Monday, August 27

Developing a beautiful, flat stomach


Most of us dream about beautiful, flat tummy. It is only natural, most people want to look their best.
Sleep deprivation, stress and a busy schedule often causes people to eat unhealthy foods. Many snacks and fast foods have a high fat content, which adds unwanted pounds to your stomach.

Another problem is starving yourself. When you starve yourself, you make your metabolism lazy and unwilling to burn calories. 

The best is to eat slowly so that your body has time to digest food as you're eating. Also, it is better to eat small portions throughout the day as opposed to eating only three large meals a day. By separating your food into smaller meals, your metabolism is constantly forced to keep working, meaning that it is constantly burning fat while you are eating.


Quick Tip :
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


1.) Don't starve yourself because it makes your metabolism lazy and unwilling to burn calories.


2.) Include good quality protein (fish, nuts, eggs), good fats (olive oil, salmon or tuna, nuts), whole 
     grains and natural sugars that you will find in fresh fruit.

3.) Drink plenty of water. Drinking water will not only help prevent bloating, but it will also help 
     keep you feeling full for longer.

 4.) Green tea boosts your metabolism, so drinking around 4-5 cups a day may help burn off a few
      more calories. It contains substances that will help eliminate toxins, including unwanted fats out
      of your system.

5.) Be active, walk/jog for 30 minutes at least 4 times per week to boost your metabolism in order to
     burn that fat.

6.) Try a Pilates DVD and do the exercise at least 2-3 times per week. Pilates works on toning your
      entire body with concentration on your powerhouse (middle section) and will improve your 
      flexibility. 

7.) Do some hula hoops. This is one of the oldest ways to flatten and tighten up the belly area.

8.) Always apply body lotion on your skin after having bath.

9.) Massage your stomach with olive oil, it can destroy the fat. 

    
Remember!
Drinking water is a important key for a healthy stomach, specially after getting up in the morning.

Always have a breakfast, eat 4-5 well balanced, not to heavy meals and avoid eating within 2 - 3 hours before bedtime.

And of course once again, drink Green tea. It contains compounds called catechins that boost energy, increase the release of fat from fat cells, especially in the abdomen and speed up the burning of fat, particularly after meals. 

''Love''
 Dusana 


''A fit, healthy body—that is the best fashion statement''
~Jess C.Scott~

 
''To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
''
~Buddha~




Friday, August 24

Protect your skin this summer


Summer is in full swing and most of us couldn’t think of anything better than laying out all day long by the beach or pool, while the sun’s warm rays turn our skin a lovely shade of bronze. 
Remember to plan ahead and keep sun protection handy in your bag.
 

Protect your hair from the sun
Heat and UV rays from the sun can leave your hair dry, dull and brittle. You need to take precautions to protect it. Wear a hat or bandana and put your hair in a twist or braids.  Look for styling products with a built-in sun protection factor (SPF). 

 
Cover Up and Reapply your sunscreen 
If you’re going to be outside all day, cover as much of your skin as possible to protect your skin. To
keep cool as well as safe, choose light, breathable materials, like cotton.

Buy a daily moisturizer for your face that contains an SPF of at least 15. The skin on your face is more sensitive to sun damage than the rest of your body.
Reapply your sunscreen 20 minutes after being out in the sun to ensure a more even application and
better protection. After that, reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially after sweating or
swimming, which washes away sunscreen.
Cloudy weather still requires sunscreen in summer, because 80 per cent of ultra-violet radiation is
still present on cloudy days.

I'm one of those people, who puts a sun lotion all the time. My boyfriend keep saying that I must be a Guinness World Records holder for the most often applying sunscreen :-)


Sunglasses
Protect your eyes with a stylish pair of shades. Make sure the lenses are dark enough to keep your
eyes comfortable. The sun’s rays can cause or speed up the progress of several diseases that affect
your eyes.  Wear sunglasses that include a warranty stating they provide 99-100% UVA and UVB
Added bonus: Wearing sunglasses prevents you from squinting, which we all know can contribute to wrinkles around the eyes.


Protect your lips 
Use a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or more and reapply frequently, especially if you are going to be outdoors for longer periods of time. Lips can burn quickly and easily so take your SPF lip balm with you when you leave the house to ensure a protected and glossy pout.

If you get dry lips, honey is known for its special qualities of making lips and skin very soft.
Rub some honey on your dry lips to heal them fast and retain their moisture. Repeat 3x a day.


Drink plenty of water
You can help your body by drinking when you're thirsty and drinking extra water when it's warm
outside. Sunstroke or heat prostration is a serious life-threatening condition which occurs when the
body can no longer control its temperature, body heat rises and the victim becomes extremely ill.
High temperature is a major factor in this. When the humidity is high, water evaporates  
more slowly and the body's normal method of cooling itself by sweating is much less effective.
Dehydration can contribute to the problem by making you sweat less, so you should always drink lots of water when it is hot. 


