Dark circles: Home remedies

Try these simple natural home remedies to get rid of that oh-so-exhausted look on your face

Dark circles are a common problem not only amongst hassled housewives but also anyone with hectic work schedules and erratic sleep hours. They are not a very grave problem but can make you look much older than you already are. And in today's age where the market is being flooded with anti-ageing, skin lightening creams, it is a considered almost a fashion crime to sport dark circles. Here are some natural home remedies to help to get rid of those ghastly-looking dark circles:

- Grate some raw potato and soak a cotton ball in the potato juice. Close your eyes and place these cotton balls on your eyes. Make sure they cover the dark circles under your eyes as well as the eyelids. Leave it on for 10 minutes and wash off with cold water.

- Applying a mixture of a teaspoon of tomato and lime juice, twice a day will help in reducing the dark circles.

- Drink a glass of tomato juice with some mint leaves, lemon juice and salt. Drinking this twice a day is another remedy.

- Prepare a paste of four to five almonds with some milk. Apply this paste over the affected area and leave for 10 to 15 minutes. This will lighten the skin around the eyes.

- A mixture of a few teaspoons of fresh pineapple juice along with a pinch of turmeric powder, when applied on the dark circles regularly will help clear them.

- Every night before sleeping, apply creams containing vitamin E and C around the eyes.

- Crush some mint leaves and apply them around the eyes. Doing this will also provide a cooling effect on tired eyes. 

Breastfeeding boosts IQ in babies: Study

WASHINGTON: Children who are breastfed score higher on IQ tests and perform better in school, scientists say.

A new study by sociologists at Brigham Young University pinpoints two parenting skills as the real source of this cognitive boost: Responding to children's emotional cues and reading to children starting at 9 months of age.

Breastfeeding mothers tend to do both of those things, said lead study author Ben Gibbs.

"It's really the parenting that makes the difference," said Gibbs.

"Breastfeeding matters in others ways, but this actually gives us a better mechanism and can shape our confidence about interventions that promote school readiness," said Gibbs.

According to the analysis, improvements in sensitivity to emotional cues and time reading to children could yield 2-3 months' worth of brain development by age 4 (as measured by math and reading readiness assessments).

"Because these are four-year-olds, a month or two represents a non-trivial chunk of time," Gibbs said.

"And if a child is on the edge of needing special education, even a small boost across some eligibility line could shape a child's educational trajectory," said Gibbs.

Researchers utilised a national data set that followed 7,500 mothers and their children from birth to five years of age.

The data set is rich with information on the home environment, including how early and how often parents read to their kids.

Additionally, each of the mothers in the study also participated in video-taped activities with their children.

As the child tried to complete a challenging task, the mother's supportiveness and sensitivity to their child's emotional cues were measured.

Sandra Jacobson of Wayne State University School of Medicine noted that children in the study who were breastfed for 6 months or longer performed the best on reading assessments because they also "experienced the most optimal parenting practices.

"Gibbs and Forste found that reading to an infant every day as early as age 9 months and sensitivity to the child's cues during social interactions, rather than breastfeeding per se, were significant predictors of reading readiness at age 4 years," said Jacobson.

Tea: 10 Surprising Health Benefits

Tea is well-known for the broad spectrum of medicinal benefits it provides to its daily drinkers. However, this hot cup of delicacy can become a part of your first aid kit owing to its many other benefits. In unusual places and circumstances, tea leaves can be your solution to a number of beauty and health problems. So, take a look at a few unconventional benefits of tea leaves that will definitely surprise you!

Widen your sleepy eyes
Tea leaves can be a perfect solution for your tired and puffy eyes. Just take two tea bags and soak them in some warm water. Place them over your closed eyes for 15 minutes. Tea leaves have a natural astringent known as tannins, which can help to reduce puffiness in your eyes. Tea bags also help you to get rid of dark circles under your eyes.

Takes care of sunburns
Did you forget to apply your sunscreen or cover your face when you stepped out in the harsh sun? Well, tea leaves can provide relief to your sunburned skin. Just put some tea leaves in your bath water and just let your body soak in its goodness. This bath will relieve your itchy and inflamed skin.

