Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day?

This is an important information about the right amount of water one must drink everyday. Please read every word of it and make sure to forward the link to your friends as well.

1. 81% of Indians are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population)

2. In 42% of Indians, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in aUniversity of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzyshort term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a ! printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79% and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Sun Safety Tips

Protect Yourself and Your Family Year Round from harmful Sun Radiations

1. Seek the shade, especially during the sun's peak hours (10:00 am - 4:00 pm).
2. Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Sun damage occurs even on cloudy days.
3. Cover up with clothing, especially a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Use long sleeve rash guards with a high SPF rating if you are on the beach or in the water.
4. Avoid tanning parlors and artificial tanning devices.
5. Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements.
6. Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens can be used on babies over the age of six months.
7. Check with your doctor to be sure.
8. Teach children good sun-protective practices.
9. Examine your skin from head to toe once every month.
10.Have a professional medical examination annually.
11.Avoid tanning and especially do not burn! One blistering sunburn can double your risk of melanoma.

* Overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can seriously threaten you and your family's health. Besides the immediate effect of sunburn, long term exposure to excess UV radiation can cause skin cancer, eye damage, immune system suppression, and premature aging.

* Children are highly susceptible to harmful UV radiation. Approximately 23 percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. Just one or two blistering sunburns in childhood can double the risk of developing melanoma.

* Teaching children about sun safety is the key to reducing the risk of future health

problems.

Yoga, Meditation & Simple Life

In Ayurveda, yoga means union, and is a traditional system of healing the mind and body. It is believed that yoga cleanses the body of toxins, improving muscle tone and blood circulation.

An ancient system of practices originating in India, It is aimed at integrating mind, body and spirit to enhance health and well-being. There are many different forms of yoga. Hatha yoga, the most widely practised form of yoga in the Western world uses specific postures and breathing exercises.

Some define Yoga as a spiritual practice which includes posture breath control and meditation. The word is derived from the Sanskrit meaning to bind, join, yoke, direct, to use and apply. In other words, An ancient Indian philosophy and way of life, where complete harmony between our body and mind is achieved by special exercise, breathing and meditation.

1. If the mind is kept cool and calm at all times, you will have wonderful health, strength and vitality.
2. Let any disease remain in your body. Do not bother too much. Develop the powers of endurance and resistance. Strengthen your body, mind and nerves.
3. Take plenty of open-air exercises, substantial nutritious food, medicated oil bath and plenty of rest.
4. Be moderate in food, drink and enjoyments. Lead a spiritual life. All diseases will leave your body by themselves.
5. Do not go to the doctors very often unless emergency. Endeavour to qualify yourself as your own doctor. Understand the laws of nature and the principles of hygiene and health.
6. Bask in the sun. Expose your body to the rays of the sun for a short time daily. This is heliotherapy or sun-treatment. Sun is the source of energy and power. You will derive energy and power from the sun.
7. Soak 12 almonds at night. Remove the skin and take the almonds with some sugarcandy in the early morning. Or you can make a refreshing beverage by grinding these almonds with a little black pepper and sugarcandy. This is a fine, cooling and strength-giving tonic.
8. Rest in bed is necessary. Adjust your diet. Take simple, wholesome, easily digestible, bland and non-irritating food. Give up hot, pungent curries, chutneys and chilliest.
9. If you can fast for a whole day, it is all the better. Fasting eliminates poisons and overhauls the system thoroughly. You can take sago and milk barley water and fruits like sweet oranges, grapes, etc.
10. Observe Brahmacharya. Get up at 4 a.m. And practice Japa of 'Hari Om' or any other Mantra and also meditation for one hour. The Name of the Lord is the best medicine or tonic in the world.
11. You should have intense faith in the power of the Names of the Lord. Incurable diseases are cured by Japa or singing Hari's Name.
12. Meditation creates new, healthy vibrations in all the cells of the body and removes any kind of disease. All the tissues are bathed in the nectar that flows during meditation. All germs that cause diseases are destroyed.
13. Resort to Nature Cure and Yogic Chikitsa. Practise regularly Pranayama, breathing exercises, Asanas, concentration and meditation. This is the ideal treatment.
14. Have a cheerful countenance always. Smile and laugh.

Five fruits that work magic on your skin

Face it. Fruits can make you glow in more ways than one.

1. Papayas
“A papaya contains the enzyme papain, making it an excellent cleanser. It also helps revive blemished and undernourished skin. It is particularly good for oily skin and also lightens skin colour,” says beauty expert Shahnaz Husain.

* Use ripe papaya pulp as it is or mix with oatmeal, honey or curd and apply on your face for 10 minutes. Rinse off with cold water when dry.
* Put a mix of papaya and cucumber pulp under the eyes to minimise dark circles.

2. Apples
“Apart from vitamins and minerals, apples also contain pectin and tannin that help tone and tighten the skin and improve blood circulation. Apples are specially effective for those with sensitive and fair skin,” says natural beauty expert Suparna Trikha.

* To take care of sunburnt skin, add a teaspoon of glycerine to apple pulp (grate the apple or put in mixie) and apply on your face for fifteen minutes. Wash off with cold water.
* For tired and undernourished skin, mix two teaspoons of grated apple, two pieces of mashed papaya, one teaspoon of fresh cream and a teaspoon of China clay. Apply the mixture to a clean face and leave for 15 minutes. Wash off with cold water for healthy looking skin.

3. Bananas
“Fresh, ripe bananas make excellent face masks. Bananas don’t only tighten and cleanse pores, they also revitalise dry skin,” says Dr Shobha Sehgal, head of business, day spa and beauty zone, VLCC.

* Mash two ripe bananas with a tablespoon of honey. Smooth over the face and leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cold water to reveal soft, supple and hydrated skin.

4. Oranges
“The citrus family is best known for its astringent and toning properties. Rub fresh orange peel on your skin to tighten it and lighten the colour,” says beauty expert Shahnaz Husain.

* Take the juice of two oranges and freeze it in an ice tray. Rub your face with the frozen orange juice cubes whenever you need to look good after a tiring day. The orange juice will give your tired, dull and oily face an instant pick-me-up sheen.

5. Pomegranates
“Pomegranates are excellent for oily and combination skin. Rich in AHA, pomegranate juice acts as an astringent and is a natural toner too,” says Suparna Trikha.

* Pound pomegranate seeds and use as a face scrub. This will remove excess oil and make your skin look fresh.
* Using cottonwool, massage around 50 ml pomegranate juice on your face for 10 minutes. Wash off for an instant glow.