How many products have you seen that are intended to get rid of bags under the eyes? So many creams and serums claim to de-puff and lighten the area under the eyes, but they don’t always work. That’s especially true if you genetically inherited dark circles or eye bags. It’s also true if you have sensitive skin and easily react to ingredients in skin care products. Common causes of bags under the eyes include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Pigmentation issues
• Aging
• Allergies
• Eczema
• Sun exposure

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can contribute to dark circles under the eyes. Since nearly half the world’s population doesn’t meet daily water intake recommendations, drinking water is a great place to start. How much water you need to properly hydrate the body will depend on weight and level of physical activity. Generally speaking, drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day to hydrate the body. If you weigh 150 pounds and divide that by two to get 75, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water per day. 

Apply Tea Bags

It’s lovely to sip a warm cup of tea, but what do you do with the tea bag once you finish your cup? You probably throw it away, which is a huge mistake. If you drink a cup of green tea, chamomile tea, or peppermint tea, save the tea bag and put it on your eyes to help fight dark circles. Caffeinated teas work best because they help increase blood flow to the skin. According to research, green tea exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that help decrease puffiness. 

Wear Sunscreen Daily

One of the main reasons to apply sunscreen every day is to reduce the risk of skin cancer, premature aging, and skin discoloration. The American Academy of Dermatology Association encourages all people to wear sunscreen. Broad spectrum sunscreens help protect against UVA and UVB rays. Ideally, choose a mineral sunscreen and it may help protect against darkness under the eyes. You can also protect your eyes even more by wearing sunglasses and hats.

Wash Your Face Before Bed

If you improve your nightly skin care routine, you may not notice dark circles or bags when you wake up. You should always cleanse your face and remove makeup before bed. Sleeping with makeup, especially makeup around the eyes, can cause general irritation, allergic reaction, or infection that causes puffiness, redness, or other symptoms. Forgetting to wash your face at night may also increase your risk of wrinkles or general skin damage. 

Use A Cold Compress

If you need relief from under-eye bags, a cold compress may help relieve the inflammation. Applying a cold compress to the eyes also works to constrict the blood vessels quickly, which provides temporary relief. If you don’t have a cold compress, try some chilled cucumbers, a cold teaspoon, a wet washcloth, or a bag of frozen vegetables. Before you apply your cold compress, wrap it in a soft cloth to protect your skin from getting too clothes. Allow the cold compress to sit on your skin for about five minutes. 

Eat More Collagen-Rich Foods

The muscles and tissues that support your eyelids weaken as you get older. That means that you can experience sagging or bags under the eyes. If you increase your intake of vitamin C, the body has an easier time absorbing more hyaluronic acid, which naturally exists in the body. The amount that’s stored in the body, however, decreases with age. Foods that are rich in vitamin C work to boost collagen production by increasing hyaluronic acid levels. Great sources of vitamin C include kiwis, oranges, bell peppers, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, kale, and broccoli.

Cut Back On Alcohol

Decreasing your intake of alcohol relates to the first tip we gave in this article. Alcohol contributes to dehydration, and dehydration can increase the risk of under-eye bags or darkness under the eyes. If you crave that special drink, consider swapping it for sparkling water or infusing regular water with fruits and herbs. 

Keep Your Head Elevated While You Sleep

If you can fall asleep while elevating your head higher, then experiment with this method. Add an extra pillow to prop your head up higher in order to prevent fluid from accumulating in your lower eyelids, which creates puffiness while you sleep. If that is not doable, causes pain, or makes it too difficult to fall asleep, try to elevate the top end of your mattress a couple inches. There are special bed risers that can make this process easier.

SHARE:

The post Got Bags Under Your Eyes? Try These Techniques appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Citrus fruits are some of the most popular fruits used in the culinary world. The powerful acidity is what people crave. It often rounds out the flavor of sauces, salsas, marinades, juices, and more. The reason people fall in love with citrus fruits is because they hit three of the primary flavor profiles: bitter, sweet, and sour. 

People love citrus fruits for their flavor, but they should love them for their incredible nutritional profiles. The diverse flavonoid and antioxidant compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and immune-boosting properties. Additionally, the vitamin C in citrus fruits works to neutralize free radicals in the body, lowering the threat of oxidative damage. They are also rich in potassium, a mineral that the body needs for carbohydrate metabolism, heart contraction, and nerve function. 

