Friday, August 17, 2007

Beauty tips

Body care

*
Mix six-teaspoon petroleum jelly, two-teaspoon glycerin and two-teaspoon lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week if you have dry and flaky, arms and legs
*
Peel and grate a cucumber. Squeeze the juice to this, mix half-a-teaspoon glycerin and half-a-teaspoon rose water. Apply this on sunburns, leave it for some time.
*
If you have cracked heels, melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your heels will become smooth.
*
Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and any of your favourite scented oils like lavender or rosemary.
*
For rough palms, use a mixture of glycerin and limejuice in equal proportion.
*
For cracked heals, massage the foot with coconut oil and keep the foot in warm water for some time. Wipe the water off the feet and apply a mixture of hibiscus flower(10), Henna (1 handful) and juice of half a lemon. when dry wash it off.
*
Remove scars on your hands and feet by rubbing them with lemon peel.

Eye care

*
Dip wads of cotton in a chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off. Apply a little baby oil.
*
For long eyelashes.., apply a thin coat of castor oil every night. It strengthens lashes and cools your eyes.
*
Massage a few drops of coconut oil around the eyes to get rid off dark circles.
*
To reduce puffiness of your eyes, grate a potato; tie in a cloth and place the cloth over your eyes for about 15 minutes.
*
Add a small pinch of salt in water and wash for bright and sparkling eyes.
*
Mix tomato juice and lemon juice in equal quantity and apply around the eyes. After 30 minutes wash it off with cold and hot water alternatively.
*
Make a paste of sandal wood and nutmeg. Apply the paste around the eyes before sleeping and wash it off in the morning.
*
Crush a cucumber and take the juice. Add a little rose water and apply around the eyes and wash it after 30 minutes.
*
Place cotton wool swabs dipped in cold milk on closed eyes for removing dark circles.

Lip Care

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You can mix one-tablespoon cranberry sauce juice with two tablespoons Vaseline for a delicious home made lip balm.
*
Apply the juice of lemon skin for avoiding black colour of lips
*
Massage your lips with coriander leaf juice for soft and rosy lips.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Nutrition for Your Eyes

"Eat your carrots, they're good for your eyes," my mother used to
tell me. As a child, I didn't realize how true this statement was.

We all know proper nutrition and diet are key elements in
maintaining a healthy body. But did you know that certain
nutrients can actually reduce your likelihood of becoming
blind through eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and
macular degeneration?

Research also indicates that low levels of certain nutrients in
your body can affect your everyday visual clarity, especially
your night vision.

For example, whether she knew it or not, there was a reason your
mother used to pile those carrots on your plate. Carrots contain
a carotenoid called beta-carotene. Your body converts
beta-carotene into vitamin A, which is an anti-oxidant.
Anti-oxidants such as vitamin A are essential to eye health.

*Carotenoids are pigments in plants that provide red and yellow
color.
*Beta-carotene is a carotenoid. It is contained in carrots and
other food sources. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin
A.
*Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant that is very important to the
health of the eyes.
*An antioxidant is any substance that prevents or impedes cell
oxidation (destruction) by free radicals.

Vitamin A:

*helps your eyes adjust to light changes
*moistens the eyes, which can enhance visual acuity
*has been shown to prevent the forming of cataracts
*has been shown to help prevent blindness from macular
degeneration-the leading cause of blindness in the world

There are actually 17 different nutrients that are essential
in ensuring your vision is operating at 100%.

How Computers Damage Your Vision

Dry and irritated eyes, difficulty focusing, headaches, backaches,
neck strain, and double vision are just a few of the symptoms
caused by computer use.

Collectively, these symptoms are known as "Computer Vision
Syndrome," which the American Optometric Association (AOA)
defines as being "related to near work - experienced during
computer use."

You might recognize that phrase "near work" from an earlier
lesson. Computer use causes near-point stress-reported by
the AOA as one of the leading causes of nearsightedness
and its progression.

How does the computer hurt your eyes?

Human eyes were not made to look at a computer screen. The screen
you are viewing right now is actually made up of thousands of
pixels. Pixels are, essentially, colored dots that make up the
image you see or the text you read. The more pixels on your screen
for a given image, the clearer the image will appear.

But your eyes cannot focus directly on each of these thousands of
pixels. Instead, you have to focus over and over to keep the
images sharp-which causes strain and tension in your eyes.

Computer screens have also been shown to reduce blink rates by
up to five times! This is why your eyes feel dry and irritated
after staring at the screen.

Think of blinking like breathing: you can't do without it. Reduced
blinking could be said to be the asthma of the eyes.

So, short of quitting your job, what can you do about Computer
Vision Syndrome?
=====================================
Essential Tip #1: Monitor Your Monitor
=====================================

Repositioning your monitor is an easy and effective way to avoid
awkward head or eye movements. It should be squarely in front of
you at a distance of 18 to 28 inches, with the top of the monitor
(not the screen) level with your eyes.

You may also have to adjust the angle of your monitor to allow
your eyes to remain in a natural position (straight ahead and
slightly down).

