Tips To Be Followed In The Winter Season

When you are youthful from within, it shows from the outside as well, through your skin, body and hair. Hair that is healthy and shiny is a manifestation of good overall health as well as youthfulness. However, some of us often tend to battle premature graying. We are told it's hormonal and all attempts to prevent it would be futile? Is it really so? The answer is definitely not. There are a lot many ways with which we can treat or nourish our strands and scalp so that premature graying is prevented. Before we get into the ways to prevent such conditions, it is very important to understand the causes behind the same. When strands suffer premature graying, they often appear to lose growth speed, become brittle, lose their natural colour and get drier.  When we talk about premature graying we are essentially referring to the ageing of capillaries, which might occur anytime in the anagen or capillary growth phase, thereby shortening the period of the respective phase. With growing age, collagen-producing fibroblasts suffer a significant decrease. The double whammy at this point is the changes in the soft tissues like muscle, skin or fascia, referred to as trophic changes, which cause damage to the hair follicle cells. In a process called apoptosis, the cells that produce melanin die, causing graying prior to expected age. Our hairs thrive on nutrients and moisture obtained from within the body, and scalp in particular, but they turn gray, there is no mechanism to prevent its loss owing to the open cuticles. Therefore, it becomes imperative that added nutrients are ensured for the hair and the scalp. It is advisable that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and consume foods and vegetables rich in anti-oxidants. Also required is to protect the strands and scalp from excessive exposure to strong sunlight. If it is unavoidable, do so with protection in place. If these two are adhered to, the issue can be tackled to a great extent. The other most important thing to do to avoid premature graying is to stop being aggressive on the hair. The need of the hour is to ensure gentle cleansing and hydration. When going for hair care products for the purpose, do remember to strictly avoid aggressive ingredients like sodium chloride, sulfates etc. Investing in ones with anti-oxidant action would further ease the task to prevent the early greying of strands. Instead, herbs and extracts of plants or fruits must be banked on while checking the ingredient list of products. Amla, Malva and guarana like ingredients, which are rich in vitamin C, and babassu oil - rich in fatty acid essence aiding lipid replacement - ensure the required nutrition and restore natural elasticity, making the strands soft, strong and dry, without the fears of premature ageing.(Clelia Cecilia Angelon, CEO & Founder of Surya Brasil) Read More► Protect Your Hair and Skin From Pollution Damage

You are what you eat! The secret to good health often lies in one's reach in one's own kitchen, if only one remembers to look. From nutrient-dense and healthy lentils and flours to natural alternatives to calorie-heavy processed foods, kitchen shelves are full of ingredients that are both healthy and delicious if whipped up the correct way. Here are some foods suggested by Jyothi Sri Pappu, CEO and Founder of Nutreat Life that help you boost your physical and mental health if consumed regularly: Ragi A staple in south Indian households, Ragi is not only high in protein but is also packed with nutrients like vitamins C, B-Complex, and E, iron and calcium, making it good for your hair and skin. Ragi is a wonderful breakfast food that also helps relax nerves and induce sleep naturally. The best part? Ragi is a versatile ingredient that can not only be part of many recipes but can be prepared for babies to adults alike, whether in the form of baby cereal, piping hot porridge, or yummy pancakes. Jaggery A great alternative to empty-calories sweeteners like sugar, jaggery, or gur is high on nutritional value, containing within itself a fair amount of antioxidants and minerals. Jaggery is an ingredient that can be eaten raw, or put in meals to improve its flavour. Along with boosting immunity, jaggery has great purification properties for your entire body, especially the liver and blood. Dates Another food that is great for diabetics, along with jaggery, is the date fruit. This precious brown dry fruit contains loads and loads of nutrients, including potassium and antioxidants like flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolic acid. High in fibre and easy to add to dishes, dates are also great for brain health. As per research, a diet rich in date palm fruits improves memory, learning and reduces the risk for Alzheimer's disease. Dates and jaggery instant mixes, such as the one by NutrEatLife, can be added in place of sugar in dishes and beverages to sweeten them, minus the health disadvantages of sugar. Coconut Another traditionally available superfood is coconut, which is full of nutrients, whether one has coconut water, raw coconut, milk or even its oil! From manganese to magnesium, copper and potassium, consuming coconut can help you increase the intake of the micronutrients each day. Sipping coconut water could also have the same effect as an activity designed to reduce anxiety, and research shows that coconut water may have an antidepressant effect. Nuts Add them to your desserts, or have a handful of them after soaking in water, nuts are wonder foods that are proven to be transformative for both physical and mental health. Along with improving brain function, almonds and walnuts are energy-boosting foods that are a great snacking option in between meals. Pistachios, similarly, improve function in the brain and eyes and are a blessing for hair and skin health. Peanuts, too, make for a great snacking option and a nutrition powerhouse as well with 17 grams of protein in every half a cup (73 grams). (Agency) Read More► Benefits of Spiced Tea in Winter

