How to Brighten Your Tired and Dull Skin

Today we live in a very fast moving environment. People work hard to keep up with the fast pace of everything around them, therefore, they get a very little time to look after themselves. This neglect can reflect badly specially on your skin. Skin care is very important and it requires time. As you get older, there are so many different causes that can damage your skin. It’s best to take good care of your skin when you are young; as it will help you look good even in old age. Our face is the first thing that people notice so having a dull skin can make us a little self-conscious and shy.

Causes of tired and dull skin
There are many reasons that make the skin look dull and tired. Following are the major causes that can be very harmful to your skin.

Pollution
Pollution, one of the main drawbacks of technological advancement, is extremely harmful to our skin. There are so many vehicles and factories that pollute the air in different ways, which is never good news for our skin. It’s best to keep your skin well protected and make sure you do regular skin cleansing.

Aging
Aging is another cause of skin dullness. As we age, our skin is affected in many ways. We cannot get rid of aging, but its affects on skin can be controlled if it is properly protected.

Routine
Our routine also affects how our skin looks, for example, sleep deprived people tend to have a dull skin as compared to those who make sure they sleep at least 8 hours at night. Taking a lot of stress also leads to skin damage; stress also causes wrinkles and dark circles. So, its best that we get proper rest during 24 hours, try not to get tense about every little thing and keep the body relaxed by spending some time in recreation.

Makeup
Makeup is another cause of damaged skin. People who use a lot of makeup rarely have a bright and glowing skin; they often are forgetful or careless about taking their makeup off properly, which can easily damage the skin.

Cleanliness
Keeping the skin dirty can lead to skin dullness as well. There is always dirt outside, so it’s best to wash your face twice or thrice a day to keep the dirt off your skin.

Exposure to sunlight
Sunlight has many harmful radiations that can adversely affect your skin. Due to ozone depletion, some of the radiations from the sun are now entering the atmosphere, which are not very skin friendly. So, it’s best to keep the skin protected from exposure to sunlight, always wear a sun block when you go out.

Top ways to brighten your dull skin
Fortunately, all the adverse reactions of different things on your skin can be handled by following some very simple rules.

Water intake
Water has many plus points and helps us in so many different ways. There are certain elements of water that keep your body healthy, including your skin. When your body is dehydrated from hot weather or heavy exercise, your skin starts to look very dull; you can counter this issue by increasing your daily intake of water. People who take excessive coffee or sugar must drink a lot of water as well, because every cup of coffee you take results in water consumption in your body. In order to keep yourself and your skin dehydrated, it is highly recommended that you drink at least eight glasses of water a day, but in hotter areas it is suggested that people increase their water intake even more.

Prevent sun exposure
Sun exposure is one of the main causes of skin dullness. People find sunlight to be very pleasant at times and they think getting a tan would make them look good but, they don’t realize that high exposure to sunlight can be extremely harmful to their skin in the long run. Sunlight has different rays that damage our skin in various ways. It accelerates the process of aging. In the long run, the UV rays from sunlight damage the fibers in your skin which makes it look dull and tired. You cannot stay away from sunlight so; it is highly recommended that you make good use of sunscreen. Sunscreen protects you from negative effects of sunlight and also allows you to get vitamin D which is good for your body.

Healthy diet
Healthy diet can prove to be very helpful in having a glowing skin, it actually can make a huge difference. Fruits and vegetables have always been very useful in skincare, they make your blood thin which keeps the skin fresh and glowing at all times. Vitamin C is best for a healthy skin, so it is recommended that you increase the supply of vitamin C in our body. Here is the list of foods that can help in keeping the skin fresh 1. Tomatoes 2. Green tea 3. Berries 4. Sea food 5. Brown rice 6. Oranges 7. Broccoli 8. Lemonade

Proper sleep
Lack of sleep can dramatically change the way your skin looks; it literally takes away your glow. Your body needs to rest properly to perform 100% and similarly your skin needs the body to rest in order to look good. The recommended sleep hours should be at least 8, without any disturbance and at night. This keeps you away from many skin problems including dark circles. Dark circles are very hard to get rid of, so it’s best that you make sure of getting proper sleep.

