Coconut water is the liquid found inside young green coconuts and differs from coconut milk. It is a popular drink in tropical countries. A natural fat free drink and has the ability to dehydrate your body, besides providing you some necessary minerals, such as potassium and sodium.

Coconut water has no artificial additives and contains significant amounts of electrolytes, while being low in food energy.Coconut water is therefore not only a very refreshing drink; it has proved to be the best natural hangover cure.

The various minerals and healthy bacterial present in coconut water enable our body to recover from rigorous exercise, making this drink far superior to other sports drinks.

Fresh coconut water also helps in digestion, optimizes muscle performance, boosts our immune system and blood circulation, besides helping maintain body temperature.

Remedy for dehydration

Coconut water is one of the most effective ways of re-hydrating the body. Consumption of a large quantity of alcohol in a dehydrated state results in a hangover. The main symptoms of a hangover are headache, nausea and vomiting. Our kidneys, liver, stomach and small intestines fall prey to the adverse impact of alcohol and result in problems such as electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal disturbances, disruption of sleep, among other things. The need to quickly restore the body to optimal hydration is therefore irrefutable.

Other beneficial properties

> It is a natural isotonic beverage,

> improves our digestive system

> encourages bowel movement

> helps in prevention of bacterial

> viral and fungal infections

> keeps the body cool while maintaining adequate temperature

> aids in healthy functioning of the thyroid

> has a cleansing effect on the whole endocrine system

> clears your complexion

All balloons can be easily filled with air, by blowing air into it. Now air pumps are used to inflate balloons.  When balloons are filled up with helium gas, the balloon float, i.e. they try to rise up as the helium’s weight is very light. When helium is filled up inside the latex balloons, the gas remains inside only for some time and eventually the helium gas moves out slowly through the walls of the latex balloon as the helium atoms are smaller than the pores of the latex walls so they easily pass through them! This process is called diffusion. Later in the year 1970, more costly balloons were manufactured / invented which are long-lasting and they are called as foil balloons. These foil balloons are thin, less permeable, unstretchable and made from metalized plastic balloons. An interesting feature of foil balloons are they are light weight, hence increases the buoyancy and they are able to retain the helium gas for many weeks. Foil balloons are very attractive and has shiny surface, often printed with messages and designs, which are used for various occasions, celebrations and parties. Balloons are so much fun, and we could never think of any celebrations or parties without these cute balloons.

Biotin is a vitamin which makes your hair healthy, strong and good looking. It is clinically proven, so maintaining a good level of Biotin in your body system is as essential as maintaining other vitamins and minerals. Using a Biotin enriched shampoo may also help in improving your hair health.

Foods like egg yolk and liver contains a lot of Biotin, you need to consume these foods in rich quantity to maintain your health and prevent hair loss. Some more foods rich in Biotin are brewer’s yeast, green peas, oats, soybeans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, brown rice, kidneys, milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products, oysters, lobsters, poultry, cauliflower, avocados, bananas, strawberries, watermelon, grapefruits, raisins, mushrooms, blackcurrants, wheat germ, nuts, beans, lentils, oat bran, whole grains, oatmeal and peanut butter.

Biotin is a member of Vitamin B complex family also sometime known as Vitamin H or Vitamin B7 and it is soluble in water. Biotin does processing of glucose which is one of the sources of energy of our body to perform work and maintaining wear and tear of the body. People affecting with Biotin deficiency may show dry or scaly scalp, a loss of appetite, hair problems, depression, dermatitis, anorexia, and anemia.

Growth and replication of cells depends on Biotin. Thus on one hand Biotin helps in maintaining good hair health and on the other hand it is important for several bodily functions.

Gathered from article written by Tania Jain

Smile costs nothing, but gives happiness. So, say “cheese” and start-up with your another crucial day. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. The ability to smile is a “natural” gift to humans. It fills a mood of happiness and positive energy into one’s life. Not only this, it spread a feeling of goodwill, friendship, love, and care for the others to perceive you happy face. A heartening smile is a non-verbal gesture of acceptance. It is very important in our social lives, as it personifies confidence, eagerness, aptitude, and willingness to perform duties with a full heart.

You must be thinking, if smile is the second best thing to do with the lips then what is the first? Chat and talks are the first best things to do with the lips. Therefore, it won’t be wrong to say that for doing the first, one needs support and presence of the second ….. SMILE.

Florists have long relied on chrysanthemums because of their long life span of up to two weeks. Gardeners enjoy the vitality of the fresh flowers in the yard, while decorators enjoy the flowers’ versatility in the home. With their many colors, and various forms, mums have provided happiness for thousands of years.

