Treat under eye puffiness the natural way!

Puffiness and under eye bags can also age you as much as deep wrinkles around the eyes. Under eye puffiness is caused mainly due to the following reasons:
1.Water retention in the body.
2.Taking too many steroids.
3.Hereditary factors.
4.Growing age.
5.Lack of sleep.
6.Allergies.
5.Heart problems.
6.Using a very low pillow.

Reduce the puffiness by trying to follow as many below-mentioned ways as as possible:

1. Remain hydrated by drinking plenty of water. When enough water is not provided to the body, it starts retaining water as a defense mechanism, causing puffiness or bags under the eyes. Try drinking 4 glasses of water as you get up in the morning without brushing your teeth and the rest, throughout the day.
2. Press very gently the under-eye area with your ring finger(this finger gives the least pressure on the delicate eye area) as you get up in the morning.
3. Keep a set of six to eight spoons in the freezer and press gently the upper and lower eye puffiness with them or dip spoons in cold water and press gently.
4. Rinse used tea/chamomile/green tea bags in cold water and keep on the closed eyelids for 15 minutes daily. The tannin and caffeine present in tea help to reduce puffiness under the eyes. Tea bags can be stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator.
5. Cucumber or potato slices placed on the eyelids reduce swelling and puffiness.
6. Take two or one higher pillow to sleep if you have puffiness.
7. Do not drink much water just before bedtime.
8. If applying or massaging the under eye area with almond or any other cream, make it a point to wipe it off softly before sleeping.
9. Avoid oily, heavy and food especially in dinner.
10.Keep a gap of atleast 3 hours between dinner and sleep.
11.Try not to sleep on your stomach.
12.Have adequate sleep. Early to bed, early to rise as a right adage. The sleep before 12 in the night is very important; the ratio of sleep before and after 12 being 1:2.
Your eyes are the window to your soul! Take care of them in every respect.

The Amazing Cucumber

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror. It will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin, and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent which is undetectable to humans but drives garden pests crazy and makes them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes. The photo-chemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and were often used by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe; its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD-40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voilà, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water. The chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and in college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath. The phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean. Not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing. Also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!