Home remedies for your hair

Your hair dilemmas solved with quick fixes you can find in your home.

A gorgeous, healthy mane without the help of a professional stylist can sometimes seem as elusive as the Holy Grail.

So what if a bad hair day strikes when you're short of time - or cash- and can't make a quick trip to the salon?

Fear not, because some of Britain's top hair experts have revealed their unusual but clever home remedies for lack-lustre locks.

Whether it's a flat barnet, dull colour or even pesky greys, try these nifty fixes with ingredients that can be found in your kitchen, make-up bag or even home office!

For a voluminous mane, hairstylist Luke Hersheson says the answer can be found in your fridge.

"Mist roots with a dark ale, beer or even champagne. The yeast adds volume while the alcohol sets it in place," he told the July issue of Elle UK.

If you fancy a new hue or want to try this season's trend for pastel shades, why not try a natural wash-out version before you make the change permanent?

"Add a couple of drops of food colouring to your conditioner and apply wherever you want it - it can be an all over tint or just on the ends. The less you use, the more pastel the colour. Lemon juice removes it," revealed hair stylist Duffy.

To cover up greys, Wella Professionals' creative director for colour, Josh Wood, recommended an unusal yet effective solution.

"Blend grey hairs into dark hair by using a fat-nibbed felt tip in a matching shade," he said.

And if you ever run out of hairwash, you can knock up a DIY dry shampoo with the contents of your bathroom cabinet.

"Crush up an eyeshadow that matches your hair, mix it with talcum powder and dust through [your hair] to banish grease and add oomph," Shu Uemura Art of Hair UK ambassador Stephen Low advised.

Source: Yahoo!

5 nutrients your body really needs

While it is important to include a wide variety of vitamins and minerals into your diet, there are some important nutrients you need to pay special attention to; ones that many of us aren’t getting enough of. Here are 5 essential nutrients you really need.

Essential nutrient 1: Omega-3 fatty acids

Why you need it:  Do you want to live longer, look better and feel happier? Then you need to eat more omega-3 fatty acids. Research studies have shown that an omega-3 deficiency can lead to depression, aggressive behavior and mood swings, while the essential fatty acids can also prevent heart disease, maintain good eye health, help you lose weight and keep your skin and hair in great condition. However, despite all of these benefits, many of the population consistently fail to get enough omega-3 fatty acids into their diets.

How to get it: One of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids is oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines. The American Heart Association recommends that most of us should eat oily fish twice per week. If you are not a fan of fish, other good sources include flaxseeds and walnuts.

Essential nutrient 2: Vitamin D

Why you need it: Not only does vitamin D help the body to absorb calcium, thereby promoting good bone health, it is also essential for overall wellbeing. Those deficient in vitamin D are at greater risk of developing certain cancers, osteoporosis, mental illness and heart disease. While many people don’t see consuming vitamin D as a necessity as our bodies produce the nutrient itself when exposed to the sun, excessive use of sun protection combined with long periods without adequate sunshine in certain parts of the world have meant that many of us are deficient in this essential nutrient.
How to get it: Spending time in the sun is a good way to boost your reserves of vitamin D. While it is essential to take care in the sun, experts recommend we spend 10 minutes in the sun each day without sunblock. Good food sources of vitamin D also include oily fish and egg yolk.

Essential nutrient 3: Iron

Why you need it: Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world, affecting between four and five billion people worldwide. Given that iron is an extremely important nutrient which is integral to many bodily processes, it is important to try to get enough of this mineral; particularly in the case of pre-menopausal and/or pregnant women who are more prone to deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency include tiredness, low energy levels and headaches. It can also affect your physical appearance, causing hair loss, flaking nails and a pale complexion.
How to get it: The best sources of easily absorbed iron are animal products such as red meat, offal, chicken and eggs. For vegetarian sources, opt for green leafy vegetables, pulses and dried fruit. It may also be worthwhile cutting down on tea and coffee, as these contain polyphenols that can make it difficult for our bodies to absorb iron, and drinking orange juice with meals, as vitamin C helps with the absorption of iron.

Essential nutrient 4: Vitamin B12

Why you need it: Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient which is required by the body to make new red blood cells and to help keep the nervous system healthy. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia, which can have dangerous consequences if left untreated. Symptoms of anemia include tiredness, a pale complexion, breathlessness and tingling hands and feet. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to mental health problems such as memory loss, confusion, mood swings and depression. Studies have suggested that getting enough vitamin B12 can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
How to get it: Vitamin B12 is found in animal products including meat, eggs and dairy produce. As it is not available in fruit and vegetables, vegans should make sure they eat foods that are fortified with vitamin B12, such as breakfast cereals, or take a vitamin B12 supplement.