There are a wide variety of mums. Some classifications include spider mums (flower petals long and tubular, with hooked ends), football mums (fancy mums with incurving petals), and pompon mums (small, stiff, almost globular flowers). Flower colors include white, yellow, orange, bronze, red, purple and pink.

Perennial chrysanthemums are native to the Orient and Russia. Annual forms are native to the Mediterranean. The first known cultivation of chrysanthemums was in the 15th century B.C. in China. Chinese herbalists boiled the flower roots as a headache remedy, ate the flowers in salads, and brewed flower leaves to make a festive tea. The dew found on the flowers was collected to promote longevity.

In the 8th century A.D., the chrysanthemum appeared in Japan where the locals adopted a single flower as the crest and official seal of the Emperor. The Japanese even have a National Chrysanthemum Day, known as the Festival of Happiness.

In 1753, Swedish botanist Karl Linnaeus introduced the flowers into the Western world, combining the Greek words “chrysos” meaning gold and “anthemon” meaning flower, to name this flower “chrysanthemum”. The first commercial production of mums began in the late 1940’s as florists began utilizing the flowers in corsages.

Today, with their beauty, durability and variety of colors, mums are highly favored

The Japanese dragon tattoos are more popular than many other mythological creatures including phoenix tattoos, mermaid tattoos and gryphon tattoos. The Japanese dragon is usually depicted as a wingless, heavily-scaled snake-like mythological creature with small clawed legs and an antlered camel head, and is associated with sea, clouds or the heavens. it has whiskers and a beard, and it is deaf. Many of us think of dragons as a terrifying beast. However, the Japanese dragons symbolize good, kind, power and freedom. According to most sources, the Japanese dragon is closely related to the Chinese counterparts, with the exception that the Japanese dragon has only three claws, while that of the Celestial Kingdom (China) has five. This is the same in the tattoo designs.

The meanings of Japanese Dragon Tattoos
Modern Japanese tattoo artists have taken the art of the Japanese dragon to amazing new levels. Whether you want a full back or a half sleeve design, you will find an incredible gallery of amazing tattoo designs to choose from. They can be in color, or black & white. The Japanese dragon tattoo may appear with sea wave, clouds or pearls. If the dragon claw holds an enormous magical pearl, which has the power to multiply whatever it touches, the “pearl” symbolized the most precious treasure, “Wisdom”. Ancient Dragon lore and illustrations have inspired many to select a Japanese dragon tattoo because the design represents strength, wisdom and freedom.

The popular locations for inking Japanese dragon tattoos.
Japanese dragon tattoos can wrap around the body and flatter the contours of the body, full body and full back dragon tattoos are very common in Japan, and the most popular location is half sleeve, the body of the dragon wrap around the upper arm and the dragon head extend out the upper front, just above the heart. Because of the long shape of the dragon, it also suited for inking on arms and legs.

Garlic is high in sulfur, which accounts for some of it’s medicinal potency.  The stronger the taste of the garlic, the higher the sulfur content and the better it is for you.  Two other medicinally potent compounds in garlic are Diallyl Sulphides, which increase blood circulation, and Allicin, an anti-biotic and anti-fungal compound.

In general terms raw garlic are:

A broad spectrum anti-biotic

Highly Anti-fungal

Highly Anti-bacterial

Highly Anti-parasitical

High in antioxidants

And the major health benefits of garlic are:

1.  Increases blood circulation and thin the blood - this can lower blood pressure, reduce the likelihood of blood clots and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.

2.  Suppresses the growth of tumors.

3.  Decreases levels of LDL or “bad cholesterol”.

4.  Stimulates the immune system by increasing blood cell count.

5.  Supports recovery from cancer.

6.  Kill some intestinal parasites - this may be related to its potency as a cancer treatment, as some naturopaths consider intestinal parasites to be directly linked to cancer.

7.  Repels insects – some Sulphur in raw garlic passes into the blood and is carried to the skin where it is excreted.  This helps to make the skin unattractive to insects.

8. Soothes coughs and colds - this is due to garlic’s anti-biotic properties.

9. Kills fungi such as Athletes Foot and Warts.

It’s important to note that these health benefits only apply to the use of raw garlic.  The active compounds in garlic are destroyed by cooking.   They are also lost over time.   Crushing or chopping raw garlic releases its medicinally potent compounds, which are sensitive to oxidation.   It is best to consume the raw fresh garlic shortly after crushing or chopping to get the highest benefit.

How To Use Raw Garlic

Internally - take 1 to 2 cloves or crushed raw garlic every other day.   May be taken with some fruits like avocado (to keep it from burning), or blend it in raw soups, or sprinkle over salad. 

