The Truth about Hot water with lemon

Chances are you’ve heard about the benefits of hot water with lemon before.

Although some experts claim that it's not the miracle health drink you're hoping for, there are still many health benefits of starting your day with a cup of hot water and lemon.

Lemons contain something called a flavonoid compound, which helps to boost your immunity and can even protect you against cardiovascular disease and cancer, says registered dietitian, Sue Mah.

'Research shows that hot water can actually extract this beneficial flavonoid, which makes it easier for your body to absorb the lemon's flavonoid compound even better,' she explains.

The Right Way To Make Hot Water With Lemon

In order to get the full benefits of hot water with lemon, make sure you let the lemon soak in boiling water for at least half an hour, Mah recommends.

For this reason, try including hot water with lemon into your morning routine by making the drink as soon as you get out of bed. Once you’re ready, your lemon water should have been steeped long enough to for full benefits, plus it would have cooled down enough to drink comfortably.

If you've tried hot water with lemon before and it's really not your thing, try adding a slice of the tart yellow fruit to green tea. The lemon will help you absorb the antioxidants in green tea, according to research conducted by Sunkist.

Hot water with lemon is also an effortless way to add more vitamin C into your diet, since just two tablespoons of lemon juice contain 20 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement.

Plus, when it comes to colour psychology, lemons are a great way to add some positivity into your day. 'Yellow hues are associated with joy and playfulness and a sense of fun, so lemons really are just a great way to brighten your mood,' says registered dietitian and Best Health columnist, Abbey Sharp.

Source : MSN

A Recipe For You: Belly Bliss

 

Rub this blend into your belly to aid digestion when you’ve eaten a little too much rich holiday food. (I know my eyes get a little bigger than my stomach this time of year!)

 

• 15 drops Orange (Citrus sinensis)
• 6 drops Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
• 15 drops Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
• 2 oz (60 ml) unscented lotion

Kids are often more susceptible to colds than adults, and this is doubly true in winter—when cold season is in full swing.

 

Cedarwood essential oil is the perfect companion. It lends a steady, reassuring strength that helps kids weather colds well, and respiratory properties that assist the body in clearing out congestion.

 

This recipe is for a chest cream that’s soothing, fortifying, and helpful for both preventing and remedying a cold. It’s especially nice at bed time, when it can calm kids and open their breath so they drift off comfortably.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 oz (30 ml) unscented cream or jojoba oil (Simmondsia chinensis)
• 3 drops Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
• 2 drops Elemi (Canarium luzonicum)
• 1 drop Lemon (Citrus limon)

Directions:

Just blend your essential oils into your cream or jojoba, in a 1 oz (30 ml) jar.

 

I recommend using this blend (and any essential oil blend) only for kids over five years old. Rub it on their chest every few hours and before bed.

How To Get Sleep When You Have A Cold

A bedtime linen spray to help you sleep when you have a cold or the flu.
What are the main things the doctor tells you to do when you have a cold or the flu? Drink plenty of fluids, and get plenty of rest.
Drinking fluids is usually no problem, but getting plenty of rest can be easier said than done!
It’s not always easy to get to sleep when you have a cold . . . and lying awake all night restlessly can be so frustrating. I have a linen spray recipe that you can spray on your sheets, blankets, and pillowcases before you tuck yourself in, which can help your mind and body relax while easing respiratory troubles.

You can make this blend right in a 2 oz (60 ml) spray bottle. If you’re making this for a child, reduce the number of essential oil drops in half.

• 2 oz (60 ml) water (I like filtered or distilled water)
• 4 drops Cedarwood essential oil (Juniperus virginiana)
• 4 drops Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
• 4 drops Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carterii)
• 4 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil (Chamaemelum nobile)

Shake gently after you close your spray bottle, and then spray it all over your bedding (it’s best to spray under your pillowcases so you don’t have a wet pillow against your cheek).
The great thing about the essential oils in this recipe is that most of them have the dual effects of calming the nervous system and soothing congestion. When we combine them,
they all work in synergy to enhance one another’s strengths.

Cedarwood and Frankincense, for example, are famous essential oils for helping the mind calm down. And Lavender’s relaxing qualities have been well researched.
Roman Chamomile is one of the most calming oils I know.

