Dry scalp is common problem that many people face, especially in winter where you are moving in and out of heated areas frequently. The skin of the scalp becomes tight and itchy and tiny flakes of dead skin are showered by combing and brushing. Dry scalp conditions are often misidentified as dandruff, and are treated as such, which can worsen the condition depending on the treatments used. Dry scalp occurs when the hair strand exiting the scalp is not being lubricated by the sebaceous gland.

Good hair days start with a healthy scalp. Its job, after all, is to grow strong shiny strands. But dry indoor air can zap moisture and dissolve protective oils from the skin on your head, leaving it itchy and flaky and your mane dull and unmanageable. Gently massage conditioner into your scalp after every shampoo to hydrate it and lift away some of the flakes.

Tips for getting rid of Dry Scalp
Gently massage conditioner into your scalp after every shampoo to hydrate it and lift away some of the flakes.
Lather up with clarifying shampoo weekly. These deep-cleaning formulas rid hair of product buildup and help loosen dead skin cells on the scalp.
Turn down the heat. Hot water can zap natural oils from your scalp, making it ultra dry and sensitive; also choose the lowest heat setting on your blowdryer.
Try a final rinse of one cup warm water mixed with two to three tablespoons of white vinegar. This will also bring out the highlights in your hair and make it shiny.
Massage table salt into your dry scalp before shampooing with an acid-based shampoo.
Try an oil treatment in which you massage olive oil into your hair and scalp, cover your hair with plastic wrap and with two wet towels. Keep the towels on your head for twenty minutes, then remove oil with two washings.
Supplement your diet with foods rich in Vitamins C and B, which promote a healthy scalp, and healthy hair.

Using Essential Oils for Dry Scalp
Zinc Pyrithione: It is the most widely used active ingredient from a natural source. It’s used to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitus, psoriasis, eczema and numerous other skin and scalp disorders.
Jojoba – Is excellent as a scalp moisturiser and helps to rebalance sebum.
Tea Tree Oil – Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands.
Basil: Oily hair promotes growth
Chamomile
Clary sage
Lavender – Scalp treatment for itchiness, dandruff, and even lice
Lemon – Gives golden highlights; treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands
Myrrh

Dry Scalp Home remedy
Home remedy for dry itchy scalp Take ¼ c oatmeal and soak in water for 20 mins. Mix well and then strain the liquid adding it to a cup. Add 5 drops lavender oil (or lavender stalks steeped in ¼ cup hot water. Add 5 drops rosemary (or rosemary stalks steeped in ¼ cup hot water. Allow to cool until tepid. Mix the liquids together and dab on your scalp…leave in for 10 mins to soothe the itch. This a good temporary soother for itching. Chamomile tea is also soothing!
Garlic and oil of oregano are also excellent for fighting dandruff. You can take it internally or externally depending on what seems to work best for your situation. Both are sold in health food stores as capsules or tablets.

The pancreas is a special gland that is essential in the process of digestion. Without the help of the pancreas, the food that you intake will be used by the body properly. This is because the enzymes secreted by the pancreas are the ones responsible in digesting the fats, the carbohydrates, and proteins into something that can be absorbed by the body. Moreover, the pancreas is also responsible in releasing glucagons as well as insulin to the bloodstream. But once the pancreas was inflamed you must have a pancreatitis diet in order to prevent further damage caused by the inflammation. If you have an acute pancreatitis or you have just recovered from pancreatitis, there are numerous pancreatitis diet you may take so that you no longer have to suffer the attacks from pancreatitis.

Most dieticians recommend vegetables for a pancreatitis diet. You may eat a fresh vegetable or make a vegetable juice that you may drink while you are on your way to the office. This is because vegetables are the richest source of enzymes, vitamins, as well as minerals that are needed in curing pancreatitis. Moreover, plant-based foods also act as antioxidants in the body. Not only that vegetables have positive benefits on the pancreas but in the whole body as well.

A pancreatitis diet must also have foods that are not rich in fats. The fats present in the food will make the pancreas work harder. As a result, there will be more attacks and more pain. Even if you have already recovered from your pancreatitis, you can still have some attacks if you eat fatty foods. So avoid those French fries that have been drenched from oil (even if it is vegetable oil) and try to eat baked potatoes instead. Burgers, even if it is grilled, are still not recommended if you have or you had pancreatitis.

Spicy foods are very mouth-watering especially if you are into it. However, if you have or had acute pancreatitis, you are not allowed to include spicy foods in your pancreatitis diet. Just like the fatty foods, foods that have strong spices can trigger an attack in your pancreas. The same goes for foods and drinks that are gas-forming such as sodas. Coffee and other drinks that have caffeine must be avoided as well.

If you really want to have a pancreatitis diet that works don’t forget to include rice in your meal every time you eat. Salads can also be a good part of your diet if your pancreas is inflamed. You can also eat cereals, oatmeals, and bread during breakfast or snack. Soy-based foods such as crèmes and milk can also be an excellent source of antioxidants which prevents further damage to the already damaged pancreas.

But no matter what pancreatitis diet should you follow, make sure that you will not take it in full meal. An excellent pancreatitis diet must be taken a little at a time. This helps the digestion process flow smoother and lesser work for the pancreas as well.

