Are You On A Brink Of Break-Up ? - Part 1

It's happened to the best of us : You are happily meandering along in a relationship, convinced that everythng is moving forward. Then, without warning, you're dumped and you wonder, "Where were the signs?" But knowing the warning ssigns can have a plus side for you : If you recognise them early enough, you can take the upper hand by trying to make preparations to the relationship or by canning her first.

1. She calls you and / or returns your calls less frequently.

A woman who is in happy relationship almost always calls back. So if you notice her phone calls are becoming sparse or she consistently takes a long time to call you back, she might be trying to put some distance between you. Do not make the mistake of thinking she's playing phone games. A woman sometimes plays games in the early stages of dating, but generally nnot once she's in a relationship.

2. She prefers to go out with her girlfriends.

We are not referring to a girls night out here and there with her friends. But if she consistenetly leaves you at home to gallivant in pubs, picnics, night-clubs with her girlfriends, then she is definitely losing interest in you. It may be that she wants time away from you, or that she is actually perusing her options. Either way, it doesn't bode well for your relationship.

3. She thwarts your attempts at PDA (Public Display of Affection).

If she once allowed you to kiss her and hold her hand in public, but now squirms away from PDA, she is definitely having her doubts about you. If she does this, she actually doesnot want other people to know you are together, which is the first step towards an actual break-up.

4. She avoids referring to you as her boyfriend.

If she went from introducing you as her boyfriend to just using your first name, you can be pretty certain something has changed in her mindset. It may even be on a subconscious level, but this definitely means you have been demoted from boyfriend status in her mind.

To Be Continued........

HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR SILVER JEWELLERY?

As with most metals, in time, silver will oxidize. Properly maintained, silver actually improves with age.

- Simply clean with a mild soap and water solution

- Pat dry with a soft cloth. If dirt is more stubborn, a silver cleaner is appropriate. But don’t rub silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or fine piece of felt.

- Even tissue paper and paper towels can cause scratches.

- Like other jewellery, avoid wearing silver in chlorinated water as this will discolour it.

- Store your silver jewellery in a cool, dry, dark place. A tarnish preventative bag is a good idea, or wrapped individually in plastic pouches, a soft piece of felt or cloth.

- As air and light cause silver to tarnish, the less of them the better when stored.

Source : TOI

Health Benefits of Green Tea !! - Part 2

One of the health benefits of green tea is it's potential to act as a protective agent against premature death from heart disease and cancer.

Drinking this tea is said to lower the levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, thereby reducing platelet aggregation, and helping keep blood pressure in check.

Other health benefits of green tea are the following :

• fights against cancer
• helps stabilize diabetes
• prevents cardiovascular disease
• it keeps your skin acne-free, making it healthier and prettier
• assists in weight loss regimen
• slows the aging process
• aids your digestion
• encourages bowel regularity
• provides you with a mild stimulating effect without causing sleepless nights or nervousness especially during pregnancy

You can do a lot of things with this wonder drink. Did you also know that the health benefits of green tea are not only confined to drinking but you can also medicate with it? What else does it do? You can even cook with green tea or use the leftover liquor to water your plants, and keep your cat's litter box fresh and pleasant smelling.

These powerful benefits cannot be compared to any other substance in the world without a single side effect.

Health Benefits of Green Tea !! - Part 1

The benefits of green tea and its effects were discovered 4,000 years ago and since then has been considered a wonder drink!

Green tea acts as an antiviral agent. It contains fluoride, a mineral that helps prevents cavities and strengthens tooth enamel.

A cup a day can help reduce plaque formation and bacterial infections in the mouth.

It acts as an anti-inflammatory, maintains a healthy, active metabolism and circulatory system just to name a few. This proves that this drink is indeed a miracle in a cup!

Your body responds to the negative effects of free radicals by utilizing defensive antioxidant molecules present in your systems in order to detoxify these harmful effects. This is the reason why you are being encouraged by nutritionists and other health professionals to increase the levels of antioxidants in your body.

Luckily, this is easily achieved by simply adding nutritious foods in your diet such as fruits and vegetables that are naturally rich in antioxidants. The antioxidant levels of green tea is hundred times more effective than vitamin C and twenty-five times better than vitamin E in protecting our immune systems. Another great reason to drink several cups everyday.

