3 steps to getting a perfect smile

Its the last day of our National Oral health Month in South Africa. It is a time to pay extra attention to our oral or dental routine. Did you know that two off the world's most common health problems affect the mouth, gum disease and cavities.

It is in your best interest to practice good oral hygiene to keep your gorgeous smile and to keep your gums healthy. Gum disease has been linked to many other diseases like adverse pregnancy outcomes, coronary heart disease and diabetes; women with gum disease will find it harder to conceive, therefore oral health is off great importance in our lives.

Today I'll share my 3 little secrets on how to get bright, white teeth using basic home remedies.

1. Eat crunchy food.

Foods like carrot, apples, broccoli, cucumber, and celery. Apples have a chemical called malic acid, which is actually used in same teeth whitening product, this acid helps clean away stains. Crunchy food helps increase saliva production, this also helps in lessening stains on our teeth.

2. Eat dairy products.

• Cheese
• Milk
• Yogurt

The above mentioned products contain the minerals phosphorus and calcium which promote the remineralization of enamel ( the outer layer off the teeth) in our teeth.

3. Baking soda paste

Take a teaspoon of baking soda and combine it with water to form a paste. Brush your teeth as you normally and rinse your mouth proper using warm water with a pinch of salt. you can do this once a week. Do not over use the baking soda method as it can eat away you teeth  literally..

Happy smiling... :)  

Quick Delicious Apple Sandwich

Ever feel like a quick snack? No need to worry this delicious apple sandwich will hit that yummy spot no doubt....

Apple Sandwiches
Makes 3 sandwiches

1 tablespoon rolled oats
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsweetened peanut butter
3/4 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon raisins
1 medium apple

Combine the oats and cinnamon in a dry skillet over medium heat and toast, stirring occasionally, until the oats are golden. Cool before using.

Mix together the peanut butter and honey.

Core and slice the apple into 6 rounds. (If you don't have an apple corer, you can slice the apple first and then cut out the centers with a small cookie cutter or knife.)

Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on 3 of the apple slices and sprinkle with raisins and oats. Top with the remaining apple slices to form sandwiches.

Notes:
• If you are not eating the apple right away, you can brush it with lemon juice to prevent browning. A solution of 1/4 cup water and 1 tablespoon lemon juice does the trick without tasting too lemony.
• For strict gluten-free diets, be sure to use gluten-free oats.

Enjoy...

*Special thanks to theKitchen for this wonderful healthy snack :)

Deliciously healthy ( Apple health benefits)

For many years it has been claimed that an apple is the greatest, most healthiest fruit one could ever eat today we look at the reasons why  its the best and why we need it to keep our bodies healthy.

Low in cholesterol

A medium sized apple has about 5 grams of fiber and most of this fiber is good fiber called pectin. Pectin has low levels of bad cholesterol therefore it blocks the absorption of cholesterol  by lowering insulin secretion and helps the body use it rather than store it.

Curbs Cancer

Apples are loaded with flavonol and triterpenoids these are compounds which have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells.

May keep you slim

The  ursolic acid  found in the peel of an apple aids the body to burn calories and increases muscle. The  quercetin ( which is an antioxidant) can help boost your immune system. The fiber keeps you fuller for longer.

Good for your brain

Apples help the body produce acetylcholine which helps with memory.

Brightness, Lightness and tightness your skin

Red apples are loaded with collagen and elasticity properties which will help your skin remain youthful forever.

Restores your hair :)

A compound called procyanidin B-2  found in the apple helps your hair stay stronger.

Healthy teeth

Chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva therefore decreasing the level of bactria and reduces teeth decay.

Brown sugar vs white sugar ( you choose) Health benefits

White or brown sugar

Many times we form a battle of whether brown sugar is healthier than white sugar.... We today we see the facts between these two and the rest is left on you to choose.

