5 THINGS THAT CAUSE DANDRUFF AND 3 FOODS THAT WILL CURE IT

Dandruff is a condition of the scalp that can be embarrassing, causing flakes of skin to appear in the hair and fall onto clothes. Dandruff is a common condition marked by itching, and in some cases is not easy to treat.

There is a natural cycle of skin renewal that can be caused to speed up, leading to patches of dead skin forming on the surface of the scalp. What causes the skin renewal cycle to speed up is not always clear, but below you will find the typical culprits.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

This is a common condition that causes oily skin, and people with it are very prone to dandruff. This can also affect many areas of the skin, including the backs of the ears, the breastbone, eyebrows, the sides of the nose and anywhere where skin folds together, such as the armpits. It causes red, greasy skin that's covered with flaky white or yellow scales.

Fungus (Malassezia)

Malassezia is a fungus that lives on everybody's scalp, and typically causes no issues at all, but it can grow out of control. It feeds on the oils our hair follicles secrete, then causes the scalp can become irritated and produce extra skin cells. These extra skin cells die and falloff, then mixes with the oil on the hair and scalp. Reddish, scaly plaques may also appear in the eyebrows, on the forehead, in the ear canal, on the folds of skin that extend from the nostril to the lips. Although the skin affected may feel and look dry, this is not the case.

These two issues are thought to be interlinked, as the presence of the fungus on skin may provoke an abnormal response from the immune system, which can then cause skin to become oily. Then the oiliness of the skin encourages more growth of the fungus, which then triggers dandruff.

Yeast

People who are sensitive to yeast have a slightly higher risk of having dandruff. These yeast-sensitive people find that it gets better during the warmer months and worse during the winter. UVA light from the sun counteracts the yeast. The skin is drier due to cold air and overheated rooms during the winter, making dandruff more likely. So, it is sometimes not that easy to know whether it is yeast or just dry skin.

Certain Skin Conditions

People with psoriasis, eczema and other skin disorders tend to get dandruff much more frequently than other people. Other conditions like the cold winter air, combined with overheated rooms is a common cause of dandruff because it creates dry skin that presents itself as small flakes of dandruff, that are not oily.

Diet

Certain foods in your daily diet might be the cause of your dandruff problem. From food allergies to nutritional deficiencies, there are many potential diet-related causes of dandruff.  Some experts say that people who do not consume enough foods that contain zinc, B vitamins, and some types of fats are more prone to dandruff.

Foods That Help

• Step Up Your Zinc Intake: Clinical trials have shown zinc supplementation to be effective at controlling sebum production. Zinc requires vitamin B6 for proper absorption in the intestines, and is found in a variety of food like oysters, red meat, poultry, legumes, nuts, and grains.
• Add Allicin to Your Diet: Allicin is a potent health promoting compound found in garlic, onions and scallions, when these items are crushed or chopped. It has been shown to promote heart and cardiovascular health, prevent and treat cancer, and reduce high blood pressure, but it also helpful for people with dandruff due to its anti-fungal properties.
• Eat Plenty of Foods Rich in B Vitamins: If you are struggling with dandruff, eat plenty of foods rich in B vitamins. Evidence shows that B6 (pyridoxine) and B12 (riboflavin), can help reduce dandruff. It has been suggested that inefficient metabolism of carbohydrates and fatty acids could be one of the underlying causes of dandruff, and B-complex vitamins are known to play a crucial role in metabolic processes. Vitamin B6 can be found in a variety of foods like beans, meat, poultry, fish, and some fruits & vegetables.

Foods To Avoid

• Reduce Sugar Consumption: A diet high in sugar that rapidly raises blood sugar levels can make dandruff worse in some people. Dandruff is often attributed to the Candida yeast, and sugary foods promote the overgrowth of this yeast in the body. Sugar also depletes the body of B vitamins, which are a key component of any anti-dandruff diet. A high intake of sugar also impacts the levels of antioxidant vitamins C and E in the body.
•  Eliminate Food Allergens: Food allergies to dairy products or to wheat can cause dandruff in some people. What causes an allergic reaction in one person, however, may not cause a reaction in another. An elimination diet can be used to identify which foods worsen dandruff in an individual. This means removing any food or that is suspected of causing an allergy or intolerance from your diet for two to four weeks. If dandruff has disappeared or reduced significantly, the suspected foods and substances can be re-introduced to the diet, one food at a time. Systematically going through all the suspected allergens one by one, by consuming a suspect food or substance several times a day and then returning to the elimination diet for a few days. If symptoms re-occur or worsen during this time, the person could be allergic to the food or chemical that was re-introduced.