The green tea ingredients are the ones responsible for its amazing health benefits. They are called catechins! Catechins are considered the most effective of all antioxidants and the amounts as well as the effects are far higher compared to black tea. The fact that green tea undergoes less
internal changes from fresh leaf means that it contains the largest quantity of intact catechins.

Asian population are experiencing its wonderful effects and benefits. Statistics have shown that Asians have a lower risk of acquiring diseases because of their healthy lifestyle.

Benefits of Eating Radishes !!

Radishes are moderately high in Vitamin C and contain properties that appear to be beneficial for symptoms of colds, flu, fever, cough and digestive disorders.


For digestive problems, put handful of radish leaves in boiling water, cover and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Strain, add honey to taste and drink as a tea.

For colds, flu, and the associated symptoms, grate one radish and mix with honey to taste. Let this procedure stand for 10 hours in a dark place. Take two teaspoons three time a day as a cough syrup.

Source : TOI

Could a good night sleep sharpen the memory?

A good night’s sleep not only leaves you feeling refreshed; it also boosts your long-term memory. Scientists who analysed the brain scans of volunteers found that restful slumber helps to consolidate memories. This is because during a solid sleep, memories of recent events are shifted from one part of the brain to another for long-term storage. The findings suggest that those who do not get enough rest could be operating well below their best.

A test between 2 groups who were allowed to sleep, while others stayed awake all night playing video games revealed many facts. The facts showed how brain transmitted memories of how to navigate from the region of the brain that helps remember directions, the hippocampus, to a region that determines how we move, the striatum. They showed that the group which had slept well was using the striatum to navigate around the virtual town. The team that had been deprived of sleep was still using the hippocampus, suggesting that the information had not yet been consolidated in the long-term memory. Both groups were still able to achieve the tasks we set them, but they were not using the same part of the brain to perform them. Shifting memories from one part of the brain to another, increases alertness.

Source : TOI

5 Tips on Better Hydration

Water is the largest component of the human body, making up 50 to 70% of the body’s weight. Lean muscle tissue contains about 73% body water; adipose (fat) tissue is about 20% water. Depending on how much fat has been stored, an adult can survive for about 9 weeks without eating food but only a few days without drinking water. This occurs not because water is more important than carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins or minerals but, rather, because there is no storage site for water.

Two main functions of water in the body include temperature regulation and removal of waste products. Most water comes from the liquids we consume. Some comes from the moisture in foods (especially fruits and vegetables), and the remainder is produced in the body as a metabolic byproduct. Water output includes that lost via the lungs, kidneys, skin and bowels. Water deficiency occurs if an individual is not drinking enough water. At this point, the body generally alerts us by signaling thirst; however, the thirst mechanism is not always reliable, especially during athletic practices and events, during illness and in one’s older years.

For this reason, athletes should weigh themselves before and after training sessions to determine their rate of water loss and thus their water needs. Progressive dehydration reduces sweating (our mechanism for cooling) and blood flow to the skin, which leads to excessive body heating.. It is essential to keep well hydrated before, during and following exercise, especially in the heat.

The following guidelines can help athletes maintain proper hydration during practice and competition in hot weather :

Weigh in without clothes before and after exercise, especially during hot weather. For each pound of body weight lost during exercise, drink two cups of fluid.

Drink a rehydration beverage containing sodium to quickly replenish lost body fluids. The beverage should also contain 6-8 percent glucose of sucrose (carbohydrate).

Drink 2.5 cups of fluid 2 hours before practice or competition.

Drink 1.5 cups of fluid 15 minutes before the event.

Drink at least one cup of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes during training and competition.

Some may worry about water toxicity (too much water). Water toxicity is whatever amount of water the kidneys are unable to excrete. This can lead to serious side effects; however, an excessive amount of water would have to approach many liters each day. Very few are at risk of drinking too much water. When excessive water overwhelms the kidneys’ capacity to excrete it, headache, cramps, blurred vision, convulsions and possibly death may occur.

Body and Face Sculpting

Body Sculpting : Precise body contouring is done with combination of Ultrasonic Lipolysis with HIFU (France), Lipolift (US FDA Approved), Endermology (Poland) & Mesotheraphy (Spain). One can expect to lose to 1 – 3 inches permanently in the areas like abdomen, waist, hips and thighs in an hour. All procedures are without any surgery, cut, stitch, redness, pain & side effects.

