Will crystals really heal?

The better we understand the properties of crystals and the way they work with our bodies, the more effective becomes the healing. Simply picking up a crystal and wearing it for a purpose without cleansing or energizing may not help, and simply rejecting a crystal or gemstone may be due to lack of knowledge.

Here are a few tips which may help

If someone recommends a crystal or gemstone to you, find out why it's been recommended. The more you know, the better and faster is the healing. Simply wearing a pearl because your mom's astrologer told you to, may soothe the anxiety and the anger but when you understand how it may be connected with the placement of the Moon on your natal chart and realize just how it may be strengthening the lunar energies, may yield more effective results.

Don't wear a crystal the minute you buy it, cleanse it thoroughly. Cleansing can range from soaking it overnight in unboiled milk, salt water or running water etc. Find out from the seller, your crystal healer or astrologer how to remove the energies and imprints from the crystal before you wear it.

Do get it energized by a healer or astrologer, who may use hands on healing, a mantra or some other form of programming. This will allow the crystal or gem to work exclusively for you.

Do trust your gut feel about the crystal, if it feels right, it’s working. If it feels heavy, dense or makes you feel uncomfortable remove it. Share your concerns with your healer.

Do not get distressed if your crystal or gem falls off, cracks, breaks or gets lost. Many crystal healers believe its work done.

If you find your crystal pendant or bracelet is bringing in positive results don’t think that by wearing earrings, rings, necklaces of the same stone at the same time will amplify the positivity. You may be overdosing yourself and remember too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

Melanocyte transplant for leucoderma

Finally, those suffering from leucoderma aka vitiligo (white patches on skin) have an answer to their problem. They can undergo the melanocyte transplant (which has been available for the last 10 years) at a Bangalore Clinic. Patients with large patches of leucoderma, which were thought to be incurable, can look forward to getting the normal skin colour.

According to Dr Vivekanand, cosmetic surgeon, “Many patients waste their money on alternate unapproved treatments. They try them to get rid of patches but get disappointed instead when they see no results. There is a notion that allopathy has no cure for lecoderma.”

“In melanocyte transplant, a thin sample of skin is taken from the thigh and a melanocyte cell suspension is developed from this piece. The affected area (white patches) is then dermabraded to remove the upper layer of skin and the cell suspension is applied onto the white patches. Unlike older treatments like skin grafting or punch grafting, with melanocyte transplant, you can get better cosmetic skin colour that matches the surrounding skin. This procedure does not require hospitalisation, and a small donor area of the skin is required to treat large areas of white patches. Thus, this treatment provides a safe and effective solution for leucoderma,” explains Dr Vivekanand.

Acne with rosy cheeks

I’ve had acne since I was a teenager. Of late, my face always appears pink and looks like I’ve applied blush. This is quite embarrassing.
— Madhuri, 45 years

You have an adult acne condition called acne rosacea. When exposed to certain triggers like the sun, a hot bath or anger, there is a sudden increase in blood flowing through the blood vessels under the skin. This causes the blood vessels to become wider, leading to your flushed appearance. Your skin may become sensitive and react to simple products such as lotions and soaps. If untreated, rosacea may lead to rhinophyma, which causes the nose to look enlarged, red and bumpy. With rosacea, you need to opt for medical help as this type of acne may not respond well to over-the-counter products.

My back has large painful boils and scars. I feel ashamed and have not gone swimming for the past two years. I can’t go shirtless even at home.
Eshwar, 37 years

Acne on the back takes several forms, such as blackheads, red pus-filled boils, nodules and cysts, which are painful and form deep under the skin’s surface. These breakouts are usually triggered by excessive perspiration and friction on the back due to tight-fitting clothes that constantly brush against the skin. Back acne tends to be more severe than that on the face. This may be either due to improper skin care as the back is not very easily accessible to cleaning or due to the fact that treatment is usually delayed as it is not an exposed area. So, apart from taking timely medical help, it is important to wear loose-fitting cotton clothes, take two showers daily and use dusting powder liberally to absorb excess perspiration.

Remedies for Scalp infections

Come winter and there is an increase in body infections. Trichologist Dr Shahid Shamsher talks about three basic precautions to help prevent scalp infections from developing during this season.

Don’t keep touching your head.

Some people have an itchy scalp or get small pimples on the head, making them want to scratch it again and again. Others feel like constantly fingercombing their hair. Most of us perform these actions automatically, but our hands are a source of bacteria and viruses. For example, when you hold a pen, touch a keyboard or shake hands with someone, your hands get contaminated. Each time you touch your head, you transfer that contamination to the scalp. We wash our hands several times a day. But how often do we wash our heads?

Don’t share certain things.

Combs, pillow covers, helmets and hair bands are objects that have contact with your scalp. If they are contaminated, they easily transfer the infection to your scalp. This is especially true of people who stay in the same house. Frequent travellers face a similar problem. Even the best hotels fall short on hygienic. There was a sting operation carried out by a popular news channel that showed high amounts of fungal growth on pillow covers and beddings at some top-notch hotels in India.

Stay hygienic

Because of the cold weather, many people stop washing their heads. This is especially true of those who need to leave their homes early in the morning. While it’s understandable that there are genuine concerns about catching a cold in this weather, some level of hygiene has to be maintained. Last week, I met a patient who preferred to wash his head once a month. This is totally unhygienic. Washing the scalp at a different time of day.

Homeopathy cures diseases naturally

We are not just the sum, but also the substance of all our parts. Every part of the body, directly or indirectly, affects the other in health and disease. Homeopathy has always recognised the relationship that exists between the mind and body. It, therefore, focuses its healing powers on the patient’s mental state, even while treating physical problems. Peptic ulcers are evidenced to be perpetrated by stress. Homeopathy treats the root cause (stress). In doing so, it reduces the chances of reappearance. Health is a state of inner balance. Homeopathy is evidently more effective in treating psychosomatic (mind-body) diseases compared to any other system of medicine.

The following chronology provides a classical illustration of disease progression in many patients. As you will see, each disease is distinct or unrelated. The correlation becomes clear when the evolution of the entire picture of the disease is considered.

Patients with bouts of sneezing (allergic rhinitis) are often treated with anti-histamines by conventional physicians. As the allergic state worsens, they may develop bronchitis and even breathlessness. They now seek the advice of chest specialists who may put them on antibiotics, bronchodilators and inhalers. Also, in view of their inherent allergic tendencies, allergies often manifest in these patients in various forms. They are usually treated with steroids. This may trigger weight gain and/or diabetes. A diabetologist may now come into the picture. Besides, with every complication, depending upon the body part involved, the patient may consult specialist dermatologists, cardiologists, ophthalmologists, urologists and neurologists. Each of them will have a drug or two to add, so the patient eventually ends up taking 5-10 medicines every day. This heightens the risk of side-effects or druginduced diseases. Does this not imply that if homeopathic medicines, a safer alternative, were used in the beginning, unpleasant effects could have been possibly avoided and complications nipped in the bud?

Homeopathy has rightfully earned the reputation of being a holistic medical system. It endeavours to rid diseases from their roots, naturally and safely. Its biggest advantage is that it is a single remedy treats a patient’s symptoms on the whole, irrespective of the number of organs or systems involved.

DIY: Cleanse your home

Ever got that spooky or uncomforting feeling when you enter a house? Well it may not exactly be a stray ghost trying to freak you out. But there is certainly a possibility that the house is filled with negative energy. Here are five simple things that you can do to keep your home safe from all the worldly negativity and retain it as a haven of peace and love.

SMELL THE FLOWERS

Try and make it a habit to gift beautiful, fresh flowers to your home every day. Your home deserves some pampering too to keep it looking cheerful and happy. The flowers bring good luck and positive energy with it. So it helps in maintaining an air of freshness in your home. And don’t forget to throw it out when it wilts. A rotting flower is not exactly a great eye pleaser.

MOVE YOUR FURNITURE

At least once every month! Well, just like your body, the furniture need some change too. Plus keeping it in the same place for too long will result in static energy, which eventually results in a feeling of stagnancy in your home.

REMOVE THE EVIL EYE

Place a small bowl of rock salt in every corner of your home. The rock salt helps nullify the effect of bad thoughts and negative energy. Remember to flush the salt after every few days.

A HOLY REMEDY

This is a daily fixation in most religious Hindu households – the sprinkling of holy water in the house. It helps to purify your house. The water element also cools down all the negativity that may have been brewing. Make this as a part of your morning ritual and see the difference in your life.

AFFIRM POSITIVITY AND PROSPERITY

You needn’t be religious and recite a long list of verses or scriptures. Even affirming something as simple and positive like ‘Life is perfect, and I am blessed’ can have a huge and wonderful impact on your home. The affirmations have vibrations which keep the air or the atmosphere of your home charged with good energy.

Taking care of the newborn

Becoming a mother is an ecstatic experience. The joys of motherhood come with the daunting task of taking care of the newborn. Newborns are adorable, but they can be unpredictable too. Innumerable questions pop in the minds of young mothers.

