For centuries, the popular drink, beer has been used to make bread, batters, and cakes – and often to cool off at the end of a long day at work.
However, the dominant proteins, yeast and B vitamins content in this age-old drink can also soften and volumize your hair.
Whether you add it to your hair mask or a quick rinse, beer is an all-natural treatment for your hair.
One of the many advantages of beer is its ability to induce hair growth.
If you are looking towards triggering hair growth, there is nothing better than adhering to this option, beer for hair growth.
Beer for the hair is safe, simple to use as well as free from all kinds of side effects.
Along with vitamin B, the protein content in malt and hops (which are active ingredients of beer) have been proven to repair damaged hair.
The sucrose and maltose sugars present in beer will help tighten and strengthen hair cuticles for an enhanced shine.
Beer is useful for controlling dry scalp along with improving the lustre and quality of hair.
Beer contains a natural ingredient known as silica. Silica is known to add volume to the hair and make it thicker. So beer is an excellent choice when it comes to natural ways of adding volume to the hair as well as enhancing hair growth.
How To Use Beer For Your Hair
You can use beer as a hair rinse or use it as an ingredient in your hair mask.
Beer Hair Rinse
Ingredients:
1 oz. distilled water
1 oz. beer
2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
7 drops lemon essential oil (or your favourite scent)
Directions: Shampoo and rinse hair as usual. Pour the beer mixture on your hair and work it through. Rinse off with lukewarm. Do not use hot water. Do this once a month for fine strands.
Hair Mask:
Mask with beer and eggs (for oily and normal hair only)
Directions: Add one egg yolk to 100 ml beer and mix it. Rub mixture into scalp and distribute the rest of it by hair length.
Wear a shower cap and keep a mix of eggs and beer on for 20 minutes. Rinse it off with water. Your hair will be shinier and will grow faster.
Mask for dry hair
Add in a glass of warm, flat beer, a teaspoon of olive oil; mix it and apply it to your hair. Keep mixture for 20 min and rinse it out with water. You can use shampoo if you feel it is necessary.
DIY: Homemade Baby Soap
Would you like to learn how to make your very own homemade soap? This all-natural soap is simple and inexpensive.
Ingredients
Black soap
3 tbsp. Shea butter
2 tbsp. Glycerin
3 tbsp. Jojoba oil
2 tbsp. Almond oil
2 tbsp. Castor oil
2 tbsp. Aloe Vera gel
2 tbsp. Camwood (Osun)
Mini Mortar and Pestle
Tbsp. – Tablespoon
Procedure
Cut theblack soap into pieces
Place into the mortar and pound well until smooth
Add the other ingredients (Shea butter, Glycerin, Jojoba oil, Castor etc.) and very well to mix them together
Pour the mixture into a mould or container
Store the mixture for a few weeks in a cool, place to allow it cure
Your baby soap is ready for use.
Tips
The Mini mortar, Black soap and Osun in most local markets the herb sections.
You can use any small bowl as your mould, as long as it is lidded
Allowing your soap to cure (step 5) ensures you get a longer lasting soap bar with very rich lather
How to prevent Oily skin
Oily skin can clog pores and lead to acne problems, but don’t worry; here are a few easy ways to prevent oily skin
1. Wash your Face
Wash your face twice a day with a gentle facial cleanser. Using a basic face cleanser is the best way to avoid oily skin.
When washing your face, use lukewarm water as hot water may dry out or irritate your face. You should also stay away from harsh soaps or cleansers.
Also, ensure you wash your makeup off completely before going to bed at night as makeup will clog your pores if not completely removed.
2. Use oil-free and Moisturisers and Sunscreen
Oily skin still needs to be moisturised, and it also has to be protected from Ultraviolet radiation, but avoid using oil-based products. Before you buy any facial or skin care products, check the ingredients and ensure they are not oil-based.
3. Eat Healthy
Foods rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids will help improve the appearance and texture of your skin. Reduce (Avoid, if possible) the intake of sugar and fried foods as they cause oily skin.
Foods rich in anti-oxidants include beans, apples, whole grains and peppers while Omega-3 fatty acids foods include salmon and tuna, you might also consider taking fish oil supplements.
