GORGEOUS BEAUTIES

Stick With Sleek Hairstyles

2012-01-11T23:22:00.001+05:30

"A straight hairstyle will flatter your face without adding unnecessary volume at cheekbone areas," says Rodman. Just like clothing, the sleeker and more streamlined the style, the more slimming the end result. You can't beat Jennifer's blowout.

Aishwarya's latest ad after pregnancy

2012-01-10T23:19:00.002+05:30

Aishwarya's latest L'Oreal "Conditioner" ad after pregnancy

L'Oreal "Conditioner"L'Oreal Paris Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Tips for healthy feet:

2012-01-10T21:02:00.001+05:30

Don't neglect your feet

You spend hours on end in front of the mirror admiring your beautiful face and thinking how to make it more beautiful. Every time there is a new beauty enhancing product in the market, you just can't wait to grab it.

But how much importance would you give to other parts of the body? Say, the feet? The feet area is perhaps the most neglected part of the human body. Even when we shop, foot care products definitely don't figure among the list! The result: painful and cracked heels! One shouldn't forget that feet too is a vital organ in the body considering it takes your entire body weight and gives you a balance to smoothly carry out any activity. Picture this: you are all decked up with a flawless beautiful face and wearing your best skirt/gown. But your heels are cracked! How does it look? It's best ensure you are clean and clear from head to toe!

Here are some tips for healthy feet:

- First and foremost, keep them clean. As much as you care for your body, do the same for your feet too. When having shower, spend a minute on scrubbing your feet with the soap so it's dirt-free and the bacteria doesn't accumulate

- Clean your feet every time you remove your shoes, dry the place and keep the area moisturized

- If your heels are cracked and dirty. Then do a home pedicure at least once in two weeks. Place your feet in warm water in which a few crystal salt has been added. Once the skin on your feet gets soft, rub the sole with a pumice stone. This will remove dirt and kill bacteria. Rub a scrub on your feet and rinse with water. Pat dry and apply Vaseline or a moisturizer.

- Should you have cracked heels more often then always choose footwear that covers your heels. Never expose your heels to dust. Also, wear socks at night after cleaning and moisturizing your feet.

- You could also rub insides of used lemon on your feet to remove discolouration

- Always keep your nails trimmed and dirt-free

- Always buy shoes that are a right fit. Tight shoes causes cramps and affect the feet.

- To keep the heel area soft, apply a combination of coconut, sesame and castor oil at night

Eat your way to a more beautiful beard

2012-01-10T20:40:00.000+05:30

There's not too much you can do about a receding hairline, other than curse your gene pool.

But facial hair is a different story. "The condition of your facial hair directly corresponds to the health of your body," says Jim White, registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesman. Specifically, he continues, "The same nutrients that have a positive effect on our heart and other major organs also benefit our skin and hair."

In other words, you can literally eat yourself to a shinier, smoother, more healthy-looking beard. We asked White to tell us which vitamins are an essential part of a healthy facial hair diet, what they do, and how to get them into our diet. Results of our conversation below.

Vitamin A amd Beta A Carotene

How they better your beard: "Vitamin A maintains and repairs skin tissue," says White. "And keeping your skin healthy allows for better hair growth." Beta carotene is a nutrient that your body converts to vitamin A. Since it's found in foods that are lower in saturated fats than those that are rich in vitamin A, you're better off eating foods that are high in beta carotene.

Where to find them: Vitamin A is present in milk, cheese, butter and egg yolks. Beta carotene is found in yellow and orange produce (e.g., carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and papayas) and leafy green veggies (e.g., spinach and kale).

Vitamins C and E

How they better your beard: Vitamins C and E promote the production of sebum, a natural oil that is produced by our bodies and lubricates and moisturizes hair, making it look thicker and more lush. Additionally, vitamin C assists in the growth of bodily tissues, including those that comprise our skin and hair follicles.

Where to find them: Citrus fruits, green peppers and broccoli are good sources of vitamin C. Wheat germ oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, safflower oil, peanut butter, corn oil, spinach, broccoli, mangoes and spinach all contain high amounts of vitamin E.

Protein

How it betters your beard: Our skin and hair are composed primarily of keratin, a structural protein made up of amino acids. We don't produce amino acids on our own; instead, we need to eat protein, which the body then converts to amino acids.

Where to find it: Fill up on fish, lean meats, poultry, eggs, rice, beans and milk.

Vitamins B6, B12 and Biotin

How they better your beard: B vitamins help your body synthesize the protein you eat so it can be used to build new skin cells and hair. Getting enough B vitamins, says White, also helps reduce stress and prevent hair loss.

Where to find them: Fish, poultry, leans meats, eggs, nuts, and whole grains such as brown rice and oatmeal are chock-full of B vitamins. Foods that are rich in B12 include beef, milk, cheese and wheat germ.

Omega-3 fatty acids

How they better your beard: Essential fatty acids are just that: essential to normal growth, including that of facial hair. They also protect cell membranes, helping to prevent your whiskers from getting dry and brittle.

Where to find them: Make sure flax seed oil, walnuts and fatty fish (e.g., salmon) find their way into your diet.

Want to make your beard even more beautiful? Of course you do! Supplementing the above foods with a multivitamin, or with any of the individual nutrients listed above, might do the trick.

Just don't overdo it: Your body will excrete any extra water-soluble vitamins (e.g., vitamin C or B12), but it'll hold on to extra fat-soluble vitamins (e.g., vitamin A). Excessive doses of vitamin A could actually lead to hair loss. Ask your doctor to recommend a proper dosage, and you'll soon be on your way to winning whiskers.

Content courtesy: Men's Life Today, Global

Eat slowly, lose weight

2011-12-23T18:15:00.000+05:30

Researchers at the University of Rhode Island have found that eating faster increases the amount of food consumption.

Results of their two new studies revealed that men eat significantly faster than women, heavier people eat faster than slimmer people, and refined grains are consumed faster than whole grains, among other findings.

In one laboratory study, Kathleen Melanson, URI associate professor of nutrition, and her lab team found that fast eaters consumed about 3.1 ounces of food per minute, medium-speed eaters consumed 2.5 ounces per minute, and slow eaters consumed 2 ounces per minute.

The researchers also found what Melanson described as 'very strong gender differences' in eating rates.

At lunch, the men consumed about 80 calories per minute while the women consumed 52 calories per minute.

The second study, which examined the characteristics associated with eating rates, found a close association between eating rate and body mass index (BMI), with those individuals with a high BMI typically eating considerably faster than those with a low BMI.

"One theory we are pursuing is that fast eating may be related to greater energy needs, since men and heavier people have higher energy needs," said Melanson.

While the link between eating rate and obesity is still being studied, Melanson said that her research has demonstrated that eating slowly results in significantly fewer average calories being consumed.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of The Obesity Society in Orlando this month.

Natural Skin Care Tips

2011-12-23T17:14:00.000+05:30

* Cleansing the face 2-3 times a day; is adequate for normal skin. If your skin is oily a more frequent cleansing i.e. 4-5 times a day is necessary. If your skin is dry it is best to avoid frequent washing and you may have to use a suitable oil-based cosmetic cleanser instead of soap, which has a dry effect.

* Avoid heavy cheesy, fried foods and sugary food stuff.

* Never sleep with your makeup on as this will not allow your skin to breathe at night, leading to skin problems.

* Be aware that two kinds of factors affect your skin’s health – uncontrollable
and controllable. Uncontrollable factors include sun exposure, extreme climate
conditions, wind, humidity, pollution and natural skin aging. A regular skincare
regimen can help in controlling the effects of these factors.

* In very cold conditions skin blood flow drops very low, retaining heat in the center of the body and preserving the flow of warm blood to the vital organs within the chest and abdomen and to the brain.

Yoga to cure sciatic pain

2011-12-23T03:00:00.000+05:30

Yogasutra: Any inflammation or injury to the sciatic nerves can significantly restrict our movements and cause pain or numbness in the hips, knees or legs. Yoga asanas help in relieving sciatic pain.

Tips for Healthy Natural Hair

2011-12-23T02:19:00.000+05:30

*. Make an Herbal Hair Mask
Combine 1 teaspoon of triphala powder (an Ayurvedic herb you can purchase online), with 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel and a small amount of water until a paste is formed. Wet hair and apply paste to scalp and hair. Leave mask on for at least 20 minutes and then rinse.

* we absorb all nutrients from our food, can help reduce your hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth.

* Use beer as shampoo to add more body to your hair. Also it will make your hair appear shiny and bounce. You need to heat 1 cup of beer in a saucepan until ¼ cup is left. Let it cool and store it in a clean and empty bottle of shampoo. Apply it in your hair just like your ordinary shampoo. Do not forget to rinse well.

* Grab a spray bottle, fill it half way with water and add three tablespoons of olive oil. Shake well and use daily to add moisture to the hair. Spray liberally.

* You can use natural hair care products like henna, shikakai, lemon, coconut oil etc. for hair care. Rinse dry hair in lemon juice to get back the lost shine.

Jessica Alba talks pregnancy weight gain and post birth weight loss

2011-12-03T20:32:00.001+05:30

Weight Loss After Pregnancy

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D actress Jessica Alba has revealed how she got her perfect body back in to shape following the birth of her second daughter Haven Garner. Jessica admitted that she did not put on too much weight during her pregnancy, which made it much easier for her to lose the extra baby weight once she had given birth.

Alba explained, "I didn't gain as much weight with my second pregnancy, so I think that really made a big difference." She then revealed how she went about losing the baby weight. Jessica added, "I did prenatal yoga up until the very end. I just made healthier choices. I started working out and not going too crazy, but I did what was safe and what the doctor approved."

Jessica Alba got back in to her training and fitness regime just two weeks after she gave birth to her daughter. She took to the gym and did a workout session consisting of cardio which lasted for 40 minutes on both the stationary bike and the elliptical. Jessica now does a more intense workout session which lasts for 90 minutes, four days a week at the L.A. Fitness Factory with the fitness guru Yumi Lee.

redness around your nose, or the lines forming near your eyes?

2011-09-28T18:02:00.003+05:30

Redness Around Nose
How do you treat redness around my nose and eyes.I believe I had a allergic reaction yet it it is not itchy, but the area is beginning to dry

Environmental conditions influenced by unnatural forces such as being in an airline cabin or the heat emitted by a furnace is also likely to cause dryness around the eyes and nose. If the skin remains dry for a significant period of time, it is likely to develop wrinkles as a result of the loss of elasticity. Dry skin is becoming more of a common issue given the highly polluted state of the natural atmosphere. It is only normal for a number of dust particles to accumulate over the surface of the skin, making it seem very dry and dirty.

Since the condition is very common and has a significant impact on the aesthetic features of an individual, a number of home remedies have been developed and perfected in different parts of the world over the course of a few decades.

* For example, you could try creating a puree of 1 papaya and 1 banana and apply it over the skin. Leave it on for about 20 minutes before you wash it off with the help of warm water.

* Apply a good moisturizing lotion such as margarine or natural vegetable oil for best results.

* You can also grate a piece of cucumber and apply it all over the affected area. The juice is known to be extremely beneficial for the skin around the eyes making it tighter and refreshed. It also has a very cooling effect on the skin.

* Another option would be to massage some amount of mayonnaise into your skin and leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes and wash it off thoroughly with the help of some warm water.

* Vitamin E is considered to be one of the most beneficial healing agents for dry skin and the application of some vitamin E oil directly to the dry skin will show quick results.

Sex thrice a week, a must!

2011-09-27T13:30:00.004+05:30

Trainers have been suggesting that their clients and visitors to the gym have sex thrice a week. Sex has been known to burn calories but how many and depending on what factors. Here's an insight into it.

Some may call it synchronized gymnastics and others choose to call it "making love", but it all just eventually boils down to a three letter word s-e-x. The age old practice we so proudly flaunt as our own since the advent of the Khajuraho Temples to the ultimate guide to sex called The Kamasutra, we have always been known to be the pioneers in innovative and complex love making.

We transcend from being flamboyant, curious teens to more experienced and well-read adults. Giggles and sniggers prevail over new found discoveries after endless surfing over the net, reading dirty magazines and receiving the dirty bits from experienced friends. We live in a country where we proudly wear the fact that we wrote the sex book but we also live in times where it could be taboo, making us complete aliens in the society. Well, heads up for what's coming then. It' not the million crunches and squats you do that help you burn up your calories, its much more than that! Don't be surprised if your fitness charts read, "Sex thrice a week" because that's exactly what trainers have been advising their clients to get down to their business.

A Human Movement specialist states that sex is aerobic in some parts and anaerobic in others. "Sex unfortunately as practiced today, as an act of pent up stress, an act of lust etc will burn calories. But that by itself is not sufficient to replace jogging". Badrinath focuses on the fact that jogging, running and other forms of aerobic activity actually help people to have better sex that last longer, helps them recover faster after climax and have more energy and endurance to last. When his trainer asked him to turn up the heat, Gokul Govardhan, a fitness was under the notion that he would have to increase his workout sessions and get into a more rigorous routing. Little did he know that his trainer was actually asking him to have sex thrice a week. "I didn't think it was not possible.

I believe in what my trainer tells me to do. Sex removes the fat content that sticks on to the body and wipes out all the toxins". Gokul has been working out under the same trainer for the last 2 years and he believes if this is a solution for burning calories, then be it! Shreya, another regular visitor of the gym says that sex is an amazing way to lose weight and it also defies the statement "no pain, no gain". "I don't see anything wrong in having sex thrice a week, if not everyday.

It's a great cardio and ab workout." Hollywood celebs have sworn their toned bodies on amazing sex and that is proof enough to say that trainers are right about this. "The trainer is my guru and according to me, the teacher is always right!" says Shreya.

The calories burnt of course depends on a lot of factors like age, duration of sex, foreplay, and the intensity with which the act is done.

Calories burnt (depends on factors like age and gender)

On average 170 calories or more are burnt in the age group of 18 to 25.

On average 135 calories or more are burnt in the age group of 25 to 40

If a man's not doing much work, then he burns about 120 calories, in the age group of 40 plus Indian male.

Women burn more calories only if they're doing the work during sex. On an average, men and women burn about the same because the work they do is similar.

Movement analysis:
If you were to do a movement analysis of one nights sex - 5 to 10 minutes goes in foreplay (basically kissing, touching and caressing) caloric output is negligible (20 cal).

The act itself lasts for 20 minutes (100 calories), cool down and sleep (10 calories)!

If you have multiple sex (2) or intercourse in one hour then you may look at 300 calories

The additional 60 cal could get you back into the game and passion also increases the body temperature.

3-4 cups of coffee can cut stroke risk by 17 pc: research

2011-09-26T15:08:00.002+05:30

Drinking three to four cups of coffee a day can make us 17 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke, a new research has found.

Antioxidants in the drink stop blood clots in the brain as they protect against cholesterol build-up, the report said.

Scientists came to this conclusion after looking at data from eight studies on consumption from the past 45 years, a media report said.

Meanwhile, researchers found those drinking two cups a day were 14 per cent less likely to suffer a clot in the brain than non-drinkers.

Caffeine addicts who get through six or more cups a day only see a reduction in risk of around 7 per cent.

But the Swedish study admitted coffee “may have both beneficial and harmful effects”.

The research has been published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

How to keep a healthy heart

2011-09-25T22:41:00.000+05:30

Celine Dion may have to change the title of her famous love song - My Heart Will Go On, for according to medical experts with each passing day, our hearts are ageing faster than other parts of our bodies and are finding it difficult to go on. Your heart age can be different from your actual age.

A sedentary lifestyle, stress, long work hours, a growing appetite for junk food, excessive smoking and drinking are some of the factors that can make your heart older a lot faster than you actually age.

Age: Just a number?
You may know the shape of your heart, but there are sites online which claim to calculate the age of your heart (see box). However, cardiologist Dr Hasmukh Ravat says you shouldn't rely on them, "There is no way to calculate the age of your heart. When doctors use the term 'ageing heart', what they are referring to is a tendency among young people who would otherwise have a very low risk of heart disease now grappling with cardiovascular disease, which is largely prevalent at later stages in life."

Teens under attack
Heart age is an estimated 'age'of the heart as compared to a person's chronological age. It's based on the influence that physical and lifestyle factors have on heart health. The age group of people suffering from heart disease now includes teenagers, claims Ravat. He says, "I have had cases of 17 and 19-year-olds coming to me with heart problems."

It's essential that you measure your risk of heart disease and make a plan for how to prevent it in the near future. Shailesh Trivedi, a 21-year-old working professional, who suffered a heart attack a year ago, adds, "I was lucky to survive. Often, we do not realise the toll junk food and a stressed environment can take on your heart. I had to get an angioplasty done to rectify the damage to my heart. Counselling, quitting smoking, regular exercise and modifications in my diet helped me get through it."

Whatever your age, keeping your heart healthy is well worth it, because a strong heart is ultimately what keeps you young and vital.

Here's how to keep a healthy heart
If you have high cholesterol, avoid red meat Avoid fried, junk, salty and oily food Exercise regularly, go for a brisk walk, for 45 minutes to an hour, three to four times a week. It helps increase good cholesterol Avoid drinking too much alcohol. Drinking in moderation is not harmful. One or two pegs a day, two or three times a week, is okay Check your weight and maintain it Quit smoking and control BP and blood sugar levels.