No matter what your age or conditions, stress is an inevitable part of everyone’s life and ongoing stress actually contributes to gaining weight. Elissa Epel, PhD and assistant professor in the psychiatry department at the University of California, states, “While the immediate…response to acute stress can be a temporary loss of appetite, more and more we are coming to recognize that for some people, chronic stress can be tied to an increase in appetite – and stress-induced weight gain.”

Short term stressful situations, like anxiety, excitement or fear, cause an adrenaline rush that temporarily burns fat. However, long term stress increases the level of the hormone cortisol in our bodies, causing the body to store excess fat. Most of this extra fat is stored in your belly and hips – exactly where you don’t want it.

Although several products claim to reduce cortisol, there is no medical evidence to substantiate those claims. A proven way to minimize cortisol levels in your body and eliminate excess fat is by reducing your stress. There are many additional benefits of stress reduction, such as lowered blood pressure and increased mental health.

Here are several simple ways to reduce stress for maximum physical and emotional fitness:

1. Eat at least 4-6 small, well-balanced meals each day to properly maintain the sugar levels in your body and ensure you are getting all the essential vitamins and minerals you need.

2. Drink at least six to eight glasses of water every day to flush the toxins out of your system.

3. Exercise for twenty to thirty minutes three to five times each week. Choose a physical activity you enjoy, such as biking, weight lifting or walking, because getting pleasure from your exercise routine will also help minimize stress.

4. Avoid foods with sugar and caffeine that offer a false sense of energy.

5. Avoid alcohol, which has an impact on the sugar levels in your body.

6. Get plenty of sleep every night because when you are tired, you tend to feel more hungry.

7. Engage in activities designed to help you relax, such as yoga or meditation.

8. Watch less television – statistics show that up to ninety percent of people who watch television an hour or more each day fail at their weight loss goals.

9. Avoid crash diets which could increase your stress level and actually cause the production of additional cortisol, alleviating any potential weight loss you may have been able to experience.

10. When you feel really hungry, choose whole-grain, high-fiber foods, like oatmeal and fruit, which keep insulin levels even to control blood sugar and your hunger.

By reducing the stress in your life, you can get rid of excess fat and emotional baggage at the same time!

Stress eating occurs when an environment becomes too hectic and the pressure is too much. This is most common in workplaces because of the daily hustle bustle that we all have to deal with everyday. The pressure and stress make it hard to follow a healthy eating plan. Luckily, here are some tips we could try to help us shed off those few pounds and make us feel healthier.

Avoid eating out. The reason why people go to fast food restaurants is because they taste good and are very convenient. The busy schedule eliminates the time for preparing healthy meals at home. When you need to eat out, don’t order beverages, rather just go for water. Water will keep you hydrated minus the calories.

Plan your meals. Although this might sound impossible, you should really allocate extra time in preparing your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make an effort to bring packed lunches to work so you don’t have to go out, and eat breakfast at home. A simple cereal or oatmeal is better than dragging yourself to eat hash browns or pancakes in fast foods. Avoid buffets as buffets in restaurants will only cause you to over eat and you will end up

Your child never misses his or her lunch or dinner. But are you sure he/she is not skipping breakfast? Modern lifestyle has its pros and cons. Among the cons, ‘unhealthy eating habits’ is the most prominent. Eating breakfast should be a habit. Like all other habits, it takes time to develop, and little or no time to forget. Adolescents and teens skip breakfast more than any other age group. Young girls skip breakfast more than boys, that is very surprising fact.

Modern lifestyle gives no time for people to have breakfast at home; most have to consume it away from home. Just having breakfast is not enough; one has to ensure that breakfast is nutrient-rich, and not a platter full of sugary, fatty food. By helping your child develop the habit of eating breakfast at home, you can make better choice of food that follows the dietary guidelines. After all, healthy breakfast means healthy children. While family dynamics have a little, but evident role in determining the food choice, it certainly should not stop you from giving your child breakfast food that is healthy.

Here are some tips, which if followed, can facilitate a routine that has breakfast on its menu every day.

Educating Parents

It is a myth that only the more literate ones are aware of the importance of eating healthy. Research points out that even the most well-to-do families skip breakfast. Educators and health experts should spread the good word around. Schools can organize camps and debates to promote healthy breakfast.

Prepare in Advance

You can prepare breakfast the night before so that your child does not skip breakfast.

Tasty, yet Nutritious food

Children do not like eating food that does not look good. Here is the smart solution. Include items such as peanut butter on apple, berries put in low fat yoghurt, and oatmeal with pecans.

Family Dynamics for Healthy Breakfast

Parents should ensure they eat breakfast in front of their children. Involving children in breakfast choices as well as breakfast preparation can also help develop love for breakfast in your child. Using family dynamics to model healthful breakfast practices

School Breakfast Program

Encourage children to benefit from the school breakfast program. A small percentage of children (less than 50%) take advantage of the school breakfast program.

Read Labels

Parents should educate their children about food labels. Teach them how to read a label to find out of the food item is healthy or not.

Ready to Eat (RTE)

Contrary to popular belief, RTE cereal is inexpensive. Including Ready to Eat cereal in breakfast can help your child derive the most out of breakfast.

Alias for Breakfast

Think about the word ‘breakfast’, and you would perceive it as a ‘meal’. By changing the way we view breakfast, we can lay the foundation to a lifestyle of which breakfast is an important component.

With child obesity on the rise, healthy breakfast is a simple, yet powerful solution. Breakfast is the first meal of the day. Let us stick to that.