Ensure you eat fresh fruits and vegetables as much as possible.
4. Drink plenty of Water
Water is life; you should drink at least 8 glasses of Water daily. Hydration is key to maintaining healthy skin.
5. Exercise
Physical activity provides a range of benefits including preventing oil. Regular exercise will help keep your skin healthy and smooth.
Ensure you take a shower after your exercise to wash away the sweat and bacteria.
6.Sleep well
Lack of sleep interrupts your body’s ability to maintain healthy skin. You need 7-9 hours’ sleep every night.
Juicing For Weight Loss
Juicing is an excellent way to lose excess fat in the body. Juices have lots of micro-nutrients in them and are very low in calories.
Juice diet does not contain any fat and is rich in vitamins, minerals and enzymes. It acts as an appetite suppressant and will thus help you lose weight.
Juice diet will help provide your body with all essential nutrients.
Recipe for weight loss juice diet
Here are the nutrient-dense fruits, veggies and herbs that make this juice ideal for weight loss.
Pineapple:
Pineapple has anti-inflammatory benefits and sleep-enhancing benefits (which supports weight loss) while also offering a slight sweetness
Kale and lettuce:
They are known for their unusual mineral and chlorophyll content for energy and plant protein
Ginger and chilli:
These spices contain metabolic stimulating and blood sugar stabilising effects
Parsley and celery:
Parsley and celery are accessible mineral content, alkalizing effects along with its fluid retention reducing effects
Turmeric:
For the anti-inflammatory and liver detoxification support
Lemon:
To improve insulin sensitivity thus providing blood sugar balance and liver support.
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 pineapple
4 kale leaves
2 celery stalks
4 large leaves of lettuce
1 handful of flat parsley
1 handful of curly parsley
1 lemon
1 inch (2.5 cm) piece of ginger
1 inch (2.5 cm) piece of turmeric
1-2 chillis
DIRECTIONS:
1. Wash your ingredients well.
2. Peel the pineapple and lemon (optional).
3. Add all ingredients through a juicer and enjoy!
Lifestyle: 8 Fun Things To Do During Your Leisure Time
You don’t have to sleep every time you are less busy. You need to be physically active if you want to live a healthy lifestyle.
Getting a good sleep in the night and a 30-minute nap during the day is enough sleep for you.
When you are not busy, find something to do to keep you active.
There is a list of fun things you can do instead of sleep or lying down doing nothing.
Here are 8 fun things to do during your leisure time.
Reading
Read novels, magazines, read stories and articles online.
Look for an endless supply of stuff to read on the Internet, pick up books at bookstores, or take advantage of your free library card and gain access to everything from the old classics to the latest best-sellers.
Walking
Asides its benefits to the cardiovascular health, walking is an excellent way to clear your head, let off some steam, and just enjoy the outdoors.
You can walk the trail at your local park or just walk your neighbourhood after your dinner. The benefits are the same, and it’s free.
Play Cards
Playing cards is a fun and easy way to relax and unwind, and it is also a great option when your Internet connection mysteriously goes down, and you decide to reinvent family time.
Puzzles
Play puzzles. Puzzles are cheap and easy to find.
And depending upon your level of patience, puzzles can be a wonderful way to spend a quiet evening at home. You can go for the jigsaw, crossword puzzles or Sudoku.
They help improve concentration, memory, and critical thinking.
Learn dancing
Asides being a fantastic form of exercise, dancing is intensely expressive, allowing you release your tension while working up a sweat.
Learn dance styles, such as Salsa, Latin, or Hip Hop on YouTube or just turn on your radio and go freestyle.
Visit homes
Visiting shelters, orphanages, nursing homes will be a new experience. Your stay will mean a lot to them, and the interactions can be fun and productive for you.
Browse the internet
You can learn a lot on the web. Visit blogs, forums, websites, read news, watch videos online.
Visit Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms to connect with your friends and have fun.
Watch movies
You can either go to the cinema to see a film or watch by yourself at home.
Watch a comedy and laugh the stress off.
8 Superfoods For Women
Eating healthy foods is essential for everyone.
Even your pets will appreciate an organic diet rich in lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables and pure spring water.