Some Illnesses

For reasons that are unclear, people with Parkinson's disease, neurological illnesses or severe head injuries are more prone to having dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Patients recovering fromheart attacks and strokes and some people with weak immune systems may have dandruff more often than other people. Some people who have weakened immune systems, such as those on chemotherapy or those with HIV disease or certain neurological disorders, may have very severe seborrhea. One study found that 10.6% of people with HIV have seborrheic dermatitis. There are also a variety of other inflammatory diseases that can produce excessive scaling and therefore dandruff, including psoriasis, fungal infection of the scalp skin (tinea capitis), and allergic contact dermatitis.

Mental Stress

Experts believe there is a link between stress and many skin problems. Stress causes the body to react to challenges and affects a person’s mental and physical well-being, which changes our hormones.  These changes in hormones can cause an over-secretion of oil on the scalp, leading to dandruff. Keeping stress levels to a minimum and making subtle changes in lifestyle can reduce the likelihood of its occurrence.

Not Enough Shampooing or Hair Brushing

While poor hygiene is not the main cause of dandruff but it is one of the factors that worsen the condition. Infrequent shampooing and washing, along with the hot and humid weather or cold and dry weather, aggravate the occurrence of dandruff. Regular shampooing and using anti-fungal items, are proven to be an effective and safe way of controlling dandruff. Some people have found that if they don't shampoo enough, there can be a buildup of oil and dead skin cells. Also, those who do not comb or brush their hair regularly, have a slightly higher risk of dandruff because they are not aiding the shedding of skin that combing or brushing provides.

Reaction To Hair Care Products

Some people are sensitive to hair styling products, such that hairsprays, mousse, and gels may make things worse, as they can react with a red, itchy, scaling scalp. Many experts say that shampooing too often may cause dandruff as it can irritate the scalp. Hair styling products can cause excessive skin drying and flaking. In addition to that, excessive use of hair styling products may trigger intense allergic reactions.

Home Remedies For Dandruff

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is amazing and helps eliminate dandruff due to its fabulous anti-fungal properties. It also moisturizes dry scalp and provides relief from itching.

• Take some coconut oil and mix half the amount of lemon juice in it.
• Rub it on your scalp and massage for a few minutes.
• Wash your hair after.
• Do this two to three times a week.

Lemon Juice

Lemons contain acids that fight the fungi that can cause dandruff, and helps relieve itching on the scalp.

• Mix the juice of half a lemon in one-quarter cup of plain yogurt.
• Apply it on your hair and scalp, and leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off and shampooing.
• You can also just massage your scalp with a few teaspoons of lemon juice mixed with a little water. Leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing it out and shampooing your hair.
• Repeat either of these remedies a few times a week.

Apple Cider & White Vinegar

Treating dandruff with apple cider vinegar is effective, as it restores the pH balance of the scalp, and it inhibits the growth of yeast. It also works as a natural hair clarifier and helps clean clogged pores and hair follicles. White vinegar also works because it has acetic acid that prevents growth of fungi and relieves itching.

• Add one-half cup of vinegar to two cups of water.
• Rinse your hair with this mixture after shampooing your hair.
• You can also massage your scalp with a mixture of two parts white vinegar, one part olive oil and three parts water.
• After 10 minutes, rinse it off and shampoo your hair.
• Follow either of these remedies once or twice a week.

Olive Oil

Scalp dryness can be cured with regular use of extra-virgin olive oil, an effective natural moisturizer.

• Lightly warm some extra virgin olive oil.
• Massage it onto your scalp and then wrap your hair in a warm towel.
• Leave it on for at least 45 minutes or overnight and then shampoo and condition your hair.
• Repeat this remedy a few times a week.

Baking Soda

Because it's a mild exfoliant, baking soda helps remove dead skin cells and absorbs excess oil. It can also help balance pH levels on the scalp and reduce the growth of fungi that cause dandruff.

• Wet your hair and rub a handful of baking soda onto your scalp.
• After a couple of minutes, rinse hair well with warm water.
• Do not shampoo your hair after this treatment.
• Repeat once or twice a week for a few weeks.

Tea Tree Oil

This oil has strong anti-fungal properties, that makes it a good treatment for dandruff.

• Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shampoo when you wash your hair. Add one drop of this essential oil per ounce of shampoo.
• You can also dilute the oil by adding a few drops of tea tree oil to a tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil. Apply it on your hair, leave it on for at least 30 minutes or overnight and then wash your hair. Do this once or twice a week.

PROTEIN FOUND IN TOMATOES CAN PREVENT AGE RELATED MUSCLE LOSS

Age brings lots of things with it, but not all of them are as welcome as the wisdom that comes with a long life. Aging is associated with muscle weakness and loss. To some degree, this is inevitable. However, the more muscle you lose and the more muscle strength you lose, the greater risk you are at for injury or bone breaks.

Protecting the muscles and bones of aging adults is one of the keys to improving the quality of life for elderly adults and minimizing medical expenses. New research in this area indicates that a simple change in diet may have a positive impact on muscle loss and muscle strength.

Age-Related Muscle Loss

Age-related muscle loss is known as sarcopenia. Generally, the weaker you are prior to getting sarcopenia, the more severely it affects you. While strength training and working out may help you prevent muscle loss, that advice is not helpful once you have already suffered muscle loss.

Researchers have spent many years trying to find a way to restore muscle function and strength to aging adults. A recent study that isolated a protein found in tomatoes appears to be the key

Reversing Sarcopenia

For many years, experts have believed that the only way to stop muscle loss is to prevent it. However, this study indicates that it may actually be possible to cure muscle loss. Ursolic acid and tomatidine are the two chemicals that were isolated in this study.

In both cases, the chemicals stopped muscle loss caused by inactivity and starvation. Researchers divided mice into two groups, and each group received either tomatidine or ursolic acid. Both groups experienced an increase in muscle mass and muscle strength.

This data suggests that these chemicals can return muscles to the same level as a young adult’s.

Further research indicates that these chemicals stop muscle loss by turning off the effects of the protein ATF4 in muscles. ATF4 contributes to muscle weakness caused by aging, so making muscles unresponsive to this protein can reverse muscle weakness.

How This Affects Your Diet

The findings of this research are already being translated into different projects and programs to help reverse age-related muscle loss. The chemicals tested are found naturally in tomatoes, green tomatoes, and apples. Simply increasing your intake of these foods can help you reduce your risk of sarcopenia.

Furthermore, additional research is going on to find out what other foods contain these chemicals in high amounts. As research explores the possibilities of this finding, you may find that more and more muscle-building super foods are hitting the market.

Of course, it is also important to maintain your muscle mass and strength through exercise. While cardiovascular exercise is great for your heart, strength training is what protects you from the loss of muscle strength and mass.

This research could change the lives of millions of people. An increase in muscle strength and mass for older adults could mean fewer injuries, less time spent in emergency care, and lower medical costs.

BREAKING STUDY: GIVE PEANUT BUTTER TO CHILDREN TO AVOID ALLERGIES LATER IN LIFE

Being a parent is tough. Whether you are on your first or your 10th child, parenting advice and wisdom seems to change on a nearly daily basis. What was done a decade ago or even one year ago is now considered dangerous. However, all of this information can help you make better choices for your children.

For example, consider the increase in food allergies in recent years. Folk wisdom suggests that holding off on these foods until a child is older decreases the risk of allergy development. Find out how the latest research challenges that and what it means for your parenting.

Why the Old Wisdom is Wrong

If you have ever taken a baby to a well baby visit, you’ve likely had a doctor tell you that you should hold off on feeding your child common allergens until they are at least one year old. Some doctors even recommend waiting until the age of two or older.

However, the research simply does not back this up. Peanut allergies are at an all-time high, putting children at risk for deadly allergic reactions every day. Scientists suggest that rather than keeping peanuts away from children, parents should be introducing them earlier

Introducing Potential Allergens Early

There are several scientific studies that back up this idea. Researchers looked at huge bodies of data from different populations, one of which commonly feeds peanut products to babies and one which does not.

The results showed that children in cultures that feed them peanuts at an early age are statistically less likely to develop peanut allergies than children from cultures where peanuts are not introduced until later in life.

This research has been replicated multiple times, which indicates that it is information to act on, rather than a fluke.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has changed their guidelines to encourage parents to feed their children peanuts between the ages of 4 months and 11 months to reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy

What to Watch For

Despite this recommendation, it is so important to always keep your individual child in mind when making feeding decisions. If one of your other children has a peanut allergy or peanut allergies run in the family, you may want to consult with a medical professional before introducing this food at a young age.

