Published on: 21 February 2017
Last Updated on: 30 October 2024
Having a bright glowing and flawless skin is one short way to bring you confidence when communicating with others. But let’s face it; it is a very difficult task since our skin is exposed to many pollutants, dirt, sunlight and countless other harmful factors. One common skin problem to be named is blackheads which are annoying and potentially stressful to deal with.
Many people resort to cleaning strips to pull out those annoying blackheads, but they also bear the risk of irritated or dried skin, not to mention the fact that these products are pricey and painful to remove.
In this article, we provide some natural ways you can try to get rid of blackheads. One common feature of these formulas is that they all use all-around, simple, natural and safe ingredients.
1. Egg White Mask
Egg white, also called glair gained its popularity as number one blackheads remover thanks to its ability to wipe off dirt, dead skin cells. Plus, egg white can visibly tighten your pores and whiten your skin tone.
How to use:
Prepare an egg white, add 1 teaspoon of honey for better moisture.
Apply one thin layer of egg white to your face, place a strip of tissue paper to your face.
Allow it to dry completely then gently peel the mask. The peeling will pull out the blackheads.
If you want a thicker mask, apply the second and third layer using the same method. The key point is to let it dry properly.
2. Turmeric and Mint
The benefit of turmeric to blackheads removal can be attributed to its powerful antibiotics, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can easily absorb excess oil, eliminate dead skin cells and brighten the tone; while mint can soothe the skin with its cooling effect.
How to use:
Make a mixture of 2 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 3 teaspoons of mint juice to create a paste.
Apply the mixture and keep it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing your face with water.
Perform twice a week for best result.
3. DIY Peel off Mask with Clay
As it turns out, those expensive peeling masks they sell out there are not hard to make. You can totally make yourself a peeling mask to get rid of blackheads with some charcoal powder and glue. This mask can sweep away all the dirt and impurities that block your pores and dry out excessive oil.
How to make:
Mix one tablespoon of activated charcoal powder with enough glue to make a thick yet spreadable paste.
Open the pores by dabbing with a warm cloth in your face about 1 to 2 minutes.
Apply the paste on blackhead affected areas. Let it dry completely and slowly peel off the mask.
4. Baking Soda
This versatile ingredient never fails to surprise us. The antiseptic quality not only makes it an excellent exfoliant that can sweep away all the dead skin cells and impurities that cause blackheads. It is also a great tool to neutralize the pH of the skin.
How to use:
Make a paste from baking soda and some water.
Apply the mixture on your face and let it dry for about 15 minutes before rinsing with water.
Perform this formula once or twice a week, you will find those ugly blackheads disappear in no time.
5. Lemon and salt
Lemon deserves a spot in this list because it can remove the deepest blackheads. The acid citric in lemon makes it a good exfoliant and brighten the skin tone by burning the topmost layer of skin cells; while salt which antibacterial properties help fight against germs and bacteria worsening the situation.
How to use:
Mix ½ teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sea salt and 1 teaspoon of honey.
Use this mixture to massage your face, and then wash with cool water.
It is safe to perform this action twice a week. The change you see is incredible. However, don’t forget to apply sunblock every day.
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Your wedding is the ultimate opportunity to celebrate the love you have for your spouse-to-be as well as the love and friendship you share with your guests. It’s the chance to get creative with your plans and show your guests how much you want them to have a good time and how much you appreciate them.
How do you give your guests a delicious meal without breaking the bank? Simply team up with an expert caterer and they can walk you through the best options for your wedding so you can showcase your personality and satisfy the stomachs of your guests. Want to know what you should skip and what you shouldn’t miss for your wedding food? Read on.
Don’t Miss It: Local Food Options:
Statistically speaking, your wedding is going to generate a decent amount of waste. Even if you only consider the food waste that comes out of preparing multiple meals as well as the plastic and glass that collects from the bar, that’s a sizeable amount of resources. Then if you think about the gas your guests will have used to arrive at the venue and the electricity that goes into powering your wedding, your nuptials will create an impact.