How do I hold my baby?
How many feeding and pooping sessions are ok? What about taking care of umbilical cord? Can I give my baby a pacifier or may be a bottle?

Winter care for neonatal

Winter means more time indoors and people in close proximity to each other. The result often means more than joy is spread: germs often get passed around as well. Here are some health issues to consider this season:

Newborns need to be loved, kept clean, warmed and fed. By doing all this, you are building your child's sense of security required for his/her later development

Allow plenty of rest for your baby and yourself

Frequently feed babies to develop better sleep patterns. Breast feeding is the best option as besides nourishment, breastfeeding may give babies immunity against infections and also gives mother and baby a chance to bond

There should be no frequent outings especially during extreme winters, and should be covered properly while going out. Both baby and mother should share the same bed to have the natural heat and warmth from the mother

There should be minimum visitors at home during winters and least baby handling should be done

Stay away from baby and mother if anybody is suffering with cough and cold to avoid any kind of infection

If the child is totally dependent on breast-milk then it may suffer with transitional diarrhoea which involves number of watery stools in a day. But still consult pediatrician

Infants often have watery diarrhoea intermittently associated with constipation (one stool after 96 hours). They might pass it immediately after waking up and after feeds. They may even pass undigested foodstuff in their stools

Breastfeeding cuts diabetes risk in moms

Now, there is one more reason why mothers should breastfeed their babies for a longer period, as a new study has claimed it could protect women against diabetes in later life.

According to the study, breastfeeding for one month can halve the mother’s risk of pre-diabetes, a condition which can lead to full-blown diabetes and heart disease. The study, carried out over a span of 20 years, found that mothers who did so had healthier levels of blood fats and glucose than those who were bottlefeeding.

The study of 704 women, who were all expecting their first child, looked at the development of Metabolic Syndrome, a pre-diabetes condition, in the two decades after they gave birth.

Gunderson, of the Kaiser Permanente care organisation in California, said it was unclear exactly how breastfeeding affects the diabetes risk factors.

Mouthwash can raise oral cancer risk 9-fold

Mouthwashes may be recommended to treat dental infection and inflammation, but Australian scientists have claimed that frequent use of these solutions, mostly alcohol-based, increases the risk of oral cancer up to nine times.

The dental researchers from the University of Queensland and the University of Melbourne said although many popular mouthwashes help in controlling dental plaque and gingivitis, they should only be used for a short time and only as an adjunct to other oral hygiene measures such as brushing and flossing.Among people using alcohol-based mouthwashes, the risk of oral cancer increases nine times if they smoked, and five times if they drank alcohol, the experts warned.

For non-drinkers using such mouthwashes, the risk of oral cancer is just under five times higher, the experts warn.Brands of mouthwash with more than 20% alcohol could have other harmful effects, including the gum disease gingivitis, flat red spots called petechiae and detachment of the cells lining the mouth, they said. “Long-term use of ethanol-containing mouthwashes should be discouraged, given recent evidence of a possible link with oral cancer,” they wrote.

There are many alcoholbased mouthwashes available in the market which contain up to 26% alcohol.

Boosters to build 6-pack abs may cost you kidneys

Many competitive bodybuilders take anabolic steroids to achieve their freakishly exaggerated physiques. That is no secret. But steroids can be only one part of an extreme regimen that can wreak havoc on the body.

Human growth hormone, supplements, painkillers and diuretics can also be used to create the “shrink-wrapped” muscles so prized in the aesthetic. And the high concentration of muscle mass puts stress on the body, as if the lifter were obese.

Lifting weights in the gym is “extremely healthy for you”, said Kenneth Wheeler, a former elite bodybuilder known as Flex. “But if you want to be a bodybuilder and compete at the highest level, it has nothing to do with health.” A relatively rare form of kidney disease forced Wheeler to retire in 2003 at age 37, and he needed a kidney transplant later that year.

Determining the extent of the damage that bodybuilders inflict on themselves is difficult, in part because there is little interest in financing studies on such a group, and because bodybuilders are not always honest about what they take. That is why a case study published last month by a top kidney journal is generating interest in the nephrology and bodybuilding communities. It is among the first to assert a direct link between long-term steroid use and kidney disease.

The study began 10 years ago when a kidney pathologist at Columbia University Medical Center in New York noticed that a bodybuilder had an advanced form of kidney disease. Curious, she started looking for similar cases and eventually studied 10 men with serious kidney damage who acknowledged using steroids. Nine were bodybuilders and one was a competitive powerlifter with a similar training routine.

A myth is busted: Testosterone not tied to aggression

A new study challenges the common belief that testosterone causes aggression in humans and proposes instead that the hormone encourages status-seeking behaviour, the journal Nature reported.

The study involving 120 women, also showed that folk wisdom about the effects of the sexual hormone is so strong that people behave more aggressively if they believe they have been given a dose even if they have not, the journal said.

Testosterone is a steroid hormone secreted by the male testes and to a lesser extent by the female ovaries that affects brain development and sexual behaviour. Research has found that it leads to a substantial increase in aggressive behaviour in rodents.

“Folk wisdom generalises and adapts these findings to humans, suggesting that testosterone induces antisocial, egoistic, or even aggressive human behaviours,” says the study published on Tuesday.

This wisdom has even reached the courtrooms because steroid-induced rage has been used as legitimate legal defence in the United States, it says. But research by the universities of Zurich and London shows that the steroid does not have the same effect in humans as it does in animals, it says.

The women, some of whom were administered testosterone and some a placebo, took part in an experiment in which they had to bargain to receive money. Common opinion would have held that subjects who received testosterone would have adopted aggressive, egocentric and risky strategies, regardless of the consequences, experts said.

“The study’s results, however, contradict this view sharply,” the statement says. “Test subjects with an artificially enhanced testosterone level generally made better, fairer offers than those who received placebos, thus reducing the risk of a rejection of their offer to a minimum.”

This suggested that subjects who received testosterone placed a higher value on social status than those who had taken the placebo, with the hormone increasing the sensitivity for status, it says. “The preconception that testosterone only causes aggressive or egoistic behavior in humans is thus clearly refuted,” adds neuroscientist Christoph Eisenegger from the University of Zurich.

For animals with simple social systems, an increased awareness for status may express itself in aggressiveness, the researchers add.

Snoring makes heart and brain stronger

It might be frustrating for the partner, but it seems snoring is actually good for health. That’s the controversial suggestion to have emerged from a recent study on sleep apnoea.

For years, the condition, which causes interruptions in breathing during sleep, has been linked to high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. But the Israeli study of 600 people over the age of 65 has claimed that the risk of early death in people with moderate sleep apnoea was less than half that of people with no history of snoring, the Daily Mail reported.

The study also found that the risk of early death for those with a severe form of the condition was the same as a healthy control group, when it was expected to be higher.

“One theory is that the constant breaks in oxygen and blood supply to organs, caused by the pauses in the breathing, strengthen the heart and brain — if a heart attack or a stroke occurs, the body is better able to deal with it,” said the report.

However, Jim Horne, head of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, said: “It is better to get heavy snoring treated rather than assume it will prolong life.”

An unrelated study has found that a technique can determine whether a child has obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or habitual snoring by screening their urine.

Researchers at the University of Chicago used asophisticated electrophoresis technique to screen hundreds of proteins in the urine. They found a number of proteins were differently expressed in children with OSA compared to kids with habitual snoring.

‘Crystalline sponge’ can help capture CO ²

To sequester carbon dioxide as part of any climate-change mitigation strategy, the gas first has to be captured from the flue at a power plant or other source. The next step is just as important: the CO has to be released from ² .

whatever captured it so that it can be pumped underground or otherwise stored for the long term.

That second step can be costly from an energy standpoint. Materials currently used to capture CO ² have to be heated to release the gas.

But chemists at University of California, Los Angeles, say that a new class of materials they developed called metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, hold promise for carbon capture. In the study, Omar Yaghi describes the performance of one MOF, which he says can free most of the CO ² it captures at room temperature.

Yaghi described a metal-organic framework as a “crystalline sponge”, a hybrid lattice of organic compounds and metal atoms that has a huge internal surface area where gas molecules can be absorbed. The MOF used in the study contains magnesium atoms, “which make just the right environment for binding carbon dioxide”, he said.

In experiments, the material separated out CO ² while allowing methane to pass. What was really surprising, though, was that at room temperature 87% of the CO ² could be released.

Pulp fact: Paper batteries to power laptops, drive cars

Ordinary paper could one day be used as a lightweight battery to power the devices that are now enabling the printed word to be eclipsed by email, ebooks and online news.

Scientists at Stanford University in California reported on Monday that they have successfully turned paper coated with ink made of silver and carbon nanomaterials into a “paper battery” that holds promise for new types of lightweight, high-performance energy storage.

The same feature that helps ink adhere to paper allows it to hold onto the single-walled carbon nanotubes and silver nanowire films. Earlier research found that silicon nanowires could be used to make batteries 10 times as powerful as lithium-ion batteries now used to power devices such as laptops.