Use of night cream
Washing your face at night is highly recommended as it cleans all the dirt off the face. Face wash can make the skin extremely dry; therefore, using a night cream, before going to bed, makes the skin soft and fresh by keeping it moisturized. Dry skin is one of the main causes of wrinkles too, so a night cream is a must. Having a younger looking skin is what everybody wants. These steps are the key to having a glowing and fresh skin and they also decelerate the aging process and make you feel good about yourself.

5 Things Never To Say To A Menopausal Woman

Hormones are wondrous things. They control our sexual desires, our body temperature, our moods. And when a woman is in menopause, they control pretty everything else too, right down to the chin hairs that sprout on her face seemingly overnight. Women in menopause can be testier, easier to bring to tears or anger and more forgetful than ever before in their lives. Here are five things that you should probably never say to them:

1. "What does a hot flash feel like?"
Since the mere mention of a hot flash frequently serves as a trigger for one to occur, we suggest you refrain from asking this question. But for those who insist on knowing, the expression "sweating like a pig" probably best describes it -- although we know of no research to suggest that pigs actually sweat as much as a menopausal woman does. A hot flash is a sudden surge in skin temperature that causes rivers of perspiration to gush down your forehead, breasts and back. Clothing sticks to the body and effort must be made to refrain from disrobing completely in public or demanding that the butcher allow you to stand in his meat freezer with the other carcasses who are dead or wish they were dead. A hot flash can and is most likely to strike at the most inopportune moments, including but not limited to: when your mate feels romantic and thinks touching you might be fun; when your 30-something boss stops by your desk for a friendly chat; in the middle of the night, just after you showered and changed the sheets from the previous hot flash, which occurred 30 minutes earlier.

2. "Isn't there something you can take for that?"
Really? You think? Damn, why didn't I think of that! Suggesting to a menopausal woman that she simply hasn't fully explored every possible hot flash remedy is an invitation for mayhem to be inflicted on your head. Almost 75 percent of American women suffer from hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, according to MenopauseChitChat.com. Every possible remedy has been discussed and tried in order of escalating seriousness.

Hormone replacement therapy, of course, remains the big gun when it comes to shooting down hot flashes, and trust us, nobody turns to hormones lightly. Aside from the fact that whenever you do decide to go off them, your symptoms will return, hormone replacement therapy has been marred with controversy. The NIH cautions that "[hormone replacement therapy] can increase your risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke." We'd add that millions of women take them because they work. Within weeks, sometimes just days, night sweats and hot flashes all but evaporate.

3. "You aren't old enough to be in menopause."
If this is meant to be a compliment, it is one rooted in ignorance. While the average age of the onset of menopause is 51, it can start much sooner than that for some women. Certain medical treatments push women in to early menopause as well. And while perhaps what you were trying to say is "You don't look like you are 51, which I know to be the average age of menopause," that just isn't going to be what is heard. Try instead, "You look really nice in blue (or whatever color she is wearing at the moment)."

4. "Can you turn down the air conditioning?"
No, she cannot, will not, shall not. It is akin to asking her to self-mutilate. You, on the other hand, may add another sweater, scarf and gloves to your summer office outfit. A menopausal woman only has so many layers she can take off without pushing the office dress code to the limit.

5. "Did you remember to...?"
Take this one to the bank: No, she did not remember it -- whatever it was. Days of the week, names, why she walked into the kitchen -- none of it. Weekends always have a distinctive feel to them. But Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays do not. Do not expect a menopausal woman to remember any meeting that is scheduled for mid-week; it just won't happen. Asked to wear a name tag at a meeting? It was probably the idea of a menopausal woman. In fact, if you wanted to be really helpful, you would wear a name tag pretty much every time you walked up to her -- that or accept being addressed as "Hon" all the time.

Documentation of memory loss as a symptoms of menopause is fairly new. A study published in the journal Menopause said that women who had the most -- and the most intense -- hot flashes also experienced the most severe memory issues.

Article Source - www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/23/menopausal-women-what-not-to-say_n_3599584.html

Things That Can Ruin Your Smile

When it comes to maintaining good dental health, we’ve all been told many do’s and don’t’s. These include being cautioned about drinking coffee and soft drinks and being encouraged to brush after every meal. However, there are many unexpected culprits that can also contribute to ruining the health of your teeth.

