Showing posts with label Foods. Show all posts

8 Anti-Aging Foods to Have For Breakfast

You must have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but have you ever heard that breakfast can slow down the aging process too? Well that is indeed true, breakfast has much more to it rather than just being an important meal.

Anti-Aging Foods to Have For Breakfast

Eating the right food for breakfast can keep you young and healthier and help you live longer too. So let us look at the most amazing anti-aging food to be included for breakfast.

Also Read – 10 low calorie Indian breakfasts to try

Oatmeal: Oatmeal is very good for cholesterol reduction, as per the studies. Oatmeal is filled with soluble fiber that eliminates the bad cholesterol. Apart from that oatmeal contains antioxidants which help in fighting against cell damage too. This helps reducing wrinkles and plumps the skin too, thus contributing towards anti-aging.

Blueberries: Blueberries are packed with fiber and vitamin and that makes it an ideal choice for breakfast. They are rich in polyphenols that helps in increasing the motor skills. Blueberries also helps in fighting many diseases like diabetes, cancer as well as heart diseases.
Green tea: Green tea as we all know is a great source of antioxidants. The EGCG ( type of catechin) present in the green tea helps in the rejuvenation of the skin and in preventing wrinkles too. Apart from that green tea contains catechins and polyphenols, which are vital antioxidants to promote anti-aging.

Also Read – 10 Homemade Anti Aging Face Masks for Wrinkles
Grapefruit: Grapefruit is probably the best fruit that contributes towards anti- aging so including it for breakfast is the best way to gain the maximum benefits from this fruit. Grapefruit helps in keeping the insulin levels in control. High insulin level forms large fat storage therefore consumption of grapefruit will help in preventing weight gain.
Eggs: Eggs for a long time has been considered to be bad for health as it is high in cholesterol level. The studies have however proved it wrong. Consuming eggs every day for breakfast can render you good fats, like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat and it is low in saturated fat too. Eggs are considered under anti-aging food as the yolk especially is high in calcium and iron meanwhile the egg white is filled with protein. Apart from these, eggs also contain vitamins B2, B12, A, and E.
Flax seeds: Flax seeds perhaps is easily consumable anti-aging food as you can just include it in just about anything. Be it cereals, eggs or oatmeal, flax seeds can simply be sprinkled over or even mixed into your fresh fruit smoothie. Flax seeds happen to be a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds also contain more lignans compared to any other plant-based anti-aging foods. These lignans help in shielding the blood vessels from the damage that is caused to it by inflammation. Apart from that, flax seeds contain other polyphenols that renders various benefits of the antioxidants. Flax seeds also help in controlling the cholesterol levels, digestion and also in decreasing the risk of insulin resistance.
Pomegranate juice: Including juice instead of tea will help you gain much more benefits. Pomegranate juice is the best for anti-aging as it slows down the natural oxidation of the DNA. Pomegranate juice also helps in relieving stress and preventing heart disease.

Also Read – Anti Aging Makeup Tips to Help you Look Younger

Almond Butter: Almond Butter is a good anti-aging food especially because of its high protein and healthy fat (monounsaturated fat) content. Almond butter contains copper that helps in boosting the melanin and protecting your skin from the ultraviolet (UV) rays. It also has calcium which is good for muscle as well as skeletal function, magnesium that gives energy and maintaining the bone health. Almond butter also contains vitamin E which helps in promoting healthy cell function and also preventing heart diseases.

Anti-aging foods consumed for breakfast should ideally comprise of food that is rich in vitamins as well as essential nutrients. It should be packed with energy and should be a complete meal. In case you need to use oil in your cooking make it a point to use olive oil as that is good for health as well as skin.

Also Read – 10 Anti-Aging Yoga Asanas to Stay Young

Simple Ways to Prepone or Postpone Your Periods

04:21:00 Foods

Simple Ways to Prepone or Postpone Your Periods

For every woman, menstrual cycle is a very important process because it determines her reproductive strength as well as her health.