Key to healthy relationship: steamy cup of tea, not sex!

Women believe that the secret to a healthy relationship is receiving a hot cup of tea or coffee made by their partners, rather than engaging in hot sex, a new research has found. Report author Dr Jacqui Gabb said that actions speak louder than words and many people consider a loving gesture to be as valuable as hearing 'I love you'.

Shed those excess kilos
Green tea drinkers lose weight faster than those who don’t. Catechins in green tea significantly decrease your body fat. Studies have also revealed that green tea helps to stabilise body weight after a period of weight loss. Not only this, green tea also boosts your metabolism and cures digestion problems.

bAcne treatment
Based on its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; green tea is a powerful solution for your acne. Simply rub moist green tea leaves on your face before going to bed and this will take care of your acne. Even drinking green tea every morning, is known to provide your face a beautiful and natural glow.

Skin protector
Green tea is known for its skin-tightening and anti-ageing properties. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds present in green tea make it a perfect skin protector. Just add water and white sugar to some green tea to prepare a scrub. This mix will help to moisturise your skin, improve the hydration levels and exfoliate your facial skin to a smooth silky finish.

Tea goodness for hair
Tea makes a good conditioner for your dry hair as it gives them a natural shine. Just take some freshly brewed tea (unsweetened) and rub it on your hair and allow it to dry before rinsing it off. Tea also works as a natural dye that can take care of your grey hair. Add some rosemary and sage (medicinal herb) in some black tea and let the mixture stay overnight. After that strain it and use it on your hair. 

Deodorant for your smelly feet
Water extracted from green tea leaves is a powerful deodorant. It becomes a great way to get rid of odour from your smelly feet. Just soak your feet in some strongly brewed tea for at least 20 minutes. Tea will close those pores in your feet that emit sweat.

Tea can Speed Up Your Metabolism

Not all teas are created equal - besides the distinct flavors, the levels of caffeine and antioxidants vary. Keep watching to see which teas pack in the most nutritional punch and which will keep you up the longest! 

Controls gum bleeding
Press some moistened tea bags on your bleeding gums and apply pressure for about 20 minutes. This will bring the bleeding and pain under control. The reason why tea bags are used is because of their anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Tea leaves are known to be a refreshing mouthwash as well.  

De-stress with tea leaves
Tea leaves are known to be therapeutic for your mind. They help to relieve you of your stress. To get best calming benefits of tea leaves, you can put them inside your pillow. Take some sun dried tea leaves then take them and put them inside your pillow and sew it off. The relaxing fragrance of tea leaves will help you not only to relax but also get rid of your body odour.

For the newlyweds
Well, here is a chance for all newly weds to add some charm in their marriage, along with impressing your belove. Green tea contains caffeine, ginseng and L-thiamine which are known to have positive effect on sexual drive, especially of women. So, if you feel like bringing your partner in mood for some lovemaking, just pour some tea for them.

Perk Up Your Afternoon With a Glass of Thai Iced Tea

Whether you need an afternoon pick-me-up or are looking for a beverage to pair with pad thai and other Southeast Asian dishes, the answer is simple: a frosty glass of Thai iced tea. Sweet and aromatic - Thai tea blends black tea leaves with warm spices like vanilla bean - it's nearly impossible not to love. Watch the video to see how chef Jet Tila makes this comforting beverage, and then print out the recipe.

10 guilts every woman lives with

According to a recent study, 96 per cent women feel guilty at least once a day, having a destructive effect on their health.

Here are 10 ways to deal with this, that could leave you happy and guilt-free.

Are you sick of reading about how an amazing broccoli-only diet will make you happier, how spending more time with your children will boost their self-esteem, or how decluttering your home could transform your sex life? You're not the only one. According to a recent study, 96 per cent of women feel guilty at least once a day. This can have a destructive effect on our health, even factoring in the onset of depression. Here's how you can beat the 10 most common causes of guilt.

Not spending enough time with your children
A startling majority of working moms feel like they haven't struck the right balance between their work and children. If you're at work worrying about the children, work isn't getting the best out of you and the kids aren't getting anything. You should give your full dedication depending on where you are, whether at work or with the kids. That way everyone, including yourself, benefits.

