Daily Health Tips: Trusted Medical Information, Health Tips and Advices

Many of us are skin conscious. We often want our skin to look young and healthy and we really do something just to protect our skin from whatever possible harms there may be in our environment. Well, our skin is our largest organ performing several functions. It primarily protects us against the invasion of foreign substances and it serves as the transfer point for the release of toxins from our bodies, thus our skin is just worthy of protection and care. Now, if you found yourself coveting the gorgeous skin of fashion models and celebrities in most of today’s magazines, here are some tips that will help you on for a beautiful skin. Tip #1: Drink Water It is often said that the simplest way to clear and supple skin that is no longer dry is to drink plenty of water. Water has long been considered as the most effective natural treatment or an almost free treatment for any skin condition because of its being alkaline, with pH 7.3. It prevents dehydration which is capable of producing...

From exotic juices to cans of cocktail peanuts, more and more edibles in the supermarket are being dubbed "antiaging" by some marketer or media pundit. The real deal about munchies that keep you youthful? They come from the earth, not a vacuum pack. We're not the only ones who are saying that. Take a look at what the longest-lived people in the world are eating (if you know us, this list will look familiar, but with a few twists). Then, put their favorites on your own table. Costa Rica: Beans for Breakfast Residents of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula are four times more likely than most North Americans to live past age 90. One reason may be dishes like  gallo pinto , a tasty mix of black beans and rice flavored with onion, red peppers, garlic, olive oil, cilantro, and a salsa lizano -- a condiment a little like Worcestershire sauce. The Oz part of this team learned on a trip to Nicoya that big breakfasts that begin with beans rule there. But don't limit yourself; ...

Whatever you put in your pan for dinner tonight, make sure you add a few squeezes of this: lemon juice. A new study shows that marinating meats in lemon juice -- or vinegar -- can help greatly reduce the production of harmful compounds linked to aging and chronic disease. Cooking Compounds All foods -- but especially ones derived from animals -- contain varying levels of compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These compounds are known to cause inflammation and may open the door to faster aging. Cooking -- especially high-heat methods -- increases formation of AGEs. But now new research suggests that marinating foods in an acidic, low-pH liquid -- like lemon juice or vinegar -- may help slow that formation down significantly. AGEs in beef were cut in half after marinating for an hour -- but shorter amounts of time may help, too. How AGEs Age Meats and full-fat cheeses contain the most AGEs, followed by pork, fish, and eggs -- although even fruit, vegetable...

Could your morning cup of Joe beat back skin cancer? It might. And it seems you may get equal protection from your java whether you sip it or slather it. It's the caffeine in coffee that seems to do the trick. Numerous animal studies have already found that ingesting caffeine protects against certain types of skin cancer. Now, a new study suggests that caffeine-based lotions may prevent the sun's UV radiation from sparking skin cancer in humans, too. Cancer-Curbing Coffee? In the study, human skin cells were first bathed in caffeine in a lab dish and then exposed to UVB radiation. The caffeine not only blocked two key mechanisms that trigger the birth of skin tumors, it also caused the death of UVB-damaged skin cells that could otherwise turn cancerous. More research is needed to confirm whether caffeine in sunscreen will protect as well as it did in a petri dish, but it can't hurt to ask your dermatologist or pharmacist about available caffeine-containing ...

If you think cleansing your face is a super-simple step that requires no thought, guess again. Beyond selecting the correct cleanser for you skin type, these dos and don’ts can give your skin a helping hand. 1. Cleansing wipes are wonderful when you’re on the go, but one isn’t enough to get rid of all the makeup, dirt and post-workout sweat. Be sure to use two or three and do multiple passes. 2. Never, ever wash your face with shampoo, shower gel or body wash. The detergents are too harsh for facial skin. 3. Don’t leave your bottle or tube of cleanser open. Exposure to air can reduce the effectiveness of the ingredients and allow bacteria in. 4. If you use a cleanser with glycolic acid, leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing. This acts like a great mini-peel. 5. There’s no need to buy cleansers with antioxidants or other extra ingredients, since cleansers aren’t left on the skin long enough for these ingredients to penetrate. (However, if you have acne or...