It is very important that we get our periods regularly as that ensures everything is fine as far as your ovulation process is concerned. Sometimes however you wish you could delay or prepone your periods because you might have some important functions on those days which cannot be done in such conditions. So what would you do when you are in such kind of dilemma?

Also Read – 15 Reasons to Visit Your Gynecologist

There are a few tablets available to delay or prepone the periods and there are number of natural remedies for the same, the choice is however yours. We need to understand that we are trying to manipulate a natural process in our body and if we do that with the help of medicines, it will surely have its side effects. Tablets should never be taken without consulting the doctor meanwhile natural remedies are harmless and you can follow it without any issues.

Basically eating the food that induces heat in the body will prepone the periods and by eating the food that will cool the body will delay the periods.

Natural remedies to prepone periods:

Papaya: To pre-pone the period’s women should consume papaya throughout the day. Papaya contains carotene that will help in inducing estrogen and prepone the periods. Apart from that papaya is said to produce heat in the body which helps in preponing the periods.
Pomegranate juice: Pomegranate juice should be consumed at least 2 to 3 times a day for 10 to 15 days, this is very helpful to prepone your periods.
Dates: Dates are also heat inducing food, consumption of dates can induce periods before schedule.
Carrot and pumpkin: Carrot as well as pumpkin also contain carotene. They both are very helpful to prepone the periods.
Pineapple juice: In order to pre-pone the periods, you can drink pineapple juice at least twice a day. Pineapple forms heat in the body. Heat in the body helps the periods to start early.
Sesame seeds: Take 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds or powder and add 1 tablespoon of jaggery or honey to it. This mixture can be consumed daily to get your periods early.
Ginger: Ginger is also very good ingredient to pre-pone the periods. You can have ginger in the form of tea or just fresh ginger juice with honey. You can consume the ginger juice on empty stomach for better results.

Natural remedies to postpone periods are

Parsley leaves: Around a handful of Parsley leaves has to be boiled in half liter water for about twenty minutes. . The water has to be strained and drink it when it is warm with honey. This has to be done 2 to 3 times a day. This remedy is very beneficial for postponing the periods.
Gram lentils: Consume fried gram lentil soup with warm water for a full week on a daily basis before the onset of your periods. This soup is best if had on empty stomach.
Spicy food: Avoid spicy food as it induces heat in the body and thus prepones the periods. If you are trying to delay your periods then you have to cut out all the spicy food, for instance chilies, hot peppers, garlic, paprika, black pepper etc. The idea behind this is to cut off even the slightest trace of heat from your body.

Medical remedies: There are medical remedies, but they have to be taken only after consulting the doctor. You will have to take 800 mg of ibuprofen in1 every 8 hours and a double dose of B6 vitamins on a daily basis. You will need to start this dosage a week or two before your periods.

Also Read – Worried about your PCOS? Say Hello to Ayurveda!

Note: Menstrual cycle is a natural process in a women’s body, tampering with it in any kind might lead to complications and side effects therefore consult your doctor before doing anything to check if your body is capable for that.

10 Natural Sources of Probiotics to Include in Your Diet

02:28:00 Foods

10 Natural Sources of Probiotics to Include in Your Diet

Probiotics are certain types of gut bacteria that are beneficial for our health and body. They regulate our natural digestive secretions in positive ways and stimulate our digestive enzymes to work properly. Due to their immense health benefits, probiotics are recommended to add to our diet through the best possible natural ways. So, here are 10 most effective natural food sources of probitics that you can include in your diet today:

1. Live-Cultured Yogurt

Handmade live-cultured yogurt is the best as well as the most widely available natural source of probiotics. Try to find one that is either made of goat milk (full of probiotics such as acidophilus, thermophillus, bulgaricus, etc. or contains externally infused probiotics (like acidophilus, lactobacillus, etc.). But be careful as most of the companies in the market make use of artificial sweeteners, flavors and corn syrup that turn the yogurt into high-fat and high-fructose ice cream with least nutritional value. So, always go through the label before making a purchase.

2. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is well-known for its mood-boosting capacity. But it can be a serious source of probiotics too. According to experts, good quality dark chocolates can hold almost four more times of probiotics than all other dairy products available.

3. Fermented Vegetables

As the name suggests, these vegetables are fermented with probiotics, such as lactic acid bacteria, which is extremely beneficial for our health. They also stay fresh for a longer time than the regular ones.

Also Read – Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infection Here

4. Fermented Cheeses

There are certain types of cheese including cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, Gouda cheese, etc., which are fermented with lactic acid bacteria just like the previous way. Hence, they are great resources of probiotics too.

Fermented Cheese - Natural Sources of Probiotics to Include in Your Diet

5. Kefir

Kefir is basically a fermented dairy product, which can be considered as the drinkable form of yogurt. It is an excellent blend of goat milk and kefir grains that is fermented with lactobacilli and bifidus bacteria. Hence, it is another probiotioc-rich food item to add to your diet.

6. Sauerkraut

You may have already heard about sauerkraut and its high content of probiotics. It is mainly prepared from fermented cabbage or certain other veggies, which are full of live cultures. Therefore, it is considered as an extremely healthy choice for us.

7. Kombucha

Kombucha or fermented tea is a probiotic-rich drink. It contains a large amount of good gut bacteria that offers a number of benefits to us, such as losing weight, boosting energy, improving well-being, and so on.

Kombucha - Natural Sources of Probiotics to Include in Your Diet

Also Read – Be Free from Vaginal Yeast Infection with these Home Remedies Here

8. Pickles

Homemade pickles are packed with beneficial or healthy bacteria and hence, can be treated as one of the best natural sources of probiotics. However, it is recommended that you opt for the less commercialized version of the popular green pickle for this purpose.

9. Mircoalgae

These days, microalgae like chlorella, blue-green algae, spirulina, etc. are also used in different types of dishes. Such ocean-based plants are rich in good bacteria like bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, which work as wonderful sources of energy for us.

10. Miso Soup

Miso is an authentic as well as one of the most common Japanese medicines that is packed with probiotics. It gets its microbial value from lactobacilli and bifidus bacteria, which keeps our digestive system healthy. Miso is mostly used for preparing hot probiotic-rich soup.

Why Brown Rice is a Healthier Choice than White Rice?

02:22:00 Foods

Why Brown Rice is a Healthier Choice than White Rice?

Have you already raised your eyebrows to see the title of the piece? Relax! We know that brown rice has never been your favorite choice as neither the appearance nor the taste of it could ever impress you. But you know what? It is the benefits that matter the most. What if I say that brown rice is actually much better than the polished and delicious white rice? Don’t believe me? Well, have a look at the following reasons:

1. True Unrefined ‘Whole Grain’

White rice is processed quite a few times in order to get that refined ‘look’, ‘texture’ and ‘taste’. But during this whole course of time, it also loses its ‘wholeness’. Brown rice doesn’t undergo the refinement process and hence, is considered as a perfect whole grain. And it has already been proved that regular consumption of whole grains can keep issues like hypercholesterol, heart diseases, etc. at bay by reducing the formation of plaques inside arteries.

2. Excellent Antioxidant Properties

Most of us are yet to learn that brown rice is one of the best natural sources ofantioxidants. The antioxidant properties of this food item are so strong that you can easily bring your high levels of blood sugar under control by having just (1/2) cup of it every day. Not only this, but brown rice can also help in maintaining the standard blood sugar levels and lower the possibilities of developing type-2 diabetes as much as 60% if compared with white rice.

