It’s Woman’s Day!…and I bet all you gurls out there want to look absolutely radiant on this auspicious occasion! Most of you would be in the favour of treating yourself to a new hair cut, mani-pedis,face packs, massages, and other various costly beauty treatments!Well, thats where I come in…Am here to rescue you with these simple, amazing and all-natural “Dadi Maa Ke Nushke!” Go ahead indulge yourselves! After all, it’s your day!
Wrinkles
- Grate a ripe apricot and apply the pulp or juice on the face and neck or simply take a apricot slice and rub it all over. Leave for 20 minutes before washing off. Good for all types of skin.
- Mashed apple used as a face pack delays the onset of wrinkles.
- Massage face and neck with almond oil regularly to prevent wrinkles. Only recommended for dry skin.
- Mash a ripe banana and mix rose water to it. This delays wrinkles.
Teeth and Gums
Rubbing a slice of apple on your teeth is also helpful in getting your teeth sparkling white.
Consuming peaches strengthens the teeth and gums.
Dark Circles and Puffy Eyes
Mix together 1 teaspoon almound oil with half teaspoon fresh lemon juice.Apply under eyes (dark circles) and leave for 20-25 minutes. Done regularly the dark circles will begin to fade!
Pigmentation
Massage equal amounts of almond oil with honey. Keep 10-15 minutes before washing off.
Dry Skin
- Mix together 1 teaspoon almound oil and 1 teaspoon olive oil. Apply on face and neck. You can also massage for few minutes. Leave it for 15 20 minutes before washing off.
- Mash ripe banana well. Add equal amounts of warm olive oil or coconut oil. Use as face pack. It nourishes and moisturises your skin.
- Mix together 1 tablespoon orange juice with half tablespoon honey and apply on the face. Let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash off. You can also add 1 teaspoon of multani mutti to it. Increase the amount of honey and orange juice to get a smooth paste.
Marks and Blemishes
- Apply coconut water (from fresh tender coconut) on face and neck. Rinse off after 20 minutes. Coconut water makes all marks disappear, even marks left by chicken pox!
- Mash a few grapes. Apply on face. Leave for 15 to 20 minutes. Then rinse off for a healthy, glowing and blemish free complexion.
- Mix equal amounts of lemon juice, coconut oil and sandalwood powder. Make a smooth paster and apply on face. Let it dry and then wash off.
- Grate a papaya. Squeeze out the juice. Aplly juice regularly on face to get rid of marks.
Hair
- Heat some coconut oil. Massage well into scalp. Leave overnight. Shampoo next day. It nourishes scalp and promotes hair growth. This should be done atleast once a week.
- Amla is known as hair tonic and a hair nourisher. It also promotes pigmentation which makes the hair dark. Soak dried amla in water overnight. Use this water to rinse hair.
- Boil some dried amla pieces in coconut oil for few minutes. Cool and sieve. Massage hair with this oil regularly for think and lustrous hair.
- To give body and shine to your hair, mix together juice of 1 lemon in a mug of cold water. After shampooing put your head down and pour on wet hair for a final rinse.
Skin Firming and Tightening
- Dip a cotton wool in lemon juice and clean face.This will cleanse your skin and pores and also help in tightening.
- Mix some lemon juice with curd, fine oatmeal or besan and mashed carrots and apply on the face. Leave for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash with warm water. It is and excellent cleanser and can be used on other parts of the body.
Soft Hands and Feet
- Mix equal amounts of lemon juice and glycerine in a bottle. Apply on feet overnight and preferably wear socks for sometime. This will keep your feet soft and cracks on your heels will disappear!
- Rub a slice of lemon on your elbows regularly. Leave for 20 to 30 minutes before washing. It will soften and lighten them.
- Mix little granulated sugar with lemon juice. Gently rub on to your hands till sugar dissolves. Wash off.
- 4 to 5 teablespoon rose water mized with 2 to 3 tablespoon glycerine and 2 to 3 tablespoon lemon juice and applied on hands and elbows works wonders on them.This mixture can be made and kept in the fridge.
