Indian Lilac which is commonly known as neem has been an integral part of Ayurveda for the benefits associated with it. It is an herb that is commonly available, throughout the year and has benefits that only a few natural products can provide!  Neem has anti- bacterial; anti- parasitic, anti- fungal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that not only benefit your health but can help you get rid of common beauty problems that you face in your daily life. So read more about the uses of neem tree to know how you can use this miraculous herb in your daily beauty regime.

Neem

Medicinal properties of neem have been known to Indians since time immemorial. The earliest Sanskrit medical writings refer to the benefits of neem’s fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, roots and bark. Each of these has been used in the Indian Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine.

In the Ayurvedic literature name is described in the following manner: ‘Neem bark is cool, bitter, astringent, acrid and refrigerant. It is useful in tiredness, cough, fever, loss of appetite, worm infestation. It heals wounds and vitiated conditions of kapha, vomiting, skin diseases, excessive thirst, and diabetes. Neem leaves are reported to be beneficial for eye disorders and insect poisons. It treats Vatik disorder. It is anti-leprotic. Its fruits are bitter, purgative, anti-hemorrhoids and anthelmintic’.

Does the untimely burst of pimples leave you feeling embarrassed? Are you tired of squeezing out the blackheads or irritated with dry skin? Such problems keep troubling girls, time and again. But instead of going for natural ingredients to find a solution, many prefer to go for cosmetic resolutions. Neem is a natural herb that has many beauty benefits that often go unnoticed. So all you girls, especially brides-to-be, read on as we tell you about the beauty benefits of neem, which are certainly going to surprise you.

Treating Skin Infections
Boil a few neem leaves till the time they turn soft. You will notice the water turning green because of the discoloration of the leaves. Strain this water and add some of it in your bath water. Regularly taking bath with this water will help in keeping skin infections under check. Neem leaves have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties and hence they are quite effective for skin infections. It also soothes irritation and reduces inflammation without drying the skin.

Addressing Acne Problems
The most favorite home remedy that has been passed on from one generation to another is about using neem to treat acne. To effectively put this to use, first boil a few neem leaves in water (as explained before) and dab a cotton ball in salt water and then apply it evenly on your face. You can also use a neem-cucumber face pack or neem-yoghurt face pack to keep a check on excessive oil secretion by sebaceous glands.

Used as Skin Toner
When used regularly, neem works as an excellent agent to prevent wrinkles and fine lines. Use the strained neem water to fight the signs of age spots or aging. It works effectively on skin pigmentation as well. Strained neem water will help in lightening the acne scars and lesions caused due to skin conditions. Alternatively, you can prepare a neem-rose face pack for a smoother complexion, free from grease and oil. After it dries off, make sure you wash it off with rose water.

Remedy for Dry Skin
A neem pack is quite effective in taking care of an excessively dry skin. Take some neem powder and add a few drops of grape seed oil in it. Apply this evenly on your face and leave it on for a couple of minutes before you rinse it off with cold water.

Skin Remedy

Cure for Skin Pores
Neem provides an effective remedy in tackling problems such as blackheads, whiteheads and large pores. To combat these problems, you will need to prepare a mixture of neem leaves and orange peels. Pound the two to make a pulp and add a few drops of honey, soy milk and yoghurt to it. It is recommended that you apply this face pack at least thrice a week to notice results. If you only have blackheads, apply some neem oil on the affected area.
Takes care of Hair Troubles
The antibacterial and antiseptic properties of neem come in handy while treating scalp conditions.

Neem oil helps in hair growth. Massage neem oil on your hair roots without breaking your hair strands. This will take care of your hair thinning problems as well.

For dandruff control, apply a mixture of neem powder and water on your scalp and leave it for an hour before you shampoo your hair.
Neem Tree has been described in Ayurveda’s prime text, the Charaka Samhita, as sarva roga nivarini (that which keeps all diseases at bay) or arishtha (reliever of disease). Its extracts have been used in the Ayurveda tradition for thousands of years for maintaining health and overall well-being. The roots, bark, gum, leaves, fruit, seed kernels and seed oil are all used in therapeutic preparations for both internal and topical use.

