Your Daily Skin Care Regime

By Azalea Ali

CLEANSING is a vital step to maintain and improve the quality of your skin.   It should be done morning and night ensure the removal of impurities such as skin oils, makeup as well as surface impurities.  Regular cleansing will allow and improve the skin’s ability to breathe and to enhance and maintain its functions. 

 How to cleanse: Start by moistening the skin with lukewarm water, and apply a small amount (about the size of a 5 cent coin) of cleanser.  Create a lather and apply to your face. Massage into skin using circular motions, making sure to cleanse the entire face and neck and avoiding the eye area.  Massaging your face in this way will enhance the skin circulation and help decongestion.  Then rinse off cleanser and pat face dry with a towel. TIP: Make sure you use a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type such as a hydrating or cream cleanser for dry/sensitive skin, foaming cleanser for oily skin.

 Toning is the second step in your skin care regime. It removes any excess cleanser and residue as well as tightens the pores and protects the skin from moisture loss which may occur from cleansing, and most importantly provides nutrients and restores the pH balance.  How to tone:  Apply a small amount of toner to a cotton ball or pad and wipe this across your face starting from the nose, to the forehead and then to the cheeks and chin. TIP: always use an alcohol free toner and this will not strip the skin of nutrients and essential oils.

 Moisturising your skin is the final step in your skin care regime which should be done both morning and night, and protects the skin from environmental damage, by providing essential nutrients and preventing from moisture loss, this will slow the aging process.  Moisturising also maintains the acid in your skin, when your pH balance is compromised.  How to moisturise: Apply a small amount of moisturiser in your hands and then apply to your face.  Massage the moisturiser into the entire face and neck area. TIPS: Use a moisturiser with a lighter formulation and SPF during the day, and use a heavy moisturiser with higher amount of nutrients and essential oils during the night.

FESTIVALS - EAT DRINK AND MAKE MERRY!!!

THE one thing that is common among our human existence is the fact that we all have our special festivals. It is therefore apt to say that festivals have a way of bringing us all together to celebrate a joyous occasion no matter what the festival is Christmas, Diwali, Eid or be it New Years. Every festival in its own beauty has various traditions and its own excitement. The most prominent memories for me as a child were of my mum cooking an array of treats. Some how these festivals bring out a sense of integrity within all of us. I guess this was then the origin of the saying "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach", and here's where my obsessive mind takes over because festivals mean food!!!!

 Be it any festival, it is customary that platters of food be the main ingredient of the day in every household, and families end up inevitably splurging. As a child I remember I would never eat any meals except that which was cooked especially for that particular festival. And my mum at the end of festival day would force me into drinking a glass of bitter-gourd (karela) juice which according to her would cleanse my body!!! Hmmm… Do you really think this works? Well personally, I think to some extent it does because it has been scientifically proven to contain a compound which is highly beneficial in lowering sugar levels in blood and urine. This in returns helps glucose tolerance without increasing blood insulin levels in spite of having a sweetmeat indulgence. But again one should not drink it regularly at all without being prescribed for. Festivals without a doubt get us in the mood to eat drink and make merry. So it is quite natural to over eat and forget about ones fitness regime. Who cares, right? Unbelievable food binges and fun is often accompanied with guilt trips. So what is a better way to be in great shape and good health in such tempting situations?

 As we enter into the festivity mode, it becomes difficult to refrain from having tempting foods. The trick is to consume them in smaller portions. In this way you would not upset anyone including yourself, as well as you would be able to pamper your taste buds and enjoy everything that has been served to you with such love and care. The mind has to be trained enough to accept everything but in control. If you end up overeating, it is best that you never fail to exercise that day. Even an hour’s walk would work, just to burn the excess calorie intake of the day.

A few more options one could use to avoid the festive bulge:

* Liquid Intake: Drink a lot of herbal teas, it keeps you warm and it is healthy. Drinking water often can work miracles. Water is not only a great detoxifying agent but also aids in weight loss.