This oil feels like a friend to me, and having it send me off to sleep is so comforting.
Together the four oils are super-soothing! And they are all welcomed friends to your respiratory system.
I hope this recipe helps you get to sleep when you have a cold! Enjoy!

© Black & Butje, Inc. 2014

Home Remedies for Pimples, Glowing Skin and Dryness

Every year we instigate new set of resolutions to follow diligently till the end. While many fail in their attempt, there are a selective few who do succeed. It's all about dedication after all, and the determination to meet the goal. These resolutions could be anything, which serve you the sense of achievement, bringing about your well-being. But as always, we forget to pay heed to beauty, and the importance of nurturing yourself.

So let this year be about starting your wellness journey. And if you are worried about the extent of effort you may have to put in, then you will be amazed with our quick beauty recipes. Yes, these beauty recipes take only about five minutes of your time, and uses natural ingredients which are readily available at our homes...

1. Pimples Due to Dryness

For those of you who sprout pimples in the middle of the cold season and have the driest of skins, stop thinking there's something wrong with you and blaming your luck. Pimples can happen even due to dryness of skin. So make this wonderful nourishing oil and massage two drops into wet skin for good results -

50 gm neem honey

50ml olive oil

50ml sesame seed oil

10 drops geranium oil

Method: Mix all the ingredients and massage two drops of it into wet skin.

2. Stabilising Mask for Premature Wrinkles and Acne in Sensitive Skin

If you feel that you are beginning to see those fine lines around the lips and eyes, stop them right away with this super stabilising natural pack that you can conjure up in minutes. This recipe is ideal for people who have extremely sensitive skin.

2 Tbsp gram flour

1 tsp fresh cream

2 tsp water

A pinch of salt

Method: Mix all the ingredients well together and apply on the skin for 10 minutes and wash off with tepid water.

3. Patchy Pigmentation Problem

This annoying discolouration of skin is basically an internal problem which can cause havoc with your appearance. Fret not, this wonderful exfoliator will help reduce dark patchy pigmentation, thus clarifying the skin. You can easily use it daily as part of your skin care routine -

3 tsp oatmeal

3 tsp almond powder

2 tsp honey

The juice of half a lemon

Milk to make a smooth paste

Method: Mix all the ingredients well together and apply on the skin for 5 minutes, dab with milk when semi dry and wash off with water.

About the author:

Source : NDTV Website- Suparna Trikha

Healing with Essential Oils

How to use essential oils to make your own aromatherapy remedies Essential oils are a lot more powerful than you might think! Healing with essential oils is a safe, effective way to take care of your family's health - without side effects or addictions. Not to mention serious savings over doctor's visits and prescriptions! Learning how to use essential oils to make your own aromatherapy remedies is fairly simple - all you need is some basic information on the uses for essential oils, what they do in the body, and how to use them safely.

All of which you'll find here! How Does Healing with Essential Oils Work? Essential oils boost your body's internal healing process. In essence, they position your body to heal itself. Here's how healing with essential oils works: when you inhale an essential oil, it's absorbed through the mucous membranes of your respiratory tract and lungs and transferred into your bloodstream. When you rub an essential oil into your skin, it's absorbed into your lymphatic system, which circulates into your bloodstream. In your bloodstream, the essential oil gets to work reducing inflammation, fixing imbalances, fighting infection and so on. That's how you get the healing effect!

6 Essential Oils

No Home Should Be Without These 6 essential oils can form the backbone of your natural medicine cabinet. Between them, they can take care of more than 300 common ailments. Plus, healing with essential oils goes farther than just easing your headache or helping you sleep - it also strengthens your immune system, improves your mood and levels your hormones while it works.

Lemon

• Airborne viruses
• Anxiety
• Blood Pressure
• Cold Sores
• Constipation
• Depression/Grief/Sadness
• Disinfect/Sanitize Greasy/Oily Hair
• Gout
• Hangover
• Heartburn
• Intestinal Parasites
• Oily Skin
• Pain Relief
• Postpartum Depression Stress
• Weight Loss

To disinfect surfaces, put a drop onto a damp cloth and wipe. To kill airborne viruses, reduce air pollution and get rid of odors, use in a diffuser.