Test your heart age
The heart forecaster reveals your age after getting your heart numbers, which are your blood pressure and your cholesterol ratio. With a few simple questions, the Heart Age Forecast will estimate the current condition of your heart. It will also give you insight into how healthy your heart is and also the effect that your lifestyle has on your body. You can do the test on heartagecalculator.com.au/. If you want to have very accurate answers, you need to submit your cholesterol levels and blood pressure. However, it will also do the calculations based on average numbers for your age and other risk factors.

Children's Nutritional Needs

2011-09-20T16:15:00.004+05:30

A survey of 1,800 school-aged children to find out what they consumed in a typical day.

15% of the students did not eat any vegetables
40% ate only potatoes or tomato sauce (aka French Fries and ketchup)
20% of the students did not consume any fruit

Currently, children ages 6-12 eat an average of 2.5 fruits and vegetables a day, only half of the recommended servings. These poor eating habits have made today's children susceptible to heart disease and obesity and a prime target for improved nutrition and increased education. It is important to monitor your child's fruit and vegetable intake and find creative healthy ways to help increase fruits and veggies in children's diets.

Children need a variety of foods to grow strong and healthy. Their appetites decrease or increase as they go through growth spurts.

Men think about food, sleep more than Sex

2011-09-20T15:56:00.003+05:30

The saying, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, seems to be true, as a study has shown that men, who are believed to have a one-track mind, actually think more about food and sleep than they do about sex.

The research also found that contrary to popular belief, men do not think about sex every seven seconds, and that in reality, it is more like once every waking hour.

Professor Terri Fisher, a psychologist at the Ohio State University in the U.S. carried out the study on 163 students, both male and female.

They were asked to carry around a chart and mark it every time they thought about sex, food or sleep.

It was found the numbers varied widely, as one student recorded only one sexual thought a day, and another male wrote down 388 in 24 hours.

But on average, men thought about food and sleep more often than they thought about sex, but they thought about all three more often than women did.

"Men are more aware of need-related states such as being hungry or tired or sexually aroused, and focus on those," the Daily Mail quoted Fisher as saying.

"They are also better at detecting these states in themselves than women and more willing to express their thoughts," she revealed.

She added that even the student who thought about sex 388 times in a day was only thinking about it every 158 seconds - far fewer than the "every seven seconds" that myth suggested.

"When people hear about some of these differences, I think sometimes they don't question it because it fits the stereotypes we have of men and women," Fisher said.

"When you stop and take a closer look at the origins of some of these alleged differences, they sometimes have no empirical support," she explained.

Behavioural Psychologist Jo Hemmings, author of How To Have Great Sex, explains why men are so preoccupied with their stomachs.

"There tend to be more trigger mechanisms to thinking about food,"

"The sights and smells associated with eating, as well as simple hunger or thirst, tend to be more commonplace in everyday life than the trigger mechanism for thinking about sex, so inevitably we think more about it,"

5 Teas that make you slim!

2011-09-14T23:03:00.004+05:30

The brew that energises can also help you lose weight. Here's how...

It's widely known that just one cup of tea can prevent strokes, arthritis, tooth decay and even keep cancer at bay. While it's regarded as nature's tranquiliser for its soothing properties, the brew also has another great benefit - it helps shed weight. Scientists have shown that tea has high levels of compounds that battle the absorption of fat.

Here are 5 teas that can result in a slimmer you...

1. Star anise tea: promotes digestion
Star anise, the fruit of a small evergreen tree (Illicium verum) native to China, can be used in the treatment of digestive troubles such an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea etc. One may drink a tea made from it by steeping a whole pod in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Strain this and sweeten it if required. Sip on this slowly when an upset stomach occurs.

2. Peppermint tea: controls what you eat
If you like peppermint tea then try and rotate that with a green tea drink as both speed up digestion and thus help you burn more calories. The peppermint leaves can be used to make a light, refreshing tea, which can be drunk either hot or chilled. To prepare the tea, take a tablespoon of fresh or dried leaves and add them to boiling water and let it steep for four to five minutes. Strain and add honey, if needed.

3. Green tea: builds metabolism
Research says the chemical EGCG found in green tea that speeds up the body's metabolism, is responsible for helping people lose the kilos - it can burn a whopping 70 calories a day! Green tea also raises the level of antioxidants. It's believed the antioxidant catechins in green tea boost metabolism and helps burn fat (can burn a whopping 70 calories a day!) Steeping time for the tea: two to three minutes at 85 Degrees Celsius.

4. Rose tea: prevents constipation
One of the oldest flavouring teas available, rose tea - made by mixing fresh roses and the bud of the tea - has a major therapeutic effect on the human body. Apart from clearing toxins and beautifying the skin, rose tea contains vitamins A, B3, C, D and E and is known to act against infections. It also prevents constipation and helps one lose weight.

5. Oolong tea: guards against obesity
Research reveals that oolong, a semi-fermented tea may have a stronger effect than even green tea. It promotes fat burning is said to help reduce cholesterol and the concentration of fat in the body. About two cups per day is recommended. Steep oolong tea anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes, for a more full-bodied cup.

Nimbu paani for good health!

2011-09-01T21:41:00.002+05:30

Lemon juice has more benefits that you'd ever imagine. Lemons have five per cent of citric acid, which gives it its unique taste.

Rich in vitamin C, it also has vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, proteins and carbohydrates.

Here are some benefits.

- Suffer from indigestion? Mix a few drops of lemon juice with warm water and sip on it. This is useful for treating nausea, heartburn, diarrhoea, bloating and burping.

- Since lemon is a natural antiseptic, it is great to cure skin problems. It clears your skin and also acts as an anti-ageing agent by eliminating wrinkles and blackheads.

- Have a toothache? Apply fresh lemon juice where it hurts. If you have bleeding gums, applying lemon juice can curb the bleeding and stop bad breath.

- A sore throat can be cured by gargling with lemon juice and water regularly.

- Nimbu paani is high in potassium, which controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea and reduces stress. It also cures respiratory disorders like breathing problems and asthma.

Bucket lists, rude tweens and more

2011-08-28T15:26:00.000+05:30

On raising a tween who has taken a turn for the rude: As difficult as you find those moments to be, you and your child are both practicing for higher-stakes separations in the future. One of the key elements that will make those conversations easier is skill — especially your child’s. Rather than responding to his affect in the moment, take an emotional step sideways. Don’t engage; observe. In a level voice, say, “I have no idea what you want right now, and you’re not going to get it by being rude to me. What do you want? Why? How much? When you figure those things out, let’s talk, but bring your best skills if you expect me to listen. You’re 10 now.”

What he really wants in that moment, by the way, is power, and he’s getting it by making his parent go off like a rocket whenever he wants. Please eliminate that reward and help him become more adept at finding his own power.

Half of U.S. adults will be obese by 2030, report says

2011-08-28T00:36:00.001+05:30

Based on trends, half of the adults in the United States will be obese by 2030 unless the government makes changing the food environment a policy priority, according to a report released Thursday on the international obesity crisis in the British medical journal the Lancet.

Those changes include making healthful foods cheaper and less-healthful foods more expensive largely through tax strategies, the report said. Changes in the way foods are marketed would also be called for, among many other measures.

A team of international public health experts argued that the global obesity crisis will continue to grow worse and add substantial burdens to health-care systems and economies unless governments, international agencies and other major institutions take action to monitor, prevent and control the problem.

Changes over the past century in the way food is made and marketed have contributed to the creation of an “obesogenic” environment in which personal willpower and efforts to maintain a healthful weight are largely impossible, the report noted.

It also laid out a new way of calculating how many calories to cut to lose weight, giving what it said is a more accurate means of estimating projected weight loss over time.

The common weight-loss wisdom is that reducing calorie intake by about 500 calories a day “will result in slow and steady weight loss of about 0.5 kg (about a pound) per week.” That rule doesn’t take into account the way the body adapts to the change. In particular, as anyone who has actually lost weight can attest, the less you weigh, the fewer calories you can consume if you wish to lose more weight or maintain the loss.

The report said that weight loss should be viewed over a longer period of time and proposed a new “approximate rule of thumb” for an average overweight adult. It said that “every change of energy intake of [about 24 calories] per day will lead to an eventual bodyweight change of about 1 kg (just over two pounds) . . . with half of the weight change being achieved in about 1 year and 95 percent of the weight change in about 3 years.”

Though the report acknowledged that it’s ultimately up to individuals to decide what to eat and how to live their lives, it maintained that governments have largely abdicated the responsibility for addressing obesity to individuals, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations. Yet the obesity epidemic will not be reversed without government leadership, regulation, and investment in programs, monitoring, and research, it said.

The report, issued in a four-part series published in the Lancet, was released in advance of the first high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly focused on noncommunicable disease prevention and control, which will take place in New York next month.

Weight gain hits women after marriage, men after divorce

2011-08-24T01:52:00.001+05:30

Tying or untying the knot seems to affect men's and women's waistlines differently: A new study shows that women are more apt to pile on excess pounds after marriage, while men add the weight after a divorce.

"Clearly, the effect of marital transitions on weight changes differs by gender," lead author Dmitry Tumin, a doctoral student in sociology at Ohio State University, said in a university news release.

His team looked at weight gain in the two years following a marriage or divorce among more than 10,000 people in the United States surveyed from 1986 to 2008.

Both men and women who divorced or married were more likely than never-married people to have a small weight gain in the two years following their marital transition, the team found.

In most cases, the weight gain was minor and not a serious health threat. But the risk of incurring a large weight gain was higher among men after a divorce and among women after getting married.

"Divorces for men and, to some extent, marriages for women promote weight gains that may be large enough to pose a health risk," Tumin concluded.

The study didn't examine the reasons why major weight gain is more likely for men after a divorce and for women after marriage, and the research did not go beyond the two-year marital transition period. But the findings fit with previous research.

"Married women often have a larger role around the house than men do, and they may have less time to exercise and stay fit than similar unmarried women," study co-author and sociology professor Zhenchao Qian theorized in the news release. "On the other hand, studies show that married men get a health benefit from marriage, and they lose that benefit once they get divorced, which may lead to their weight gain."

The researchers also found that people over age 30 were most likely to gain weight after marriage or divorce, and the risk grew stronger as people grew older.

This may be because they've settled into certain patterns of diet and physical activity, the researchers said.

"As you get older, having a sudden change in your life like a marriage or a divorce is a bigger shock than it would have been when you were younger, and that can really impact your weight," Tumin said.

The research was to be presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Las Vegas.

Suffer from grey hair?

2011-08-23T21:31:00.001+05:30

We provide some home remedies to nourish your hair

Gooseberry is the best cure for hair fall and grey hair. Give your scalp a regular gooseberry paste massage to reverse the process of greying.

Soak 10 to 12 dried gooseberries in half a cup of water overnight and strain it the next day. Use this as a hair conditioner after your head bath. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse your hair with clean, warm water. This will make your hair smooth and shiny and also prevent premature greying.

A 15-minute, coconut oil and lemon massage is known to work wonders.

Soak about 10 to 12 rithas and three to four shikakai pods overnight in a pint of water. Boil for a few minutes the next day and strain. Use this liquid as a normal shampoo on your hair.

Apply a frothy mixture of castor oil and lemon juice evenly over your scalp and bathe after an hour with the shikakai and ritha shampoo mentioned above to reduce grey hair.

Take one cup of strong black tea mixed with a tablespoon of salt. Strain the tea once it's cool and massage on the roots of your hair. Leave it on for an hour and then rinse with cold water. Do not shampoo your hair after this.

Body Rap! (on iTunes)

2011-08-22T21:46:00.001+05:30

Top Ten Foods for Glowing Skin Tips

2011-07-31T18:26:00.001+05:30

Cottage Cheese

An antidote to dry skin, cottage cheese contains selenium and other essential minerals that are known to fight flaky skin and dandruff, helping your natural beauty shine through.

Mangoes

Sun damage is one of the major causes of dull, wrinkled skin. Mangoes, which are high Vitamin A, contain more than 80% of required vitamins known for restoring skin cells, says celebrity aesthetician Bella Schneider.

Green Tea

To reduce redness, swelling or irritation, Schneider says green tea is one of the body’s best allies in fighting off inflammation

Oysters

Loaded with zinc, oysters help fight sagging skin by boosting its elasticity to give it a more youthful appearance

Sea Buckthorn Berries

Dr. Mehmet Oz has been singing the praises of this Himalayan fruit. Packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C and the rare fatty acid Omega-7, the berries nourish skin and hair and help stimulate collagen production.

Red Wine

Red wine can help transform a dull complexion to its original glow. With thousands of polyphenols, it helps prevent cell oxidation that ages the skin.

Mushrooms

Containing lots of Vitamin B2, mushrooms can help dramatically repair damaged tissue, helping it look young and polished.

Coconut Oil

Similar to olive oil or avocados, virgin coconut oil is filled with good fats that help to restore skin’s moisture, says beauty expert Erika Katz. Once vilified as unhealthy, this cooking oil is making a comeback as scientists revise their former opinions, saying that in moderation it’s not a waistline killer.

Acerola Cherries

This fruit is Schneider’s favorite wrinkle fighter. Acerola cherries contain 100% of your daily Vitamin C quota and protect against oxidation, a major cause of wrinkles.

Sweet Potato

Dermatologist Audrey Kunin says sweet potatoes, which are rich in Vitamin A, speed cellular turnover and function like an internal anti-aging retinol.
source:Forbes.com

Forget gym, now burn calories by sexercise!

2011-07-29T17:42:00.002+05:30

Forget running on treadmills or hitting expensive gyms to shed those extra pounds, as now a cheaper way to lose calories has emerged in the form of - sexercise.

A study has revealed that, women are more inclined to have sex after a long day if they think it will help them lose weight.

Research showed that 76 percent of women are more inclined to weave the nocturnal workout into their routines if they think they will burn calories.

And almost two thirds of women who do own gym memberships said they were happier to carry out such activities as having sex and even doing the vacuuming if they thought it would burn as many calories as a traditional workout.

According to Kerry McCloskey's book, 'The Ultimate Sex Diet', a half-hour session of lovemaking will burn about 150 to 250 calories, and even up to 350 calories, depending on just how active you are.

Simply kissing for an hour burns over 200 calories - equivalent to three HobNob biscuits.

"We are burning calories constantly as we go about our day to day business," the Daily Mail quoted Darren Linnell, creator of Aspire drinks who commissioned the survey, as saying.

"It's about being aware of the small things we can do to give us that extra boost," he stated.

Hugs, not sex, keep your marriage strong and happy!

2011-07-27T19:29:00.002+05:30

Hugs, not sex, keep your marriage strong and happy!

Do you think that not having sex with your partner is a sign of a troubled relationship? Well, its not.

A new research has indicated that the frequency of cuddling is a far better indicator of the strength of a relationship than having sex.

“Cuddling provides not just sensual pleasure, but also a feeling of comfort, security and companionship, all of which are just as important to a relationship as sex,” the Daily Mail quoted Paula Hall, relationship expert for online dating service Parship, as saying.

In fact, maintaining an intimate connection without the wild abandon of the hormonal early days can be vital for a happy relationship.

“The advantage of non-sexual intimacy is that couples often use this time together to talk about their emotional lives,” said Hall.

“Whereas when sex is their only way of getting close, couples who find emotional openness difficult often rely on making love to help them connect. They can find themselves missing out on other levels of intimacy,” added Hall.

If sex is the focus, it can mean that emotional problems are never discussed - - whereas non-sexual touching, such as cuddling and stroking, encourages more relaxed bonding and intimate conversation, due in large part to the crucial 'cuddle hormone' oxytocin.

“Oxytocin is produced by touch and, as well as making us feel good, it also inspires us to touch more,” said Hall.

“That means that the more you touch, the closer you feel and the more you want to touch,” she added.

Tags : hugs, cuddle, marriage, relationships

Benefits of morning walk

2011-07-26T00:59:00.000+05:30

Strengthens your heart

Regular walking may reduce the risk of a heart attack by half. It can help to lower the risk of coronary heart diseases as there is a link between vigorous physical exercise and a low incidence of heart failure.

Keeps diseases at bay

By increasing the strength of your heart and lungs, walking increases your ability not only to exercise longer and harder but also to perform everyday task without tiring. It strengthens the immune system and keeps diseases at bay.

Reduces hypertension

Regular walking can reduce high blood pressure - hypertension - by making the heart work more efficiently and by improving the circulation.

Maintains cholesterol

Regular walking can increase the levels of "good" cholesterol in the blood, reducing chances of a heart attack.

Strengthens bones and joints

The oxygen that you get early in the morning also gives you great amount of energy especially to your joints.

Improves mood and self-esteem

When you feel fit and healthy your self-confidence increases and you feel more able to cope with the demands made on you. Time spent in walking means time taken off from the stresses of daily life.

