Ayurveda & Wellness: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living
Weight Losing with GreenOpia Naturals: Gut Health is one of the Easiest Ways to a Healthy Lifestyle
Every day, we come across at least one article that suggests various ways of losing weight. “6 easiest ways to lose weight” or “5 food that will aid in weight loss”, and so on. One of the highly overlooked game changers in losing weight is the health of your gut. Most people who are looking to lose body fat, focus mainly on cutting calories and exercising, which is fine. But it is not the only picture in the scrapbook. If you’re not also increasing the good bacteria in your gut, then your hard work and hunt to get a flat stomach will go in vain. The bacteria in our guts, the microbiomes, alter the way we respond to our hunger, the way our body stores fat, and how we balance our blood glucose levels. Here are a few of the easiest ways to improve the health of your gut microbiome to make it easier for you to lose weight! How are Weight Loss and Gut Health Related? This might be a question wandering in your mind. So basically, our bodies are literally covered with bacteria. But worry not! This is a good thing! More than the population of humans on earth, there are bacteria and microorganisms living on our skin and in our bodies. Out of which, the majority live in our large intestines. While, of course, a few bacteria in our intestines do carry disease, most of these bacteria aim at keeping us healthy. The more diverse the bacteria in the gut, the better for health. The less diversity and balance of good and bad bacteria in your guts can set you up for obesity and diabetes. Gut bacteria affect how your food is digested, may play an important role in inflammation, and plays a crucial role in your appetite. All of these play a major role in body fat. How to Improve Gut Health? Hold Back on Artificial Sweeteners Remember that bread and jam you had this very morning? You might want to put a hold on that jam after reading this. Researchers have found that artificial sweeteners affect gut bacteria negatively. They raise blood sugar levels and stimulate body fat production. Artificial sweeteners are added to so many products and you may not even be aware that you’re consuming them. They’re added to soft drinks, powdered drink mixes and other beverages, baked goods, candy, jams, and dairy products. Fermented foods are a Key Good bacteria, also known as probiotics, grow rapidly during the fermentation process. These good bacteria help in outnumbering the harmful bacteria that naturally exist in your digestive tract. Probiotics boost immunity and promote healthy digestion and a healthy weight. Fermented foods also help to reduce inflammation in the body. Thinking about how inflammation is related to weight loss? Well, inflammation makes losing weight more difficult. And researches suggest that obese individuals have higher levels of inflammation than their normal-weight counterparts. Eat more prebiotic-rich foods. Prebiotics are types of fiber that feed the friendly bacteria in the digestive system and help them to thrive; they’re a power player when it comes to keeping the count of “good” bacteria more than the “bad” bacteria. Prebiotics are known for boosting immunity, improving digestion, preventing constipation and bloating, and stopping bad bacteria from growing. In short, they keep your digestive tract healthy, making it easier to lose weight. Prebiotics also can reduce insulin, triglycerides (fat in the blood), and cholesterol (metabolic syndrome) in obese. It’s important to note that while all prebiotics is fiber, not all types of fibers are prebiotics. This means that even if your diet consists of rich fiber, you may not be getting enough prebiotic fiber. Good sources of prebiotic fiber include: Garlic Onions Oats Green Bananas Beans Apple Include Fruits and Veggies in your Diet Remember when our mothers used to run after us to finish our veggies? Oh, the good old days. Well, risking sounding like a mother, please include them in your daily diet. Fruits and vegetables are your best sources of fiber. Fiber is responsible to stimulate the growth of bacteria in the gut. The more variety of plant fibers you can get, the better. Chewing these fibers well is also very much important. Proper breaking of food enhances digestion so the gut can make the most out of these fibers.
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Is Reverse Hair Washing Worth a Try?
Ever been through those days when even after washing your hair, it would still feel oily? If yes, welcome to my world, it’s Christmas here (please take a notice of the sarcasm and my pain)! Shampoo after shampoo. Conditioners after conditioner. Repeated runs to drugstores had become my life routine at that point. It also didn’t help that my hair is thinner than paper. So, in all, my hair would always seem oily, dull, and flat. Ew, the nightmare. At last, after seeing my struggles, my mother decided to take me to an expert. Of course, Mother knows the best! The hair expert suggested trying out a technique. It seemed and sounded so weird, so obviously, I hesitated. But then I thought that I am already going through terror, why not just give this a try, and guess what? Best. Decision. Ever. I can not stress how this technique made me happy. So now I am gonna share with everyone what this was, and spread happiness! Guess Christmas did come early this year! Reverse hair washing is the reason for my good hair. What is Reverse Hair Washing? Wet the hair, pour on the shampoo, massage it all over from the scalp to the tips, rinse it off, repeat it once more, conditioner, and rinse it. And you are done! That’s how we wash our hair, don’t we? Okay, so reverse washing is, well, reverse of the original process. When you shampoo first and then condition, along with the dirt, grease, sweat, and pollutants, the shampoo also washes away the natural sebum in the hair. Most of us try to compensate by conditioning afterward but the damage is done. The result is dry, dull, and flaccid hair. Reverse washing will preserve the hair ends and nourish the hair cuticles. The logic behind this method is that if you let the conditioner soak into the strands first, it will make the cuticles more nourished, hydrated, and soft. It is then followed by a shampoo that will cleanse away all the dirt and the residue left by the conditioner, which might be the reason behind your oily scalp and greasy strands. This technique ensures that the hair is still going to get all the moisturizing benefits of using conditioner but you're not left with that horrible, weighted, almost-greasy feeling that sometimes happens. How to Correctly Do It? First, begin by wetting your hair. Apply the conditioner to the wet strands, focusing on the ends and mid-lengths. Avoid the roots and the scalp. Ensure your hair is soaked thoroughly, as using conditioner on dry strands will make it difficult to distribute. After leaving it on for 5-10 minutes, wash your hair again. Use shampoo to rinse it all off. If this method suits your hair type, you can use this every time you wash your hair. Who Could Use it for Best Results? The reverse hair washing is perfect for anyone with thin or fine hair or who struggles with oily strands. This method swells up the hair cuticles as shampoos have higher pH to cleanse the grit, and in turn, end up opening the cuticle and making them appear more volumized and dense. This will prevent your strands from looking flat and weak. In other words, it will help mask hair thinning.However, it is not suited for all hair types. For example, anyone with frizzy or very thick strands won’t see the same benefits. For even better results, you should check for the ingredients in the shampoo and conditioner before buying it. Some ingredients can be very harsh on your hair, like SLS and Parabens. GreenOpia Naturals coconut oil are not only made from natural ingredients but are free from vile chemicals. If that’s not enough, it is also vegan and cruelty-free.