There are too many citrus fruits to count, and that’s why we’ve decided to bring you the zest of the best. Keep reading to find out which citrus varieties rose to the top. Well, they topped our list, anyway!

Meyer Lemon

These may be the best lemons on the planet, primarily because they are slightly sour with wonderfully sweet undertones. If you want to make homemade lemonade, the Meyer lemon should be your first choice. It is a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, and it rose to popularity in the culinary world because of Martha Stewart, Alice Waters, and other chefs of that caliber. 

Pomelo

This citrus fruit has too many names to count, so we’ll just stick with pomelo. It’s one of the only three original citrus species left; all of the other varieties have been hybridized. The white pomelo has a thick pith and a sweet pink/white flesh. They are very popular in Asia during the Mooncake festival. 

Sumo Tangerine

These enormous tangerines are enormously delicious. It’s not the most attractive citrus fruit, but ugly foods are often the most delicious. It’s like an easy-to-peel mandarin, but supersized and more flavorful. Sumo tangerines are new to the United States, and people are loving them. The flavor is bold, with sweet and tart flavors that keep you coming back for more. They do cost more than the average citrus fruit, but they come from Japan, so the price makes sense. 

Blood Orange

The striking red/orange flesh of the fruit looks like a wheel of tie-dye art. The blood orange is mildly tart and beautifully sweet, and the rich pigment comes from the powerful polyphenols known as anthocyanins. You can’t always get your hands on these citrus gems, so make sure to snatch them up when you see them.

Key Lime

Almost everyone has heard of key lime pie, but these small limes are not solely reserved for baking. Many people prefer key limes to regular limes because they have a stronger alkalizing effect on the body. Key limes have a subtly sweet flavor and the juice is more floral and aromatic than that of regular lime juice. 

Kumquat

These little citrus fruits are entirely edible. That’s right, folks; you can eat pop the whole thing in your mouth and enjoy the beautiful combination of the sweet skin and tart flesh. You won’t always find them in stores, but they can pop up at local farmer’s markets. Kumquat trees are also popular in many neighborhoods, so keep your eyes peeled, especially from November to March when they’re in season.

Finger Lime

The finger lime is different from most other citrus fruits, and it gets the name because it is long, just like a finger. The flesh also differs from other citrus fruit. It looks like little gelatin balls, vesicles as they are called. You can think of it like lime caviar that you can turn into a rich marmalade or add to pickling jars. You can also zest the peel for strong notes of citrus in your culinary creations.

Buddha’s Hand

This abnormal, alien-looking fruit belongs to the citrus family, but it’s definitely in a league of its own. The “fingers” open up as the fruit ripens, but you can’t really enjoy the fruit. The only usable part of this fruit is the zest because there is no flesh. Buddha’s hand has a wonderful fragrance and it is often placed as a prayer offering at pagodas or altars in Asian countries. 

Tangelo

This funky little citrus hybrid is a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine, so the flavor is both tart and sweet. Sink your teeth into this fruit and you get hit with an immediate burst of sweetness, and the tart flavor hits you on the back nine. They are easy to peel and make great substitutes for oranges. 

Calamansi

Calamansi is a classic citrus fruit in both Malaysian and Filipino cuisine. The peel is green and the flesh is a bright orange, but don’t let it fool you into thinking that it is sweet. It’s only a touch sweeter than a regular lime, but it does impart unique flavor into your food. If you want to make a homemade sorbet, fresh calamansi juice is an excellent juice to use. 

SHARE:

The post The Zest Of The Best: A Complete Guide To Citrus appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Some studies suggest bitter melon can help lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It also contains vitamins A and C, as well as iron. Consider adding it to your meals as a healthy addition to your diet.

SHARE:

The post Diabetes: Does Bitter Melon Help? appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

The great thing about this kale salad is that it contains an assortment of antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, protein, and vitamins and minerals. Kale is naturally rich in vitamin K, iron, protein, fiber, and more, while blueberries have vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:03 Ingredients
0:08 Apple, chopped
0:16 Pistachios, chopped
0:28 Kale, chopped
0:43 Dressing
1:05 Toss Salad
1:14 Bon Appetit

SHARE:

The post Rich Calcium Apple Kale Pistachio Salad appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

One half-cup serving of honeydew contains about a quarter of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C, making honeydew an excellent resource for your skin’s health! Along with cucumber and mint, enjoy this refreshing and delicious smoothie for all its health benefits.