1.    Neem, a tree native to India, is a vital ingredient in Ayurveda. Regarded as a ‘one tree pharmacy’, the Neem tree has several medicinal uses and forms an integral part of home remedies for the hair and skin.

2.    Neem leaf has antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it effective in treating dandruff. 

3.    It also relieves dryness and itching, strengthens hair and promotes hair growth.

4.    Traditionally, neem paste has been used to condition the hair and scalp.

5.    It also soothes irritation, prevents dryness and flaking.

6.    Neem is mentioned in most Ayurvedic formulations for the treatment of skin disorders because of its detoxifying properties.

7.    The growth of acne-causing bacteria, such as propionibacterium acnes (P. Acnes) and staphylococcus epidermis is also inhibited by neem.

8.    The role of neem in acne is further supported by studies which have shown that it exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing P. Acnes-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IL-8.

9.    Neem oil and neem leaves are excellent skin care ingredients. The oil relieves dry skin and soothes itchiness, redness and irritation.

10.    It also improves general skin health and immunity, combating bacterial infections such as acne, boils and ulcers.

11.    Its antimicrobial properties help heal wounds without causing any infections or septic conditions.

12.    For acne, neem tackles bacteria from the root and prevents the recurrence of pimples and blemishes.

13.    It is especially beneficial for skin disorders like eczema and minor skin infections. Neem leaves also eliminate acne-causing bacteria.

14.    It is also a gastric protective element and effective in healing ulcers.

15.    It contains high level of antioxidants that help protect skin from environmental damage and from aging.

16.    Neem oil contains fatty acid and vitamin E that gets absorbed easily into the skin, it helps rejuvenate skin cells and restore elasticity.

17.    It helps maintain a glowing skin and balance skin tone.

18.    The high fatty-acid content in neem oil helps prevent and treat scars from acne.

19.    Neem leaves are also excellent Exfoliants; it tightens pores and removes impurities when used as a mask.

20.    It is an excellent healer of skin fungal infections.

Other benefits
Skin toner
This can also be used as a skin toner — just dip a cotton-ball into the liquid and wipe your face with it every night. This will clear acne, scars, pigmentation and blackheads. This potion can be used as a hair rinse to treat dandruff and excessive hair fall.

Face Pack

Face pack
Cut about 10 neem leaves and boil them with small segments of orange peel in a little water. Pound them to a pulp. Add a little honey, yoghurt and soy milk, to form a smooth paste. Apply this to your face (can be done thrice a week). This will clear acne and breakouts, dry up white heads, pull out blackheads and even reduce the appearance of pores. Honey and neem are excellent moisturizers.

Hair conditioner
A paste made of neem leaves boiled in water and honey, and applied to the hair, leaves it well-conditioned, without frizz and dandruff free.

Healer
Extracts of neem leaves and seeds produce pain-relieving, antiinflammatory and fever-reducing compounds that can aid in the healing of cuts, burns, earaches, sprains and headaches.

Root cure
The bark and roots of the neem tree have medicinal properties; in powdered form, they can be used to control lice and dandruff. Neem has anti-bacterial properties that help fight against skin infections such as acne, psoriasis, scabies and eczema among others.

Pour oil on it
Neem oil, leaves and neem extracts are used to manufacture health and beauty care products. Some products that use neem include soaps, bath powders, shampoos, lotions and creams, toothpastes and neem leaf capsules. They can be used to increase immunity, as a skin purifier or even as insect repellents, and pet care products.

