Dandruff Home Remedies

Fun's fun and being flaky can give your character some definition or uniqueness, but dandruff's just not cool. I don't like it and it's just awkward to be dusting some snow on a first date's meal. Dandruff home remedies can be found everywhere, with dandruff care shampoos being sold up the wazoo.

I once heard someone call it scurf and that doesn't sound really appealing either. Actually, it's pretty normal to have some flakes - I mean, dandruff is basically dead skin and we've got a lot of dead skin coming off every day. Too much though, can be a problem.

Dandruff doesn't really cause any health concerns, though it could be the sign of something else, but nothing too nasty. It could cause some awkwardness on a first day though and it's definitely awkward if there's soup involved. "Ooh, are those flakes cracker bits?" Not a good question. It's also a sign of head lice, another connotation no one really wants.

There are a lot of causes for dandruff, ranging from just the wrong shampoo or even to dandruff care treatments, but people are more concerned with how to treat it - which is why dandruff home remedies are so common.

Lime's a good and naturals solution to your own personal Christmas generator. I like to use a teaspoon of the stuff when I rinse it off. It usually turns out great - it doubles as both dandruff care and leaves my hair looking fabulous. Aloe vera is another natural way of treating your snow woes - rub some on to your scalp. Not your hair, but straight to your scalp. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes then use a really mild shampoo. Olive oil can also beat dandruff into submission.

Warm coconut oil and castor oil also works wonders - twice a week is fine, everyday might be too much. Also smells great - well, the coconut oil, not the castor oil, though if that's your thing there's really nothing wrong with that. Even vegetables have gotten into the act. Boiling them, tops and roots, and massaging the water that you boiled them in into your hair. If you're going to use this method, be sure to use white beets. I've read and found that they work best.

Lathering your hair twice is another way of cleaning out the scalp. It's thorough and can clean out the oil and dead skin. Treat the second lather as a conditioner - leave it on. Five minutes is best as it'll give the shampoo time to get its groove on.

Using more than one method isn't exactly suggested - overdoing the job might lead to more skin trouble than you're really willing to deal with. Also consider if it's a consistent condition or just one of those days - a random bad hair day probably isn't worth all the effort.

Don't over complicate it - if switching shampoos does the trick, then just switch shampoos. It's just cheap that way. Dandruff home remedies work if they're the right one for you. If a dandruff care method doesn't work for you - try it another one. With so many options around, one's bound to work for you.

Also Read Neem the Best Ayurvedic Treatment for Dandruff


Jayna Davis 

Mustard for Health - Speed Up Your Metabolism and Improve Digestion

Mustard is known to be very helpful for digestion, and can help to speed up your metabolism.

Mustard produces such a tiny seed yet it yields many health benefits. Mustard is one of the most popular spices in the entire world and is used in every country as a favorite spice. Part of the cabbage family, mustard can be used in its whole seed form, as a ground powder or combined with wine, vinegar or some other liquid to create a loose paste.

There are three varieties of mustard: black, brown and white. The mustard plant grows to be quite tall and has a bright yellow flower.

It was imported to US through Spanish missionaries and seen as a cure-all. Its sharp and bitter taste, especially mixes into paste with vinegars, gave off a medicinal fume long before its health benefits were discovered.

Better than a Vitamin

Mustard seeds are a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as calcium, dietary fiber, iron, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, protein, selenium and zinc. Selenium is a nutrient that has been shown to help reduce asthma, arthritis and certain cancers. Magnesium also reduces asthma and lowers blood pressure. The effects of mustard are currently being studied for menopausal women and on migraine attacks.

Other Healthy Benefits

Just a few of mustard's possible healthy benefits include:

Speeds up metabolism

Stimulates digestion, increasing saliva as much as eight times more than normal

Inhibits cancer cell growth and possibly prevents other types of cancer as well

Treatment of skin diseases through the application of sulfur found in mustard

Reduces in the severity of asthma

Decreases symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Lowering of high blood pressure

Prevention of migraines

Facilitation of gastric juices which aids digestive problems and gives digestive aid

Soothing of sore throats, bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia

Disinfectant qualities it provides

Additionally it has four powerful qualities: it is antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and has anti-inflammatory properties.

How to Add Mustard to Your Diet

Mustard is for more than just hot dogs at the ballpark. Whether in ground powder form, seed form or out of the bottle, there are multiple ways to include mustard into your diet to reap its benefits. And since its pungent, tangy taste enhances food so uniquely, it can easily replace fattier condiment options such as mayonnaise, butters and sugary catsups.

Mustard is often used in Indian, French, German and Irish foods. But there are many more options as well.

Include powdered mustards in salad dressings, egg dishes, pickles, marinades and vinaigrettes.

