The Natural Way To Slimming

Obesity and beauty do not go together. It is difficult to look beautiful with bulges in the wrong places. Excess weaight affects the face and figure. It also shakes one's self confidence. Pride in one's appearance plays an important part in being beautiful.

Obesity is also serious health hazard as the extra fat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys and liver, as well as on the large weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees and ankles. This ultimately shortens the life span. It has been rightly said, 'the longer the belt, the shorter the life'. Overweight persons are suceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis, heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, gout, liver and gallbladder disorders. Trimming your figure is, therefore, necessary for the sake of both goods looks and health.

The chief cause of obesity, most often, is overeating that is, the intake of calories beyond the body's energy requirment. Some persons are in the habit of eating much, while others may be in the habit of consuming high calorie foods. These persons gain weight continuously as they fail to adjust their appetite to reduced energy requirments. There has, in recent times, been an increasing awareness of the psychological aspects of abesity. Persons who are generally unhappy, lonely or unloved and those who are discontented with their families, or social or financial standing. usually take solace in over-eating.

Obesity is sometimes also the result of disturbances of the thyroid or pituitary gland. But grandular disorders account for only about two per cent of the total incidence of obesity. In such persons the metabolism rate is low and they keep gaining weight unless they take a low calorie diet.

Care for feet

One should not forget about looking after the feet because they are hidden. They need regular care not only to make them look good but also to avoid such crippling conditions like corns and callouses, which can lead to painful feet. Besides, the strain of tried and aching feet will adversely affect even the most beautiful face. It will also cause a loss of balance while walking and promote tension and irritability.

111-fitting shoes are the most likely cause of foot problems. Shoes should therefore be always chosen for comfort. They should support the arch of the foot well and should allow ample room for the toes. Shoes with high heels and pointed toes should never be worn as these prove harmful.

Like the hands, the feet should be kept in good shape with a few simple exercises. A useful exercise for the feet is to arch the ankles, bend the toes and flex the whole foot first thing in the morning. Walking is one of the best exercises for the feet. Feet that are sore and swollen after a long day, should be relaxed by placing them. In case of cold feet a massage with olive oil will help greatly. An ancient remedy for tried feet is to soak them alternately in hot and cold water, finishing with the cold water. Soaking the feet in warm water, to which Epson salts or special foot salts have been added, can be very soothing, but the feet should be rubbed over afterwards with eau-de-cologne to counteract any softening effect.

The toe nails should be given as much attention as the nails of the hands. An orange stick tipped with cotton wool should be used to clean around the nails. Particular attention should be paid to the sides of the nails where dirt tends to collect. Thereafter, a generous amount of moisturizing body lotion should be rubbed all over the feet.

To keep the feet smelling fresh, especially in hot weather, a deodorizing talcum powder should be applied each morning after washing. Socks, if used, should be washed daily.

The knees also to be looked after. The should be made weat and rubbed thoroughly with two tablespoons of powdered groundnut mixed with a tablespoon of salt. After a few minutes, they should be rinsed and a film of sesame oil mixed with a few drops of vinegar should be apllied. Regular massage in this manner will keep them in good condition.

Care For Finger Nails

Like the hair, nails are composed of keratin which is formeed mainly from protein and calcium. Therefore a diet rich in these two nutrients is an essential part of healthy nails. Nails that are in poor condition are indicative of poor general health.

Like the hands, the fingers nails are constanly subsjected to abuse. So any hand care programe should incorporate the nails. They will benefit from regular incorporate the nails. They will benefit from regular applications of a rich moisturizer such as a night cream.

An orange stick tipped with cotton wool should be used to clean beneath the nails. An orange stick should be used to gently shape the cuticles, to avoid breaking of the skin. The best time to shape the cuticles is after the hands have been in water, as it softnes the skin and makes the cuticles ready for shaping. Alternatively, the fingers can be soaked in a little vegetable oil, or in warm water and herbal shmpoo for a few minutes.

Drinking cider vinegar each day is believed to help strengthen the nails, as well as beaing good for general health. A tablespoon of the vinear should be taken in a glass of water three times a day before meals.

A useful remedy for keeping the hands young and beautiful is to dip them upto the wrist, in a bowl of milk. Then blot and apply three tablespoons of lanolin mixed with one tablespoon of sesame oil (til) on the hands and wrists. This should be done once a week.
Exercising the hands helps to make them flexible and improves circulation. The following exercises many be done, repeating them six to ten times.
1. Clench your fists tightly for a second. Then throw open the fingers as wide as possible.
2. Put your hands out in front of you, palm down. Press the fingers tightly against each other and then thrust them apart as wide as possile.
3. Allow the hands to be limp and relaxed. Then rotate them from the wrists in circles, first clockwise and then anti-clockwise.

If the hands are tired, soak them for a few minutes in warm water, to which about two or three tablespoons of salt have been added. This helps to soothe them. Another treatment which stimulates circulation is to soak the hands alternatively in hot and cold water. This also soothes the nerve ending.

Cleaning

Each night the hands should be washed with a mild soap and scrubbed thoroughly with a face brush. Incase of hard skin, it should be whizzed over with a pumice stone. If the fingers are stained due to vegetable or nicotine, they should be rubbed with lime. This will help bleach the stain. They should then be rinsed well and dried thoroughly.

The hands should be treated once o twice a week to a massage with a really rich cream. This should be precedded by soaking them in warm oil, preferbly olive or almond, for five to 30 minutes.
This is a good treatment for dry hands and nails.

Protection.

The most important factor for proper care of hands is that they should properly dried with a towel after every contact with water. The longer the water remains on the skin the more dehydrating it is. It is essential to protect them in such a way that they do not come into direct contact with a constant barrage of chemicals. A pair of rubber gloves should be worm for all household chres like washing and cleaning. One may feel uncomfortable, but will get used to it if a pair of fine rubber gloves is chosen. Cotton gloves can be worm for jobs where the hands do not come in contact with water.

Caring for hands and feet

Beautiful hands an essential complement to a woman's beauty. With proper care, almost any pair of hands can look beautiful. The state of one's hands cannot be kept hidden from view, however much one may try to do so. As with most things, preventing trouble is considerably easier than curing it.

The hands hands and fingers are one of the busiest parts of the body. They are expoed to all kinds of weather conditions. They also constantly come in contact with water which contains such poerful chemical solutions as washing poeder, bleach and washing-up liquids. The hands are therefore one of the first parts of the body to show signs of neglect and ageing. The guidlines for keeping them in proper shape are discussed herein.