Be Special

Don’t you love it when everyone compliments your glowing skin? Talk to any skincare specialist and she’ll say that good skin is really an inside job. No matter how expensive the potion that you slather on unless you include the right supplements and have a wholesome diet, your skin won’t show the flush of good health. Of course, eating right is the first step to healthy skin and you should be getting your ‘daily five’. But frenzied lifestyles mean most of us don’t really eat like we should, so supplemental vitamins are a must. Get to know your vitamins and what they do, so you can help stack the deck in your skin’s favor. VITAMIN A It’s the final solution for an uneven skin tone, dark spots, and pigmentation. The key derivative of Vitamin A is retinoids or retinol, the gold standard in anti-aging. Skin expert Dr. Dhimant Goleria has this to say: “Retinoids are the only topicals that can actually reverse signs of aging. The local application of retinol creams boost...

Sadly, there’s no magic pill to cure a cold. But you can keep those sniffles away this rainy season by building up your immunity. Eating foods bursting with vitamins and nutrients is the way to go. And no, bhajiyas don’t count, but those steaming cups of adrak chai do. Here’s the list of foods to increase immunity against cold and cough during monsoons: Mushrooms These low-calorie fungi are a dieter’s delight, but did you know they're a powerhouse of two flu fighters, selenium, that helps white blood cells produce cytokines to fight toxins, and beta-glucan, that activates ‘superhero’ cells to seek out and destroy infections? Fatty Fish Did you know low Vitamin D levels (almost all Indians are Vitamin D deficient) make you a prime candidate for respiratory infections? Up your intake of fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel. Mushrooms, cheese, and egg yolk are also good sources of Vitamin D. You need about 800 to 1000 IU each day. Fresh Garlic It might be kiss-unfriendly, b...