Teach your child gently

Kids react positively to tender methods of disciplining than to constant shouting and threatening


Scolding or beating your child for every little mistake will only serve to make them more rebellious. Disciplining a child is something that needs to be handled carefully, delicately and with plenty of love.

Here’s how to discipline your child:

Set examples for them to follow. Kids tend to ape the behaviour of elders. If you want them to get habituated to doing something, you should do it too. For example, throw the garbage in the bin or straighten out your bed when you wake up or eat without chomping on your food, your kid will automatically learn and follow.

If kids are unruly in a public place, be patient and try reasoning out with them first. If they still don’t pay heed to you, resort to some stern words. If the behaviour continues, walk away from them. However, remember to not raise your voice or slap them, this will result in them throwing tantrums to gain attention — negative or positive. Always treat your kids as grown-ups. They too look for respect and importance from parents. Compliment them on a task well done, include them in decision making like choosing their clothes or shoes or the colour for their room, etc.

Try not to scold your child. If you lose your temper, it will only reveal your weak spot and kids are quick to pick on those and use them effectively Also, follow the manners you’re trying to teach your child. For example, say please or sorry or excuse me instead of pushing people out of your way.

If your kid is misbehaving in front of guests, don’t scream at them. Wait till you get back home and then explain strictly that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable. Also, warn them that if they repeat this behaviour, you will have to take stern action.

Benefits of mustard seeds

Mustard seeds have been around for over 5,000 years. They’re known to have numerous benefits, as they’re low in calories and high in nutritional value, and have a lot of anti-bacterial and antiseptic qualities. They’re available in different varieties — black mustard, white mustard and brown Indian mustard, in whole as well as in powdered form.

Mustard oil is known to be great for the skin because it generates warmth.

Mustard seeds are rich in a nutrient called selenium, known for its high anti-inflammatory effects.

The high source of magnesium in mustard seeds helps reduce the severity of asthma attacks and certain symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and lowering blood pressure.

Suffer from migraine? Mustard seeds are known to help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

Mustard seeds are very rich in calcium, manganese, omega 3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, protein and dietary fibre — include them in your diet.

For people who suffer from a bad appetite, here’s something that will be really helpful. Mix a few black mustard seeds with milk and have it 15 to 20 minutes before your meal.

Mustard seeds are excellent for digestion because they increase the metabolic rate of the body.
The seeds are also beneficial for menopausal women who have trouble sleeping.

Health hints : Brush teeth for a healthier baby

Researchers have warned that even healthy expecting women can be at risk for pregnancy problems caused by oral bacteria.Yiping Han, from the department of periodontics in the School of Dental Medicine, led the study that found several new bacteria originating in the mouth travel through the blood to cause an inflammatory reaction in the placenta and eventually cause a range of health issues from miscarriages to stillbirths.

Researchers have been baffled why oral bacteria have shown up in the placenta or amniotic fluid of pregnant women.

They found that after injecting the blood in the tails of pregnant mice with saliva from healthy people and dental plaque from those with periodontal disease, oral bacteria continued to grow in the placentas after it had left the mice blood 24 hours later.

This suggests that even healthy pregnant women should be concerned bacteria that normally lives in the mouth can enter the blood stream and make their way into the placenta’s immune-free environment to ignite an inflammatory reaction that can lead to premature or stillbirths.

Seven steps to best maintain your gold jewellery

It is in the interest of anyone who purchases gold jewellery to maintain it as best they can. Most of the time, people leave gold to their children as heirlooms, and sometimes they sell it if they get a good resale price. But the attraction of gold lies in its lustre. So, people who own gold jewellery should make sure that it does not lose it. Here are some do’s and don’ts that you should follow to ensure that your gold jewellery is

kept in good condition:

DO’S

1. Always keep gold jewellery in a box lined with either suede, satin or velvet.

2. If you store more than one gold jewellery item in a box, wrap the smaller items in tissue paper to protect them against scratches.

3. Wipe the jewellery with cotton or a very soft cloth every day to prevent dust accumulation.

4. Polish your jewellery with special polish, especially if the gold item is worn regularly, so that it does not lose its lustre.

5. When cleaning gold jewellery, use lukewarm water, a mild detergent and a brush with soft bristles, especially for items with detailed designs.