* Detox Day: Once a week go on a full day fruit diet. This gives our stomach rest and helps it rejuvenate, bringing a glow to your face. Add fresh vegetable and fruit juices to your diet like carrots, beetroots, spinach.

* Light Dinners: If you have had a hectic day out, try keeping your dinner as light as possible. This helps you balance the calorie consumption as well as keeps you feeling light.

* Sweet Temptations: It is hard to avoid sweets during festivals especially because that's the first thing every one gets offered or served. So have them in small quantities and keep up the exercise.

 One particular festival that needs a mention here is that of Eid. Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. This month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. Fasting during this month is often thought figuratively to burn away all sins. The first day of the next month is spent in celebrations and is observed as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ or `Eid ul-Fitr. Come Ramadan, and your diet is radically altered. The meals get condensed into mornings and evenings, with no intake in-between for an extended period of time. For some of us, the intake of oily foods skyrockets. These changes in diet may not be well received by your body. So here are some tips to keep your body happy.

 During long hours of fasting, one should consume slow digesting foods which include food with plenty of fibre in it. And avoid fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours. So what are slow digesting foods? Well slow-digesting foods are those that contain grains and seeds such as barley, wheat, oats, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour, and unpolished rice. These are called complex carbohydrates. Grains, seeds, vegetables (like green beans, peas, and spinach), fruits with skin, dried fruits (such as dried apricots, figs, prunes, and almonds) are all examples of food containing fibre. Fast-burning foods are foods that contain ingredients such as sugar and white flour. They are called refined carbohydrates.

AVOID

* Fried and fatty foods

* Foods containing too much sugar

* Avoid over eating

* Avoid too much tea (it makes you pass more urine which take with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day)

* Smoking cigarettes: If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually if it suits you. Smoking is * unhealthy and one should stop it completely

EAT:

* Complex carbohydrates so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry.

* Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium. Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat

* Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates

DRINK:

* Water

* Fruit juices

 In the end all festivals are scared and have a place in our lives and we all celebrate them with gusto. But as the old cliché goes "health is wealth" we must do what we can to balance our lives to live a long and healthy life for ourselves and our families. Happy Festivities!!!

To contact writer: If you have any questions for the writer, please contact admin@indiantimes.com.au.

Dealing with Independence

Professor Matt Sanders

THE early teens can be a scary time for both children and parents.

 Dilemmas over parties, sex, alcohol, drugs and the physical changes brought on by puberty often coincide with increasing levels of conflict with parents.

 Your child may wish to have more privacy, spend time with friends instead of family, listen to music you don’t like, and express their opinion more forcefully. Growing arguments over hairstyles and clothing can become bitter battlegrounds.

 The truth is, the desire for independence is a normal and necessary part of growing up. We can’t stop it happening, and thinking back to our own youth may be what scares us!!

 So why do some parents experience major traumas with teenagers?

 Often it’s because they haven’t adequately prepared themselves or their children for taking on increased responsibility.

 Parents should gradually encourage children to become responsibly independent — able to express their opinions appropriately, make informed decisions, see things from a perspective wider than themselves, and participate in adult conversation.

 And the time to start is during the later primary school years.

 There’s no magic age when children can suddenly be given new freedoms. Children of the same age can differ considerably in their maturity and capabilities. Too much freedom too soon can be just as damaging as not allowing any choice at all.

 Gradually allowing your child to make decisions in certain areas over a number of years gives practice and experience.

 There are, of course, many decisions parents will quite rightly wish to influence or keep  firm control on. Children still need rules to be enforced consistently and until adolescence, matters such as when they should be indoors, where they go after school, whom they’re with, what time they go to bed, what television they watch and what computer games they play, are very much within a parent’s domain.

 It’s important to ask our children their opinions about school or current events, listen to them, and take their opinions into account when deciding important family matters. We don’t have to agree with everything, but our encouragement will help them develop better ways to express their views, clearly, logically and concisely.

Parenting Tip: When encouraging your child to make responsible decisions stick to simple choices first, for example, how to spend pocket money, who to invite to a birthday party, choosing a birthday gift, what home chores to complete in what order or which homework tasks to tackle first. These small choices provide great opportunities for learning.