“Taking advantage of the mature paper technology, low cost, light and high-performance energy-storage are realized by using conductive paper as current collectors and electrodes,” the scientists said.

This type of battery could be useful in powering electric or hybrid vehicles, would make electronics lightweight and long lasting, and might even lead someday to paper electronics, the scientists said.

Battery weight and life have been an obstacle to commercial viability of electric-powered cars and trucks.

“Society really needs a low-cost, high-performance energy storage device, such as batteries and simple supercapacitors,” Stanford assistant professor of materials science and engineering and paper co-author Yi Cui said.

Cui said in an email that in addition to being useful for portable electronics and wearable electronics, “Our paper supercapacitors can be used for all kinds of applications that require instant high power.” Peidong Yang, professor of chemistry at the University of California-Berkeley, said the technology could be commercialized within a short time.

Antidepressants can change personality

Apart From Easing Symptoms, Drugs Can Even Turn People Into Extroverts, Say Researchers.

Taking an antidepressant can lead to significant personality changes, likely for the better. Antidepressants may go well beyond just easing the symptoms of depression; they may also make people less neurotic, US researchers said.

The study of people who took GlaxoSmithKline’s Paxil, known generically as paroxetine, suggests the drug may treat factors such as neuroticism that make a person more likely to be depressed in the first place.

“Our data suggests that modern antidepressants work partly by correcting key personality risk factors of depression,” said Tony Tang, a psychology professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, whose study appears in Archives of General Psychiatry.

People who are neurotic tend to experience negative emotions and be emotionally unstable, often experiencing wide mood swings in a day. “It’s the basic tendency toward having negative emotions,” Tang said.

He said many studies have suggested that people who are highly neurotic have a higher risk of becoming depressed.

There is also some suggestion that people who are extroverts — those who tend to be both socially outgoing and have a more positive outlook on life — are less likely to become depressed, Tang said. Both personality traits are affected by levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which is the chief target of a large class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

Tang and colleagues looked to see if the SSRI Paxil, also sold under the brand Seroxat, had any effect beyond just treating depression symptoms. They gave the drug to 120 volunteers with depression and compared their experiences to 60 people who underwent a type of therapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy and another group of 60 who took a placebo.

Their personalities and depression symptoms were assessed before and after treatment.

After 12 weeks, all participants saw improvements in their depression symptoms, but those who took Paxil also saw significant drop in their neuroticism, and a marked increase in extroversion compared with those in the other groups.

“Patients taking paroxetine reported 6.8 times as much change on neuroticism and 3.5 times as much change on extroversion as placebo patients matched for depression improvement,” the authors wrote. “Those are very dramatic, notable changes,” Tang said.

“At the beginning of the treatment, they were way out there. Their neuroticism was abnormally high. By the end of treatment, they moved back into the boundary of the normal range.”

He said many of the drugs in the SSRI class work largely the same way are likely to have the same effect.

Ian Cook of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, who was not part of the study, said the findings may cause some doctors to rethink their assumptions about how antidepressants work. “The conventional wisdom has been for many years that the changes in personality that one sees during treatment tend to be thought of as a reflection of getting the depression under control,” he said.

How to win a man’s heart

To win a man’s heart, one has to be understanding and kind. But to snag him and keep him as yours takes some effort. Here’s how to go about...


USE FLAWS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Your generous hips and wavy hair is what sets you apart from a sea of rebonded toothpicks. With a little bit of confidence, you can turn what is ‘unfashionable’ right now into something timeless and classic. In a time when identically layered and coloured haircuts are the norm, if a girl wears her black shiny hair down to the waist, it will immediately set her apart as a beauty.

NO NEED TO OUTSMART MEN

Given that you are well-read and abreast of current affairs, you don’t need to dominate every conversation, unless you like the epithet Ms-Know-It-All. An overly independent woman can be overwhelming and you are not giving the man a chance to find out more about you by himself.

SPEAK SOFTLY

Trilling loudly does not have the same appeal as soft conversation which forces the listener to bend towards you. It also gets attention as a conspiratorial whisper, goading intimacy. A shrill tenor, on the other hand, makes you want to run in the other direction. But since this means the man will have to lean towards you to get what you are saying, carry a mint and wear an attractive lipstick.

DON'T SCOFF AT ARRANGED DATES

You may think it contrite, but much good can come out of a match when the fixers know both people in question. Make sure you meet over dinner or brunch. A social setting will also let you gauge your date. If he is cheap about the outing, chances are that he may not be generous in other areas also.

PLAY HARD TO GET

Many women complain that casual dates end up in the bed. You need to exude a nonchalance, even if, and especially if, you are badly hooked. Don’t be available for impromptu dates and never reply immediately to a major commitment question. Always ask for time to think about it to show that you are nobody’s doormat.

LISTEN MORE, SPEAK LESS

Appear to be interested in what he’s saying. Not only does a man love being the centre of attention, it also makes you look enigmatic and mysterious. It doesn’t mean that you don’t display your conversation skills, but it’s more appealing when he asks you about yourself rather than you yapping on.

THREE’S A CROWD, BUT NOT FOUR

When he insists on having dinner with other people, show him you are game. Go out with others, but drop subtle hints about what a good time you are having so that he knows what he’s missing. Remember when Prince William and Kate Middleton broke up? Instead of sitting at home making blank calls to him, she went out and had a good time, making sure her smiling face and miles of legs were caught by the paparazzi. It worked. William crawled back to her and they’ve been going strong since.

CHARM THE PARENTS

While winning over a man, don’t forget to charm the people who count for him. Before securing her place in the Pataudi household, Kareena spent time bonding with Saif ’s children, knowing how much that would influence her relationship with their father. She’s also rumoured to have won over Sharmila’s heart. If your aim is a solitaire ring, turn on the charm for the people who will influence his decision to get you one.

KEEP OPTIONS OPEN

Don’t have any qualms about keeping your options open. You may be seeing each other three times a week, but you aren’t hooked, booked and cooked until you say ‘I do’. Hang out with other men. It may not be laudable behaviour, but it might get you lasting happiness in the long term. If not, it will at least make you more appreciative of the man you have.

Know your body - Aches

Here we discuss about six aches you shouldn’t ignore.

STOMACH ACHE

Tummy trouble is common in metros, where people have irregular eating hours and there is also the temptation of street food. If you’re a woman of child-bearing age, a stomach ache could even signal an ovarian cyst. A persistent stomach ache, which only gets worse such that the pain then trickles down to your lower back, is a cause for concern. Often some pain may be accompanied by problems in bowel movements — constipation or diarrhoea. The best way to rule out the possibility of a cyst is to get an ultrasound which can detect it. If caught early, an oral tablet can take care of the situation. However, if the cyst grows in size then a key-hole surgery may be required.

BACKACHE

Most of us suffer from backache. Working all day on the computer only aggravates the problem. However, if your backache starts radiating downwards to the genitals and is no longer a dull ache but a sharp pain, then you need to see your doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes the pain may last for just a few minutes, at other times it may last for hours on end. Such piercing pain could be the result of kidney stones, which usually affects adults. It can be detected by means of an X-ray, ultrasound and urine examination.

JAW PAIN

Have you ever felt this annoying dull ache in the jaw? In most cases, it is because the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) is overworked and the pain usually fades away with time. However, if it’s repetitive and accompanied by a clicking sound as you open and close your mouth, it could point to injury of the jaw joint. A general physician can detect the problem with an X-ray. Treatment lies in oral medication.

JOINT PAIN

Most adults over 50 years of age complain of pain in the joints. Commonly, this is a dull ache in the knees which increases with movement or a similar ache in the small joints of the fingers on any sort of hand movement. If the pain persists and increases, then you need to see an orthopaedic physician immediately. An X-ray and a bone density test can point to osteo-arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis which are both degenerative diseases of the bone. These problems are more common in women than in men, as bone density often decreases after menopause. The disease cannot be completely cured but its progression can be halted through physiotherapy and the use of steroids. In extreme cases knee-replacement surgery may be required.

PAIN IN THE BIG TOE

Pain in the big toe points to gout. Gout results from excess uric acid crystals deposited in the joints. Over a period of time, the pain becomes excruciating and affects movement. The problem is more common in adults above 30 years of age. Gout can be detected through X-ray and blood test and treatment involves oral medication.

PAIN AROUND THE TEMPLES

Often a headache is just that — a self-limiting ache in the head. However, if the pain is restricted to the temples and is a piercing pain, you need to see a doctor as it could be temporal arthritis. The condition is more likely to occur in adults over 50 and is repetitive at regular interval, at times lasting just a few minutes. During this time, the blood vessels of the scalp get dilated and the temples are sensitive to touch. Treatment involves the use of steroids.

Most common vaginal woes

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF BIKINI WAXING

Models do it, actresses do it and now even the youngsters have caught onto this trend. Bikini waxing is a method of depilating pubic hair. As preparation, make sure your hair is not too long or too short, choose an experienced person for waxing, you could pop a pain killer (one hour before heading to the parlour) and wear comfortable cotton underwear after waxing. Some women may develop folliculitis (pimple-like boils) post waxing and may require antibiotics for the same. There are other less painful ways of maintaining hygiene — clipping hair with a sterlised scissor, shaving and laser treatment.