Sports Drinks

Sports drinks may be a refreshing way to rehydrate, but they can cause serious problems for the health of your teeth. Tooth erosion can be caused by the high concentration of acidic components in these drinks. They are often high in sugars as well. Acid-producing bacteria feed on these sugars and builds up in the cracks of your teeth causing tooth decay and cavities.

Bottled Water

First sports drinks and now water? Well, if you decided to stay away from sports drinks and stick to water instead, you haven’t cleared the air yet. Tap water contains fluoride which helps strengthen the enamel of your teeth – preventing decay. However, most bottled waters contain significantly less fluoride considered necessary for good oral health. A healthy alternative is to buy a reusable water bottle and refill it from the tap.

Birth Control Pills

Pregnancy can cause many changes in the body and the gums are no exception. Surges in estrogen and progesterone can cause inflammation of the gums. This may lead to gingivitis and infection. Because oral contraceptives mimic pregnancy, they can also cause the same damaging results. If that isn’t bad enough, women who use birth control may also have more trouble healing after having a tooth pulled and are more likely to develop painful dry sockets.

Dry Mouth

Aside from being irritating, dry mouth is also very bad for your teeth. Saliva washes away bacteria and harmful acids that can live in your mouth. Without saliva, the health of your teeth can deteriorate much faster. Drink lots of water and use fluoride toothpaste to counter these effects. If the dry mouth becomes a serious problem you should consult a doctor.

Diet Pills

Diet pills not only decrease your waste size, they decrease salivary flow as well. This leads to dry mouth which, as just explained, puts you at risk for tooth decay and cavities. Try a balanced and healthy diet along with exercise to lose weight instead. Not only is this healthier and more long-lasting option for losing weight, it’s healthier for your teeth as well.

Brushing at the Wrong Time

It would seem that frequently brushing our teeth would be good for them wouldn’t it? Actually, the answer is no. Although we’ve been taught that brushing our teeth after every meal is crucial for a healthy smile, it really depends on what you’re been eating.

Brushing your teeth immediately after consuming acidic foods and drinks (wine, coffee and soft drinks) can actually cause tooth erosion. Instead, rinse your mouth with water and wait at least an hour before brushing with toothpaste. Hiser Orthodontics provide each of their patients with the highest level of care and offer superior adult orthodontic treatment in Suwanee, Georgia!

6 Unhealthy Habits You Need to Quit

Healthy people worked hard to make their bodies in tip-top form. They often watch what they eat and keep their bodies moving. Not only that they are not too keen on doing things that can damage the body. There are just habits that healthy people will never do. If you are looking to improve your health it pays to learn from healthy people. Here are some of the habits that you may be doing right now that healthy people don’t.

Skipping Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is the foundation that will fuel the body’s foray for the rest of the day. When the body wakes up from its nightly fast, the body needs to get enough energy to spring back to life. When you are too anxious to get to work fast to avoid getting late it is easy to neglect breakfast. Skipping breakfast drains the body with energy and causes the metabolism to go haywire. This will impact the body’s ability to burn calories which is not exactly good when you are trying to lose some weight. That is why most diet experts always tell dieters that skipping breakfast can do more harm than good. The trick is to eat smart and never skip the most important meal of the day.

Lack of Water
The human body is 60 percent composed of water. It comes as no surprise why water provides a lot of health benefits. When the body is hydrated it keeps the memory sharp, the mood stable and the risks of getting anxiety symptoms reduced. Water also makes the skin glowing and suppler. Water helps the body to eliminate the toxins that often cause a lot of diseases. Healthy people know that they need to drink at least nine to eleven glasses of water per day. The amount of water that a person needs to drink depends on the amount of activity and the temperature. Hot temperature can cause excessive sweating which zaps the body’s water reserves that can cause dehydration which is unhealthy.

Late night Eating
Those who have the habit of eating dinner early and fasted have greater chances of losing weight compared to those who eat late in the night and did not fast, at least it works for mice. Mice that even ate fatty foods lost more calories as long as they ate their dinner early and fasted. Scientists believe that the longer span between meals leads to better processing of the food. Eating late meals can cause indigestion which can lead to sleep interference which impacts the quality of sleep.