Also Read – Use Up Leftover Rice – 5 Delectable Recipes for You Here

3. Loaded with Dietary Fibers

Say one common food that holds tons of dietary fibers and brown rice will certainly be the most favorite pick of experts. It comprises a significantly greater amount of natural fibers than its white counterpart, which makes the process of digestion less complicated, eases issues like constipation and promotes the natural bowel elimination function. The fibers in brown rice also lessen the risk of colon cancer by appending to the toxins as well as other responsible substances and removing them from our body.

Brown Rice is Loaded with Dietary Fibers

4. High in Healthy Natural Oils

Oils that are naturally present in brown rice are considered as very much beneficial for the health of our cardiovascular system. These are basically healthy fats, which regularize the levels of cholesterol in our body by lowering ‘bad’ or LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol. As white rice doesn’t contain these heart-healthy naturally-occurring oils, you can’t get such a benefit from it.

5. Dense Natural Nutrition

Several studies have shown that the nutrition content of brown rice is much greater than that of white rice. It contains such a huge amount of natural nutrients and dietary fibers that you can certainly consider it as a perfect food for babies and toddlers. It is especially beneficial for growing kids and can promote their growth rapidly.

Also Read – Try Rice Bags for Sore Muscles Here

6. Keeps Unwanted Weight Away

As said before, brown rice has high dietary fiber content, which helps in normal digestion and regularizes bowel function. It basically keeps things moving within our gastrointestinal system in such a way that our metabolism gets promoted. It also gives us a feeling of fullness, thereby preventing us from eating randomly. Consequently, our body starts to burn excess layers of fat and we become able to stay away from further unwanted weight gain.

7. Great Source of Selenium

Selenium is a micro-nutrient needed by our body and brown rice is known to be an excellent source of this. Though a trace element, selenium plays a crucial role in limiting the possibilities of developing a number of deadly diseases. If our cells lack the required amount of selenium, we become vulnerable to cardiovascular issues, bone issues, cancer, and so on. But brown rice, being richer in this mineral than white rice, can meet the needs of our body and keep us protected.

8. Enriched with Manganese

Manganese is another essential trace mineral for us to get a healthy body and we can meet almost 80% of our daily manganese requirement from just a cup of brown rice. It is extremely helpful in synthesizing some vital fatty acids, which are needed for the formation of good cholesterols. Apart from this, manganese can also take great care of our nervous system and help us stay away from reproductive issues.

Also Read – Rice Water for Skin, Hair and Health Here

9. Cures Yeast (Candida) Infections

If you are suffering from Candida yeast infections and undergoing treatment for the same, brown rice is certainly the better choice for you than the white one. Although it is a variety of rice, it is not at all starchy or sugary like its other counterparts. It also boasts of having a significantly low glycemic acid content. Moreover, it is quite easy to digest due to the presence of lots of dietary fibers in it. All these are necessary for limiting the overgrowth of candida yeast in the body and healing the extremely sensitive digestive system. In short, brown rice can accelerate your candida treatment efficiently.

Aren’t these enough to get delighted about brown rice?

So next time, while purchasing your monthly grains, make sure that you pick that packet of brown rice instead of the regular white one. It will actually be your very first step towards a true healthy diet.

How to Detox Your Liver Naturally with Perfect Diet

02:19:00 Foods

How to Detox Your Liver Naturally with Perfect Diet

Liver is the largest as well as the most important organ of our body. It is the liver, which cleans up our entire internal system by removing all toxic materials. So, it is important that we take proper measures to detoxify it. Here are 10 perfect diet options that will help you detox your liver all the natural way:

detox-liver-natural-diet

Pure Water

Drinking lots and lots of plain water is always good for our health. Make sure that you consume at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day in order to perk up the nutrient flow throughout the body and ease the removal of wastes from it.

Green Tea

Green tea contains a significantly large amount of plant antioxidants called ‘catechins’, which collectively give our liver a boost.

Lemon / Lime

Citrus fruits like lemon or lime have immense positive effects on our liver. Their high vitamin C content can encourage liver functions and accelerate the transformation of toxins into water-absorbent substances.

