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What children say about school lunch time

2015-02-04T15:58:00.000+05:30

Hands up all parents of primary-school children who have that conversation on a near-daily basis as the once-fresh contents of lunch boxes are dumped in the bin, yet again.

You might be sceptical about your child’s excuse, particularly if the least healthy element of the “healthy eating” lunchbox is sure to have gone, if nothing else. But the chances are it’s true, because it’s not just your child. Just over half of children at primary school – 52 per cent – say they don’t have enough time to eat their lunch, according to a new survey by the National Parents’ Council – Primary (NPC).

“This is a figure we would be concerned about,” says NPC chief executive Áine Lynch. Research shows a worrying number of children go to school without breakfast but, even if they are having breakfast, many are clearly not eating properly again until they get home. For children with after-school activities, that might be 4pm, or later.

Lack of food is not conducive to learning and the time pressure to eat also creates a stress for children, she argues. There can be an impact on energy levels, behaviour and ability to concentrate.

“You know that some children, when they are hungry and haven’t eaten, will become cranky and this will affect their behaviour, and all this is coming back into the classroom in the afternoon.”

As a member of the Hunger Prevention in Schools Strategy Group, established by the Educational Disadvantage Centre, Lynch works on how best to support children who are coming in hungry and without proper lunches.

“On the flip side you have children who are going in with their lunchboxes full and then are also going home with their lunchboxes pretty full as well,” she says.

This survey is the first the NPC has done with children. Through an email to parents, children were invited to complete a short, online questionnaire, which attracted almost 3,500 responses. Lunchtime was chosen as the inaugural topic because, from the council’s dealings with schools, it appeared to be an issue that pupils had strong opinions about.

“There seemed to be lots of parts, of a relatively short period of time, that they were vocal about,” says Lynch. The primary-school curriculum suggests 2½ hours a week (30 minutes a day) for “recreation” and 50 minutes a week (10 minutes a day) for breaks.

Practices vary from school to school but many would have a 10- or 15-minute mid-morning break and a 30-minute lunchbreak – the focus of this survey – of which, typically, no more than 10 minutes is given for eating, followed by 20 minutes in the playground.

Positives and negatives

On the positive side, 93 per cent of children surveyed say lunchtime is a happy time for them at school.

“That is what you would want it to be, but you don’t know until you ask,” says Lynch. But it is concerning that for 7 per cent (234 children in this survey), it isn’t a happy time, she continues. “This does need to be looked into more.”

Reasons given by those who say they are unhappy include not having enough time to play with friends, bullying and not being allowed to run.

While it’s still too soon to gauge the effects of the Department of Education’s 2013Action Plan on Bullying – schools were allowed until last Easter to draw up an antibullying policy – it is an issue that is looked at more closely now in whole-school evaluations.

“Bullying in schools frequently takes place in the playground/schoolyard,” according to the department’s anti-bullying procedures for schools. Playground games present opportunities for bullying because of their physical nature.

“It is relatively easy to single out and bully another pupil. The noise level masks much of what is going on,” it points out. There is also a chance, in the playground, for older pupils to pick on younger pupils and it can be the setting for bullying by groups.

Since January 2014, the department’s inspectorate has added questions to the parent and pupil questionnaires in school evaluations, to get a clearer picture of how schools are dealing with bullying.

“Drawing on the responses to the additional questionnaire items, the inspectorate is conducting an analysis of parent and pupil perceptions of the school’s actions to create a positive school culture and to tackle bullying,” a department spokeswoman says.

A report of the findings will be available in due course.

No running

The “no running” rule in some school yards is a bugbear for children and parents alike but, says the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), it applies in only a small minority of schools and is not imposed lightly. About 6 per cent of schools, according to a Department of Education and Skills survey, have such a policy.

“Schools make a decision like this based on their own circumstances but do not implement a ‘no running’ policy without good reason,” says INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan. They may have to ban it because of a lack of space or because of a dangerous surface in the yard.

The former can be caused by overcrowding or putting prefabs in playgrounds while the latter, she argues, is down to a failure by the department to fund essential repairs and maintenance of schools.

“Teachers have to use their professional judgment and take action where there is a foreseeable risk to children’s health and safety,” she says, stressing there is no evidence that such decisions are driven by fear of litigation.

And where “no running” does apply, it is not a case of children in a playground having nothing to do, Nunan adds. “Schools in these situations often compensate with games like hopscotch or skipping. Others have installed climbing frames.”

The use of equipment in the playground, such as skipping ropes and footballs, emerges as an issue in the NPC’s survey. Nearly half – 42 per cent – of the children do not think toys are shared fairly at lunchtime.

The reasons range from “not allowed any” and “whoever gets out first gets the best stuff” to “only the big children get to use them” and “pushy girls take them”.

From reading more than 1,000 elaborated responses (in addition to tick boxes), Lynch says she got the sense that the structure of playtime needs to be considered a little better. There need to be options for all children in the school – not just the ones who like to skip or play football. Some of the older girls complained there was nowhere to sit to have a conversation.

Each school is different but the only way the issues highlighted in this survey can be addressed is in very open discussions with children, suggests Lynch. “Children often have the solutions: they are living this every day.”

While the NPC is not presenting its survey as scientific research, it does believe it gives a flavour of what children have to say. Lynch hopes the findings will provoke schools to consult their own pupils.

“If a principal or teacher in a school,” she adds, “reads about this and says ‘this is what the kids in our school may be thinking. We should ask them’, then it will have been a success.”

src: irishtimes

Toddler nutrition: 5 tips for healthier kids

2015-02-04T15:46:00.000+05:30

Here are five suggestions:

Encourage toddlers to eat fruits and vegetables as snacks by cutting them up into appealing morsels.
Don’t assume all prepackaged toddler meals or snacks are low in sodium. Check the nutrition facts label and strive for 210 milligrams of sodium or less per meal (and no more than 250 milligrams per meal) for a toddler, says nutritionist Lianne Phillipson-Webb of Sprout Right in Toronto.
Children under age four consuming 1,200 to 1,400 calories per day on average should limit added sugars to about four teaspoons a day, the American Heart Association recommends.
Look for whole rather than refined grains.
Instead of relying on boxed crackers or bread sticks for snacks, add fruit or melted cheese to plain rice cakes, popcorn or a batch of homemade pancakes.

src: cbc.ca

Enforcing Kids’ Screen Time Limits “Virtually Impossible”

2015-02-04T15:34:00.001+05:30

Most parents struggle to limit their children’s screen time to less than two hours a day, study says. A world-first longitudinal study by The University of Western Australia (UWA) researchers examining the links between mental health and screen use by children and teenagers has found that guidelines to limit screen-based media-use to less than two hours a day are out of date and ‘virtually impossible' to enforce.

Their findings have been published in the journal BMC Public Health. A team of researchers from UWA's Graduate School of Education, School of Population Health and School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health found that despite growing concern about the adverse physical and mental health outcomes associated with excessive screen-based media use, parents were finding it difficult to get their children to limit the time they spend with their screen devices.

This may be because the landscape had changed dramatically since the guidelines were written, with an explosion in the use of computers, game consoles, tablets, mobile phones and other devices by children and adolescents for everything from gaming and social networking to TV viewing and educational purposes.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in 2001 that children under two years of age have no screen exposure and that parents of children older than two years should limit exposure to less than two hours per day. Similar recommendations followed from the Australian Department of Health and the Canadian Paediatric Society.