DESPITE MAINTAINING HYGIENE, THERE’S ODOUR IN THE VAGINAL AREA

Odour from the vagina could be due to vaginal infections that is either fungal, trichomonial or bacterial. It is generally accompanied with vaginal discharge which could be curdy white, lacy white discharge with greenish discolouration (in trichomonial infection) or thick creamish discharge as in the case of bacterial infection. All these are sexually transmitted infections which need to be treated with antifungal or antibacterial medications. Post-treatment, maintain regular hygiene by washing the area twice a day.


SHOULD YOU BLEED THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE SEX?

All women have a hymen which is at the opening of the vagina. This hymen may tear in childhood during vigorous exercises, cycling, jumping or due to masturbation. If intact, the woman will bleed while having sex for the first time. However bleeding does not indicate virginity in a female as it can be ruptured by other factors as well.


YOUR SATIN UNDERWEAR GIVES YOU AN ITCHY SENSATION AROUND THE VAGINA

Itchy sensation around the vagina could be due to vaginal infections. It could also be an allergy to satin underwear or sanitary pads. It is advisable to use comfortable cotton underwear. Sweat combined with synthetic material causes itchiness and irritation. To combat this, wash the area frequently and use unscented talcum powder.


YOU SUFFER WHITE DISCHARGE AROUND A WEEK BEFORE PERIODS AND FEEL WEAK

White discharge before periods is due to progesterone effect on the cervical mucous. Around this time the vagina secretes a harmless white fluid. If the discharge does not emit a foul odour or cause itching, do not feel afraid. Many people associate it with weakness, but that is just a myth. You could say the stress that comes with PMSing makes you feel weak.


WEARING SANITARY PADS GIVES YOU SEVERE RASHES. TAMPONS TOO ARE UNCOMFORTABLE

Modern day synthetic sanitary pads are known to do that. Ultrathin sanitary pads use a material that transforms menstrual blood into gel. This gives us a pseudo-dry feel and hence the less frequent change of pads. These pads, when come in constant contact with the skin, create rashes and an itchy sensation. Tampons is certainly not the way to go, as there have been cases of it causing severe vaginal infections. The way out is to use cotton sanitary pads and a frequent change every four hours.


IS IT NORMAL TO URINATE AFTER HAVING SEX?

The sexual act in some women may lead to a burning sensation in the vagina. This can be due to lack of lubrication or a yeast infection, both of which cause frequent urination. This condition is known as honeymoon cystitis. Here there is an infection of the urinary tract. Most cases call for a detailed gynaecological checkup for the couple.


SMALL WHITE PIMPLES APPEAR ALL AROUND THE VAGINA. WILL IT AFFECT FUTURE SEX LIFE?

White pimples may be due to folliculitis or molluscum contagiosum. Folliculitis can happen due to infection after shaving. Molluscum is a viral skin infection. Both can be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes occurrence of white pimples also symbolises herpes genitalis — an STD which calls for urgent treatment

How Mutual Funds Work

You don’t have to tell anyone these days that mutual funds (MFs) are the most convenient form of investing, especially for small or individual investors.

However, when it comes to options available within MFs—for example, systematic withdrawal or systematic transfer—most people would plead ignorance. Its the same with trigger option available with MFs.

Here we will discuss

>Systematic investment plan or SIP,
>Systematic withdrawal plan,
>Systematic transfer plan and
>Triggers


Most people would be somewhat familiar with systematic investment plan or SIP, thanks to the publicity given by most financial experts.

Let us start with Systematic investment plan or SIP. For those who came in late, SIP is very similar to a regular recurring deposit in a bank account. You draw a cheque in favour of a particular MF scheme and specify you want to invest for, say, next 12 months. The money will be taken from your bank account every month and invested in the scheme of your choice.

Why is SIP method preferred by financial experts?

One, this gives you discipline.
Two, you wouldn’t be unnecessarily influenced by stock market movement, and stop or increase your investments.
Three, you would benefit from cost averaging. That is, when you buy MF units at regular intervals, the average purchasing cost could give higher returns.

SIP can be used by any investor eyeing the market in a particular period of time.

However, it is not the case with systematic withdrawal or transfer plan or using triggers. These tools would work only for a particular class of investors.

Systematic withdrawal plans are useful for particularly retired people, where as systematic transfer plans are useful for people with large amount, but don’t want to invest in the market at one go.

Systematic withdrawal plan allows an investor to withdraw a certain sum from the scheme at periodical intervals. It is often used somewhat like annuity by retired people. However, the concept is yet to take off.

Systematic transfer plans, on the other hand, is useful for investors who suddenly find themselves flush with funds. Since it is not considered wise to invest in the market in lump sum, especially when it is up or volatile, they can park the money in a debt scheme and transfer a particular amount over period of time to an equity scheme of their choice.

Triggers, on the other hand, is the latest tool offered by a few MFs to risk averse investors. For example, if an investor is looking for 10% returns from his investment in a year, he can set the trigger at that particular point. He would have the option of either transferring his return or the entire investment to a safer (read debt) avenue once he gets 10% returns. But it can also rob them of a chance to make more money from the market. Also, they have to be very clear whether they want to transfer the returns or the entire investment.

A Fistful of Money

MFs offer a host of options to investors

SIP good to invest at regular intervals

Systematic withdrawal for regular income from investments

Invest smalls amt with Systematic transfer

Trigger option to safeguard investment from market vagaries

Don’t stack up money, invest for best returns

Haven’t you heard the advice ‘don’t let money stay idle’? Have you wondered what it means? Of course, we all know a safe is safe after all. And if it’s a bank safe, all the more so. You even earn a little return on it. But besides this, is there something to it? Well, if you talk to a financial expert, he will use the phrase ‘time value of money’. Simply put, it means your money has some value that is linked to time. “Money and time are related. For example, receiving Rs 10 today is not the same as receiving the same amount after two years. Same is the case of repaying a loan today or after six months,’’ explains Gaurav Mashruwala, a certified financial planner.

His point is, if you get Rs 10 today and you have invested it somewhere and earned 10% return on it in six months, the money would have grown to Rs 11. Ditto for repaying a loan after six months. If you earn something on the money till you repay the loan, you are left with some spare cash. On the other hand, if you pay it immediately, you wouldn’t get a chance to make those extra bucks. Sure, when you are repaying a loan, other factors like penalty enter the scene. However, we won’t concern ourselves with such details here.

“When I meet some people for the first time, I am amazed how much money have they stashed in their savings account. When I ask them why they didn’t make any investment or open a fixed deposit, most say they haven’t decided on it,’’ a wealth manager says. “When I tell them they could have earned at least 6-7% on it in the last one year instead of a measly interest on their savings account, they realise their mistake. But then time wasted is a lost opportunity to make more money,’’ he adds. Some experts also use the concept to drive home the point that if you don’t invest the money properly (on proper investment avenues, that is), it may lose value partly.

“With time value of your money enhances or reduces,’’ says Mashruwala. “For example, if someone is offering you Rs 10 today or Rs 11 after six months, what would you choose. Obviously, Rs 11 after six months is better because it is 10% extra in six months,’’ he explains. The wealth manager points to another scenario. “Many people keep their money in safe avenues like bank deposit even for long-term needs. The question they should ask is what is the point of earning below inflation. It means you are at the risk of an erosion in the value of your capital,’’ he says. For example, if the inflation is at 6% and you are earning 3.5% from your deposit, you are definitely losing the value of your money.

The most important aspect of time value of money is explained by the power of compounding (Einstein called it the 8th wonder of the world) that enhances the value of money by many times. Unlike in a simple interest scenario, where the interest is given to you periodically, here the interest or return is reinvested and you would start earning on it too. Because of this multiplier effect, the corpus grows immensely over a long period of time. This is one of the reasons why experts advocate equity for long term goals.

Money and time are related
For example, Rs 10 earned today is not the same as earning it after six months
With time, value of money can appreciate or depreciate
If you don’t earn more than inflation, value actually falls
When you invest over a period of time, power of compounding multiplies your money.

Swine Flu symptoms and precautions

Swine Flu symptoms

Swine flu is spreading like wildfire. To protect from Swine flu practice these 10 effective prevention tips.

1. Wash your hands frequently

Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.

2. Get enough sleep

Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.

3. Keep hydrated

Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

4. Boost your immune system

Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.

5. Keep informed

The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.

6. Avoid alcohol

Apart from being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong.

7. Be physically active

Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.

8. Keep away from sick people

Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else’s nose. So if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and especially, avoid physical contact.

9. Know when to get help

Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.

10. Avoid crowded areas

Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside. Moreover, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Symptoms of Chikungunya, Dengue fever

For some time now, doctors in Bangalore suspected there was a new virus in Bangalore’s air. Now, they’re certain that break bone fever, better known as dengue, is raging across the city. Even a viral fever is now accompanied by severe joint pain lasting for nearly a week. Doctors are forced to admit into hospitals those patients with symptoms of fever for a day or two and put them on intravenous fluids.

