Monthly Tips April 2011
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Teeth Whitening, Inexpensively
Several tips in this segment come from the Doctor Oz show. I like that Dr. Oz asks his viewers to share his tips. In addition all these tips for teeth whitening will not cost you any extra money, as the items used are things like fruit and vegetables that are good for you, in any case.
Teeth Whitening
Give up the whitening strips for a crunchy midday snack. Celery contains fibrous cellulose which scrubs away teeth stains as you chew it.
Strawberries are powerful teeth whiteners that contain both an astringent and vitamin C. The astringent in strawberries effectively aids in the removal of surface stains, while vitamin C whitens teeth by clearing away plaque.
A crunchy apple acts like a toothbrush as you chew it. The process of chewing an apple removes excess food and bacteria from your mouth while scrubbing away surface stains. Apples also contain malic acid, a chemical used in teeth whitening products, which helps dissolve stains.
Raisins help to keep your teeth white by inducing saliva production. An increased level of salvia naturally helps to rinse away plaque.
Baking Soda and Lemon, Dr. Oz suggests another remedy as well. In a small bowl, mix a little bit of baking soda with the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. The mixture should bubble slightly.
Using a cotton swab, wipe saliva and excess plaque from your teeth before brushing on the mixture. Leave the mixture on your teeth for a minute before gently brushing it off with a toothbrush. Don’t leave the mixture on your teeth for any longer than a minute; the acid can erode tooth enamel.
Other Foods that will Nourish Nails, Skin and Hair
Strong Nails-Walnuts
Brittle nails that are soft, thin and easily torn are a problem for many women. The solution is biotin, a B vitamin that helps strengthen nails. Before opting for a biotin supplement, try snacking on walnuts. As well as being an excellent source of biotin, walnuts are rich in other beauty enhancers, like wrinkle-reducing omega 3s.
Healthy Hair-Beans
Any well-balanced diet should contain a substantial amount of protein, but this is particularly true for those looking to improve the state of their hair. Try eating protein-rich beans for stronger, healthier hair that won’t break. Beans and peas, chickpeas are an excellent source of protein.
Flawless Skin: Squash, Liver and Salmon
The key to flawless skin is what you put into your body, not what you smear on it. The antioxidants responsible for glowing, youthful skin, called carotenoids, can be found in squash and other colorful fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids fight free radicals and help to protect skin against damage and disease, while vitamin A rich foods, like peppers, and liver will help prevent dry skin.
For the best defense against wrinkles do include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Found in great quantities in food like salmon, omega-3s reduce inflammation in the body as well as reinforce cell membranes, improving their ability to retain water, yielding softer, smoother skin.
More on Taking care of the Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body, so what you eat can definitely affect your appearance. Think of your refrigerator as a cosmetics counter, says a leading dermatologist. Whereas makeup is used to hide and perfect flaws, the right foods can help eliminate them altogether. Skin concerns like sun protection, wrinkles, blemishes, dryness and irritation can all be responsive to sensible food choices.
Natural Sun Screen-Lycopene
Sun Protection is so important. The harmful effects of the sun show up not only as wrinkles and blotchy skin discoloration but potentially precancerous changes and skin cancer as well.
Lycopene is an antioxidant found in brightly colored orange and red produce. These foods include, tomatoes, red and orange peppers, carrots, squash, beets and berries, amongst many others. Lycopene is a member of the antioxidant family known as carotenoids, which firm the skin by helping build collagen. It acts as a natural sunscreen to help protect your skin from free radical damage.
Once the ultraviolet rays of the sun penetrate the skin, a chemical reaction occurs. Oxygen molecules that reside within the tissue are naturally bonded together in pairs. As a result of the reaction, they are broken apart, becoming free oxygen species (also known as free radicals). They work to destroy vulnerable cellular DNA and trigger skin-aging changes.
Consuming lycopene-rich foods protects DNA from these reactive free oxygen species. Remember that eating lycopene-rich foods helps maximize sun protection, but should never be a substitute for your favorite broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen with SPF 30.Lycopene rich food sources include, pink grapefruit which is extremely rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Just half a grapefruit a week, which contains 17 mg of lycopene, is all you need for added sun protection.
Olive Oil
Most of you know that Olive oil is excellent for cooking as it is heart healthy. But it is an excellent moisturize as well. Apply it to your hair, leave it for a couple of hours and wash. Your hair will be shiny and healthy looking.
Ladies apply olive oil to your skin before shaving your legs. It makes an excellent lubricant. It is also recommended as a cleanser to remove make-up. But if you have an oily skin then do not use olive oil.
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