Pore clogging is possibly the most common skin issue that people (irrespective of male and female) experience especially during their teenage and sometimes even throughout their life.  Unless and until the clogged pores give us severe breakouts, they are quite harmless. However, what bothers us the most is that they are highly annoying as well as embarrassing. It has long been thought that the trapping of dirt, dead skin cells and excess sebum is the one and only reason lying behind the clogging of pores. But advanced studies have proved that our diet is also another culprit of it. So, let’s figure out the rules of eating for preventing and getting rid of clogged pores:

How To Plan Your Diet For Clogged Pores?

Diet and pore clogging are closely linked to each other. If you are desperately trying to put a stop to this frustrating issue, you have to pay attention to your nutrition.  According to experts, a diet that is not so healthy and nutritious may cause clogged pores, thereby leading to blackheads, whiteheads, acne, and other similar breakouts eventually. To be more precise, a diet that is rich in high glycemic index carbohydrates, refined sugar, omega-6 fatty acids, etc. with lack of sufficient proteins and skin-nourishing vitamins is known to overactivate our sebaceous glands. As a result, we end up having clogged skin pores.

Now, here is a simple guideline for you about what to and what not to eat for fighting the condition successfully:

A. What Not To Eat:

We will start with a list of food items that should not be included in your diet to keep your skin pores clean and open.

When it comes to pore clogging, foods with a high glycemic index are always considered as the main culprit. They basically elevate the levels of sugar in our blood, which causes oversecretion of insulin. It triggers the excess production of sebum as well as skin cells, and ultimately results into clogged pores. The more you eat high GI foods like white breads, puffed wheat, bagels, corn chips, cornflakes, donuts, jelly beans, pretzels, French breads, etc., the more you become vulnerable to the condition.

Too much consumption of milk and other dairy products, such as butter, cheese, ice-cream, cream sauce, etc. can take a toll on your skin pores. They come packed with natural sugar and a lot of hormonal as well as other additives, which increase the release of insulin hormone inside our body and contribute to pore clogging significantly.

Processed or highly refined foods have become very much popular all through the world these days. But the truth is that they are not so healthy for our skin. In fact, most of them are known to have high glycemic index and excess sugar content, which cause insulin spikes in our blood, thereby clogging the pores gradually.

You should also steer clear of fried foods that contain too much unhealthy fats. In most of the cases, these foods are prepared with low-quality oils that are highly processed. It gives the production of insulin hormone a boost in our body and aggravates the condition of pore clogging to a large extent.

Also Read – 5 Natural Homemade Astringent to Shrink Your Pores Here

Try to limit the amount of salt in your diet as much as possible. Excessive salty foods can dehydrate your body and make your skin swelled, which are closely linked to both pore clogging and acne formation.

It has been seen that iodine, if taken in considerably high quantities, can irritate our skin and clog the pores present in it. Shellfish like shrimp, lobster, crab, etc. are very much high in this mineral and hence, should be avoided to prevent such irritating skin condition.

Treating yourself with lots of chocolates may turn out to be a curse for your skin pores. These sweet delights are loaded with sugar and milk, which increases the secretion of sebaceous glands, thereby making the pores clogged.

Apart from these, you must stay away from coffee, caffeinated tea, alcohol and other similar items that can clog your skin pores up by throwing off your hormonal balance.

 B. What To Eat:

Now when you have got an idea about which food items to ditch for a poreless skin, here is a list of eatables that should actually be included in your diet to stay blemish-free:

Now you can easily beat those ugly clogged pores with this exclusive food guide. So folks, are you ready?

Hair problems have become common for every woman. Most of them are too busy to take care of their hair but in most cases, it is the pollution that causes trouble. Taking care of hair is possible using hundreds of hair care products that have flooded the market but nothing compares to internal healing. Women can always consider including specific types of food in their diet that can help them to nourish their hair from inside. Here is a list of different foods that can be consumed for beautiful and silky tresses:

Every woman desires a glowing and radiant skin. Whether it is wrinkles or black spots or dark circles under the eyes – nothing is acceptable! While most of us run for cosmetic products, we often ignore the gifts nature has given us. Just because a natural process will take a little longer, we tend to forget that quick-action cosmetics are only a temporary relief. So, if you trust your Mother Nature, here is a list of 10 fruits for glowing skin:

Apricot: Harsh on wrinkles, this fruit gives you back the juvenile skin that you once admired for hours in front of the mirror. Vitamin A found in apricot is broken down into retinol in our body. Retinol helps in birth of new cells with barriers that look smooth.

