Tina Steenberg

This peppery leaf is also known as arugula, particularly in the US. It’s a dark green salad vegetable, popular in Mediterranean countries and you have probably had it in those mixed bags of salad greens. It’s a wild lettuce with long, straight soft green leaves and a dark red stem. The leaves have a slightly bitter, peppery flavour and are gathered when they’re young. Rocket is a rich source of iron as well as vitamins A,C and K.

It makes a delicious addition to salads but can also be used to make soups and to replace basil in pesto. A bed of rocket is a good base on which to serve grilled poultry or fish. It also marries well with goat’s cheese. It is very popular in Italy, where it is used on pizzas and in pasta and risotto dishes.

Try a salad of rocket, chopped tomatoes and grilled pine nuts, shavings of Parmesan, sprinkled with a good quality oil and lemon juice. Make an interesting prawn salad by mixing rocket with chopped red peppers and lemon juice. And whatever way you eat it remember it’s very low in calories.

What we all want are bright sparkling eyes and no dark rings. Here are some tips for keeping your eyes at their best.

For bright eyes, increase your intake of vitamin A by eating more fruits and fresh vegetables. Revive tired eyes in the hot weather by soaking two pieces of cotton wool in chilled water to which a few drops of eau-de-cologne have been added. Place the pads on your closed eyelids and relax in a darkened room for about ten minutes. Or try this alternative. Put 2 tablespoons in the freezer to chill and then place over the eyes for a pick me up.

If your eyes are just sleepy or dull looking cut thin slices of cucumber and keep them on lids for about then minutes. Dark circles under the eyes can indicate a lack of vitamin B so a course of vitamin B complex may be the best thing. These dark rings may also be caused by fatigue, bad digestion, worry, sleeplessness or indifferent health. Track down the cause and the shadow will vanish.

Heartburn is linked to eating habits and posture (the way you sit and stand). It happens when acid from your stomach gets forced upwards into the oesophagus (gullet). This is called acid reflux.

The stomach wall is coated with a layer of mucus that protects it from digestive acid. The oesophagus does not have this protection, so any acid that leaks up irritates and damages its lining. This is what causes the burning pain associated with heartburn. The regurgitated acid may also leave an acidic taste in the back of your throat.

If you suffer from heartburn now and again you may want to try these natural remedies to relieve the symptoms.

Milk This should only be fat free milk however, as the fat in milk will often stimulate even more production of stomach acids.

Apple Cider Vinegar – This type of vinegar can be added to a cup of water and has been known for its heartburn relief applications for years. This will cause an almost instant relief of your discomfort.

Baking Soda – By drinking a teaspoon of baking soda mixed into a full glass of water you will be instantly relieve your acid reflux. This is due to the fact that baking soda is a base which will neutralize acid. Some other natural remedies are bananas, garlic and almonds.

It is helpful to keep a diary of what you are doing and eating when you got heartburn so that you can help yourself prevent it! If you are constantly suffering from acid reflux you should see your doctor.

Earl Grey is a blend of Indian and Ceylon black tea, infused with bergamot oil. Bergamot is a citric lime tree found in the Mediterranean and the South of France. It gives the Earl Grey tea a light, smooth and spicy flavour which is also refreshing.

Earl Grey is known to be a very soothing and calming tea. It has been shown to be a mood lifter and an antidepressant. In fact bergamot has been used for centuries to treat depression, stress, and tension.

As with any tea, Earl Grey has health benefits associated with its antioxidants. Antioxidants are known to fight cancer and eliminate free radicals that are associated with aging and illness. Earl Grey tea has been associated with reducing wrinkles and the effects of aging. This tea has been shown to prevent several types of cancer; so drink a cup everyday!

Curls have always been a great way to become the centre of attention.  Tight curls, afro curls or soft waves can be a refreshing change if you have straight hair or hair without volume.

Thanks to technology, we don’t have to use the old-fashioned hair rollers – a hair straightener can easily be used for straightening the hair and for making modern curls. Once you master the technique you can obtain several styles without effort. Just make sure you use the hair straightener according to the manufacturer’s directions and according to your own hair type to avoid any long-term damages.

For great-looking curls, a narrow hair straightener is recommended (approximately 3 centimeters).  This width will allow you to get close to the hair roots. Hair straighteners with ceramic tiles are better because they can provide more heat and you can use it for repetitive tasks such as curling.

Step 1 Wash your hair and apply a lotion that protects the hair and provides a natural shine.  Use a blow dryer to dry the hair and make sure the lotion has been absorbed properly.

Step 2 Split the hair in four different sections using clips: the front section, sides, top and back.

Step 3 Start the curling process by putting the hair straightener at the base of the hair lock, close to the scalp.  Once you do that, spin the lock around the hair straightener once.  At the same time, move the hair straightener along the lock up to the tip. The slowest you move it, the curlier the hair gets.  You can spray some protective lotion against the heat.

The advantage of using a hair straightener instead of other styling devices is that you can obtain many types of curls, from relaxed waves to almost straight curls or tight curls, full of volume.

One of the first foods that signals the start of spring is the appearance of fresh asparagus at local farmers’ markets and grocery stores. However the season for asparagus is short. In Britain it is from late April until late June so enjoy it while you can.

Asparagus is quick and easy to cook but look for bright, green, evenly coloured, firm and unwrinkled spears with tight buds – perfect.