"Children and adolescents live in media-saturated worlds where the introduction of newer mobile screen media has afforded them with unprecedented access to the wider world and hence a variety of activities (eg. video gaming, social networking, internet searching, TV watching) for academic, social and entertainment purposes.

"That these devices have been embraced by younger generations more quickly and incorporated more seamlessly into their daily routines has heightened concerns. Thus the viability of achieving less than two hours per day of SBMU may be difficult.

" The researchers said the recommendations needed to be rethought, taking into account the extent to which screen-based media use differed across specific screen activity, sex and age.

The study assessed the amount of time Australian children and adolescents spend on all types of screens and specific screen-based activities.

Data were collected from 2,620 eight to 16 year-olds from 25 government and non-government schools around Perth and Western Australia. Children were asked to report how many hours they spent on different screen types and activities—from when they woke up until they went to bed, including before, during and after school.

It was found an average of 63 percent of respondents exceeded the recommended guidelines of less than two hours. The most popular type of screen use was TV, with 90 percent reporting use in the past week, followed by laptop (59 percent), tablet (58 percent), and mobile phone (57 percent). The amount of screen use varied with age groups, with 45 percent of eight-year-olds exceeding the guidelines compared to 80 percent of 14 to 15-year-olds.

Boys were more likely to exceed the recommendation when playing computer games, while girls were more likely to do so through social networking, web use and TV/DVD/movies.

Co-author Associate Professor Michael Rosenberg, of UWA's School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, said that although the study's results might feel discouraging for parents who were trying to impose screen limits, they should not despair or give up.

"The study shows that it's difficult but you still need to try to encourage kids to limit their screen use," he said. "Even if you're not achieving the two hour limit, you are not failing your kids. If you are putting rules in place that limit their screen use and encouraging them to do physical activity, sit less and physically be with their friends, you're doing all right.

" He said that although there were concerns about adverse physical and mental health outcomes—something still being explored by the authors as part of their ongoing study—there were also potential benefits to screen use.

"The message isn't to give up but to try and understand more about what screen use is about, what they're getting from it, and to try and identify within your own family a balance between screen time and other activities," he said.

src: irishtimes

Maha shivaratri vrat katha Hindi, Maha shivaratari katha, fast story, katha download, celebrate Mahashivaratri, pooja, process, ritual, Shivratri women fast, ladies, female, Maha Shivratri 2015 date

2015-01-28T19:10:00.000+05:30

Maha shivaratri vrat katha Hindi, Maha shivaratari katha, fast story, katha download, celebrate Mahashivaratri, pooja, process, ritual, Shivratri women fast, ladies, female, Maha Shivratri 2015 date, Maha Shivratri

Maha Shivratri is to be celebrated on - 17th Feb 2015.

Story to be read on Maha Shivratri 2015

Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa (India), was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.

The sage asked the king the purpose of his observing the fast. King Chitrabhanu explained that he had a gift of remembering the incidents of his past birth, and in his previous life he had been a hunter in Varanasi and his name was Suswara. His only livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. The day before the new moon, while roaming through forests in search of animals, he saw a deer, but before his arrow flew he noticed the deer's family and their sadness at its impending death. So he let it live. He had still not caught anything when night fell, so he climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a Bael tree. His canteen leaked water, so he was both hungry and thirsty. These two torments kept him awake throughout the night, thinking of his poor wife and children who were starving and anxiously awaiting his return. To pass the time, he engaged himself in plucking the Bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.

The next day he returned home and bought some food for himself and his family. The moment he was about to break his fast a stranger came to him, begging for food. He served the food first to stranger and only ate afterward.

At the time of his death, he saw two messengers of Lord Shiva, sent to conduct his soul to the abode of Shiva. He learnt then for the first time of the great merit he had earned by unconscious worship of Shiva during the night of Maha Shivaratri. The messengers told him that there had been a Lingam (a symbol for the worship of Shiva) at the bottom of the tree. The leaves he dropped from the Bael tree had fallen into the shape of a Lingam, in imitation of Shiva's ritual worship. The water from his leaky canteen had washed the Lingam (also a ritual action), and he had fasted all day and all night. Thus, he unconsciously had worshiped Lord Shiva. At the conclusion of the tale the King said that he had lived in the abode of the Shiva and enjoyed divine bliss for a long time before being reborn as Chitrabhanu. This story is narrated in the Garuda Purana.[6]

'Shivaratri' means 'night of Shiva'. The important components of this religious festival are rigid fasting for twenty four hours and sleepless vigil during the night. Every true devotee of Lord Shiva spends the night of Shivaratri in deep meditation, keeping vigil and observing the fast.

The worship of Lord Shiva consists in offering flowers, Bilva leaves and other gifts on the Lingam, which is a symbol of Lord Shiva, and bathing it with milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, coconut water, butter, and rose-water.

When creation had been completed, Shiva and Parvati had been living on the top of Kailas. Parvati asked: “O venerable God, which of the many rituals observed in Thy honour doth please Thee most?” Lord Shiva replied: “The thirteenth night of the new moon, Krishna Paksha, in the month of Magha(February–March) is known as Maha Shivaratri, My most favourable Tithi. My devotees give Me greater happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths, and offerings of flowers, sweets, and incense.

"Just hear, My Beloved, of an episode which will give you an idea of the glory and power of this ritual," said Lord Shiva to Parvati.

“Once upon a time, there lived in the town of Varanasi a hunter. He was returning from the forest one evening with the game birds he had killed. He felt tired and sat at the foot of a tree to take some rest. He was soon overpowered by sleep. When he awoke, it was the thick darkness of night. It was the night of Maha Shivaratri but he didn't know it. He climbed up the tree, tied his bundle of dead birds to a branch and sat up waiting for the dawn. The tree happened to be My favorite, the Bilva tree.

“There was a Lingam under that tree. He had plucked a few leaves and then dropped them down, accidentally forming the shape of a Lingam. The night-dew trickled down from his body. I was highly pleased with involuntary little gifts of the hunter. The day dawned and the hunter returned home.

“In time, the hunter fell ill and gave up his last breath. The messengers of Yama(Lord of Death) arrived at his bedside to carry his soul to Yamlok(abode of Yama). My messengers also went to the spot to take him to My abode. There was a vicious fight between Yama’s messengers and My messengers. The former were easily defeated. They reported the matter to Yama, Lord of Death. He arrived in person at the portals of My abode. Nandi gave him an idea of the sanctity of Maha Shivaratri and the love which I had for that hunter. Yama surrendered the hunter to Me and returned to his abode. Thereafter, Yama has pledged not to touch my devotees without my consent.

“The hunter was able to enter My abode and ward off death by simple fasting and the offering of a few Bilva leaves, even accidentally, because it was the night of Maha Shivaratri. Such is the solemnity and sacredness associated with that night.”

Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Lord Shiva on the sanctity and glory of Maha Shivaratri. She repeated it to Her friends, who in their turn passed it on to the ruling princes on earth. Thus, the sanctity of Maha Shivaratri was broadcast all over the world.

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2015-01-28T18:51:00.000+05:30

How is Maha shivaratri celebrated, Maha Shivaratri 2015 date, Maha Shivaratri, Maha Shivaratri festival, celebrate Maha Shivaratri, pooja, process, ritual, Maha Shivaratri katha, teej women fast ladies female

Maha Shivaratri is on 17th Feb 2015.