Unhealthy People

When in the last one year, 15-year-old Unnati Gada began putting on weight despite no change in food intake, and complained of constant fatigue, her mother realised, in addition to the best tutorial teachers, she'd also have to invest in a nutritionist. "She's at school from 7 am to noon. Then it's tuitions, time at the gym and finally, self-study. Unnati changed schools recently, and gave up sports to make time for board preparation. I wasn't sure if she was equipped to handle the pressure," says Hemal.

Tardeo-based nutritionist Suman Agarwal, who the Gadas consulted, says it's common for teens, often from privileged homes, to consult her because they are not "growing as rapidly as their peers".

Skipping breakfast when rushing to school and snacking on chips and Maggi, both reservoirs of dead calories, were identified as Unnati's nutritional goof-ups. Instead, Agarwal suggested she include nuts and fruit in her snack, and include proteinrich paneer and curd in her meals. "Her protein and vitamin B12 levels were low, leading to the tiredness and inability to retain what she was studying," says Agarwal.

Unnati is hardly an exception. According to the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau of India, over 50 per cent of healthy looking children suffer from deficiencies of vitamin A, C, B2, B6 and folate, and over 2/3rd are oblivious to the iron deficiency they live with.

The body grows faster during puberty than at any other time in life (except when you are a baby), and if your nutritional needs aren't met to facilitate this growth, physical and mental well being is bound to be stunted. Which is why, for pre-teen girls who are yet to get their period, Agarwal throws in a prolactin test (tests levels of hormone prolactin which can affect regularity of menses and thyroid condition).

Agarwal says stunted height and muscle mass, pale or patchy skin, constipation, disturbed sleep and slow grasping while learning can all be symptoms of an imbalanced diet.

Ryan Fernando, founder of Qua Nutrition, conducts genetic evaluation tests for teenagers before customising their diet. This helps him determine how well programmed they are to receive nutrition. "Of the 23,000 genes in our body, around 20 deal with receptors of vitamins. This means even if a child's diet includes vitamins, if his ability to absorb and use them is low, it's no good." In such cases, Fernando recommends upping vitamin intake to the point where the deficit can be met.

Lack of information is a key concern. Most parents who approach Fernando come because they want their kids to be Olympic athletes. "Only 15 per cent consult me out of general concern," he says.

Agarwal uses facts to convince parents who go easy on fussy eaters. Children aged nine to 11 need 800 mg of calcium (that's 600 ml of milk or milk products a day), while those aged 11-15 need 1,400 mg (800 ml).

For those alienated by calorie counts and fat percentages, she offers recipes to "unjunk" snacks. Pav bhaji with less potato and more moong and peas, oil instead of butter, tastes and feels good too. Swap an aloo tikki for one made with mushroom and spinach, or make a patty out of tofu. How about one with carrots, zucchini and wheat flour, instead?

Caffeine in the form of tea, coffee and cola retards growth, says Agarwal. It is best not to introduce your child to cola until s/he is seven, explains Fernando. Its high sugar levels entice their pleasure senses, making them crave it.

Leading by example works better than blackmail. When your child hits eight, it's best to sit with them and decide a diet. With a child who refused to eat her greens and pointed out that her dad did the same, Fernando designed a dinner-time game where father and daughter could compete to up their quota of vegetables consumed.For the parents
New-age parents informed by online health reports introduce healthy options but sporadically in the form of whole wheat cornflakes, muesli and probiotics. But this quick-fix option is inadequate in the face of sugar-loaded colas and fat-packed snacks. It's best to feed your kids traditional wholesome breakfast dishes like upma or poha.

 Pregnant women and children need nutrition

The workshop was organised on the backdrop of the Rajmata Jijau Health and Nutrition programme for healthy child. Besides the NMC officials, mayor Yatin Wagh, chairman of the standing committee Ramesh Dhongade and chairperson of the women and child welfare department Savita Dalwani, all the anganwadi (creche) sevikas, doctors, corporators and women were present for the workshop.