It is loaded with nutrients: Asparagus is a very good source of fiber, folate, vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as chromium, a trace mineral that enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells. It is also a particularly rich source of glutathione, a detoxifying compound that helps break down carcinogens and other harmful compounds like free radicals. This is why eating asparagus may help protect against and fight certain forms of cancer, such as bone, breast, colon, larynx and lung cancers. Recent research also suggests that asparagus may slow the aging process.

Cook in boiling salted water and, depending on the size of the stalks, it will take about 10 minutes to become tender; test by piercing the lowest part of the spear with a sharp knife. Enjoy this seasonal vegetable that’s good for you too.

One of the latest hot and trendy beauty items is a foundation primer or base. These priming products have been used by models and makeup professionals for years but it is only recently they have become readily available to the general public.

But what does a foundation primer do? Just like you prime a wall before you paint it, you can prime your face before you apply foundation. Primers create a base for foundation so that your makeup stays on longer, lessening the need for touching up during the day. Primers smooth out fine lines and wrinkles by filling them in and creating a flat canvas for your makeup. Large pores and uneven skin texture are also filled in and coated, diminishing their appearance. Another benefit of primers is that you will use less makeup. Instead of your foundation absorbing directly onto the skin, it adheres to the primer instead.

Although there are a few water-based primers on the market, most are silicon based but safe to use on the skin. Moisturise your skin as usual and allow it to soak in for a few minutes. Then apply your foundation primer, wait a couple of minutes, then apply your foundation.

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Aloe vera is a succulent plant that grows in arid climates such as Africa and India. It is claimed to have many health and beauty benefits. One of the first documented users of aloe vera was Cleopatra, who lived from 68 to 30 B.C. She is said to have used the gel on her skin as protection from the sun, and to have thought the gel helped to keep her skin young-looking.

Today aloe vera continues to be widely used around the world. Studies have shown that it can speed up the healing process, particularly in burns, including those from radiation. It is also used by dermatologists to speed healing after facial dermabrasion, which removes scars from the skins top layers. Aloe vera is an important ingredient in natural anti aging skin care recipes because it can do wonders for your skin; it has the ability to firm the skin tissue and bring back elasticity that your skin has lost, automatically reducing the wrinkles. Aloe vera also provides your skin with oxygen and adds to your skin’s overall strength.

To use Aloe vera from a plant, break off a leaf when you need it and use it as soon as possible as it’s healing properties decrease over time. Aloe vera gel can also be purchased but it is most effective when used fresh.

Rub aloe vera on sunburned skin. Apply aloe vera with a poultice to more severe burns and skin ailments. Use it to treat acne, eczema, arthritis and oily skin. Aloe vera has both anaesthetic and anti-bacterial properties, which soothes the skin and helps it heal sooner. Plus it also has tissue restoration properties to help skin heal without scarring.

Insomnia is not being able to get enough sleep. It’s usually related to finding it hard to get to sleep or stay asleep. People who have insomnia often wake up without having had enough sleep and don’t feel refreshed. Short-term (acute) insomnia lasts for between one and four weeks whereas long-term (chronic) insomnia lasts for more than four weeks.

There is usually no single cause of insomnia, but there are a number of factors that can contribute to you getting it, such as stress, depression, grief or alcoholism. Physical health problems such as pain, asthma or heart disease can interfere with sleep patterns as well as some slimming medicines, antidepressants or medicines to treat high blood pressure. Jet lag following air travel across different time zones can cause temporary disturbed sleep patterns.

Here are a few hints to help you get the best night’s sleep:

• Exercise every day. Even 20 minutes of walking can help keep stress hormones from interfering with your sleep.
• Avoid large meals just before bedtime.
• Don’t read, watch television or work in bed. Use the bed only to sleep.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine or other stimulants within four hours of bedtime.

The amount of sleep you need varies from person to person. Most adults need seven to eight hours but some people can manage with much less. The occasional night with too little sleep can make you feel very tired the following day, but it won’t affect your health. If it goes on for a long time consult with your doctor.

The type of mussels prevalent in UK waters have spread throughout the northern hemisphere by hitching lifts on the hulls of boats. Mussels filter iron from seawater to produce an adhesive plaque which attaches them to rocks and other objects. Mussels are a high protein food source. Their low fat content makes them potentially healthier than other protein sources, such as beef, which can contain a lot of saturated fat. Mussels are also low in calories, with raw mussels containing only 70 calories per portion.

Mussels are a rich source of many essential vitamins and minerals, such as the B vitamins, vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, manganese, selenium and zinc. They contain more vitamin B12, selenium and manganese than most other foods. Vitamin B12 is essential for a healthy nervous system, the formation of red blood cells and proper growth and development. Selenium is important for stimulating the immune system and supports the thyroid gland, while manganese is involved in bone health and energy metabolism.

When buying mussels choose only those that are bright, clean, with tightly closed unbroken shells. Fresh mussels smell briny-fresh, not ‘fishy’ and are best eaten within a day of buying.

A word of warning if you suffer from hives. Shellfish are among the many foods reported to trigger hives most often. Consult your doctor if you are worried.

And finally – another use of mussels. Mother-of-pearl extracted from mussel shells was widely used to make buttons, before plastics, and is still used in jewellery making today.