Essential nutrient 5: Iodine

Why you need it: Iodine deficiency significantly affects the brain development of unborn babies and young children and is the main cause of preventable mental retardation and brain damage across the world. It also increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, which could be a major problem given the numbers of women suffering from this deficiency. Iodine deficiency is not only common in developing countries, research has also suggested that more than two thirds of teenage girls in the UK and 15 per cent of adult females in the US have an iodine deficiency.
How to get it: Iodine deficiency can be alleviated through the use of iodised salt, which is widely available in many parts of the world. Other food sources of iodine include milk, eggs, fish, seafood and seaweed such as nori and kelp. 


Source: Yahoo!

Supercharge your metabolism in 24 hours

Can you really change your metabolism?

The good news is you can eat and exercise to increase your daily calorie-burn dramatically. We've rounded up the health experts to tell you what food and drink burns-off calories, and the simple changes you can make every day to send that metabolism sky high.

What exactly is metabolism?

"The term 'metabolism' is the rate at which your body performs all of its functions. It's made-up of three components; your basal metabolic rate, which is the amount of energy you need for your body to function at rest, and burn calories at-rest; physical activity level, the amount of energy required to carry-out daily activities, and the thermogenic effect of food; the amount of energy required to digest and absorb food," says Jennie Cockcroft, Nutritional Director for Purely Nutrition.

Eat breakfast

According to Samar Tarabay, a nutritionist from Holland & Barrett , "your metabolism slows-down overnight, as no food is consumed for around nine to 12 hours. When you skip breakfast, you signal your metabolism to slow-down; your body thinks it needs to conserve energy as food is in short supply. Breakfast kick-starts the metabolism, reminding it to get moving. If you're skipping breakfast, your metabolism continues to 'sleep' and not engage in fat-burning activities until you wake it up at lunchtime.'

Vitamins and minerals to give you a boost

"Increase your intake of iodine, zinc and selenium for thyroid health, which governs the metabolism. Calcium speeds up your metabolism, so try to keep moving, as this encourages the lymph system to move faster," advises Jacquie Lane, Nutritional Therapist and Director of Studies at the College of Naturopathic Medicine.

Drink green tea

Green tea contains polyphenols called catechins, which aids liver detox, thus enabling effective metabolism of fats and toxins. Green tea also contains thermogenic which gives the metabolism a nudge to work more effectively,' says Lane.

Go for a walk

Jump off the bus a step early or take the stairs. According to Lane, you should "increase your walking daily, as this really works."

Practise 'mindful eating'

Victoria Wills , wellbeing guru and hypnotherapist suggests using 'mindful eating' to boost your metabolism. "Change your focus away from what you eat, to how you eat. If you eat breakfast on-the-run, or eat lunch at your desk, then make space for half an hour where your only focus is eating, rather than a million things. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to register that it's full, so you really do need half an hour for your lunch break. The digestive process starts when you look at and smell your food, so you need to focus on your food rather than the PC, chew your food thoroughly, and focus-on what you are eating."

Diet tips to boost your metabolism

Victoria Cleary Ford, dietary therapist for The Pure Package  says "variety is the key to a healthy diet, but in the mornings, it can be easier to stick with routines. Eat porridge as it provides wholegrain and fibre, with a teaspoon of ground linseeds, topped with fresh fruit (vitamins) and a generous serving of organic, pro-biotic yoghurt.
If you have time, a slice of rye bread, with scrambled egg with added pro-biotic yoghurt rather than cream. And add fresh tomatoes too.
A glass of fruit juice is a good source of vitamins in the morning, however, it's high in fruit sugar which can cause blood sugar spikes, so dilute with water. During the day snack on nuts and seeds as they are a good source of protein and essential fatty acids, essential for the body to run and burn fat."

Calorie-burning exercise

"The time of day you exercise doesn't have a significant impact on calorie burning. There isn't a best time to work out. However, exercising in the morning helps to kick-start your system and builds endorphin levels to help put you in a good mood for the day. Around 6pm your muscle strength is at its peak and therefore you're less likely to injure yourself. You're also more alert at this time, as research tells us that body temperature and hormones are higher in late afternoon, which means you may get slightly better calorie-burning effect, " advises Steve Miller, lifestyle guru and author of Get Off Your Arse And Lose Weight.
According to Cockcroft, "increasing the amount you exercise will increase muscle-mass, and reduce fat mass. Increasing your body's muscle mass automatically increases your metabolism, as muscle requires more calories to maintain than fat. Try resistance training such as water aerobics or circuit training. During exercise, our bodies use up glycogen stores, so make sure you eat carbohydrate-rich food beforehand such as wholemeal pastas, bread and potatoes."

Source: Yahoo!