Professor Matt Sanders is the founder of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, which is available free of charge at many Queensland Child Health Centres. For Triple P information go to www.triplep.net

How to look after skin in dry weather - skin Care Tips

By  Hetvi Hair & Beauty - Nimisha

35 Rubicon  Crescent,  Kuraby

THE summer season is approaching! For many people, the cold dry air condition climates may bring uncomfortable dryness to the face, hands and feet. For more severe cases, it means unwanted skin conditions flaring up again such as flaking skin, cracking lips, skin allergies, eczema, psoriasis, chapped hands or coarse hair.

 The low temperatures, low humidity and strong air condition air suck away the moisture in our bodies and deplete our skin of its natural lipid layer which keeps the skin from drying out. More attention is required during the summer especially you are in and out from your air condition office. Here  are some ways to help you achieve optimal soft skin suppleness during these dual temperature time.

Keep your Body Hydrated from Within. Our sweat glands are less active in air condition and we have less craving for fluids. Too often during office hours, we neglect the consumption of fluids into our bodies leading to a dehydration and dry skin. We must constantly keep our body hydrated from within and constant intake of fluids will help to flush out any toxins. If you're like me which gets turned off by drinking cold beverages in air conditioned office, then heat up a cup of lemon tea to warm up your body.

Moisturize & Protect Yourself from air condition exposure. Air condition can be very damaging for the unprotected parts of your skin especially the facial areas. Since most of us will not have a scarf wrapped around our face when we sit in the office, moisturizers is a key to soft supple skin in air condition by providing your skin with the protective barrier against the dry office. Apply moisturize after your cleansing routine in the morning and again before you go to bed. Your hands can also benefit from the application of the moisturizer.

Exfoliation and Hydrating Masks are Very Important Every time we  exfoliate, the sloughing off dead skin cells encourages new cell renewal. New cells are moisture rich so it's even more important to exfoliate regularly during the summer time to encourage hydration. For optimal skin health try using a hydrating mask after you exfoliate. Your skin barrier is weakened a little when you exfoliate so adding extra hydration will make all the difference.

 Just make sure you don't overdo it and stress your skin out. Just be a little more disciplined with your hydrating routine and make sure you actually do it regularly rather than forgetting.

Regular Massages are Very Beneficial Massages are excellent to help to keep your skin silky smooth, by toning the muscles, calming the nerves, warming the body and increasing blood circulation,  so much needed nutrients can reach your skin.

Stay Away from Harsh Chemical Soaps Do not use harsh soaps to cleanse, as they will strip your skin of precious lipids. Preferably, use a non-soap cleanser that is natural, organic and free from chemical derivatives to cleanse your skin.

Nourish Your Body and Skin with a Balanced Diet Maintaining a  balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and essential oils such as fruits and vegetables high in water content at every meal will help your body achieve optimal working conditions. Drink lots of Tap water through the day.

 Remember that a holistic approach will yield the best results. Try and incorporate as many of the above suggestions as you can to maintain a balance diet and your skin looking smooth, soft and beautiful.

 I have now moved to my new home and beauty studio at 35 Rubicon Crescent, Kuraby LD 4112. This is next suburb after Eight Mile Plans. If you coming from Motorway take exit 14 at Logan or if you coming by train then you have to leave train at Kuraby station. My mobile number is 0412350013 if you need more information.

Best Regards,

Nimisha

It's not too cold to lose weight!

By Peter Lane Rai

REMEMBER last January when you were concerned about the extra weight you had put on from too many Christmas parties? You vowed to keep fit and eat less but you have failed to do so!  Beware these cold winter mornings, when you struggle to get out of bed or you don't like those dark nights so you no longer walk, run or cycle.  On go the extra kilos and inches as you sit inside in the warmth watching television, eating and drinking.   Yet you can lose weight, so read on.

