Milks derived from animals are facing a tough competition from a growing range of dairy-free alternatives. The growth in the number of vegans has ensured that food manufacturers have started looking at tapping into this market by selling plant-based milks. Some of the most common dairy-free milks include soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk and coconut milk. All these milk alternatives are good for those suffering from lactose intolerance, as well as those who frequently complain about digestive troubles after consuming dairy. Lately, even seeds have started being turned into milk-like drinks, to help them with healthier alternatives and one of these milks is flaxseed milk.

Flaxseed Milk Nutrition
Flaxseed milk or flax milk is a low-calorie low-fat alternative for dairy milks and it may be suited for people who are looking to ditch dairy products for any reason. Flaxseeds are tiny, brownish shiny seeds that can be consumed raw or roasted and consumed in combination with other seeds and nuts. Flaxseeds can be added to trail mixes, desserts and drinks, and can also be turned into flours to create gluten-free goodies. Now even non-dairy milk derived from flaxseeds has also gained popularity. Although your nearest supermarket may also have a stock of this unique non-dairy milk, you can even make it at home very easily.

The accurate nutrition facts of flax milk may vary with brand, but in general this non-dairy milk is fortified with healthy fats and carbs, a range of vitamins and essential minerals like potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium.

How Flaxseed Milk Is Made | How To Flax Milk At Home
Flax milk may be prepared by mixing cold-pressed flaxseed oil with filtered water or blending flaxseeds with water on high speed for several minutes. Blending flaxseeds with water on high speed helps integrate the powdered flaxseeds with water well and acquire a milky look and feel. The mixture is blended on high speed in several two or three-minute long intervals. It is important to allow the mixture to rest in between blending. The liquid is then allowed to pass through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove the fibrous residue. This is why flax milk will have less fibre as compared to the seeds, but then that may be true for all nut and seed milks.

A lot of people nowadays may believe that switching over from dairy to non-dairy milk alternatives is a 'healthy practice'. This may be a misconception and it is recommended that you contact a certified nutritionist or a dietitian to get your facts in order. Generally, non-dairy milks like flax milk are preferred by people who suffer from dairy milk allergies or lactose intolerance, or by those who have been advised to switch to a vegan diet to deal with certain specific health issues.

Popularly known as a relaxing herb, chamomile has been around for eons as a vital apothecary product. Ancient healing practices regard the many medicinal uses and calming effects of this versatile, tiny white-coloured flower. Chamomile belongs to Asteraceae plant family, which is also the aegis of other flowers like sunflower and marigold. Chamomile flower is usually dried up before using it for food, beverage or cosmetic purposes. The fragrant oil extracted from chamomile is widely used in aromatherapy. But, it is its distinct flavour that anoints it as one of the most favoured ingredients in the making of refreshing beverages, especially herbal teas. Not just its taste, its health benefits are also acknowledged and leveraged by the way of healthful, soothing drinks, especially during this ongoing bolstering weather.

Advantages Of Having Chamomile-Based Drinks:

- Chamomile is best known for its tranquilising and sedative attributes that can treat sleeping disorders.
- Chamomile contains anti-inflammatory properties that improves digestion and ensures smooth bowel movements.
- Apigenin, a prominent antioxidant found in chamomile, creates a strong defence against many kinds of cancer.
- Chamomile has proven to very effective in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
Flavanol, another grade of antioxidants, keeps the heart functioning normally.
- Chamomile boosts immunity and helps in weight loss.
- Chamomile is also known to play a huge part in the improvement of skin and hair.

Chamomile is a great non-caffeinated alternative, which stimulates and energises your senses, just like coffee, tea or green tea. It lends a distinctive flavour of earthy and floral undertones that can uplift any drink and make it a delish one.

Here Are Some Refreshments You Can Make At Home With Chamomile:

Chamomile Tea
Boil one cup water and infuse one tbsp chamomile flowers, leaves or one tea bag for 2-3 minutes. Strain and serve hot. You can add sugar or honey if you like your tea sweet.