- Mix together 4 tablespoon pineapple juice,1 teaspoon cider vinegar and 4 tablespoon egg yolk. Mix everything well and massage on nails and cuticles with it to soften and nourish. Leave for 20 to 25 minutes and then wash off.
Pimples and Zits
Papaya makes an excellent nourishing and rejuvenating mask. Mask a piece of ripe papaya and apply on face.Leave for 15 to 20 mintues.It contains enzymes which soften and remove dead cell bringing a lustre to the face. It helps in curing pimples.
Glowing Complexion
- Applying plain fresh orange juice on your face makes your complexion rosy.
- To remove tan, mix walnut powder with a few drops of vinegar. Apply on face, scrub and wash off after 15 to 20 minutes.
- For a good scrub, mix walnut powder with a little rose water and scrub on the face in the upward direction with circular movements to removie dead cells and rejuvenate the skin.
I hope this helped in making this day even special for you! Get going! Try out these 100% safe and effective treatments!
Your A woman…Celebrate yourself!
And wishing you all a Very Happy Woman’s Day!
BlackBubblegum 
I work out for 60 to 120 mins at the gym 4-6 days a week. I do cardio and weight training. I’ve been doing this for 3 years and I still have miles to go before I can indulge in a 10 day break without gaining a couple of kilos. My ultimate dream is to be able to have risotto with rosé every weekend and a French toast (with honey) for breakfast every single morning without having to increase the intensity of my workout!
I was discussing this with a friend last weekend and she told me about an interesting experience she had
last year: “I went on a 3 week trip to the foothills of the Himalayas and I came back with a flat stomach!
Apparently, in cold places, the body uses up more calories than usual to keep itself warm - so your BMR goes up and you lose weight. And the best part was I was eating nothing but parathas with ghee the whole time!”
Well, I don’t know if any of this is scientifically true or not but I felt like I got a raw deal. I could
only console myself by saying that this was only a temporary state, similar to the one induced by fad diets like the “Ford” or “Cabbage”. I wouldn’t think twice about going away on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas if it meant getting the abs of my dreams, but I have to remind myself that with fitness, Regularity is the Key and BMR is the shrine at which I should worship!
If there are any fitness freaks out here at Burrp, let’s talk… is this “cold place-more calories” concept true?
I have had some pretty interesting experiences here in Bangalore when looking for healthcare providers.
My first experience was months ago. I had a throat infection, and it wasn’t going away. I finally broke down and decided to see a doctor. I do not like going to the doctor. My husband is a doctor and most of my family is in the health profession. Anyway, a friend recommended a nearby health clinic in Koramangala, saying it was clean and modern and inexpensive. At first I was impressed. They called a consultant Ear, Nose and Throat specialist and told us to come back at 5 PM the same day!
As we sat in the waiting room, I wondered who my doctor was going to be. An older woman, very well put together in an immaculate saree and shimmering gray hair tied neatly into a topknot walked in. I beamed with happiness. But as luck would have it, she wasn’t my doctor. Then I spied a woman standing in the median of the road outside. She was slightly disheveled and well, how do I say this nicely… um, she was digging in her nose. And you guessed it, that was my doctor. Who proceeded to examine me without washing her hands or wearing gloves. And I was so shocked I just sat there, mouth gaping. ewwwwwwwww…..
Months have passed since then and now I am pregnant with my first child. My husband and I picked Manipal Hospital because its close and has a good reputation. And we like our obstetrician a lot. But my experience with the facility itself has been less than stellar.
One night recently, I was feeling terrible in the middle of the night. I was in a lot of pain, and we went to the Emergency Room at Manipal. So we get to the ER and they make me sit in a wheelchair while my husband goes to talk to the doctor on duty. Meanwhile, the orderly wheels me into the waiting area, and decides to park me (despite a good amount of open space elsewhere) FACE TO FACE with some poor guy lying on a gurney suffering from major head lacerations with blood pouring out of the cuts, his mouth and nose. eeeeeeeek!