Topically - make a poultice with raw garlic to use on skin infections like athletes foot or warts.   Be careful not to irritate the skin by using too much.

As a tincture - use garlic oil drops in the nose, as a gargle or in the ears to fight infection.   Make garlic oil drops by mixing 1 clove of crushed garlic with 10ml (4 oz.) pure water.

Garlic is generally very safe, but in some people and at higher doses, it can cause irritation to the stomach and skin and should be used very sparingly with small children.

Tiger Iron is almost exclusively valued as a decorative gemstone. Its rich and striking beauty is created by three gemstones that nature has combined to create tiger iron. Tiger’s eye, hematite and jasper exist in layers to form this composite gemstone.

Ironstone is plentiful and accessible. Hematite is ironstone that can be very shiny and highly polished for artistic and cultural purposes. It is usually grey colored, although surface oxidation sometimes gives it a brownish hue.

Tiger Eye is natural asbestos. During volcanic events, the fibrous asbestos is replaced by iron-bearing quartz called limonite. This is what creates the dazzling golden luminous eye of the tiger that provides such elegant beauty in tiger eye gemstone. Golden brown tiger eye is most common. However, there is also a blue version know as hawk eye or falcon’s eye, red tiger eye and of course tiger iron which is made up of three gemstone crystals combined into one.

The glamour of tiger iron gemstone is created by what is known as “cat’s eye”. It is an optical reflectance that gives a sense of depth, shape and shine between the fibrous layers of crystal.   In order for cat eye to occur in a gemstone, it must be cut in cabochon style. This requires the stone be cut so the fibrous crystal layers are parallel to the base of the polished gemstone. Many fine examples of this affect can be seen in elegant tiger eye gemstone at jewelry shop.

Besides being elegant and beautiful, both ancient and modern people relate tiger iron to chakras.  It is believed to provide emotional clarity.  Tiger eye enhances personal creative forces. Those who try to harness the forces of chakra will hold a tiger iron gemstone in there hand and breath deeply to become re-grounded, centered, balanced, peaceful and focused.

The creative beauty, cultural and biological presence of tiger eye/iron jewelry and other tiger iron art objects can certainly bring pleasure, presence and satisfaction to the bearer.

Green tea offers so many benefits to the skin and to the body. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and anti-bacterial properties. Green tea is so popular in the cosmetic industry. Loaded with Vitamin E and C, the antioxidant agents slow the signs of aging externally and provide beneficial vitamins for overall health when taken internally.

Recent research has concluded that green tea can prevent cancer. The death rate in Japan from cancer is significantly lower than that in the States. In Japan, green tea is part of their daily staple and consumed as much as 5 to 6 cups a day. This suggests that the main ingredients in green tea in sufficient amounts can lower the mortality rates of cancer patients.

Green tea can lower high blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels for those suffering with diabetes. Caffeinated tea refreshes the body when taken internally; it stimulates the body’s organs and clears the mind. Green tea can lower cholesterol by restricting the excessive buildup of (LDL) cholesterol. Research has also suggested that green tea can inhibit skin cancer due to its protective properties.

Overall, green tea drinkers seem to enjoy better health. The vital ingredient Catechin is 100 times more potent than Vitamin C and 25 times more potent than Vitamin E.

Green Tea Facial Toner

5 green tea bags or several heaping teaspoons of green tea leaves, 1/3 cup chopped fresh herb (see list below for your specific skin type) and 2 cups mineral water. Combine together and bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Set to cool then apply with cotton ball on the face. The toner will keep for at least one week in the refrigerator.

Dry skin: Elderflower, linden flowers, and marigold.

Normal skin: chamomile - especially good for antiseptic values, fennel, lemon balm, parsley, and rosemary.

Oily Skin: Chamomile-especially good for antiseptic values, fennel, lemon balm, parsley, rosemary, and peppermint and sage-especially good for antiseptic values.

Article source: Carol Belanger, author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes.

Michael Phelps , the biggest Olympic athlete in years, if not ever… is everywhere this season.  This 23-year-old from Baltimore has proven himself in the pool.

Phelps has won 14 gold medals, the most of any Olympian ever. Eight of those were at the Beijing Olympics, which end Sunday. His achievements at this Olympics broke American swimmer Spitz’s record of seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympics in Munich for most won in at one time.

One gold medal is amazing. Two is incredible. Three? Practically unbelievable. But eight? Eight gold medals? That’s … that’s well … well, we’re going to need some new adjectives for whatever that is. CONGRATULATION, MICHAEL PHELPS.