SHARE:

The post A Honeydew Smoothie For Healthy Skin! appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Collagen is the beauty buzzword at the moment, and there is a constant quest to improve it or get more of it. Some people take ingestible powders while others apply skin care products that aim to enhance collagen function. In the simplest of terms, collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and it is responsible for ensuring healthy skin, nails, and hair. That means that what you do, what you eat, and what you put on your skin can affect collagen and the skin carrier. 

As you age, the body’s ability to produce collagen declines and skin loses elasticity as a result. This is why skin starts to sag or wrinkle, but there are things you can do to prevent this from happening early on in life. We aren’t saying that you can avoid aging altogether, but there are habits to both take up and break to achieve a glowing complexion. For example, you can click here to learn more about foods that help enhance collagen production. And you can continue reading to learn about common habits that damage your collagen. 

Sun Exposure

There’s no denying the wonderful feeling that comes from laying in the sun on a pristine beach. You want to tan the skin to achieve a beautiful bronze hue, but sun exposure is a big problem for your skin. UV damage breaks down collagen at a faster rate than natural aging. UV rays penetrate the dermis (middle layer of the skin), causing an abnormal build-up of elastic fibers (responsible for wrinkles). Additionally, UV damage increases the production of free radicals, raising the number of enzymes that break down collagen. If you decide to spend some time in the sun, use sunscreen and find shade whenever you can. 

Stress

You may have heard that stress contributes to early signs of aging, and you heard correctly. Stress can increase inflammatory markers in the body, ultimately decreasing the body’s production of collagen. Granted, that isn’t the only negative effect that stress has on the body. It can also worsen mental health and increase unhealthy eating habits. This is why so many health experts encourage people to incorporate more stress-relieving activities into their lives. Anxiety or stress is not a walk in the park, so take the steps you need to take in order to curb the effects. Practice meditation, breathing techniques, aromatherapy, massage therapy, yoga, or Tai Chi to help manage stress. 

Lack Of Sleep

Everyone always says they need to get their beauty sleep, and there is truth to this. Sleep does wonders for immune function, mental health, and the body’s largest organ: the skin. Several studies found that lack of sleep can affect collagen production in the body. When the body produces less collagen, the signs of aging are more noticeable. Sleep experts encourage adults to get seven to eight hours of sleep every night for optimal health. Can healthy sleep habits make you look younger? This is up for debate, but it is one step to help to prevent collagen levels from declining.

Not Enough Vitamin C

In addition to enhancing immune function, vitamin C stimulates collagen synthesis. This happens whether you apply a vitamin C product topically to the skin or eat vitamin C-rich foods. It is also a powerful antioxidant, which helps to fight free radicals that aim to break down collagen in the body. Because the human body cannot generate vitamin C on its own, it is your responsibility to obtain it via diet or supplements. You can click here to learn more about the best vitamin C foods to eat. 

These common habits can damage the collagen in your skin and contribute to accelerated skin aging. Remember, apply sunscreen when you go out in the sun and find ways to combat the stress in your life. Finally, get your beauty sleep and continue to eat vitamin C-rich foods to encourage optimal collagen production.

SHARE:

The post These Common Habits Are Damaging Your Skin’s Collagen appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

A lot of people take supplements to meet their recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C, but fresh fruits and vegetables are the best sources. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, plays numerous roles that are integral to overall bodily functions. It assists with cell protection, maintaining healthy skin & blood vessels, and it encourages wound healing. The most notable benefit is that it helps to encourage a healthier immune system. 

In general, foods that are naturally rich in vitamin C are fruits and vegetables. Since the body doesn’t store vitamin C, people need to regularly consume it. Any leftover vitamin C that the body cannot use leaves via urine. According to the FDA, the RDI of vitamin C is 90 milligrams (mg) for adult males, and 75 mg for adult females. Pregnant women should consume 85 mg per day, and breastfeeding women should consume 120 mg per day. Take a look at the following 10 foods to make sure you always have enough vitamin C in the body.

Kiwi

One cup of this tart fruit satisfies about 185% of the RDI of vitamin C. Most people don’t typically eat a cup of kiwi, though; rather, they eat a single kiwi fruit, which has about 79% of the RDI of vitamin C. There was a study that monitored 30 people (ages 20-51), who ate 2-3 kiwis every day for one month. The results indicated that kiwis lowered triglyceride levels by 15% and blood platelet stickiness by 18%. That’s great news for people who have higher risk of stroke or blood clots. 