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Instagram Trends with GreenOpia Naturals: All You Need to Know About the 'Trending' Cryotherapy
Do you all remember Captain America? Or mainly, how he hadn’t aged for nearly 70 years while he was a human popsicle under the water. How would you feel if you could fight the aging, and lock your beautiful skin? We all know aging is inevitable. You can’t run away or hide from it, no matter how much you wish for a miracle. However, you can prolong its arrival. Yes, you can actually elongate it by “freezing” the signs of aging. Now now, we aren’t suggesting jumping in the Arctic Ocean like Mr. Captain America. No, cause that would be stupid and deadly. You can simply use some tools that are easily available at any drugstore or online store. This “freezing” of aging is called Cryotherapy. What Is Cryotherapy? Cryotherapy is a treatment that involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures. This stimulates various bodily systems and provides many benefits, such as enhancing sports recovery and boosting the immune system. Commonly known as cold therapy, Cryotherapy has been used for years within the medical field to reduce swelling, encourage circulation, and promote healing. Good news for you, it works similarly when it comes to anti-aging skincare for the face as well! From harsh weather and UV rays to dirt and pollution in the air, the skin on your face goes through a lot, day after day. And it’s not just the environment either. Chemicals in the food and water we consume and various toiletries we use can also affect our skin. All of the above just triggers the aging, giving it a head start with a booster. Cryo facial (short for cryotherapy facial) is a professional treatment in which a technician blows a stream of colder-than-ice air over the face and neck, all in the name of youth and beauty! Beauty queens such as Kate Moss (who, even at 40, has supermodel skin) and our all-time favorite Bella Hadid swear by this facial routine. This cold therapy involves a very quick and controlled cooling of tissue. The device uses temperatures ranging from -110º C to -130º C for around three minutes per area. So, your skin cools between 0 and 4°C in seconds, but cryotherapy also cools down the subcutaneous tissue, which is when the magic happens. “Why would people want to freeze their faces”, one would ask. Well, this thermal turbulence on your skin sends a survival signal to your brain. When you are exposed to cold weather, your body’s circulatory system results in “vasoconstriction”, which is basically constriction of the excess flow of blood to keep you warm. The colder the temperature, the more your blood vessels narrow. After 2-3 minutes, the technician stops the cooling, and the area warms up. This causes the blood vessels to widen, which results in the rushing of a lot of blood and fresh cellular nutrients to the area. Because the brain thinks you are getting frosted, it releases feel-good endorphins, stimulates new cell activity to accelerate recovery, produces anti-inflammatory proteins, and pumps in tons of oxygen and nutrients to restore, rejuvenate and heal the tissues. Cool Benefits of Cryotherapy (That pun was definitely intended!) Improves Blood Circulation: As we already know how cryotherapy stimulates vasoconstriction. Once the technician stops, the constricted blood vessels open up, flooding the face with nutrient-rich blood. It is very similar to when you place a leg on a hose, constricting it, and when you move the leg, the water comes out with a force. This pressure is so strong that it takes away all the waste. This whole process stimulates blood circulation. Boosts Collagen Production: Collagen is a protein that’s responsible for keeping your skin strong, supple, and elastic. When there is a dip in collagen production, fine lines and wrinkles are more likely to form. Sudden exposure to cold air tricks your body into thinking it is freezing. In response, it signals your blood to rush to maintain body heat. The brain releases adrenaline to stimulate the organs. This floods the face and extremities with fresh, nutrient-rich blood to repair skin. Reduces Puffiness and Swelling: RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) has been used for many years in case of swelling and puffiness. Cold therapy is widely known for alleviating or preventing edema (swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in tissue), making it very effective on soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains, and reducing puffiness and swelling! Boosts your Mood: When your brain is in its “fixing mode” when it thinks that the tissue is wounded, it releases loads of chemicals like endorphins, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These are anti-stress hormones. Their main function is to make you feel happier, more positive, and even more energetic. Thus elevating your mood. Oh and let’s not forget, when you are happy, your skin glows as well! This is the perfect solution if your skin looks tired or dull. So basically, it is two birds with one stone! Tightens the Pores: We all know that heat expands and cold contracts. Well, your pores are no exception to this rule. We commonly use steam and heat to loosen up and soften the sebum. But, to keep them trim and taut in the first place, nothing beats the cold. In a cold facial, the skin's surface cools for immediate vasoconstriction or tightening of the blood vessels. As the blood vessels tighten, so do those pores! It leads to firmer, glassier-looking skin with reduced pore size. The best part about this cold therapy is that it doesn’t necessarily need to be performed at a professional’s office. You can do it at home, all by yourself. There are several tools and devices that you can use to enjoy the benefits of a cryo facial from the comfort of your own home. You can always use the Ice Rollers, Ice Globes, or even just frozen spoons or Jade Roller. To get the biggest bang for your buck, stow any facial roller in the freezer for at least an hour or two. Once it’s super-cold, massage your face using gentle pressure. To maximize the lifting and firming benefits, rub in an upward motion to avoid tugging and dragging down on the skin. Roll downwards on your neck to help with lymphatic drainage, and visibly improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also sharpening your jawline and minimizing any puffiness or swelling. You can also keep your sheet mask in the refrigerator for a while and then put it on. The best trick, used by both the beauty queens above mentioned, is to fill a sink or a bowl, big enough to sink your face in it, with ice cubes, cold water, and slices of cucumber and hold your face in it for as long as you can.