=============================
Essential Tip #2: Glare Care
=============================

Modifying your office lighting will eliminate glare and harsh
reflections. First, find the source of the glare: is it coming
from a window, task light, or the computer screen itself?

Adjust blinds or curtains to minimize sunlight. Turn down
overhead lights so that the brightness of the screen and the
surrounding room are balanced. Task lights should be positioned
to provide direct light for reading and other office work but
should not shine directly on the computer.

===================================================
Essential Tip #3: Take a Break-the "10-10-10" Rule
===================================================

It's easy to lose track of time at the computer. So you need to
learn how to take a break. Here's how:

Every time you are performing close vision work for over 10
consecutive minutes, look up and focus on anything that is
at least 10 feet away, for at least 10 seconds.

This simple rule helps to prevent the damaging effects of
near-point stress and could literally save your eyesight!

================================================
Essential Tip #4: Some Folks Have Special Needs
================================================

Seniors should take extra care arranging their work stations. The
AOA notes that workers over 50 years of age require twice the
light levels of younger adults for comfortable work.

By the same token, very often small children share the same
computer as their parents, a situation that can lead to injury,
as monitor distance and position have been set up to accommodate
the adults.

Vision Problems Are Not Genetic

There was a controlled study conducted on a group of Inuit
families in Barrow, Alaska, years ago by a very respected group
of eye doctors. It evaluated the relation between genetics and
the environment in bad vision.

It was an ideal setting in that parents and grandparents had
little or no formal education, while children regularly attended
public school.

The study results showed that the uneducated parents and
grandparents had little or no form of myopia (nearsightedness),
while nearly 58% of the children attending school were diagnosed
as myopic.

A genetic malfunction increase of 58% over one generation would
be impossible. The researchers came to the conclusion that the
stress put upon the eyes while performing continuous near-point
work in the classroom was causing myopia among the children.

--Young et al. 1969. American Journal of Optometry and Archives
of American Academy of Optometry

So what causes nearsightedness if it's not genetic? Science has
also answered this question.

It's a condition called near-point stress. Near-point stress is
what your eyes experience when you focus on anything close to
you: computers, books, television, etc.

Focusing up close is not natural to your eyes. Your eyes are
in a relaxed state when they are looking at a distance and
focusing up close puts a stress on them.

The American Optometric Association identifies "near-point stress"
as being one of the leading causes of nearsightedness and its
progression.

I find this amazing, considering many doctors will
still tell you that nearsightedness is solely a genetic
condition.

What Exactly Is 20/20 Vision?

Herman Snellen, a Dutch ophthalmologist, designed the first eye
chart, which measures visual acuity. Referred to as the Snellen
Chart, it was developed in 1862 and is still used today.

He set the baseline of measurement at 20 feet, the approximate
distance at which light rays entering the eye are parallel
and do not require our eyes to bend the rays to focus them
upon the retina.

Snellen set the standard of 20/20 vision to represent "normal
sight," or what a person with normal vision could see at a
distance of 20 feet.

This means that a person with 20/40 vision must be 20 feet away
to read what he or she should be able to read at 40 feet; a
person with 20/85 vision must be 20 feet away to read what he
or she should be able to read at 85 feet away, and so on.

This standard does not measure visual acuity at close distances.
Similar charts were devised with smaller letters to read at
close range for the measurement of near vision.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Little-Known Secrets To Improve Your Vision

=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Secret #1
Palming
=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Palming Can Help Farsightedness, Astigmatism, Eyestrain,
Nearsightedness, And Presbyopia (Old Age Sight)

One of the most important easy eye exercises to relax the eyes
is palming. Palming is one of the easiest, most effective
measures for relieving eyestrain. All you have to do is rub the
palms of your hands together briskly, until they are warm.
Now cover your closed eyes with the palms of your hands
in such a way to exclude all light from entering, while
avoiding pressure on the eyeballs. Most people are
able to relax their eyes in a few minutes, so when they open
their eyes, their vision is improved temporarily.

This allows the blood to flow through your eyes
and carry nutrients to the eyes. Continue breathing deeply and
palming for anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes or more,
whatever you feel is appropriate to relax your eyes.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Secret #2
Full Spectrum Lights
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

How To Make Reading Easier

Full spectrum lights are great for reading. By using full
spectrum light bulbs in your home, you may find it easier to
read. Full spectrum lights are very similar to the same light
that the sun emits. This type of light can be very beneficial
to humans. These can be purchased online, or at health and pet
stores.

The light should come from behind you, and not shine directly in
your eyes when you are reading.



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Secret #3
The Pop Out
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Stop Blurred Vision Dead In Its Tracks

A great trick to enable you to read easier is to look
just below the words, and the words will become clearer. All of
a sudden the words will pop out at you when you do this
correctly. This will stop you from straining. It'll make your
eyes relax while you're reading. Also, when you are reading,
do not strain to see the words. Instead of trying to read the words,
look at the background and the words will pop out at you.
They will be clearer and sharper. Look at the white of the page
and not the print itself.