Who doesn't want a fresh, glowing face? One that reflects the beauty within, the zest you have for life and all the goodness that you are made of. But getting a face that has a natural, healthy glow takes a little bit of work; after all, not everyone is born with complimentary genes! You may have a skin type that leads to acne and pimples easily, or may be sensitive to the many pollutants our skin is exposed to on a daily basis. While artificial products or cosmetics are great to cover up minor blemishes, nothing looks better than fresh, clean and nourished skin. Cleaning your face well is critical to maintaining the quality of your skin. This is even more important at bedtime, when your skin is carrying dirt and grime from the activities of the entire day. In fact, going to bed with a squeaky clean face is one of the hallmarks of a good skincare regimen. And you know what's even better? Following this practice with 100% natural products, and by that we mean the kind you find on your kitchen shelves.

Your kitchen is a storehouse of wonderful ingredients that make for effective skincare products too. But you need to know what to use depending on our skin type.

Here's a list of natural face washes you can use based on normal, oily, sensitive and combination skin type.

Natural Face Wash: What To Use As Face Wash For Normal Skin?

Normal skin is neither dry nor oily. This skin type isn't too sensitive and usually devoid of any 'flaws'. It's easy to maintain, and those with a normal skin generally have a clear, radiant complexion with negligible pores. You got all that? Great! But don't take it for granted; your skin needs care and nourishment too.

Coconut Oil Face Wash:

Coconut oil can help in removing all that dust and pollution from your face. This versatile beauty aid restores the moisture of your skin and can easily replace all the expensive products you own. 'The Tree of Life', or the coconut palm tree is highly valued for its nourishing qualities. Coconut oil is made up of saturated fats with a high amount of medium chain fatty acids; a good part of this fatty acid is lauric acid. It contains vitamin E, which is also known to protect the skin from free radical damage.


You can apply a few drops of natural, virgin coconut oil on your face every night. Massage gently for about 30 seconds and then cover your face with a warm towel that will help open up pores and remove impurities. Keep it for 15-30 seconds, remove the cloth and dab the oil away with a clean washcloth. Leave the extra bits of oil on your face on, as this will help keep your facial skin soft and supple.

Natural Face Wash: Face Wash For Oily Skin Type/Acne Prone Skin:

People with oily skin may be familiar to pimples, acne, blackheads, whiteheads and large pores. This skin type needs a lot of attention. Artificial products that contain chemicals, emulsifiers and fragrances can sometimes worsen the condition and also cause breakouts. On the other hand, there are natural ways to clean the skin and keep it healthy. Use a face wash that can be made by using natural ingredients that would not have any side effects. Make sure the face wash sweeps away excessive oil from the skin surface and makes your skin feel clean and not tight and stretchy. Using a combination of baking soda and honey is the most inexpensive and natural way to effectively fight bacteria that cause pimples and acnes. The result is a pure, oil-free glow!

Baking Soda and Honey:

Baking soda has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and neutralising properties, which help acne-prone or oily skin type. Honey is known to help keep the facial skin supple and soft. Just like baking soda, honey also contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help keep breakouts at bay. This face wash contains natural ingredients that clean your skin, remove build-up of dead skin cells on the surface and reduce excess oil from the pores. Using this regularly over a period of time can leave the skin amazingly bright, youthful and pimple-free.

First, you need to wash your face with lukewarm water. Take one teaspoon of honey and half a teaspoon of baking soda. Rub your hands together and gently massage your skin in circular motion for at least 2 minutes. Take time on the area that is most oily and greasy. Rinse your face with cold water and pat it dry with a towel.

Natural Face Wash: Face Wash For Dry Skin Type:

One of the most uncomfortable and unsightly skin problems is having a dry, dull face. It is because of lack of moisture content that skin becomes dehydrated, loses elasticity, and becomes cracked. The skin on your face is sensitive, and often feels drier than the rest of your skin. When this happens, your face may seem itchy, irritated or inflamed. Fortunately, there are a few natural ingredients that will help you make a face wash out of it.

Oatmeal and Milk:

Oatmeal contains polysaccharides that help to form a protective layer on the skin to prevent moisture loss from the skin. Saponins present in oatmeal scale off dry skin cells from the skin surface and render a smooth texture to the skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties protect the skin against damage and dryness that is caused by sun exposure. Milk is the best remedy that works to keep the layers of the skin moisturised and hydrated. Milk contains Vitamin D that stimulates collagen production in dry skin and improves skin elasticity by keeping it hydrated from within. First, you need to mix the two products until you get a slippery mixture. Wash your face with it as milk nourishes the skin and oatmeal exfoliates.