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Grow Your Hair Faster with just 6 Easy Tips by GreenOpia Naturals
The struggle is real. Yes. While Kourtney K is slaying the short bob and her sister Khloe, the Parisian Bob, one cannot deny their love for long, Rapunzel-esque hair. We cannot romanticize the cliché flowing of hair in the wind (like Pocahontas) enough. The long hair has a princess-like quality that's unique, in its elegance and sophistication. Whether you are looking for longer locks of hair or if you are in need of speedy growth, waiting can feel like a painful billion years. We have all searched for a potion or a miracle cure of sorts for fast-paced hair growth. When speaking in the words of experts, hair typically grows a quarter inch or, at max, half an inch in a month. This seems agonizingly slow. Oh, and not to forget, damage and breakage can interrupt this process. So if your hair is dry, overly heat-styled, or simply subject to wear and tear from brushing and other activities, you're likely to see less growth than this. BUT! Fortunately, we did quite some research and have made a small list of things that you should do (definitely do) and things that you should not (like absolutely no) to speed up the hair growing process, i.e. more than 6 inched a year. Chop Off The Ends: Yes, we are well aware of the age-old beauty debate about hair trimming and faster growth. There are a few experts who are divided on the concept of trimming makes the hair grow faster, and if you are questioning it too, we don’t blame you at all. But keeping that argument aside, trimming ensures healthy-looking hair. When your hair is sprawled with split ends, it is prone to damage the hair beyond repair and will slow down the growing process. Chopping those ends off will fasten the speed of hair growth. Avoid the Heating Tools: Girl, we understand how hair styling just makes you feel confident, like you can face the world easily (been on that ship). But you need to stay away from heat tools. They damage your hair and strip away the natural oils, making them dry. Let your hair dry naturally after every wash and always use a heat protectant when using heat. Also, you got to start loving the natural texture of your hair. Be it straight, curly, wavy, or even the combination of all three. Become Besties with Silk: Sleeping on silk is not only an incredibly grandiose power move, but it comes with actual hair benefits, as well. This is because silk is both smoother and less absorbent than cotton (sucks all the moisture out of the hair and creates friction). A silk pillowcase will prevent frizz and tangles while keeping all your hair’s beneficial natural oils where they belong. While this of course won’t directly have any effect on the growth rate of your hair, it will keep it in the best condition while you sleep, leading to fewer knots and breakage in the long run. Switch to SLS Free Shampoo and Conditioner: The debates are everywhere. There are so many contradictive thoughts surrounding the ideal shampoo routine: some say every day is important, whereas others repel at the mere thought of anything more frequent than a once-weekly wash. But that’s an argument for another day. What we do need to discuss is one of the revolting ingredients that goes by the name of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). It is the ingredient that ensures the leather that forms on your head when you shampoo. This ingredient is harsh on your hair, making it dry and more prone to damage. So, always go for SLS-free shampoo and conditioner. Keep a Check on your Diet: Faster hair growth doesn't only depend on correct hair care, but also on a proper nutritional diet. Apart from the products you use on hair, it is also about what you put in your body. To provide nutrition for hair growth, you gotta increase your protein intake. This can be done with the correct foods like meat, fish, pulses, nuts, eggs, and whole grains. Calcium is also necessary for faster hair growth, so include lots of eggs, milk, and milk products in your diet. Experts advise those who maintain a vegetarian diet to aim for a protein-rich diet for good quality hair. It’s also important to get in vitamins A, C, and E, minerals like zinc and iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. Say Bye-Bye to Bleach: Oh how lovely would it be to rock those amazing platinum-shaded colors and balayage highlights that just make your eyes go hearty-heart! We are so sorry, but you would want to avoid the bleach. The problem with bleach is that it opens up the cuticle of the hair strands, causing some serious damage, especially to Indian hair, which is naturally dark. Hair that’s been colored or chemically treated is more likely to break, which will require more trims and less length for you.
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Hair Care 101 with GreenOpia Naturals: Learning A to Z about Split Ends
Everyone who plans on growing their hair out, are aware of this one nightmare that forces you to get a haircut. The nightmare namely split ends, can ruin even the best of hairdos, be it a ponytail or a bun. From brushing hair too vigorously to not applying heat protection, the causes for split ends are right in your hair routine. Read on to understand what split ends are, what causes them, and how to get rid of them and keep them gone. WHAT ARE SPLIT ENDS? Split ends occur when the ends of your hair become dry and damaged beyond repair. Split ends, as the name suggests, are when the ends of your hair split into two, or more. You can often see a splintering effect towards the bottom of your tresses, which, if left untreated, can cause breakage that leaves some strands shorter than the rest. Split ends are caused by wear and tear from natural, environmental and mechanical factors. Excessive usage of heating products, too frequent brushing of hair, chemical processes such as hair coloring, and extreme climatic changes are a few of the major causes of split ends. TYPES OF SPLIT ENDS From a traditional split to a feather split, there are a whopping 7 different types of split ends! Traditional Split: Hair splits in two and resembles a ‘Y’ shape. Baby Split: This has all of the makings of a soon-to-be split end, but the hair shaft hasn’t completely separated