However, certain foods are especially beneficial for a woman’s body, which is much more than just a smaller version of a man.
The Female body and brains are physically different than the male’.
Women are much more sensitive to the artificial hormones and pesticides crammed into many commercial food products, which can wreak havoc on their reproductive system.
Protecting your body with antioxidants and other vitamins and nutrients that ward off disease is important to keep your system healthy, balanced and functioning at an optimal level.
Foods For Women’s Health
Although these foods are healthy for all humans to eat, they are particularly essential for women.
Always remember to buy organic.
Orange squash and roots
Butternut squash, pumpkins and orange root vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant.
Beta-carotene which is known as the protector of vision is also thought to protect against breast cancer and repair damaged skin as well, slowing the signs of ageing.
Iron
During that period of the month, women must consume iron or risk anaemia; although this essential mineral is widely taken in multivitamin form, your body will absorb iron better if you consume it in foods like spinach, lentils, lean red meat and dark poultry.
If you are already taking a multivitamin, make sure it is one made specifically for women that includes iron.
Mangoes
Like many other fruits, mangoes are loaded with vitamin C, a nutrient that fights inflammation and keeps your immune system running smoothly. However, juicy mangoes are also very high in vitamin A that is believed to help protect against cervical cancer- a great excuse for a smoothie.
Beans
A lot of women suffer from digestive irregularities such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and having plenty of natural fibre in your diet from beans, lentils and legumes can help prevent such chronic diseases as colon cancer, which kills more women every year than breast cancer.
Bulky beans are low in fat, inexpensive and are a filling way to beat hunger.
Yoghurt
You need a high intake of calcium to keep your bones strong against the brittle breaks of osteoporosis.
Dairy is a fine source of calcium, and yoghurt offers the added benefit of good bacteria (also know as probiotics) that keep your colon healthy and the whole body system in balance.
Don’t take the premade, commercial yoghurts that are extremely high in sugars, instead, opt for natural yoghurt and flavour it yourself with honey, or agave syrup and fresh fruits.
Figs
Figs contain elevated levels of vitamin B-6, a nutrient that has been proven to help balance the mood and ease the symptoms of PMS.
The fibre in figs helps you feel full and can sooth many common digestive irregularities as well.
Salmon
Salmon, as well as other fatty fish such as mackerel and sardines, are rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are indeed necessary for proper brain function as well as protection from arthritis and heart disease.
Berries
Cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries contain potent anti-cancer agents that play a fundamental role in cell repair and may protect against many forms of disease, including breast cancer and colon cancer, the two cancers that affect women most.
Loaded with vitamin C, folic acid and antioxidants as well, berries ward off urinary tract infections, help your vision and may also protect against skin ageing. Try to include berries in your daily diet.
Incorporate these healthy foods for women into your diet if you want a healthy body.
Amazing Benefits of Apples
Apples are known to be full of Vitamins and Minerals probably the reason for the famous saying ‘An Apple a day keeps the Doctor away’.
Health benefits
Apples contain antioxidants like flavonoids polyphenols and Vitamin and they help protect the body against harmful bacteria and viruses
in Apple has anti-cancer and anti-cholesterol properties
Apple contains an antioxidant, Quercetin, which boosts the immune system
aid in fighting off Oxygen-free radicals that cause Diabetes
It helps prevent Alzheimer’s
Apples irritable bowel syndrome
The content in Apple to avert
The in apple fills the stomach and kills hunger pangs eventually leading to weight loss
Apples are rich in dietary thereby aiding digestion
They help prevent the formation of gallstones
Velvet apples have analgesic properties that help relieve bone and muscle pain
Velvet apples contain high amount of Vitamin A which helps improve vision and reduces symptoms of Night blindness in children
Skin benefits
The Apple fruit has the potential to lighten, brighten and soothe the skin
Apple hydrates as well as cleanses the skin
Regular intake of Apples eliminate signs of such as wrinkles and fine lines
Apple provides relief from acne, blemishes, dark spots and sunburns
Apples can also help to reduce dark circles or puffy eyes
Hair benefits
Apple is a known hair growth booster
It helps promote longer and healthier hair
Apple helps prevent hair loss
Scalp problems such as Dandruff can by applying Apple juice on the scalp
Benefits and Uses of Rose water
Rose water is a flavoured water made by steeping rose petals in water. It is the beauty secret of many women all over the World and was also used by Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra.