Sprinkle whole mustard seeds on salads, over vegetables and rice and on roasting meats. Try roasting them first in a dry skillet for a nuttier taste.

Mustard paste is useful. Bottled mustard can be rubbed on meats before roasting. Try dipping cut vegetables in a mustard sauce for a unique, flavorful dip. Mustard paste can easily be added to mayonnaises, vinaigrettes, marinades and barbeque sauces.

Mustard is so versatile; you will find many exciting and new ways to use this old standby.

Also Read Mustard can Kill Sperms


By Diana Walker 

Dry Fruits & Dried Fruits - What's the Difference?

Hardly anybody knows that there is a vast difference between dry fruits and dried fruits. Generally when we say dry fruits we consider the dried one also but it is not so. There is a thin line of difference between the two.

Difference between dry fruits & dried fruits:

Dry fruits are basically natural and are of hard texture. Dry fruits are again divided into dehiscent - that whose seeds are contained in a seapod and indehiscent- those which are not in seedpod e.G cashewnuts, almonds, walnut, pista etc.

Dried fruits on the other hand are natural fleshy fruits which are dried either naturally or through machines such as food dehydrator e.G raisins, figs, cherries, apricots etc.

Benefits of Dry Fruits

both the dry fruits and dried fruits are essential for good health. They help in improving mental and physical development of human body. They contain high nutritional and nourishing qualities. It also helps in:

- creation of new blood cells
- strengthening the muscles
- enhancing freshness on face
- preventing anemia
- reproduction and the metabolism of fat and carbohydrates
- recommended in case of chronic constipation problems
- cases of debility and wasting diseases
- reducing young age problems of pimple, acne, dry skin and above all delays wrinkles

Examples of dry fruits and dried fruits:

Dry fruits:

cashew nuts: 

the botanical name for cashew is 'anacardium occidentale' and is also known as the the 'nature vitamin pill'. It contains relatively high fat content which counts to 12 grams per ounce and 2 grams saturated fat. This fat content is considered good in medical terms. Its fat ratio is available in 1:2:1 for saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. Besides, it also has phytosterols, tocopherols, and sqaulene which are considered good for health and lowering the risk of heart diseases. Cashew nuts have zero percent cholesterol content. It contians 82.5 milligrams of magnessium and antioxidants high in cropper contents which helps in developing bone and connective tissue.

Almonds: 

the botanical name for almonds is prunus dulcis. Almonds are not truly nuts but drupe grown in deciduous trees. Almonds are of two kinds sweet and bitter. Almond which come out of white flowers are sweet and the ones out in pink flower are bitter. It is a rich source of vitamin e, calcium, phosphorous, iron and magnesium. It contains 26% of carbohydrates, and 24 mg of vitamin e, rich in monounsaturated fat which is considered 'good' fat. It helps in improving memory and gives strength and improves eyesight.

Pista: 

the botanical name of pista is pistacia vera. It is known as pistachio and is said to be a great source of vitamins. Pista contains phytosterols which compete with the cholesterol in the intestinal lumen and helps in reducing the cholesterol levels and keeping heart healthy. It is said to be an excellent source of copper, manganese and vitamin b6, as well as a good source of a variety of other b vitamins. It contains fiber and hence beneficial for gastrointestinal health. It is wise to take unsalted pista than the salted one as salted tends to shoot the blood pressure level.

Dried fruits:

raisins: does any one know what actually raisins are? Well, raisins are the dried grapes. Eat as you want, raw or cooked, just garnish the way you like them. Raisins come from a french word 'rasin' which means 'grapes'. The sugar percentage in raisins ranges from 67% to 72%. It helps in cleaning the blood and helps in the free flow of the blood. Raisins also help to get rid of uncleaned blood. It also acts as an antioxidants making you healthier. The minerals present in raisins mixes with estrogen and thus make the bone stronger.

Figs: the botanical name for figs are ficus carica. Figs can be eaten both fresh and dry. These plants have the highest source of calcium and fiber. The dry figs are rich in fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamin k. It is really good for those suffering from constipation as it has a laxative effect and contain antioxidants.

Dates: 

date palm commonly known as the phoenix dactylifera. These are sweet edible fruits. It is one of the most beneficial food product both in terms of a medicine and tonic. It can be easily digested and hence it useful for supplying energy and repairing waste. The presence of nicotinic content helps in intestinal disturbances. It is also an excellent remedy for intoxicating alcoholism.

I hope this small description on dry fruits and dried fruits has given you the basic idea about the difference. Whatever be the difference whether it is dates, figs or cashew nuts, it is beneficial for health and thus is important.

Read - Best Dry Fruits to Increase Sperm Count Fertility

By Naresh R