Relieves backache

Taking a walk regularly is one of the best things you can do for your back. It promotes muscular development, increases circulation, and speeds up the release of endorphins which provide a natural "high"

Helps build muscle endurance

All walkers develop a moderate amount of endurance, which enables them to exercise longer before becoming exhausted.

Uplifts your mood

Walking energizes you, awakens you and stills your mind to fully relax. With the change of mind your moods change and you experience a physical and a spiritual upliftment.

Helps maintain weight

Walking four times a week, 45 minutes each time, an average person can lose 8 – 10 kg in a year with no change in diet. Walking can help you trim fat as well as tone your muscles.

Glowing Skin Tips

2011-07-24T15:53:00.002+05:30

Foods for Glowing Skin

Healthy glowing skin leaves good impression on every person we meet so it is desired by everyone. Without glowing skin, every effort to look good will not attain the desired result though you wear the perfect dress or makeup. It helps to boost your self-confidence level. Americans spend billions of dollars on different types of moisturizer, brightening creams and glitter to get glowing skin but the best the way to treat and prevent unhealthy skin is by making changes in your diet. Junk foods, sugar, processed foods, fried foods, and caffeine not only results in weight gain but also makes the skin unhealthy. Everything you consume is reflected on your skin so you should eat healthy food to get healthy look. There are many foods which provide skin health benefits. Here are provided some foods that give glowing skin and be sure you include them in your diet.

Benefits of Mushroom

2011-07-24T15:48:00.002+05:30

Get the Benefits of Mushroom

Mushrooms also contain a naturally occurring mineral- Copper. Copper offers you effective defense against various health disorders. If you like mushrooms, you can easily get around 40% of the suggested daily amount of copper in your diet.They offer you amazing health benefits, and are liked for their exotic flavor. Natural disease fighters, mushrooms help you maintain good health and develop immunity against several dreadful diseases.

How to Get Rid of Peeling Skin

2011-07-21T19:45:00.000+05:30

How to Get Rid of Peeling Skin -- powered by ehow

Peeling skin can be caused by dehydration, sun exposure and dry air. Rejuvenate your skin with the help of a skin care specialist in this free video.
source:ehow.com

Being obese, bigger breast cancer risk than smoking or drinking

2011-07-21T18:42:00.000+05:30

A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer depends on a range of factors, including family history, age, time of menopause and whether she has had children.

However, a new study has said that older women who are dangerously overweight are at a far higher risk even than those who drink heavily or smoke to develop breast cancer.

According to data released by Cancer Research UK, one in eight women in the UK develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and the majority of these tumours are ‘hormone sensitive’ meaning their growth is fuelled by hormones.

Studies show that post-menopausal women with high levels of oestrogen and testosterone have between two and three times the risk of breast cancer than women with the lowest levels.

The Oxford University team studied the health records of nearly 6,300 post-menopausal women, looking for factors that might explain why some developed hormone sensitive breast cancer when others did not.

A woman''s weight had the greatest bearing on a woman''s sex hormone levels, shortly followed by smoking and alcohol consumption.

Women who are overweight or obese had high levels of hormones like oestrogen and progesterone.

So too did women who drank more than two and a half units of alcohol a day or smoked more than 15 cigarettes daily.

Experts say women should be made aware of these modifiable risk factors.

“This is an important study as it helps to show how alcohol and weight can influence hormone levels. Understanding their role in breast cancer is vital and this analysis sheds light on how they could affect breast cancer risk,” the BBC quoted Dr Julie Sharp, of Cancer Research UK, as saying.

“We know that the risk of the disease can be affected by family history and getting older, but there are also things women can do help reduce the risk of the disease. Maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing alcohol consumption are key to reducing breast cancer risk,” she added.

Facebook removes Google+ ad

2011-07-18T12:56:00.001+05:30

Web developer Michael Lee Johnson decided he wanted to quickly grow his number of Google+ friends. The best place to find people willing to friend you is of course Facebook, so Johnson ran a Facebook ad asking people to add him to their Circles on Google+. Facebook was not amused.

The ad was headlined “Add Michael to Google+.” It was short and to the point: “If you’re lucky enough to have a Google+ account, add Michael Lee Johnson, Internet Geek, App Developer, Technological Virtuoso.”

Facebook removed his ad, and banned him from running ads on the social network altogether. Johnson posted the following via his Google+ account (via TechCrunch):

LOL: I recently ran a Google+ advertisement on Facebook that got all of my campaigns suspended. - Great.

Facebook sent him the following message explaining why the ad was removed:

Your account has been disabled. All of your adverts have been stopped and should not be run again on the site under any circumstances. Generally, we disable an account if too many of its adverts violate our Terms of Use or Advertising guidelines. Unfortunately we cannot provide you with the specific violations that have been deemed abusive. Please review our Terms of Use and Advertising guidelines if you have any further questions.

Since Facebook doesn’t say, it’s not clear which rule – actually it could have been more than one – Johnson broke. It is worth noting, however, that the company has a Refusal of Ads clause in the Facebook Advertising Guidelines:

We may refuse ads at any time for any reason, including our determination that they promote competing products or services or negatively affect our business or relationship with our users.

There’s nothing wrong with a company having guidelines that are as beneficial to it as possible. Still, I don’t think Facebook should have killed all of Johnson’s ad campaigns.

What to expect as you get older

2011-07-12T20:47:00.000+05:30

Aging: What to expect as you get older

Looked in the mirror lately only to find a few more wrinkles and gray hairs? Those are just a few of the changes you're likely to notice as you get older. But what exactly is going on with your body? Here's what you can expect as you age.

Natural changes with age

Regardless of how long you live, time takes a toll on the organs and systems in your body. How and when this occurs is unique to you. Some typical changes to expect as you age include:

Cardiovascular system

Over time, your heart muscle becomes a less efficient pump, working harder to pump the same amount of blood through your body. Also, your blood vessels become less elastic. Hardened fatty deposits may form on the walls of your arteries (atherosclerosis), narrowing the passageway through the vessels. The natural loss of elasticity, in combination with atherosclerosis, makes your arteries stiffer, causing your heart to work even harder to pump blood through them. This can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension).

Bones, muscles and joints

Your bones reach their maximum mass between ages 25 and 35. As you age, your bones shrink in size and density. One consequence is that you might become shorter. Gradual loss of density weakens your bones and makes them more susceptible to fracture. Muscles, tendons and joints generally lose some strength and flexibility as you age.

Digestive system

Swallowing and the motions that automatically move digested food through your intestines slow down as you get older. The amount of surface area within your intestines diminishes slightly. The flow of secretions from your stomach, liver, pancreas and small intestine may decrease. These changes generally don't disrupt your digestive process, so you may never notice them. But you might notice more constipation.

Kidneys, bladder and urinary tract

With age, your kidneys become less efficient in removing waste from your bloodstream. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and some medications can damage your kidneys further.

About 30 percent of people age 65 and older experience a loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence). Incontinence can be caused by a number of health problems, such as obesity, frequent constipation and chronic cough.

Women are more likely than men to have incontinence. Women who've been through menopause might experience stress incontinence as the muscles around the opening of the bladder (the sphincter muscles) lose strength and bladder reflexes change. As estrogen levels decline, the tissue lining the tube through which urine passes (urethra) becomes thinner. Pelvic muscles become weaker, reducing bladder support.

In older men, incontinence is sometimes caused by an enlarged prostate, which can block the urethra. This makes it difficult to empty your bladder and can cause small amounts of urine to leak.

Brain and nervous system

The number of cells (neurons) in your brain decreases with age, and your memory becomes less efficient. However, in some areas of your brain, the number of connections between the cells increases, perhaps helping to compensate for the aging neurons and maintain brain function. Your reflexes tend to become slower. You also tend to become less coordinated.

Eyes

With age, your eyes are less able to produce tears, your retinas thin, and your lenses gradually turn yellow and become less clear. In your 40s, focusing on objects that are close up may become more difficult. Later, the colored portions of your eyes (irises) stiffen, making your pupils less responsive. This can make it more difficult to adapt to different levels of light. Other changes to your lenses can make you sensitive to glare, which presents a problem when driving at night. Cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration are the most common problems of aging eyes.

Ears

Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting adults who are middle-aged and older. One in three people older than 60 and half of all people older than 85 have significant hearing loss. Over the years, sounds and noise can damage the hair cells of your inner ears.

Also, the walls of your auditory canals thin, and your eardrums thicken. You may have difficulty hearing high frequencies. Some people find it difficult to follow a conversation in a crowded room. Changes in the inner ear or in the nerves attached to it, earwax buildup and various diseases can all affect your hearing.

Teeth

How your teeth and gums respond to age depends on how well you've cared for them over the years. But even if you're meticulous about brushing and flossing, you may notice that your mouth feels drier and your gums have pulled back (receded). Your teeth may darken slightly and become more brittle and easier to break.

Most adults can keep their natural teeth all of their lives. But with less saliva to wash away bacteria, your teeth and gums become slightly more vulnerable to decay and infection. If you've lost most or all of your natural teeth, you might use dentures or dental implants as a replacement.

Some older adults experience dry mouth (xerostomia), which can lead to tooth decay and infection. Dry mouth can also make speaking, swallowing and tasting difficult. Oral cancer is more common among older adults. Your dentist checks for oral cancer when you go for regular cleanings and checkups.

Skin, nails and hair

With age, your skin thins and becomes less elastic and more fragile. You'll likely notice that you bruise more easily. Decreased production of natural oils may make your skin drier and more wrinkled. Age spots can occur, and skin tags are more common. Your nails grow at about half the pace they once did. Your hair may gray and thin. In addition, you likely perspire less — making it harder to stay cool in high temperatures and putting you at increased risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

How fast your skin ages depends on many factors. The most significant factor is sun exposure over the years. The more sun your skin has been exposed to, the more damage you may attain. Smoking adds to skin damage, such as wrinkles. Skin cancer also is a concern as you age. You have a 40 percent to 50 percent chance of getting skin cancer at least once by the time you reach 65.

Sleep

Sleep needs change little throughout adulthood. If you need six hours of sleep nightly, chances are you'll always need six hours — give or take 30 minutes. However, as you age, you'll likely find that you sleep less soundly, meaning you'll need to spend more time in bed to get the same amount of sleep. By age 75, some people find that they're waking up several times each night.

Weight

As you age, maintaining a healthy weight — or losing weight if you're overweight — may be more difficult. Your metabolism generally slows, meaning that your body burns fewer calories. Calories that were once used to meet your daily energy needs instead are stored as fat. Your level of activity may decrease, resulting in unwanted weight gain.

Sexuality

With age, sexual needs, patterns and performance may change. Women's vaginas tend to shrink and narrow, and the walls become less elastic. Vaginal dryness is a problem. All of this can make sex painful.

Impotence becomes more common in men as they age. By the time they're 65, up to one in four men have difficulty getting or keeping an erection about one in every four times they have sex. In others, it may take longer to get an erection, and it may not be as firm as it used to be.

How long can you live?

The longest documented human life span is 122 years. Though a life span that long is rare, improvements in medicine, science and technology during the last century have helped more people live longer, healthier lives. If you were born in the early 1900s in the United States, your life expectancy was only about 50 years. Today it's around 77.

And if you're sure you've already done too much damage to yourself to hope for a long life, think again. Researchers say it's never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For example, if you quit smoking now, your risk of heart disease begins to fall almost immediately. Living a healthy lifestyle can improve how you age. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and getting out for a daily walk are ways you can begin preparing now for your later years.
source

How can cataract be diagnosed?

2011-07-07T15:02:00.000+05:30

Q. I am a 58 years old person weighing 51 kg. Last year, an ophthalmologist examined my eyes and told me that I have initial traces of cataract. I have read somewhere that Alzheimer's could be hereditary and is caused by plaques getting stuck in the memory cells, which would reflect in the eyes and could confuse the doctors with cataract. My mother had Alzheimer's. My CT scan is clear at the moment. My memory is not very poor. How can cataract be diagnosed?

A. The plaques that you are mentioning are not in the eyes. So they cannot be confused for cataracts. It is easy to diagnose cataract with a slit lamp and distant direct ophthalmoscopic assessment by your eye doctor. It is not rocket science. So please be rest assured. Many will have cataracts, but only those which affect eyesight need to be operated.

Beauty Care: Home remedies

2011-07-07T14:52:00.000+05:30

* Apply a couple of tablespoons of sea salt on your wet face or whole body and gently massage with a wet washcloth or fingers tips for 2 mins. Avoid the eye area. Then, rinse with cold water. Do this once a week and it's the best natural way to exfoliate

* Just take a spoon full of gram flour (besan), and mix it in milk (unboiled) and add a pinch of turmeric (haldi) and apply it on your face and neck. Scrub for 2 mins and then rinse off with plain water. Do it over a month and you'll feel a natural glow on your skin.

Facebook launches video calls, group chat features

2011-07-07T13:01:00.002+05:30

Quick on the heels of Google’s launch of its latest social-networking venture, Facebook said Wednesday that its 750 million users will now be able to make video calls on the site.

The feature will be powered by the Internet phone service Skype. Facebook also redesigned its chat feature, so that the people a user messages the most often show up first.

To make video calls, Facebook users with webcam-equipped computers have to select the friends they want to chat with. In the chat window that pops up, clicking on a small blue video icon brings up the video chat feature. Currently there is no option to video chat more than one person. That feature is available on Google Plus, a social service that Google began testing last week with a small number of invited users.

Facebook is also adding a group chat option. This works much the same way as the group chat on Google Plus. Once you are chatting with one friend, you can click an icon to add more people to the conversation.

Facebook’s new products come after a relatively quiet period for the world’s largest online social network. Mr. Zuckerberg, 27, said the company is embarking on “launching season 2011.” Users can expect “a lot of stuff coming out” from Facebook in the next couple of weeks and months, he said at an event at the company’s Palo Alto, California, headquarters.

Facebook updated its user count -- to 750 million users worldwide -- for the first time since last summer, when it reached half a billion people. Mr. Zuckerberg said that’s because “we don’t think it’s a metric to watch anymore.”

Rather, Facebook is paying more attention to how much its users are sharing with one another. That number is growing at a much faster rate than its monthly user base. Currently, people share 4 billion items, such as photos, status updates and links, every day using Facebook.

Without mentioning Google by name, Mr. Zuckerberg said that “independent entrepreneurs and companies focused on one particular thing will always do better than companies that try to do everything.”

For Facebook, that one thing has been creating an online social infrastructure that other companies, such as Skype, can then add their own products to.

Skype has agreed to be bought by Microsoft Corp. for $8.5 billion in a deal expected to close by the end of the year. Microsoft owns a small stake in Facebook.

Lisa wants to be a mom

2011-07-04T10:26:00.000+05:30

Canadian-Indian actor Lisa Ray is perhaps most acclaimed for her brave battle with bone marrow cancer two years ago. She fought through the hardship of chemotherapy-induced menopause, but wants to be a mother now. “I’m looking at other options and talking to my partner about it. I would like to
have one child, boy or girl,” says Ray.

She was invited for the recently held IIFA awards in her hometown — Toronto, and feels honoured. “I think the awards are doing something really positive. It is getting people to talk about Bollywood films,” she says. Working for IIFA, she also got to see behind the scenes action. “Like, when a fan lunged on Shah Rukh Khan’s feet on stage, it went unnoticed as everyone thought it was part of the skit,” she says. Another favourite moment for her was: walking on the green-carpet, where she chose to lend support to Canadian designers by wearing their creations.

Ray, who has starred in films like Water, I Can’t Think Straight and Bollywood/Hollywood, was in the Capital to promote her new TV series, Oh My Gold!, to be aired on the channel, TLC. In the show, Ray travels through India, “snooping” around to uncover different cities’ inherent jewellery styles.

Her most prized possession? “A ruby and diamonds ring that was passed down by my mother to me,” she Ray.

I’d like to have one child. I’m looking at options — adoption or some technique, it is not definitive

It was convenient to wear designers from Canada, instead of calling in garments from India (for IIFA)

India is the only place in the world, where gold and jewellery is literally a part of the national make up

At 78, workaholic Prime Minister Manmohan Singh puts in 18-hour days

2011-07-03T01:52:00.004+05:30

At 78, workaholic PM puts in 18-hour days

NEW DELHI: Invariably polite and punctilious, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's energy levels and intense concentration can give someone in his 20s a run for his money despite two heart surgeries. Disciplined and balanced in his lifestyle, 78-year-old Singh can keep punishing schedules, switching between reviewing Afghanistan and Pacific security with a visiting prime minister and meeting MPs with localized grievances.

Manmohan Singh increasingly works out of his 7 RCR office with its attached residence. He begins his day fairly early with a brisk morning walk on the lawns, a routine he is loath to miss out on. He is ready for work by around 7 am. Occasionally, breakfast is when Singh meets people – old associates like economist Jagdish Bhagwati for example -- he would like to toss an idea around with. This is also when he goes through newspapers.

The PM's appointments typically begin around 9 am when he meets senior staffers and at times receives high-level briefings on matters considered priority in terms of security or political significance. Unlike some of his predecessors, Singh does pay attention to detail and holds regular sectoral reviews instead of leaving matters to top PMO officials.

