Empty Calories

Our body needs proper nutrition with all the nutrients in right amount. Empty calories usually provide only calories and are low in nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Mostly junk foods are filled with empty calories. Soda and carbonated beverages provide empty calories which are not good for health. Examples of foods containing empty calories are refined cereals, fried foods, chips, beer, wine, candy, cookies, pastries fried chicken etc. Empty calories are not fulfilling the hunger but still provide high calories, and leave hunger for the next diet. Empty calorie foods are not a good option for proper health.

Tips to avoid empty calories:

• Avoid fried foods.
• Avoid sweetened and canned drinks.
• Avoid carbonated beverages.
• Avoid refined cereals. 

DPT Vaccine

DPT Commonly known as triple vaccine refers to a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus. 0.5ml of DTP vaccine is given through intramuscular route on the anterolateral aspect of thigh.

Recommended age:

• It should be given 6-8 weeks after birth.
• Three doses have to be taken at 4 weeks interval followed by 2 booster doses at 1.5 and 5 yrs of age.

DPT vaccine is not recommended after 6-7 yrs of age, DT should also be used for the following:

• A child having convulsions within 3 days of receiving the vaccine.
• Reaction to first dose.
• Persistent screaming within 72 hrs of injection.
• Hyperpyrexia.

Remedy for Under Eye Dark circles

Lack of proper sleep, exposure to hot Sun and some allergies are responsible for the formation of under eye circles. This makes the eyes to look tired and puffy. The following are some of the tips to lighten the skin under eye area.

Sleep: This plays a vital role in beauty, eight hour sleep is good for health and skin.

Alcohol: Say no to alcohol as it dilates the blood vessels under the skin, which can cause under-eye circles to become even more prominent.

Keep a pillow: Lifting the head while sleeping can help to keep fluid from collecting under your eyes which leads to dark circles.

Vitamins: Deficiencies of Vitamin B, A or C and lack of antioxidants may result in dark circles. Add proper nutrients to diet; add a multivitamin as daily routine.

Stay cool: Cold compresses helps in reducing dark circles as it reduces swelling beneath the eyes. Apply cucumber juice or green tea bags which revitalize the skin while reducing the puffiness.

Alpha hydroxy acids lotion: Apply a lotion containing Alpha hydroxy acids as it plump up the thin skin beneath the eyes and activate the blood vessels that create the dark circles.

Sunscreen: Exposure to sun may increase the melanin and darken the skin which leads to dark circles, apply a sunscreen which has SPF around the eyes and cover the eyes with sunglasses.

Make up: Mask the dark circles with make up if other treatment doesn’t help, use a concealer to lighten the skin shade.

Visit a clinic: A doctor would help in providing intensive treatment to help dark circles through chemical peels, laser treatments or injectable fillers like Restylane.

Health Benefits Of Lemon Tea

Lemon tea is a popular beverage that gives the drinker a refreshing experience of drinking tea with its citrusy aroma and tang. Lemon has many medicinal properties, while tea has a refreshing property and when the two are combined their benefits are compounded. If you prefer soda or coffee to tea, why don’t you just give lemon tea a try and see the difference? Not only you will find the taste likable, but the health benefits that you will get from it are immense as well. While lemon helps to eliminate the harmful toxins from the blood, tea is a natural energy booster that refreshes you within minutes. Nothing is as refreshing as iced lemon tea especially on a hot summer’s day. If you love green tea, you can jazz it up by adding a few drops of fresh lemon juice. If you wish to know the different health benefits of lemon tea, then steer through the following section to learn more.

Health Benefits Of Lemon Tea:

• Lemon tea helps to eliminate harmful toxins from the blood that are produced as end products of different metabolic activities. By removing the toxins from the blood, lemon tea helps keep the body system clean.
• Lemon tea acts as a great energy booster. It refreshes the mind and body and helps you get a new start to carry on with your work.
• The lemon is loaded with natural antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties and thus helps to fight different infections and diseases. Lemon tea is particularly good to combat the common cold.
• Lemon tea has a soothing effect on the stomach. If you are suffering from digestion problems, then drink a cup of hot steaming lemon tea as it will help you get some relief.
• The natural antioxidant property of the lemon helps to eliminate harmful toxins from the blood. This reduces the risk of developing cancer. Plus, it also promotes a clear skin and helps fight off signs of aging.
• Lemon tea acts as a purifying agent, and to get maximum benefits from it drink lemon tea early in the mornings.
• Drinking lemon tea early in the morning helps you to stay fresh throughout the day, plus it also boosts your metabolic rate.
• If you are on any weight loss diet program, then lemon tea is particularly beneficial for you.
• Are you feeling weary and tired? If yes, just sip a cup of hot steaming lemon tea. There is nothing like hot lemon tea that provides you energy instantly and refreshes your body.
• Iced lemon tea is particularly good during summers. A glass of lemon tea during hot summer months charges you up instantly.
• Lemon is rich in vitamin C which has cleansing properties, plus, studies have shown that vitamin C also helps to slow down symptoms of arthritis.

If you are a green tea lover, just add a few drops of lemon juice to it! Not only you will love the taste, but the health benefits you get from lemon green tea are enormous. When lemon juice is added to green tea it boosts its antioxidant property, as the combination of lemon juice with green tea complement each other very well.
Now that you are familiar with the different lemon tea benefits, next time you feel tired just try lemon tea. You are definitely going to love it!

Benefits of Organic Shampoo for Hair Care

We all have heard about the benefits of buying organic products and items made of organic substances. But very rarely do we have tried to investigate the benefits of organic shampoo for our hair care. This can be mainly due to the high market prices of the organic shampoos where as the normal shampoos are much cheaper in comparison. However, we must keep in mind that the traditional shampoos though are cheaper, contain various harmful chemicals and toxins that instead of maintaining our hair, compliment in their damage.

There is no doubt that organic products of all types are gaining popularity. Whether it is food, clothing or personal care products, consumers are becoming more savvy and educated. People are beginning to realize the harmful effects that the non-organic products have on their body and on the environment and therefore, the trend is shifting towards the use of organic products.

The benefits of organic shampoos and conditioner are as follows:

• Hair and scalp receive the benefits of various natural ingredients that are present their in the shampoo.
• Organic shampoos comprise of natural extracts without chemicals.
• They are more gentle on the skin.
• They contain extra vitamins.
• They are free of toxic chemicals.
• They are non-irritant in nature and stimulate new hair growth.
• They don’t leave any residue behind on the scalp while rinsing.

Some of the common organic shampoo ingredients can include organic lavender water, French lavender essential oils, citric acid, organic tea tree oil, soy protein, rock salt, vitamin E, vitamin B5, chamomile herbs and bergamot amongst many others.

Organic products are not subjected to any kind of animal testing prior coming to the market. Therefore, they are preferred by many people who are against the cruel and inhumane testing of the products on the animals. The use of organic shampoos removes the risks of reactions and long term harmful products.

True organic shampoo and conditioner products offer a wealth of benefits for your hair and scalp that will be immediately noticeable. When we use organic shampoos and conditioners, we are also helping our environment by letting bio-degradable substances go down the drain and not harsh chemicals.