Healty Food

 

Regular exercise can benefit the body in many ways, helping people maintain healthier weights and lowering risks for developing potentially deadly diseases. Though many people are quick to associate exercise with its physical benefits, those hours spent on the treadmill also can boost brain power.
 

Daily Exercise

According to Dr. Barry Gordon, professor of neurology and cognitive science at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and coauthor of “Intelligent Memory: Improve the Memory That Makes You Smarter,” exercise has a direct impact on the brain. That’s because exercise works directly on brain tissue, improving the connections between nerve cells, creating new synapses, growing new neurons and blood vessels, and improving cell energy efficiency. So while many people may begin an exercise regimen with a goal of trimming their waistlines or toning their bodies, they might be happy to know that those physical benefits are accompanied by several cognitive benefits as well.

Morning Walk

As the American Psychological Association acknowledges, the connection between exercise and mental health is hard to ignore, and the APA notes that the following are just a few of the mental benefits men and women might reap from regular exercise.

Improved mood
Many people feel great after exercising, especially if that exercise comes at the end of a particularly stressful day. However, those extra laps on the track or those hours spent on the treadmill don’t just pay short-term dividends. In a controlled trial overseen by Duke University researcher and clinical psychologist James Blumenthal, sedentary adults with major depressive disorder were assigned into one of four groups: supervised exercise, home-based exercise, antidepressant therapy, or a placebo pill.

Flexible Exercise

Those in the exercise and antidepressant groups had higher rates of remission than those in the placebo group, and Blumenthal concluded that exercise was generally comparable to antidepressants for men and women with major depressive disorder. In addition, in following up with patients a year later, Blumenthal found that those who continued to exercise had lower depression scores than those participants who were less active.

Blumenthal’s study was not the only one to conclude that exercise can have a positive impact on mood. In a review of 11 studies that examined the effects of exercise on mental health, Boston University professor of psychology Michael Otto and his colleagues found that exercise could be a powerful tool when treating clinical depression, and even recommended clinicians include exercise as part of their treatment plans for depressed patients.

Long Running Exercise

Antidote to anxiety
Some researchers, Otto included, have begun to examine the effects of exercise on treating and possibly preventing anxiety. The body’s nervous system responds quickly when people feel frightened or threatened, often causing the body’s heart rate to increase and sweating and dizziness to occur. Those people who are especially sensitive to anxiety respond to these feelings with fear, and that makes them more likely to develop panic disorders. But Otto and fellow researcher Jasper Smits of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University studied the effects that regular workouts might have on people prone to anxiety. Since exercise produces many of the same physical reactions, such as sweating and an elevated heart rate, the body produces when responding to fear or threats, Otto and Smits wanted to determine if exercise might help people prone to anxiety become less likely to panic when experiencing fear or threats.

Happy Exercise

In studying 60 participants with heightened sensitivity to anxiety, Otto and Smits found that the subjects who participated in a two-week exercise program exhibited marked improvements in anxiety sensitivity compared to those participants who did not take part in the exercise program. Otto and Smith concluded that this improvement was a result of the exercise group participants learning to associate the symptoms common to both fear and exercise, such as sweating and an elevated heart rate, with something positive (exercise) instead of something negative (anxiety).

Diabetes isn't known as a silent killer just for kicks. The growing number of people falling prey to this metabolic disease has raised quite an alarm worldwide.










Being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and consumption of high calorie, sugary and fatty foods are the reasons that give rise to this lifestyle ailment. Here's a list of foods that help in preventing diabetes. 