Symptoms:

Chikungunya: (not chicken gunya!! nothing to do with chicken!!)
High fever, Joint pain

Dengue: High fever, backache, muscle and joint pain, headache,pain behind the eyes.

Viral fever: High fever, cold, sore throat, body ache.


Preventive measures:

Control mosquito breeding by getting rid of stagnant water.
Use mosquito repellent.
Keep surroundings hygienic.
Clean water tank regulary.
Avoid indoor plants.
Eat right nutritious food
Drink clean water
Avoid dehydration.

HEART OF THE MATTER

Lower IQ raises risk of heart disease

A new study, conducted by researchers in the UK, has shown that having a lower than average IQ is in itself a risk factor for heart disease.

In the study of over 4,000 people, David Batty and his colleagues at the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh found that IQ alone explained more than 20% of the difference in mortality between high and low socio-economic groups.

The researchers found that the results were the same even when known heart disease risk factors were taken into account. “We already know that socio-economically disadvantaged people have worse health and tend to die earlier from conditions such as heart disease, cancer and accidents,” BBC News quoted David Batty, who led the study for the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, a saying.

“Environmental exposures and health-related behaviours, such as smoking, diet and physical activity, can explain some of this difference, but not all of it,” he added. The research team studied a group of 4,289 former US soldiers from all walks of life. As expected from past trends, those on low incomes and with less education had a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

However, when the researchers took into account intelligence or cognitive function, commonly referred to as IQ, and controlled for nine other known heart disease risk factors, IQ alone explained 23% of the differences in mortality between the highest and lowest socio-economic groups in the study.

They offer several possible explanations for this - low IQ scores might simply be a marker of underlying poor health or intelligence might lead to greater knowledge about how to keep healthy. Batty said, whatever the explanation, the findings imply the IQ of the public should be considered more carefully when preparing health promotion campaigns.

The study has been published in the European Heart Journal.

Love not enough to make marriages work

Living happily ever after needn’t only be for fairy tales. Researchers have identified what it takes to keep a couple together, and it’s a lot more than just being in love.

A couple’s age, previous relationships and even whether they smoke or not are factors that influence whether their marriage is going to last, according to a study by researchers from the Australian National University.

The study tracked 2,500 couples — married or living together —from 2001 to 2007 to identify factors associated with those who remained together compared with those who divorced or separated.

It found that a husband who is nine or more years older than his wife is twice as likely to get divorced, as are husbands who get married before they turn 25.

Children also influence the longevity of a marriage or relationship, with one-fifth of couples who have kids before marriage having separated compared to just 9% of couples without children born before marriage.

Women who want children much more than their partners are also more likely to get a divorce. Also, partners who are on their second or third marriage are 90% more likely to separate than spouses who are both in their first marriage.

Money also plays a role, with up to 16% of respondents who indicated they were poor or where the husband — not the wife — was unemployed saying they had separated, compared to 9% of couples with healthy finances.

Check If It Smells Right

Lost in the fine print of the Finance Bill and the Explanatory Memorandum is stuff that you should actually need to know about. Don’t overlook this article:


India Inc is well and truly on the MAT(Minimum Alternate Tax). Not only has the levy increased by 5% to stand at 15% (effective rate being 17%), but there are many hidden devils. If a company has devalued an asset and debited it to profit & loss (P&L), this debited amount in the P&L will be added back to the book profits. MAT will be calculated on the enhanced book profits. Brace yourself as this comes with retrospective effect from April 1, 1998.

Fringe Benefit Tax stands abolished, but a tad too late. India Inc has paid the first installment of FBT. Further, rules will be introduced to determine the perquisite value that should be taxable in the employees’ hands. You thought that a tax was abolished? It is just transfer of the onus of paying tax from the employer to the employee. ESOPs, employers contribution to superannuation and much much more will also be a perquisite, taxable in your hands and mine.

What could the future hold? Anything, just anything is possible. The tax authorities can actually withdraw an approval given by them for anything and at anytime. The only saving grace is that an opportunity will be given to the taxpayer of being heard before doing so.

Donation to electoral trusts shall be allowed as a 100% deduction in your hands. Yes, you can keep the wheels of democracy turning and get a tax break. The hitch is you have to show your allegiance on paper to a political party so as to get a tax break.

If you thought that you were subject to reassessment only to the extent of income escaped in respect of issues recorded by the Assessing Officer, think again. With a view to further clarifying the legislative intent, the Assessing Officer can reassess income in respect of any issue which comes to his notice, which are not only restricted to the recorded reasons.
You can no longer evade tax through a gift. Now, any gift worth above Rs 50,000 in the form of immovable property, shares, jewellery, archaeological collections, drawings, paintings, sculptures or any work of art is taxable in the hands of the recipient.

If any person whose income is to be subject to withholding of tax at source does not provide his Permanent Account Number (PAN) to the deductor, then the deductor shall have to deduct tax at a higher rate — at 20 per cent. Even non-residents will be forced to obtain a PAN. However, fortunately this is with prospective effect from April 1, 2010.

In some cases, employees used to claim exemption for voluntary retirement scheme income, and further relief for high tax burden of advance salary. Now, this double benefit cannot be claimed.
Presumptive tax benefit is not as rosy for small retailers. Earlier, persons engaging in retail trade were subject to tax on a presumptive basis of 5%. Now, although the FM has broadened the presumptive taxation option to most small businesses, the presumptive tax rate has been increased to 8%.

FIT FOR A MOM

With a little change in diet you can shed off those extra post-pregnancy kilos and be ship shape.

Putting on weight after you give birth to your bundle of joy is inevitable. But while most new mums resort to crash diets or spend extra hours at the gym, they must know that it is important to maintain basic fitness levels. Use a little tact and you can easily become your slim self again. We show you how.

MAKING UP FOR THE LOSS

In any normal delivery at least 300 to 350 ml of blood is lost. When the blood loss exceeds 500ml it’s termed as post-partum heamorrhage. After pregnancy the body needs to build up on the lost heamoglobin. Since heamoglobin carries oxygen to different parts of the body, low oxygen will affect the quality of your hair, skin, immunity and also make you feel tired.

Secondly since the mother will be breastfeeding the baby, the body also needs an extra dose of calcium, proteins and vitamins.

WATCH YOUR DIET

SMALL MEALS
Consume small frequent meals i.e. five to six mini meals instead of three main meals. For instance, if you have your breakfast at 8.30 am and lunch at 1.30 am, sneak in a mid-morning meal somewhere around 11.30 am. Make sure you eat something filling like a tall glass of milkshake, sprouts, soup or a plate of fruits. Do not mistake this for a diet plan and under-eat — two biscuits or a bowl of salad won’t do.

MORE LIQUID, CUT CAFFEINE

Caffeine is permitted in moderation i.e. not more than two cups of coffee a day. Caffeine is a stimulant that is not good for the baby, especially if you are breast- feeding. Instead, opt for other liquids and drink gallons of water. Add to your diet fresh fruit juices and milkshakes, especially with fruits such as apple and banana that will make up for the calcium requirement.

Also swap whole milk for skimmed milk; it has proteins minus the fat.

RESTRICT FRIED FOODS, NOT FATS

With the enthusiasm to lose weight ASAP, most lactating women completely cut down on fats. But one needs to understand the difference between good fat and bad fat. It’s best if you avoid fried foods like salty chips, bhajiyas, vadas, etc but give your body essential fats through nuts, homemade ghee (two to three tsps), paneer and olive oil.

BUILD ON ANIMAL PROTEIN

Proteins from lean white meat such as chicken and fish (deskinned) are a good option for lactating mothers. Whereas cholesterol rich red meat and organ meat that contain fats along with proteins should be consumed sparingly. For vegetarians, animal protein can come through curds, chaas and lassi.

SUBSTITUTE

In order to lose weight instantly, you need not skip food. Instead substitute it for healthier options. Like jaggery for sugar, water melon juice for cola and brown rice for its polished cousin. Opt for flours like ragi, nachini, bajra, jowar and soy that give the needed energy.

INCREASE FIBRE

Keep away from refined flours like maida and its products such as noodles, spaghetti and bread that take a long time to get digested. It is important for lactating mothers to improve the fibre content in their diet. Foods like spinach, methi, gourd, pumpkin, lady finger, brinjal, bitter gourd, peas, mushroom and bellpeppers are packed with fibre. Fibre improves digestion, controls sugar, promotes satiety, and provides anti-oxidants and vitamins that are important post-pregnancy.

EXERCISE

For women who have undergone cesarean surgery, it’s best to stay away from exercise for six months after the delivery. But exercise can usually begin 40 days after a normal delivery. You can do the following:

WALK

Brisk walking for 20 to 30 minutes is good enough for a beginner. Make sure you do not strain the leg muscles too much, increase the time gradually.

YOGA

Post-pregnancy, yoga is the best way to improve posture. Regularly practise surya namaskar, cobra pose or the inverted-V. Yoga will also work on your breathing pattern and concentration.