 An ideal way to lose those extra kilos and maintain fitness is walking in Giraween (meaning place of flowers) National Park, only 360km, a three hour drive from Brisbane via Warwick .  Peter Lane Rai, his wife and daughter had a 5 day camping holiday at Girraween and the spectacular Queen Mary Falls near Killarney.

 Even though temperatures were near to freezing, what better way is there to spend a winter night than around a warm camp fire?  At our meals we were joined by friendly kangaroos, laughing kookaburras, galahs and cheeky magpies.

 The endless walks of various distances and difficulty, clearly marked so you can't get lost   are suitable for all ages, even “seniors”!   We comfortably managed the several hour walks to places like the Sphinx, Castle Rock and Granite Arch. If you ascend Pyramid Rock, you see the wonderful Balancing Rock, but you also have a 360 degree view that takes in the granite landscape, eucalypt forests, sedgelands and heathlands of Queensland and New South Wales .

 The numerous boulders, precariously balanced on each other or seemingly cut in half by a gigantic saw, are spectacular. Years of artistic work by wind, water and heat create   amazing rock formations.  It is well worth the drive just to see these.  So get walking at Giraween and lose those kilos.

Gen Y sexual health in disarray

By Ruth Dedigamuwa

WITH  HIV back in the headlines,  Generation Y is divided over claims they know little about sexual health, as community groups call for an overhaul of the system.

  The generation that missed out on the Grim Reaper campaign is facing harsh criticism as notifications of STIs and STDs soar to dizzying heights.

  The Courier Mail’s most recent state-wide investigation reports that 178 HIV notifications were made in 2009 – the highest on record since 1984.

  Queensland also currently holds the record for the highest rate of Chlamydia among 15-19 year old girls.  

  “What we know is that young people are having sex younger, 1in 4 grade 10 students, 1 in 2 grade 12 students,” Cecelia Gore, Education Services Director of Family Planning Queensland said.

  “Drugs for Chlamydia are inexpensive, but HIV drugs can cost more than $1,000 a month,” a spokesperson from Queensland Health said.

  Kellie Holland, a Registered Nurse from Women’s Health Queensland Wide, says many young people aren’t fully aware of how STIs/STDs are transmitted and acquired.         

  There is agreement among the experts that experimentation with drugs and alcohol at a younger age is partly contributory. 

  Movies, celebrities and pornographic material also disregard the concept of safe sex.

  “They give a false, unrealistic sense of what sex means. Sometimes there is a fear of pregnancy rather than an STI...being on the pill might give a false sense of comfort,” Ms Holland said.

  Sex education has been part of the Queensland school curriculum since 1988, however in light of these figures, its effectiveness is being questioned.

  Recent school leavers are divided over the need for an overhaul.

  “The classes were pretty crap, just a whole lot of laughing and being immature - probably didn't scare us enough!” Trudi Saul, 21 said.

  “I think we were taught about HIV and such in Grade 9 PE. They were pretty thorough, if not a case of too little too late,” Sarah Wendt, 19 said.

  Ms Gore says a “strong set of education messages” are needed.

  “Start from the very basics, parents need to feel comfortable giving their kids information as they grow up. We need to remind people if you ignore them (symptoms), they can lead to long-term problems,” she said.

  In an increasingly digital world, organisations such as ‘Y.E.A.H’ – Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDs is embracing the internet and multimedia to influence Generation Y and Z to make smarter choices.

  However, the presumption that promiscuous behaviour is the only factor in contracting STIs and STDs is opposed by John (not his real name), 27 who is HIV positive and a client of Queensland Positive People.

  Recent publicity of the irresponsible behaviour of a HIV positive male upsets John*, “[it is] extremely stigmatising, we don’t all behave that way,” he said.

  John* remembers the day he was diagnosed “like it was yesterday”.

  “I felt total shock and numbness for quite a while. I spent a good two weeks crying and feeling sorry for myself. I was always careful, practised safe sex and all that. Never let myself get into any awkward situations.  It was just one of those things that happens.  Even with safe sex, you know there is a risk, I guess it just wasn’t my lucky night,” John* said.