Diabetes Free Food

Turmeric
Studies claim that curcumin, a compound found in turmeric may help delay if not prevent diabetes. There more research to be done in order to determine the long-term effects of turmeric. However, early result show promise.
Strawberries
Strawberries look and taste delicious. So there's no reason why you should not eat them regularly. Scientists are of the opinion that consuming strawberries helps activate a protein in the body which reduces LDL cholesterol and blood lipids. Both these things play a factor in the development of diabetes. Also, scientists who conducted experiments on mice found that consuming strawberries is beneficial in lowering blood glucose levels.
Cheese and yogurt
By this we mean low-fat cheese and yogurt. Experts believe that the healthy bacteria found in these fermented dairy products are responsible for this healthy beneficial side-effect.
Red wine
Surprise surprise! Resveratrol, a compound present in red wine helps in improving the function of blood sugar by regulating the hormone insulin. However, there's no reason to get sloshed. Drinking in moderation is the key. 

Healthy Food

Cinnamon
Cinnamon has numerous health benefits. It helps in lowering fasting blood glucose. Also, it is known to lower triglyceride levels, LDL cholesterol and improve insulin sensitivity too. Sprinkle some powdered cinnamon in your coffee or toast.
Apples
Anthocyanin, a compound is found in abundance in apples, which helps in regulating blood sugar levels.
Spinach
Spinach is rich in many nutrients which makes it so healthy. A British study showed that consuming spinach daily cuts down the risk of diabetes by 14%.

The abs obsession is leading men to focus on the upper body alone. Here's why and how you should throw a look at what's down there

Recently, Hollywood actor Gerard Butler was seen showing off his biceps while grabbing a cup of coffee in West Hollywood. The photo just had to make it to the leading dailies — yet another testimony to the popularity of bulging arms.

Closer home, Shahid Kapoor's arms could well be the best in the business, but the moment you zoom out to look at his full frame, you'll see those undernourished legs marring the show.

Mumbai's fitness trainers agree that most of their clients suffer from the Shahid syndrome: they join gyms to get 'Popeye arms', with few concentrating on working out their legs. The result: lollipop bodies.

"For most men, working out means acquiring a body they can show off. They focus on chest, back, arms and abdominal muscles," says trainer Vinod Channa. A man's upper and lower body workout ratio, he says, should be 60:40, instead of the current 80:20.

Heavy concentration on biceps and abs, while ignoring quadriceps (the muscle group in the front of the thigh) can also change the body's centre of gravity, says trainer Kunal Sharma. "These men tend to lose their balance easily, increasing their chances of injury."Guys, here's an exercise plan guaranteed to reverse the lollipop body

Step up for your glutes
Hold a dumbbell in each hand and step up by extending the knee and hip of the right leg. Place the right foot on the step board/elevated platform and then bring your left foot up as well. Get back on ground level, one foot at a time. Alternate with the other leg. Do two sets with 10 to 12 repetitions each.

This one works the quadriceps and involves both, the knee and hip joints. It also involves other muscles like glutes, calves and hamstrings, which assist in the movement. The lower back and ab muscles get involved, as they act as stabilizers to help maintain proper posture as you execute the movement.
Calf raises for soleus
For the seated calf raise, sit with your back against the back pad. Place the thigh under the lever pad. Inhale and lift the heels up, stretching the lower part of the calf muscle. As you exhale, lower the heels to starting position. Do three sets with 10 to 12 repetitions.

The soleus is a smaller muscle but makes a significant contribution to the size and shape of muscular calves. When your knees are bent during seated calf raise exercise, your gastrocnemius — the bigger muscle group in the calves — is deactivated, thereby giving full attention to the soleus.
Squats for the quadripceps
Place your back against the machine's back pad. Keep your stance slightly wider than the shoulders. Squat down as in natural sitting position. Hips should be at knee level. The knee should not extend beyond the toes. Placing your feet towards the back of the foot plate will further emphasise the quadriceps contraction. Do two sets with 10-12 repetitions each.

