Food and Health

7 Fish Oil Beauty Hacks to Try for Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails

Fish oil offers some wonderful benefits.

Coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil — these are all oils that you can use to DIY a spa day at home.

With the growing trend of fish oil, which you can buy in solid, supplemental or liquid, bottled form, you may be wondering: Can I use this trendy ingredient on my hair, skin, and nails, too?

Fish oil is made up of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Fish oil may also contain vitamins A and D, selenium, and retinol.

You can take fish oil as a supplement — in liquid form, like cod liver oil, or capsule form, such as omega-3 supplements.

Technically, you can also apply it to your skin, hair, and nails. You may not want to, though. For one, fish oil has a pungent odor. No surprise: It smells like fish. You may find that other types of oils, namely coconut, will have a more pleasant scent that you enjoy using.

Nonetheless, if you want to add fish oil to your skin-care or beauty routine, you can consider giving these hacks a try.

For Your Skin

Hydrate Dry Patches With Omega-3s

This can be your new after-shower oil? Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely hydrating. They can improve skin barrier function to prevent water loss.

If you are using fish oil topically, it’s best to use it in dry areas. Dab near the eyes or around the edges of the face onto small rough patches.

You can also try the really dry places elsewhere on your body, such as elbows and knees.

One warning (an anti-hack, if you will): If you are acne prone, when applied topically fish oil can cause breakouts, so you’re best off avoiding it.

For that same reason, skip using it in your T-zone completely.

Soothe Red or Sunburned Skin With a Small Amount

Fish oil’s anti-inflammatory properties may also help quell redness in inflammatory skin problems including eczema, sunburn, or sensitive skin in general.

The oils help repair the epidermal cell barrier, and helps increase skin strength and decrease DNA damage in the skin.

To calm angry skin, apply a small amount to damp skin. (Do not apply oil and then go out into the sun.)

But using a skin product that contains omega-3s as an ingredient may be a better option as it will be specifically formulated to absorb well into skin, contains supporting ingredients to enhance effectiveness, and smell more pleasant.

Fish Oil May Help Speed Skin Healing

Consider dotting a bit of fish oil on a small cut or scrape — there’s some limited evidence that a topical application of omega-3s and omega-3 supplements encourage wound healing.

Indeed, a small, previous randomized controlled trial suggested that fish oil offers promise for this purpose.

Use Fish Oil for an Extra Boost of UV Protection

EPA in fish oil in particular may bolster your body’s internal defenses of UV rays — similar to sunscreen from within, in part because of its anti-inflammatory properties, past research has suggested.

However, it’s not a replacement for applying a good SPF 30 to exposed skin in the morning — but that a diet containing fish oil may add another layer of protection.

For Your Hair

Balance Oil Production and Fight Flakes

When it comes to getting a lustrous and shiny mane, skip massaging fish oil directly on your scalp (you don’t want fishy-smelling hair, anyway) and start popping a fish oil supplement instead.

Once again, this taps into the moisturizing properties of these omega-3s.

Fish oil helps manage sebum (oil) production in the skin.

For Your Nails

Cure Dry Cuticles With a Dab of Fish Oil

Massage some fish oil into winter-ravaged, dry, peeling, and painful cuticles. Try it before bedtime to help moisturize the skin around your nails.

Restore Dry Nails With a Swipe of Fish Oil

Nails also deserve proper care and their fatty acids will rehydrate parched or peeling nails. Use fish oil directly on the nails if they tend to be dry.

Food and Health

Side Effects Of Morning After Pills You Need To Know

The morning after pill may prevent unwanted pregnancy, but it can also cause some side effects like an irregular period, fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

The main unpleasant side effects that the emergency contraceptive pill can cause are:

Nausea and vomiting;
Headache;
Fatigue;
Bleeding between periods;
Breast tenderness;
Abdominal pain;
Diarrhoea;
Irregular period, coming earlier or later than usual.

What to do

Some side effects can be treated, or even avoided, as follows:

Nausea and vomiting

Food should be eaten as soon as the pill is taken, to reduce the urge to vomit. If nausea occurs, a home remedy may be prepared and taken, such as ginger or clove tea with cinnamon, or antiemetic medication.

Headache and abdominal pain

If the pill causes side effects like headaches or abdominal pain, painkillers such as paracetamol or dipyrone are recommended.

Breast tenderness

To relieve breast pain, apply warm compresses or take a warm bath, massaging the breast area

Diarrhoea

In case of diarrhoea, drink plenty of fluids and avoid greasy foods, eggs, milk and alcohol, giving preference to black, chamomile or guava leaf tea.

Food and Health

Home Remedies To Get Rid Of A Stubborn Cough At Home

A dry cough is also called an unproductive cough. Unlike productive, wet coughs, dry coughs are unable to remove mucus, phlegm, or irritants from your lungs or nasal passages.

