10 Natural Ways to Lighten Your Skin

I love the different complexions I see around me every day. As women we are always looking for ways to maintain a glowing and youthful complexion. Over the years the effects of the sun, change in body size, scars, stretch marks and acne tend to darken our complexion and leave us with an uneven skin tone. Using chemical to bleach our skins in the form of chemical peels, mercury and bleaching cream can lead to long term damage to your skin and in some cases death. Therefore I looked into natural ways to lighten your skin, regain your skins elasticity, reduce the appearance of scar and treat acne. The following are the top 10 natural ways to lighten your skin.

Turmeric By Simon A. Eugster  Wikimedia Commons

1.      Turmeric

This is a famous Indian skin care regime with antiseptic properties that relieve sun burns. Turmeric is an exfoliating agent effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and acne. Turmeric will lighten your skin tone and fades away scars as well as stretch marks, giving you an even complexion. Turmeric also inhibits melanin production preventing your skin from tanning.

Crazy About Calories

In a world where we are more concerned about a trim waist line than a healthy functioning heart, we spend most of our days planning meals with a limited amount of calories and forgoing the health benefits we would get from healthier meals. 

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons By Orcunkoktuna

Here are some challenges calorie counters face;

Coffee versus Tea?

There is only 1 calorie in a mug of coffee where as a mug of tea contains 2 calories. Coffee and tea both contain antioxidants great in fighting cancer. Coffee also has the benefit of boosting brain

Ebola: The Big E

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) was first discovered in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1972 after two separate out breaks occurred. The name was derived from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the first outbreak had occurred. However upon further study it was discovered to be similar to the Marburg virus discovered in 1967 after an outbreak occurred in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany.

Ebola Virus photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons By Thomas W. Geisbert

The Ebola virus disease is believed to be carried by fruit bats that infect people and other mammals. Among the human population and other mammals the virus is spread through coming into contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids of a person or mammal. The symptoms will usually occur after 2 to 3 weeks after coming into contact with an infected person or mammal.

Fighting Cancer with Lemons

You may have heard the new fad that lemons are the new natural way to preventing and curing cancer. Taking lemonade, eating the lemon pulp directly or even on pastries may help fight all types of cancers. Although, according to stop cancer fund, this has not been scientifically proven, lemons do have some anti-cancer properties and are an anti-microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi, lemons are effective against internal parasites and worms, Lemons also regulate blood pressure and act as an antidepressant.

photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Properties of Lemon

Lemons contain mainly sugars and citric acid however the outer layer (zest) contains essential oils, 90% limonene (which has anti-cancer properties), 5% citral, and small amounts of cintronellal, alphaterpineol, linayl and geranyl acetate. The inner layer contains glycosides and coumarin derivative that give lemon’s their bitter taste. So what are the health benefits of lemon towards fighting cancer.

A Natural Way to Prevent Wrinkles and Boost Your Health with Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkins seeds also known as pepitas have numerous benefits to reduce wrinkle and rejuvenate your skin. They are rich in amino acids, Omega-3 oils, minerals and vitamins that are not only great for your skin but also improve and repair body functions. Pumpkin seeds are not only a tasty snack but also a healthy snack to add to your diet or even to your beauty regimen.

photo courtesy of wikipedia Commons

Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds for Your Skin

·        Pumpkin seeds contain alpha hydroxyl acids which is a main ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams. They rejuvenate the skin by removing dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

7 Health Benefits of Eating Onions Daily

Whether you are enjoying your Spanish omelette, pilau with kachumbari or preparing any meal onions are always a key ingredient. Onions are a prized member of the lily family with numerous health benefits especially if eaten raw.

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Health Benefits of Eating Onions

There are numerous health benefits you can get from eating onions but just to list a few;

  ·       Onions have a large quantity of sulfur that stimulates the action  of amino acids to influence brain function as well as the        nervous system.

  ·       Onions contain phytochemicals which boost your body’s    immune system by improving the absorption of Vitamin C.

     ·        Chromium contained in onions helps in regulating your blood sugar levels.

Top Four Ways to Get Rid Of Oily Skin

Not everyone has a normal skin type and although there are some people who have a combination of different skin types on different parts of their body most people tend to have either dry or oily skin. Although younger women are more likely to have normal skin but with time their skin types may begin to change. The type of skin you have will vary depending on a number of factors such as water content, oil (lipid) content and sensitivity levels. One particular skin type most women have trouble dealing with is oily skin also known as Seborrhea. Everyone has sebaceous glands that produce oil to keep the skin protected however for some people (particularly women) these gland produce more oil than normal which results in enlarged pores, dull or shiny skin tone and sometimes a thick complexion. This may result to other conditions such as blackheads, pimples or other blemishes which become worse as a result of stress, exposure to heat, poor diet and even due to exposure to too much humidity. If you want to get rid of oily skin  here are a four skin care regimes you could try.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Cleansers

A gel cleanser is the best facial cleanser to use and will provide you with a deep follicular cleansing leaving your skin feeling fresh and soft. You are best advised to avoid any cream cleanser as it will leave a thin layer on your face which can worsen your oily skin problems. Avoid using soaps that are not designed for your oily skin as they tend to leave your skin dry. You should also consider washing your skin no more than twice a day.

Clay Masks

Clay masks are great for oily skin as they do not only soak up all the dirt and grease but will also unclog pores. It is recommended that you use a clay mask at least once a week to minimize the appearance of pores.  Ensure that the mask does not dry completely to the point it starts to flake, this will draw all the moisture out of your skin causing dehydration and irritation. Then once a week use an exfoliated scrub to remove the dead skin cells as well as the oil and dirt that accumulate on your skin. The granules within the scrub are effective in clearing large pores when gently massage into your skin. Choose a product that containing Alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) which