All of us want to have fresh, glowing and young looking skin. Clear and healthy skin makes you feel beautiful and confident. Applying commercial products may provide temporary glow to the skin but nobody can deny the fact that they contain chemicals. Those chemicals have some side – effects too. So why not stick to a permanent method?

Ways to get fresh, glowing skin:

1. Do yoga everyday

Consistently performing yoga and yogic asanas will result in a healthy and glowing skin. Yoga not only helps to get a younger looking skin but also has other health benefits. Few asanas that should be performed are:

• Bhujangasana
• Matsyasana
• Halasana
• Sarvangasana
• Trikonasana

2. Meditate everyday

Meditation addresses the underlying issues that create skin problems in the first place. An emerging field of research called psychodermatology studies the interaction between mind and skin, looking at the effects of emotions on the skin as well as disorders that have skin manifestations. Meditation also helps the mind calm and relaxed. Work performance enhances as well!

3. Use natural skin nourishers

Use natural skin nourishers like honey, milk, fruits, green vegetables and nuts. Eat a healthy and well balanced diet that includes all of these. Make sure that you eat seasonal fruits and vegetables. Make a diet plan for yourself. Use honey and milk internally as well as externally.

4. Go for a walk everyday

Regular brisk walking not only keeps you fit and provide a healthy, glowing skin but also helps you maintain a healthy weight. Walking helps you tone your legs and keep the muscles fit.

Since ancient times, herbs have been getting used to maintain health and to cure diseases. Ayurveda is the traditional medicinal form, prevalent in India since 2000 B.C. The Ayurvedic treatment is entirely based on herbs, which have certain medicinal value or property. In the ancient times, the Indian sages believed that Ayurvedic herbs are one-stop solution to cure a number of health related problems and diseases. They conducted thorough study about the same, experimented with herbs to arrive at accurate conclusions about the efficacy of different plants and herbs that have medical value. Most of the Ayurvedic herbs, thus formulated, are free of side effects or reactions. This is the reason why Ayurveda is growing in popularity across the globe. The Ayurvedic herbs that have medicinal quality provide rational means for the treatment of many internal diseases, which are otherwise considered incurable in other systems of medicine. For basic health problems and to maintain regular health, we must go for the natural Ayurvedic cure because the other way i.e. using medicines, antibiotics etc. have side effects. Following is a list of essential herbs that are necessary for the body.

List of herbs that one must consume

1. Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice has the following health benefits:

• Helps to prevent cancer.
• Treats obesity.
• Possesses anti ageing benefits.
• Prevents and treats urinary tract infections.
• Strengthens immunity sysytem.
• Improves digestive system.
• Reduces the risk of heart diseases.

2. Garlic

Garlic has the following benefits :

• Cures common cold.
• Improves cholesterol levels.
• Lowers the risk of heart diseases.
• Helps to detoxify heavy metals from the body.
• Helps to clear acne.
• Cures cold cures.

3. Ginger

Ginger has the following benefits:

• Reduces muscle pain and soreness.
• Helps to lower blood sugar levels.
• Cures indigestion.
• Prevents menstrual cramps.
• Reduces nausea
• Treats flu.

4. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has the following benefits:

• Can reduce cortisol levels.
• May reduce symptoms of depression.
• Helps to improve brain functioning.
• Helps to improve memory.
• Combats anxiety/stress.
• Acts as an anti-diabetic.

5. Calendula

Calendula plant has the following benifits:

• Helps to improve oral health.
• Helps to maintain a healthy skin.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Heals irritated and wounded skin.
• Prevents premature ageing.
• Cures fungal skin infections.
• Improves digestive system.

Tea is one of the most common beverages. Scientifically, tea is known as Camellia Sinensis. Mostly it grows in tropical and sub tropical areas but some varieties of tea can also tolerate marine climates. Tea may be consumed early in the day to heighten calm alertness; it contains L-theanine, theophylline and bound caffeine(sometimes called theine). Decaffinated brands are also sold. While herbal teas are also referred to as tea, most of them do not contain leaves from the tea plant. While tea is the second most consumed beverage on Earth after water, in many cultures it is also consumed at elevated social events, such as the tea party.