Chamomile Gin Cocktail
Seep one chamomile tea bag in a glass of hot water. Add one tbsp. honey and let it cool. Then, squeeze half a lemon and gin in the drink and throw in some cucumber slices. Top it with some ice cubes and tipsy, tasty cocktail is ready.

Chamomile Peach Iced Tea
Boil one cup of water with one tbsp. honey. Let it cool; add small cubes of 1-2 peaches and blend the mixture until the peach is completely immersed in the water. Pour it into a glass. Add cold water and ice cubes and enjoy this summer cooler.

Chamomile Strawberry Smoothie
Prepare one cup of chamomile-infused tea and let it sit to cool down. Add one cup of chopped strawberries, 2 tbsps. of yogurt one teaspoon seeds of your choice and blend. Add more water, if required. Have this soothing smoothie with ice and enjoy.

Summer means more drinking than eating. Including chamomile in your beverage diet plan will not only calm your mind and recharge you but will also let you procure its various health benefits.

Watermelon is a delicious fruit that makes for a refreshing treat during summers. Filled with red pulp and sweet juices, watermelon revives our body from the scorching heat outside. No wonder we all desperately wait for summers to gorge on this cool summer fruit. Drinking watermelon juice increases antioxidants in our body, which help us to stay healthy and hydrated and keep many diseases at bay. Watermelons are also rich in vitamin C that strengthens our immunity system and protect us from seasonal allergies and infections. This juicy fruit not just revives our body from inside, but it revitalises our skin, if applied from outside. Its high water content nurtures our skin and makes it soft, supple and flawless. Here are 4 DIY watermelon juice face masks to detox your skin this summer.

1. Watermelon Juice and Honey Face Mask For Tan Removal
It is because of excessive sun exposure, our skin tends to produce melanin, which makes our skin look darker and tanned. Watermelon juice and honey face mask is a perfect solution for the ones looking for an instant solution from tanned and damaged skin.

How To Apply: Mix equal amount of honey and cold watermelon juice. Wash your skin with cold water and pat dry it. Apply it on your face and neck, and let it stay for 30 minutes. Wash it off with fresh cold water.

2. Watermelon Juice And Yogurt Face Mask For Glowing Skin
Yogurt is known do to wonders for our skin and hair. The combination of watermelon juice and yogurt can give you a supple and radiant skin. Regular use of this face mask will makes your skin look younger and healthier.

How To Apply: Take a small bowl and add half cup of watermelon juice in it. Add one tablespoon of yogurt, and mix both the ingredients well. Apply the face mask on your face and neck, and let it stay for 20 minutes. Wash it off with cold water.

3. Watermelon And Lemon Juice For Dry Skin
If you have a dry skin, then bring this face mask to your rescue. Lemon will gently exfoliate your dry, dead skin cells, whereas honey and watermelon juice will moisturise and hydrate your rough skin.

How To Apply: Take two tablespoons of watermelon juice in a small bowl; add one tablespoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey in it. Mix all the ingredients very well. Apply this face mask on your face and neck. Let it stay for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash it off with water.

4. Watermelon And Raw Milk For Brighter Skin
Milk is a great cleanser, especially raw milk, which makes your complexion fairer and brighter. It is also a great moisturiser that is known to heal dry skin cells. Milk is also known to treat sunburns and sunspots. Watermelon juice will rejuvenate your face and give you a fresh look.

How To Apply: Take one tablespoon of watermelon juice in a bowl. Add one tablespoon of raw milk, and mix them well. Apply the mask on your clean face and let it stay for 20 to 25 minutes. Wash it off with cold water.

So, what are you waiting for? Bring these refreshing watermelon juice face masks to your rescue and flaunt your soft, glowing skin this summer!

Do you know you can make holi colors at home which are organic and natural and most important safe for you and your kids ? Whatever you teach them in early years when they start playing holi in Mumbai with neighbourhood, they will consider the same to be playful, safer and way to enjoy and celebrate. So better teach them safer lesson which are Eco-friendly too. Below are some simple steps to make home made colors.