Warm Lemon Water

Kick start your day with a glass full of warm lemon water. No sugar, no flavor. Just a dash of freshly squeezed lemon juice in a glass of warm purified water is all you need to wake your liver up in the morning and make it secret the necessary enzymes.

Warm Lemon Water Detox

Also Read – ‘Lemon Detox’ – The ‘Master Cleanse’ Program for Weight Loss Here

Garlic

Garlic is rich in sulfur compounds, which trigger the organ to secret vital enzymes and flush the toxic materials out. Garlic also has two other active natural compounds i.e. allicin and selenium, which play major roles in liver cleansing.

Turmeric

Turmeric can increase the secretion of liver enzymes, adds to the natural production of bile, get rid of all dietary carcinogens, prevent all sorts of liver damages and finally, speed up the regeneration of cells in the organ. So, it is considered as a great natural ingredient for making the liver toxin-free.

Apple

Apple contains a fiber called pectin and certain other chemical compounds, which make the whole process of liver cleansing quite easy. It not only removes wastes from the digestive tract, but also eradicates them out of the body.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a very good resource of glutathione, which is nothing but a powerful antioxidant. It can stabilize the functions of liver and make it secret more detoxifying enzymes efficiently.

Avocado

Avocado can also rev up the production of antioxidant glutathione in our body and provide enough protection to our liver from severe damages. According to experts, avocado can successfully eliminate galactosamine, one of the strongest toxins found in liver, and avert damages similar to hepatitis.

Detox with Avocado

Walnut

Consuming walnut is another good way to introduce glutathione in the body. Besides, it also contains an essential amino acid named ‘arginine’ and omega-3 fatty acids, which take care of our biggest organ and keep it clean collectively.

Also Read – Make and Sip these Detox Drinks to Cleanse the Body Here

Leafy Green Vegetables

Nothing can be better than munching on some fresh leafy green-colored veggies to keep environmental toxins away and help our liver function properly. Being loaded with plant chlorophyll, they can counterbalance the effects of harmful pesticides, heavy metals and chemical compounds as well as amplify the bile production in the liver.

Cruciferous Vegetables

The vegetables from the cruciferous family including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprout, etc. have huge impact on our liver. They can effectively keep the organ toxin-free by stimulating the production of important glucosinolate enzymes and rinsing out all carcinogens and toxic material as well.

Beetroot

Beetroot has a considerable amount of plant flavonoids, which are required by our liver to get rid of all foreign substances. It improves the overall activities of the organ and helps in maintaining them competently.

Carrot

Like beetroot, carrot is also enriched with plant-flavonoids, which help us in taking great care of our liver. In addition, this vegetable holds loads of glutathione and beta-carotene, which also increase the secretion of enzymes needed for liver detoxification.

Tomato

The wonderful liver detoxifier glutathione is found in tomatoes in huge quantities. It can protect the organ from all sorts of damages and gives us a healthy system.

Tomato to Detox Your Liver

Also Read – Join the Detox Bandwagon with Apple Cider Vinegar Here

Alternative Grains

You can perfectly cleanse your liver and truly boost its’ functions by opting for various alternative whole grains. They are rich in gluten and can elevate the level of enzymes in our liver radically. Some choices that you can make include wheat, buckwheat, flour, millet, quinoa, etc.

Dandelion Root

They say that anything black and bitter is good for liver. It is absolutely true in case of dandelion root tea infusion. It is known to be an outstanding remedy for synthesizing amino acids and breaking down fat molecules inside the liver, which eventually purifies the organ.

Cold-Pressed Oils

Last but not the least; consume cold-pressed oils, especially the organic versions and keep your liver in good health for years. Be it cold-pressed olive oil, flaxseed oil or help oil, they can always help you create a liquid base for your body, which drains off the damaging toxic materials completely.

So, find the best suitable natural liver-cleansing option from the above list and detox it the natural way.

