin E oil on the armpits to treat dark underarms.
Rub theunderarms with coconut oil to remove the darkness from the underarm.
Make a paste using 1tsp of lime juice, 1tsp of cucumber juice as well as a hint of turmeric powder. Apply this paste on your armpits and wash off after.
Take 1tsp of gram flour, 1tsp of curd and a pinch of turmeric to make a paste. Apply this mixture to your armpits and rinse after it has dried with cold water.
Mix a little sandalwood powder and a few drops of rose water to make apaste. Apply this paste onto your underams.
Potato is an active bleaching agent. Apply potato juice on the underarms and keep it for sometime. It would effectively remove the darkness of the armpits.
Shaving
There are many women who shave their armpits and there is nothing wrong with it. The down side of shaving is that the underarm region tends to get darker especially those who have brown or black hair. The hair is not pulled out from the roots, so it is often visible below the skin even after shaving. Kind of like the shadow on a man’s face after shaving the beard.
Hair removal creams
The regular use of hair removal cream on the underarms is not recommended since it will darken the region. The chemical in the cream can burn the skin and it is also harsh. Use of hair removal creams is okay once in a while, don’t make it a habit.
Waxing
Waxing removes hair from the roots, so no hair is left under the skin resulting in a lighter shade of skin. Waxing also removes the dead skin in the armpits. Make sure if you are having warm waxing done professionally that the wax isn’t too hot as the patch could burn, make sure your therapist tests the temperature of the wax before application.
Epilating
If you want to remain hair-free on a daily basis, use an epilator. It is not very painful if you remove hair when it is still very small and if done every few days. Your underarms will remain hair-free and clean.
Deodorants/Antiperspirants
Try to keep your underarms deodorant-free when you are at home. Use deodorants and antiperspirants that are aluminum chloride-free as they cause skin discolorations.
Laser
Laser hair removal reduces hair growth so this is the choice for people who have excessive underarm hair growth. This procedure though is a little bit on the expensive side.
Botox
Botox treatment eliminates underarm sweating.
Bleaching
Armpit bleaching and whitening treatments will peel off the dark skin.
There are also several ways to treat the problem naturally. In the following lines, we provide the home remedies to cure dark underarms.
The best and effective home remedy to treat underams is to use lemon. Take a piece of lemon and rub it on the armpits.
Baking soda also acts favorably in curing the darkness of the underarms. After bath, apply some baking soda onto the armpits.
Apply vitamin E oil on the armpits to treat dark underarms.
Rub theunderarms with coconut oil to remove the darkness from the underarm.
Make a paste using 1tsp of lime juice, 1tsp of cucumber juice as well as a hint of turmeric powder. Apply this paste on your armpits and wash off after.
Take 1tsp of gram flour, 1tsp of curd and a pinch of turmeric to make a paste. Apply this mixture to your armpits and rinse after it has dried with cold water.
Mix a little sandalwood powder and a few drops of rose water to make apaste. Apply this paste onto your underams.
Potato is an active bleaching agent. Apply potato juice on the underarms and keep it for sometime. It would effectively remove the darkness of the armpits.
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