In a recent research study, researchers assigned 60 women and men to the low-fat diet or a low-carb diet. The average weight of the participants was 215 pounds. They also did moderate exercise three times a week.

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At the end of six-month study the results showed that the group of participants on the low-carb diet had lost an average of 28.9 pounds and the second group which was on low-fat diet had lost an average of 18.7 pounds. It was also noted by the researchers that the function of the vascular system of the person who had lost more belly fat, is better than other participants.

“Our study demonstrated that the amount of improvement in the vessels was directly linked to how much central, or belly fat, the individual lost, regardless of which diet they were on,” said Kerry J. Stewart, a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of clinical and research exercise physiology at the Johns Hopkins Heart and Vascular Institute.

High fat diets are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Similarly carbohydrates may cause obesity, which is another risk factor for diseases. Carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for your body. When you take low-carbohydrate diets, the body startsto burn fat in order to get energy and as a result you lose weight.

The study was presented at the American Heart Association scientific meeting in San Diego.

“Chubby cheeks dimple chin, rosy lips, teeth within eyes are blue, lovely too, curly hair, very fair, teacher’s pet is that you yes yes yes”.

Image by MyTudut

This poem often reminds me of my childhood days when I also could boast of such texture and skin. Who doesn’t want to have baby soft skin? Those wonder years as toddlers with really soft skin we all have had, but somehow as we grow older, we begin to lose it. The suppleness, the sheen, softness, tenderness everything is replaced by dry, pigmentated scaly skin.

But there are ways you can retain this skin type, provided you really take care of your skin and follow a regime to maintain them. Just go through this list of tips which might help you get back that baby soft texture and skin.

1.Exfoliate the Skin

Its very important to cleanse and exfoliate our skin once a week at least. This process removes the dead skin and allows the growth of new softer and smoother skin. A simple remedy like mixing lemon juice with sugar granules and rubbing it in circular motion on the skin is one of the best ways of exfoliating the skin.

2.Eat Healthy

What we eat is shown clearly on our skin. If we have too much of oily and spicy food, it shows on the skin in the form of a heat boil or pimple. A balanced diet of fresh green in vegetables and fruits helps a great deal for having younger looking skin. Green tea, lemon, cucumber, carrots, blueberries, kiwi and meat like turkey, salmon all help in getting back to healthy skin.

3.Keep yourself Hydrated

We are aware that our body is made of 60% water so it’s very important to keep our body hydrated. Minimum 8-10 glasses of water we should have. This helps in flushing out toxins out of our body and thus keeps us from dry skin, premature ageing, helps circulation and gives a radiant glowing complexion.

4.Normal Water for your Bath

The winters really make us indulge in hot water baths. This in turn does no good, just that the skin will feel even drier after bath. So ensure that as far as can use normal tap water or maybe just warm or lukewarm. Another important thing to note is not to remain for long time in water or bath tubs. Apply a good body lotion when the skin is damp.

5. Moisturizer

Many are unaware and take this as a beauty tip but thats not it. We should mositurize our skin daily . It is important for keeping the skin, tight , supple and smooth. There are many types of moisturiser available in the market today. Depending on your skin type you need to religiously and regularly mositurise your skin and ensure you use natural or herbal products.

6.Use Herbal Products

Nowadays there are so many creams and beauty product, soaps, they are loaded with harmful chemicals and toxins which strips of all the natural oils and moisture from our skin. As far as can use homemade remedies or herbal products for your routine treatment.

7.Intake of vitamin E

One of the vital elements for natural glowing skin is vitamin. Your daily routine should have a dose of Vitamin E also. Have 4-5 almonds soaked overnight and take the next day. This not only benefits the skin but hair as well and enhances the beauty by giving you a creamy complexion, soft and smooth.

8.Include Fish Oil in your Diet

Seafood’s are a rich source of fish oil and omega 3 fatty acid. Salmon and tuna have these and help to form better skin. Fish oil is not only good for the heart but skin as well and actually helps in reversing signs of ageing. Some of these oils of premium quality have the natural and powerful antioxidants like astaxanthin and lycopene which helps in reducing the scaling and roughness of skin to great extent. So ensure to have them and include them in your diet.

9.Don’t rub , pat dry

This tip seems least significant but it is true. Never rub your skin, as rubbing causes the small capillaries under the facial skin to break causing spider lines and redness. It is very delicate and sensitive. To maintain the delicate, tenderness of your skin always pat dry with a soft towel.

10.Be Fit and have Good Sleep

After all the care, if your body is not fit then it doesn’t help. Be fit; go for regular exercise, walks. A Toned body can give more radiance than a flabby and dull body. Keep your regime for exercise or gyming 5 days a week atleast. This helps in fat reduction, weight loss, body toning. After all this a good sleep at the end of the day is most important. A minimum of 8- 10 hour of sleep is a must. So have a good sleep to give your body rest.