Orange: Dark circles giving your glowing skin a big challenge? This happens because collagen, the structure that supports the skin, is weak. The vitamin C in orange strengthens the collagen and lifts the sunken areas by strengthening collagen. This will give you a beautiful glow. Also, vitamin C is an antioxidant that destroys free radicals responsible for premature aging. Did we mention that skin blemishes like dark spots are also taken care of by this fruit?

Kiwi: Full of vitamin C and vitamin A! So, you get a defense against wrinkles and free radicals and at the same time, you get rid of dark circles! (Also Read Homemade Kiwi Fruit Face Masks)

Blueberry: You don’t want to look saggy and old with wrinkled skins, do you? Go for blueberries please. It is the richest source of antioxidants you can find among common fruits.

Banana: A rich source of vitamins E, B and A, this fruits is also known for its anti-aging capabilities. If you don’t like eating it, simply mash it and dab on your face like a facial. It works. Bonus – eating bananas take care of menstrual cramps.

Mango: The king of all fruits, mango makes your skin more elastic, regenerates your skin cells and slows down the aging process by neutralizing anti-oxidants. It is rich in several antioxidants including vitamin A.

Papaya: Antioxidants are present without fail and so, premature aging is not a concern. What’s unique is the enzyme called papain. Papain in papaya clears off impurities in your skin and the dead cells are removed too! (Full article on “30 Benefits of Papaya For Skin & Health”)

Pomegranate: Ignore this fruit and you give environmental pollutions, harmful sun rays and wind a leeway to damage your skin. This fruit can reduce skin inflammation too! It can also slow down the aging process with its antioxidants. Also read Health Benefits of Pomegranate.

Avocado: Sores? Skin disorders? Reddened skin and sunburns? Eat this fruit and let it heal you. Monounsaturated fatty acids and niacin found in this fruit is known for nurturing skin. It also has vitamin E to combat free radicals.

Cherry: If unmarred and even-toned skin with no signs of acne is what you are looking for, stuff your fruit basket with cherries. It will take care of your skin blemishes!

A Bonus Item: Don’t forget strawberries! Women are just drop-dead fan of this fruit and it slows down the aging process with its antioxidants. Vitamin C in this fruit gives you a younger-looking radiant skin.

Also Refer to “Benefits of Tulsi & Turmeric for Skin” & “Health Benefits of Blackberries“

Yellow or stained teeth can really offset your beauty. So, if you are facing this problem, here are 10 home remedies that will help you to whiten your teeth. Remember that these are not miracle solutions and they take time. So, be patient!

1. The Sesame Oil Gargle

Take a tablespoon of sesame oil in your mouth and don’t swallow it. Now gargle thoroughly using the oil for 10-15 minutes. Yes, it is difficult and your jaws can get exhausted and hurt. You can take rest for a few seconds (30 may be) and resume gargling. As you do this, the oil becomes less viscous and thin and it turns a little whitish than what it was before you started gargling. Spit the oil out and flush your mouth properly with warm water. Do this daily after you brush your teeth in the morning. It is safe and effectively whitens your teeth within a few months. This method is called Oil Pulling and instead of sesame oil, you can use coconut oil or olive oil.

2. Dark Chocolates

Yummy, right? Dark chocolates have a substance called theobromine. This hardens the tooth enamel and prevents quick discoloration due to high-staining food. It is more of a preventive measure than a curative measure.

3. The Ugly Carrots

Though ugly, a carrot is good for eyes and helps in teeth whitening. It is fibrous by nature and cleans the tooth surface and prevents plaque formation. This slowly whitens your teeth. Chew properly washed and cleaned raw carrots every day and you can see a significantly change in your teeth color over time.

4. Banana Skin

Take a ripe banana and skin it! Take a small piece of the skin and rub the inner white part of the skin on your teeth for 10-15 minutes and then brush your teeth. The skin of the banana contains bromine and potassium and these elements naturally whiten your teeth. Though there is no hardcore scientific documentation for this but real users do support this method as an effective method.

5. The Strawberries

My favorite – strawberries have malic acid. It is an enzyme that cleans your teeth naturally. You can make a paste of strawberries and baking powder and apply on your teeth for same result but eating the strawberries is more appealing.