When it comes to skincare, most men prefer to keep things as simple as possible. Men, on the other hand, are becoming more interested in self-care as time passes. Some simple changes are recommended that aren't taxing and produce long-term results. Men's skin is typically oily and hard, and it is constantly exposed to external factors such as pollution and sunlight. It also faces difficulties as a result of poor sleep habits, stress, and a poor diet. Oily, dry, normal, sensitive, or combination skin all necessitate a unique set of products to address your concerns. Cleansing This is the most important requirement for combating pollution and oil leakage. The first step of the day is to cleanse your face with a cleanser. It's also simple to understand. Simply washing your face with a cleanser twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, helps to remove impurities. Choosing the right cleanser for your skin type will assist you in unclogging your pores and preventing acne. AHA-BHA facewash is recommended for oily skin. Hydration Men's skin takes a beating over time. This is caused by chemicals found in air pollution, cigarette smoke, and UV rays. It is then critical to hydrate your skin. A serum with active ingredients, applied before a moisturiser, aids in skin repair. Instead of excessively moisturising, hydrate, minimise, and maintain the skin's protective barrier. The serum should be chosen based on the issue you are dealing with. Protect Sunscreen should be used as part of every morning skincare routine before going outside. It is the final step in skincare. Non-sticky gel-based sunscreens should be suitable for daily use. The most important thing to remember here is that sunscreen should be applied even if we aren't going outside because it protects us from the UV rays emitted by our screens. If you are constantly exposed to the sun, you should apply sunscreen every three hours. Men can also use an anti-oxidant serum or a pigmentation serum to address their concerns if they are constantly exposed to pollution, smoke, and so on. This should be done either before or after hydration, depending on the serum's consistency. It is recommended that serum with a thinner consistency be used first. Aside from that, men should use a non-sticky, non-comedogenic moisturiser before applying sunscreen. Always be aware of your skin type and make purchases accordingly. The same steps can be followed, but the products will differ. (agency) Read More► Most Effective Herbs to prevent Cancer

Valentine's Day is an exciting time for many of us. It is the time when we express our feelings of love, compassion, gratitude and affection. Expressing your emotion to your 'special someone' in just one day can feel impossible. Valentine's Day can also become a source of stress for people. The pressure of planning the perfect day, getting the perfect gift, wearing the perfect outfit all while managing work, household chores and other responsibilities can take a toll on one's mental health. Here are a few tips that will help you make this Valentine's Day special without the stress and anxiety. Share Your Expectations With Your Partner Talking about your expectations with your partner can be daunting. It can help your partner better understand what makes you happy and prevent miscommunication. A hot balloon ride may sound romantic to one person but can be terrifying for someone who has a fear of heights. Communicating your expectations clearly will help construct a better path for the future. You and your partner can also start having conversations about finances, time, and emotional well-being. Make Realistic Plans Often, the idea of what Valentine's Day should look like comes from movies, books or other forms of media. But, they may not be realistic. It puts a lot of pressure on trying to make things fantastical or perfect. Sure, it's fun to plan surprises and date nights, but remember that things may not always go the way you plan. Instead, focus on giving your Valentine your attention, time and love this year. Show Your Appreciation In relationships, we sometimes end up taking our partner for granted. We may not mean to, and it's not intentional. But, there's a reason we chose to be with them, and spend Valentine's Day with them. This year, make a special effort to notice and acknowledge the things your partner does for you. You can also show your appreciation through actions - getting them their favourite flowers, writing them a note, offering to do chores in the house, or giving them a massage. Valuing and appreciating your partners will help the relationship flourish. Try Something New Together While trying to figure out how you and your partner can spend Valentine's Day, give yourselves the opportunity to learn and grow together. Take this time to learn or explore something new. Maybe you can sign up for a couple's dance class, try making a new dish, explore museums in your city, or go for a hike, Planning activities together can be a great way to keep the relationship vibrant. Learn about each other's love languages: What could be better than getting to better know each other on Valentine's Day? Love languages is a concept explained by Dr. Gary Chapman. Love languages outline five general ways that romantic partners express and experience love and commitment. These love languages are words of affirmation, acts of service, physical touch, receiving gifts and quality time. Take time to explore what you and your partners love languages are. After all, every individual differs from one another, and so do you and your partner. It's important to understand what matters the most to your partner. (Richa Vashista, Chief Mental Health Expert, AtEase) Read More► 10 Ways to Get Fit This Year