Monica's Archives

A serum is a skin care product that you apply to your skin after cleansing and before moisturizing. Serums help give your skin a fresher, younger and healthier appearance. Face serums are light weight moisturizers that penetrate deeper to deliver active ingredients into your skin. It is mostly recommended for mature skin or skin having dark spots or dull skin. Here, I would like to give a simple DIY to make face serum easily. Do give it a try and give your experiences. I am using this serum for the last one year and can see the glow on my face. Things required:    (makes around 50 gms) Aloevera gel                                                    - 3 spoons Badam oil/extra virgin coconut oil            - ¾ spoon Rose essential oil                                          - 10 drops Vitamin E capsules                                        - 4 Rose water                                                     - 10 ml Method:  

Mushrooms are edible fungus that can provide several important nutrients. The many kinds of mushroom have varying compositions and nutritional profiles. Today, let us talk about oyster mushrooms which have numerous benefits especially being low in calories and high in fiber. Here is a quick look at why oyster mushrooms are so good for us. Oyster mushrooms are: Ø   Low in calories Ø   Fat free Ø   Cholesterol-free Ø   Gluten-free Ø   Very low in sodium They are high in: Ø   Protein and fiber Ø   Iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus and selenium Ø   Vitamins B1, B3, B5 and B12 Ø   Vitamin C & vitamin D Medicinal properties: Ø   Cholesterol lowering Ø   Anti-oxidant Ø   Anti cancer At times, it becomes difficult to get fresh mushrooms, so I got a very nice product - mushroom powder. It can be used as per your requirement. It can be used in your soups, curries, rice, pasta, noodles etc. It gives the dish a creamy texture along with being delicious and n

Eat healt hy and consume right proteins – Hair health has to do with what’s under the scalp, since it eventually reflects on what’s above! The ‘live’ part of the hair is housed in the follicle, and just like the other organs, derives nutrition from food and the bloodstream. So if you find yourself nutrient-deficient, you’ll find your hair instantly looking lackluster, dull and thin. Protein is the building block of healthy hair, since it holds each strand together! Hair itself is made up of a protein called keratin, tends to be stripped off it with everyday styling, pollution and stress. Increase the protein levels in your diet by consuming a diet rich in dairy – cottage cheese, other unprocessed cheeses, ghee, yogurt – as well as eggs, poultry, legumes, lentils, green beans and limited amounts of soy. Eat and drink healthy. Keep yourself hydrated. The hair shaft comprises of one quarter of water, so drink atleast 8 glasses of water in a day. Eat a healthy diet of raw fruits a

Diabetes affects almost all parts of the body. It leads to the starvation of cells throughout the body. In addition, the blood that contains high levels of sugar goes to all parts of the body, so any part that is sensitive to high blood sugar is affected. High blood sugar can result in damage to the large and small blood vessels, nerve damage and can increase risk of infections. In the long run, not controlling diabetes can damage important organs, like the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves which can lead to heart disease,   brain stroke, gangrene and leg amputation, eye bleeding, blindness, kidney damage, difficulty in bladder control, infections like pneumonia, skin infections etc. It is necessary to keep your blood sugar in control. Family support is crucial for managing chronic conditions but it is often overlooked.  Diabetic needs support from family members, mostly from their spouses and children. Their family members should encourage  and motivate them to fight for their h

Many people feel sad or depressed at times. It’s a normal reaction to loss or life struggles. But when intense sadness - including feeling helpless, hopeless and worthless - lasts for many days to weeks and keeps you from living your life, it may be something more than sadness. You could have clinical depression – a treatable medical condition. A person suffering from depression feels extremely sad and dejected, has a deep sense of emptiness, and feels a loss of self-worth.   You have depression when you have 5 or more of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks: 1.        A depressed mood during most of the day, especially in the morning. 2.        You feel tired or have a lack of energy almost every day. 3.        You feel worthless or guilty almost every day. 4.        You have a hard time focusing, remembering details, and making decisions. 5.        You can’t sleep or you sleep too much almost every day. 6.        You have no interest or pleasure in many activities n

In the previous article we had discussed about what is health insurance policy, difference between mediclaim and health insurance policy and different types of health policies. Here, would like to answer some more queries: Are there any tax benefits which can be availed through health insurance plans? Medical insurance premium paid offers tax benefits under section 80D of the income tax act. An individual can claim a deduction of up to Rs 25,000 for the insurance of self, spouse, and dependent children. An additional deduction for the insurance of parents is available to the extent of Rs 25,000 if they are less than 60 years of age, or Rs 50,000 (as per the Budget 2018) if your parents are aged above 60. If both the taxpayer and the parent whom the medical covers have been taken for are aged more than 60 years, the maximum deduction that can be availed under this section is to the extent of Rs.100,000. What is the claim settlement ratio? Claim settlement ratio would