If you’re green-focused then you will have likely already considered sourcing your wedding food and drinks from local outlets. And even if the environmental impact of your wedding isn’t at the top of your list priorities, local options offer the promise of fresh food and unique types of drinks that your guests might not have had elsewhere.
Skip It: the Boring Buffet:
No one needs another boring buffet with rubbery chicken, flavourless iceberg lettuce, and too-oily roast potatoes. When the food comes out at your wedding, that’s the chance to brighten the faces of your guests with something exciting. Whether you serve your food buffet style or sit-down style, the meal options of your event venue can be spiced up with the help of an event caterer.
Don’t Miss It: A Unique Cake:
Are you going for a traditional, white wedding cake? Have you thought of what else you can serve? One way to impress your guests with something unexpected is through the dessert. You’ve gone so far as to customize every other aspect of your wedding, why stop at the cake? Maybe your love for donuts means you’d like to have a gourmet donut station in place of cake. Maybe you’d like to create a tower of pretty-looking cupcakes that anyone can come up to and eat as they like. Don’t limit yourself!
Skip It: Sugary Snacks:
When your guests arrive at the reception, they’re probably hungry in anticipation of the main meal. Don’t make the mistake of serving only overly sugary snacks like brownies and cookies. This type of food will just give your guests a sugar rush followed by an unpleasant crash. And for your guests without a sweet tooth, you can opt for a savoury-sweet dessert option like cheese and fruit that will still end the meal on a nice note without overdoing the sugar.
With all this in mind and an open-minded attitude to unique culinary options from skilled caterers like The Food Dudes, you can ensure your wedding meal and snacks will reflect your style and impress your guests.
Read Also:
Finding The Perfect Place To Have Your Wedding
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Is Indian food healthy? – Of course, they are. There are plenty of Indian dishes that are rich in nutrients, spices, and whole foods.
Although there are innumerable gastronomic options, there are many healthier options. In fact, some food recipes are based on Ayurveda, which is Ancient India’s system of medicine.
In this article, you will learn about the nutritional benefits of Indian food and the balanced dietary profile of Indian food. Also, you will learn about the health benefits of Indian food and healthy Indian cooking techniques.
Moreover, you will also learn about common myths about Indian food. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article.
Is Indian Food Healthy?
Indian cuisine has a variety of food options consisting of both healthy and unhealthy options. Here, this article aims to consider only healthy Indian food.
Generally, in Indian food, you will find a blend of diverse flavors and healthy food traditions. In fact, apart from satisfying your taste buds, Indian food will improve your health.
One of the most notable aspects of Indian food is that you will find a rich array of ingredients. Traditionally, the Indian diet uses a variety of whole grains, fruits, legumes, and vegetables.
Interestingly, each of them contributes significantly to health benefits. Whole grains like whole wheat, brown rice, and millet play a significant part in Indian meals.
Apart from that, Indian food items are rich in antioxidants. This is because they have many spices that are full of antioxidants. For example, antioxidants in cloves and ginger contain anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from that, cardamom also contains antioxidants.
Basically, antioxidants are molecules that prevent oxidation damage in your body cells. Moreover, it also reduces when damage is done. Hence, Indians mostly follow a diet that is high in antioxidants. As a result, there are fewer risks of diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Balanced Dietary Profile Of Indian Food
Here is a balanced dietary profile of Indian food that you need to know about:
Food ItemsBalanced Dietary ProfileFruits and VegetablesGenerally, an everyday Indian diet includes 400 grams of vegetables and 100 grams of fruits.Cereals and PulsesEach day, a balanced diet consists of 250 grams of cereals.DiaryA balanced Indian diet consists of 200-250 ml of milk and milk products daily.ProteinIndian food contains 85 grams of protein in the form of eggs, animal protein, and pulses daily.Nuts and Seeds35 grams of nuts and seeds daily also fall under a balanced diet.
To ensure a balanced diet, you must cook your food well and make sure that the food is soft and less salty and spicy. Although Indian food has a lot of spices, the healthy options contain multiple healthy spices in the right amount.
Moreover, when consuming meat, milk, poultry, or any animal protein, make sure they are moderate in number. Furthermore, when you have a balanced diet, you must drink plenty of water and take fewer beverages.
