Monday, December 27, 2010

The Truth Behind Some Beauty Myths

Beautiful woman
When we were struggling through those awkward teenage years, when our hormones were wreaking havoc on our bodies and our skin, we were most likely inundated by advice from our mothers and grandmothers, and even our girlfriends, on what we should do to keep ourselves beautiful despite the storm of changes upon us and upon our bodies. Some of them sound sensible, while some sound totally absurd.
But even if these pieces of advice sound really silly, there are some of them that we could not easily shake off. They seem to work for us, and why let go of a good thing if it is working somewhat?
Nonetheless, for curiosity's sake, sometimes there is a need to ask. Do the beauty practices handed down to us by our mothers, grandmothers and girlfriends that we have religiously observed through the years hold a grain of scientific truth in them, or are they merely beauty myths spun by old wives? 
Beauty Myth #1: Plucking white hairs yields more white hairs.
Beauty Myth #2: Shaving the hair makes it grow back thicker.
Beauty Myth #3: Mayonnaise makes for a great conditioner.
Beauty Myth #4: Applying ice to the skin makes the pores smaller.
Beauty Myth #5: Toothpaste can cure pimples
Beauty Myth #6: Applying beer on the skin before going for a sun tan results in a golden glow.
Beauty Myth #7: Crossing the legs leads to varicose veins.
Beauty Myth #8: Washing the feet when tired will make the veins swell.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

What Fruits and Veggies improve eyesight?

Eyes are very important for everybody. You must take utmost care and do everything in your hand to keep them in good condition. The urge to improve eyesight with fruits and veggies is growing fast among many parents who are concerned with their children eyesight. Most of the moms have now started pushing their kids to eat veggies like carrots to help improve their eyesight.Vitamin A in mangoes, oranges and tomatoes aids night vision. Beta-carotene rich foods are good for your eyes. Some of the fruits are listed below.
1. Carrot
2. Eggs
3. Milk
4. Apricots
5. Berries
6. Black Currants
7. Cold-water Fish
8. Collard Greens
9. Grapefruits
10. Grapes
11. Lemons
12. Plums
13. Spinach
14. Fish Oils
15. Raw Garlic (fresh)

Super Foods for Men and Women



Foods for Men
1. Tomato Sauce. Men who eat a lot of tomatoes, tomato sauce, or pizza smothered with the stuff may be giving themselves a hedge against prostate cancer. For best absorption, lycopene should be cooked with some kind of fat. So pizza may be just what the doctor ordered.
2. Oysters. Myth has it that oysters are the food of love. Just two to three oysters deliver a full day's supply of zinc, a mineral critical for normal functioning of the male reproductive system.
3. Broccoli. A recent Harvard study finds that cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, may protect against bladder cancer. It's one of the most common cancers in this country, and affects two to three times as many men as women. And broccoli and cabbage were singled out as the most protective foods.
4. Peanut Butter. If you want a healthy heart, spread your morning toast with peanut butter. Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women, but men fall victim at an earlier age.
5. Watermelon. Until the age of 55, more men suffer from high blood pressure than do women. Watermelon, a rich source of this mineral, has more potassium -- 664 mg -- in one large slice than the amount found in a banana or a cup of orange juice. So cut yourself another slice and enjoy the taste of summer.
Foods for Women

1. Papaya. This tropical fruit packs about twice the vitamin C of an orange. Add it to your arsenal against gallbladder disease, which afflicts twice as many women as men.
2. Flaxseed. Bakers use this nutty-flavored seed mainly to add flavor and fiber. Look for the seeds in health food stores or in supermarkets on the flour aisle. They're easy to grind in a blender or coffee grinder. But get seeds -- there are no lignans in the oil.
3. Tofu. Foods high in soy protein can lower cholesterol and may minimize menopausal hot flashes and strengthen bone. Isoflavones, plant chemicals in soybeans that have a structure similar to estrogen, may be the reason. A half-cup of tofu contains about 25 to 35 mg of isoflavones.
4. Buffalo Meat. Due largely to menstruation, women tend to be anemic more than men. And low iron levels in blood can cause severe fatigue. To get a good dose of iron, try bison.
5. Collard Greens. This humble vegetable may help fight osteoporosis, which afflicts many women late in life. In addition to getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, some studies suggest that vitamin K may have a bone-protective effect as well.