6. You can also clean gold jewellery by dropping it (one item at a time) into boiling water and adding a pinch of baking soda. Leave it in for only half a minute, take it out and wipe it immediately.

7. Take rings off before applying hand lotion and cream to avoid getting oil on the rings, and subsequently, the dirt the oil attracts.

DON’TS

1. Do not keep your gold jewellery in pouches because the pieces will rub against each other and wear away over time.

2. Do not wear gold jewellery while having a bath. Water beating down on it will cause chains to stretch. Some soaps can be harsh and cause a film to appear and build up on stones, and they will lose their lustre.
3. Never wear gold jewellery while swimming. Chlorine erodes this soft metal. It is also a risk because diamonds and other stones can easily fall out of their settings.

4. Do not let household cleaners or other harsh chemicals come into contact with your gold as they reduce the shine of the yellow metal.

5. Avoid wearing perfume when wearing gold jewellery, especially if it has pearl insets.

6. Avoid wearing fine jewellery when gardening or doing housework.

7. Do not wear gold jewellery to sleep. Tossing and turning can cause chains to stretch and break, and prongs on rings to catch and possibly break.

If you follow these tips, you will have gold jewellery that will not lose its lustre and even years from now, will look as beautiful as it was on the day you bought it.

Wrinkles: Causes and treatment

Article about how you can slow down the aging process of the skin and some forms of treatments available to reduce wrinkles


In the olden days, wrinkles were thought to signify wisdom. But in today's world, most do everything possible to avoid aging changes and wrinkling of the skin. Many products and procedures are targeted at reducing wrinkles. Some may help and some may not. So it is important to make an informed decision on anti-aging measures to be used.

Skin ages all over the body,but these changes are more pronounced where there is exposure to the sun.Sun-related damage can cause photoaging,dryness,sagging of the skin,certain skin growths like keratoses (liver spots), and wrinkles. Most wrinkles appear on the parts of the body where the exposure is greatest. These include the face, V of the neck, hands, and forearms.

Wrinkles come in two categories - fine surface lines and deep furrows.Wrinkle treatments are in general much more effective for fine lines.Deeper creases may require more invasive techniques such as filler injections or laser treatment.

Factors that increase wrinkling
Smoking and consumption of alcohol
Fairer skin shows increased wrinkling
Heredity Occupational and recreational habits (farming, sailing, golfing) - excessive exposure to sun hastens aging changes of the skin

Preventive measures

The main preventive measures are minimising exposure to sun, regular use of broad spectrum sunscreens, protective hats and clothing, and avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption.

Treatments and procedures

There are several medical (topical medicines and creams) and cosmetic techniques available to reduce wrinkles. They include both medical and surgical methods.

Medical treatments available:

Vitamin A acid creams: This ingredient, available by prescription of a dermatologist only, is effective in treating aging skin and fine lines. These creams must be used on a regular basis and may produce redness and peeling at first, but discomfort can usually be minimised by lowering the cream's concentration or applying it less often until the skin gets used to it.

Alpha-hydroxy acids: These so-called 'fruit acids' include glycolic and lactic acid. Preparations containing these fruit acids are quite safe and cause no more than mild and temporary irritation. They produce subtle improvement.

Antioxidants: These include preparations that contain the vitamins A, C, and E, as well as beta-carotene. Such creams may provide a certain amount of protection from the sun as well as mild improvement of fine wrinkles.

Anti-aging creams: Anti-aging creams must contain an active ingredient for them to be effective.
Cosmetic procedures available:

Glycolic acid peels: These superficial peels can make a slight difference to the intensity of fine wrinkles.

Microdermabrasion: This is 'sanding the skin' with a machine containing silica or aluminum crystals.
Laser resurfacing: Using instruments such as carbon dioxide and erbium lasers, dermatologists can reduce wrinkling.

Fractional resurfacing: Newer lasers work through a modification of traditional laser resurfacing.Treatments affect only evenly-spaced spots surrounded by undamaged skin. Healing is much faster with less 'downtime' afterwards.

Non-ablative laser resurfacing: Newer lasers attempt to stimulate collagen synthesis under the skin without peeling or damaging the epidermis. Studies and clinical experience suggest that such procedures can improve fine wrinkles. Anyone considering any of the cosmetic procedures should fully inform themselves about the risks and potential benefits before going ahead.