  The health professionals say, the variables behind these figures need to be considered before drawing any conclusions.

 “Young people are a diverse population and their attitudes to sex and relationships vary enormously,” a Queensland Health spokesperson said.

Precautionary measures for maintaining good hair care

By Thilliar Varnakulasingham JP BSc DHSc FRSA AMIRTE ACP MIHPE

Member of Sports Medicine New Zealand Inc

Member of the Royal Society of New Zealand

Member of the British Homoeopathic Association

Member of the Royal Institute of Public Health

Member of the NZ Institute of Chemistry

IT is a cause of great distress to those afflicted with great hair loss because a full head of hair has always been regarded as youthfulness, whereas hair loss has connotations of ageing and unattractiveness.

 The colour and texture of hair are inherited characteristics, although these can be temporarily altered with hair dyes and hair dressing. External scalp hair is made up of dead cells filled with a tough substance known as keratin. Although a person has 150,000 to 200,000 hairs on his or her scalp, blondes generally have the most hairs, followed by brunettes and redheads. It is very common for most people to lose anything between 100 and 125 hairs a day but if you happen to lose more than 150 hairs per day, then you must consult your doctor for advice and treatment. Hairs on the head last from two to five years with an average life span of three years. Our body has about five million hairs. The largest hairs are found on the scalp, under the arms and in the pubic region. There is a general body covering of smaller hairs, and in addition there are tiny hairs over most of the body which are too small to be seen by the unaided eye. Long hairs do not put a strain on roots and hats do not choke off the circulation to the scalp causing hair loss.

 Finding hair on your comb or in the sink does not necessarily mean you are going bald. Shampooing does not accelerate balding. The hairs you find are just the ones ready to come out and these will be replaced. It is not true that you inherit baldness through your mother’s relatives. Baldness can come from either side of the family, or both. Colour is a hereditary factor and this is due to the fact that people have different amounts of pigment in their hair. Depending on genetic inheritance, some people have curly hair, while others have wavy or straight hair. These are characteristics that cannot be altered, though it is possible to curl or straighten hair for a time. Dark hair colour dominates over light hair colour. If a child has one parent with black or brown hair and one parent with red or blonde hair, the child’s hair is likely to be dark-coloured. Oily glands pour their secretions into the follicles so that the hairs, particularly those of the head, are slightly oily.

 Even among people of the same race, differences in hair structure are often so marked as to be of considerable importance to a pathologist investigating a crime. Hair cells develop tiny air pockets as a person ages that change the colour to white (grey) when the melanocytes stop producing melanin.

 All hairs fall out gradually and are replaced by new hairs. A hair follicle produces and nourishes a hair. The root of the hair (hair bulb) is embedded at the base of the follicle and it is here the growth takes place. The follicle does not die when a hair falls out. It goes into a resting period before producing a new hair. Baldness results when hair replacement fails to keep up with hair loss.

 Despite some advertising claims, the application of special ointments or oils is unlikely to affect hair health. The desirable ways to nourish and cherish your hair are by eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, avoiding stress and maintaining proper hair care.

 Medications that may cause hair loss include: blood thinners, thyroid medication, certain anti-hypertensive (beta blockers), excess vitamin A and chemotherapy for cancer. Regrowth of hair usually follows after discontinuation of the above medications.

 The physician is likely to look for the clinical signs suggestive of nutritional disease in his or her patients. Inspection of those body areas in which signs of deficiency are most likely to be detected - the hair, eyes, lips, mouth and skin of the face, neck and arms- can be part of examination, no matter how cursory, because neither formal examination facilities nor disrobing is essential.

 Suspicions aroused by clinical examination can then be verified by medical and dietary history and appropriate biochemical tests.

 Protein malnutrition causes the hair to change colour and become fine, dry and brittle. Characteristically, the hair of persons with severe protein deficiency can be pulled out of the scalp without discomfort. In Caucasians, Indians and Orientals who normally have brown or black hair, the change to a lighter colour is readily detected, but without knowledge of prior hair colour it might be thought to be genetic. The hair of Negroes tends to become reddish in case of protein deficiency before becoming lighter. In persons with naturally light and fine hair, the change is more difficult to detect.

 Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, essential for healthy hair, are present in mackerel, herring, sardines, tuna and salmon as well as in flaxseed oil and walnuts. Fish may be included in your diet at least three times a week. Lack of vitamin A may cause dull lifeless hair. Good sources of vitamin A are apricots, fish-liver oils, dark-green leafy and yellow vegetables, fruit, egg yolk and dairy foods. Deficiency in zinc may result in brittle hair and sources if zinc are oysters, whole grains, Brewer’s yeast, wheat bran, lean red meat, poultry and pumpkin seeds. If you do not have health problems and if you go for regular exercise, it may be good to take two to three eggs a week, because eggs are an excellent source of zinc, vitamins A and B. You may get advice from your doctor with regard to eating eggs. Unless your doctor recommends you to take vitamins, do not take them. By overdoing our vitamin consumption, we are increasing our risk of disease. For example, excess of vitamin A (taken in the form of tablets) may cause hair loss, peeling of the skin, joint pains and liver damage. We know that people who consume five servings or more of fruit and vegetables have less disease.

 Physical and emotional stress or traumatic events can cause hair loss due to a reduction in the blood supply to your hair. When you are constantly stressed, your body diverts blood to its most crucial areas. This can lead to poor circulation to the scalp. Hair loss resulting from stress can be prevented by increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruits and juices, parsley, broccoli, green pepper and black currants as well as proteins found in fish, wheat-germ, dried cooked beans and peas, tofu, milk and eggs.

 The Ten Commandants to avoid great stress are: get yourself organised at home and work place, think positively, balance work and play, accept that some things are beyond your control, learn to say ‘no’ without feeling guilt for things you are not interested in participating, exercise all seven days if possible, sleep for about six to eight hours, eat balanced diet, reduce caffeine, alcohol, sugar and cigarettes and pray to the Almighty to give you guidance in solving your problems.

 It is well established that baldness tends to run in families. The usual pattern of balding is for the front hairline to recede while hair thins at the top of the head. In some men balding regions ultimately meet and continued thinning come into being over the whole scalp. In most women hair loss takes place slowly and slightly throughout life. Hair loss due to genetic causes cannot be prevented.

 Hair loss also takes place at menopause when the hormone levels change.

Some diseases, such as lupus erythematosus or lichen planus, may destroy hair follicles and patches of lasting baldness may result. The loss of hair due to radiation therapy and chemotherapy used for cancer treatment is temporary and the hair grows back after treatment.

 In some severe or prolonged illnesses, such as thyroid diseases and iron-deficiency anaemia, some hair is lost while the remaining hair becomes fine and glossless, giving the appearance of greater loss. However, the hair usually grows back with effective treatment.

 Baldness can occur with severe shingles, ringworm and some scarring diseases. The loss of hair is common after pregnancy. Both men and women lose hair after any major surgery, accident, illness or stress but the hair grows back soon.

 Baldness due to alopecia is the commonest form of hair loss where hair may suddenly drop out in patches. Such hair loss often stops within a few months. Natural hair recovery is possible or a physician may inject corticosteroids, particularly triamcinolene, into the scalp to speed up recovery.

 Contrary to popular belief, the hair does not grow thicker as a result of shaving, but some people shave their heads to fulfill some religious obligations.

 External environmental toxins and pollutants such as water pollution, chlorine and metal may cause thinning of hair.

 To maintain hair in good condition, a person must brush or comb hair gently. Excessive brushing may pull hair out at the roots. Hair can be washed twice a week without upsetting the natural of body oils.

 After washing the hair, it is advisable to carefully comb with a wide-toothed comb, because after washing the scalp is soft and hair may be pulled out. It may be advisable to use a conditioner after hair washing to prevent tangling.

 Hair dyes have become controversial ever since some American research suggested certain dye-chemicals might cause cancer after being absorbed through the skin. So far there is