yet. Fork Split: Hair separating into three pieces, resembling the shape of a fork. Double Y Split: Hair splits in two which further splits again from one of the branches. Partial Split: Unlike the double split, partial splits are a sign that your hair is dry and damaged. Tree Split: Just like the name for it, this is where you’ll see many different pieces of the shaft coming apart, resembling a tree and its branches. Feather Split: Resembling a feather in appearance, many different splits comes along one side of the hair shaft. MENDING THOSE ENDS Start Moisturizing: Split ends are a result of dry hair. So, the only way to overcome dryness is to moisturize. Oiling not only moisturizes your hair but smoothens it, too, especially coconut oil. Make it a rule to oil at least once a week. For everyday use, you can opt for a leave-in conditioner that focuses on the ends. Lastly, if you want to a take step further, you can always use hair masks on towel-dried hair. Hair masks have proven to be the best solution to dryness and split ends. Stop Picking: We can all agree to this guilty pleasure, but you gotta avoid picking on your split ends. When you pull apart a strand into two, it damages the outer layer, called the cuticle. It further slows down hair growth since your hair becomes weak and brittle. Picking your ends also causes harm to the roots. All this leads to an overall decrease in your hair's natural strength. The more you pick on your split ends, the more likely you are to get stuck in a cruel cycle of unhealthy hair. Build a Time Bridge between Treatments: We understand you love coloring your hair or getting it permed every month. But you have to keep a limit if you want to avoid split ends and further damage. We are not telling you to stop treatments completely but keep a gap of at least 8 to 10 weeks. This way your hair will have ample time to recover from damage. Get your hair trimmed at regular intervals so that your split ends can be removed as soon as they start developing. Be Gentle: You must treat them real good after every wash and every hair treatment as the hair is very vulnerable at that time and prone to breakage. Instead of rubbing them vigorously to dry them out, you can use a clean towel to dry them. Rather than using hot water, use lukewarm water for washing your hair. After washing, wait for the hair to dry before brushing it. You must detangle your hair so that your comb can easily move across the strands while grooming. Be careful not to brush too much though. Argan is a great ingredient to treat split ends, primarily because it is highly nourishing for damaged hair. Cut Them Off: The easiest way to get rid of these ends is to simply cut them off, which either means a quick trip to the salon. You can do that by either getting a trim or giving a try to hair dusting. Hair dusting is a cutting technique that maintains the length of your hair while removing flyaway split ends. It's a way to keep your hair looking healthy while you're trying to grow it out.
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Skin Basics with GreenOpia Naturals: Learner's Guide to Hyaluronic Acid
Hy-al-uronic acid. The harder the pronunciation, the easier it is on the skin. With growing popularity, hyaluronic acid is the name that’s on everyone’s lips. And it should be! It offers innumerable benefits to the skin. It plumps! It hydrates! It is anti-aging! It reduces scars! Seems like a boon, doesn’t it? It is a holy grain that once you use, you just don’t want to stop. It is known for its hydrating properties, which lift the skin, hold in moisture, and leaves the cells plumped and healthy. But as it is always said, a coin has two faces. Even with an ingredient, this loved, too much can be, well, too much. Wrong usage may result in disastrous ways! Don’t worry, we are right here to list out all the pros and cons! HOW DOES HYALURONIC ACID REALLY WORK? In recent times, we have heard of Hyaluronic acid (HA) as MVP of skincare. It is one of the most powerful hydrating ingredients used in skincare. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies that helps keep our skin looking young and healthy. The collagen in our dermis, the thick layer of living tissue below the epidermis which forms the true skin, forms the structure of the skin. Hyaluronic acid is bound to collagen on one side and links to water molecules on the other, giving skin its plumpness. CAN TOPICAL APPLICATION OF HYALURONIC ACID BE HARMFUL? No longer just an “it” ingredient, hyaluronic acid is now a trendier ingredient that is available to everyone. It is the “white t-shirt” of the skincare regime. The trouble is, that it needs moisture to work in the first place so when applied to dry skin in a dry climate, it can backfire. You might come across so many articles and blogs in which people have mentioned why they have stopped using Hyaluronic acid or why they believe Hyaluronic acid is problematic. Hyaluronic acid will draw moisture from wherever it can find it to hydrate the surface of your face, including the deeper layers of your skin if there is no humidity in the air, where it then evaporates and leaves skin drier than it was in the first place. But if you take proper care of the concentration level at which you use the said acid, you might be able to avoid the dehydration of the skin. Choose wisely which concentration works the best for you, and voila, you have hydrated skin that would look so plump and soft. Another reason to love Hyaluronic acid is that it has the unique ability to enhance the power of any and every product you layer on top of it, which means it’s not only safe to use with all your other products and ingredients, like your vitamin C, retinol, moisturizer, it will increase their effectiveness, making it one of the best additions you could make to your skincare routine. If you are looking for a serum with Hyaluronic acid content that your skin will enjoy, you may want to give GreenOpia Naturals' Vitamin C serum with Hyaluronic Acid a try. It contains the goodness of natural ingredients, such as Witch Hazel and Orange Oil. The thing that makes it different is that it is made vegan and free from cruelty against animals in all of its production. Also, it is free of all the nasty chemicals that might make your skin unhappy.