Lack of Exercise
The fact remains that all healthy people exercise regularly. Aside from weight loss and reducing anxiety symptoms, regular exercise offers other benefits for better health. Exercise can actually add more years to one’s life. Not only that, exercise can prevent certain chronic diseases which also keeps the heart healthy. Exercise lowers the risk of certain cancers including prostate and breast cancer. Unhealthy people are not in the habit of doing regular exercise. In order to maintain in tip top shape it is best to do at least 150 minutes of exercise per week or about 30 minutes per day most days in a week.

Eating too much Salt
Healthy people know that they should be keeping their sodium intake about 1,200 mg per day. Habitual fast food snacking which is loaded with sodium is something a healthy person would not do. Cutting sodium in the diet can actually improve the health and add more years to life. Healthy people often cut their sodium intake by eating fresh food and by preparing nutritious meals at home.

Not changing the Sink Sponge
This could not be ranking at the top of your priorities but healthy people often change their sponge on a regular basis. The kitchen sink sponge holds more bacteria compared to your own toothbrush. Gross? Yes, gross. Think of it as one sure way of getting sick. The sponge should be replaced at least every two weeks.

There are things that healthy people would be doing that an unhealthy one will never bother. If you want to maintain perfect health, take a look at what you are doing today and find out how it contributes to health whether good or bad. Ryan Rivera aims to help people achieve better health by giving them useful tips that make them healthy and anxiety-free. You can visit calm clinic for more information about anxiety treatments.

Nuvagenic Review: Does This Pill Really Work?

Product Overview:
Appetite suppression is one of the means to control weight gain. Many new supplements in the market focus on this aspect to promote their product.
Similarly, NuvaGenic diet pill claims to curb cravings with the help of herb extracts and berries, which combine together for effective weight loss.

How does it work?
NuvaGenic is said to be a supplement equipped with an all-natural formula for losing weight. The main ingredient used in the product is African Mango, which has the property for appetite suppression. This ingredient also claims to have fat burning and powerful detox properties. The special mix of berries and herbs is supposed to cause weight loss by boosting metabolism and fat-targeting properties.

Ingredients:
Nuvagenic’s all natural formula consists of the following ingredients.

• African Mango
• Acai Berry Fruit
• Green Tea Extract
• Caffein

Product Advantages:

1. Nuva Genic is made from known herbs.
2. Testimonials are available.

Product Disadvantages:

1. The official website is difficult to access.
2. There are no free trials and the product offers no money back guarantee.
3. The official website does not mention about the price and manufacturer.
4. No proofs on clinical studies.

Some Do’s and Don'ts:

• It is advised to follow a good exercise routine along with the product.
• The product is for adult usage only, not to be used by below 18 years.

Final Verdict:
Eventhough the product’s official website has various testimonials, yet it lacks on the clinical studies and money back guarantee. Also no free trials on offer. It is best to compare this product with other established supplements, before you give it a try.

What Is Male Menopause: Facts, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments

What is Male Menopause?

An increasing number of men are having concerns about a decline in hormones during mid-life, as a result the words “andropause” and “male menopause” are starting to be seen everywhere. It used to be called a “mid-life crisis”. A more accurate label is the term male menopause, for the sometimes distressful and very real condition. Men are relieved that it is no longer called a silly crisis; there are a number of reasons for the decline that occur mid-life.

Image Source: depositphotos.com

Some physicians refer to the problem as testosterone or androgen decline in men as they are aging since there is not a period that is well defined and referred to as menopause.  It is also known as low testosterone. The production of testosterone declines as men begin aging but diabetes and other conditions can cause the decline in the male hormone production.

The decline in testosterone that is experienced, can come with some symptoms including:

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Sexual problems
• Weakness

The difference from female menopause is that the decline in testosterone that men experience happens slowly. In women the production of hormones stops completely. The substance that is needed to produce testosterone is not depleted entirely from the testes, unlike with the ovaries. Men that are healthy could be able to produce sperm well past their eighties.