DANCE AND GROUP AEROBICS

Dancing or working out with music releases happiness hormones in the body. Post delivery, women often go through depression and low-body image. Dance and aerobics can help combat that.

D-EFFICIENCY

Not getting your daily dose of Vitamin D because you can’t stand the sun’s harsh rays? This article shows how to make up for it with the right food.




Vitamin D is perhaps the single most underrated nutrient. That’s probably because it’s free: Your body makes it when sunlight touches your skin. It’s essential for bone health because without it, even popping calcium pills won’t work — your body needs this vitamin to absorb calcium. Of late, with the increasing use of beauty products with high sun-protection factor, Vitamin D deficiency is on the rise. In fact, even weak sunscreens (with as little as SPF-8), block your body’s ability to generate vitamin D by 95 per cent.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and even schizophrenia and certain cancers. If these life-long debilitating conditions aren’t scary enough to make you step out, top up on Vitamin D rich foods instead.

VITAMIN D AT EVERY AGE

PRE-TEENS AND TEENS

Forty-five per cent of your skeletal mass is added during puberty and adolescence. So Vitamin D is needed greatly at this stage. Rickets, a condition characterised by soft bones, typically affects children deficient in Vitamin D.

Start your day with some fortified orange juice (142 IUs per 100 ml glass) or some fresh fruit milkshake (approximately 140 IUs). Paneer contains (140 IUs per 30 to 40 gm) and yoghurt contains as much Vitamin D as milk — 98 IUs per 100 ml (non-fat fortified milk). Give up those fizzy colas, tea and coffee since caffeine tends to leach calcium from the bones.

IN YOUR 20S

In your ‘fast living decade’, between hectic work schedules and dating, instead of ‘convenient’ foods such as burgers and pizzas, opt for a tuna salad (85 gm tuna contains 200 IUs). Your 20s are the last chance to lay down new bones. Gulp down two large glasses of vitamin D fortified non-fat milk every day (one glass contains 100 IUs). The calcium-Vitamin D combination helps your body to absorb its benefits.

IN YOUR 30S

Thirties might be the new 20s, but not so from your bones’ viewpoint. Now you cannot drastically change your skeletal structure, but can definitely maintain it. Just concentrate on not allowing your bone density to drop. Apart from an active lifestyle, have tuna twice a week and mushrooms once a week (85 gm of mushrooms gives 100 per cent Vitamin D). Fortified cereal with whole milk is a good breakfast choice.

IN YOUR 40S

At this stage, several lifestyle diseases rear their ugly heads. By now, you spend several hours indoors either working or caring for your family and probably don’t get much sunshine. Make sure you eat dark green leafy vegetables thrice a week and foods such as salmon (100 gm contains 360 IUs), mackerel (100 gm contains 345 IUs), sardines (50 gm contains 250 IUs), fortified dairy products and cereals.

50S AND UP

The need for Vitamin D increases after 50 and it’s difficult to meet them without unrealistic diets. Ask your doctor about supplements. Have a whole egg (20 IUs) thrice a week and fatty fish twice a week.


DATA ON D

• Fruits and vegetables are internal sunscreens and can allow you to stay under the sun twice as long without burning. Fruits with this ability include super fruits such as strawberries, pomegranates and kiwis.

• Vitamin D is generated by your kidneys and liver, so kidney disease or liver damage can greatly impair your body’s ability to form the vitamin.

• The healing rays of sunlight cannot penetrate glass, so you don’t generate vitamin D when sitting in your car or home.

• Your body can’t generate too much Vitamin D from sunlight exposure: It will self-regulate and only generate what it needs.

• If it hurts to press firmly on your sternum, you may be suffering from chronic Vitamin D deficiency right now.

Tie Tips

1 As the tie is worn at eye-level and in the centre of your body, it is the most eye-catching piece of your ensemble.

2 Always buy your suit first, then a tie and then the shirt. Now you have more options for the tie, instead of restricting it to match your suit and shirt.

3 The three classic ties you need to own are: a diagonally striped one (in blue, red or maroon), a small polka dotted one and one in self texture.

4 Never wash your tie, or even dry clean it; spot clean a stain. A tie is made up of three fabrics — silk, terry wool (on the inside) and a synthetic base — all of which have different shrinking rates. Washing or dry cleaning will spoil its shape.

5 The tie can be matched to the shirt or suit; all three must be from the same colour family for formal occasions.

6 Tone-on-tone ties are best suited to formal social events, such as wedding receptions. The tie should be the same colour as your shirt (or the closest hue) with a self detail such as an interesting weave or paisleys.

7 Polka-dotted, diagonally striped and ties with small motifs are best for work.

8 Contrast a black suit with a grey shirt and a red or maroon tie. A grey suit can be worn with a light blue shirt and a dark blue or indigo tie. Wear a neutral coloured shirt with a navy blue suit and a blue, black, red or maroon tie.

9 A bright yellow tie must be restricted to a white shirt, but any coloured jacket will do.

10 A soldier cut tie — with a symmetrical taper — comes out with more body from the knot. This makes it more suited to threepiece suits. Use the four-in-handknot so that the knot isn’t bulky.

11 A bottle shaped tie suits most corporate wear and should be tied in a Windsor or half-Windsor knot for body.

12 Slim, straight cut ties, in experimental textures such as knits suit young, casual dressers. You can wear it with a short-sleeved shirt. Ideally, wear it loose or askew with the top button of the shirt open.

13 Novelty ties shaped like a bottle or guitar and with motifs such as cars or hearts are great for working holidays or uniforms.

EAT MORE, WEIGH LESS

Too good to be true? Try these foods to whittle down your waist.

1
SARDINES:

They are high in protein and omega-3 fats, which shifts flab while maintaining muscle tone and healthy skin. Also, Leptin, the protein fish contains, controls your appetite.

Eat more:

Try a lunchtime sardine melt. Mix sardines with onion, pepper and parsley and spread on a French stick. Sprinkle with grated low-fat Cheddar or Parmesan and grill.


2
EGGS:

Women on a low-cal diet who ate an egg each morning lost twice as many kilos as those who had cereal, according to a recent study.

Eat more:

A poached egg on toast offers a balanced start to the day and egg sandwiches, mixed with tuna, not mayo, are a great lunch choice.


3

OATS:

They’re one of the most filling foods and unlike carbs have little impact on your blood sugar. They’re rich in soluble fibre, which has an anti-bloating effect and can lower cholesterol.

Eat more:

Try a Swiss dish known as bircher. Mix a little cold semiskimmed milk or low-fat yoghurt with twotbsp of oats, grated apple, honey to taste and a handful of chopped almonds.

4
CHILLIES:

Spicing up meals can kick start a sluggish metabolism. This is thanks to the compound capsaicin which has a ‘thermogenic effect’ that causes the body to burn more fat for 20 minutes after you eat them.

Eat more:

Freshly chopped red chillies add a kick to salads or stir-fries, while half a teaspoon is enough to heat up sauces, soups or stews.

5
BROCCOLI:

This contains antioxidants which help beat cellulite. Fat cells on the thighs are surrounded by a network of tissue known as the septa. When fat pushes through this, we get the dreaded dimpling. Nutrients in green veggies increase the strength of the septa, so fat cells stay beneath the surface.

Eat more:

Steam and eat once a day with your evening meal. Or stir-fry with sliced garlic, sesame oil and a splash of soy sauce.

TESTING TIMES

A check-up is often a warning bell for dangers ahead. Here’s why you shouldn’t miss your yearly appointment with the doc

AGE 25

TESTS:
Blood and urine test, chest X-ray and an ECG

WHY: You might be perfectly healthy, but tests at this age give you a baseline for the future.

BENEFITS: The tests primarily tell you if there is any deviation from the norm.

• Chest X-ray is important considering the city lifestyle — long working hours, train travel, dust and pollution. Very useful in detecting lung cancer, early TB and emphysema (a chest ailment).

AGE 30

TESTS: All tests at 25 plus tests to check cholesterol and glucose levels

WHY: It’s that time when you are well-settled in your career. But it’s also when unhealthy lifestyle practices creep in. BENEFITS It gives a clear indication of stress-related ailments — mainly blood pressure and diabetes.

• Ultrasounds detect Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), indications of which are weight gain, lethargy, irregular periods etc.

AGE 35

TESTS: Everything you have done at 30 plus thyroid tests

WHY: You are slowly approaching middle age. Hence any disease, if lurking around can be detected and treated early.

FOR WOMEN: Pap smear and mammogram; blood tests to check sugar levels and blood pressure.

BENEFITS: Thyroid function tests can help rule out any thyroid disorder, especially hypothyroidism. Ideally these tests can begin from 25 onwards.

• Pap smear, which should ideally be done as soon as women start becoming sexually active, can detect cervical cancer at an early stage and improve treatment outcomes. Ditto for breast cancer.


•DID YOU KNOW?

The growing risk of cervical cancer in women in India (aged 0-64 years) is 2.4 per cent compared to 1.3 per cent for the rest of the world.