Mitochondria, the cellular power plants that generate virtually all the energy your body requires, play a vital role in keeping organs youthful and healthy, too. So what can you do to keep those mitochondria powered up? Try reaching for the green -- like green pepper, green kiwifruit, and green parsley . Green-pigmented foods like these are rich in pyrroloquinoline quinone -- or PQQ for short -- a powerful antioxidant that shields mitochondria from oxidative damage in such vital organs as the brain and heart. More PQQs, Please Over time, damage to the delicate DNA inside mitochondria can accelerate aging and lead directly to degenerative disease. Dietary PQQ may not only shield these precious mitochondria from damage but also promote the formation of new mitochondria. Studies also suggest that PQQ may protect against neurological damage caused by the common environmental toxin methylmercury, which has been linked to Parkinson's  and Alzheimer's disease....

You slather on sunscreen, limit sun time, and keep an eye on those moles. But here's one more thing you could do to prevent skin cancer: pop a calcium and vitamin D supplement. In a large 7-year study of women who'd previously had skin cancer, those who took a calcium and vitamin D supplement every day experienced 57 percent fewer melanomas compared with the women who didn't take the supplement. How D Controls Cells More research is needed to confirm the results of this early study. And researchers are not yet sure whether a calcium and vitamin D supplement could play a role in helping prevent melanoma in people who've never had the disease. But plenty of other research has shown that vitamin D -- which helps control how quickly cells replicate -- has the potential to keep the growth of many different types of cancer cells in check, including colon, breast, and prostate cancer cells. And if you've had another form of skin cancer, you're at high...

Pimples are a serious adolescence problem. They appear on the cheeks, forehead and the nose. Six out of ten teenagers suffer from this problem. It is very common among teenagers and people in their twenties. Why do Pimples and Acne flare up in Youth? Acne is not caused by germs. The male sex hormones cause acne. As soon as one crosses childhood and enters the threshold of adolescence, different parts of our body start developing. The oil glands underneath the skin become over-active and ooze grease. This often blocks the pores and pimples sprout. What to do in case of pimples? Use sulfur soap to keep oil glands clean. Clean the day's make-up at night before going to bed. Steam your face once in a week to keep the pores open. A Fuller's earth (Multani mitti) pack is an effective means of controlling pimples. Take a spoonful of honey mixed with rose water daily. Apply cucumber juice mixed with rose water. What to Avoid? Do not neglect pimples. Be ale...

Acne is a problem that affects almost 90% of all adolescents, and many adults as well. The acne treatment industry does billions of dollars of sales annually, but the easiest and cheapest way to treat acne, is to avoid getting it in the first place. This can easily be done in a variety of ways. Here are ten simple ways to avoid acne. 1. Keep your face clean. Make it a habit to wash your face at least three times a day. This is an excellent way to avoid acne. Do not scrub hard, as this will only irritate your skin. Gently wash your face well with a mild cleanser, then pat it dry - don't rub. 2. Keep your hair off your face. Hair has natural oils in it, even if it doesn't appear to be oily. When that oil comes into contact with your skin, it can cause an acne breakout. Keep your hair cut short around your face, or use barrets or other accessories to hold it off your face. Many people don't realize that this is a way to avoid acne. 3. Eat a balanced diet. This...

Yesterday I was watching an health show so they were discussing on soft skin and what measure we should take to soft your skin What do your skin and that last slice of leftover turkey in the fridge have in common? They both might be a little dry right about now. So do them both a favor. Make yourself a little portobello mushroom gravy -- and eat it. Why? Because mushrooms provide a host of nutrients that give skin a radiant, youthful glow, writes Allison Tannis in Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles . And we already know what gravy does for turkey leftovers. Skin-Loving Fungi Actually, just about any type of mushroom -- portobello, crimini, white button, shiitake, oyster -- will help buoy a youthful complexion, writes Tannis. All because of the following vitamins and minerals: Selenium -- Selenium shields newly formed skin cells from damage brought on by chemicals, inflammation, or too much time in the sun. Exactly what you want, because newbie skin cells are what mak...