Benefits of consuming tea

1. Helps to lower blood pressure

 Drinking only half a cup of green or oolong tea a day could reduce your risk of high blood pressure by up to 50% and those who drink more can even further reduce their risk, even if they have additional risk factors.

2. Helps inhibit intestinal inflammation

 The polyphenols in green tea have been shown to have an effect on the intestinal inflammation caused by conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It acts as a natural remedy for people who suffer from IBS.

3. Helps to reduce stomach cramps

Properties of red tea cause it to act as anti-spasmodic agent and allows it to aid in the relief of stomach cramps or even colic in infants.

4. Gives protection against cancer

While the exact types of cancer tea protects against are debated, recent research has suggested that lung, prostate and breast cancer see the biggest drop when green tea is consumed regularly. Again, there is no surefire way to prevent getting cancer, but having a cup of tea a day may is definitely worth the preventative benefits.

5. Helps to lower the risk of diabetes

There is some evidence to suggest that green tea helps lower the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes, though future research is needed to confirm the association.

6. Helps to lower the risk of food poisoning

Catechin, one of the bitter ingredients found in green tea has been shown to effectively kill the bacteria which causes food poisoning and minimize the effects of the toxins that are produced by those bacteria.

7. Helps to fight infection and flu

Tea contains chemicals called alkylamine antigens which act similarly to some tumor cells and bacteria, boosting the body’s immune response. It has even been shown to have an effect on severe infections like sepsis.Black tea may bolster your efforts to fight the flu as participants in a study who gargled with a black tea extract solution twice daily where more immune to the flu virus than those who didn’t.

8. Increases metabolism

Is a slow metabolic rate keeping you from losing the weight you want? Some studies suggest that green tea may be able to boost your metabolic rate slightly, allowing you to burn an additional 70-80 calories a day. While this may not seem like much, over time it could add up.

“If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.” – Elbert Hubbard

What is the meaning of living a healthy lifestyle? It is a way of living that allows you to enjoy more aspects of your life in a more fulfilling way. Living a healthy lifestyle may mean something different from one person to the next. For some, health is defined by living a disease-free life. For others, healthy is being able to play with grandchildren or perhaps adhering to a weekly exercise schedule. Though the definition of healthy may differ between people, living a healthy lifestyle is a fundamental component to achieving your optimal mental and physical well-being.

Ways to improve health and lifestyle

1. Eat salad 

Salads composed from even a few ingredients make a nutrient-rich meal. The greens alone have calcium, iron, potassium and B vitamins. Many salad basics, including tomatoes, sweet peppers and the greens, are chock-full of antioxidants.

2. Deep breathe for at least 5 minutes

Deep breathing releases endorphins throughout the body. Endorphins are feel-good, natural painkillers created by our own bodies. When practicing deep breathing, the upward and downward movement of the diaphragm helps remove toxins from the organs, promoting better blood flow. Oxygen provides energy, which means that we are creating an increase in our energy level by breathing deeply.

3. Meditate

Meditation brings the brainwave pattern into an alpha state that promotes healing. The mind becomes fresh, delicate and beautiful. It cleanses and nourishes you from within and calms you, whenever you feel overwhelmed, unstable, or emotionally shut down.

4. Drink more water

Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you think, focus and concentrate better and be more alert. As an added bonus, your energy levels are also boosted. Water removes by-products of fat, reduces eating intake (by filling up your tummy if consumed prior to meals), reduces hunger (hello natural appetite suppressant!), raises your metabolism and has zero calories!

5. Don’t worry too much

Worry is never useful. When we find ourselves worrying, we should either act and not worry, or decide not to act and not worry. If we can act to avoid something bad, or reduce its chances of happening, then we should act and not worry. On the other hand, if we can’t control or influence what will happen, then worrying will cause us distress but not help us – we should not act and not worry.