AGE 40

TESTS: Everything you have done at 35 plus an eye exam

WHY: Because you are most vulnerable to diabetes and cholesterol troubles at this age.

FOR WOMEN: Pap smear, mammogram and ultrasonography of abdomen.

BENEFITS: Headaches, fatigue and other problems are often caused by vision problems. Many diseases can be detected by an eye-doctor including diabetes.

• Women approach menopause hence a sonography that screens everything — the liver, pancreas, spleen, bladder etc — is essential.


•DID YOU KNOW?

Indians develop diabetes at least 10 to 15 years earlier than the western population

AGE 45

TESTS: Include 2-D Echo cardiogram

WHY: Heart ailments are more likely to strike.

FOR WOMEN: Bone densitometry and mammogram.

BENEFITS: A 2-D echo cardiogram shows the functioning of the heart.

• Women at this age are more vulnerable to osteoporosis, especially at the perimenopause stage, hence such tests can help prevent and treat the condition.


•DID YOU KNOW?

A woman’s risk of developing an osteoporosis-related hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of developing breast uterine and ovarian cancer.

AGE 50

TESTS: Cardiac stress test

WHY: As you get old er, there are more chances of cardiac problems increasing

FOR WOMEN: Sonography of the uterus and ovary; stress tests.

BENEFITS:

• Early tests can - help detect cancers.

• Cardiac stress tests diagnose the presence and extent of Coronary . Artery Disease.


•DID YOU KNOW?

Rate of heart attacks among Indians younger than 45 years of age is five times higher than in other population

AGE 55

TESTS: Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test

WHY: PSA is a blood test that can indicate prostate cancer. If the level is high, a biopsy of the prostate may be indicated.

BENEFITS:

• Early detection can prevent the cancer from spreading.

LIFESTYLE REVIEW

These tests should ideally be a part of your annual routine.But at a younger age, you can even do them once in two-three years.But after 40, try to allot at least one day in the year for your health. Also if there is a family history of the disease, conduct the tests more frequently. Plus these tests give you an opportunity to review your lifestyle. Work towards your health accordingly.


• MAKE A FOOD LOG

Write down everything you eat and drink for a day (including amounts). Review the list for easy calories to drop, bad habits, and opportunities for improvement.

• EXERCISE CHECK

If you are exercising less than three times a week, know that you need to do more.

• STRESS CHECK

Make a list of things that stress you and things that you do that relax you. Subtract stressors and add relaxers until you have the same number on each list.

YUMMY BOX IDEAS!

This article gives a quick insight on the tasty recipes for school going kids.

After a summer filled with yummy snacks and great food, it is time for your child to return to the snack box! Quite a change, a snack box is not a very exciting thing to look forward to! Don’t believe me? Then try packing a hot snack into a snack box, put it in a bag full of books and then 3 hours later, open the box to eat it……… uugh! First the smell will assail you and then your eyes will open wide with disgust at the soggy contents, all mixed up and mashed up and then as the clock ticks to the end of the recess time, you have to eat it all to quieten the growls in your stomach. Not a very pretty picture, right?

Well, it need not be so bad, if you plan it well. Yes, one of the most important things that all mothers need to focus on is to prepare the child for a snack time.

Focus on your selection of a snack box

It should not be too heavy, don’t add more weight to what your child is already carrying to school. It should be able to keep food intact and compact. It should be easy to open and close. Look for boxes that have an inbuilt spoon etc, so that even if you forget to give that spoon, no problem.

Practise at home

The second step is to see that your child practises at home with the snack box! It is important that your child is able to use the snack box and if you do not help him use it, both of you will not understand what works and what does not. So mummies can start in the last week of the holidays by packing a snack in the school snack box in the afternoon and then give it to your child to eat at evening snack time. Keep in mind to pack the same snacks that you would give your child in school. This will give you an idea of what stays good and what gets soggy, what smells etc.

Most mummies have a complain, ‘My child does not finish his snack box’. Well, it is a basic need and if that is not met then the child will have concentration and attention problems. But what makes children not want to complete their snacks? It can be a variety of reasons like soggy food, broken food, leaking snack box, smelly snack box, etc.

Remember diet activates memory, so to remember what is taught in school, your child needs his snack. Another important fact is about brain development — the brain needs oxygen, glucose and chemicals. If your child is in a stuffy classroom then oxygen is already less and if he does not get glucose (from food and not glucose water, please!) then naturally he is going to be cranky and irritable, which are negative emotions and will release negative chemicals to the brain.

If your question is that, ‘I feed my child breakfast then why should I send a snack box with my child?’ Well, your child’s liver can only store glucose for 4 hours, so if you calculate from breakfast to his snack time, it is almost 4 hours and think of all the activity that the body has done in between, of course he needs a snack.

THINGS TO AVOID
Avoid oily food, no fried food, or only once a week. No snacks with maida. Substitute that white bread with a healthier option. No food items that will drip, stain and dribble. Cheese to be used in limited quantities.

Potato Wafers, and other packaged foods, a complete no-no. Find out three things that your child likes and alternate them, don’t aim to have 30 days different snack, remember it’s about your child and his snack and not about you winning some cookery contest. Avoid fancy recipes that look nice on the dining table, they may not stay nice in a snack box. Please tell your child what is in the snack box. Don’t play guessing games or surprise games your child may constantly try to open the snack box to take a peek. And yes, just because you send a snack box with your child, does not mean that you can skip that breakfast. Your child needs his early morning meal, and don’t stuff the snack box with breakfast left overs. Please send a napkin, and avoid tissue paper!

And don’t forget to send a small note, (can be taped on the box) with some cute messages, your child may just need that little pep dose after all that school work. We have a small selection of snacks for you, so have fun, and make your child’s back to school days as yummy as possible.

HONEY BEARS

Brown bread, honey, shredded Beetroot and carrots, butter Roasted crushed peanuts
Method
Apply butter on bread slices. Grate carrot and beetroot. Mix carrot, beetroot and peanuts. And then honey. Put mixture on bread.

MAGIC SLICES
Potato chip and french fries — all the time is not good for health. So try some magic slices made from tapioca (the richest source of calcium) and ‘kand’ and instead of frying, bake them.

SANDWICH FUN

For all your usual sanwiches, buy some big cookie cutters which come in different shapes, and cut the sandwiches with them. What a delight for your child when he opens his snack box and finds a cute star sandwich with a smile on it (put the smile with ketchup).

TRIED OF CHAPPATI?

Try Jumbo’s pizza. Make any sabzi, mash it and spread it on a chappati and make it look like a pizza. Here again use the cookie cutters and you have nice little bites that the child would love to eat. For very fussy children, add a thin layer of ketchup before spreading the sabzi and add some grated cheese. But avoid too much of ketchup and cheese on everything.

Other options to add on sandwich and parathas are palak chutney and mint chutney, spread thin on the chappati and paratha, crumble some paneer on it, cut with cookie cutter and tell your child to expect a small ‘green forest’ in his snack box.

The recipes given above are for a short snack time which is 15 to 20 minutes. You can try out different versions of recipes for the lunch time box.

BACK TO ROOTS

Diet, according to Ayurveda, defines the nature of a person, his response to circumstances, mindset and moods. Ayurveda classifies food materials into several groups such as grains, grams (dhaanya varga), types of milk and milk products (ksheera varga), vegetables and fruits (saaka varga), types of meat (maamsa varga) etc.

The solid diet consumed should take up half the capacity of the stomach, the liquids should take a quarter and the fourth quarter should be left free to aid digestion. The order of the intake of food — sweet and heavy food first, sour and salty tastes next and the meal should end with astringent and bitter food substances.

BROCCOLI AND MOONG BEAN BAKE

Ingredients: 1/2 cup moong dal, 1 cup broccoli florets (chopped), 4 cups water, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1/2 tsp ginger (minced), 1 tbsp fresh cilantro (chopped), 2 tbsps ghee, salt and black pepper to taste

Method: Wash moong dal and add water to it. Cook it in a pressure cooker until tender. Mix it with broccoli, lime juice, ginger, salt and black pepper. Grease a shallow baking dish with ghee. Scoop the mixture into the dish and drizzle more ghee on top. Bake at 350-375 degrees for 10 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS

Ingredients: 2 cups asparagus stems (diced), 2 tbs water, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp cumin seed, ¼ tsp turmeric, ¼ sweet paprika, ½ cup almonds (sliced), 2 tbs ghee

Method: Heat ghee. Add cumin seed and stir briefly and add turmeric and paprika. Now add the asparagus stems and sauté for 2-3 minutes more. Now cover the pan and stir occasionally. Add water to prevent sticking. Add in the almonds and cook for two more minutes. Serve hot.