Natural Face Wash: What To Use As Face Wash For Combination Skin Type:

Combination skin type is when your skin is dry or normal in some areas and oily in others like, nose, forehead, and chin - basically your T-zone. This type needs slightly different care in different areas since your oil producing glands are more concentrated there. Your nose and chin may appear dull and rough because of a build-up of dead skin cells. And your cheeks and the skin around your eyes may be drier than the rest of your face. In order to make your face look evenly moisturised, here are some of the kitchen items that can be used to make face wash. Combination skin needs a homemade face wash to balance the oil secretions and to lighten the skin along with anti- acne benefits. The ingredients include flour, oats, turmeric and lemon peel powder, which takes less than 5 minutes to be made but can be stored for 1-3 months without even refrigerating it. Oats and flour scales off your skin to remove dead cells along with preserving just the right amount of oils. Turmeric and lemon peel powder imparts skin-brightening, anti-septic and anti-ageing action to the face.

Flour, Oats, Turmeric and Lemon Peel Powder:

First, you need to grind the oats and mix it up with flour, turmeric and lemon peel powder. Rinse your face with plain water; take the mixture on your palm and add some drops of water making a paste of it. Massage the paste on your face gently in circular motion concentrating especially on your T- zone. Rinse it off with cold water and pat with a soft towel. You could use a soft, clean tissue to dab your face to prevent the remnants of turmeric from staining your towel.

Natural Face Wash: Face wash For Sensitive Skin Type:

This skin type not only contains the characteristics of dry, oily and combination skin, but it also deals with a great amount of redness and irritation. People with sensitive skin should avoid harsh chemical-based skin treatments as they may cause other skin conditions like rosacea or allergies. This skin type is easily inflamed, so it is very important to choose the right natural care to avoid adverse reactions. Coconut oil and honey is the most useful mixture of face wash for a sensitive skin as coconut oil has a softening and soothing effect on the skin. It has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that help keep acne at bay by fighting bacteria on the skin. Like coconut oil, honey has anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties as it heals the damage caused by acne and scarring. It effectively helps in removing oil and dirt from the face and moisturises the skin.

First, both the products need to be mixed and poured into another container through a funnel so the paste is smooth. Rinse your face with lukewarm water and shake the paste well to ensure that the ingredients are mixed well together. Take the mixture on your palm and massage it on your face and neck for at least 30-45 seconds with your fingertips. Rinse your face with lukewarm water and make sure that the oil is removed. Wipe it with towel and you can splash some water again if the oil is still not removed.

You can now experiment with these natural products mentioned above for all skin types and see what gives you the best results. Of course, you need to start by knowing what your skin type is!

We have a whole range of Indian traditions that are now forgotten or have evolved over the years. It's kosher to say that some of these have changed for the better, but not others. One of these traditions is the basic practice of eating using our hands, now replaced mostly with the use of shiny cutlery. Though most of us may have turned to spoons and forks, some still like to eat their meal with hands. Back in ancient days, this practice was adopted by most civilizations including Indus valley, Greek and the Egyptians.It is believed that as per the Vedas, hands are the most precious organs of action and that every finger is an extension of the five elements - through the thumb comes space, with the forefinger comes air, the middle finger is fire, the ring finger signifies water and the little finger represents Earth. According to Ayurveda, the nerve endings of the fingertips are believed to boost digestion. In fact, you become more aware of the textures, taste and aromas as you eat using your hands and engaging the fingertips.

Eating with your hands has more health benefits than eating with spoons. If you haven't given this a thought, we have your back.

Here are some of the benefits proving eating with hands is a healthy habit
1. Eating With Your Hands Helps Increase Blood Circulation
Eating with hands itself is an excellent muscle exercise, which in turn increases blood circulation. The excessive movement of the hands may help keep the blood flow smoother.
2. Stimulates Digestion
Our body is believed to have bacteria or flora, which resides in places like hands, mouth, throat, intestine and gut that protects us from harmful bacteria growing in the environment. When we eat with our hands, the friendly flora protects our digestive system from getting exposed to harmful bacteria, further stimulating the digestive system. This doesn't mean you forget to wash your hands before and after you eat!

3. Believed To Help Lose Weight
According to a study published in the journal Appetite, when people ate by hand while simultaneously reading a newspaper or watching television, they were less hungry during snack-time, and opted for a lighter snack. Researchers concluded that eating by hand promotes a sense of fullness and satiety as compared to eating with cutlery. This, in turn, could help lose some kilograms.

4. May Help Prevent Type-2 Diabetes
According to a study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, people with type-2 diabetes were more likely to be fast eaters who used cutlery to eat, as compared to people without the condition. Eating with spoons and forks correlates with faster eating that has been linked with blood-sugar imbalances in the body, further contributing to the development of type-2 diabetes. So, ditch the utensils and instead eat with hands that will ensure slow down consciously.