Last year few young girls, teen and adults played holi with talcum powder and face creams to save their skins from those synthetic gulal, oil paints and varnish which damages the skin and wipes out all the face glory that were taken care and maintained upon spending huge amount at beauty parlors.

Keep the name handy ‘RANG DULAAR’ is the name of those safe organic gulal sold in Mumbai markets at cheaper rates, these colors are made up of dyed natural colors, rice flour by Vanstree which is special farm at Karnataka by NGO women farmers. These safe colors can be found at Sahakari Bhandar, Namdharis, Bombay Stores and Twenty Four Letter mantra which are all leading stores in Mumbai. Get your Gulal, Pichkaris and water balloons all made up of Organic products and enjoy the fun of this festival.

Making Holi Colors At Home

Making Water Colors

Orange : Take Hot Water and Add 500 gm of Tesu Flowers.

Blue : Take Hot Water and Dip Grate beetroot and Black Carrot for few hours.

Pink : One day before holi festive rang panchmi, Mis 500 gm rose petals into hot water.

Making Dry Colors

Pink : Make a mixture of Sindoor (Vermilion) and Maida.

Yellow : Use Besan with Turmeric Powder.

Green : Use Maida with Henna Powder.

Making Oil Colors

Red : Use mixture of Coconut Oil With Sindoor (Vermilion).

Yellow : Coconut Oil with Turmeric Powder.

Aloe vera is one of the most popular medicinal plants that have been in use for thousands of years. It is particularly famous for the treatment of skin injuries although it offers a host of health benefits. This short stemmed shiny plant stores moisture in its leaves and is widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. The gel within the aloe vera stem contains bioactive compounds found in plants such as vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids.

Some of the notable health benefits of Aloe Vera include the following,

1. It contains antibacterial and antioxidant properties: Aloe Vera is known to contain the most beneficial antioxidants called as polyphenols. These polyphenols, as well as other similar compounds found on aloe vera, can prevent the growth of bacterial infections in human beings.

2. Helps in healing cuts and burns: Aloe Vera can also be used as a topical medicine by applying the gel on the skin. It has been used since ancient times for the treatment of sores, cuts and burns which also includes sunburns. Aloe Vera is the first FDA approved ointment that got the status of an effective over-the-counter medication in the year 1959. It can, therefore, be used in first and even second degree burns.

3. Prevents dental plaque: Tooth decay, as well as gum diseases, affect almost all individuals over the world. One of the best ways to steer clear of the oral infections is to prevent plaque buildup which is the bacterial biofilms on the teeth. The aloe vera mouthwash is as effective as chlorhexidine solutions in reducing the problems of dental plaque by killing the harmful yeast called Candida albicans and bacterium named Streptococcus mutans.

4. Aids in the treatment of canker sores: Most people have experienced mouth ulcers or canker sores at least once in their lifetime. It mostly affects the area underneath the lip or inside the mouth and can be very painful at times. Several studies show that aloe vera gel helps in accelerating the healing process of canker sores.

5.Reduces constipation: The latex of aloe vera has been found beneficial in the treatment of constipation. The latex is the sticky yellow residue underneath the leaf skin and contains aloin and barbaloin which offers effective latex effect.

6. Prevent formation of wrinkles: Topical aloe vera gel assists in slowing down the ageing process with regular usage. Using aloe vera gel regularly helps in boosting the production of collagen and improves skin elasticity within three months of regular usage.

7. Lowers down blood sugar levels: There was a time when aloe vera was used as a conventional remedy for diabetes. Aloe vera helps in enhancing insulin sensitivity as well as managing blood sugar levels. It has been used in numerous animals and humans affected with type 2 diabetes and the results are impressive enough to regard it as an alternative treatment option.

Along with these benefits, aloe vera juice is regarded as a sustainable way of weight management which has made it a well-favoured choice of overweight people all over the world.