6 Tips for Healthy and Beautiful Nails

Take a look at your nails. What do they look like? Healthy nails are strong, smooth, pink, moderately thick and with no discoloration or grooves. They reflect your overall health. Just like your skin and hair, nails require proper care and attention to look their best. Here are some essential tips to help you maintain healthy and beautiful nails.

Keep your nails clean and dry

We all know that washing hands can help stop the spread of germs and keep us healthy. But it is also the key to healthy nails. Cleanliness can prevent the infections of nails, making them smooth and shiny. Make sure to wash your hands and nails regularly with a mild soap and water. Dry your nails thoroughly after washing to prevent fungal infections. And remember to follow up with hand cream.

Trim your nails wisely

Trim your nails regularly with sharp nail scissors or clippers to keep your nails at a moderate length. Cut round the nails slightly at the tips for maximum strength. Don't cut more than the white crescent-shaped area in case you hurt the nail bed. Use a nail file to shape your nails and smooth out any rough edges. Avoid cutting your cuticles, as they help protect your nails from infections.

Moisturize your nails

Just like your skin, your nails need hydration too. If your nails can be crushed in daily activities, they may need some moisture. Applying a moisturizing hand cream or nail oil around the cuticle can help keep the entire nail hydrated and prevent it from becoming dry and brittle. It can also restore the natural sheen of your nails. Also, drinking plenty of water helps keep your body and nails hydrated.

Maintain a Balanced Diet

Weak and brittle nails may indicate a vitamin deficiency in your body. A healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals and multiple nutrients is essential for strong and beautiful nails. Incorporate foods high in biotin, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet to promote nail health. Biotin-rich roods include egg yolks, nuts, seeds, sweet potatoes, legumes and mushrooms. Deep-sea fish like tuna and flaxseed are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Avoid hurting your nails

Don't bite your fingernails. This habit can damage the nail bed and cause ingrown toenails and paronychia. Picking at your cuticles with your hands may be relaxing, but it can cause small cuts alongside your fingernail and allow bacteria to enter, causing an infection. Cut hangnails with scissors instead of pulling them off. Wear gloves while doing household chores or working with harsh chemicals to protect your nails from damage. Avoid using your nails as tools to prevent breakage.

Give your nails a break

Beautiful gem manicure is attractive, but frequent usage of nail polish and mail polish removers may cause brittleness and damage to the nails. Allow your nails to breathe by going polish-free for a few days between manicures. This will help prevent discoloration and allow your nails to regain their natural strength. Choose nail polishes that are free from harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. Avoids acetone-based polish removers.

How to Get Rid of Vertigo Fast?

Vertigo is a type of dizziness where a person feels like they themselves or their surroundings are spinning. It can be caused by various underlying conditions such as inner ear problems, vestibular disorders, migraines, head injuries, or even as a side effect of certain medications. Vertigo can be very distressing and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating and difficulties with balance and walking. Here are some remedies that may help you recover from vertigo.

Epley Maneuver

The Epley Maneuver, also known as the Canalith Repositioning Procedure, is a series of movements used to treat most types of vertigo, especially benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). During the Epley Maneuver, the patient will make a specific sequence of head movements, which are designed to move displaced calcium carbonate crystals (canaliths) in the inner ear back to where they belong.

Follow these steps when doing Epley Maneuver on your own: 1. Sit upright on your bed with a pillow behind you. 2. Tilt your head 45º to the affected side and quickly recline and lay your head on the pillow. 3. Remain in this position for 30 seconds. 4. Slowly turn your head 90º to the opposite side without raising your neck from the pillow. Then turn your body and stay for 30 seconds. 5. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat this three times.

Semont Maneuver

Semont Maneuver is another less widely known technique used to treat vertigo. This maneuver may be better for people with reduced neck flexibility or stiff neck. Here are the steps of the Semont Maneuver: 1. Sit on your bed and turn your head 45 degrees to the not-affected side. 2. Quickly lie down on the other side and stay for 30 seconds. 3. Then quickly move to lie down on the opposite end of your bed. Maintain your head at a 45-degree angle and lie for 30 seconds. 4. Return slowly to sitting and wait a few minutes.