After his multiple coronary bypass in 2009, Manmohan Singh is more careful about having his meals on time and retires to his residential quarters for lunch around 1 pm. He is back at work at 2.30-3 pm in the afternoon.

Although not exactly a night bird, Manmohan Singh doesn't turn in early. His evenings are usually packed with engagements and there are callers seeking time at short notice like ministers requesting a few minutes after a Cabinet meeting. Singh usually does not refuse and minutes can stretch on a bit longer.

He works right through weekends, unfazed by political storms raging around him. A few months ago, on a Saturday when Delhi's rumour mills were busy speculating about his political future, an unperturbed PM calmly oversaw a meeting on green energy options.

While his ability to scan files and minutiae is legendary, aides insist he doesn't get bogged down in micro-management. He does not breathe down a ministry's neck, expecting ministers to get on with their day to day jobs, something that came across in his suggestion at his meeting with editors on Wednesday that he could not be a class monitor when it came to working with allies.

His focus is on goals and hurdles in the way. As on Friday, when he will take an overview of infrastructure sectors, the PM looks at major roadblocks and calls for solutions to break logjams. Despite seeming a bureaucratic exercise, these sessions keep officialdom on its toes as ministers and bureaucrats are aware that they face an accounting exercise with someone who is not intimidated by details and statistics.

Manmohan Singh's schedule requires him to regularly address academic, industry, government and constitutional bodies. He delivers a couple of speeches a week on an average. Government and party work at the Planning Commission, Congress core group meetings, official functions at Vigyan Bhawan, Cabinet meetings and other business like a meeting to commemorate his mentor P V Narasimha Rao this week are all part of work.

The afternoons often see meetings with chief ministers and senior officials and are 15-20 minute affairs and then there is file work to attend to. Singh often pens a "please examine" on representations that keeps officials busy. Despite the volume of work that awaits him every day, officials say he is a gracious boss ever ready to hand out a generous recommendation to those who have served him. He respects diligent officers and is faintly deprecating about pushy ones.

The PM's evenings stretch on longer than was the case in his first term, partly because of more frequent and prolonged crisis ranging from the Telangana protests to dealing with civil society agitators but also because he is keenly conscious of the need to keep the wheels of policy turning.

A family man, Singh does not step out much for social dos nor does he entertain. He does watch television – some party colleagues feel he can reduce the attention he pays to news channels – and wife Gursharan is not far from his side. Even when he travels long distances within India, his staff try to get him back to Delhi for the night.

Despite the cares of office with UPA's second term honeymoon ending abruptly due to corruption scandals, Singh is not going to give his rivals a walkover. Those who know the PM say he is not a quitter. His critics who forget this are fated to be reminded of their folly as aides point out that Singh can weather storms without losing his cool.

There is a flinty toughness in the way he turned tables on Opposition BJP in Parliament during the debate on a joint parliamentary committee on the 2G scam. The same grittiness is likely to be on display again next month when government tees off with a resurgent Opposition in Parliament.

Tips to reduce double chin

2011-07-02T23:04:00.001+05:30

A double chin occurs when the musculus mylohyoideus - the muscle directly underneath the chin, slackens with age. This results in the impression of a second chin, which many people find unattractive and seek to eliminate. Certain vitamins, double chin exercises and neck massage can help treat a double chin.

Double chins tend to come with age but they are not inevitable and one can get rid of them without surgery. There are several reasons behind them - genetic tendency; lack of exercise and fat and fluid build-up.

Though aging and obesity are the two most common causes, double chin can also be genetic and that's the reason some people have double chin right from infancy.

To get rid of a double chin, boost your daily intake of vitamin E. Vitamin E is found naturally in many food sources such as dairy products, brown rice, legumes, nuts, beans, apples, soy beans, peanuts, and liver

Chew a sugar free gum as it moves the jaw constantly and helps you get rid of a double chin.

Massage your neck and double chin area, beginning at the throat and moving slowly upwards. Massage for several minutes every night before bed to reduce your double chin

If you are overweight, try losing weight by following a low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet and also exercise regularly. The more calories you burn, the less double chin you'll have.

Perform double chin exercises like neck rolls. Roll your neck in a clockwise, and then counter clockwise circular motion.

Move your neck forward and then rest your chin against your chest. Hold your neck in this position for at least five seconds. Move the neck as far back as possible, and hold for five seconds. Inhale when your head is upright and exhale when it is in the forward and back position

Move your neck to the side and try to touch your shoulder with your chin. Hold your chin in this position for at least five seconds and repeat on the other side. Repeat the entire exercise three times.

Jennifer Aniston’s fashion and beauty tips

2011-01-30T00:55:00.002+05:30

Jen’s fashion and beauty tips

Jennifer Aniston feels “cranky” if she doesn’t drink enough water.

The 41-year-old actress believes the secret to good skin is staying hydrated and she feels an instant impact if she fails to consume enough liquid.

She said: “I don’t really have any beauty tips but drink a s**tload of water. I say, if anything, that’s the one thing I’ve noticed with my skin. If I stop drinking water, I dehydrate badly, and I get cranky. Water really works.”

Downing water isn’t her only obsession, the ‘Break-Up’ star is also fascinated with jeans and amidst she owns hundreds of pairs.

She added: “I have hundreds of pairs of jeans in my closet, it’s slightly embarrassing.

“Lately, I seem to be wearing a lot of Degaine denim. I like their slim boot-cut in the classic blue colour.”

Jennifer likes to match her jeans with a ‘lucky’ necklace which she wears most days.

She admitted: “A friend of mine gave me a gold necklace, which I like to call my ‘lucky’ necklace.

“It has a charm which blends good-luck symbols from all around the world. There’s an elephant on there, a horseshoe and an owl. It’s very special to me.” - Bang Showbiz

Drinking tea can check weight gain

2010-12-23T19:47:00.000+05:30

Taking tea may prevent weight gain caused by junk food, according to a new study.

Researchers found regular consumption of tea also suppressed damaging changes in the blood linked to fatty foods that can lead to type-2 diabetes, reports Dailymail.

They said the research on mice could signal another set of health benefits from tea if they are confirmed in trials on humans.

In the study some mice were given a high fat diet and others a normal diet. Each of these two groups was then split into smaller groups and given water, black tea or green tea for 14 weeks.

Both types of tea suppressed body weight gain and the build-up of belly fat linked to a fatty diet.

But black tea, which is used in most ordinary cuppas, also counteracted the harmful effects on the blood normally associated with a high-fat diet.

These included increases in cholesterol, high blood glucose and insulin resistance - a precursor to type-2 diabetes where the body does not efficiently use the insulin it produces.

Rising obesity levels in Western countries have resulted in many more people having insulin resistance.

Taking tea has already been linked to lowering the risk of heart disease, cancer and Parkinson's disease. Other research shows drinking tea on a regular basis for ten or more years may improve bone density.

Anti-baldness drug affects men's sexual health

2010-12-21T19:17:00.000+05:30

Some doctors have claimed that young men could be jeopardizing their sexual health by taking the world's best selling anti-baldness drug.

According to researchers, finasteride - sold in UK as Propecia - can cause serious side effects and that the drug's labelling is inadequate.

The prescription pill is extremely effective at stopping hair loss and in clinical trials nine out of 10 men didn't lose any more hair over a five year period.

Drugs' company Merck, which manufactures Propecia, claims on its website that less than 2pc of men could suffer sexual side effects, reports the BBC .

It mentions things like difficulty achieving an erection, but says the problems will go away for men who stop taking the drug.

There are doctors in Ireland and the US who claim that the drug's labelling is inadequate.

Merck said they continually monitor its safety and have recently changed the labelling after reports of sexual side effects continuing after people had stopped taking the drug.

They also claim those cases are extremely rare and could be caused by something other than Propecia itself.

Get rid of your belly fat!

2010-12-11T00:04:00.000+05:30

Whether you have a major paunch or a tiny roundness and want to slim down, we have just the answers for you .

Looking for the simplest way to get rid of fat around your tummy? Go for this creative 20-minute fat-blasting workout and you'll begin to see a toned tummy in just three weeks. Do them four times a week, with a day of rest in between.

Work out
Your legs are your scissors: Lie on your back with arms by your sides, legs raised, and toes pointing toward the sky. Flatten your lower back, engaging lower tummy muscles.

Inhale while lowering your right leg, so your toes are in line with your nose. Exhale, switching your legs scissor-like, so your right leg lifts back up and your left comes down. (Don't touch the ground with your foot.) Do 3 sets of 8–10 reps.

Lie flat in front: Get on your knees and forearms with your elbows directly under your shoulders, fingers interlaced. Stretch your legs long, and come up on your toes into plank position. Exhale while twisting slightly to the left from your waist only. Inhale, returning to the starting position, then repeat on the opposite side. Do three sets of 10-12 reps.

A ball-game: Look up at the ceiling, lie down on a stability ball, and drape your abs and hips over it. Place your hands on the ground in front of you, and walk them out until the ball rolls beneath your shins; contract your lower abs and lift your hips slightly, then slowly lower them down. Do three sets of 10-12 reps.

Sleeping Buddha-pose: Lie on your left side with your legs straight and stacked on top of one another and your feet flexed. Rest your head on your straight left arm. Inhale while lifting both legs off the ground, then exhale while slowly lowering them until they're about 1 inch off the ground. Do 10-12 reps, then switch sides and repeat to complete 1 set; do three sets.

Major paunch: Do 3 sets of 15 bicycle crunches 2-3 times a week, plus 30-45 minutes' worth of run-walk intervals (2 minutes each) 4-5 times a week. You'll notice the result in 4 weeks.

Tiny roundness: Do 3 sets of 12-15 crunches on a stability ball 2-3 times a week to sculpt your tummy in 3 weeks.

Eat this
Major paunch: Cut or burn 500 calories and drink 2 cups of green tea daily, as green tea alone helped exercisers drop ab fat in 12 weeks.

Tiny roundness: Eat snacks with belly-busting monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) daily: 23 almonds, 6 olives, or 2 squares dark chocolate. MUFAs can reduce ab fat in a month.

Fake it
Major paunch: Dress in a way that your belly fat is kept hidden. Go for lacy camisoles to pull in and shape your middle, plus give your chest a lift.

Tiny roundness: Get a belt that's at least 3 inches wide and made of a stiff material or leather. A belt that won't bend like a corset helps to hide your tummy.

Lara Dutta Fitness Tips

2010-12-04T20:18:00.000+05:30

Learn to shape up with Lara Dutta

Actress Lara Dutta, who is launching her fitness DVD called ?Heal With Lara? gives you some valuable fitness tips.

Leather Clothing and Goods Cleaners

2010-11-24T17:27:00.000+05:30

Natural Leather Cleaners

Leather clothing and goods are durable and valuable items that may be ruined when cleaned improperly. Use natural cleaners to clean this natural fabric. Do this at least twice a year to avoid excessive accumulation of dirt and stains. Many household formulas enable natural cleaning of leather without any use of dangerous or artificial chemicals.

Lemon Juice

Juice from lemons works great for black or tan leather shoes. Do not use an excessive amount of the juice during cleaning and be sure to buff the shoe with a soft cloth right after cleaning.

Vinegar

Vinegar helps remove water stains from leather. Rub the stained area with a cloth dipped in a solution of vinegar diluted with water. Keep in mind that vinegar may get rid of the stain but it doesn't smell very nice. You may want to add a fragrant oil or herb to the solution to disguise the odor.

Petroleum Jelly

Leather may dry out and crack during cold or hot weather. A dab of petroleum jelly rubbed into leather will moisturize the material to keep this from happening. However, petroleum jelly may not be a good cleaner for baseball gloves, as it leaves a dirt/dust-catching residue. It also may create conditions that encourage the growth of harmful molds and mildew.

Banana Peels

Leather shoes can be polished and buffed with the inside of a banana peel. Bear in mind, however, that banana oil will not work as an effective cleaner, though its fragrance may be a good deodorant.

Saddle Soap and Oil

Saddle soap is a mild soap with softening ingredients such as glycerin. It also contains beeswax, which protects leather. As its name implies, the soap is used to clean leather horse saddles. After rinsing off the saddle soap, clean the leather with saddle oil. One vendor ("Bee Natural") sells saddle oil that will kill fungi and bacteria that are harmful to horses such as Streptococcus equi.

Mink Oil

Mink oil consists of the layer of subcutaneous fat minks have under their fur. It is good for softening and waterproofing top grain leather such as boots or shoes. The only drawback is that it carries a strong odor, so you may want to use a fragrant oil to mask the scent.

Coffee Intake - Too Much Dangerous

2010-11-15T17:12:00.000+05:30

Reduce your coffee intake - too much caffeine can kill your nervous system. To keep you awake, try drinking hot water or juice. If caffeine is absolutely necessary as a wake-upper, try sipping slowly to lessen your consumption.

Stylish Hair Style Tips

2010-11-12T15:01:00.000+05:30

Hide your bad hair days and twist your locks in an elegant bun for a stylish look,

The humble bun has undergone a makeover. From being a simple and effective way to beat the hot and humid weather, more and more women are finding a more stylish approach to the hairstyle. With Hollywood beauties like Salma Hayek, Sienna Miller, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Alba elegantly teaming the high bun with their red-carpet gowns and dresses, it’s no wonder then that most women are following suit.

The top knot lends itself equally beautifully to the Indian traditional ensemble. Knotting your hair up can help flaunt a sexy backless choli, enhance your cheekbones and facial features and give added height. Like most styles, this can be adapted to the occasion and the wearer, so whether you like yours right on top, tilted to the left or right side, with a plaited touch or the messy bun effect, there’s plenty you can experiment with.
Hairstylist Placid Braganza says the top knot is a classic comeback with a modern feel. “It’s more relaxed and loose than the traditional buns or chignons of the yesteryears. It looks almost accidental but still stylized and finished. It suits almost any woman with some attitude. In Hollywood, I think Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts rock the look,” he adds. One quick and easy way to ape the look, is to hold all the strands together at the nape of your neck and then secure with a rubberband. Work many tiny sections from the ponytail and secure them with pins to create your desired look.

Women with long hair often complain that it looks very flat and hence this knotted look can add some body and bounce to the wearer, feels stylist Perry Patel. “It can give a very classy sleek look and is perfect for the evening. Since this updo requires the hair to be tied back it emphasizes the face and can make someone with a rounder face look more round. However, it also gives a much needed confidence boost,” he says.
Leaving your hair loose can become boring over a period of time as there is only so much you can do with it, says make-up and hair stylist Ruhee Bindra. Instead, she suggests tying it up to give a more formal and graceful look. “The high bun was very popular with actresses in the 80’s and now has made a stylish comeback. B-town babes like Deepika Padukone, Dia Mirza and Neha Dhupia who have well-defined jawlines can really carry it off well. It accentuates the facial features and makes the face look longer and slimmer,” she says. Ruhee feels the best way to do this look is by creating a messy unkempt bun. Those with straight hair, can use tongs to get the wavy effect.

Women with natural curls just need to use some mousse and scrunch, then lift strands together and secure them with a pretty diamonte clip or pin. With your hair secured back, this is the ideal time to play around with heavier make-up. “Go for eyeshadow in shades of gold, peacock green or purple and bright fuchsia pink or red lips,” adds Ruhee.

How can I increase my height?

2010-11-11T15:39:00.000+05:30

Question : MAY I KNOW TILL WHAT AGE DOES THE HEIGHT GROW?AND BY PERFORMING YOGA WILL THE HEIGHT INCREASE?PLS SUGGEST ME SOME HOME REMEDY ONLY...

Answer : Height grows till the age of 28 - 32 years. Practicing Tad Asan and Surya Namaskar is beneficial.

Priyanka Chopra has the Perfect Skin and Hair

2010-09-26T09:29:00.000+05:30

Priyanka Chopra has the perfect skin and hair: Blossom Kochhar Interview

Blossom Kochhar is a pioneer in the field of aromatherapy for long. The lady has been a stalwart in promoting healthy lifestyle with her indigenous products, the beneficiaries of which include top-class national and international clientele. Mrs Kocchar turned her belief in the therapeutic properties of essential oils and natural fragrances into a lifestyle concept and industry with great success.
The beauty expert had a chit chat with Bikas Bhagat of Spicezee.com and gave some valuable information on the benefits of aromatherapy and tips to enhance beauty. Following are the excerpts:

Q: What inspires you to create natural products?

Blossom: Your skin inspires me to create natural products. Your skin is breathing…living and is a part of you. What you eat should have the property that it can be put on your face and whatever you put on your face should be edible. My products go through many-many years of testing before they are introduced.

Q: How does aromatherapy help in enhancing beauty?

Blossom: Aromatherapy is excellent for the body, mind and soul. You can use essential oils for massage, for instance, you can use them in your bathwater, after shower, and for any stress related ailments like body ache, hormonal problems, sinus, headache and migraine. Or you can try lavender for stress and ache. Then there is ‘ylang ylang’ to pep you up and Jasmine to lift you from depression. Sandal wood is also excellent oil.