Health Benefits Of Common Indian Ingredients
The following are the health benefits of common Indian food ingredients:
1. Spices
Since ancient times, India is known as the land of spices. Even today, India is the biggest exporter of spices in the world. Moreover, Indian food contains a variety of spices.
Here are some spices and their benefits:
Turmeric: It contains curcumin. This item has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cumin Seeds: They help in the digestion process and boost the immune system of your body.
Coriander Seeds: These help you to regulate your blood sugar levels.
Cardamom: It helps you to lower blood pressure levels.
Cinnamon: This spice can reduce heart risks.
2. Vegetables, Pulses, And Lentils
Indian foods contain vegetables in food items. These vegetables provide vitamins inside your body. Also, vegetables lower cholesterol and improve vision. Moreover, many pulses contain vitamins A, B, C, and E. Apart from that, they also contain minerals like iron, potassium, and zinc.
On the other hand, lentils and vegetables also promote heart health. This is because they have less saturated fat and high fiber.
3. Whole Grains And High Fiber Foods
Healthy Indian food items contain whole grains like wheat flour and brown rice. These items provide fiber, carbohydrates, and protein.
On the other hand, chickpeas, and other fruits and vegetables help you in the digestion process. Thereby, you can maintain a healthy weight and ensure there are no risks of chronic diseases.
Indian Cooking Techniques And Their Impact On Health
Generally, Indian cooking techniques preserve nutrients in the food items (vegetables, seafood, and meat). On the other hand, there are tempering methods and slow-cooking techniques, with the help of which you can ensure you get all the nutrients in your body.
Here are some of the major Indian healthy cooking techniques that you must know about:
1. Steaming
This is one of the healthiest cooking methods, where you ensure all nutrients in the food stay. Here, you cook the food with minimum water and little to no oil. In this case, you preserve all the vitamins and minerals in vegetables, fish, and meat.
2. Tadka
In this technique, you have to heat spices quickly in a little oil. Then, you have to add them to the main dish. Thereby, you add flavor without increasing the fat content in the food.
3. Dum Cooking
Dum is a slow-cooking method. Basically, you have to seal food in a pot-shaped cooker and add a small amount of liquid. Hence, you can allow flavors to develop inside the food. As a result, there is no need for excessive oil in the food.
4. Grilling
As you might already know, grilling is a simple way to cook vegetables and meat. Meanwhile, with this process, you can retain all the nutrients in the food. Also, you can add a nice-looking character to the food.
5. Pressure Cooking
In this way, you can cook food quickly with a low amount of water. As a result, you preserve most of the nutrients in the food item. Apart from that, this process also helps you to reduce your cooking time.
Why Is Indian Food One of the Healthiest Cuisines in the World?
Indian food is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. This is because of good reasons. One of the major reasons is that it relies heavily on lentils, whole grains, vegetables, and diverse spices with low health benefits and saturated fats.
As a result, these food items are rich in nutrients and are dense with fibers when prepared with traditional techniques.
The following are some of the major reasons why Indian food items are healthy:
Stable ingredients in Indian food are high in fiber.
Due to India being a large and diverse country, a wide variety of vegetables are available. As a result, all the essential vitamins and minerals are available through food.
Moreover, a variety of spices available in India come with potential health benefits.
Traditional Indian food items use less amount of oil in cooking. Also, they focus mostly on healthy fats like ghee (moderate amount, of course).
Lentils are common in Indian cuisine and offer a complete profile of amino acids.
Many Indian foods feature fermented items like yogurt, which improve your gut health.
The Vegetarian Advantage of Indian Cuisine
India has an extensive variety of dishes full of flavors and delicacies. However, most consist primarily of lentils, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
This provides a nutritious, high-fiber, and well-rounded diet for vegetarians. Apart from that, these food items are full of diverse vitamins and many protein sources.
There is a vast array of vegetarian dishes in Indian cuisine. Moreover, due to the high range of species, it enhances the taste and offers potential benefits.