I am finally shifted up to the maternity ward to see a doctor. I go to use the bathroom while I wait, and let me tell you… it’s not a pretty sight. We were made to leave our shoes at the door to the ward, so I realized I would have to pull a Britney Spears and use the loo in my bare feet. Might I add that the floor was soaking wet and slippery? Because that is precisely what you want…. wet floors in a bathroom that wobbly pregnant women are using. Anyway I make my way over to the toilet and try to ignore the blood all over the commode, then I go to wash my hands. Lo and behold, no soap. No hand towels either.
So now I am scared. I could sign up for the VIP suites when I go in to have the baby, but what does that mean? They will make sure the filthy soap dispenser has soap? I get to wear chappals in the loo? No random blood spatter?
I am annoyed because all people deserve better treatment than this. Yes, it’s the general ward, but even people who cannot afford a VIP room need to use soap after a visit to the bathroom. They deserve a cleaner environment. My husband worked in a PHC in a rural village and even he was shocked by the conditions at Manipal. The doctors might be wonderful (and most of them are… the treatment I am receiving is by all means world-class) but the facilities are shabby and well, frightening.
And I don’t even know what to say about doctor nose-picker. That was a one-off, I am sure… I HOPE.
For all of you who eat out regularly, burrp went on a health food trail with nutritionist Sheela Krishnaswamy from NICHE, a corporate nutrition consulting firm, who showed us how to make healthy choices in different types of restaurants. Here is part 3 of the trail. (Click here for part 1, part 2)
 Fifth stop: Sri Udupi Krishna Bhavan, a Darshini-type place. Sheela’s picks – idli with sambar, mint chutney and red chilli chutney (or very little coconut chutney). Or try the set dosa with vegetable saagu and sambar. The regular dosa and uttappam are good choices as long as you request it without oil / ghee. Same with the bisibele bath.
Avoid the lime and tamarind rice as they are usually too oily and don’t even think about the puris, vadas and bajjis. Curd rice is high in fat content since they usually use high fat milk to make the curd. If the curd is made from low fat milk, curd rice is a good option. Buttermilk is a better alternative.
Sheela does not recommend thalis since they usually are high in carbs and therefore not well-balanced. Thalis arehowever a better option than puris and vadas; so if you must have a thali, pick one where you can ask for extra servings of vegetables and dal and thereby limit your rice intake.
Sixth and final stop – Gramin, a North Indian restaurant that prides itself on serving authentic, fresh food without artificial colours or preservatives.  Sheela’s priceless tips – choose rotis over other breads – tandoori rotis are usually made from whole wheat flour and are good for you. Naans, kulchas and rumali rotis contain maida which is highly refined and with no significant nutrition content.
For the subzi, she picked the sukki subzi and also recommends the vegetarian balti and the aloo jeera. The hariyali dal that she picked provided the protein for the well-balanced meal. Gramin points out healthy options in the menu – so your work is made all the more easy.
Sheela’s general recommendation for a well-balanced meal at a North Indian restaurant:
Vegetarian - one or two tandoori rotis, one dal, one sautéed or grilled vegetable – dry or in curry, one raita. Ask them to hold the ghee and oil in all the dishes.
Non-vegetarian – one or two tandoori rotis, grilled/tandoori chicken breast in curry, vegetable raita, one sautéed or grilled vegetable. Ask them to hold the ghee and oil in all the dishes.
For all of you who eat out regularly, burrp went on a health food trail with nutritionist Sheela Krishnaswamy from NICHE, a corporate nutrition consulting firm, who showed us how to make healthy choices in different types of restaurants. Here is part 2 of the trail. Click here for part 1.
Third stop – Pure & Natural, a soup, salad and sandwich place. Here, you can get a vegetarian meal that includes a soup, salad and sandwich for Rs.59. Sheela advises picking a clear soup – such as the Jade soup (a delicious spinach soup) or the vegetable clear soup. Stay away from the creamy soups as they are high in fat content.