6. Olive Oil and Your Regular Paste

Squeeze out the amount of paste you use for brushing your teeth and mix it well with olive oil and take the resulting paste for brushing your teeth. It will taste funny but it is effective. Use regularly and you can see a significant difference in a couple of weeks.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

This is a stain remover. Use it to gargle once every day. It will remove stain, kill bacteria and keep your gums healthy. It is acidic in nature so, don’t over use. Once a day is just enough. Also Read “Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar” here.

8. Lemon Juice with Baking Powder

Make a paste of some baking powder and juice from fresh lemon. Mix well to form a paste and apply it on your teeth using your index finger or a cotton ball. Leave it that way for no more than 1 minute and then brush off your teeth with your regular paste properly. Lemon is acidic and can make your teeth sensitive. Over using it can also destroy teeth enamel.

9. Charcoal

It is charcoal and not coal! Charcoal obtained from hardwood contains high concentration of potassium hydroxide known as lye. It also contains activated carbon. Both of them together can whiten your teeth quickly but potassium hydroxide in particular is abrasive in nature and excessive use of charcoal can damage your teeth over time. So, once a week application is enough.

10. Eye Makeup Remover Pad and Olive Oil

Be warned! There is no scientific evidence available for this method and some may even consider it to be an unhealthy practice. Put a few drops of olive oil on your eye makeup remover pad and gently rub your teeth with it. Avoid gum contact. Keeping rubbing for some 5-10 minutes and you can see a significant difference. 2-3 applications can make a lot of difference. It has worked for many people but may not work for you.

As the name suggests, ‘home remedies’ are DIY methods and they do not have much of scientific proof or documentation. A method that works for others may not work for you. If you have any doubt or if you have serious dental health problems, consult your dentist before using any of these methods.

Also Read- 12 Superfoods that Make Your Teeth Healthy here

Many may be wondering what the Okinawa Diet Plan is?  The Okinawa Diet Plan became well known through the 2002 bestseller “The Okinawa Program” written by Drs. Bradley Wilcox, D. Craig Wilcox, and Maxoto Suzuki.  The book is based on a study of the elderly Okinawa residents (Located in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan) that were researched over the past 25 years.  The study showed that women lived an average of 86 years old while the men lived an average of 77 years old.  This culture is known for their longevity and overall incredible health.  The Okinawa Diet Plan is a very plant based diet where the main foods consumed are vegetables, rice, noodles, fruits, grains, and breads.  Continue reading to learn more about the diet.

Calorie restricted diet:  Okinawa Diet Plan is designed for you to eat smaller portions, develop a habit of eating at least 500 calories less than usual, and remain 80% full compared to 100% full.  Men consume an average of 1400 calories while women consume 1090 calories daily.  While in India, the average amount of calories consumed is 2400 calories.  Whereas in the United States, the average amount of calories consumed is 3500.

Calorie Density Groups:  The Okinawa Diet Plan consists of four food groups.  The first group is the “featherweights” which holds the least amount of calories.  Foods that fall under this group are asparagus and green tea.  The second group is classified as the “lightweights,” which consists of brown rice and fish.  The next food group is the “middleweights,” where lean red meats and hummus are found.  Lastly, the bottom food group is called the “heavyweights,” which consists of fried foods and desserts.  This group has the most caloric intake.  The diet plan sticks mostly to the featherweight and lightweight categories.  Those groups are designed to keep you full without additional calories.

Typical Meal Plan:  Breakfast is usually green tea with blueberry pancakes made from scratch.  Lunch consists of tofu, sweet potato, asparagus, and a salad.  Finally, for dinner most eat tomato based pasta and add kidney beans to enhance protein.  The diet is low in fat and high in fiber. People of the Ryuku Islands eat mostly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  On a typical day, they eat 1 serving of fruit, 6 servings of vegetables, and rice is predominating in most meals.

Easy Recipes:  One of the most popular meals throughout the world is miso soup.  EasyRecipes.com contributor Ariel Miller shared a recipe for the “Longevity Okinawan Japanese Eggplant Miso Soup.”  For the recipe, you will need the following:   3-4 tablespoons of miso paste, 4 scallions, 2 carrots, 1 cup of cubed tofu, 2 cups of cubed eggplant, and 2 quarts of hot water.  First, you finely chop the scallions and carrots.  Next, you put water in the saucepan and bring to boil.  Thirdly, you add miso paste and remained of ingredients and cook until all vegetables are tender.  Lastly, remove from heat and serve soup warm.

