Groove Magazine Zimbabwe Issue 1 | Page 45

HEALTH TIPS Food balancing act You are what you eat, and here are some health benefits of some of your favourite foods:  Love your tea? Rooibos tea helps skin irritations like itchy skin, eczema, sunburns and acne. Rooibos is rich in antioxidants shown to fight inflammation. Add Rooibos tea to cool, bath water and allow it to soothe you.  Hmm, chocolate! Yes you can satisfy your cravings and also improve your health. For once it helps prevent strokes. This is due to a class of chemicals called flavonoids, which are found in fruits, vegetables, tea and red wine. These act as potent antioxidants that protect cells from freeradical damage which can contribute to aging, heart disease and certain cancers.  Fish are good for the eyes. They are rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin D which helps dry eyes and improve eyesight. For the love of fashion You love looking stylish and trendy but did you know that some fashion trends are actually bad for your health. Here are a few of them: Tight clothes They flatter your figure, accentuating those curves but at times they can be a real eyesore, and a real health hazard. Guys you might need to ease on the speedos and skinny jeans, you need to loosen up. Tight pants cause testicular torsion and lower sperm potency due to the amount of heat. In general, tight clothes cause numbness to the muscles, ‘tight pants syndrome’ which is marked by abdominal discomfort, heartburn and belching, bladder problems. Artificial nails Long nails elongate the fingers; nail art makes the nails look pretty however artificial nails can cause severe damage to the nails and fingers in the long run. Acetone thins the nails therefore causing them to break easily and making one’s fingers susceptible to diseases . Giv e your nails time to heal and strengthen before booking another nail appointment. You can paint your nails with nail polish which will still look very pretty. High Heels Ladies those heels are real killers. Literally! In as much as they add centimetres to the little women or they put that oomph into that walk; high heels strain muscles in both the legs and lower back. When possible wear flat shoes and keep the heels for special occasions and those important meetings where you might need to look the part. Hair extensions Ladies from all walks of life love a long, thick mane which keeps everybody gasping but very few are blessed with luscious locks. The solution? Hair extensions! They come in all lengths, colours and styles which can be bonded, braided, plaited or pinned onto one’s natural hair. Prolonged use will eventually cause balding of the hairline, thinning and breakage of the hair. Give your hair some time to breathe in between hairstyles and keep it natural. Opt for a wig if your natural look is not a ‘do’ with you, so that your hairline has time to recover. It is important to look well groomed and stylish, but it is far more important not to damage that very same temple that you love to adorn. Be moderate and find other alternatives of looking fabulous without causing your body harm for the love of fashion. 43