5. Helps Manage Food Portions
Eating with hands makes you eat slower than eating with cutlery, which is a much mechanical process. You have to pay attention to what you eat when you eat with hands, which makes you aware of how much you have eaten. Mindless eating is one of the biggest factors of gaining weight; hence, managing food portions plays a key role. Moreover, using hands makes you experience the food better and enjoyable.

So, what have you been waiting for? Toss the cutlery away and begin eating your favourite dishes in the gold old way to ensure a healthier you! And next time, don't toss away an old practice till you don't read up on all the facts!

Butter can make anything taste better. From sandwiches and pizzas to cakes, brownies and even chapatis and parathas, butter can liven up the taste of any food. A lot of people use this creamy dairy product as their favoured grease for cooking, grilling, basting or frying various foods. Butter is also used in making sauces and cake frosting, as well as pan-frying and roasting food and snacks. It seems to be all-pervasive in cooking and baking and is one of the most important and widely available milk products out there. Whether you like to spread it on breads and sandwiches, or like to use it instead of oil for cooking, butter is an essential ingredient that all functional kitchens have a stock of.

But there are plenty of reasons that one may want to move away from the use of butter in cooking and baking. A lot of people are allergic to dairy and dairy products and may not be able to use butter in cooking and baking. Too much butter in food is a cause for concern for a lot of people suffering from or are susceptible to cardiovascular diseases or high blood pressure. Butter is extremely high in saturated fat, which may clog up arteries and lead to plaque build-up when consumed daily and in excess. Moreover, a lot of commercially available butter brands contain too much salt and artificial flavour.

Here are three alternatives or healthier substitutes to butter that you may use while cooking and baking:
1. Ghee
Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is heated to 120 degrees C after the water is evaporated, turning the milk solids brown. This process enhances the rich flavour of ghee and is also said to increase the level of antioxidants in it. Ghee can be used exactly like butter for grilling and roasting, but may have more moisture than butter when used in baking, so you may need to alter the ratio of liquid to flour in cookies and cakes. However, even ghee is rich in saturated fats and must be used judiciously while cooking on a daily basis.

2. Coconut Oil
Recently hailed as a superfood, coconut oil has been used for cooking in Asian cuisines for centuries now. Coconut oil is said to have a number of health benefits, including suppression of appetite and an improvement in level of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol. Coconut oil is also said to improve immunity by killing harmful micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses, due to the presence of lauric acid in it. The only downside to coconut oil is the strong 'coconutty' flavour and taste that it comes with and that takes time to get used to. However, due to the high viscosity of coconut oil, it can used in a 1:1 ratio in the place of butter.

3. Olive Oil
For the longest time, olive oil has been considered as one of the healthiest cooking oils out there and it can be used to replace butter as grease as well. It contains high amounts of antioxidants, due to which it has anti-inflammatory properties. Olive oil is a rich source of healthy fats, which is also said to offer protective benefits for the heart. For every cup of butter that you may use in a recipe, you may replace it with three-fourth cup of olive oil. Since olive oil is liquid, your baking recipes may require some adjustments in order to accommodate olive oil in the place of butter. But wherever you need to use butter as grease to cook foods, olive oil may function exactly like butter.

Coconut has gained popularity around the world as a 'superfood.' The oil from coconut has been particularly hailed for its treasure trove of healthy fats. Southeast Asians have been enamoured with coconut and all coconut products for a long time now. Now, that the western world is also catching up with the fibrous fruit's wonders, coconut and coconut products are much in demand. Even as coconut oil has become a popular healthy cooking oil choice for health freaks, coconut milk is also being used as a non-dairy milk alternative in a number of dishes. However, there's one coconut product that is yet to gain its rightful place in the spotlight - coconut vinegar.

Coconut vinegar is used in a number of dishes of Goan cuisine as a souring agent and a flavour -enhancer. It's also used in preparing the desi Goan alcoholic drink - coconut feni. It is milder in taste than the more popular apple cider vinegar and has a cloudy, white appearance. Coconut vinegar is used for preparing traditional Goan delicacies like vindaloo and sorpotel. It can also be prepared at home and can be used in a number of ways. But before we go into the process of preparing the vinegar, let's take a look at some of the benefits of coconut vinegar.

Coconut Vinegar Benefits:
1. Regulates Blood Sugar
Coconut vinegar contains acetic acid, which is said to regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity, especially when consumed after a carb-rich meal.
2. May Promote Weight Loss
Coconut vinegar maybe a good addition to a weight loss diet as it may curb hunger pangs and promote satiety. This benefit of coconut vinegar is also credited to the presence of acetic acid in it.