Uses
Rose water is useful as a natural Makeup remover and cleanser
Rose water can as a Makeup setting spray
Rose water is useful as an after-sun body spray
Rose water is as an addition to your regular body cream
Rose water does wonders to the Skin and Hair; here are a few benefits of Rosewater.
Beauty Benefits
Rose water soothes sunburns and heals red, itchy skin
It prevents and cures dark circles and puffiness
Rose water and the skin and also softens dry skin
It relieves acne and helps to reduce blemishes and scars
Rose water has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce redness
It helps maintain the skin’s pH balance and controls excess oil
Rose water has anti-bacterial properties which kill bacteria that cause breakouts
It also has anti-oxidant properties which help it strengthen skin cells and regenerate skin tissue
Rose water is anti-aging; it skin while keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay
The use of Rose water over time helps lighten
Hair Benefits
Rose water has nourishing and properties which enhance the quality of hair
It also helps treat mild scalp infections and dandruff
Health Benefits
Rosewater could help you fall asleep quickly
Rose water contains anti-oxidants which help fight Mental degeneration
Cocktail Recipe: Watermelon – Mint Margarita
Having friends over for a small party and wondering what drink to serve? This drink is a fun fruity twist to the traditional Margarita, and I am sure you and your friends will love it. Enjoy!
Ingredients
4 cups Watermelon; seeded and chopped
¼ cup Fresh lime juice (about 3 limes)
¼ cup Sugar
½ cup Tequila
1 tbsp lime rind; grated
2 tbsp fresh mint leaves; chopped
Salt
Procedure
Cut up the watermelon into small pieces and remove the seeds
Place the cut watermelon on a baking sheet and freeze until firm
Blend the frozen watermelon, tequila, lime rind, lemon juice, mint leaves and sugar in a blender until it is slushy
Coat the rims of cocktail glasses with lime juice and dip in salt
Pour the blended slush into the cocktail glasses
Garnish with mint leaves
Serve
Tips
You could substitute the tequila with ½ cup of Orange juice or Apple juice to make a great Mocktail
You could also coat the glasses with sugar, instead of salt
Flat Tummy Workout
Have you been looking for a way to burn your tummy fat? Here are tested and proven exercises to help you get the flat tummy you desire in no time.
1. Jumping jacks
Image via workoutlabs.com
Jumping jacks are a great all over body exercise that is good for cardiovascular and strengthening. Stand with your feet together with your arms by your sides; jump up while spreading them as wide as you can and raising your hands up till they meet above your head. As you return to the ground, bring your legs back together and your arms back to your side.
2. Crunches
If you are looking for a way to strengthen, your abdominal muscles try Crunches. Crunches are like Sit ups, but you only lift your upper back off the floor. There are many variations to the crunch; there is the side crunch, reverse crunch, twist crunch and cable crunch.
3. Squat
Image via africanamericangolfersdigest
Squats are sometimes referred to as the King of all exercises. Stand with your feet apart, extend your arms straight so they are parallel with the ground palm facing down; or if it is more comfortable, bring your elbows close to your body, palms facing each other and thumbs pointing up. Begin to bend the knees while sending the butt backwards making sure your back remains straight, go back to starting position then repeat.
4. Leg lifts
Leg lifts are one of the best exercises you can do to work out your abs and your legs. Lie face up on the floor; bend your knees towards your chest, straighten your legs and point your toes them back up again.
5. Push Up
Image via 123rf.com
Pushups are the most efficient body weight movement exercise you can do; they target your arms, chest and core. Assume a face down position on the floor, placing your hands palms down on the floor. Raise yourself using your arms; make a straight line from your head to your heels and contract your abdominals, this position is called the Plank. Lower yourself to the floor and repeat. Note that your chest should come within inches of the ground each time you go down for a rep.
6. Planks
Image via muscleandstrength.com
Planks help you to build strength in your core, upper and lower body. Get into the plank position as described above and tuck in your belly; hold this