Brown and white sugar are made from the same sugar crane which contain molasses. The difference is that brown sugar is that brown sugar has molasses and white sugar is stripped from theses molasses.

Health benefits of  Molasses in brown sugar:

Source of Calcium

We loss calcium on a daily bases through our urine, sweat, skin, hair and nail. This calcium has to be replaced daily to prevent our bodies from abstracting the calcium it needs from our bones.An adult aged 19-50 needs about 1000 milligram of calcium a day, a teaspoon of brown sugar has 0.08 mg.

Calcium keeps you slim
Keeps PMS away
Calcium keeps your heart healthy

Calcium rich foods:

Milk
Yogurt
Soybeans
Cheese

Source of Magnesium

Magnesium is required by the body to properly digest food. An adult at the age of 19 upwards needs 320 milligrams of magnesium a day. In every 100 gram ( 13 teaspoons) has 9 mg of magnesium.

Powerful detoxifier 
Healthy blood sugar levels  

Other sources of magnesium

Nuts and seeds (sesame seeds and almonds)
Lentils
Whole grains ( brown rice)


Source of Potassium

Potassium is need for our kidneys to filter blood and for our muscles to move. An adult need about 1600 milligrams of potassium.

Lowers the risk of getting cancer
Low risk for obesity and heart disease.

Other great sources of potassium are:

Orange juice
Avocado
Tomatoes
Spinach
Dried fruit ( apricot and dates)
Peas and beans
Fresh fruit like strawberries and bananas

Source of Iron

Iron is needed for the proper growth and development of our bodies.

Oxygen carrier
Muscle health

Other iron rich food:

Chicken liver
Ham
Fish

Adult males from the age of 19 - 50 need 8 mg and females of the same ages need 18 mg of iron per day.

NB: too much sugar is bad for you brown or white!!...

A slice of Cucumber for your hair and skin

Everyday we find ourselves think of how we can make ourselves more health or how we can make the products we use on our skin to be more Eco friendly. I love using natural products at least once a week. I think that is what keeps my face looking a bit younger than my actaul age... Or maybe I should thank God for giving me wonderful genes.

I would like to think that everything goes hand in hand. A healthy diet will surely lead to gorgeous glowing skin, shiny hair  and a healthy body. The fun and wonderful thing is that we can use what we eat in our beauty routine :)

As we know that a woman's hair is their grown. It is very important for us to rinse all the shampoo out of our hair to cheap our hair shiny and healthy for a long period of time. Below is an easy DIY hair repair cucumber mask that will repair damaged hair.

what you'll need:

2/4 cup of  finely grated cucumber
1 egg
1/4 cup olive oil

Put 1/4 cup of grated cucumber in a bowl( save the other part for after you have shampooed). Beat the egg and add it to the bow containing cucumber then add the 1/4 cup of olive oil. Apply to hair and cover it with  a shower cap for 30 minutes. Rinse hair with shampoo.

Then apply the left over 1/4 cup of  cucumber onto washed hair. Leave it on for 15 minutes then rinse it of thoroughly. This will renew hair damaged by pool chlorine and reduce hair loss.

Something for your face...

Take 1/4 cup of grated cucumber and apply it onto your face. Leave it on for about 15 minutes. Rinse of with warm water and pat skin dry. This will help tighten pores and leave your skin glowing and looking brighter. Add 1 beaten egg white to help reduce wrinkles.

Be as cool as a cucumber ( Health benefits)

Need a quick and healthy pick me? Look no further, no need for those fizzy unhealthy soda's and an overdose on caffeine, just eat a cucumber. There is still a debate on whether this cool dark green log of super food  is a fruit or vegetable; well surprise, surprise according to the botanists (those who study plants) a cucumbers is technically a fruit with tremendous health benefits.

Below is a short list of benefits we get from this fruit:

1. Flushes out toxins

The water in  a cucumber acts as a broom which sweeps all the unwanted toxins out of our system. Cucumbers are also known to liquefy kidney stones if consumed regularly.