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Yoga with GreenOpia Naturals: The Addition of Energy, Strength, and Beauty to Body, Mind, and Soul
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” ― The Bhagavad Gita Heart racing. Body shaking. Head dizzy. Blank mind. These are some of the anxious reactions that happen to many of us. Be it right before a presentation or meeting new people, irregular breathing just comes naturally to some of us. We live in very uncertain times. Financial, environmental, political, and medical instability is hitting almost everyone’s world right now. If you’ve been feeling this rollercoaster, trust us, you aren’t alone. This modern life can get stressful for anyone. For those struggling with mental health issues, even everyday tasks can sometimes become too much. It is pretty common to experience anxiety and everyone feels it and has experienced it to an extent. People tend to turn to therapy and it’s a good thing. An expert is what you need to relieve yourself from these dark feelings. But along with that, according to so many studies, yoga is also very supportive of a healthy lifestyle. It relaxes your mind, body, and soul. WHAT IS YOGA? Many cultures associate yoga with spirituality. Yoga translates to “union.” According to Sadhguru, “Yoga is a mechanism and a technology to get you to that state of experience where you see reality just the way it is.” There are many who practice yoga who will tell you that it has changed the way they feel and think on a daily basis. Yoga tends to relax your mind and calm your nerves. This relaxation results in beautiful and open thoughts and saves your mind and soul from anxious and dark thoughts. WHAT BENEFITS DOES YOGA OFFER FOR MENTAL HEALTH? The benefits of practicing yoga are innumerable. Yoga is excellent for joint and spine health. It can also be a great workout if you do power yoga. However, the mental health benefits that yoga provides are comforting. Practicing yoga every day can make a huge difference when it comes to reducing the symptoms of common mental illnesses, like anxiety and depression. Here are just some of the ways that yoga might be able to help you. RELIVES ANXIETY The irregular breathing, the constant fidgeting, the leg shaking, biting the insides of your cheeks, and so on are symptoms of anxiety. Many of us feel these symptoms on a very regular basis. Many aspects of yoga, including deep breathing techniques and syncing breath with a movement, have a calming effect on the brain. Over time, these techniques can even shrink the amygdala, which is the brain’s fear center and is believed to be overdeveloped in those with anxiety disorders. ELEVATES MOOD Psychologists and psychiatrists all around the world suggest doing exercise for their patients. That is mainly because exercise releases endorphins, which are commonly known as happy hormones. This can provide an instant mood boost and help with managing conditions like depression or seasonal affective disorder. Although yoga can be a slow practice, it is still a powerful form of exercise. IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF SLEEP Just like stress, lack of sleep affects weight fluctuation and fatigue. Meditating improves the quality of sleep. By meditating just before going to bed, you increase your chances of better sleep and recovery from the day’s tiredness. REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF PTSD Yoga may help you deal with multiple types of stress, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Various studies support this notion. They found that participants showed greater changes in measures of sleep, positive affect, perceived stress, anxiety, stress, and resilience than those who didn’t do yoga. CALMS THE NERVES As we have discovered earlier how yoga relieves us from anxiety, it also calms the adrenaline feeling of fight or flight to rest and digest. It relaxes you, calming your brain and the nervous system. The trick is the breathing techniques used in meditation that help you to learn to control your breathing. IMPROVES CONCENTRATION If you often find yourself zoning out or believe you have a concentration span of a goldfish (like me) while working, then practicing yoga might help you. Many yoga poses stimulate blood flow to the brain. This brings oxygen to the brain and can boost concentration and mental power. This is also great for circulation, especially for those who spend all day sitting.
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Acne? Acne! Learn about this Loathsome Skin Condition with GreenOpia Naturals
The angry red bumps on your otherwise smooth cheeks are enough to damper your mood. These come in various forms; whiteheads, blackheads, zits, or acne. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, we wouldn’t doubt you for a second when you say that you have tried gazillions of products, and various steps in AM-PM routines. If anything, we would empathize with you. We also know how difficult it is to stick to the routines that you might have set up. We get it, there are tons of products that you have lined up. Layer over layer, it can be exhausting for anyone. It’s even more difficult at nighttime when all you want to do is just crawl over the bed and sleep like a baby! At that time, routines and acnes are the last thought on your mind. WHAT IS ACNE? When we say acne, skin covered in bright red bumps probably comes to mind. However, it is not the only way acne can manifest. Though it is very common, a huge amount people don’t know what acne is. Acne occurs when the sebum (oil produced in your body) mixes with the dead skin cells and bacteria, clogging your pores. These clogged pores then form into bumps and many a time, a cyst. Simply put, acne is a bacterial infection. The main bacteria that causes acne is scientifically called P. Acnes. This bacteria blooms in humid, oily, oxygen-less conditions. That’s unfortunately inside our skin. That means the existence of this bacteria becomes unavoidable, but there are some things we can do to prevent our skin from becoming a host to it. TYPES OF ACNE Being a skin condition that results in breakouts, it makes everything that appears on your skin a synonym for acne. However, it is important to understand the various types of acne in order to treat them right. Comedones: The whiteheads and blackheads that show up in oily prone areas of the skin, especially at the T-zone. Papules and pustules: The raised red bumps with pus, which are identical to pimples. These acnes are inflammatory. The main difference between the two is that papules are raised bumps, while pustules contain pus. Cysts: These are the hormonal breakouts that appear anywhere, and tend to show up as deeper cystic breakouts involving the lower one-third of the face or the jawline area. These inflammatory acne takes a long time to go away. CAUSES OF ACNE Apart from the dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria, various other forces result in acne. Hormonal changes: This is the most obvious cause of almost all of our problems. Androgens are hormones that increase during puberty resulting in the enlargement of the Sebaceous Glands that results in increased production of sebum. Hormonal changes during midlife, pregnancy, or even through the menstrual cycle can often lead to breakouts. Stress: Okay, we just cannot stress enough about how much stress is not good for your overall health. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, goes into overdrive if you are stressing too much. As a result, an excessive amount of cortisol is released into the bloodstream which further triggers increased oil. Diet: As much as it pains to say, maybe those fries weren’t good for your health after all! Studies suggest that certain ingredients can probably cause acne. Processed foods, increased intake of carbohydrates, fat and hydrogenated oils, spicy, pungent foods, meats, alcohol, and even coffee can amp up your acne. Genetics: Oily skin is something that can be passed through generations. This would mean that you’re prone to excessive sebum and therefore acne at all points in your life.