Finally, a baby soft glowing skin is what we long for, so let’s get it straight, go ahead and change our lifestyle. Bring that googly woogly whoosh moments back in our lives.

allergy

The team of immunologists led by Dr Amir Ghaem-Maghami and Professor Farouk Shakib at The University of Nottingham has identified a new molecule DC-SIGN, which can be found on the surface of the immune cells, appears to play a role in damping down the body’s allergic response to the house dust mite.

Dr Amir Ghaem-Maghami said: “A better understanding of how the interaction between allergens and the immune system triggers allergy is vital if we are to develop more effective and efficient treatments for this debilitating condition.”

Allergy affects thousands of people around the world every day. Allergy in the worst case may be fatal. Here’s what you need to know about allergies to stay healthy.

Allergy

Allergy is a disorder caused by the body’s immune system reacting to substances in the environment that are usually harmless, such as pollen, dust mites, animal dander etc. These substances are known as Allergens.

The body’s immune system produces Immunoglobulin type E (IgE) antibodies to those allergens and participates in the allergic response by releasing Histamine. Histamine activates pain receptors and causes cells to become leaky.

image by La Ignorancia Mata

Symptoms of Allergy

Mild allergy signs or symptoms can include:

• Itching eyes, nose and throat
• Sneezing, often accompanied by a runny or clogged nose
• Coughing
• Dark circles under the eyes caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses
• Watery eyes
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing

Severe allergy symptoms can include:

• A feeling of tightness in the chest
• Breathlessness
• Swelling of tissues such as lips or joints
• Rash or redness of the skin
• Wheezing, noisy breathing
• loss of consciousness
• nausea and vomiting
• abdominal cramps
• diarrhea
• low blood pressure
• sweating

Types of Allergies

You can be allergic to anything, but some allergies are more common than others. It’s important for you to have a good understanding of your allergy and the kind of reaction you could expect.

Common types of allergies are;

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis also known as hay feveris your body’s immune system response to foreign material in the air. Usually hay fever is seasonal but it can last all year long if the allergens stay throughout the year. Spring and fall are main seasons for hay fever. Spring allergy is common in most of the people.

Spring allergies are most common these days; pollens released by flowering plants and from certain types of trees, grasses and weeds (such as ragweed) are most likely to cause reactions. The other common allergens in hay fever are molds, which are a type of fungus.

Symptoms of hay fever are sneezing, runny and congested nose, watery eyes, fatigue and trouble sleeping.

Hives (Urticaria)

Urticaria or Hives is a kind of skin allergy. A hive is a circular, red, spongy lesion that can appear anywhere on the body. They are usually an allergic reaction to food or medicine. During an allergic reaction body releases Histamine and other chemicals into bloodstream. This causes itching, swelling and other symptoms.

Animal dander, insect bites, medication, pollen, emotional stress, extreme cold and sun exposure can trigger hives.

• Angioedema

When swelling occurs around the face, it is called angioedema. Angioedema occurs beneath the skin instead of on the surface. Swelling can also occur around your hands, feet and throat.

To reduce itching avoid hot baths, wear loose-fitting clothes and try to sleep in a cool room.

Pet Allergy

Pet allergens are proteins from the hair, saliva or urine of pets, which when in contact with the skin or breadth in, cause an allergic reaction.

According to Derek K. Johnson, MD, director of Allergy and immunology at Temple University Children’s Medical Center “You can develop an allergy at any time, that’s why it’s important to know what causes pet allergies. It’s the flakes from the animal’s skin, not the fur. So even if it’s a bald cat, you can be allergic.”

Symptoms of pet allergy are sneezing, coughing, wheezing, eczema (itchy skin disease with red patches).
If you have allergic symptoms it is advisable to ensure that in your house there are no pets.

Anaphylaxis (A Life Threatening Allergy Reaction)

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that may cause death. Anaphylaxis should always be treated as a medical emergency.

The symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• Breathing difficulty
• Swelling of certain body parts such as lips, hands and feet
• Dizziness
• Fast heartbeat or pulse
• Nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting
• Trouble speaking
• Loss of consciousness

The whole body can be affected, usually within minutes of contact with an allergen. Common causes of anaphylaxis are insect stings and food.

If you have ever had these reactions ask your doctor how to avoid your allergens.

Always wear protective clothing when outside and keep an epinephrine injection kit with you at all times.

Any type of allergy can make your life miserable. Avoid your allergens as much as possible and check the daily pollen and mold counts for your community in the newspaper, in weather reports, or on the internet. Avoid exposure to chemicals, fumes, tobacco smoke, air pollution, etc.