2. Aids in weight loss

Thanks to its low calorie and high water content cucumber is the ideal food for whoever is looking to lose weight. The water that the cucumber contains aids in getting rid of toxins in the digestive system aiding in digestion and is a great remedy for constipation.

3. Maintains normal electrical activity of the heart.

Cumbers are rich in Potassium which plays a huge  role in the development of muscle tissue and helps maintain normal electrical activity of your heart.

4. Keeps your joints in good health

Cucumbers are an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promote joint health by strengthening the connective tissues.

5. Controls blood pressure and helps cure diabetes

Cucumbers contain a loads of potassium, magnesium and fiber; these work effectively in regulating blood pressure.

Beautify your skin with tomatoes

Yesterday we learnt about the benefits of tomatoes for your body internally, today I will share with you a way in which you can use tomatoes to beautify your skin.

Whether you want to cure large pores or reduce acne and rashes or sooth a nasty sunburn or simply to revive the glow on dull skin, tomatoes are beneficial in many homemade beauty treatments.

To cure burnt inflamed skin...

Dice and mash half a tomato and mix it with two tablespoons of plain yogurt.
Apply it on face, neck, hands and feet.
Wash it off after 20 minutes.

Tomato brings a cooling effect to the skin and neutralizes the surface and the yogurt will give your skin a protein boost and leave your skin feeling soft.

Get rid of blackheads....

Slice a tomato into cubes and smash it with a fork or you can grate the tomato instead. Apply it to a clean face. Leave on for about 30 minutes.

The acidity in tomatoes will help clear up acne and blackheads and it will also help cleanse the skin from oils, dirt which cause acne by clogging the pores, heavy makeup and dead skin cells. Tomato juice even has the ability to shrink pores. This mixture is sure to give your skin a beautiful soft clear appearance over time.

Juicy health benefits of tomatoes

Tomato  goodness

Fruit or Vegetable? Its for you to decide. Either way tomatoes are a great source of nutrition. You may eat them raw or cooked, which ever way they remain true to their delicious taste. Below is a list of health benefits of tomatoes.

1.Prevent DNA Damage

Tomatoes are high in important antioxidants such as vitamin C and Vitamin A. These vitamins work to fend of DNA damage from free radicals. Consequently, tomatoes may help to ward off age related diseases such as diabetes.

  2. Protect Against Thrombosis (blood clots in the blood vessels)

Another study showed that drinking 8 ounces of tomato juice daily reduced platelet aggregation significantly, among study subjects. Those drinking a placebo showed no benefit. It’s important to drink low-sodium tomato juice if you are trying to protect against thrombosis.

4. Decreases risk of prostate cancer

Tomato contains amazing amounts of lycopene which is said to have anti oxidant properties. Studies have shown that tomato can reduce prostate cancer especially in synergy with broccoli. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggested that ‘the intake of tomatoes and tomato products is associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer. This benefit may be related to the antioxidant properties of lycopene, but other potential mechanisms and other beneficial tomato-based components instead of or combined with lycopene cannot be excluded’.

5. Tomatoes work against impotency and help increase the sperm count.

6. Tomatoes are powerful blood purifiers and clear up urinary tract infections.

7. Tomatoes are widely used in the manufacturing of skin care and beauty products as they are good for improving skin porosity.


Types of tomatoes

Ball’s Beefsteak

Very large flattened, solid, meaty juicy bright red fruits, weigh up to 2 lbs., excellent slicer with rich sub-acid flavor.

Beefmaster

Large red meaty beefsteak type tomatoes, good-flavored, can weigh up to 2 lbs. Good tolerance to cracking & peeling.

Better Boy

Most popular hybrid. Spectacular midseason deep red tomatoes are plump & juicy& average about 1 lb. fruits.

Better Bush

 Long harvest season. 4-inch fruits have a juicy consistency and great garden-fresh flavor!