Homemade Vinegar and Lemon Foot Soak Recipe

02:13:00 Foods

Homemade Vinegar and Lemon Foot Soak Recipe

Foot bath has many benefits. It soothes the aching feet, softens the dry feet, stimulate the pressure points. When it comes to foot soaks, most of us normally think about hot water soak. Foot soaks generally invigorates the tired feet and reduces the pain. Have you ever thought about rejuvenating and detoxifying foot soak? The secret ingredients of a multi-faceted foot soak are vinegar and lemon!

Many of us have a bottle of vinegar in our kitchen. The multi-purpose kitchen ingredient is a healing agent too! Vinegar, in fact has been used for years as an analgesic and an antifungal medicine. Needless to say, how to use the lemons! Lemon is a very versatile citrus fruit that is loaded with plenty of healing properties. Combination of these two super ingredients will give you a detoxifying, refreshing foot soak!

Also Read – Homemade Hand and Foot Whitening Cream

ow vinegar and lemon works?

Foot is often exposed to fungal infection, called athlete’s foot. Infected foot tends to scale and cause mild to severe itchiness. In spite of getting the special treatments of chemical foot baths available in the marketplace, you can rely on a simple kitchen ingredient, Vinegar!

Vinegar and lemon are acidic in nature. The acidic properties help healing the foot problems. Dry feet, hard skin on the feet, fungus on the toenails, flaky skin, smelly feet, etc can be healed by vinegar and lemon.

Vinegar and Lemon Foot Soak Recipe – DIY

Ingredients you need:

One cup white vinegar
Two medium size fresh lemons
3 liters of water (lukewarm water is recommended)

Grate the lemon zest from two lemons. Add the grated lemon zest in around half a liter of water and boil it. Boil the remaining quantity of water separately. Switch off the gas once the water comes to boil. Let it rest until it becomes lukewarm water.

Add one cup white vinegar to the lukewarm water. You may use bucket or a bath tub to rest your feet. Squeeze the lemon and add the juice it to the water. Finally, add the lemon zest water!

Soak the feet until the water turns cool. The vinegar and lemon foot soak recipe smells delicious, because of the lemon zest.

Lemon zest is also optional. Since not many love the smell of vinegar, you can add lemon zest!

Things to note:

You can try with hot water as long as the water doesn’t harm your feet.
It is good to use fresh lemons. You cannot grate the zest out of lemon if it is not fresh.
You may also consider using apple cider vinegar
Duration: 20 to 30 minutes.

The best time to try this foot soak is at night before you go to bed. Still, there is no hard and fast rule about getting this detoxifying foot bath! Besides a good remedy for tired feet, it works best for those who wake up with ankle pain! The foot bath rejuvenates and soothes the feet! It helps you sleep tight.

Also Read – How to Get Rid of Calluses on Feet

Now, let us see a few more versions of vinegar and lemon foot soak with additional ingredients.

You can add a handful of Epsom salt to the boiling water if you suffer from immense pain. Besides, adding a pinch of baking soda to lemon and vinegar foot soak cleanses the foot, removes the impurities!

If you can, add a drop or two of aromatic oils like lavender oil, or even dried lavender for enhanced soothing.

What should you do after foot soak?

You may scrub your feet after enjoying the refreshing lemon and vinegar foot soak.
Make sure to pat your foot dry.
Don’t forget to apply some moisturizer.

Vinegar and lemon foot soak recipe is an inexpensive (costs you nothing if you already have vinegar and lemon at your home), convenient and effective DIY foot soak you should try.

Potential Causes and Useful Remedies of Cold Sores

02:01:00 Foods

Potential Causes and Useful Remedies of Cold Sores

Cold sores or fever blisters are small sores or lesions developed on the lips, around the mouth or any other part of the face. They look like blisters and are absolutely painful. Although the name is ‘cold sore’, these fluid-filled wounds are in fact the results of viral infections. This article will talk about the potential causes of cold sores and some useful remedies for them:

Potential Causes of Cold Sore

Cold sores are basically the results of a certain infection, which is caused by HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus – type 1). A rare version of this condition caused by HSV-2 (Herpes Simplex Virus – type 2) can also be found in some people. In most of the cases, oozing blisters are the symptoms of contagious cold sores. But you may get the virus transmitted to your body even when there is no presence of blisters.