Exercise:  The Okinawa Diet Plan recommends that it is important to increase metabolism.  You have the decision to what exercises work best for you such as strength training, cardio, and yoga.

Pros and Cons:  The pros of the Okinawa Diet are that it is a research based diet that proves life longevity and improvement of health to those who have converted.  Another pro is that the diet has a variety of recipes and consists of an abundance of fruits and vegetables.  Some of the cons are that even though the diet has been scientifically researched, one of the concerns researchers shared was the potential risks of nutritional deficiencies.  Other studies bring light to the fact that low calories can have negative long term effects to the immune system.  Another con is that there is a great restriction of foods such as bread, dairy and desserts.

Should you engage in the Okinawa Diet Plan:  I think that if you are interested in getting healthier, then do it.  I personally have a diet plan similar because I am pescatarian, which is a vegetarian that eats fish and seafood.  Although, I have a much higher calorie intake to ensure that I get all vitamins and nutrients.  There is an 8-week diet plan that eases you into the lifestyle.  This would be a great start.  You can also spend a few weeks cutting back on meat, fried foods, and sweets instead of jumping cold turkey into the Okinawa Diet Plan.  The only thing I would suggest is meeting with your doctor and nutritionist to ensure this is a healthy change for your life.  When becoming vegetarian, I was faced with some hair loss and nutrient deficiency.  Immediately, contacted my doctor and we worked on a dietary plan that worked best for my busy schedule.  Good luck on your new journey.

Wintergreen is an herb, best known as Mother Nature’s aspirin. The leaves of the plant are cold pressed and steam distilled to produce its essential oil. The herb and its oil, both are used for their analgesic properties. The essential oil itself has a very pleasant and cooling aroma, much like eucalyptus. The oil is used extensively in aromatherapy as it invokes a feeling of wellness and concentration.

Chemically, wintergreen essential oil contains 90% concentration of methyl salicylate, which is also the primary component of aspirin. Due to this chemical compound, the oil has cortisone – like effects and it can quickly relieve pain and symptoms of soreness. Here are some of its most popular health benefits:

Apart from all these other properties, wintergreen oil also has carminative and diuretic properties as well. Its stimulating properties make it an excellent agent for relief and wellness. It is also used in aromatherapy to induce attention and focus. However, the oil is toxic and should never be consumed or used orally for any reason. When using the oil, always make sure it is diluted to a very low concentration by adding it to carrier oil.

Women and beauty are an inseparable duo. Women spend almost fortunes for their whole life time in an attempt to keep them looking smart and beautiful as never before. However, with every additional year added to their lifetime, their age starts showing off along with their desperate urge for looking young. So is there a magic wand that will keep their beauty and young age intact for their whole life time?

Women may not find a magic wand that easily however they may switch to certain wonder drinks that are commonly available right in their kitchen and delay the process of ageing to a considerable extent.

1. Pink grape juice –These pink grapes get their reddish pink texture through lycopene. One can understand lycopene to be a carotenoid that is very essential in retaining a soft, smooth and glowing aura of one’s face. Thus drinking grape juice often retains that bubbly soft youthful skin.



2. Alcohol may hold the key- A glass of alcohol each day may retain our brain cells intact. Ageing causes our brain cells to deteriorate, such phenomena slows down the interaction between the brain and our body. However facts state a glass of alcohol prevents or delays such phenomena. One is advised to keep the alcohol consumption as per the stated limits as over consumption damages our brain resulting in complete loss of memory.

3. Soy Milk– Soy milk is made of a special component called flavones that hold the power to retain the collagen levels which is further needed for firming and preserving the skin’s youthful texture. And further studies state that is flavones also prevent the breakdown of collagen, thus avoiding the process of skin wrinkling. Drink soy milk and benefit from a long lasting youth.

4. A cup of coffee is so resourceful- Studies and facts state that consumption of caffeine in form of coffee helps women protect them from skin cancer. Thus women have one more reason to fancy that one cup of coffee.




5. Water – There is a general awareness that one should drink 7-8 glasses of water each day. It keeps your skin hydrated. Thus offer your skin a constant source of elasticity, protection from dryness, suppleness and make it look much younger than it is just by sipping a glass full of water.