There are 12 Jyotirlinga's all over India which are considered divine and places of worship of Lord Shiva. They are

Jyotirlingas

• Somnath Temple
• MallikarjunTemple
• Mahakaleshwara Temple
• Omkareshwar Temple
• Vaidyanath Temple
• Bhimashankar Temple
• Rameshwaram Temple
• Nageshwar Temple
• Vishwanath Temple
• Trimbakeshwar Temple
• Kedarnath Temple
• Grishneshwar Temple

Maha Shivratri (the 'Great Night of Shiva') is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is the day Shiva was married to Parvati. The Maha Shivratri festival, also popularly known as 'Shivratri' or 'Great Night of Lord Shiva', is observed on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha every year on the month of Falgun according to the Hindu calendar. Alternate common spellings include Sivaratri, Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivarathri. It marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Maagha as per Amavasya-ant month calculation. As per Poornima-ant month calculation, the day is Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Phalguna which falls in February or March as per the Gregorian calendar. Of the twelve Shivaratris in the year, the Maha Shivarathri is the most holy.

The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael or golden apple or Bilva/Vilvam leaves to Lord Shiva, all-day fasting and an all-night-(jagarana). All through the day, devotees chant "Om Namah Shivaya", a sacred Panchakshara mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva. In accordance with scriptural and discipleship traditions, penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach life's highest good steadily and swiftly. On this day, the planetary positions in the Northern hemisphere act as potent catalysts to help a person raise his or her spiritual energy more easily. The benefits of powerful ancient Sanskrit Mantras such as Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra increase greatly on this night

Rituals Performed on Maha Shivaratri

Very early morning, Shiva temples are flocked by devotees, young and old, who come to perform the traditional Shivalinga worship (puja) and hence hope for favours from the God. Devotees bathe at sunrise, preferably in the Ganga, or any other holy water source (like the Shiv Sagartank at Khajurao). This is a rite of purification, which is an important part of all Hindu festivals. Wearing clean clothing after the holy bath, worshippers carry pots of water to the temple to bathe the Shivalinga. Women and men both offer prayers to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva. The temple reverberates with the sound of bells and shouts of “Shankerji ki Jai” meaning 'Hail Shiva'. Devotees circulate the lingam three or seven times, and then pour water over it. Some also pour milk over it.

According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items:

    Bathing the Shiva Linga with water, milk and honey. Wood, apple or bel leaves are added to, which represents purification of the soul;
    Vermilion paste is applied to the Shiva Linga after bathing it. This represents virtue;
    Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;
    Burning incense, yielding wealth;
    The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge;
    And betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

Tripundra refers to the three horizontal stripes of holy ash applied to the forehead by worshipers of Lord Shiva. These stripes symbolise spiritual knowledge, purity and penance (spiritual practice of Yoga). They also represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva.

Wearing a mala (rosary) made from the rudraksha seeds of the rudraksha tree (said to have sprung from the tears of Lord Shiva) when worshiping Lord Shiva is ideal. A rudraksha seed is mahogany-like color, or could sometimes be black. They might also have traces of sacred sandalwood powder, turmeric, kumkum, or holy ash if the rosary is used in worship ceremonies or annointations.

Indian home remedy for dry skin kids, Remedies for Winters skin kids dry white scaly, Winters toddler infant skin gets dry, home remedies lotion for dry skin kids india, dry skin kids remedies

2015-01-27T19:49:00.001+05:30

Indian home remedy for dry skin kids, Remedies for Winters skin kids dry white scaly, Winters kids skin gets dry, home remedies lotion for dry skin kids india, dry skin kids remedies

During Winters toddlers, infants and kids skin gets dry and scaly with white layers on the skin.

Some lotions are being recommended by Pediatricians like Atogla Lotion/ cream - this is quite effective and can be easily found in chemist stores.
Home remedy for this is - apply glycerine mixed with rose water and apply 2-3 times to the kid in the effected area.
During Bath: dont apply harsh soaps, Use mild soaps recommended for kids.
Oil Massage followed by hot water bath: Oil Massage to the baby's body can prove beneficial.

Maddy Hill Biography, Maddy Hill photos images, Who is Maddy Hill 2015, Best new comer is maddy hill 2015, Maddy Hill actress about

2015-01-27T19:17:00.001+05:30

Maddy Hill Biography, Maddy Hill photos images, Who is Maddy Hill 2015, Best new comer is maddy hill 2015, Maddy Hill actress about

twitter account : https://twitter.com/maddy_hill90 (verified)

facebook fan account: https://www.facebook.com/MaddyHillFans

Maddy Hill
Born     1990 (age 24–25)
London Borough of Hackney, London, England
Occupation     Actress
Years active     2012–present
Hill's first credit was when she appeared in ITV1 drama, Whitechapel for two episodes in the third series. She then appeared as a checkout girl in the 2013 film, uwantme2killhim? and in the stage productions of As you like it and The Meeting Place as Phoebe & George respectively

In October 2013, it was announced that Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright had been cast as Mick and Linda Carter and that they would be taking over The Queen Victoria. At the end of the month, it was announced that Mick and Linda's children, Nancy & Johnny, would be played by Hill and Sam Strike respectively. Speaking of her casting Hill said; "I feel incredibly privileged to have been given such an amazing opportunity and I can't wait to start work with such a talented cohort of actors."[1] Hill first appeared as Nancy on 1 January 2014, in a storyline which saw her family take her from her own wedding, after disapproving of her fiancé. Her storylines since her arrival have included: her relationships with Wayne Ladlow (Malachi Kirby), Dexter Hartman (Khali Best), her father, Mick and brothers, Johnny & Lee (Danny-Boy Hatchard); her close relationship with her grandmother, Shirley (Linda Henry) and friendship with Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel); her epilepsy; and the comedy element she brings to the programme.

Paulina Vega Biography, Paulina Vega photos images, Who is Paulina Vega 2015, Miss universe 2015, Miss Columbia 2015 wins miss universe

2015-01-27T19:01:00.000+05:30

Paulina Vega Biography, Paulina Vega photos images, Who is Paulina Vega 2015, Miss universe 2015, Miss Columbia 2015 wins miss universe

Miss Colombia Paulina Vega, a relative pageant newcomer, has been crowned Miss Universe, beating out first runner-up Miss USA Nia Sanchez and contestants from more than 80 other countries at Sunday's pageant in Miami.
Vega, the 21-year-old granddaughter of celebrated Colombian singer Gastón Vega, is a student of business from the northern Colombia city of Barranquilla, and says this will be her final competition as she intends to resume her education

Although she was far from home, Vega said she still felt the support from local Latinos.

"It felt like home. I felt like I was in Colombia with my people. I felt that support in every moment of the pageant," she said, wearing a sparkling silver gown with vertical stripes at a press conference after the competition.

Substance warding off pre-term birth found

2015-01-13T18:06:00.000+05:30

New York, Jan 13 (IANS) Researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist, have identified a critical substance made by the body that protects against premature births caused by infection.

This is the first study to identify the specific role that hyaluronan (HA) plays in the reproductive tract, the researcher noted.

Hyaluronan is a natural substance found in many tissues, and is both a lubricant and a beneficial component of eyes, joints and skin.

"We found that HA is required to allow the epithelial lining of the reproductive tract to serve as the first line of defence against bacterial infections," said senior author Mala Mahendroo, associate professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in the US.

"Because of this action, HA offers cervical protection against the bacterial infections that cause 25 to 40 percent of pre-term births in women," Mahendroo said.

The World Health Organization estimates that 1.09 million children aged under five die from direct complications of being born prematurely.

"Our next step is to identify exactly how HA protects the cervix, which can have important clinical implications in the effort to reduce infection-mediated pre-term labour," said first author of the study Yucel Akgul from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre.