Quads are responsible for knee strength and squats help build these muscles (along with hamstrings and calves), and create an anabolic environment, which promotes bodywide muscle building.
Leg curls for hamstring muscles
Lie down on the leg curl machine face downwards, with the pad placed on the lower part of the calf muscle (see illustration). Lift it and curl your leg up. Exhale while lifting it and inhale as you bring the leg back to starting position. While lifting, make sure you don't lift your lower back. Do three sets with 10 to 12 repetitions. This exercise works on the muscles at the back of the thigh since they contract when you bend your knee.
Abductor for inner thighs
Sit on the abductor machine with the back against the back pad. Place the lever pads against the inner thighs and select a weight you are comfortable with. Now bring your thighs together, without shifting the position of your feet. Do two sets with 10 to 12 repetitions each.

When one or more of the torso muscles is weak, your core stability suffers and pelvis may tilt to one side when standing on one foot. This will affect your stability while walking, running or taking the stairs. Abductor exercises help enhance core stability, which improves balance, posture and overall movement.

Sixteen-year-old Rakesh (name changed), who was preparing for his plus two board exams, approached a psychiatrist complaining that his father was pressuring him to prepare for three competitive exams at the same time and that he could not concentrate. The psychiatrist counselled both the boy and his parents, asking them not to exert pressure on him till he completed his school exams.
Doctors point out that pressure from anxious parents and teachers on their wards to perform well in exams can at times lead to students, even bright ones, losing focus on studies. “Parents put more pressure on their children, even if they are brilliant in academics to score full marks. It is best that they leave the students to concentrate on studies and give them confidence. At the same time, they should also supervise their children without making any verbal demands,” says Dr Anand Prathap, psychiatrist, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

Light Food

While it is the time for attending continuous rounds of model exams in schools, medical experts advise that students preparing for board exams should also find time for relaxation and enough sleep. Overworking could lead not just to sleep deprivation, but also anxiousness, exam phobia, palpitation and a fear of failure. A 30-minute walk in the evening, listening to music or playing a game could help relax the mind and focus better.


Students should also not study just one subject the whole day. They should study at least three subjects for two hours each, giving a 15-minute interval gap between them. It is very important that students have a positive mindset while preparing for exams,” the doctor adds.

Indian Food

While keeping the mind stress-free is important, physically fitness should also be given priority. Memory boosters and immunity-boosters, including proper iron levels in the body go a long way in helping to stay focused. “If a student becomes anemic, it can result in lack of concentration. So, it is important that they take enough iron-rich food along with protein and Vitamin C-rich food for the absorption of iron in the body,” says nutritionist Dr Meenakshi Bajaj.

The nutritionist adds that electrolytes like sodium and potassium and food with omega three fatty acids like sundal, almonds, fish, walnuts and pumpkin seeds are vital for a good metabolism. “Sometimes, a student might be studying the whole day, forgetting to drinking water. Keeping hydrated is very important,” she adds.

For men with receding hairlines, baldness can be a major concern. And although there is nothing you can do to prevent going bald, there are some things you can do now to slow your hair loss.

Hair Fall

Male pattern baldness is related to genes, and nothing can be done to prevent this common condition..
According to the American Academy of Dermatology two out of three men develop some form of balding during their lifetimes.

And – heredity is not the only cause. Other factors include:
• Certain medications
• Deficiencies in your diet
• Stress
Managing stress levels will help to stop hair loss as major life stressors can actually cause your hair to die.

Look at your prescriptions, too. They could be making you go bald. Certain blood thinners and psychiatric drugs have been known have been known to have this side effect.

Healthy Hair

You can also eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and walnuts.
These foods are packed with protein and minerals, which has been linked to hair loss prevention in chemotherapy patients. Also, try incorporating foods high in iron and vitamin B if you are deficient.
You can always visit a dermatologist for more solutions if you are concerned about hair loss.



Here is solutions of hair fall:
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Fit & Healthy Hair

A full Total Hair Regrowth review on the site hynguyenblog.com shows that this hair treatment method is totally safe for people to use. When people use this natural remedy, they will recover their natural hair and gain their self-confidence back. In particular, this method is totally natural and it does not include drugs or pills that may harm people's health. People can follow this natural method at their own home.



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