Foster Maneuver

The Foster Maneuver, also known as the Half Somersault Maneuver, is a self-treatment technique for vertigo. Here are the steps of the Foster Maneuver: 1. Start by kneeling on the floor. 2. Quickly tip your head back and look at the ceiling. Keep your head tilted back at a 45-degree angle for about 30 seconds. 3. While still looking up at the ceiling, tuck your chin to your chest. 4. Turn your head to the affected side at a 45-degree angle. 5. Quickly raise your head to the upright position, keeping it turned to the side. 6. Sit back quickly, ending with your head still turned to the side.

Brandt-Daroff Exercise

Here are the steps of the Brandt-Daroff Exercise: 1. Start by sitting on the edge of your bed or a flat surface. 2. Lie down on one side with your head turned at a 45-degree angle in the direction opposite to the affected ear. 3. Stay in this position for about 30 seconds or until the dizziness subsides. 4. Quickly sit back up to the starting position. 5. Repeat the same process on the other side, lying down with your head turned at a 45-degree angle in the opposite direction.

Yoga

Yoga can be a beneficial practice for managing certain aspects of vertigo. Doing yoga can improve body balance, core strength and coordination. Certain yoga poses can help improve body flexibility and promote blood circulation. Some simple yoga poses like Child's Pose or Corpse Pose can help calm the body and mind. Mindfulness techniques practiced in yoga can also help individuals cope with the sensations of vertigo.

Diet

What you eat and drink can also affect vertigo. People with a deficiency of vitamin D have a higher risk of developing BPPV, a common disease causing vertigo. Fortified milk, beef liver, tuna and egg yolks contains vitamin D. People can also get it from dietary supplements and direct sunlight. Dehydration can cause vertigo symptoms to flare. Make sure that you drink enough water every day. If you are going to do some exercise or stay outside on a hot summer day, drink more water to compensate for the water loss.

The Ultimate Guide to the Alkaline Diet

An alkaline diet is a dietary approach that emphasizes consuming alkaline foods that have a pH greater than 7. The theory behind this diet is based on the pH scale. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Substances with a pH below 7 are considered acidic, while those above 7 are alkaline. The theory holds that foods that make your body produce acid are harmful. Here is an introduction to the Alkaline Diet.

Menu of the Alkaline Diet

Most fruits and vegetables are alkaline-forming especially green-leafed vegetables, and other foods like soybeans, tofu, nuts, seeds and legumes. High-acid foods like processed meats, dairy products, refined grains, and sugar are typically limited on an alkaline diet. Foods like natural fats, milk, and sugars are considered “neutral”. These neutral foods generally are not recommended in an alkaline diet. Alcohol and caffeine are also forbidden.

Benefits of the Alkaline Diet

The emphasis on fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds in the alkaline diet can lead to a higher intake of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients are important for various bodily functions and overall health. Some individuals may experience weight loss on an alkaline diet, as it typically involves consuming whole, nutrient-dense foods while limiting processed and high-calorie foods.

Alkaline foods are often rich in fiber, which can support digestive health by promoting regular bowel movements and maintaining a healthy gut microbiota. The alkaline diet's focus on plant-based foods may help reduce inflammation in the body, which is associated with various chronic diseases. While more research is needed, some studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables may help lower the risk of certain chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Disadvantages of the Alkaline Diet

There is limited scientific evidence to support the specific health claims associated with this diet. It's important to note that the body has its own mechanisms for regulating pH levels, and the foods we eat do not significantly impact the overall pH of the body. Our body pH is tightly regulated. The blood pH generally stays at an alkaline level between about 7.2 and 7.4. Nothing we eat will change our blood pH. If it falls out of that range, it can be fatal.

While the alkaline diet promotes the consumption of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, many common sources of protein like meat, eggs and dairy are off limits. People who stick to an alkaline diet, especially children and people with underlying diseases, may miss out on protein and other nutrients, including iron and calcium. It also makes an alkaline diet difficult for people to stick with.