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Know Your Hair: Learning Everything about Dandruff with GreenOpia Naturals
The bane of everyone’s life: dandruff. Everyone can agree to be tired of this loathsome white stuff that resides in our hair and doesn’t like to leave us alone. We are all in the same boat. Zip codes may vary, but the hatred for dandruff remains the same. It may have also made certain situations extremely awkward. From wearing dark tops to visits to salons, dandruff makes you self-conscious, draining you out physically and mentally. We all have googled “how to get rid of dandruff?”, and there are just way too many results that make it exhausting. Articles after articles. Ugh! It even sounds exhausting. Oh, and don’t even get us started on all those suggestions aunties love to give all the time! So many solutions just confuse things up. To get rid of a thing, you need to understand what the thing is. So let’s start with that. WHAT IS DANDRUFF? Dandruff is caused by the reaction of yeast, named Malassezia that’s present in your hair, with the sebum that is produced by the hair follicles and the oil glands, which, by the way, multiplies quickly. The reason for this reaction may be different for different people: stress, hormones, weather, and many more. This results in an inflamed, irritated, and itchy scalp. But more importantly, what people need to understand is that dandruff and dry scalp are two different things! This is the misconception that many have, believing that dandruff and dry scalp are one thing. This misconception may lead to disastrous consequences, seeing that prolongation of dandruff may pave a path for skin conditions like psoriasis. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRY SCALP AND DANDRUFF? Okay, we get it, there are a few similarities between the two like white, dry flakes or the constant itch on your scalp, which may confuse a lot of people. But that’s why we are here to help you out! The most basic difference is that the dry scalp is caused due to lack of moisture and oil whereas part of the reason that causes dandruff is the overproduction of oil. Still, many would ask about the dry flakes. The lack of moisture results in flakes of dead skin on your head. The easiest way to differentiate dry skin flakes from dandruff flakes is by noticing their color. One will be white, while the other will be a bit yellowish due to the presence of oil, respectively. WHAT CAUSES DANDRUFF? One thing about dandruff is that it does not discriminate among people. No age or gender is spared! From a baby to 90 years old, dandruff can happen to anyone. But we do need to take into account the factors that lead to dandruff. Once you identify these triggering factors, it becomes easy to cure them. Hair Washing: When you don’t wash your hair at a regular interval, your hair will get greasy. The thing is, we know that when don’t wash our hair, they become greasy. But if we wash it very frequently, it will result in stripping away of natural oils in the hair, which will force the oil glands to produce more sebum. Thus, experts suggest washing your hair every 2-3 days, to wash away the pollutants but also maintain the natural oils. Hormones: Hormones levels up the production of natural oils that keep the scalp nourished and dandruff at bay. Of course, you cannot just control your hormones, no one can (sadly), but it is important to understand how changes in hormones can irk your dandruff. While you can’t control your hormones, you can always control what you eat that irks your hormones. Diet: So diet might not directly affect dandruff, but it may be very much helpful in fighting them off. The greasy, junk food disrupts your hormonal balance which leads to more sebum production. A diet full of vitamin B content is very helpful as it does fight off dandruff. A diet rich in zinc and iron will aid in neutralizing the growth of this resilient yeast. Genetics: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree- oops sorry! The flakes don’t fall far from the shoulders! It doesn’t always mean that you inherit dandruff, but it does means that you are more prone to get it. You may not be able to prevent it, however, you can affect its frequency and effect by maintaining good hygiene. Products: Always know your hair and the products you use in them! Sulfates in shampoo trigger dandruff. Use a sulfate-free shampoo to get rid of not only the pollutants but also every other hair product that you might have used. These leave-in products irritate the scalp. REMEDIES TO THE RESILIENT DANDRUFF Sadly, there is nothing known as a cure for dandruff. However, there are some temporary solutions! If we are persistent with our efforts to control dandruff, we can pave a way for a healthy scalp. Here are a few ways you can control the frequency of dandruff: Add zinc to your diet: A diet rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, proteins, iron, and zinc is what you need. These will boost your immunity which will fight off dandruff-causing bacteria. Fresh food and vegetables always add nourishment to your head. Set a hair care routine: First of all, make a schedule, for everything! Self-care is no kids’ game! Make a schedule for washing your hair that doesn’t make them dry but also not greasy. Use a shampoo that suits the best with your hair, but should lack sulfates. Add hair masks and oils to that schedule. DIYs: There are just so many amazing ingredients that are so good for your dandruff: Rosemary Oil + Your Shampoo Coconut Oil + Hair Mask Aloe Vera Salt + Hair Oil
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Layering with GreenOpia Naturals: Combination of Ingredients you should Avoid in your Skincare Routine
There are some things that just go well together and absolutely no one can hate those combinations. Be it a steaming cup of tea with Parle G biscuits or rains and hot fritters (be it of onions, potatoes, or why not both!). Things like this make you think that they were made for each other. But then there are those things that could never go anywhere together, and the mere thought of them makes you feel things, definitely not good things. This logic applies to skincare ingredients as well! We already know about some ingredients’ brilliance for our skin- Vitamin C brightens, retinol exfoliates, and hyaluronic acid plumps- and some of these work wonders when combined on your skin. Applying one ingredient on top of another is the art of layering. One of the best combinations with amazing results is Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid. It is the quickest way to get balanced, happy skin. If you're using two different products, Vitamin C goes first as it has a low pH value so that it penetrates into the skin quickly. However, certain ingredients should NEVER be combined, your skin will have to pay the price. Mixing the products that don’t go along together can lead to irritation, redness, or even burning sensations. Hereby, we come to aid you through this ride: Which combinations of skincare products should you avoid? COMBINATIONS TO AVOID Mindlessly applying products won’t give you the results that you are looking for. Bad combinations may lead to breakouts, irritation, dryness, and many other skin conditions. Oil Based + Water Based Products The basic thing that we have learned since elementary school is that oil and water don’t go together. Your products should have the same consistency. The molecules of oil are bigger than that of water. Luckily it won’t have any side effects, but it will be a waste. You should not use oil-based and water-based products as neither will absorb leaving a sticky residue on your skin. Vitamin C + Retinol Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects the skin from sun damage, reduces dark spots, best source to build collagen, and prevents premature aging. Retinol, while being from the vitamin A family, isn’t something you would want to be wearing in the daytime as it is photosensitive. The reason why you shouldn’t combine the two is that the two have different pH values, thus making them useless on your skin. To attain the best of both, apply vitamin C in the daytime, and retinol at the night. Retinol + Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) Both of the above-mentioned ingredients have a plethora of benefits. So it is alright to wonder what magic it could do if put together. But do not try it! We will tell you why. To start with, both are, in simpler words, vitamin A. Both of them serve as anti-aging agents. The reason why you shouldn’t combine them is that both of them tend to exfoliate the skin, which can lead to skin irritation, which leads to redness, flaking, and peeling of the skin. Benzoyl Peroxide + Retinol These two ingredients are best known for preventing the breakout of skin. While benzoyl peroxide is great for inflammatory acne, it can damper the effects of retinol. The two react with each other chemically and thus canceling each other out. Niacinamide + AHA Niacinamide is a skin conditioning agent that is rich in vitamin B. It helps in the repair and protection of skin structure. The reason to not use it along with AHA is that it neutralizes the acid, producing nicotinic acid, which will result in skin flushing and irritation. While the skincare world is filled with numerous product that works amazingly together, providing maybe a 12-step routine, some products should not be mixed. Sometimes, without realizing it, you might end up using a combination that may be useless, or worse, damaging to the skin. Now that you know which ingredients to avoid mixing or layering, here is a tip from our side. Add Vitamin C to your daily skincare routine, followed by sunscreen for the day. Retinol at nighttime is a great way to soothe the skin from all the pollutants that had affected the skin during the day.