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Health beverages no good for consumers: Study

2015-01-13T18:01:00.000+05:30

Toronto, Jan 13 (IANS) Contrary to the claims made on their packages, some novel beverages such as vitamin waters and energy drinks marketed in Canada provide little nutritional benefits to the consumers, says a study.

"While our findings suggest that consumers stand to reap little or no benefit from the nutrient additions in novel beverages, most products were being marketed as if they provided a unique benefit to the consumer through the nutrient additions," Naomi Dachner from University of Toronto.

The novel beverages expose the consumers to unnecessarily high nutrient loads with no potential benefit, the study pointed out.

On-package marketing highlighted nutritional attributes such as immune support and antioxidant properties, and some made claims related to specific nutrients.

In addition, nutrients were often juxtaposed with messages related to performance and emotional well-being, benefits that go beyond conventional nutritional science.

The study found extensive micronutrient additions at levels often well in excess of nutrient requirements.

The most commonly found nutrients were vitamins B6, B12, C and niacin.

The findings were published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

Blocking hormone can fix stress-induced infertility

2015-01-13T17:56:00.000+05:30

New York, Jan 13 (IANS) Chronic stress activates a hormone that reduces fertility long after the stress has ended, but blocking this hormone returns female reproductive behaviour to normal, a research on rats has suggested.

Blocking the gene for the hormone -- called gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH) -- could help women overcome the negative reproductive consequences of stress, the findings suggested.

"What is absolutely amazing is that one single gene controls this complex reproductive system, and that you can elegantly knock this gene down and change the reproductive outcome completely," said Daniela Kaufer, an associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California in Berkeley, US.

"We know that human GnIH is present in the human brain and gonads, and that it inhibits the production of steroids in human ovaries, so certainly the potential is there for it to be manipulated to address human infertility," George Bentley from the University of Caifornia pointed out.

"GnIH seems to be the main player, because it is elevated in the brain's hypothalamus for a full estrus cycle after the stress ends," Kaufer noted. "When we knocked down levels of GnIH, we restored all reproductive behaviour back to normal."

Let schoolkids play first, eat later

2015-01-13T17:51:00.001+05:30

New York, Jan 13 (IANS) Holding recess before lunch increases fruit and vegetable consumption and decreases waste among schoolchildren, finds a study.

Holding recess before lunchtime can increase fruit and vegetable consumption by up to 54 percent.

"Recess is often held after lunch so children hurry to 'finish' so that they can go play - this results in wasted fruits and vegetables," said co-author David Just from Cornell University,

"We found that if recess is held before lunch, students come to lunch with healthy appetites and less urgency and are more likely to finish their fruits and vegetables," Just said.

Many schools in the US have reported that fruits and vegetables are feeding trash cans rather than students.

Lead author Joseph Price from Brigham Young University and Just conducted the study in a school district in Orem, Utah.

Seven schools within the district (grades one-six) participated in the study, three of which switched recess to before lunch and four continued to hold recess after lunch.

The researchers measured fruit and vegetable waste by standing next to the trash cans and recording the number of servings of fruits and vegetables that each student consumed or threw away.

They also measured whether or not each student ate at least one serving of fruits or vegetables.

After analysing a total of 22,939 observations, the researchers concluded that in the schools that switched recess to before lunch, children ate 54 percent more fruits and vegetables.

There was also a 45 percent increase in those eating at least one serving of fruits and vegetables.

An increased fruit and vegetable consumption in young children can have positive long term health effects, the researchers noted in the study published in the journal Preventive Medicine.

Top 10 General Cooking Tips for indians

2015-01-08T17:28:00.000+05:30

Cooking Tips: -

To peel the skin of almonds, tomatoes or peaches, simply soak in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. The skin can be easily removed.
To remove the corn from its cub, hold it straight with one end on the bottom of a big vessel. Then strip the corn with a knife. This will prevent messing up of the entire place.
When cutting raw banana, potatoes or eggplant, soak it in water to avoid discolouration. Similarly, to prevent apples, bananas or peaches from browning, add lemon juice.
Use the excess dal water from boiling dal to make rasam.
While adding curd to gravies or biriyani, break it nicely before adding.
While boiling milk, a little water can be added to the vessel before adding the milk to avoid the milk from sticking to the bottom.
Store nuts in the refrigerator to increase their shelf life.
To separate each string of noodles or any thin pasta, run it under cold water immediately after boiling and draining the water.
Curd in winter - Set in a ceramic container and place it on the voltage stabilizer of your refrigerator.
To cut meat easily, freeze it for some time before cutting.

src: simpleindianrecipes.com

What is psoriasis & its symptoms and signs?

2015-01-08T17:13:00.002+05:30

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a noncontagious skin condition that produces plaques of thickened, scaling skin. The dry flakes of skin scales are thought to result from the excessively rapid proliferation of skin cells that is triggered by an immune attack by abnormal lymphocytes. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Some people have such mild psoriasis (small, faint dry skin patches) that they may not even suspect that they have a medical skin condition. Others have very severe psoriasis where virtually their entire body is fully covered with thick, red, scaly skin.

Psoriasis is considered an incurable, long-term (chronic) skin condition. It has a variable course, periodically improving and worsening. It is not unusual for psoriasis to spontaneously clear for years and stay in remission. Many people note a worsening of their symptoms in the colder winter months.

Psoriasis affects all races and both sexes. Although psoriasis can be seen in people of any age, from babies to seniors, most commonly patients are first diagnosed in their early adult years. The quality of life of patients with psoriasis is often diminished because of the appearance of their skin. Recently, it has become clear that people with psoriasis are more likely to have diabetes, high blood lipids, and heart disease. There are speculations as to how this might relate to their joint and skin inflammation. Caring for psoriasis takes medical teamwork.

Psoriasis facts

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease.
Patients with psoriasis who areobese are predisposed to diabetesand heart disease.
Psoriasis can be initiated by certain environmental triggers.
A predisposition for psoriasis is inherited in genes.
Psoriasis is not contagious.
Psoriasis gets better and worse spontaneously and can have periodic remissions (clear skin).
Psoriasis is controllable with medication.
Psoriasis is currently not curable.
There are many promising therapies, including newer biologic drugs.
Future research for psoriasis is promising.

What are psoriasis symptoms and signs?

Psoriasis appears as red or pink areas of thickened, raised, and scaling skin. It classically affects areas over the elbows, knees, and scalp. Although any body area may be involved, it tends to be more common in areas of trauma, scratching, or abrasions.

Psoriasis may vary in appearance. It often appears as small flattened scaly bumps and larger thick plaques of raised skin.

There are several different types of psoriasis, including psoriasis vulgaris (common type), guttate psoriasis (small, drop-like spots), inverse psoriasis (in the folds like of the underarms, navel, groin, and buttocks), and pustular psoriasis (small pus-filled yellowish blisters). When the palms and the soles are involved, this is known as palmoplantar psoriasis.

Sometimes pulling off one of these small dry white flakes of skin causes a tiny blood spot on the skin. This is medically referred to as a special diagnostic sign in psoriasis called the Auspitz sign.

Genital lesions, especially on the head of the penis, are common. Psoriasis in moist areas like the navel or the area between the buttocks (intergluteal folds) may look like flat red patches. This may be confused with other skin conditions like fungal infections, yeast infections, skin irritation, or bacterial infections.

Finger and toenails often exhibit small pits (pinpoint depressions) and/or larger yellowish-brown separations of the nail bed called "oil spots." Nail psoriasis may be confused with and incorrectly diagnosed as a fungal nail infection.