Since peanuts are such a common allergen, you should be familiar with the signs of an allergic reaction before you introduce this food to your child. Some signs of allergic reactions include:

• Hives, redness, or swelling of the face, tongue, or mouth

• Itchiness

• Difficulty breathing

• Stomach upset

If you suspect a peanut allergy, your health care practitioner can help you create a plan and a course of action for your child.

Further research may look at if this trend is true of all potential allergens. Medical professionals often recommend avoiding strawberries because of their allergen status, a trend that we may see change in coming years. Research and further study can help you make the best parenting choices you can.

5 EASY RUNNING WORKOUTS THAT BURN FAT AND HELP YOU GAIN MUSCLE

For many people, running is simply the best workout available. It releases stress, helps burn fat, and can be done anywhere you have a pair of shoes and the right attire. However, running has lost some of its popularity in recent years, since many people think that it ruins your muscle development. New research says otherwise.

Benefits of Running

Exercise researchers still believe that running is an excellent way to lose weight, broadcast, and build muscle. However, rather than recommending long runs that last an hour or more, trainers now recommend intermittent exercise. This involves changing your pace fairly frequently. This routine leads to faster muscle growth.

Tempo with 5-Minute Speed Bursts

If you are used to running long distances or keeping a steady pace throughout your entire run, this running workout may be a great way for you to start getting into HIIT. These runs typically last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or more. What is important is that you maintain a steady competition pace.

Working intervals into your workouts can really change how you build muscle and burn fat. To start, run at a slightly faster pace for five minutes in the middle of your workout. Add these faster intervals throughout your workout, occasionally increasing your speed.

400-Meter Sprint

400 meters doesn’t sound like a lot until you are trying to run this same distance over and over for your workout. The idea of this workout is to run 400 meters as fast as you can, pushing yourself to the limit each round. In between each run, give yourself 90 to 120 seconds of rest. You should only do this routine one time per week because of how intense it is.

Depending on your fitness level, you may start with two to five 400-meter runs in your first week. As you pick up speed and develop cardiovascular strength, you can work your way up to seven 400-meter runs per workout.

Intervals

Intervals are perhaps the most flexible type of HIIT workout. Rather than following a strict time schedule, you use your experience to determine how fast you should run and how long you should run. One popular routine involves running as fast as you can for one minute and recovering for 30 seconds.

You can repeat this interval as many times as you need to get a full workout. Change up your speed, your interval times, and your best times to aid in the process of muscle confusion.

Fartlek

This Swedish running workout is one of the easiest to incorporate in your routine. You do need to run outside, rather than on a treadmill, to do this. While running, look for a visual landmark—trees, houses, lampposts, and benches all work well. Run to that point at max speed and then take a short recovery period.

Sprint Intervals

Many runners enjoy the fast-paced nature of this running routine. Simply run as fast as you possibly can for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds. Repeat this cycle eight times. Studies indicate that repeating this workout three times per week can maximize your results.

Hot Warm Water With Honey And Lemon. Here’s What Happened After A Year!?

Instead of reaching the medications as first aid, when you need to boost your immunity, you should rather opt for a natural and safe way to achieve the same effects. A woman called has created her own natural 3- ingredient immunity boosting solution that is far better than any item you can buy in the nearest pharmacy.

This recipe astounds all that have tried it, since it shows extremely beneficial immunity boosting results! The best thing about it is that its preparation is the simplest possible: you just need to squeeze 1/2 lemon and mix it with a tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm water. That is all!

Health Benefits

This amazing mixture has been found to offer more than 10 health benefits by research studies.  These studies were published in the Underground Health and thehealthsite.com. The practice of drinking a glass of warm water with lemon and honey in the morning was discovered to have extraordinary healing properties.

The most important benefits are the following:

• Helps in fighting constipation
• Stretches the skin and makes it appear younger
• Soothes the nerves and makes you feel relaxed
• Fighting against the harmful effects of gastric juices
• Fighting bad breath
• It has antimicrobial properties
• Helps strengthen immunity
• Speeds up your metabolic rate
• Helps heal cold and cough
• Helps remove toxins from your body

Chrystal Davis of Elephant Journal tested the health benefits of this recipe on herself for a period of one year and these are her findings:

• Before the treatment, her immune system was weak and catching a cold was an everyday event. But once she began taking a glass of warm water containing lemon and honey every morning, her health improved dramatically! There were no longer any instances of cold or flu. In addition, she no longer suffered from gastric acid issues as well.
• She no longer had to deal with those nasty headaches if she missed her morning cup of coffee! She bid adieu to her addiction to caffeine and found herself to be full of energy in carrying out all her daily activities.