Q: With monsoons coming what are the special things that one should keep in mind for perfectly healthy hair and skin?
Blossom: During the monsoons, cleanse your skin regularly with a good face wash. Don’t use any heavy moisturizer or creams; exfoliate twice a week with a good scrub. Cleaning hair is very important. Shampoo often as hair tends to get dirty, and dry your hair before braiding to avoid fungal infections.

Q: How would you define beauty?

Blossom: Beauty is holistic, it has to deal with your body, mind and soul and when everything is in harmony the person is beautiful.

Q. What’s your take on cosmetic surgery and Botox treatment? Are there any side effects?

Blossom: Well, they are basically beauty enhancement treatments and in most cases, they are adopted only if there is dire need for it. I mean if you are in a line of work which demands you to look glamorous, say like in showbiz, then there is no harm. However, these operations should only be done after a certain age and youngsters should refrain from such procedures instead they should rejuvenate themselves with aromatherapy.

Q: What can people do to reduce stress? Please suggest.

Blossom: We would recommend you to go for aromatherapy. Get yourself a diffuser, add a little water on the top of the diffuser, light a candle and add a few drops of Peach or Lavender oil. The oils can also be used in bath water, on the pillow and you can also use it in a potpourri.

Q: Can you tell us something about yourself? What all do you do - only aromatherapy or regular beauty treatment and makeup also?

Blossom: I also do make up, beauty and hair as well as skin care and spa therapy. I teach Reiki and play golf.

Q: Which celebrity do you think has the perfect skin tone and hair?

Blossom: Priyanka Chopra and…yes this pretty girl Katrina Kaif.

Q: We have heard that there are some international stars visiting your store for beauty and essential oils…

Blossom: It was only some time back that at our Qutub Colonnade store, we had a surprise visitor one day - Richard Gere. He walked into the store once and picked up ‘Dreams` (an essential oil). Ever since, whenever he’s in Delhi on his way to Dharamshala, he drops by at the store.

Kingfisher Calendar Girls Photos, Stills, Pictures

2010-09-11T17:48:00.000+05:30

Kingfisher Calendar Girls photos,Kingfisher Calendar Girls pictures,Kingfisher Calendar Girls hot photos,Kingfisher Calendar Girls stills,Kingfisher Calendar Girls photo shoot,kingfisher calendar girls 2011,kingfisher calendar girls 2011 photos,kingfisher calendar girls 2011 pictures

Home Remedies For Treating Dandruff

2010-08-23T21:30:00.000+05:30

To have healthy hair, you need to take proper care. For a woman , having healthy hair is a “Crowning Glory” and to keep it this way is not at all simple and easy. To attain lovely hair , you have to care for it with proper nourishment and you also need to follow a good diet.

There are a number of hair problems that arise due to pollution and hygienic conditions. The most common problem is “Dandruff”. It is the shedding of dead cells from the scalp which sometimes leads to boils and pimples.

Now to get rid of dandruff there are five simple home remedy ways :-
1.You have to keep the scalp clean. Oil your hair on alternate days and shampoo it well.

2.In a cup of water, mix 2 tablespoon of Brandy . Apply it to the roots of your hair with the help of your fingertips and wash after half an hour with shampoo.

3.With one cup of yogurt ( curd) , add an egg to it and beat it well. Apply the mixture on your scalp and wash the hair after half an hour.

4.Olive oil also help to remove dandruff. Mix one tablespoon of olive oil along with a dab of lime juice. Apply evenly on the scalp and cover the head using a scarf. Keep it overnight and shampoo well the next morning.

5.Grind a beetroot in the mixer. Take 2 tablespoon of the juice with one beaten egg and a little lime juice added to the mixture. Apply and leave it on the scalp for at least half an hour before washing.

Take good care of your hair and it will add to your charm. A balanced diet with high protein and rich calcium food helps you to keep your hair healthy , strong and beautiful.

Ills of a very tight bra

2010-08-07T23:57:00.000+05:30

When it comes to dressing even the bra you wear is important. Many women think that the tighter the bra, the better it is. Tight bras give you a fuller and more enhanced bust and more importantly, gives support and shape. Some woman are so used to wearing bras that they even wear one when they sleep! However, a recent study conducted at the Harvard university, has linked wearing tight bras to breast cancer. This is because wearing a very tight bra can restrict blood circulation and can also impair the lymph tissues.

According to the study, less oxygen and fewer nutrients are delivered to the cells, while waste products are not flushed away. This is especially the case with women who wear bras for more than 12 hours a day and even sleep in them. The study also discovered that middle-class women are at a higher rick of breast cancer since they work for longer hours.

Since lymphatic vessels are very thin, they are extremely sensitive to pressure and are easily compressed. General Physician Dr M D Mody agrees. “The main reason why extremely tight bras are bad for breast health is because they restrict the lymph flow in your breasts. Normally the lymph fluid washes out waste materials and other toxins away from the breasts but bras inhibit this action, so toxins can start to accumulate in the breast, and that can help cancer to develop.”

Many experts say that a lot of women believe that if they follow a regular diet and exercise daily, their chances of developing breast cancer are reduced. According to gynaecologist, Dr Smiti Kamath, “A lot of the women who come to me are very health conscious people, who exercise regularly. They get surprised when they’re told that the lymphatic circulation in many tissues (especially the primary lymphatics) is highly dependent on movement. Wearing a bra, especially a constricting one with underwires, and especially to bed, prevents normal lymphatic flow and is likely lead to anoxia (lower than normal oxygen content), which has been related to fibrosis, which in turn has been linked to increased cancer risk,” she says.

Oncologist Dr M V Shah says that women who have a history of breast cancer in their families should be especially careful. “Bras inhibit the way our bodies normally cleanse themselves and get rid of cancer cells and toxins like dioxin, benzene and other carcinogenic chemicals that cling to the body's fatty tissues like breast. In fact, if you find a lump in your breast, it may very well be filled with lymph fluid that was not able to move away from the breast tissue,” says Dr Shah.

Make up in 10 mins

2010-07-14T02:06:00.000+05:30

Make up in 10 mins

Luscious lips, smoky eyes and rosy cheeks… if you thought you had to do all this and much more to look gorgeous, you are wrong. You can be the cynosure of all eyes with minimal make-up that takes less than 10 minutes.

Surprised? You don't have to be. Here's how you can look prim and proper for every occasion, even when you are hard pressed for time.
An impromptu date
If it's one of those kinds of surprises when he lands up at your workplace one evening to whisk you off to somewhere for an unplanned date, tell him you'll be there in 10 at most.

There will be no time for any elaborate eye make up. So just cleanse your face and rub in some moisturiser. Line your eyes just on the upper lids and redo the lipstick.

Don't bother so much with the rouge. The excitement you're feeling will show through and that will be good enough! ;)
Interview perfect
A few minutes before going into the interview suite, lock yourself in the powder room for some last moment fixes.

Gently dab at any nervousness induced perspiration on your chin or forehead. Re-touch the lipstick and take a moment to relax.

If your hair is done up in a neat French knot, don't disturb it. If there're a few stray strands, push them behind your ear and tuck the lock gently back into the roll. Brush loose hair before you step out.
An unplanned evening
If your friends call and say they'd be picking you up for a party and that you need to be ready in the next few minutes, take out your makeup kit as you're getting dressed.

Smudge some kohl on the upper and lower lashes before powdering off any hints of dark circles. Touch your cheekbones with a subtle blush. Keep the lipstick for the end. Don't bother with a liner.

Give three minutes each to the eyes, cheeks and lips.
Rushing for a presentation
Spend time only on defining your eyes and lips well. Line the upper lashes. A subtle eye shadow should be just fine apart from light mascara if you'd like.

Line your lips and fill in lip color. Focus on the hair as well and brush is well if you're leaving it loose.
Off to work in a jiffy
Line the upper and lower lashes and then focus on getting the lipstick right. You might not want to fuss too much with eye shadow and blushers for work, unless you'll be meeting some important clients or it's your company's anniversary.

Give yourself just 10 minutes for a quick make up job and see heads turn!

Symptoms of Premature Greying of Hair

2010-07-02T00:56:00.001+05:30

Causes of Premature Greying of Hair

Faulty diet, Mental worries and lack of vitamins

A faulty diet and mental worries are the two primary causes of premature greying of hair. Lack of some of the B vitamins, iron, copper, and iodine in the daily diet is said to be a contributory factor. Mental worries produce extraordinary tension in the skin of the scalp; this interferes with the supply of vital nutrition necessary for the health of the hair.

Heredity, unclean condition of scalp etc

Other causes of premature greying of hair are an unclean condition of the scalp, washing the hair with hot water, drying it with an electric dryer, and use of hair dyes. Heredity is also a predisposing factor.

Natural Beauty Tips VIDEO

2010-06-27T20:24:00.001+05:30

HEALTHY TIPS

2010-06-23T12:21:00.001+05:30

Q: I am working in an IT company. Since we shifts at work i don ve proper sleep at night.. So i ve dark circles.. also i find my lower abdomen becomin fat.. So kindly suggest me to keep me healthy and fit..

A: Eat green leafy vegetables, have plenty of water and avoid all the junks.
-Eat early and light dinners.

STRAWBERRY BEAUTY TIPS

2010-06-18T11:11:00.006+05:30

Strawberries come loaded with Vitamin C. They have anti-bacterial properties and also help improve the body's absorption of iron. Strawberries have a mild bleaching effect on the skin which help clear blemishes.

Strawberry beauty tips for you! Those pretty little berries do more than just please our palates: they clear up acne and oiliness, make skin younger and smoother, whiten teeth, reduce under-eye puffiness, leave hair glossy and beautifully conditioned, and so much more!

Take ½ cup ripe tSrawberries and ¼ cup cornstarch. Mix both things together to make a paste. As usual apply this mixture on the face and neck and let it be as it is for 20 minutes. Later rinse with cold water. Strawberries are best for oily skin.

Cut a Strawberry and rub it over your face. This will help lighten the skin.

Strawberry contain good amount of antioxidants that helps in removing dead cells from the body. It even gives rich texture to your skin. Crush three strawberries and mix it with milk. Use as cleanser on your skin, thus helps in removing dead cells from the skin. It also helps in tightening your skin.

Celebrities Beauty Fragrence Secrets

2010-06-15T19:54:00.002+05:30

They have a number of perfume-sets for men and women 'Signature', 'Intimate', 'Instinct' etc. Posh Beckham chose a pink and silver design for her scent, while masculine David went for a brown color scheme.

Christina Aguilera's 'Inspire' is a fragrance that celebrates the young woman and freedom to express yourself.

Sarah Jessica Parker's 'Covet's is a modern classic fougere fragrance. Precious, feminine and seductive, it is a stunning blend of fresh green notes, gorgeous florals and sensuous woods that instantly draws you in and won't let you go.

Inspired by a shimmering western sky, this fragrance by Shania Twain was released in September 2007 and is described as 'fruity floral' with top notes of mandarin, lemon, apple blossom and white freesia.

Shilpa Shetty has created her own signature scent called 'S2'. The perfume is fusion of many different scents with the keynotes derived from flowers and fruits, including Mandarin, Bergamot, Peach, Jasmine and Sandalwood. She championed the perfume market after her S2 perfume reached Number 3 in the UK Fragrance Chart within 2 weeks of it's launch.

Kylie Minogue launched her very first fragrance 'Darling'. After successful first fragrance Kylie launched a second one named 'Sweet Darling'.

Britney Spears first joined forces with the Elizabeth Arden firm for her debut fragrance, 'Curious'. Then she released 'Fantasy'. It was introduced by the design house of Giorgio Armani. It is a refined flowery fragrance with a blend of fruits, jasmine and heliotrope with low notes of cedar vanilla and musk. Next came 'In Control', a sexy mixture of loquat fruit and sandalwood. Then, Britney recently teamed up again with Elizabeth Arden to create 'Believe', her newest fragrance. It is a delicate and sensual blend of warm, seductive amber and exotic florals.

Mariah Carey has a fragrance called 'M' to her name. In co-operation with Elizabeth Arden, Mariah launched the summer edition of her second perfume, named Luscious Pink. They created the fragrance containing notes of Sicilian bergamot, accords of ocean breeze and Italian sparkling cocktail Bellini.

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has 13 perfumes to her name. The most popular amongst them is 'Glow by JLo'. The earliest editions originate from 2002 and the newest ones from 2009.

Paris Hilton has nine perfumes under her signature line. The earliest edition was launched in 2005 and the newest one from 2009. Paris Hilton fragrances are made in association with perfumers Jean-Claude Delville, Mane USA, Steve Demercado, Jean-Louis Grauby, James Krivda and Honorine Blanc.

The first perfume by famous Oscar winning actress Halle Berry 'Halle' was launched by the actress recently. The scent is meant to be reminiscent of the beach and evoke 'the spirit of a woman who is effortlessly sexy, stylish and elegant.'

Anything associated with a celeb is sure to make a statement and perfumes are no exception. So, what makes celebrities endorse a specific brand of perfume or create one on their own? Take a look at the celebs who have bottled up their own signature scent.

Kim Kardashian's first signature fragrance, called 'Kim Kardashian' was launched. Kim describes the scent as sexy and sultry yet youthful and it transfers perfect from day to night. Some of the ingredients in her scent are Gardenia, tuberose and jasmine.

'Heat' is the first fragrance by attractive and talented Beyonce and it has arrived in the market. Name of the fragrance was inspired by Beyonce's tour and performances. Colour of flacon and liquid was chosen after Beyonce's favourite colour, red, with a wish to look like fire with antique details. A passionate perfume offers honeysuckle, almond and musky cream, while a base finishes with sequoia wood, tonka and amber.

Kate Moss hit the perfume jackpot with her signature 'Vintage'. The fragrance is a perfect mix of fruity, floriental (floral and oriental), vanilla and musk. Her fragrance is inspired by her love for vintage fashion and this is her fourth fragrance after she introduced 'Kate' by Kate Moss, 'Velvet Hour' and 'Summer Time'.
Amitabh Bachchan, known for his immaculate dressing sense and distinctive style, is all set to cash in on his popularity. The Bollywood superstar is preparing to launch a second fragrance named after him in Paris. The new cologne will be launched by the makers of his first signature perfume, French brand Lomani. Lomani introduced in 2002 a floral-spicy blend named after the star.

Leading French perfume brand Jeanne Arthes had named a fragrance after Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Labeled 'Tiger Eyes by SRK', the perfume is Shah Rukh's invincible facets captured in a bottle. The perfume comes in both the male and female version and the bottle has a picture of SRK and Tiger on it.

For years, the name Lata has conjured ideas of beautiful melodies and a timeless voice. Now capture all the magic that is Lata with her signature fragrance that mixes 78 ingredients for a sweet yet musky scent, held by the finest imported glass. 'Lata' is a fresh and floral perfume that reflects the essence of the warm and modest person behind the enigmatic Living Legend 'Lata Mangeshkar'.

Supermodel Kate Moss launched an exclusive perfume brand to compete with fellow supermodels Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford. Her scent is called simply 'Kate' and the fragrance is a mix of elegant and risque with smoky rose and black undertones with a vintage English feel.

Hairstyles for Bridal

2010-06-15T00:44:00.000+05:30

Hairstyles for Bridal Attendants

1. When you are chosen to be a bridesmaid, it is because the bride considers you an important part of her life and wants you by her side to represent her on one of the biggest days of her life. An important part of your job as a bridesmaid is to look your best, without overshadowing the bride. When choosing a wedding hairstyle, pick a style that will make you feel beautiful but won't overshadow the bride.
Side Bun
2. A side bun is a fun, creative style that is still formal but a little playful at the same time. The side bun can be worn in a variety of styles; more casually for less formal weddings, such as beach weddings or outdoor events. A side bun is also idea for neater and more formal for upscale events. For the side bun style, the hair is swept to the side of the face and pinned into a bun. The bun can consist of pin curls, or be twisted into a ballerina style bun. If the bride allows you to use hair accessories, add a flower or pretty barrette to the top of the bun, and you will look both classy and elegant.
Side Ponytail
3. A side ponytail is very similar to the side bun, but perhaps a little less formal than the previous style. Side ponytails are good because they can be both formal and informal. They are good for the trendy, less traditional type of bridesmaid who wants to do something a little different with her hair. The hair can be curled first, or worn in loose waves or completely straight. The ponytail is swept to the side and over one shoulder, and secured with a ponytail holder or bobby pin. A small strand of hair can be wrapped around the ponytail to cover the holder, or a pretty hair accessory can be used as well.
Updo
4. A traditional updo makes a pretty, formal bridesmaid style. The hair can be teased at your crown and piled in curls high on the head, or pulled into a neat bun, French twist or knot at the nape of your neck. Curled pieces of hair can be left loose for a messier look, or the hair can be combed back and secured tightly for a neat look. Create a drastic side part, and pin the front of the hair to the side, or comb all of you hair straight back and away from your face.
Half-Updo
5. The half-updo is a good compromise between a full updo and wearing your hair completely down. Pull the sides of the hair back into a half ponytail, or pull the bangs and front of your hair back over the top of your head. Half-updos can be worn curly or straight, and hair accessories can be added to dress up the look.