Image Source: desertsierramedical.com

There may be subtle changes that occur in the testes from the ages of forty-five to fifty years of age, and after the age of seventy some men may experience dramatic changes.

How Is Male Menopause Diagnosed?

There are some things that the doctor will do to diagnose male menopause.

• Question you about symptoms
• A physical exam will be performed
• Rule out medical problems that could contribute to the condition by ordering tests
• Order blood tests. These tests may involve measuring testosterone levels.

Can Male Menopause Be Treated?

Testosterone replacement therapy might provide some relief to the symptoms of low levels of testosterone.

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Decreased libido (loss of interest in sex)
• Morning erections decrease
• Sexual intercourse frequency declines
• Testicular and genital size decreases
• Body fat increases
• Memory loss
• Changes in mood
• Vagueness
• Gynaecomastia (enlarged nipples)

There is the potential for side effects and risks with testosterone replacement therapy just like there is with the therapy for replacing hormones in women. An example would be that prostate cancer could be made worse by the testosterone replacement.

Speak with a doctor to learn more when considering replacement therapy for androgen. There may be lifestyle or other changes recommended by your doctor to aid with the male menopause symptoms. These could include:

• Antidepressant or other medications
• Diet
• Program for exercise

Alternative Male Menopause Treatments

• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Exercise
• Multi-mineral supplement
• Multi-vitamin supplement
• Soy
• Vegetables that contain indole- (brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)
• Ayurvedic herbal remedies
• Grapefruit should be avoided
• Alcohol should be avoided
• Ayurvedic dietary changes

Before you use a complementary or alternative treatment, or make changes or stop any treatment in favor of alternative approaches, you should check with your doctor or another qualified medical professional. In some cases, alternative treatments can pose a danger while in others the preventives or treatments might be useful.
Tammy Mahan has been a nurse for 20 years. In her free time she works as a freelance medical/health writer for Healthline.com.

Boost Your Metabolism with Detox Drink

As we get older, our metabolism gets slower. Fact is, studies have shown that metabolism naturally slows about 5% per decade after the age of 40.
What is metabolism anyway? Metabolism, involves a complex network of hormones and enzymes that work together to convert the food we eat into energy so our bodies can function. The more efficient our metabolism, the better our bodies work in burning calories and the more fit we become.
The conclusion is to keep your metabolism revved. Keep a healthy diet of low calorie – high protein foods, exercise and build muscle if you can, stay active, detox every once in a while and of course hydrate.

Speaking of the latter, Detox works by jump starting your metabolism, a lot like a cleaning up your hard drive and reformatting your computer. Furthermore, the other important thing not to forget to do is to HYDRATE. And when you are hydrating it is important to do so with liquids that are enriched with the essential vitamins and minerals such as the drink below.

This drink is enriched with Cucumbers, Mint and Lemon.

Cucumbers are low in calories, with only 45 calories with the skin on. High in fiber and in vitamins C, K and A. It is rich in Potassium, Iron, and Calcium. It is also a diuretic, which keeps you from holding in water weight and flushing out unwanted toxins.

Lemons, aside from being naturally energizing, are excellent at hydrating, detoxifying, and oxygenating your system. It keeps your Ph in balance and your skin clearer. It is also good for your digestive system.
Lemons are also high in Calcium, Vitamin C, and potassium.

Mint freshens your breath! It cleanses the stomach lining while soothing the digestive tract and reducing irritated bowel syndrome. It aids in eliminating toxins from the body while cleaning out blood vessels as well.
You will need:

• Lemon
• 1/2 a cucumber
• a handful of fresh mint leaves

1. Slice the cucumber and lemons thinly. Keep in mind that the more slices you cut the more flavor you will be getting out of it.
2. Grab the handful of fresh mint.
3. Throw them all into a gallon of water and let sit over night (about 8 hours) for it to soak up all the vitamins and minerals.
4. Wake up and drink your detoxifying concoction throughout the day!
Samantha Samonte also writes for Culinary One, a website about culinary careers, cuisines trends and good food. Helping aspiring chefs find the best cooking schools in America. She spends the rest of her time living life to the fullest in the company of her laptop and creative writing prowess.