There may be a number of ways, such as kissing, having oral sex, or sharing utensils, toiletries, etc. (with a person who has been suffering from it), through which HSV strains are spread. At first, they enter the nerve cells buried under the skin and remain inactive there for some time. But as soon as our body gets exposed to some triggers, they become activated and give us cold sore outbreaks.

Usually, cold sore triggers are not same for all. It is important to discover what is giving you such ugly blisters, before you get ready to take on them. So, let’s know about the factors that contribute to it. Some of the most common triggers of cold sores are:

Damage caused by an injury to the old or freshly developed blister

Exposure to intense sunlight
Contact with dry winter wind
Extreme mental stress, tension or anxiety
Too much fatigue caused by weak immune system
Viral fever or any sort of infection
Depression or deep sadness
Hormonal imbalances experienced during menstrual cycle
Dental procedures that affect the troubled areas

Also Read – 8 Amazing Herbal Remedies for Sunken Eyes Here

It has also been seen that cold sore can relapse at the same place or a different part of the body. In fact, people with relatively weak immune system are more prone to develop it again and again. There are also certain risk factors, which increases the chance of cold sore complications. These include:

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) treatment
Cancer treatment (especially chemotherapy)
Excess consumption of alcohol
Taking steroidal medicines
Taking anti-rejection medicines (during organ transplants)
Skin issues like eczema
Severe burns

Useful Remedies for Cold Sore

To be honest, cold sore doesn’t have a proper cure. All you can do is to take some preventive measures in order to avoid the outbreaks or use some home remedies to ease discomfort as well as fade away the marks. Let us take a look at some of the most effective home remedies for cold sores:

Pure Vanilla Extract

Dip a cotton swab in some pure and organic vanilla extract and dab the troubled are with for a couple of minutes. Practice it at least 4 times a day to get visible results. Being alcohol-based, it will prevent the viruses from thriving and lessen the severity of the blister significantly.

Licorice

Take a tablespoon of licorice root powder and mix it with 1 teaspoon of petroleum jelly or half teaspoon of plain water. Cover the sore with this smooth paste and leave overnight. The glycyrhizic acid present in licorice root is known to combat virus cells or destroy them successfully, thereby making the blisters disappear.

Whole Milk

Saturate a cotton swab in 2 tablespoons of cold whole milk and use it as a compress on the affected area. After 5 minutes, dab the milk off carefully with a soft damp towel and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly. The immunoglobulins present in milk work as antibodies, while the l-lysine content prevent the harmful effects of arginine in our body. As a result, the outbreaks start to heal efficiently.

Also Read – How to get rid of Fever Blisters Here

Hydrogen Peroxide

Soak a cotton swab in a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and hold it on your sore for 5 minutes. Dab it around the wound for a few seconds and then rinse off with fresh plain water. It acts as a typical disinfectant and reduces the severity of the blister to a great extent.

Peppermint Oil

Dilute 2 tablespoons of peppermint oil by adding a few drops of pure water to it. Apply it to the sore and let it sink into the skin completely. Practice it twice every day. The antiviral properties of peppermint will kill the herpes viruses outside your skin cells and stop the sore from spreading.

Echinacea Tea

Prepare a cup of fresh Echinacea tea by allowing a tea bag to steep in boiling water for 10 minutes or so. Drink it every day to get rid of cold sores. It will strengthen your immune system and help your body fight against the attacks of herpes virus.

If these home remedies do not work, you should seek the help of a doctor in curing your cold sores. However, in most of the cases, these ugly blisters go away within 7 to 14 days.