Krisnamacharya Yoga Film 1938 (silent) VIDEO

2010-06-09T23:38:00.004+05:30

Benefits of Yoga to Your Bones, Muscles, and Joints

* The physical benefits of yoga are myriad. Yoga keeps your body strong, as it involves all the muscles in your body to hold and balance yoga asanas (poses). The various yoga postures strengthen your feet, legs, hands, abdominals, lower back, legs, and shoulders.

This is a film made by McPetruk in 1938 showing the Great yoga teacher demonstrating asana and pranyama. He was the teacher of BKS Iyengar and Sri K. Pattahbi Jois, founder the Astanga style of yoga.

Mugdha Godse Tips For Cool in Summers

2010-06-02T00:32:00.001+05:30

I make sure I maintain my body: Mugdha

With the mercury having picked up as the summer progresses, women, around sure will be vying for tips that plays the dual role of offering both beauty and protection. Doing little things can go a long way to having a cool summer. Being a part of the city’s hectic lifestyle, we just cannot avoid stepping out in the sun. However, what we can do is to take care of moving out well-equipped to handle the rising city heat. Caps, hats, glares, scarves, sun block lotions for skin are absolute musts. But the cooling should also come from within. Mugdha Godse shares her expert tips for summers and shares her way of keeping it cool in summers. Click on to know this sexy babe tips for hot summers!

Lifestyle Changes for Dry Skin Treatment

2010-06-01T13:39:00.001+05:30

Lifestyle Changes for Dry Skin Treatment

* Drink enough water each day. You should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily.

* Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Better if they have more water content like cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon, orange. Have plenty of nuts, especially almonds and walnuts.

* Get enough sleep. Six to eight hours sleep at night help restore oxygen level of blood responsible for renewal of body cells essential for keeping the young looks of skin rejuvenated.

* Avoid hot showers. Hot water robs the skin of its natural oils that keep skin moist. In winters, make the bathing water only mildly warm if you can't have bath with cold water.

* Protect your facial and body skin from UV rays of sun. Always carry some cloth like scarves or umbrella to protect yourself from sun.
* Do not take stress. This is one of the causes of many skin problems including dry skin.

* Quit smoking and limit intake of alcohol. The harmful elements in them cause dry skin.

* Never go to bed with make up on. Wash all the applied cosmetics with clean water and if necessary with mild soap having moisturizer. Then apply some moisturizing cream. Natural, home made or herbal dry skin creams without chemicals are best for skin.

Overweight and dig net saris?

2010-05-30T19:27:00.001+05:30

Net saris are a rage at parties and weddings this season but don't go for it if you are short and fat, advise designers. If you still want to risk flaunting your flab, go for dark colours, satin petticoats and a lot of motif.

"Net saris look fabulous on women with well-toned bodies, long torsos. Such women, in fact, look very sexy in net as it accentuates their perfect curves. But fat women should try to avoid it," Seema of designer duo Swapan-Seema said on the sidelines of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW).

According to a Delhi-based stylist, "net saris are a complete no-no for fat women".

"Net tends to contour the body type and I don't think it's worth showing the flab," said the stylist, who did not wish to be named.

Designer Seema, who has a range of net saris in pastels with subdued work, says there are a lot of women in their 50s who wish to wear net saris in order to look younger.

"It is up to an individual if she wants to wear it. If my clients wish to wear net and I feel it won't suit them, I recommend chiffons or georgettes. But if they insist, what can one do?"

But overweight women who are still keen to wear net saris should not be disappointed.

Designer Jaya Rathore, whose ethnic Indian collection is dominated by net, says comfort can play an important role.

"Good petticoats in satin and brocade can always make a difference to women wanting to wear the net sari. I feel every woman should try every possible type of clothing and see for herself if it suits her. If she is comfortable, she should just wear it.

"The only thing I would recommend is that heavy women must try net saris that have a lot of motif and jaal, which can help camouflage the fat if they feel conscious of their girth," Rathore said.

Young designer Joy Mitra, who has been working with nets for the past few seasons, has some tips for overweight women.

"Fat or slim, short or tall - a sari always looks beautiful on any form. One shouldn't feel conscious. There's always a way to fix such problems. You can wear a full sleeve blouse to hide fat, the petticoats can be different and more stylish to take attention away from the waist.

"I also feel heavier women should wear darker colours - that can do the trick of making them look a little slimmer in case they are way too conscious," he said.

Some, of course, avoid it themselves.

Veteran actress Moushumi Chatterjee is a little on the plump side and she feels net saris dont suit her.

"Women should wear what suits them. I don't think net saris suit me much and I am not comfortable wearing them. I prefer saris in cotton, chiffon, kanjeevaram, silks, etc," Moushumi, who flaunted a black and white sari by Reynu Taandon at WIFW, said.

How to wash your Hair

2010-04-22T00:57:00.000+05:30

How to wash your hair

Shahnaz Hussain Beauty Tips

2010-04-18T15:04:00.005+05:30

This is the collection of Shahnaz Hussain beauty tips. All these tips are safe and can be tried at home

Home Hair Cleanser: Take a handful each of dried reetha, amla and shikakai. Soak them in one litre water overnight. Next day, simmer the herbs on a low fire till the water reduces by half. Allow the mixture to cool and then strain it with a clean cloth. Use the liquid to wash hair. This quantity should be enough for four to five washes. Refrigerate it. Make small quantities at a time.

Pimples occur on the oily areas of the skin. Therefore, applying cold cream can lead to further pimples. Mix one part of pure glycerine with four parts of rosewater and keep it in the fridge. Apply it on the face after washing and before applying it, add a few drops of lemon juice to it. Once daily, apply curd mixed with a little turmeric on the entire face, and wash it off with plenty of water after 20 minutes. Apply sandalwood paste on the pimples.

Dandruff: Twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply it on the scalp at night, using cotton wool. Leave it on overnight. Next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after half an hour. Apply henna once a week

Lifeless Hair: Once or twice a week, heat pure coconut oil and apply it on the scalp and hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the towel around your head like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three or four times. This helps the hair and the scalp absorb the oil better. Use a mild herbal shampoo. After each shampoo, apply a conditioner, massaging it lightly into the hair. Leave it on for two minutes before washing it off with water. You can have henna treatment thrice a month, adding four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs, two teaspoons of oil and enough curd to the henna powder. It will make your hair look healthy and lustrous.

Grey Hair: Amla said to check greying. Have the juice of one raw amla after adding it to a glass of water. Also try adding amla to the henna powder. Henna turns white hair reddish brown. It will not colour dark hair. Soak a handful of dry amla in about two cups of water overnight. Next morning, strain the water, but do not throw the water away. Grind the amla. To the henna powder, add the ground amla, four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough amla water, so that the henna can be mixed into a thick paste. Apply it on the hair, covering the entire head. Keep it on for two hours and wash it off with water. It will also add shine and substance to the hair. Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamins B-Complex and C.

Oily Hair, Hair Loss: Excessive oiliness of the scalp can lead to hair loss. Wash your hair daily, using very little shampoo — one teaspoon for long hair and half teaspoon for short hair. Dilute it with a little water and use it. After washing, add the juice of a lemon to half a mug of water and use it as a last rinse. Have henna treatment once a week. Add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough tea water to the henna powder and mix it into a thick paste. Apply it on the hair and wash it off after an hour. If you do not wish to use egg, add more tea water. For tea water, boil used tealeaves in water. Cool and strain before using. Include fresh fruits, raw salads and sprouts in your daily diet. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and have it first thing in the morning.

Dry, Lifeless Skin: Use a facial scrub once a week. For very dry skin, avoid soap and use a cleansing gel or cream. For the body, use a mild, glycerine soap. Apply sesame seed (til) oil on the body before your bath. Mix honey with egg yolk and a little milk and apply it daily on the face, washing it off with plain water after 20 minutes. At night, apply a good nourishing cream and massage it on the face with a few drops of water. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Til oil actually has sunscreen properties, but it is better to use a sunscreen lotion for proper protection. Aloe Vera is a powerful moisturiser and an anti-oxidant. It helps keep the skin soft and healthy. It is better to use moisturisers and creams containing aloe vera.

Double Chin: exercises — open your mouth as wide as you can. Hold this position for about 10 seconds, then relax your mouth, and repeat the exercise a few more times. For faster results, add resistance by placing a tennis ball underneath your chin, while testing your jaw span. Sleeping without a pillow is said to help. Also, you can massage the area daily with a cream. Start from the chin and go downwards using both hands, one hand following the other.

Oily T-Zone: either buy a facial scrub or mix rice powder with curd and use it as a scrub. You may add a little turmeric if you wish. Apply the scrub on the face, rubbing gently with small circular movements. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it off. This will keep the pores free of clogged oil. Once daily, at any time, mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice and egg white and apply it on the oily areas, washing it off after 20 minutes.

Glowing Skin: After cleansing, wipe the face with rose water, using cotton wool and then pat it briskly. Use a face mask once or twice a week. You can make a mask at home with two teaspoons of choker, one teaspoon of oatmeal or ground almonds and one teaspoon each of curd, honey and egg white. Apply it on the face and wash it off after 20-30 minutes.

Thin Waist: Join a gym or health club and lose weight under professional guidance. Or, practise yoga daily. You can also do the following exercises after seeking your doctor’s advice. First, lie on the floor on your back, feet together and arms at the sides. Lift your legs about six inches above the ground and hold this position for a count of ten. Then lower your legs to the floor. Repeat this exercise 3 to 4 times and increase gradually. Then, keep lying on the floor, the same way. Bend your knees and keep your feet flat on the floor. Raise your body to a half-sitting position, holding your arms stretched out before you. Lower your body to the floor and repeat 3 or 4 times. Take a look at your eating habits. Avoid eating desserts after meals and stick to fresh fruits. Take clear soups (without butter) and salads before the main dish. Avoid rich gravies. Cut down on your intake of cereals. For example, if you have been eating three chapatis, eat only two. Or, eat only one cup of cooked rice. Eat fresh fruits, salads, sprouts, curd and paneer made from skimmed milk and lightly cooked vegetables. If you feel like a snack, eat fruit, carrot or cucumber.

Combination Skin, Pimples: In combination skins, usually the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) is oily, while the rest of the face is dry. Pimples on the forehead can occur due to oiliness of the skin. You should wash the face only twice a day with a medicated soap. After washing, wipe the oily areas with rose water mixed with an astringent lotion in equal quantities. Use this two or three times a day. Avoid applying besan or multani mitti as they can sometimes clog the pores and cause pimples, blackheads or whiteheads, especially in pimple-prone skin. Add a little turmeric to curd and apply daily on the face, washing it off well with water after 20 minutes. Add a few drops of rose water to sandalwood paste and apply on the forehead and areas with spots. Keep it on for at least one hour.

Dry Skin: If you wish to use soap, you can try a mild glycerine soap and see if it suits your skin. You should keep your skin well moisturised during the day, or if you are going out in the sun, apply a sunscreen. At night, use a nourishing cream, massaging it on the skin for two to three minutes. Massage the forehead too, starting from the bridge of the nose and using both hands. Go upwards and then in an arc on either side, go towards the temples. Wipe off with moist cotton wool. Once daily, mix one teaspoon honey with egg white and apply on the skin, washing off with plain water after 20 minutes.

Blackheads: the daily use of a facial scrub will help. You can either buy a facial scrub, or you can mix rice powder with curd or rose water and use as a facial scrub. Apply on the face and rub gently on the skin using small circular movements. Concentrate on the blackhead prone areas. Leave on for five minutes and then wash off with water. Once daily, mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities with egg white and apply on the face, washing it off after 20 minutes.

Neetu Chandra's Fitness mantra

2010-04-14T15:05:00.001+05:30

Bollywood Actress Neetu Chandra's fitness mantra

Neetu Chandra became an overnight sensation with her sensuous and scandalous lesbian photo-shoot. Just a few films old, she has taken the world of Bollywood by storm.

This actress is always in the news for bold roles and her bold figure. But does someone as thin as her need to ‘get fit’? Why is Neetu sweating away in the gym? Click on, this video for the inside information on Neetu’s fitness craze.

Katrina Kaif Nakshatra Vivah collection Photos

2010-04-13T14:08:00.001+05:30

Bollywood Actress Katrina Kaif In Red Saree in Nakshatra Vivah collection Launch Exclusive Unseen Photos.
MUMBAI: Katrina Kaif launched the Nakshatra Vivaah – an exclusive wedding line from. She was accompanied by Gitanjali Group CMD Mehul Choksi.
“Today’s Indian bride wants to be modern and traditional at the same time. We have created the new Vivaah collection from Nakshatra to suit her needs. Each piece has a unique contemporary look, but is also based on the seven stone floral clusters which is considered in Indian mythology to be a symbol of Divine Luck,” said Choksi.
Kaif says, “Diamonds are a unique gemstone, and have a very special place in the hearts of most Indian women. And the much loved floral pattern that inspires the designs in this collection adds both beauty and good luck. I believe that every Indian bride would really love to have jewellery set like this for her special day.”

Watch: Vogue's bikini babes

2010-04-08T00:13:00.000+05:30

‘Healthy’ food may make you hungrier

2010-04-07T15:49:00.000+05:30

If you're hoping to slim down, try not to focus on the healthy nature of that low-fat, low-calorie salad you ate for lunch. A new study reports that calling a food 'Healthy' may make you hungrier.

To explore the impact of perceptions about the health content of food and how full it made a person feel, researchers in the US conducted several experiments. In the first experiment, the researchers asked 51 college students to sample a chocolate-raspberry protein bar. Students were either told they were sampling "a new health bar," containing lots of protein, vitamins and fiber, or a "chocolate bar that is very tasty and yummy with a chocolate-raspberry core." Later, when asked to rate their hunger, those who ate the "health" bar rated themselves as hungrier than those who ate the identical bar described as "tasty".

A third group of students was asked to examine the bars and rate their hunger but they did not eat either bar. Their hunger levels were about the same as students who ate the bar described as "yummy" - meaning that eating the "healthy" food actually made them feel hungrier than if they hadn't eaten a bar at all, the researchers said. For dieters, a similar decision-making process may be involved when they choose a salad instead of a burger and fries at a restaurant, only to go home and eat a big dessert. Eating healthy foods may allow us to believe we have made progress toward health goals but trick us into thinking we are hungrier than we actually are.

In a second experiment, 62 participants were given a piece of bread alternately described as being low-fat and nutritious or "tasty, with a thick crust and soft center." After sampling the bread, participants were offered a snack of pretzels, which are considered a neutral food - neither healthy, like carrot sticks, nor particularly pleasurable, like chocolate. It was found that the participants who sampled the "healthy" bread ate more pretzels afterward than those who sampled the "tasty" bread, though those who said they were concerned about watching their weight tended to eat fewer pretzels than those who were relatively unconcerned.

In a third study, researchers offered students a choice of chocolate-raspberry protein bar or a honey-peanut protein bar, with one randomly described as healthy and the other as tasty. When given the chance to decide for themselves if they wanted the healthy choice or the guilty pleasure, there was no difference in hunger levels afterward between the two groups.

The findings indicate that the effects of healthy eating depend on the consumer’s perception that healthy eating is mandatory; therefore, only imposed healthy eating made consumers hungrier, whereas freely choosing to eat healthy did not increase hunger.

Dieting can’t go on forever

2010-03-28T11:33:00.004+05:30

6 factors that kill your Diet

So you have been dieting all this while and also keep a check on what you eat, still you feel you aren't losing much weight. Or does it come back after sometime? We help you find out 6 evil factors that doom your diet.

Don’t give your food power:
It’s all in your mind. Food can’t make you eat it. Some people talk as if a chocolate bar holds them down, forcing them to eat it. You have the power to say No to food.

Good versus bad food:
So you think there are good and bad foods? Incorrect. Food is food; it could be fatty, salty, sweet, and low in fat, high in fibre, high in protein. You have to find the right balance and ensure that your body is not deprived of food.

Dieting can’t go on forever:
You feel heavy today and you go on a diet plan. Once you lose the excess weight, you go off the diet. If you follow this pattern, you are most likely to regain all the weight. So eat well but eat right.

You can’t lose weight without exercise:
So you think you can lose weight without exercising. It isn’t impossible, but you would need to go on a controlled diet. But once you stop dieting, the weight will come back. It’s very important to follow some kind of a fitness routine. It can even be a brisk walk, or any kind of increased activity.

All fats are not bad
Some fats are healthy. Nuts and seeds have good oils in them, so you should not avoid those oils. Also, you should keep alternating food oils. Do not stick to one kind of oil. The trans fat in fast food and packaged foods is bad for you.

Don’t drink too many calories
If you are living in the misconception that soft drink is bad but juice and sports drink are good, think again. Juice has the same calories as soft drinks. And sports drinks are mostly full of sugar. It’s best to eat your fruit than drinking it. And drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated.

Jessica Simpson: Price of Beauty VIDEO

2010-03-25T14:30:00.001+05:30

Jessica Simpson travels the world to find out what is beautiful in her new show for VH1 The Price of Beauty. She's been out of the public eye after her mom jeans controversy. However, Jess has been a busy girl with her fashion line that earned her 20 million dollars in profits last year. Also her new show puts her back in front of the camera for more reality show antics.