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SKIN BASICS WITH GreenOpia Naturals: WHAT DIFFERENTIATES FACE WASH FROM CLEANSER?
To always have smooth, blemish-free, radiant skin is a dream. Achieving that clear skin is a task in itself. A whole load of serums, moisturizers, and masks go behind this goal. Routines after routines. Daytime skincare routines, night-time skincare routines. All too much effort. But to be honest, all of them are needed, seeing that your skin goes through a lot in the day; dirt, oils, exposure to UV rays, chemical-filled air, and various other pollutants. But the most basic step in any skincare routine is cleansing. Without it, the routine is incomplete. The CTM (cleansing, toning, and moisturizing) routine is the easiest and most basic routine that everyone needs to follow. It is a crucial step in your routine, as it ensures that your skin is wiped clean from all the pollutants that sit within your pores while maintaining the natural oils of your skin. There are two products that ensure the cleansing of skin: Face Wash and Cleansers. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO? It is a very common mistake to believe that face wash and cleanser are the same things. While both the products help in cleansing your skin, how they clean is not quite the same. There's a subtle difference between the two. A cleanser purifies, hydrates, and soothes your skin. It comes in different textures; creamy, milky, gel-like, or even watery. It is generally used in your nighttime routine, to remove the make-up residue and excess oil from the surface of your skin at the end of the day. It generally doesn’t need to be rinsed off. The ideal user of cleansers are people with sensitive or dry skin. A face wash cleans your pores more deeply. The texture is often foamy. It cleans your skin deeply, removing the debris that has clogged your pores. It is mainly used by people who have oily or combination skin types. The best time to use a face wash is during the day, and it definitely requires rinsing. CAN YOU USE BOTH? Absolutely! You can use face wash in the morning and cleanser at the night. You can also give double cleansing a shot if you are more prone to acne or if your skin gets oily quickly. It also helps those who wear heavy make-up as it helps to get rid of the residue on the skin surface: just wash your face with a face wash and then use a gentle cleanser. Then you can go along with your everyday routine. INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN A FACE WASH Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: It is the ingredient that makes lather. It tends to irritate the skin and may also strip the skin from its natural oils, making it dry. Parabens: In general terms, it acts as a preservative in beauty products to increase their effectiveness and life span. Some studies show that it increases the chances of skin infection. Mineral Oils: They are by-products derived from petroleum that leaves a physical and slippery layer on the skin and do not penetrate, resulting in clogged pores. Fragrance: It is loaded with chemicals that can trigger an allergic reaction or just redness on the skin. GreenOpia Naturals presents you with Tea Tree Face Wash that treats your acne and pimple problems well. Made with natural ingredients, this face wash is free of nasty chemicals, leaving your skin healthy and glowing. The best part is that this face wash is free of cruelty and is 100% vegan! INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN A CLEANSER Phthalate: It is a chemical-produced ingredient that helps in the smooth application of cleansers, but is a cause of many health issues, as said by various medical studies. Isopropyl Myristate: It is the ingredient that penetrates deep into the skin, but clogs the pores and may cause irritation. Sodium Hydroxide: It is alkaline in nature that dries out the skin and slows down the cell growth process since our skin is acidic in nature. Triclosan: It is a preservative added to beauty products with an intention to reduce bacterial contamination. Studies show that this ingredient causes skin inflammation and damages the immune system. CONCLUSION In conclusion, both face washes and cleansers offer to clear the skin by cleaning off excess oil, dirt, and other pollutants. However, the additional benefits they provide depends on your skin type. According to your needs, you can also choose the option of double cleansing to derive maximum benefits.
