Know your Nails !

Nails reflect your health. If you are not healthy internally, it shows on your nails. Brittle nails are caused by the lack of water in the body. Ironically, prolonged exposure of nails to water also causes this, as do certain health conditions. Symptoms include easy peeling at the nail edge, breakage and layering. Discolouration (psoriasis) of nails can be due to anaemia, a common problem among women.
Blue nails indicate certain heart and liver diseases. White spots are formed when there is low blood supply to the nails. They could also be caused by injury and certain diseases.
Pain and swelling in and around the nails can be an indication of fungal infection. Frayed cuticles also indicate lack of water in the body.

WHAT TO EAT
Biotin is essential for nails. Have foods like soybean and whole grains that are rich in biotin. Your diet must include ample fruits and vegetables to supply necessary vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Consume adequate fluids. A glass of fresh carrot juice everyday provides necessary calcium and phosphorus for nails.

SOME DOS, SOME DON’TS
Do not use your nails as tools. No picking. No scratching. No digging. Try to keep your hands dry, though not unmoisturised. Do not bite your nails. It damages the nails and cuticles, causing deformation, uneven growth and infections too. Wear rubber gloves when you wash clothes or clean dishes. Keep your nails enamel-free and aerated once a week.

SIMPLE TIPS FOR NAIL CARE
A good time to manicure is just after a shower or washing dishes. The dirt under your nails has already been removed. Soak your hands in warm water for 10 minutes everyday, preferably before sleeping. Pat dry and moisturise well. Apply a cream or lotion whenever you wash your hands. Nails tend to dry out due to soaps and detergents. Trim your nails regularly. Change your socks daily. Try to wear cotton socks as much as possible. Do not wear tight shoes. They damage toenails. If you must wear closed shoes, clip your toenails short.

HOME REMEDIES FOR SPOTLESS NAILS
To whiten nails, use whitening toothpaste. Scrub your nails to de-stain and add sparkle. Soak your nails in water with lemon juice. The lemon acts as an astringent and lifts off the stains.

Books are Forever ! Keep them always new !

If books are your best friend, then you would go to any extent to protect them and let them adorn the bookshelves forever. Read on to find out how you can safekeep the books, so that you can turn over a new leaf, always.

Mark your pages
Always use bookmarkers. Avoid folding corners or pages. Pens, pencils, left in books can cause the spine to crack and break. Very thick book markers or gem clips are also not a good idea.
Handle books gently
Remove from the shelf properly. Reach to the rear to push slightly toward you, then grab the sides with all fingers. Avoid the temptation to pull on the top spine, which is the first visible place of wear and fray.
Opening any book more than 190° (flat) causes the spine to break and crack over time. Always support the book’s spine while it is open, never forcing it to lay open. Wash hands before and after handling all books. Lotion, sweat, etc. can cause soil stains. Germs can also be passed to you from used, library, and vintage books.
Cleaning
Cloth bound hardbacks can be cleaned by using a damp cloth. Use a very mild cleaning solution sparingly, otherwise the colour might fade. Leather dressing obtained from a local shoe store can be used on leather bound books. It can also be used sparingly by spraying on a cloth and then wipe the book. A furniture polish with a high concentration of oil will allow softening of the leather and help prevent drying out.
Deodourising
Home remedies may or may not work. We would not recommend books sealed with baking soda in a way where the substance touches or has direct contact with books. Otherwise it may produce satisfactory results. Slight odours may be removed in an airy location such as screened porch or deck with book laying open for several hours.
Another remedy is to spray a disinfectant into the air
while flipping pages, not allowing pages to become wet. Some have suggested sealing books in a plastic bag for several days with a strong solid, air freshener.
Restoration
We suggest specialists for this area or any more difficult problems. Regular scotch tape and regular household glue is never a good idea. There are specialty products designed for books that can be obtained at a local library supply house. Books should never be boxed or stored with spines facing upward. This puts pressure and the weight of the book on the ..spine.
Flat or shelved position is the correct manner.
The yellowing of pages often found in older books is irreversible. Sealing in an air tight container is the only remedy to stop the process. Books today are printed on acid free paper to prevent them from yellowing.
Book parts
Spine: The side that shows when properly shelved which is the part where the pages are bound together. Hinge: Each book has an inside and outside hinge in front and in back. It is the part that connects the cover. Hinges can become cracked or separated. Pages generally start to become loose when there is damage on the hinge or spine. Title page: Usually the first or second printed page with title, author and publishing company.