Dry coughs can linger for weeks after you’ve had a cold or the flu. They may also be caused by a number of conditions, such as:

postnasal drip
asthma
acid reflux or GERD

They may also be a long-lasting side effect from exposure to environmental toxins, such as cigarette smoke.

Dry coughs can be very uncomfortable and may occur in both children and adults. While there are a number of clinical treatments you can use to alleviate them, there are also at-home remedies which can be just as effective in many cases.

Here are a few home remedies for a stubborn dry cough you can try.

Herbs and supplements

At-home remedies for dry cough aren’t one-size-fits-all. You may have to experiment with several before you find the ones that work for you.

In addition, not all of these remedies have been fully researched and proven to be effective. Some treatments are also inappropriate for babies or children.

Honey

For adults and children ages 1 and up, honey can be used to treat day and nighttime dry coughing.

Honey has antibacterial properties and can also help to coat the throat, alleviating irritation.

You can try taking honey by the teaspoon several times daily, or add it to tea or warm water to drink.

Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound which may have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. It may also be beneficial for several conditions, including a stubborn dry cough.

Curcumin is best absorbed into the blood stream when taken with black pepper. You can add 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper into a beverage, such as cold orange juice, to drink. You can also make it into a warm tea.

You can get turmeric in its spice-form, as well as a capsule.

Ginger

Ginger has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been shown to boost the immune system and relieve pain and discomfort.

Ginger can be found in many teas as an ingredient. You can also make ginger tea from ginger root by steeping the peeled or cut root in warm water. Adding honey may make it even more beneficial for dry cough.

You can also take ginger in capsule form, or chew on ginger root to alleviate dry cough.

Peppermint

Peppermint contains menthol, which helps to numb nerve endings in the throat that become irritated by coughing. This may provide pain relief and reduce the urge to cough.

There are a number of ways to take peppermint. These include drinking peppermint tea or sucking on peppermint lozenges. Try drinking peppermint tea right before bed to help alleviate nighttime coughs.

Aromatherapy with eucalyptus

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to soothe and heal.

Eucalyptus essential oil may help ease dry cough by working as a decongestant. Try adding eucalyptus to a diffuser, spritzer, or inhaler. You can also add a few drops to hot water in a bowl and inhale the steam.

Scenting your room with eucalyptus may help you get a better night’s sleep if nighttime coughing has been keeping you awake.

Gargle with salt water

Gargling with warm salt water will help ease the discomfort and irritation caused by a dry cough. Salt water also helps kill bacteria in the mouth and throat.

To do this, dissolve 1 teaspoon of table salt in a large glass of warm water. Then gargle several times a day.

If you wake up with an irritated throat from coughing during the night, gargle with salt water immediately after brushing your teeth to help numb and soothe the nerve endings in your throat.

Food and Health

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Always Have Honey At Home

Honey is filled with a lot of nutrients to keep you healthy and glowing. So, stay at home and make the best use of it.

You have no idea that your home is a hidden treasure of beneficial ingredients. From the kitchen to your refrigerator, there are a lot of ingredients present with you to help you in various ways.

Honey is one of them. You might treat it as a natural sweetener but it is way more useful than that.

Honey contains a lot of antioxidants and vital nutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium copper, potassium, manganese and zinc.

These all are great to boost up your diet, skin and health naturally. So folks, here we are going to talk about five amazing ways to use honey at home.

Here are the five ways you can use honey. From a healthy diet to skincare and health remedies, honey is the jack of all trades.

Reduces Acid Reflux

Honey contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents that are great to boost your gastrointestinal system.

By keeping the bacterial interference at bay, it helps in digestion well. Honey can also help reduce acid reflux. Take 1 teaspoon of honey and mix it in a glass of lukewarm water.

Great For Skin And Hair

Honey has a lot of benefits for your skin and hair. It is not just a natural moisturiser but it is loaded with many skin benefits. To tackle dull, dry skin or acne, honey works wonderfully.

Whatever skin pack you use, adding a spoon of honey will prove to be beneficial. For the hair, it helps in reducing dandruff naturally. You can use 2 tablespoons of honey with 1 egg white to make a hair pack. Apply it on your scalp as a pre-wash hair mask.

A Better Substitute For Artificial Sugar

Honey is considered to be a better choice rather than refined sugar. Honey contains a lot of antioxidants which lowers the risk of cardiac issues as well as high blood pressure. To use it, you can have it with a cup of green tea regularly.

Reduces Sore Throat, Nausea And Cold

A common cold and sore throat remedy in most Indian households is honey. Its anti-bacterial properties can help reduce throat infection and cold. It is also known to curb nausea effectively. You just have to drink a solution of 1 tablespoon honey and ginger in water.

Reduces Hangover

What can be worse than a hangover? The sweetness present in honey helps the body to trigger its metabolism and prevent sudden changes in blood sugar level. Also, it minimises the side effects of alcohol consumption. You can drink a glass of honey water to tackle hangover.