Beauty and Benefits of Sleep

2010-03-21T10:15:00.002+05:30

Get your beauty s

It was World Sleep Day recently. We spoke to experts and found that just a few were aware of the day, while the rest welcomed it!

“World Sleep Day is now in its third edition, and this year the theme is ‘Sleep Well, Stay Healthy’. We are celebrating the beauty and benefits of sleep, which has been pushed into the sidelines and causing serious health issues. In fact, the problem is so widespread that even children are exposed to it. Among the many issues caused by sleep deprivation is the case of drowsy driving. It’s great that a lot is being done to spread awareness on drunken driving, falling off to sleep while driving is as dangerous a problem as rash driving!”
Dr Preeti Devnani, Neurologist

“I’ve got an invitation to attend World Sleep Day seminar, and that’s how I am aware of a day dedicated to sleep. I plan to attend it as I have a lot of apneaic cases coming to me. Since apnea is directly related to obesity, I have a lot of such cases coming up to me. It’s a dreaded condition as those suffering from it go off to sleep during the course of a discussion, meetings, or driving. It is fatal as lot of accidents have happened due to it, or have led to people dying in their sleep.”
Dr Sanjay Borude, Obesity Surgeon

“Is it a day when you are just meant to sleep? (laughs) Seriously, the issue of sleep needs to be addressed as the disorders are quite severe. I’ve had all kinds of cases coming to me — from sleep deprivation to excessive sleep, hypersomnolence, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, sleep-walking and also cases of epilepsy fits taking place during the first two phases of sleep. Because it’s sleep, people don’t take it seriously or report it. Lack of sleep does make a lot of difference to the personality of the sufferer, and is dangerous too. Creating awareness is the first step in the direction.”
Dr Nirmal Surya, Neurologist
“I’ve heard of ‘World Sleep Day’ in March, but am not aware of the date. But I quite agree with its objective of creating awareness about sleep. The quality and quantity of sleep is very important for physical, emotional and mental well-being of any individual. Not fulfilling it, which is the norm today, is giving rise to various complications like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stroke, and behavioural disorders. Even our holy books like Ramayana and Mahabharata laid premium on sleep.”
Dr. Ramanathan Iyer, Sleep Consultant

“I’ve heard of it, but not too clear when it is celebrated. It is great if a day has been dedicated to it as there is definitely a rise in cases of insomnia, disturbed sleep pattern, and other sleep related disorders. It’ll not make an overnight difference, but will at least create an awareness which will lead to some lifestyle changes. A good sleep is when you are able to sleep on time, maintain the pattern and get up feeling fresh, which is suffering in the set-up today. Sleep disorder needs to not just be treated as a phenomenon, but is also symptomatic of underlying medical issues like vitamin deficiency, thyroid problem among other things.”
Dr Jyoti Sangle, Psychiatrist

“It’s a great thing as sleep problems are on the rise due to the hectic pace of life and stressful living. Most don’t even think that it’s important enough to deal with it. It leads to psychological issues. As a clinical psychologist I try to go to the root of the problem; we don’t suggest popping tablets which disappoints a lot of my patients as some of them are used to taking tranquilisers to deal with it. Sleep also affects sexual life and has led to a lot of divorces.”
Dr Girish Sanghvi, Sexologist and psychologist

“No, I’ve not heard of World Sleep Day, but it’s an issue that needs to be brought to the fore as we are now leading a lifestyle in which we prefer to cut down on our sleep than adjust our schedule to include it. When the body fails to get its seven-hour sleep, it falls sick. The one-day sleeping it out only builds up the sleep debt, and the larger the debt the worse the breakdown. The body needs to recuperate. One of the key proven facts is that it leads to obesity. What can you say of the rest like dull countenance, acne, falling hair?”
Pooja Makhija, Consulting Nutritionist and Dietician

“World Sleep Day? I’ve not heard of it, but am glad to hear that there’s such a day as people need to be aware of the importance of sleep and relaxing. So what if you are exercising? It’s not enough if you don’t balance it with adequate amount of sleep. Your fitness is based on three integral factors, and that is exercise, nutrition and sleep. Besides, I believe that sleep is the best anti-aging option we have. It keeps off dark circles and wrinkles!”
Leena Mogre, Fitness Expert

YOGA For Greeat Legs

2010-03-10T23:26:00.001+05:30

For those of you who want great pair of legs we have some easy yogasanas which will ensure that you too have those million dollar legs.

Utkatasan: Stand up and bend your knees slightly.

Take your hands behind your head and pulse down. This asana strengthens the ankles, thighs and shapes the lower muscles of the body.

Vrikshasana: Stand up and bring your left knee on to your right thigh.

Keep your eyes focussed on one point and slowly bring your hands up and balance yourself. This asana is beneficial in strengthening the ankles and knees. It also improves your concentration.

Veerbhadrasana: Keep your legs wide apart and your hands straight.

Point your right toe towards your right hand and bend towards the same side and look at your hand. Repeat it on the other side.

Moordasana: Open your legs as wide as you can and bend down and touch the ground. Come up slowly. A word of caution for those of you having a knee pain. Do get in touch with a doctor before doing these exercises.

Indian models dare to bare

2010-03-09T00:50:00.000+05:30

Models turn on the heat at a lingerie show in Mumbai, showcasing latest designs for the upcoming spring/summer season by international brand Triumph.

An Amazing Weight-loss Programme

2010-03-04T01:28:00.004+05:30

From flab to fab...in 21days!

An amazing weight-loss programme, conducted in a High Altitude Chamber, is producing encouraging results...

The gauntlet has been thrown. Anybody can now lose upto 10 kilos using a revolutionary new weight-loss programme in a special High Altitude Chamber over just 21 days. The programme’s called Qi Train 21, named after Qi Lifecare — the trendy and happening gym and wellness centre at Eros Cinema building, Churchgate. Obese people who have given up on all conventional weight-loss methods, others wanting to lose inches, are advised to get on the programme.

Qi Train 21 works on hypoxia, a condition caused at high altitude where the oxygen is so sparse, that even little exercise leads to increased cardiovascular fitness and accelerated fat loss. Medical science recognises that mild and non-damaging intermittent hypoxia, such as this program, is used intentionally to develop athletic performance. Marathon runners, cyclists and boxers have all pushed their bodies at high altituides to successfully train for competitions. Happily for you, there’s no need to go climbing mountains to lose weight, the High Altitude Chamber at Qi Lifecare (in association with John Gloster, the Australian cricket physio for Team India) is ideal for this.

Though situated on the first floor, it simulates altitudes of upto 15,000 feet or 5,000 metres above sea level. You cannot exercise here at the same intensity as you would in a regular gym. The heart and lungs are encouraged to pump harder. The hypoxic air enhances the efficiency of the body’s respiratory, cardiovascular and oxygen utilisation systems, apart from stimulating the fat-burning process. And in 30 minutes, you would burn double the number of calories than a conventional workout.

The Qi Train 21 program comprises 21 half-hour sessions over five weeks. The training is exciting and not very strenuous. It is supervised by American College of Sports Medicine-certified trainers and includes the internationally-renowned Vibrogym that conserves and builds muscle mass even as it promotes fat reduction. Every workout is based on individual heart rate parameters and created only after an extensive pre-program physical evaluation.

Businessman Hiten Merchant, who lost four inches and 10 kilos with the 21-day program, said in satisfaction, “I’m more fit and energetic in spite of the huge weight loss. The program pushes you just enough to ensure that you look forward to your next session. I used to hate exercising and loved junk food. But Qi Train 21 has taught me to eat right and exercise.” The program’s manager and head nutritionist Kainaz Doctor, who prescribes diets to clients and monitors their weight loss, added, “The program simply works wonders, it jumpstarts weight loss and initiates a positive lifestyle change.”

Another success story of the path-breaking, weight-loss program is designer Farzana Todywala, who lost an nine kilos and went from fat to fit in 21 days. Sharing her amazing experience, Farzana said, “...70, 72, 74 kg, that used to be my weight, caused by junk food and no exercise. I was not sure I would be able to complete this program and that too with a ‘meal plan’ that had to be followed. The first week was difficult. But then I started seeing results. My stamina has increased and so has my confidence. My eating habits are disciplined. If it worked for me, it will work for anybody.” Zubin Gheesta, the health fitness specialist who worked on Farzana, said, “The workouts are fun, they motivate clients, but you cannot cheat on the diet. Be strict with yourself, and see the results!”

Proud of the success of Qi Train 21, programme director Ketan Ashar concluded: “The High Altitude Chamber is an amazing fat burner with no compromise on safety because the pressure within is not changed, only the oxygen is reduced, and this combination of mainstream science and exercise acts as a catalyst to a long-term weight loss fix. Those who have tried it, have sustained their weight loss after stepping out in the real world and are happily living moderated and altered lifestyles. It’s a 21-day kickstart, or a life-changing step, into healthy living.”
Qi Train 21, Qi Lifecare, 1st Floor, Eros Cinema Building, West Wing, Churchgate.
Tel: 9833300100 or 9819860713.

Easy Shiny Smokey Eye

2010-03-03T16:23:00.002+05:30

Plus size Models on ramp

2010-03-02T01:05:00.001+05:30

SIZE DOESN'T MATTER

A plus size model wears a creation as part of Elena Miro's Spring/Summer 2008 women collection in Milan. Elena Miro, which is presenting its fourth collection at Milan, designs for women sized 42.

A plus size model wears a creation as part of Elena Miro' Spring/Summer women collection 2008 in Milan.SIZE 42

A plus size model presents a creation from the Mark Fast 2010 Autumn/Winter collection during London Fashion Week.
BODY TO FLAUNT

A plus size model displays a creation of Italian design house Elena Miro during a Spring/Summer 2006 Milan Fashion Week show in Milan.
WITHOUT PERFECT CURVES

A plus size model displays a creation as part of Elena Miro's Spring/Summer 2010 women's collection in Milan.
GETTING DRESSED

A plus size model prepares backstage before the presentation of Elena Miro's Fall/Winter 2008/09 women's show at Milan Fashion Week.
TUMMY OUT

A plus size model presents a creation from the Mark Fast 2010 Autumn/Winter collection during London Fashion Week
BLACK BEAUTY

A plus size model presents a creation as part of the Elena Miro' Fall/Winter 2010/11 Women's collection during Milan Fashion Week.
WITH THAT ATTITUDE

A plus size model presents a creation as part of the Elena Miro' Fall/Winter 2010/11 Women's collection during Milan Fashion Week.DIAPHANOUS WHITE

A plus size model displays a creation as part of the Elena Miro Fall/Winter 2009/10 women's collection during Milan Fashion Week.

Make Your Own All-Natural Lip Balm

2010-02-28T02:40:00.003+05:30

This is a recipe I have made before. You only really need three ingredients to make a lip balm--a solid, like beeswax, an oil or butter, like shea, mango, coconut, avocado, etc. And finally flavoring oils. I like vanilla, but you can use peppermint, rose, almond, and so on. This all-natural recipe makes 8 lip balms that are .05 oz. each. You can find the following ingredients at most health food stores.
2 tbsp. beeswax pellets
2 tbsp. 100% shea butter
4 tbsp. sweet almond oil
20 drops vanilla oil
Combine the first three ingredients in a glass bowl resting over a pot of simmering water and stir constantly with a small whisk until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla oil. If you want to go a step further and add a red or pink tint to your creation, just add a little beet juice as a colorant. Using a clean medicine dropper, divide the liquid into the individual pots or tins. Let the product cool for about 20 minutes before use. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can always decorate each tin with stickers or make up your own creative names for the lip balms. Then sit back, pucker up, and slather on your handy work!

Sweet Potato - Perfect Skin Connection

2010-02-16T22:58:00.006+05:30

Sweet potatoes can help your skin stay clear, smooth and young-looking? The reason: Crayola-colored orange in sweet potatoes comes from beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A in your body and switches on DNA that's in charge of producing new skin cells and shedding old ones. A regular influx of new cells keeps the surface of your skin smooth, fresh-looking and resistant to irritants and damage.

Sweet potato is a low-calories and fat free vegetable with an abundance of healthy minerals such as beta-carotene, Vitamin A, C and E, magnesium, potassium and rich in antioxidants.

These nutrients and minerals help to protect against heart attack and stroke, reducing blood pressure and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells. Studies on animals have also shown that diabetics would benefit from a diet which includes sweet potatoes as they help to stabilise blood sugar levels and to lower insulin resistance. Taking into consideration of fibre content, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium plus the other aforementioned minerals, the sweet potato is ranked highest in nutritional value amongst other vegetables.

Fashion icon Alexander McQueen dead

2010-02-12T14:25:00.000+05:30

British fashion icon Alexander McQueen commits suicide days after death of his beloved mother /

By Rebecca Camber and Sara Nathan /

Last updated at 4:26 PM on 11th February 2010 /

British fashion designer Alexander McQueen has been found dead after taking his own life.

The 40-year-old committed suicide just days after the death of his beloved mother, Joyce, last Tuesday.

It is also just three years since his close friend, Isabella Blow - who plucked him from obscurity and helped him become a star - killed herself.

McQueen, who was christened Lee but used his middle name for his label, was found at his luxury flat in Mayfair, central London. It is believed he hanged himself.

One of his contemporary lines, McQ, was scheduled to be shown at New York Fashion Week this afternoon.

Strong Leg Muscles Tips

2010-02-09T16:16:00.004+05:30

Health Tips

A simple workout
Climbing stairs adds strength to leg muscles along with a cardiovascular workout at the same time. This can be done at home, in your office, apartment building, or on stair-climbing machines in the gym. Climbing two steps at a time is good for building the quadriceps (thigh muscles) and the gluteus (butt). Going down steps builds strength in the quadriceps and to a lesser extent, the hamstrings (leg muscles).

Carrot Apple Juice Give Skin Care

2010-02-09T15:35:00.004+05:30

Carrot Apple Juice Recipe

You all know about carrot juice benefits. Here I am only emphasizing it because it helps skin beauty if taken regularly. In my earlier post I explained how you can use carrot to make face mask. This mask gives amazing result. But in my experience drinking carrot juice gives immediate results in the next day.

How to make Carrot Apple Juice at home

ingredients: 1/2 kg fresh carrot, 2 apples and 1tsp lemon juice. Salt or sugar if you like.

Cut carrot and apple into small pieces. Put it in a mixer/grinder and mash to get crushed well. Add little water if needed. Sieve it to squeeze the juice. Add sugar and salt. Put crushed ice to serve chilled.

I know you all know how to make this. The thing is that drinking carrot juice is really effective for those who give importance to skin care. This will make your skin smooth, clear and supple. So I am happy to suggest you carrot apple juice.

Deepika Padukone chops off her long hair

2010-02-08T18:11:00.002+05:30

Post her break up with Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone has decided to change her looks and for that she has chopped her long hair.

Deepika Padukone Profile
Deepika Padukone Childhood Photos

30 Beauty Tips in 4 mins

2010-02-07T01:16:00.000+05:30

Stylish during the harsh Winter Months.

2010-02-06T00:38:00.002+05:30

Beauty tips for Winter
One of winters biggest beauty challenges is dealing with dry, static-y conditions created by the combination of very low moisture in the air and cold outdoor temperatures. Typically worst from November through February, static is the culprit behind clinging trousers, flyaway hair and the snap-crackle-pops that occur when you take off your winter coat
and scarf.

When the outside temperatures dip and the inside heat cranks up, its vital to have a few tricks up your static-free sleeves. The makers of Static Guard anti-static spray, who created the Static Index to help consumers recognize and prepare for high static conditions in their area, offer the following tips on how to stay stylish during the harsh winter months.

Women on the go should consider keeping a multiple use lip/eye/cheek pencil in their purse for touch-ups during the day. And always keep a tube of lip balm handy in your pocket to ward off chapped, dry lips.

Stop hair from frizzing by spraying combs or brushes with Static Guard then running it lightly through hair after styling and before hairspray. The versatile product is essential for cutting static on the inside of hats and jacket hoods, too. For a one-two punch, spritz the inside of your pants legs and skirts to further prevent static cling. Be sure to keep a handy tote-size can in the purse or car for static emergencies.

For a dewy, youthful look, mix cream or liquid blush with a dab of petroleum jelly and apply to dry cheeks.

Dont forget your hands! Lock in moisture by slathering on a good hydrating lotion before bed and after the mornings shower.

Water works: Drink lots of water to moisturize from the inside out, and lightly mist facial skin with distilled water in a small spray bottle after applying makeup to keep it fresh throughout the day.

Too Sexy For My Shoes

2010-02-05T23:51:00.003+05:30

A high end style show that gives you your weekly dose of trends that rule, exciting designer challenges and candid confessions by celebrities about their lifestyle addictions. The show tells you how to style outfits based on the trend of the week, where you can source this look and how much it will cost you. BIt also has designers who battle it out over a common challenge posed to them where they transform the ordinary into something extraordinary, in their unique styles; and finally celebrities including actors and supermodels, confess to their addictions be it handbags, boots, tattoos, you name it!