Not losing extra weight
More than 70 per cent women report being on a diet at any one given time, regardless of whether they are actually overweight or not. If you want to look gorgeous and slim, choose to change your situation and make time to go to the gym or a slimming group. Recognise it is your choice and no one else is to blame.

Spending money on yourself
Going on a shopping spree may be fun, but the after effects can send some into a spiral of self-loathing and guilt. However, if you rationalise your reasons for spending money on a spa break because you need the downtime, or a new business suit because it will help you in your work, then you have no reason to feel guilty.

Your partner is unhappy
If you do feel guilty that you're not doing enough to make your partner happy, then it is suggested that you both sit down and look at your timetables and agree on how you can make more time for each other. Discuss it and come up with a change in your behaviours that will make you both happier as a couple.

Always being late
Sometimes, situations arise which will make us late, no matter how well prepared we are, prompting feelings of guilt and panic. Sitting on a train and getting aggravated about what you could be doing if you were there already is a waste of energy. Ask yourself how you can use the moment? You could write out a full shopping list, rehearse what you want to say in the meeting or call your mother. Sitting there winding yourself up hurts only yourself and no one else.

Not being able to play the perfect hostess
Many women say they would like to put on the perfect dinner party or a drinks bash but they often set themselves high standards that they then fail to meet. The desire for social excellence derives from our need to be perfect all the time. Go on, host your party and be a bad party hostess.The moment you accept you can do it, but do it badly, it takes the pressure off. We give ourselves a lot of 'I should be the perfect dinner party host'. Everyone has a different perception of everything so you can try to host a dinner party but you have to do it your way.

Forgetting birthdays
It's not deliberate. Some of us are running about for 18 hours a day and have a million things to do. If you do feel guilty then simply tell yourself you know you're doing your best, apologise and make clear that it wasn't something done deliberately. If the person chooses to take umbrage, then that's up to them.

Taking out some me-time
Living up to the 'superwoman' image that many women wish to maintain, can lead to terrible feelings of guilt over giving themselves time off to get their hair done or read a book. But doing nothing is very important in allowing us to physically and mentally recharge. But it is very difficult for other people to see you doing nothing and allow yourself to do it. Tell people the truth. That you need a break because you are at your limit - then accept that the world is not going to fall apart without you.

Letting your parents down
Women can inherit guilty feelings through the generations of not doing enough for their elders and in some way failing their parents. Learn to accept that your parents will love and judge you no matter what. Obviously do try and be sensitive but if you go your own way and you are successful and happy, then if they are decent human beings, they'll be happy for you in any way.

Saying 'No'
Saying 'no' is hard because we don't want to be seen as the baddie and because women are taught from a young age to put others first. The first thing to do is to give yourself time to think about each request and it is suggested that you say something noncommittal like, 'That sounds interesting, give me half an hour and I'll get back to you on it'.
If you really don't want to do what they ask, then give the person other options to help solve their problem.

Wonders of honey

Honey has been used for its numerous benefits since four thousand years. It's believed to have been used in pre-ancient Egyptian times, to treat wounds. Here are some other benefits of this wonder food...

-Experts say that honey is helpful in preventing acid reflux.

-It has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties that act as a great moisturiser, making the skin elastic and supple. It keeps wrinkles, blemishes and dryness at bay.

-Apply it on your face overnight or use a moisturiser that has honey extracts.

-Give your immune system a boost by regularly having honey mixed in warm water. -Honey is packed with vitamins, minerals and enzymes that are known to protect your body from bacteria.

-Want to lose weight? Drinking warm water with a dash of lemon and honey when you wake up, is an ideal way to detox. Doing this daily will help cleanse your liver, and remove toxins and fat from the body. You can also have this every night before going to bed.

-Honey also contains antiseptic properties that help treat indigestion by relieving the acidity in the stomach. It also neutralises gas.

-Honey has natural sugars that provide you with a healthy source of calories and energy. So, the next time you're feeling tired or low on energy, have a tablespoon of organic honey instead of caffeine.

-Certain studies also say that honey, when mixed with cinnamon, revitalises the arteries and veins of the heart and reduces cholesterol in the blood by up to 10%.