That's me ready for some fun in the sun

It's summer, the sun is shining, and of course it's the best time to wear skirts and dresses.  Remember to give your scalp, face, and eyes extra protection by wearing a hat and sunglasses. Not only do these accessories provide protection, but they can be quite fashionable as well.

Enjoy the sun, have fun and don’t forget your sun hat!

''Love''
 Dusana




Monday, August 20

Carrots a wonderful snack food


Carrots are one of my favorite healthier snacks, along with cherries and cucumbers. Especially baby carrots, I love them because they are ready-to-eat and taste so sweet.
It is recommended that carrots should be cooked or juiced to get the most nutrients out of them.
But I prefer to eat raw carrots, they are yummy and so crunchy ...  :-)

And of course, let's not forget carrot juice.
Carrot juice and health go hand in hand. They have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. Many people consider drinking carrot juice one of the healthiest lifestyle choices possible. 
A glass of carrot juice is loaded with vitamins that are great for your skin, hair and has fewer calories than fruit juices.


Carrots benefits :
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1.)  Carrot juice gives the body Vitamins A, B, E and many minerals. 
2.)  Because it is very rich in beta-carotene which is an antioxidant, it prevents cell degeneration and
      the aging process is slowed down.
3.)  Healthy glowing skin
4.)  Cleanse the body, Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body.
5.)  Also Vitamin A in carrot juice improves eye-sight and helps in bone disorders and osteoporosis. 
6.)  Prevent heart disease and stroke.
7.)  Healthy teeth and gums. Carrots clean your teeth and mouth.
8.)  Cancer prevention. It help slows down the aging of cells.
9.)  Add thickness to hair, fast hair growth
10) A powerful antiseptic. Carrots prevent infection, they can be used on cuts, raw or boiled and
       mashed.




A little extra about vitamin A:
Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tone.


Drinking carrot juice every day can help overcome the problem of gray hair.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Greying of hair is a natural process. The hair has a tendency to lose its natural color with age and turn grey, but what cause premature greying? 
It can be because of chemical pollution in air and water, use of shampoos, conditioners, synthetic hair products, smoking, drinking too much coffee or alcohol. 
What to do?
Try to drink carrot juice for a B5 source, vitamin B5 not only fights premature gray hair but raises moods, sometimes better than prescription antidepressants. Carrots are particularly effective in supplying our blood with minerals needed for hair health and hair color. There are few reports of people successfully using carrots to limit gray hairs. 


Once again, it is recommended that carrots should be cooked or juiced to get the most nutrients out of them. 
So why not give it a go?
Bon Appetit!
 
''Love''
 Dusana 


Carrots have the highest content of beta carotene, or Vitamin A, of all vegetables.
  
Carrots are one of the rare vegetables which are more nutricious cooked than raw.


 
Q:  What did the rabbit give his girlfriend? 
A:  A 14 carrot ring!

 



Tuesday, August 14

Coconut oil benefits


When I heard for the first time about magic powers of coconut oil, I immediately decided to give it a go. The only problem was, it was very difficult to find one. Not every store is selling it.
But once you try it, it really does wonders for your body.

When I started using coconut oil on my skin every day, the results were amazing. The texture of my skin was noticable softer and smoother.
Coconut oil is ideal as a skin lotion because it not just makes your skin soft, it can protect your skin against damage and can make your skin younger looking. Pure virgin coconut oil is the best natural ingredient for skin lotion, if you want to experience the maximum healing effects.  It can help bring back a youthful appearance. 
I already mentioned some of the benefits of coconut oil for eye wrinkles, but there's more. 


Coconut oil benefits:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1.) Coconut oil acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skin including dry skin.
2.) When you apply coconut oil to your skin, it can help bring back a youthful appearance by 
     removing the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin softer, younger and smoother. 
3.) Using coconut oil for your face can also reduce pimples and acne.
4.) It can help to keep the skin from developing liver spots, and other blemishes caused by aging and 
     over exposure to sunlight.  
5.) Protects the skin from various diseases and infections.
6.) Coconut oil works wonders for eye wrinkles and wrinkle prevention. Massaging coconut oil under
     the eye, will help. After using coconut oil for a week, you will begin to see results.


Deep treat with coconut (olive) oil
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Warm up a little olive oil and rub into your scalp. You can leave it on for an hour, or overnight.
Wash out with a good quality shampoo.
Increase blood flow to the scalp, massage is an effective way to bring more blood to the area.

Keep your skin looking younger naturally with coconut oil ... 