Scalp psoriasis may look like severe dandruff with dry flakes and red areas of skin. It may be difficult to differentiate between scalp psoriasis and seborrhea dermatitis when only the scalp is involved. However, the treatment is often very similar for both conditions.

src: medicinenet.com

Top 15 diabetic diet tips for Indians

2015-01-08T16:16:00.001+05:30

Diabetes control is governed by following the right diabetic diet. What to eat and what not to eat is important for diabetes control and diabetes cure or diabetes reversal.
These are the top 15 diabetes diet tips from diabetologists and nutritionists. Even if you are pre-diabetic or borderline diabetic, or diabetes is part of your family, it is important to follow a diabetic diet to prevent diabetes.

Diabetologist, Dr. Sanjiv Bhambani with Moolchand Medcity suggests, "A diabetes diet should be high on fibre, must contain milk without cream, buttermilk, fresh seasonal fruits, green vegetables, etc." But remember to consume these components in moderation.

"Diabetes diet for Indians should have the ratio of 60:20:20 for carbs, fats and proteins. The doctor explains, "Per day calorie intake should be between 1,500-1,800 calories with a proportion of 60:20:20 between carbohydrates, fats and proteins, respectively." He adds that a diabetes diet should "have at least two seasonal fruits and three vegetables in a diet plan."

Though dry fruits may seem like a healthy snack, it is not a good option for diabetics, as the fructose can spike your sugar level. Go for fresh fruits rather than dry fruits for diabetes control (but there are some restrictions... we'll come to it). But you can still opt for nuts as a healthy snack.

The doctor shares his recipe for diabetes diet for Indians:

- One teaspoon of methi seeds soaked overnight in 100 ml of water is very effective in controlling diabetes.
- Drink tomato juice with salt and pepper every morning on an empty stomach.
- Intake of 6 almonds (soaked overnight) is also helpful in keeping a check on diabetes.

Rekha Sharma, President and Director of Indian Dietetic Association, shares some major diabetes diet pointers that one should follow at home or at a restaurant.

Whole grains, oats, channa atta, millets and other high fibre foods should be included in the meals. If one feels like consuming pasta or noodles, it should always be accompanied with vegetable/sprouts.

Milk is the right combination of carbohydrates and proteins and helps control blood sugar levels. Two servings of milk in a daily diet is a good option.
Diabetes Control: Diabetic Diet Tips

High fibre vegetables such as peas, beans, broccoli and spinach /leafy vegetables should be included in one's diet. Also, pulses with husk and sprouts are a healthy option and should be part of the diet.

Pulses are important in the diet as their effect on blood glucose is less than that of most other carbohydrate containing foods. Vegetables rich in fibre help lowering down the blood sugar levels and thus are healthy.

Good fats such as Omega-3 and monounsaturated fats (MUFA) should be consumed as they are good for the body. Natural sources for these are canola oil, flax seed oil, fatty fish and nuts. These are also low in cholesterol and are trans fat free.

Fruits high in fibre such as papaya, apple, orange, pear and guava should be consumed. Mangoes, bananas, and grapes contain high sugar; therefore these fruits should be consumed lesser than the others.

Small frequent meals:

A large meal gives rise to higher blood sugar in one's body, therefore it is essential to take small frequent meals to prevent both higher and very low blood sugar values and keep them constant. Small in between snacks can be dhokla, fruit, high fibre cookies, butter milk, yogurt, upma/poha with vegetables etc.

A person with diabetes should follow a diet which is low in carbohydrates, high in fibre and contains adequate amounts of proteins, vitamins and minerals; and avoid fatty foods and sweets. He/she should also take frequent small meals (5 meals pattern).

What not to do:
Artificial sweeteners can be used in cakes and sweets for diabetic people (in moderation).
Have lots of fluid.
Limit intake of alcohol.

Should you have non-veg?

In non-vegetarian diet, seafood and chicken can be taken rather than red meat as red meat contains higher amount of saturated fats. Also, patients with high cholesterol should avoid egg yolk and red meat.

The diabetes diet for Indians includes carbohydrates, proteins and fats. As always, a balanced and planned diet can build and improve personal health. A controlled diabetes diet may seem like a drag and bore, but a good cook can add life to a diet. Time to call up mom and experiment with diabetes diets!"
src: toi

Dos and don'ts during pregnancy

2015-01-08T15:56:00.000+05:30

Most women can continue working during pregnancy. Being pregnant, however, might present challenges at the workplace. To stay healthy and productive on the job, understand how to alleviate common pregnancy discomforts — and know when a work task might jeopardize your pregnancy.
Some FAQ:-

How much caffeine is safe?

Current research indicates that high levels of caffeine can result in miscarriage or low birth weight, so government health advice is not to exceed 200mg of caffeine a day.

Basically, if you eat a bar of plain chocolate and drink one mug of filter coffee a day, or if you drink two mugs of tea and a can of cola, you'll have reached the 200mg limit.

Can I dye my hair?

One pregnancy plus is that many women find their hair gets thicker (we won't dwell on it falling out again after the baby's born). It's one aspect of your appearance you still have some control over (unlike your boobs and waistline)

It's fine to colour your hair during pregnancy. Only enormous doses of the chemicals used in semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes would cause your baby harm.

If you're doing it yourself at home, wear gloves and open a window for ventilation. Because your hormones are all over the place, you might be more susceptible to an allergic reaction from a dye, so do a patch test 24 hours before application.

Should I sleep on my stomach or my back?

"Sleep however you are comfortable," says Pecoraro. "Regardless of how you sleep, (on your side for example) has no bearing on the positions your body takes throughout the night – sleep studies show we move all over the place when we sleep. There is a condition called postural supine hypotension in some women but not all. This condition in pregnancy causes the uterus to fall back on a major artery which can restrict blood flow and cause blood pressure to drop. It can make you feel dizzy or want to vomit. You simply would roll onto your side if this happens."

NOW COMING TO YOUR DIET : -

Diet
The concept that a pregnant woman should eat for two is long out-dated. Gynaecologist Dr Suman Bijlani says what a pregnant woman really needs is a well-balanced diet with a few extra ingredients to meet the unborn baby's needs. "You need to consume about 300 extra calories per day, which translates into one extra meal. But eating too much makes you prone to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and gives you a very large baby. Focus on adding extra proteins, iron and calcium to your existing diet," says Dr Bijlani.

Proteins
Include dals, pulses, sprouts, eggs, meats, fish, milk and milk products.

Carbohydrates
Provides energy and fibre. Avoid refined sugar and flour - they cause sugar levels to fluctuate. Stick to whole wheat (brown bread and flour), whole fruits and salads.

Fats
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and other essential fatty acids are important for the development of the fetal brain. These are essential for ideal development of intelligence, learning and vision. Add flax seeds, walnuts, beans, tofu, olive and soyabean oil to your diet. Non-vegetarians can benefit from fish intake or cod liver oil capsules.

Iron
Green leafy vegetables, beans and pulses, pomegranate, cherries, berries, litchi, pineapple, raisins, dates, figs and animal foods contain a good amount of iron. Vitamin C is essential for the absorption of iron - squeeze a lemon in your meal.

Calcium
You need more calcium to help your baby's developing bones, teeth and essential bodily functions. Adequate calcium also prevents backaches and prepares you for breastfeeding. Consume milk and milk products in various forms, nuts, seeds, beans, green leafy vegetables and seafood.

Prenatal oral care
According consultant obstetrician, Dr Saurabh Dani there is evidence of a link between gum disease and premature, underweight births. "Gingivitis is the most common problem occurring during pregnancy and happens because gums react to the plaque build-up more aggressively than when not pregnant. Be sure to let your dentist know you're pregnant.