All the sandwiches in Pure & Natural have white bread – so Sheela does not highly recommend them. If you must have a sandwich, go with the Mediterranean aloo chatpata or the corn sandwich and make sure you mention no cheese, butter or mayonnaise
Salads – steer clear of salads that have macaroni or noodles as they are made with refined flours and noodles is high in fat. Good meal options include the aloo chana chaat and the corn and mushroom chaat since they have a good balance of carbohydrates and protein. Other healthy salads include kimchi, pineapple chaat, kachumber, mixed fruit platter, the fresh fruit salad (ask for no sugar and no cream), the fruit chaat and the fruit salad with nuts and no ice-cream. These salads are good to snack on or as add-ons to your regular meal – but cannot be substituted for a full meal.
All the fresh fruit juices are great – as long as you tell them to hold the sugar. Stay away from the milkshakes and other creamy treats.
Fourth Stop: Daily Bread.  Best bread options are the whole wheat bread and the rustica wheat and walnut loaf. Most of the gourmet sandwiches do not come with these bread choices – so check before ordering.
Wraps are a good option since they are made with whole wheat flour. Sheela’s recommendation is the grilled cottage cheese and corn wrap with salsa or the charcoal grilled chicken with mint yogurt (hopefully its low fat!). Healthy salad options include the mixed garden greens in sherry vinaigrette, the grilled vegetables with celery basil dressing and the cumin seared chicken and pineapple salad. Salads and sandwiches with mayonnaise and cream are high in fat. Other bakery products such as quiches, pies, puffs and pastries are no-nos.
Coming soon – Darshinis and North Indian cuisine - “on a health food trail – part 3”!!
For all of you who eat out a lot, especially on a daily basis – the hostelites, paying guests, workaholics - burrp went on a health food trail with nutritionist Sheela Krishnaswamy from NICHE, a corporate nutrition consulting firm. Sheela showed us how to make healthy food choices in a bunch of different places – sandwich shops, North Indian restaurants, kaati roll places, Darshinis, fast food places. If you are eating out everyday, her tips are a must-read! Here is part 1 of the trail.
Our first stop – Subway.  Sheela’s tip - ask for the whole wheat bread, ALWAYS. Most other breads are made from maida, which is highly refined and has insignificant nutrition benefits and contains only carbs.
Fillings - for vegetarians, the best option is corn and peas (protein, carbs) or hummus and falafel. Veg shammi and veg sheek are grilled – not fried – and are good too. Paneer is NOT a good option – since usually it is made from whole milk. For non vegetarians, tuna is your best bet. The turkey is ok, however, since we are not sure if it is a breast piece (low fat) and not any other part (could be high fat), it is a gamble.
Extras – a big no-no to cheese, especially on a daily basis since it is high in fat. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, jalapenos, pickles are all ok. As for dressings, the healthiest options are any vinaigrette or olive oil dressing. Ranch, Caesar, south-west, mayonnaise are all high in fat content. Stay away from the colas, chips and cookies. Whenever possible, ask them to warm the sub for you. If they cannot heat it, don’t worry – its pre-prepared and can be eaten cold.
Second stop – Kaati Zone. Very healthy kaati rolls are available he re. Choose the Kaati Diet paratha – a whole wheat paratha with ¼ the fat in normal parathas. The aloo matter and mixed vegetarian fillings are good options. For fish and meat eaters – there used to be a fish tikka which was tasty and healthy – but unfortunately they have taken it off the menu. Come on Kaati Zone, bring it back!!!
The chicken hariyali and the chicken tikka are ok – however since we are not sure if it is a breast piece (low fat) or not, Sheela does not highly recommend it. Add on some egg-whites to your paratha to make it more filling – and very healthy! No to cheese and beverages. Highly recommended are the corn cucumber chaat (delicious!) and the chana chaat as sides.
Stay tuned for part 2 and 3 of the health food trail!
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