Bad Skin Habits

2010-02-04T18:39:00.001+05:30

1. Skipping Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen

2. Smoking

3. Drinking Too Much

4. Picking the Wrong Products

5. Ignoring Your Neck and Chest

6. Overlooking Moles

7. Using Dirty Makeup Brushes

8. Constant Phone Chatter

9. Overexfoliating

10. Staying Up Late

11. Not Washing Your Face at Night

12. Eating Junk Food

13. Neglecting Your Eyes

14. Popping Zits

15. Skipping the Gym

16. Tanning

17. Overloading on Products

Jennifer Lopez graces cover of Beauty book

2010-01-23T00:20:00.003+05:30

Jennifer Lopez's face has been featured on the cover of a beauty book.

The stunning actress was snapped especially for make-up artist Scott Barnes'

new book About Face which is based on how to transform yourself and look like a film star.

Jennifer, 40, has worked with the beauty mogul for over 10 years and he even travelled with her when she worked on her latest movie, The Back-Up Plan.

His new book will be launched in two versions - one for the US and one for Britain. The US version contains the tag line "Amazing transformations using the secrets of the top celebrity make-up artist" on the cover.

Jennifer - who the make-up maestro has previously called his "muse" - has posed elegantly for the two front pages. The US version shows her sporting natural cosmetics with her hair tied up, while on the British pictures her with hair dramatically blowing away from her face.

Jennifer also wrote the foreword for the book.

Last night, Jennifer dressed up in a classic black strapless Louis Vuitton dress for the exclusive launch at Club Provocateur, inside New York's Hotel Gansevoort.

She looked stunning as she helped Scott promote his latest work.

The pair was joined by fashion designer Christian Siriano and former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland.

Skin Whitening

2010-01-22T00:41:00.001+05:30

skin whitening (also called skin bleaching)

Fruits

Many fruits have skin whitening effect when they are eaten or scrubbed on skin. The leading fruit is papaya, wherein its enzyme papain can lighten the skin. Other notable fruits are lemon, lime, calamondin, and orange; all of these have Vitamin C which is said to have a skin whitening effect

Remove Your Hair Natuarally

2010-01-20T22:01:00.001+05:30

How to Get Rid of Unwanted Body Hair Naturally

You don't have to expose your body to repeated shavings or harsh chemical solutions to remove hair from your body. While unwanted hair on the body is a common problem for women and men, you can get rid of hair naturally and even reduce the frequency at which it grows. Keep in mind that as with nearly every procedure, there is no guarantee that hair will be eliminated permanently.

1. Mix equal parts gram flour and yogurt in a small bowl. The amount you'll need depends on how large the area is that you'd like to remove hair from; you might need as little as 1/4 cup or more than 1 cup of each.

2. Add two or three drops of olive oil. Incorporate it into the flour-yogurt mixture ingredients until it is well-mixed.

3. Apply the concoction to your skin on your body where your unwanted hair is growing. Administer a thick application that leaves all hair well-covered.

4. Wait for the mixture to dry completely on your skin. When it is dry, rub it off using your fingertips. As the mixture flakes off, it will take your unwanted hair with it, from the roots.

5. Repeat this procedure once a week for several months in order to notice a significant reduction in hair growth

Skin Care During Winters

2010-01-19T10:13:00.001+05:30

Winter is harsh on the skin. Dry air and harsh wind can sap moisture from the skin, causing cracking, chapping, and irritation. To prevent scaling, flaking and itching, one needs to pay special attention to the skin during the cold months. The following tips may help:

* Do not take long, hot showers. They may sound appealing, but they strip skin of its natural moisturizing oils. Instead, take a short, warm shower; pat your skin almost dry, then put on a good moisturizer while the skin is still damp.

* You will need an emollient lotion for hands, heels, or anywhere else where you experience especially dry, cracked skin.

* Apply a cream-based moisturizer every day. A good time to use moisturizer is just after showering to help trap moisture on the skin's surface. Those with sensitive skin should choose a moisturizer without fragrance or lanolin.

* Although frequent hand washing is often urged to prevent the spread of germs, all of that soap and water can also make hands chapped. Using a mild soap and moisturizing afterwards can help relieve the dryness.

* Rinsing your body daily but using less soap can also help protect the skin's natural moisturizers.

* Cover your face and use a petrolatum-based balm with an SPF for your lips while going out in cold air.

* Scaling, itching or cracked skin that is not relieved by moisturizers should be checked by a dermatologist, who may suggest a prescription medication.

Tattoo Your Eyes

2010-01-10T12:08:00.001+05:30

A bunch of inmates decided it was a good idea to inject ink into their eyes

Fish Oil Benefits

2010-01-05T16:51:00.001+05:30

How Taking Fish Oil Benefits The Body As A Whole

Many individuals could assume that there are some fish oil advantages however they may not notice the extent to that these supplements will facilitate your system overall. If all you browse are a few isolated fish oil reviews you may be tempted to focus on the small print of the individual studies and overlook the larger picture.

Fish oil advantages everything from the appearance of your skin and hair to your cardiovascular health. Fish oil reviews have proven that the advantages will extend to elevating mood and combating mood disorders, increasing the cognitive and retention levels of youngsters that suffer from autism spectrum disorder, and even help to slow painful and crippling inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Several people might think that these claims are exaggerated. After all, how will some straightforward compounds and fatty acids achieve such widespread beneficial effects on the body as a whole? It is quite simple. The compounds and essential fatty acids that were specifically identified by fish oil reviews work on a systemic level instead of isolating particular symptoms.

As an example, the EPA and DHA that are mentioned specifically in fish oil reviews have the power to dam the production of inflammatory compounds within the body. This lessening of inflammation will facilitate with conditions starting from psoriasis to rheumatoid arthritis.

They also block the action of triglycerides within the body as well. This is often important as a result of triglycerides can block arteries and blood vessels which will cause cardiovascular disease. Not only that, however fish oil benefits the guts by regulating blood pressure and even heart rhythm. These two factors alone make several fish oil reviews terribly excited when it comes to cardiovascular health.

Youngsters are maybe the ones who will experience the foremost fish oil benefits. Not solely do the EPA and DHA in fish oil help regulate brain development, you are also setting them up with the physical building blocks to remain in prime wellbeing for the remainder of their lives. Many individuals who have scan fish oil reviews however are worried regarding doable allergies can feed their youngsters foods that are enriched with higher levels of Omega 3.

Whereas this can be wonderful for his or her brain development, fish oil benefits are felt most strongly when Omega 3 supplements are a half of their daily diet.

If you're inquisitive about getting the fish oil advantages made public in fish oil reviews the choice is clear. Adding a high-quality fish oil supplement can be the best manner to safeguard your health.

Click Here and discover effective omega-3 fish oil to keep your mind & body young, active, and fully functioning.

Improve Your Sex life

2010-01-03T11:21:00.000+05:30

You and Your Spouse

Sex is not rocket science, which means anyone can be good at it, and we can all keep improving our skills. In fact, getting better at sex is part of a married person’s job because good sex is part of the foundation of a good marriage. Here are 10 ways – from the basic to the more advanced – to spice up your sex life:

1. Talk to your spouse more.
In addition to talking about sex and sharing your sexual fantasies, you and your husband or wife should talk more in general. Improving your communication and speaking with one another more frequently will make you feel closer to one another. That will make you more intimate and probably less inhibited in the bedroom – or wherever you prefer to have sex.

2. Spend more time on foreplay.
Sex should be something to which you look forward. Foreplay is what gets you excited and anticipating the main event. It doesn’t have to be limited to the 15 minutes before you’d like to have sex. You could start the day with sexy text messages (think MMS with a revealing photo or an e-mail expressing how hot your husband looked as you both left for work).

3. Get better at oral sex.
Foreplay often ends with both partners performing oral sex on one another. Sometimes, people take oral sex for granted, but it can be quite pleasurable and can really put people, especially women, in the mood for sex. When performing cunnilingus on a woman, men should refrain from making jabbing movements with their tongue. Slower, softer movements are usually better. Women, while performing fellatio on a man, should of course keep their teeth away from the man’s penis and use their lips and tongue instead. Both men and women who are performing oral sex should use their hands to enhance the experience. Let your partner lead you with directions, so you know what he or she prefers.

4. Try new positions.
This might seem like an obvious tip, but you’d be surprised by the number of married people who get stuck in a sex rut by performing the same combination of positions over and over again. There is more to sex than missionary and woman on top. You might try reverse cowboy or doggy style or a move you have seen on TV – or anything Sting has talked about doing. The point is to try a new sexual position and see if you and your husband or wife enjoy it.

5. Climax at the same time.
Reaching orgasm at the same time is easier said than done. But if the woman can orgasm (it’s usually more difficult for her) and she gives her husband fair warning that it’s about to happen, he might be able to reach orgasm with her. This intensifies the moment and truly has the two of you feeling like one (not to mention feeling like porn stars). In the end, you’ll probably collapse into each others' arms from exhaustion – and have the best sleep ever.

6. Dress for sex all the time.
Wearing sexy lingerie or silk boxers (or nothing at all) underneath your work clothes or sweats even will help you feel sexy and a little naughty. This will put you in the mood for sex and throughout the day will have you anticipating the moment you finally get to have sex. It will also serve as a lovely surprise as your husband or wife undresses you. White cotton granny panties, after all, can really kill the mood.

7. Be spontaneous.
While some people have to schedule sex to make sure it happens, there is something exhilarating about having sex with your partner unexpectedly. If your husband is in the bathroom getting ready for work and you rub against him, push him against the wall, and give him a kiss and it leads to sex right then and there, you’ll both start the day with a smile. Some couples even enjoy sex in public places. But that can get risky because if you get caught, it’s against the law. Your couch or the kitchen table in the middle of the day might be better alternatives.

8. Use toys or lubricant to enhance the experience.
There’s nothing wrong with bringing a vibrator to bed with you or getting KY Jelly to make sex less painful or simply more stimulating. Some couples enjoy browsing at sex shops together to find items that would improve their sex life. Everything from chocolate body paints to whips and chains is available these days, and with your husband or wife you shouldn’t feel embarrassed. But you should discuss what kinds of things would appeal to both of you and neither of you should feel forced to participate if you’re not comfortable.

9. Indulge in quickies.
In this crazy world, you don’t always have time for marathon sex. That doesn’t mean you should go without. A great quickie on your lunch hour or just before leaving for work can leave you feeling refreshed and satisfied. Ladies, who have trouble reaching orgasm with a quickie, can still find pleasure in the sex and the closeness that they feel to their husband.

10. When in doubt, return to the basics.
There is a certain level of comfort and pleasure that comes with vanilla sex – your run of the mill married sex. You shouldn’t be ashamed if that works for you. When your sex life seems to be stuck or you feel like you’re trying too hard, you should return to the basics – the positions and foreplay that have always worked for your husband or wife and you. If it ain’t broke, after all, you shouldn’t fix it.

FASHION OF THE DECADE

2010-01-02T00:22:00.000+05:30

FASHION OF THE DECADE - Jennifer Lopez, in a gown cut in a loose V leaving little to the imagination, appears on stage during the 42nd Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Feb. 23, 2000. Double-sided tape prevented any mishaps with the dress

FASHION OF THE DECADE - Ashton Kutcher attends an event to kick off Golden Globe weekend at the Pacific Design Center, Jan. 16, 2003, in Los Angeles. The actor who showed his playful side in the television show 'Punk'd' kept right on trend wearing various trucker hats

FASHION OF THE DECADE - Hotel heiress Paris Hilton holds her pet chihuahua Tinkerbell at a Miami Beach hotel, March 11, 2004. The breeding of tiny teacup dogs helped make man's best friend become a woman's best accessory

FASHION OF THE DECADE - Kelly Osbourne, daughter of 'Prince of Darkness' Ozzy Osbourne, sports a tiara at a party after the MTV Video Music Awards in New York in this Aug. 29, 2003 photo.

FASHION OF THE DECADE - In this photo released by Martha Stewart Living Television, comedian David Spade spoofs host Martha Stewart on the set of her show 'Martha,' Sept. 13, 2005. Spade walked on set wearing a blonde wig and poncho, which Stewart originally received from a fellow inmate upon her release from prison.

FASHION OF THE DECADE - Singer Janet Jackson, left, covers her breast after her outfit came undone during the half time performance with Justin Timberlake at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Feb. 1, 2004. The 'wardrobe malfunction' was seen by 90 million Americans and led to an investigation of indecency on the airwaves.

Hair Fall Treatment

2009-12-29T09:45:00.000+05:30

Juttu Vudadam Thaggalante Emi Cheyali..Mantena Satyanarayana Raju Garu

Tanning Tips Prepare Your Skin

2009-12-25T11:48:00.001+05:30

Self Tanning Tips

Getting a tan in the sun is not the really safe way of tanning yourself. Using a self-tanning product is a safe way of getting a tan. The tan from a self-tanning product not only removes the white areas caused by winter but they also give you some amount of protection against the sun. The tan that one gets from using these products normally washes off easily. Today there is an increasing demand for semi-permanent tanning lotions. Most of these self-tanning products come with additions like vitamin E and aloe vera that softens and moisturizes the skin. In order to ensure that the tan does not look fake choose a tan color that suits your skin color. Most self-tanning products are available in a range of shades.

To ensure that your tan lasts longer, use the following tips to prepare your skin:

* Exfoliate your skin with a body scrub to remove loose flakes of skin. This will ensure that the tan does not look patchy and it will last longer.
* Before applying any self-tanning cream or lotion one must exfoliate the skin. This removes any dead skin cells and excess body oils that may hinder proper absorption of the self-tanning product. Try using a mild soap as this will maintain the pH of the skin.
* Moisturize the areas you want to tan. This will allow the self-tanning lotion to spread smoothly and reduce the chances of streaking.
* Apply the self-tanning product with long firm strokes on your legs and arms. Rub the lotion using a circular motion into your stomach, buttocks and checks.
* Apply self-tanning lotion carefully to the dry areas of your body, as they will absorb more color. Pay special attention to your knees, elbows and heels.
* To ensure that you have an even tan around your eyebrows and hairline, use a cotton bud to remove any tanning lotion that gets accumulated. Use this along the side of your nose and along laughter lines, as tanning lotion normally clogs around these areas and tans the areas more.
* Do not apply self-tanning product on your nails, as they will turn orange.
* It is very important not to apply the self-tanning product directly on the elbows and the knees. Instead one must apply the solution in nearby areas and then with a moist tissue the tanner should be spread from these areas over to the knees and elbows.
* Wash your hands well after applying self-tanning lotion, especially wash your cuticles and under your nails.
* Do not wear clothes or sleep on your bed cover for about half an hour at least. This will stain your clothing and bedcovers.
* For the tan to last longer, avoid water for another 4-6 hours. This also includes perspiration. The tan will darken by a period of 24 hours giving you a nice golden bronze complexion. Using a moisturizer will also help the tan to last longer.

Kingfisher Calendar 2010 Hot Spicy Wallpapers

2009-12-24T09:58:00.001+05:30

Kingfisher Calendar 2010 Hot Spicy Wallpapers, Models, Winners, Pics, Photos, Hunt Girls

Avoid putting on weight this festive season

2009-12-19T02:06:00.000+05:30

London: A weight-loss expert has doled out advice on how one can avoid putting on the pounds during the festive season.
Caroline Deakin, a weight-loss expert for cosmetic surgery provider, SurgiCare, has offered simple tips for the weight conscious people, reports the Daily Express .

Firstly, a portion of roast turkey with skin on has 5.8g fat. Removing the skin will cut down the fat by 50 percent.

Saying no to a slice of streaky bacon will save one from 84 calories and 6.7g fat, and opting for baked potatoes, which contains about 0.4 grams fat, is better than eating an average portion of potatoes roasted in oil, which contains 9g fat.

Bread sauce should be made with skimmed or semi-skimmed and not whole milk, and it is better to make your own stuffing, as the shop-bought stuffing is often high in salt and varieties made with sausage meat can be high in saturated fat.

To avoid a lot of calorie, a gravy skimmer should be used, and large servings of Brussels sprouts and carrots, which are low in fat and high in antioxidants, will fill one up and ensure the calorie content remains low.

Opt for low-fat or low-sugar custard made with semi-skimmed milk or low-fat creme fraiche instead of brandy butter as an accompaniment to Christmas pudding.

Eat before going to a party to ensure you don’t gorge on fat-laden canapes, nuts and nibbles. Choose crudites and a low-fat dip, chicken skewers and prawns with a chilli dip as healthy alternatives.

Choose diet mixers to drink with alcohol or add diet lemonade or soda water to wine for a refreshing spritzer.

Namitha walks the ramp at CIFW ..Video

2009-12-18T16:50:00.000+05:30

Actress Namitha along with Neil Mukesh walked the ramp at Chennai International Fashion Week

Genelia at Chennai International Fashion Week Exclusive Photos

2009-12-18T02:34:00.000+05:30

Genelia D sourza in Chennai International fashion week 2009 gallery, Genelia at Chennai International fashion week stills, Genelia at Chennai International fashion week photos, Genelia at Chennai International fashion week (CIFW) images, Genelia at CIFW pics, Genelia at CIFW wallpapers, Genelia at CIFW stills