In the first three months of pregnancy, x-rays, dental anaesthetics, pain medications and antibiotics should be avoided, unless absolutely necessary. A root canal can be performed during pregnancy and the best time to perform such a procedure is mid trimester," says Dr Dani.

Keep dental problems away by brushing and flossing regularly, eating a balanced diet and visiting your dentist regularly. Substitute sweets with more wholesome foods like cheese, fresh fruits or vegetables.

Exercise
According to obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Mukesh Gupta, feeling tired and gaining weight are normal during pregnancy but exercise provides relief. "Being active and exercising 30 minutes daily reduces backache, constipation, bloating, swelling, prevents or treats gestational diabetes, increases your energy, improves mood and posture, promotes muscle tone, strength and endurance, and helps you sleep better. Regular activity also improves ability to cope with labour pain and makes it easier for you to get back in shape after giving birth. However, don't exercise to lose weight while you are pregnant," says Dr Gupta.

Getting started
Before beginning your exercise program, talk to your doctor to ensure you don't have any obstetric or health condition. Ask about specific exercises or sports that interest you. Most forms of exercise are safe. However, some involve positions and movements that may be uncomfortable, tiring or harmful. For instance, after the first trimester, avoid exercises that require you to lie flat on you back. Standing still for long periods is also not encouraged. Exercise during pregnancy is most practical during the first 24 weeks. If it has been some time since you've exercised, start slowly. Exercises like walking, swimming cycling and aerobics are a good way to keep fit.

Speedy health tips for working women

2015-01-08T15:31:00.001+05:30

New Delhi: It is rightly said that behind the success of every man, there is a woman. Gone are the days when a woman was just confined to the home and kitchen. So, if you are working, dear lady, you need to take care of your health too in order to take care of your family. Juggling long working hours and family life, one rarely finds time for themselves. But, complaining is not the solution. It is crucial to maintain a balance between your personal and professional life.

-Try staying active throughout the day like when you are in office, avoid sitting for long hours and instead take a walk in between, or do some desk exercises such as stretching on the chair, twisting etc. in order to relieve stress and exhaustion.

-Enforcing a healthy lifestyle and good eating habits is another major area that you need to take care of. Never try to fill your stomach with junk food when hungry, rather try to snack healthy like having fruits, juices, nuts etc.

-Try drinking a lot of water say at least 7-8 glasses daily as it helps the body to function properly and also prevents dehydration.

-Hangout with friends and try to be happy and leave aside your worries. When you are happy your body releases good hormones called `endorphin` which help in combating stress.

-After weeks of hectic work schedules, you surely deserve a pamper session. So, take time out and go to for a relaxing spa session and manicure, pedicure, facial sittings once a month. Also, do what it takes to give yourself a little `you` time everyday.

So go on ladies make the most of these tips and stay healthy.

src: zee news

Anger could be an indicator of good health!

2015-01-08T15:21:00.000+05:30

New York, Jan 8 (IANS) Contrary to popular belief prevalent in Western societies, researchers have found that anger is actually linked with better, not worse health, in certain cultures.

Greater anger is associated with better biological health among Japanese people, the findings showed.

"The truism linking anger to ill health may be valid only within the cultural boundary of the 'West,' where anger functions as an index of frustration, poverty, low status and everything else that potentially compromises health," said psychological scientist Shinobu Kitayama from University of Michigan.

For the study, the researchers examined survey data drawn from participants in the US and Japan.

To measure health, the researchers looked at biomarkers for inflammation and cardiovascular functioning, both of which have been linked to anger expression in previous research.

The combination of these two factors served as a measure of overall biological health risk.

The researchers also looked at measures that gauged various aspects of anger, including how often participants expressed angry feelings through verbally or physically aggressive behaviours.

The data revealed that greater anger expression was associated with increased biological health risk among US participants, as previous studies have shown.

But greater anger expression was associated with reduced biological health risk among Japanese participants.

"The association between greater anger and compromised biological health, taken for granted in the current (Western) literature, was completely reversed so that greater anger was associated with better biological health among Japanese," Kitayama said.

"These findings show how socio-cultural factors go under the skin to influence vital biological processes," Kitayama said.

The study was published in the journal Psychological Science.

People who watch TV shun healthy diets

2015-01-08T15:14:00.000+05:30

New York, Jan 8 (IANS) People who watch excessive amounts of TV tend to eat more unhealthy foods and might not understand the foundations of a healthy diet, a study says.

Individuals who watch more TV have a more fatalistic view toward eating well and tend to think that nutrition is too difficult to understand, leading them to give up trying to eat well, the findings showed.

"I found people who watch more TV had both a poorer understanding of proper nutrition and a more fatalistic view toward eating well compared to those who watched less TV," said Temple Northup from University of Houston.

"In turn, those two items predicted snacking behaviours," Northup added.

Those with a more fatalistic view toward eating well tend to eat more snack foods.

Because consumers are inundated with advertising for unhealthy food and messages about the latest trends in what you should (or should not) eat, they develop these poor attitudes towards and knowledge about eating well, Northup suggested.

A common explanation for the relationship between television use and unhealthy diet is that TV watching is sedentary and encourages snacking.

"I wanted to investigate underlying psychological reasons that this relationship might exist," Northup added.

The study involved 591 participants.

"It is important to understand how people develop knowledge about nutrition, including examining nutritional messages found within the media," the authors pointed out.

This study was published in the International Journal of Communication and Health.

Daily avocado cuts heart disease risk

2015-01-08T15:02:00.000+05:30

New York, Jan 8 (IANS) Adding an avocado to your daily diet helps lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease, a study says.

"Including one avocado each day as part of a moderate-fat, cholesterol-lowering diet provides additional LDL (bad cholesterol) lowering affects which benefit CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk," said Penny Kris-Etherton, professor at Pennsylvania State University.

Known to have originated in Mexico and Central America, avocado is cultivated in a very limited scale in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka in the south-central India and in the eastern Himalayan state Sikkim.

Avocados are known to be a nutrient-dense food, high in monounsaturated fatty acids. Previous studies have suggested that avocados are a cholesterol-lowering food, but this is the first study to look at health implications of avocados beyond monounsaturated fatty acids, the researchers added.

For the study, the researchers tested three different diets, all designed to lower cholesterol: a lower-fat diet, consisting of 24 percent fat, and two moderate fat diets, with 34 percent fat.

The moderate fat diets were nearly identical, however, one diet incorporated one Hass avocado every day while the other used a comparable amount of high oleic acid oils - such as olive oil - to match the fatty acid content of one avocado.

The researchers tested the diets with 45 healthy, overweight adults between the ages of 21 and 70. All participants followed each of the three diets for five weeks.

The avocado diet decreased bad cholesterol by 13.5 mg/dL ( milligram per per decilitre), while LDL was decreased by 8.3 mg/dL on the moderate-fat diet and by 7.4 mg/dL on the low-fat diet.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

How to Cure Bad Breath?

2015-01-05T17:36:00.000+05:30

Have you ever noticed people trying to maintain a distance when you talk? Do people try and touch there nose more frequently when you are speaking? If yes then I am sure you must be aware why is it happening. If not then let me tell you. It all happens because you have a bad breath.
Bad breath or halitosis is primarily caused due to poor dental care and oral hygiene. Rarely is it caused due to any major health problem. Though it is quite a common problem but, it can be very embarrassing at times. In the absence of proper care it can have an impact on person’s private and social life as well.