There are tons of people who have been able to treat themselves with this recipe, most often in cases of flu and colds, but there are also others who are doubtful when thinking of a treatment with a glass of warm water with lemon and honey as the best solution for their health issues.  Nevertheless, it is worth the try, you won’t regret it!

Drinking Lemon Water on Empty Stomach Immediately After Waking Up!

Water by itself is amazingly good for you. It keeps you hydrated, it flushes out toxins and it keeps your skin looking great; however, if you want to add a little zip to your water, squeeze in some lemon juice. Not only will you add more flavor to your water with lemon juice, but you’ll reap a ton of benefits.

How can lemon water improve your health? Here are 20 different ways:

1. It reduces inflammation. Lemon water, if consumed on a regular basis, will decrease the acidity in your body. It will also remove the uric acid in your joints, which is the leading cause of painful inflammation.
2. It helps with digestion. Lemons are an excellent way to encourage healthy digestion because they have the ability to loosen toxins that lie in the digestive tract. As such, it helps to relieve the side effects of indigestion, including bloating, burping and heartburn.
3. Aids in weight loss. Lemon has pectin fiber in it, which helps to curb those hunger cravings that can lead you to impulse eat and put on weight.
4. It detoxifies you. Lemons flush toxins out of your system, helping to boost the enzyme function and stimulating the liver.
5. Makes your skin look good. The antioxidants in lemons aren’t only good for your insides; they’re good for your outsides, too.
6. Keeps the immune system in check. Lemons are high in vitamin C, which keeps the immune system in tip-top shape.
7. Lots of potassium. Lemons are loaded with this stuff that is good for the health of your brain, your heart and your nerves.
8. Keeps your breath fresh. Need to freshen your breath? Just sip on some lemon water and it will do the trick.
9. Boosts your energy. Lemon juice has the ability to provide the body with energy, which helps to reduce anxiety and depression.
10. Reduces the use of caffeine. Swap your morning java for a cup of warm lemon water and you’ll feel refreshed and energized and you won’t have to worry about that crash.
11. It balances your pH levels, which helps to make you feel good and look good.
12. It’s great for the growth and multiplication of pathogenic bacteria, which cause infections and diseases.
13. It helps to encourage the production of bile.
14. Lemon water prevents the growth of bacteria in your system.
15. It replenishes brain and nerve cells.
16. It balances the calcium and oxygen levels n the liver.
17. It helps replenish salt in the body, especially at the completion of a heavy workout.
18. It neutralizes the body.
19. It’s very hydrating.
20. Lemon water is good for reducing wrinkles. Just apply water that has been infused with lemons to the skin and you’ll see less wrinkles in no time.

This Meal Will Change Your Life: Recipe For The Healthiest Breakfast in The World

Breakfast is considered to be the most important meal during the day, so you should be eating the healthiest food at this time of the day. The breakfast helps in improving several bodily functions.

We will now present you one unique breakfast recipe that will provide numerous important benefits: It will help you lose weight, it will boost your immune system, strengthen your body’s defense against infections and viral attacks and improve your hair’s shine. What is great about it is that it is done quickly and easily!

Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon apple pectin
• 1 tablespoon honey
•  1 cup yogurt
• 30 drops propolis
• 3 tablespoons of oatmeal and preferred dried fruit
• 40 to 50 g ground walnuts
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preparation of apple pectin:

Pectin is a plant fiber, and it is found in apple in high percentages. This water soluble dietary fiber helps you feel full.

Its preparation is easy. First, take 2 pound apple and 2.5 liter of water. Wash the fruits, core them out and mince them into smaller pieces.

Add the minced apple pieces into boiling water, and leave them in the boiling water to cook for another 30 minutes, stirring it constantly. Then, strain it and store the prepared pectin into clean jars.

Breakfast Preparation

After the apple pectin is ready, mix it with the yogurt and keep it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, add the remaining ingredients and mix well again. The breakfast is ready.

Leave the mixture at room temperature so that the yogurt and oatmeal melt first, and then you can consume it.

This healthy recipe can be enjoyed every day and you will start noticing the improvements within a few days, it will help strengthen your body’s defense against diseases and it will help you lose weight.