3. Promotes Digestive Health
The fermentation process that the coconut water undergoes makes the finished product rich in probiotics, which promote gut health and also boost immunity.

4. Regulates Blood Pressure
Coconut vinegar is said to be rich in potassium, which is a mineral that is key to regulating blood pressure and promoting heart health. It may also reduce levels of triglycerides in the blood.

How To Make Coconut Vinegar At Home:
Coconut vinegar is made by fermenting coconut water or the milky translucent liquid inside coconut shell. Here's the step-by-step process of preparing coconut vinegar at home:

1. Take some coconut water and filter it into a pan.

2. Heat the water and add the sugar to it. Stir the mixture until all the sugar is dissolved.

3. Allow the mixture to cool and once it's completely cool, pour it into a glass container. Cover the container lightly and keep it in a dark place for about a week.

4. This will turn the liquid alcoholic. Add some mother of vinegar to this solution. Mother of vinegar is a substance that contains cellulose and acetic acid bacteria. This bacteria can turn alcohol into acetic acid with the help of oxygen.

5. After adding the mother vinegar, allow the mixture to sit for four to twelve weeks, during which time it will turn into vinegar.

Coconut vinegar has multiple culinary uses, which are similar to other vinegars. If you are prone to frequent gastric distress or acidity, you should not consume vinegar as it is highly acidic. Otherwise, may consume it after diluting it with water. Consult your doctor before adding this to your diet.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 85% of all CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions. Heart problems are on the rise, owing to the risk factors for developing heart disease like high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, stress, faulty eating habits, and following a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise. Most of these factors are controllable. Yes, we can choose to avoid problems related to lifestyles. Food is the most important aspect in all societies.

After undergoing heart surgery, your doctor will advise you to opt for a healthy, and a well-balanced diet. This is so because, adhering to healthy eating habits is crucial to your recovery, and to help you protect your heart against further problems. You need to eat well so that your incisions heal well. You should eat homemade food to avoid infections in first few months after surgery.

Most of the people should understand that our Indian homemade food habits are good enough except a few things that we must avoid. I do not advice our patients' drastic changes in their food habits after surgery as then they don't eat because they don't like the food as it becomes tasteless. You require to eat certain portions of food to recover from surgery to heal your incisions. Some food you must totally avoid but there are certain myths, which can be bothersome.
Dr. Bipeenchandra Bhamre helps us clear our misconceptions regarding the diet after heart surgery:

Myth: Eating certain 'super foods' will help you keep heart diseases at bay.
Fact: There is no super food. Yes, you have heard it right! Though, foods like blueberries, pomegranates, walnuts, and fish are good for your ticker. But, they will not prevent you from developing heart disease. Certain diets can, however, help you do so. According to tons of studies, the Mediterranean diet, which consists of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, and monounsaturated fats like olive oil, once in a week fish and or Poultry chicken, has shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. One must avoid eating red meat as it contains loads of cholesterol.


Myth:Fats are not good for you.
Fact: Our body requires cholesterol in certain amount everyday as most of our hormones are made up from cholesterol. Our brain and some muscles require cholesterol as fuel. So, we need cholesterol or fat but the quality and quantity is important. Qualitatively, you must avoid fast food artificially made fats, some of the baked food, and processed food. Not only this, even high sugar foods like soft drinks etc. have also shown to be bad for heart. Saturated fats, which are derived from animal products like red meat and butter, also tend to raise one's LDL levels. Whereas, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats may lower your LDL levels when used in place of saturated fats. This simply means that eating unprocessed food or natural food will not rise your cholesterol levels. Our daily need for fats should be kept 10% of our energy need, which roughly comes about 30-35gms per day.

Myth: Salt is not dangerous as it is a natural product.
Fact: Excess salt is more dangerous than fats and sugar. It not only rises your blood pressure but also puts lots of load on your kidneys. You must be aware that salt is naturally found in most of the food items, which we opt for. We should not add salt. But, when speaking about processed foods, the amount of salt is often above naturally occurring levels. Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure due to the extra water stored in the body. High blood pressure can put a strain on your heart, arteries, kidneys, and brain. Moreover, it can also increase your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Thus, you must monitor your salt consumption, and eat foods, which contain less amount of salt. Also, speak to your expert regarding the amount of salt you should eat per day, as going overboard is a strict no-no.

Take-away message: Eat well, sleep well and exercise well after open heart surgery. Avoid oily fried junk foods. Control the quantity of food. The quantity of food is also important as the quality of food. Do not fall prey to fad diets. Our Indian eating habits are reasonably satisfactory. Try to eat homemade food all the time while recovering from surgery. Restrict your fat and salt intake. Likewise, cut down on alcohol and quit smoking and follow healthy habits to keep your ticker in top shape, and stay hale and hearty!