Causes of bad breath:

• Zinc deficiency
• Dehydration
• Gum disease
• Tooth infections
• Accumulation of food between the teeth
• Some medications
• Anemia

How to get rid of bad breath:

• To get rid of bad breath chew 1 or 2 cloves, mint leaves or cardamom daily after meals.
• Add a drop of tea tree oil to your toothpaste right before you brush. Or use it as a mouthwash by adding 3 drops of the oil to a cup of warm water. Gargle with this solution twice or thrice a day.
• Add 1/2 tablespoon of apple cinder vinegar into a glass of water. Gargle for 10 seconds with this solution.

• Chew some tender leaves of guava tree. It helps to cure bleeding gums and bad breath.
• Sprinkle baking soda on your toothbrush. Brush your teeth with it and then rinse with water.
• Tea made from fenugreek seeds is a good bad breath remedy. Mix a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to ½ liter of water, simmer for 15 minutes, strain and drink as tea.
• Drink a cup of pineapple juice daily to get rid of bad breath.
• Eat yoghurt daily for six to seven weeks to keep bad breath at bay.
• Squeeze one lemon in a cup of water. Use this water to gargle and get rid of bad breath.
• Chew some sunflower seeds after each meal and drink a glass of water after it. It is one of the most effective remedy to get rid of bad breath.
• Gargle with salt water to reduce bacteria in the mouth, which inturn will lead to curing the bad breath problem.

Some tips for better oral hygiene:

• Use a mouth wash to keep bad breath at bay or else people will remain at bay from you.
• For a complete oral cleaning brushing teeth is not sufficient clean your tongue too.
• Say no to alcohol.
• Eat a healthy diet not only to maintain a good body but also good oral structures.
• Avoid smoking and chewing tobacco as they damage the oral tissue completely and not to mention causes oral cancer as well.
• Visit a dentist at least twice a year. Getting your teeth cleaned by a professional would only help you maintain your pearly smile for long.

Hope these tips will help you fight against the problem of bad breath.

src: makeupandbeauty.com

5 Hydrating Face Packs For Winter

2015-01-05T17:11:00.000+05:30

Winters are quite pleasant in India and especially for the people who live in the plains, winter comes as a boon to relieve them from the scorching heat and irksome humidity. However, the winter months tend to be dry and your skin is affected too. Your skin becomes dry and feels stretchy. Nevertheless, with a proper skin care regimen, the winter dryness can be efficiently combated. For this purpose, you not only need a good quality moisturizer but you also need hydrating face packs to retain moisture level in your skin. Looking for some effective hydrating face mask for winter months? Here is an article with top five ideas for hydrating face packs in winter months with the most easily available ingredients.

Top 5 Hydrating Face Masks For Winters:

1. Milk Cream – Honey Face Mask:

Mix a spoon of milk cream (malai) with a spoon of honey. Spread the mixture thoroughly on your face and wait for about 15 minutes. Wash it off with tepid water and finally with cold water. Both milk cream and honey helps to nourish your skin and moisturize it thoroughly. This mask works great for dry-skinned beauties. You may like it too if you have normal skin.

2. Cocoa Butter – Olive Face Mask:

Mix a spoon of cocoa butter with a spoon of olive oil. Add a pinch of ginger paste. Apply on your face and wait for 15 minutes. Rinse off with normal water. Cocoa butter is natural and free from any preservatives. However, if your skin is prone to acne and clogging of pores, cocoa butter face pack may not be ideal for you.

3. Almond Oil – Milk Face Mask:

Mix a spoon of almond oil with two spoons of raw milk. Apply on your face and let it stay on for 10 minutes. Wash it off with tepid water and finally with cold water. This pack is wonderful if your skin feels dry and parched; it helps your skin benefit from the goodness of milk and the hydrating properties of almond oil. Almond oil penetrates your skin with ease and helps retain moisture content in your skin. That is why, almond oil is a perfect choice during the winter months.

4. Rosewater – Strawberry Face Mask:

Take two spoons of blended strawberry and a spoon of rose water. Mix them together and apply on your face. Let it sit on your face for 20 minutes and then rinse off. This mask can be used by oily-skinned beauties without a problem. Strawberry is rich in Vitamin C as well as omega-3 fatty acids. It is an organic fruit that helps in doing away with free radicals and at the same time, ensures a significant improvement in skin conditions.

5. Banana – Milk Powder/Rose Water Face Mask:

Banana is known for its moisturizing properties. Mix a spoon of mashed banana with milk powder. Use rose water instead of milk if you have oily skin. Add a few drops of honey too. Apply the mask, wait for 20 minutes and then rinse off. Your skin feels hydrated, soft and smooth.

These face packs should be used at least two times every week. Make sure that you choose a mask that suits your skin type, so that you may nourish your skin the way it wants. Do away with any ingredients that makes you allergic or aggravates any skin problem you are prone to, like acne or pimples. Make sure that you wash your face well (preferably with besan and milk) before using the face packs. Do not forget to apply a light facial moisturizer after rinsing off the face pack.

src: makeupandbeauty.com

How to Take Care of Your Eyes in Winter

2015-01-05T17:05:00.000+05:30

How to Take Care of Your Eyes in Winter

Hey all you beautiful ladies, wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year Hope you are doing well and must be enjoying the winters☺. Warm woolens, gloves, high boots, quilts at night… ahhhhh sighhh!! It’s all a dream for me here in Pondicherry. But it’s still not that bad, as I am going home next month to have a share of the winter chill As of now I am counting the days.

While some of us enjoy winters, the fact cannot be denied that they are also accompanied by a lot of problems. Dry and rough skin, hair fall, fizzy hair, cracked heels are only a few to be mentioned. However, most often we tend to forget one more common issue that almost all of us face but still ignore it mostly because we don’t know what to do. I am talking about the eye problems faced during winter. Being an eye specialist’s wife I am reminded on and off about it, so I thought of sharing some tips to maintain healthy eyes during winter.

The winter season brings in dryness, and our skin is not the only one affected. Our eyes too suffer because of the dryness. It also lacks moisture and the side effect is dry and itchy eyes. What we do is rub our eyes or splash them with water and forget about it. During the winter the moisture from our eyes evaporates and the tear glands become insufficient to produce enough fluid to maintain the moist coating required to keep our eyes hydrated. This results to dryness, blurred vision, itchiness and burning sensation. Following the simple steps can help you to get rid of such discomfort.

1. Sunglasses

Whenever you move out in the freezing temperature taking extra protection for your eyes is a must. Wear sunglasses to keep your eyes protected from the chilling winds, the prime cause of dryness. Well, this may sound weird to wear dark glasses in a gloomy day, so take the option of selecting light colored shades. They will also protect your eyes from dust and dirt.

2. Keeping your eyes clean

It is very essential to clean your eyes more often during the winters. Splash it with cold water and do not forget to properly clean off all the makeup every night. Using a good alcohol free eye makeup cleaner is essential as the alcohol content tends to make your eyes even drier.

3. Keeping your eyes moisturized

Apply a good eye cream during the winter season every morning as well as at night to avoid premature aging as well as wrinkles. An under eye moisturizer is a must.

4. Dandruff treatment

That sounds irrelevant, but is true. Keeping your scalp dandruff free is the essential to prevent flakey eyebrows and lashes. This may cause dandruff to appear in your eye lashes as well causing itchiness and irritation.

5. Benefits of vitamin e oil

Massage one or two drops of vitamin e oil every night around your eyes. This is like a magic potion for the winters. You can also use the fluid in the vitamin e pills. This is an excellent remedy for tired eyes.