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Fighting Anti-Aging with GreenOpia Naturals: Beginner's Guide to Facial Yoga
From Meghan Markle to Gwyneth Paltrow to Kim Kardashian, face yoga has been a favorite of many other celebrities. It is your natural way of getting a facelift and great news for many who are scared of injections! Our face skin is the most exposed part of the body and has to go through all the pollutants, sun damage, and chemicals every day. It truly reflects how the body feels. Often, stress shows on the face in form of tension lines, wrinkles, dull skin, etc. But with a proper Face Yoga routine, you can control the overall health and appearance of your face. WHAT IS FACE YOGA? Facial exercises like face yoga are gentle, daily face movements designed to strengthen the muscles in the face and promote circulation. According to various experts, working out these facial muscles could build their strength so that the skin on and around the eyes, lips, cheeks, and forehead maintains a smoother, more youthful appearance. Much like yoga for the body, face yoga consists of exercises and stretches that work the muscles in your face. It combines massage, acupressure, exercises, and relaxation to provide safe, anti-aging skin results. But going into face yoga blindly can be more of a setback than a help. Doing the facial ‘massage’ and poking your skin here and there is going to cause the wrong kind of tension and can damage it by increasing wrinkling. That’s why adopting a routine practice of careful and intentional muscle stimulation is key. HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU DO YOGA? So when is one supposed to do the ‘face’ yoga? Should it be done along with my workout, or do I need to do it separately? How long am I supposed to be doing it? You might be having all these questions, and we are here to answer them right away! When? 5 times a week, maybe add on to your regular workout routine. How long? 5-10 minutes 5 times a week. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Similarly, the more consistent you are the better results you will receive. Some of the simpler exercises can be done anytime anywhere, like the pout and smile exercise that targets fine lines around the lip area and thinning of the lips as we age. This exercise can be done while watching a show out on your work desk. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF FACE YOGA? Facial workouts reduce wrinkles Helps in filling in hollow cheeks and minimizes other signs of aging. Face yoga can relax overactive muscles while toning weaker muscles, which helps to prevent sagging and expression lines Reduces the appearance of dark under-eye circles These exercises focus on strengthening and building up underlying muscle in key areas such as cheeks, jawline, neck, eyelids, and eyebrows. Always clean your hands and face. Use an oil, serum, or cleansing balm so your fingers can glide easily over your skin without it being too slippery. This prevents unnecessary dragging of skin. You can also use a Gua sha or jade roller, as it helps the oil or serum penetrate deeper and helps in absorption. EASY FACE YOGA EXERCISES Forehead Lift: This face yoga exercise tightens your forehead and horizontal forehead lines. Just place your hands on the outer edges of your forehead and apply pressure to smooth out the skin. Now start to raise and lower your eyebrows. Don’t be afraid to apply firm pressure. You want to feel some resistance from the skin while you perform this exercise. The Puffin You want ALL the cheeks of the body to be firm and taut with extra lift. Fill your cheeks with air. Push the air from one side to the other five times to stimulate your cheek muscles. Let the air out, forming an “O” with your mouth. Repeat this facial movement three to four times. Fish Face This face yoga exercise smooths the nasolabial fold lines (creases in your skin extending from both sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth) and lifts the eyes and cheeks. Place both palms on your cheeks. Push your hands up and down, lifting the sides of your face. Open your mouth and make an “O” shape. Drop your jaw to make your face as long as possible. Hold this pose for about 30 seconds. Repeat two more times. Show Your Tongue This yoga exercise reduces puffy eyes and a swollen face. Just place your hands on your temples and apply pressure to smooth out the skin. Open your mouth as wide as possible and stick your tongue out as far as you can and hold this pose for about 60 seconds. The Giraffe This face yoga exercise helps reduce double-chin and saggy, loose skin on the neck. Looking straight ahead, place the fingertips at the bottom of your neck and lightly stroke the skin downwards with the head tilted back. Bring the head back down to the chest and repeat twice more. Finally, jut the lower lip out as far as possible to pull the corners of the mouth down and place fingertips on the collarbone with the chin pointed upwards.
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From History to DIY Masks: Everything you need to Know about Haldi
All hail to this holy grail of ingredient: Turmeric! Being used in the Indian kitchen and medicines for centuries, turmeric is omnipresent. It would almost be counted as blasphemy if you were to find an empty jar of turmeric in an Indian household. One could almost call it a witch’s ingredient for its brilliant contribution to curing/healing almost everything! If you have a hangover? Turmeric. Did you fall and hurt yourself? Turmeric. Dull skin? Turmeric. Digestive problems? Tur-mer-ic! It works so efficiently for skin that there is literally a ritual before marriage where people just slather paste of turmeric on the bride and groom! What is this fascination with Haldi and why is it suddenly popping everywhere? To learn that, let’s go back a few years and learn a bit of its history. Ancient History Being a part of the ginger family, the plant of Haldi, or as the botanists call it Curcuma Longa, is barely 3 feet in height. Records of the earliest use of turmeric go as back as 6000 years ago. It has been an important part of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries now. It has shown up in Ayurvedic medicinal texts dating as back as 500 BCE. The spice was commonly used for purification of the blood and skin, along with treating numerous conditions, varying from diarrhea to epilepsy. Turmeric was (and considerably still) being used as: Insect repellant Treating skin conditions such as eczema Heal wounds To relieve swelling and pain Treatment of cold Brighten up skin What makes Turmeric so Multipurpose? Ever wondered what makes this spice so multipurpose that we incorporate it everywhere, from cooking to medicine? Well, turmeric owes it all to an active component called curcumin. Apart from giving haldi its vibrant color, curcumin is also responsible for all the healing done by it. It is brimmed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These properties enable the wounds to heal faster, while also preventing any infections simultaneously. If all this was not enough, curcumin also aids in skin regeneration, from boosting collagen production to fighting against free radicals. You might want to consider adding Turmeric Supplements to your daily routine to gain the maximum benefits the spice offers. GreenOpia Naturals presents Haldi Capsules and Curcumin Advance Capsules that help you gain the maximum benefits of turmeric that you might miss out on in this fast-paced life. Haldi DIY Masks Now moving to the most exciting part of this blog post, the DIY use of turmeric in masks! In the past two years, while staying at home, we all might have caught up on DIY, be it a dalgona coffee, or face masks. Here are 3 of my personal tried and favorite DIY Haldi face masks: For Acne: Ingredients: Turmeric Powder Yogurt Besan (Chickpea flour) Honey Instruction: Mix all the ingredients until it forms a paste. Apply that paste on the face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Finish off by applying moisturizer. For Sensitive Skin: Ingredients: Turmeric Powder Rose Water Aloe Vera Gel Instruction: Mix all the ingredients and apply the mixture to the face. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Finish off by applying moisturizer. Be cautious that the mixture would be runny, so avoid wearing your favorite tee, as it might get stained. For Blemishes Ingredients: Turmeric Powder/ Oil Sandalwood Powder Orange Juice Instruction: Mix all the ingredients until it forms a paste. Apply that paste on the face and let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Finish off by applying moisturizer. For Soft Skin Ingredients: Turmeric Powder Besan Almond Oil Milk Instruction: Mix all the ingredients until there are no lumps and it is creamy. Make sure it is not too loose, or it would be runny. Apply that mixture and let it rest for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Finish off by applying moisturizer.
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