MIXED VEGETABLE SAUTE

Ingredients: 1 small white radish (peeled), 1 medium zucchini, 1 medium carrot (peeled), 1 fennel bulb, 6-8 almonds (soaked and slivered), 2 tbs ghee, 1-2 tbs water, salt and pepper to taste

Method: Wash and slice all the vegetables finely. Heat ghee in a large flat pan. Sauté the almonds and add all the vegetables. Stir for a couple of minutes and cover the pan. Cook the vegetables on medium flame until tender. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

SWEET AND SOUR CARROTS

Ingredients: 1 cup carrot (sliced), 1 tbsp raisins, rock salt and black pepper to taste, 1/2 tsp minced ginger root, 1 tsp fresh parsley, 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice, 1/8 tsp fresh lemon peel, 1/8 tsp crushed cardamom, 1 tbsp ghee

Method: Steam the carrot for 5-6 minutes until tender. Heat ghee in a pan and sauté the raisins. Now add carrots, ginger cardamom, salt and pepper. Stir for three to four minutes. Drizzle lemon juice, the peel and parsley. Serve hot.

IT’S A HUGH DEAL

If Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan’s six packs in Om Shanthi Om and Ghajini respectively motivated you to pump iron, wait till you hear the real deal from Hollywood. Hugh Jackman, playing Wolverine in the latest X-Men flick, has lived his ‘animal’ avatar we will see on screen. In an interview, he tells us how Wolverine’s fights with the mutants are laced with SFX but his physique is the result of a hardcore diet and exercise plan.

THE LOOK

As per the brief given to its co-creators, Wolverine was supposed to be a small, ferocious creature with cat-like features and claws. Being medium built, that made him an ‘angry little guy’.

Also, I was adamant that in this film, there would be moments where people would see the character and think, ‘Oh, my, this guy’s a freak, an animal.’ I didn’t want to look pretty; but I didn’t want to be a bodybuilder either. I wanted to have a tight, ripped kind of look. You must feel that if you look at me the wrong way, I’m going to rip your head off!

WOLVERINE WORKOUT

I started working out for this body almost a year ago. Building muscle takes longer than losing fat; it needs real dedication to make that happen.

• I focused on weights, often very heavy weights. I moved heavy iron, did bench press, barbell rows, heavy barbell lunges, squats... I was squatting and benching around 143 kgs.

• My cardio mostly included high-intensity running, utilising a high-intensity interval-training format. There was no jogging and the workout was supplemented with protein shake to help my body recover.

• Also, I made sure to ‘cycle’ the Wolverine workout. People either never change their workout, or they change too often and too much. I wasn’t doing the same thing forever. I stuck on a phase long enough to cause a result, and then I changed.

• This was a three-week cycle. I did three weeks of heavy sets, with lots of rest. Then I did three weeks of lighter sets, with slower tempo (three seconds down, one second up. Or four seconds down, two seconds up). The last phase of the cycle was three weeks of explosive lifting.

MY DIET PLAN

I realised that training is all about eating. My trainer says, ‘How you look is 30 per cent how you train and 70 per cent how you eat.’

• My diet, prescribed by an Aussie guy, a natural bodybuilding champion was insane! I woke up at 4 am and ate egg whites with no salt because he said, ‘Salt will puff you up.’ Then he joked, ‘Man, you’re going to love this meal because you get a dry piece of whole meal toast. That’s the only bread and carbs you get all day, so enjoy it.’ So I had to look forward to waking up and having my dry toast and egg whites.

• I would then go back to bed and get up at six to have a full meal. It went like that for the rest of the day, eating the exact amount of calories, a lot of fish, chicken and vegetables — six to eight chicken breasts a day. My trainer allowed me a cheat meal on Christmas day. I’ve never eaten so much in my life!

THE X-FACTOR

Jackman’s fitness mantras…

• Will Smith once told me, ‘It’s easier to stay ready than to get ready’. I agree, I want to be prepared for future roles.

• The secret of my physical achievements is brainpower. I am always searching for the tipping point between what the mind wants and what the body can achieve.

• I don’t set goals.We limit ourselves with goals.We have far more ability than we give ourselves credit for. What do you think happens at the 100-metre Olympic race? When it’s once every four years, with everything they’ve done leading to that,it can’t just be adrenaline.Maybe it’s just the mind getting out of the way.

• As for Wolverine, he wouldn’t make excuses about gymming or punk out on his workouts! So this body is just a natural consequence of living the character.

Depression gene found

Scientists claim to be a step closer to understanding mental illness after discovering a gene linked to depression in older men.

An international team, led by University of Western Australia, has pinpointed a polymorphic gene that determines the risk of depression in older men, the latest edition of the 'International Journal of Epidemiology' reported.

According to the scientists, the study demonstrated that the risk of depression was greatest amongst people who carry a genetic polymorphism of the Creactive protein (CRP) gene and is not linked to increased levels of CRP, as previous scientific studies had suggested.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein found in the blood in response to inflammation "The results of our study suggest that these genetic variations lead to a relative deficiency in an individual's ability to address the physiological changes that occur as a result of acute stressful events.

"This marks the first time researchers have shown that men who display a polymorphism on chromosome one've a greater chance of displaying depressive episodes," Professor Osvaldo Almeida, who led the team, said.

For the study, the scientists used the Australian electoral rolls from 1996 and 1998 to sample (randomly) 12,000 men, aged 65 and older, living in Perth, Western Australia. Of these men 3,700 consented to donate a blood sample for genetic analysis. Other health and lifestyle factors were collected.

Of these 4.9% of the sampled men showed clinically significant symptoms of depression. The study involved analysing the genetic makeup of 3,700 men aged 65 years or older.

"These findings allow us to better understand depression risk factors and therefore will equip us with improved treatment and management methods. "We already know that depression is prevalent amongst older Australians with an estimated 8% of older Australian adults suffering from depression at some point, making this a major public health problem.

"The next step is to use these findings to better manage the treatment of the depression and that's a real challenge," Prof Almeida said.

FREEZER TO YOUR RESCUE

Your freezer can be your best friend when you’re slimming. Here are some of the best waistlinefriendly frozen foods to have on standby.

PEAS
Frozen peas count as healthy pulses as well as a veg portion — so add them to everything for a boost of vitamin C, folic acid, protein and soluble fibre. They will lower the GI of a dish (the rate at which it releases sugar into your blood stream), sustaining you for longer. Frozen peas actually have more vitamins than fresh ones because they are frozen within two-and-a-half hours of harvesting, sealing in all the goodness.

OVEN CHIPS
Oven chips are skinnier (average 4.2% fat) than home-made fried chips (average 6.7% fat), making for a healthier, as well as more convenient option if you’re weight-watching. Because they are frozen so quickly, oven chips also have 33% more vitamin C in them than chips you cut yourself from fresh potatoes.

FISH
Fish frozen at sea has locked in freshness and makes the perfect low-cal supper simply grilled or steamed with new potatoes and veg. If you don’t like it plain, choose “dusted” (not breaded or battered) fillets, as the calorie count is lower.

SPINACH
A good source of iron (which slimmers can sometimes fall short on), and fills up space on your plate for virtually no calories. Frozen can be better than fresh. Evidence shows that two days after picking, fresh spinach has already lost 75% of its vitamin C, while frozen spinach only loses around 25 per cent of its Vitamin C content for as long as you keep it in the freezer.

YOGA FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

Growing old is the stage when you have more time for your family, leisure, recreation and relaxation. This is also a stage when you have more time to yourself and this time maybe utilised to combat common ailments that one is susceptible to as one grows old. Some ailments linked to old age include:

• Aches and Pains / Arthritis
• High Blood Pressure
• Digestive Disorders
• Diabetes
• Insomnia
• Heart Ailments


This list could be endless for seniors if the need to stay fit and healthy. Since the degeneration of the body also sets some limits to the type of exercises you can do, milder forms of exercise like briskwalking and yoga can be practiced. The approach of yoga ensures long-lasting effects when practiced regularly. Yoga is a form of exercise that adapts to your needs and abilities and can be performed even by senior citizens. Since it touches your whole being, it makes you fitter, calmer and more relaxed. Yoga also helps to control/ prevent emotional problems linked with old age.


Yoga asanas and breathing techniques are designed to normalise your blood pressure, balance the nervous system, improve circulation and digestion, minimise aches/pains and are essential in the prevention of heart ailments. The breathing techniques can make you feel refreshed and cleanses the air passages which can help prevent respiratory ailments. Practicing yoga regularly also ensures a stronger immune system. In the next few days, common ailments related to old age would be addressed and simple yet effective Yogic techniques to combat them would be showcased. Remember: While practicing yoga, know your body and respect its limits. Do not push yourself too hard in a pose. Remember yoga aims to quiet the mind as you exercise your body. Practice to your comfort and joy.

• The above set of postures are very beneficial for good circulation of blood around the neck area and releases pain and stress if any.

• People with spondylitis and vertigo must consult their doctor before doing these postures.

BASIC POSTURES FOR THE NECK AND HEAD

1 Rotate your head in both directions.

2 Hold your neck firmly and drop your head at the back.

3 Keep your elbows parallel to the ground and apply pressure with your palm and resist the force with your neck. Repeat on both sides.

4 Interlock your hands at the back of your head and repeat the same procedure as above.

5 Keep your elbows straight while dropping your head at the back.