6. Visiting an ophthalmologist

Lastly if the dry eye symptoms persist, it is better to visit an eye specialist. You will be prescribed some lubricating eye drop that will ease off the discomfort. These are artificial tear drops which keeps our eye moist and lubricated. I use it almost during the entire winter season. It soothes the eyes.
Moreover the winter season also calls for many eye diseases, the most common ones being conjunctivitis or the redness of eyes. It causes excessive irritation in the eyes with white sticky discharge from the eyes. If this happens, visit the doctor immediately before the problem aggravates. You will get quick relief with regular use of the prescribed medicines.

src:makeupandbeauty.com

Revealing The Incredible Weight Loss Journey Of Sonakshi Sinha

2015-01-03T11:37:00.000+05:30

The actress lost almost 30 kgs before entering Bollywood. However, losing weight was not an easy task for her. Still, she got into shape by following some simple mantras. So, if you want to know what are those mantras that helped her to shed those extra kilos, then read on.

Sonakshi Sinha’s motivation for weight loss

From a plump kid to a hot diva, Sonakshi Sinha has now become a fitness icon for many. Sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and love for junk food were the main reasons behind her plump figure. But, with strenuous workout and diet plan, she got rid of her extra weight, “It was a combination of proper diet and vigorous exercise that got me to the shape I am in now,” she says.

In fact, she is thankful to her co-star Salman Khan, for motivating her to shed that extra weight. It was due to his motivation that the actress lost 30 kgs for her first movie. She says, “He saw potential in me and egged me on to lose weight. I would say his contribution was the highest as I started taking it seriously only after he told me to.”

People’s criticism regarding her weight “never really bothered” Sonakshi when she was a kid, as the drive to lose it “didn’t come from within.” But, once her inner voice provoked her, she was all set to bid farewell to her extra weight. “If it hadn’t come from within, I wouldn’t have done it,” she adds. And thus, she began her journey to lose weight.

Sonakshi Sinha’s exercise regime

Like many people, Sonakshi too hated gym and knew that training “wasn’t going to be easy”. But, once she made up her mind to get into shape, “there was no looking back” after that. Sonakshi says, “It was not easy at all for somebody like me. I am the kind of person who hates the gym. I am allergic to the gym. I want to run away from it. But I think once I put my mind to something, I go out and achieve it, and I guess I did that.”

The 27-year-old star even hired Shahid Kapoor’s trainer to tone down her body.

Her workout routine consists of:

Cardio exercises, cycling, and functional and weight training.
Swimming and playing tennis.
Visiting gym twice a day.
Hot yoga and spinning for more flexibility.

If you are looking for some effective exercises to look like your favourite celebrity, then here are some Best Yoga Exercises to Lose Weight and Look Gorgeous.

And surprisingly, the actress never checks on her weight, “I don't know how many kilos I lost, I don't get on the scale. As long as I am feeling fit and I can feel myself toning up, looking thinner, then scale doesn't really matter,” she adds.

Sonakshi Sinha’s diet plan

Being a foodie, it was hard for Sonakshi to “curtail” herself from all those “goodies” that she really loves. She said in one of her interviews, “Food is my first love. I never followed a diet that makes me cranky and unhappy. I believe I work too hard to deprive myself of the one thing I love the most- food! I eat regular food, but in lesser quantities than before. Eating small meals every 2 hours helps in keeping up the metabolism all day. I even binge sometimes. Who's gonna stop me when there's a brownie right in front of my eyes? But if I do, an extra 20 minutes on the treadmill is a must.”

She also makes sure to drink plenty of water to keep herself hydrated. Here is the diet plan, which she follows:

Breakfast: Cereal and milk with whole wheat toast.
Mid-morning: Some dry fruits and a cup of green tea.
Lunch: Homemade roti and sabzi with salad.
Evening: A fruit or a cup of green tea.
Dinner: She eats early and takes dal, sabzi, chicken, and fish. She does not take any carbohydrates after 6 pm.
Now that she looks stunning in her new avatar, here is a piece of advice that Sonakshi has to say, “Don't expect results overnight. It took you months or years to pile on the kilos, what makes you think it will be gone in a few days? It is important to condition your mind and be patient during the process. Rather than dwelling on how much more you have to achieve, think of how far you have already come.”

src: yahoo.com

Health benefits of brinjals or baingan

2015-01-03T11:30:00.001+05:30

Brinjal, known as baingan in Hindi, is known to be king of vegetables. High on nutrients, this vegetable has many health benefits and hence, you should consume it at least once a week. Although a lot of people don’t like the taste, if you cook it well, it can be extremely delicious. Here is why you should add this vegetable to your list of groceries the next time you shop for vegetables.

Prevent cancer

Fibre and antioxidants are just two of the nutrients that make brinjal a food that can keep cancer at bay. Fibre helps clear the toxins present in your digestive tract and has been found useful in the prevention of colon cancer. Additionally, the antioxidants help in fighting free radical damage to your cells which helps keep cancer at bay.

Great for weight loss

Brinjals are great for weight loss as they are low in calories with 100g of the vegetable containing just 25 calories. It is also rich in fibre which helps in promoting the feeling of satiety which means that eating a small serving will make you feel full and prevent you from overeating.

Prevent heart disease

Like most fruits and vegetables, brinjals too are great for your heart. Being rich in fiber, potassium, vitamin B-6 and phytonutrients like flavonoids, this vegetable lowers the risk of heart disease. The presence of antioxidants keeps your arteries healthy and prevents heart attack. Here are 6 heart-healthy diet tips for people with heart disease.

Controls blood pressure

Brinjal contains potassium, an important mineral, which plays a key role in maintaining electrolyte balance in the body. It also helps in neutralizing the effects of sodium on the body thereby aiding in blood pressure control. Apart from this, increased intake of anthocyanins that are present in high amounts in brinjal, also lowers your blood pressure.

Good for diabetics

As brinjals are low in carbohydrates and high in fibre content, they are known to be good for people suffering from diabetes. This is because, the high fibre causes helps in controlling blood sugar levels in the body by controlling the absorption of glucose from food.

Lowers cholesterol in the body

Brinjals is rich in chlorogenic acid that acts as a powerful antioxidant agent, lowering cholesterol levels in the body. It also contains high amounts of fibre that increases the absorption of blood cholesterol by the liver to produce bile.

Gives your skin a natural glow

As we age, our skin undergoes free radical damage which can cause the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on our faces. The antioxidants and vitamins present in brinjals can prevent this from happening. Additionally, it is also high in water which flushes toxins from your body and gives your skin a nice and healthy glow.

Good for your brain

Eating brinjals can prevent brain damage as it contains phytonutrients that can protect your cell membranes. These phytonutrients are also known to boost memory function and aid in transferring messages from one part of your body to another.

Help you to quit smoking

Apart from these benefits, brinjal is also known to have nicotine and thus helps in quitting tobacco. However, you’ll have to eat 10 kg of the vegetable to get as much nicotine into your body as a cigarette.

Tips you should follow while incorporating brinjal in your diet

Instead of metal knife, use a stainless steel knife to cut the vegetable as it prevents the chemical reaction between pytochemicals present in brinjal and metal.
As you cut brinjal, put them in salt water or sprinkle salt over the pieces. This removes the compounds that render bitter taste to the vegetable. It also makes your dish more tasty and palatable.
Brinjal can be added to any dishes like sambhar, pizza or pasta or can be consumed even in fried, baked, sauted, grilled, roasted or steamed form.

src: yahoo.com