For anxiety, depression, grief, sadness and stress, add 1 or 2 drops to a teaspoon of carrier oil and massage into the bottoms of your feet.

For constipation, stomach pain and period cramps,add to carrier oil as above and massage into abdomen. Can increase your risk of sunburn - do not use before sun exposure.

May irritate sensitive skin.

Lavender

• Allergies
• Blisters
• Boils
• Burns & Sunburn
• Chapped Lips
• Chicken Pox
• Dandruff
• Diaper Rash
• Gas
• Grief/Sadness
• Hair Loss
• Insomnia
• Itching
• Mosquito Bites
• Pain
• Poison Ivy/Oak
• Stress & Tension
• Wounds

For burns, blisters, boils, cuts, stings and any other skin problems, apply to affected area.
For insomnia, diffuse into the air or apply 1 or 2 drops to the bottom of the feet at bedtime.
For stress, tension & anxiety, try a warm lavender bath or lavender massage.
For pain relief, add a few drops to a teaspoon of carrier oil and massage into affected area. Rub into stomach for gas and stomach pain.
For allergies, blend 1 drop each lavender, lemon and peppermint into a little lotion or carrier oil and apply to chest and back of neck.

Peppermint

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Autism
• Bad Breath
• Chronic Fatigue
• Cold Sores
• Concentration
• Congestion
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Heatstroke
• Hot flashes
• Nausea/Indigestion
• Varicose Veins

For allergies, asthma or other breathing problems, put a drop of peppermint and a dab of oil or unscented lotion on the palm of your hand, then cup your hands around your nose and mouth and inhale deeply. Or put a few drops on a tissue and sniff from the tissue.
To bring down a fever or cool hot flashes, rub a drop into the bottom of the feet or the back of the neck with a little lotion or carrier oil.
For nausea and upset stomach, either inhale from your hand as above or apply to feet as above. For headache, rub into temples, forehead and back of neck. Use with caution if you have high blood pressure or during pregnancy. Safe for children when used in dilution.

Tea Tree

• Acne
• Allergies
• Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral
• Athlete's Foot
• Candida
• Cold Sores
• Colds & Flu
• Deodorant
• Ringworm
• Sore Throat & Strep Throat
• Thrush
• Tonsillitis
• Warts

For all skin problems such as acne, athlete's foot, cold sores or warts, apply to the affected area. For sore throat, strep throat and tonsillitis, gargle 1 or 2 drops in 4oz of water. Diffuse into the air to kill airborne viruses and bacteria. To disinfect surfaces, put a drop onto a damp cloth and wipe.

Oregano

• Antifungal
• Athlete's Foot
• Candida
• MRSA
• Muscle Aches
• Parasites
• Pneumonia
• Respiratory Infections
• Ringworm
• Warts
• Whooping Cough

Use in dilution for skin applications - it's hot! Start with a minimum of 1:3 oregano to carrier oil. For athlete's foot, ringworm or warts, dilute a drop in a teaspoon of carrier oil, lotion or cream and apply to affected area. For respiratory infections and pneumonia, diffuse into the air. Not for children under 6 years old. Use with caution and with greater dilution for children over 6.


Frankincense

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Aneurysm
• Arthritis
• Anxiety
• Brain (aging & injury)
• Cancer
• Carpal Tunnel
• Coughs
• Depression
• Fibroids
• Hepatitis
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson's Disease
• Scarring
• Skin Infections
• Ulcers
• Wrinkles

For an asthma attack, rub 1 drop of peppermint and 1 drop of frankincense in the palms of your hands with a dab of unscented lotion or coconut oil. Cup your hands over your mouth and nose and inhale 3 times. Pause and inhale again.
For skin, apply diluted in a cream, carrier oil or lotion.
For arthritis, massage gently into affected area or apply as a warm compress.
For carpal tunnel, apply 1 drop on wrist, elbow and shoulder.
For coughs and shallow breathing due to anxiety, diffuse or apply to bottoms of feet. Not for children under 6 years old. Use with extra dilution for children over 6.