Common Myths About Indian Food Being Unhealthy
Here are some myths about Indian food that you will find common (however, they are just myths):
“Indian food is unhealthy and fatty”: This is a common misconception in the West because most Indian restaurants in Western Countries add a lot of oil and ghee to food items. However, this is not the case in Indian households.
“Indian foods are spicy”: When people think of spices, they align it with the word hot. Actually, India produces a lot of healthy spices. By adding those spices to food, you can make your food healthy.
“Indian desserts are too sweet”: Again, this is a myth as desserts differ with changing regions. Some regions in India create homemade desserts which are actually healthy.
Try Indian Food Now
Is Indian food healthy? – Now you know the answer to this question. You can see that there are multiple myths about Indian food, and they multiply with misinformation on social media.
India is the land of Yoga and Ayurveda. Hence, multiple healthy food options are available if you cook with the right ingredients.
Do you have more information about healthy Indian foods? Please share your opinions in the comments section below.
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Our body necessarily needs protein. However, older adults need fewer amounts of protein without totally eliminating it from their diet. Without protein, our bodies will not function well. Besides meat, there are plant-based food alternatives. Protein is essential for our health and useful for people who do workouts and even those who are in recovery.
This kind of diet is helpful for vegans, health enthusiasts, and seniors alike who are avoiding meats in their diets. Here is a list of some food that could be your alternative for meat. Say hello to healthy living.
Seitan
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Seitan or commonly known as wheat gluten, which is composed of 75% protein. With a 100g serving, your daily protein requirement is completed already.
This healthy food is very low in fat and packed with nutrients like being low in sodium and carbohydrates. It can be a good source of calcium and also high in iron.
Seitan is indeed a wonder for diet programs to increase the protein intake without cholesterol and added fat. The only downside of this food is it is not gluten-free as it made from gluten.
Seitan can be cooked like meat - grilled, braised and broiled. You can substitute seitan for chicken or turkey.
Lentils
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The next one on our list is lentils. It contains tons of fibers that give you 26 grams of protein each day. It also contains iron, potassium, and magnesium.
Lentils also are high in folate, contains antioxidants, low in sodium and fat and are cholesterol-free. Eating lentils on a regular basis could add up some proteins and can be beneficial to your diet.
There are two varieties of lentils which are green and red. They are part of the legume family and are versatile that can be used in different meals. You can add lentils in your stews, veggie burgers or even a substitute for chicken breast. Just don’t overuse the serving of lentils as they can cause severe gout in seniors who have trouble in processing protein.
Quinoa
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Quinoa, a tiny seed that is full of protein, provides nine essential amino acids that our body can't produce itself, including lysine that is necessary for tissue repair and growth. It contains fiber, irons, magnesium, and manganese. With just a cup of quinoa, your body is served with 8g of protein.
Cook it like how rice is cooked. It can also be a great substitute for pasta and rice.
Eggs
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Eggs are an excellent substitute for meat if you are not vegan. A large egg contains at least 6g of protein. Eggs are one of the staple food in every house's pantry, which make it the perfect substitute. It contains tons of vitamins and minerals plus amino acids that your body needs.
Boiled, fried or scrambled, eggs are versatile. It's up to you how you'll eat at least two eggs a day.
Tofu
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Tofu is a popular choice for meat alternative and as used in numerous vegetarian cuisine. Though tofu can't compare with seitan or quinoa regarding filling in for the protein loss, relatively, tofu can be a good substitute as it is healthy and beneficial as well.
It can be substituted for fish, chicken or pork, can be grilled, fried, steamed, sauteed, etc.
Takeaway
Eating healthy food can be difficult and giving staple food can make it harder. Knowing and learning alternative food that you can eat without compromising the nutrients that our body needs make it better. The list is a guide to the food that could be a great option to substitute with meat, and that would give the same amount of nutrients or even more.
Read More :
Meals That Matter: The Best Foods And The Ways They Make You Fit
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Christina Ellis is a writer and a blogger who loves writing about topics that revolve around health and medicine. She is an aspiring nurse which is why Christina loves assisting elderly patients and writing about properly taking care of them. When not writing or volunteering at their local clinic, Christina plays volleyball and goes to the gym.