Strawberries

You can’t have a list of vitamin C-rich foods and exclude strawberries. One cup of this classic summer berry delivers 108% of the RDI of vitamin C. In addition to the high vitamin C content, strawberries also contain folate, manganese, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. Studies have shown that the antioxidants in strawberries may reduce the risk of cancer, dementia, and diabetes.

Guava

Surprisingly, one cup of guava fruit offers 419% of the RDI of vitamin C. Guavas are tropical fruits that have yellow or green skin with bright pink or white flesh. They help to promote hydration and may even assist with blood pressure and cholesterol reduction.

Papaya

Papayas are beneficial for both assisting with optimal digestion and boosting immune function. Papaya offers 97% of the RDI of vitamin C per cup, and several studies revealed that they may also assist with brain function. One study even found that people who consumed papaya extract for six months experienced a 40% decrease in oxidative stress. That’s one of the main contributing factors to cognitive decline.

Red Bell Peppers

Boasting an incredible 211% of the RDI of vitamin C per cup, red bell peppers are some of the best vitamin C foods. All bell peppers contain vitamin C, but the red ones contain the most. They are also rich in beta-carotene, which encourages healthier eyes, skin, and immune function.

Kale

Kale is a superstar among produce items. There’s nothing it can’t do! Kale is a cruciferous vegetable that packs about 89% of the RDI of vitamin C per cup. If you eat a cup of cooked kale, it offers 59% because heat lessens the nutritional content. Kale is also rich in vitamin K and antioxidants like zeaxanthin, lutein, and carotenoids.

Thyme

This aromatic herb offers wonderful depth of flavor to your meals. According to research, thyme has more vitamin C than oranges, comparing it gram for gram. One ounce of fresh thyme offers 50% of the RDI of vitamin C. Even if you only sprinkle a little on your meals at a time, you add some vitamin C to your day. Thyme is also beneficial for the respiratory system. 

Brussels Sprouts

When it comes to Brussels sprouts, people either love or hate them. They are like durian fruit in that way. They do, however, offer a diverse mix of nutrients, including vitamin C. One cup of cooked Brussels sprouts contains 107% of the RDI of vitamin C. Brussels sprouts also offer, fiber, protein, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and vitamin B6. 

SHARE:

The post The Top 8 Foods That Are Rich In Vitamin C appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Is it ever a bad idea to give your body a healthy dose of vitamin C? The answer is “no,” ladies and gentlemen. That’s exactly what you get when you drink this smoothie all up. Vitamin C isn’t the only nutrient of note in this smoothie, though. In fact, this smoothie is rich in vitamin A, potassium, vitamin B6, fiber, and anti-inflammatory properties. You can attribute the anti-inflammatory properties to the power duo of ginger and turmeric. These two superfoods have myriad medicinal properties, which herbal practitioners have used for centuries. The natural anti-inflammatory nature of both turmeric and ginger may help reduce the risk of osteoarthritis and cognitive decline. There’s nothing like healthy joints and a well-functioning brain, right? Right! We hope you enjoy this smoothie as much as we do. It’s truly a gift for both your taste buds and your overall health.

SHARE:

The post Outrageously Orange Smoothie (Packed With Vitamin C) appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Get your blender out and ready your taste buds for a delectable raw vegan red pepper soup. Using cashews as the base, this raw soup is delightfully creamy and offers fiber, protein, and vitamin C. The trick to naturally warming up this soup is to leave it blending for five minutes. The high-speed revolutions will give the soup some warmth to comfort the soul.

Now, we feel it’s important to highlight how nutritionally dense bell peppers are. They have high water content and one red bell pepper satisfies 169% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Additionally, they contain powerful carotenoids that help to improve eye health. In fact, these carotenoids protect the retina from oxidative damage. What’s the best part about these benefits? You get to reap them all when you consume bell peppers in their raw form, like in this soup.

SHARE:

The post Raw Vegan Red Pepper Soup appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Have you been looking for an insanely delicious smoothie that incorporates some of falls best flavors? Well, you just found it! Containing superpower fruits and vegetables, this smoothie is full of immune-boosting vitamins and antioxidants. The smoothie also contains a lot of dietary fiber, which helps to promote optimal digestion and metabolism. It’s got just the right amount of sweetness and it has a lusciously smooth texture that’s impossible to resist. We hope you like it!

SHARE:

The post Orange Carrot Persimmon Smoothie appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.