''Love'' 

Dusana






''There is a sweet water inside a tender coconut. Who poured the water inside the coconut? Was it the work of anyman? No. Only the Devine can do such a thing.''
 ~Sri Sathya Sai Baba~


''The two basic items necessary to sustain life are sunshine and coconut milk.''
~Dustin Hoffman~




Wednesday, August 8

L'Oreal Miss Candy Collection


The latest collection from L’Oreal is L'OrĂ©al Glam Shine Miss Candy.
L'Oreal Paris describes its new summer collection as a mouth watering, sugar sweet selection of swirls, sparkles and shimmering shades. It's all about bringing some sugary sweetness and fun to makeup. 
I haven’t had the opportunity to try out the new collection, but I'm definitely planning on getting some. I think I need a candy to add to my collection.
Most lipglosses are around 11.50 if you're buying from decent brands on the high street, for example Marionnaud. The tube is a bit smaller, but I really think it's worth it. The collection is bright and colourful, with a gorgeous range of shades across all products - including some lovely nail colours, twisted coloured lip glosses and pressed pigment shadows.



I have never seen such a cute lipgloss. The packaging is simple and perfect. Can you see the sugar sweet swirls of sparkles? Two contrasting colours which blends together, will simply melt onto the lips for a shimmering, natural finish.

Miss Candy Collection is limited edition, and will only be available in August and September. So it’s a good time to hit up the shops if you want to try them.
Have you picked up any of the shadows from the Miss Candy Collection?
They look amazing, don't they?

''Love''
 Dusana 


''The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural.''
~Calvin Klein~


''I love the confidence that makeup gives me.''
~Tyra Banks~





Sunday, August 5

Cycle your way to good health

I'm one of those people trying to find the easiest way to get fit.
You don't have to sweat it out in the gym for hours every week to stay trim.
I tried going to the gym once but it didn't workout. We registered for six months and manage to use it for a month. Rest of the 5 months we paid for it, but never used it. At the end I thought how many new clothes and shoes I could have for that money spend on the gym  :-)

So, what is the easiest way to get fit?
The answer is cycling, running, long walks and using the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.


My favourite sport is cycling. I cycle home from work with my boyfriend almost every day and it’s one of the best part of my day. We are having so much fun cycling together, we stopping to take nice photos or talking about what we see. During a weekend we bike for longer and stop for a beer or lunch along the way. 
When I started biking, at the beginning I got tired very easily, but within a month riding a few miles, I noticed how much I improved. Now I'm cycling 6-7 days/week and easily. More I do it, more I like it. 
It is a nice way to see the city and one of the easiest ways to exercise. You can ride a bicycle almost anywhere, at any time of the year and without spending a fortune.


The health benefits of cycling 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  
- Regular cycling can help you lose weight, because you burn a lot of calories.
- Regular cycling also strengthens leg muscles and you will begin to see an improvement in the 
  muscle tone of your legs, thighs, your rear end and hips very soon.
- Cycling is also good for your heart.
- Reduces anxiety, depression and stress.
- Cycling has found to be effective for treating people diagnosed with diabetes and cancer.


Pedal your way to good health. Have fun, enjoy cycling, and remember to maintain your safety and the safety of others at all times. 

''Love''
 Dusana 

That's me returning from a cycling trip








''Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.''
~ Albert Einstein~


''Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.''
~John F. Kennedy ~





Wednesday, August 1

Oranges anytime of the day


I can eat oranges every day, anytime of the day. Loving the smell, loving the taste and don't mind the peeling.
Whenever I go with my friend to Starbuck's Coffee, I gotta have a delicious cup of hot coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Did you know that orange juice help you get beautiful skin?
They are a good source of vitamin C which is known to improve the skin texture and color. Oranges help restoring collagen in your body which is responsible for skin firming and preventing early aging of skin.
In addition, they are also a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B, amino acids, beta-carotene, pectin, potassium, folic acid, calcium, iodine, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, manganese, chlorine and iron. Drinking a glass of orange juice before breakfast is my favorite. By drinking before eating breakfast, you will fill your stomach and eat less unhealthy foods and snacks during the daytime.

Orange benefits :
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~
- Orange peel helps cure acne 
- Orange peel helps reduce wrinkles 
- Acts as a skin tonner
- A daily glass of orange juice can help improve your skin, hair and nails 
- Oranges contain vitamin C,which is good for skin
- They also contain bioflavonoids which strengthen the substance of collagen in the skin
- Vitamin C in oranges is an excellent nutrient which fights cancer
- The calcium in oranges helps to keep your bones and teeth strong
- Regular consumption can significantly reduce the risk of developing kidney stones
- Oranges are rich in Iron and vitamin B6, essential in the production of red cells in the blood,which
  carry oxygen from lungs to cells. Oranges also help prevent lung cancer.

''Love''
 Dusana


Quick Tip :
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Orange juice with coconut oil is good for skin smoothing. Mixed pure orange juice with coconut oil .
Apply it into your face and leave it for about 10 minutes. Wash your face with warm water. 

 



 Orange Peel Benefits for Skin


Orange peel helps cleanse the skin and open the pores.
It also helps remove any darkening of the skin as a result of tanning or sun exposure.
It is excellent for people who have dry skin and those who have wrinkles, as the peel helps reduce the wrinkles over time. So you must have patience.