6. A cup of green tea – The chemical compounds present in green tea called polyphenols essentially delay the process of ageing.

7. Cocoa- Beverage that is made with perfect proportion of cocoa improves blood flow and circulation due to the presence of flavanols. When blood circulation is perfect, the skin gets a new lease of life. Therefore you must consume cocoa regularly in order to maintain the youthful blood vessels that decrease the risk of high blood pressure and kidney disease.

8. Beet Juice- Having beet juice regularly may not look like a lucrative options for you. However beets are full of nitrates that give you the potential to combat with the age. Therefore you must put some radishes and cabbages in your diet chart in order to live a youthful life.

9. Carrot Juice– You must drink carrot juice regularly in order to avoid the loss of memory. Carrots are full of luteolin and flavonoid that decrease the inflammation that can cause Dementia.

10. Orange Juice- Orange juice cleanses your body from harmful toxins. Orange juice will replenish your body with vitamin C essential to keep your body and skin beautiful. You must drink Orange Juice regularly in order to protect your eyes and to live a happy young life.

Also Read – 10 Superfoods for Healthy Immune System

Have you heard of sauerkraut? It is a German word which means “sour cabbage”.  It is made by finely cutting cabbages that are fermented with the help of lactic acid bacteria. It is an extremely healthy ingredient and there are lot of health benefits associated with this product. Read on to explore some of them.

1. Rich in Vitamins

As sauerkraut is a fermented food, it means that the useful components like protein and carbohydrates have been broken down into easily digestible compounds. It is a rich source of vitamin B, C and K. it is an extremely rich source of dietary fiber and contains a lot of useful minerals like iron, copper and even potassium as well.

Our body needs a healthy source of essential minerals and vitamins as they aid in improving the metabolic activities. By opting to include sauerkraut is your diet; you will be able to enjoy the intake of all these vitamins and minerals. Owing to the fermentation of cabbage, the bioavailability of the nutrients is increased significantly.

2. It Acts As Cancer Inhibitor

Doctors and nutritionist have often told that sticking to the right diet can turn out to be extremely crucial in dealing with cancer. As per researches that were conducted on the use of sauerkraut, it has been found that it works as a cancer inhibitor.



When cabbage gets fermented to produce sauerkraut, it produces a substance known as isothiocynates. This compound is known to prevent cancer especially in colon, breast and lungs. A lot of different research and studies have indicated decreasing count of breast cancer in women who incorporated a lot of sauerkraut in their diet.

3. Strengthens the Digestive System

If you are suffering from problems of digestion, eating sauerkraut can turn out to be of help. The fact that it is rich in dietary fiber makes it efficient in cleaning the digestive system and those who suffer from problems of constipation can use sauerkraut to get rid of this problem. It also contains live lactobacilli bacteria which aids in speeding up the natural digestive system. These are essential microorganisms that are critical for smooth working of the digestive system.

Fermented foods are the preferred choice for improving the rate and efficiency of digestion because they make assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and other nutrients much more easy and effective. The nutritional value of the stuffs contained in the food increases a great deal too. The presence of a high amount of lactic acid makes it easy to digest a lot of stuffs. Sauerkraut helps in maintaining the intestinal flora and it increases the concentration of antibodies that gives you the power to deal with various intestinal problems.

4. Sauerkraut Is an Immune Booster

When cabbage is fermented, it helps in improving the immunity level. It contains a lot of phytochemicals that strengthens the immunity of your body. The presence of various different vitamins, minerals and useful bacteria makes sauerkraut one of the “must have products” in your diet. It will empower your body to fight against a lot of different infection and it has a direct impact in the immunity levels.

These are some of the main benefits that the use of sauerkraut has. It has been termed as s super food because of its unending nutritional benefits. Sauerkraut is commonly consumed in Germany and France; however, even those who do not eat a lot of sauerkraut should make it a point to incorporate it in their diet as the benefits will be there for all to see and observe.

5. One of the Best Fermented Vegetables

Fermented vegetables are always known for their added nutritional benefits. They make absorption of vital and essential minerals and nutrients much easier. Of all the fermented food, it is sauerkraut that has been hailed to be an extremely effective choice because it is rich in a lot of different elements. It is particularly recommended for those who suffer from indigestion issues and even those who have the risk of contracting cancer.

 Also Read – 15 Reasons to Eat Fermented Foods here