Face Sculpting : Bipolar Radio Frequency (RF) with Diode Laser is a US FDA approved non-surgical technique that repairs skin damage caused by ageing and restores the skin’s elasticity, tonacity and complexion. It works wonders on acne, double-chin, puffy face, wrinkles, fine lines, dark sports, dark circles and hyper-pigmentation.

10 Tips To Improve Your Speaking VOICE - Part 2

Instructions :

6) Practice your speech in advance and determine where you want to pause for a breath. For more emphasis, pause for more than one breath. Mark your breathing points in your notes.

7) Loosen up before you begin. Look side to side. Roll your head in half-circles and roll your shoulders back. Shift your rib cage from side to side. Yawn. Stretch. Touch your toes while completely relaxing your upper body, then slowly stand up, one vertebra at a time, raising your head last. Repeat as needed.

8) Posture - Stand up straight and tall to allow full lung capacity and airflow.

9) Record your voice repeatedly using different ways of speaking. Determine which one is most pleasing.

10) Practice breath control - Take a deep breath, and while you exhale, count to 10 (or recite the months or days of the week). Try gradually increasing your volume as you count, using your abdominal muscles—not your throat—for volume. Don’t let your larynx tense up.

10 Tips To Improve Your Speaking VOICE - Part 1

One of the most important components of public speaking is the sound of your voice. It influences the impact of your message, and might even make or break the success of your speech. Fortunately, for many people, good voice quality can be learned.

Instructions :

1) Breathe from your diaphragm - Practice long and controlled exhales. When you speak, use breath to punctuate your point. For example, take a breath at the end of each phrase whether you need to or not. Use that opportunity to pause and let the listeners absorb what you say.

2) Use pitch - Lower pitches generally are more soothing to hear. However, modulating your pitch for emphasis will keep your listeners engaged. Develop your pitch by practicing humming.

3) Moderate your volume - Find out if you speak too loudly or too softly. When you begin speaking, ask your audience how your volume is (each situation is different). Try to stay at the appropriate volume throughout your speech.

4) Moderate your pace - This one is also closely related to breath. If you speak too quickly, people can’t keep up. If you speak too slowly, people will lose interest. Record your speech to determine if you need to change your pace. Get feedback from others.

5) Articulate - Try exaggerating your lip movement to reduce mumbling. Practice articulating tongue twisters and extending and exaggerating vowel sounds. Become an expert at articulating tongue twisters as quickly and crisply as possible. Focus on the ones you find difficult.

What's a Green Collar Job ?

What is a green collar job?
A green collar job involves working to better the environment, and is created by firms and organizations whose mission is to improve environmental quality. Work could include policies related to waste, energy and water conservation, solar energy, whole home performance and strengthening local food systems. These jobs are generated by sectors that produce goods which may need a green angle, like energy retrofits to improve conservation, constructing green buildings, composting, landscaping, etc.

Why don’t two-wheelers have a reverse gear?
A regular motorcycle has a ‘sequential’ manual transmission, meaning you can only shift up or down one gear at a time. It is also designed to spin one way only. Adding reverse would require the crankshaft to spin backwards, or a much larger, heavier expensive transmission. So it is easiest to dismount and push the bike backwards.

What are widgets?
Widget, literally, is a blend of window and gadget, coined by George S Kaufman in his play ‘Beggar on Horseback’. It is a hypothetical manufactured good or product. In computing, the term has become frequently used to refer to objects on a computer screen the user interacts with. A widget is anything that can be embedded within a HTML page. Widgets often take the form of on-screen tools like clocks, event countdowns, etc.

Source : Open Space, TOI

10 Ways To Be Happy !!

1) Learn a new language, join dance class or cultivate hobby.

2) Mark some time of the day as me-time (exercise, read a book or listen to music) and us-time (spend time with your family and friends)

3) Make everyday special occasion and wear clothes that make you feel confident.

4) Ensure at least seven hours of good, quality sleep every day.

5) Go for regular outings with family and friends. You can go for dinner, movie or even head for a weekend getaway.

6) Get a pet. It can bring much happiness in your life.

7) Exercise daily for 30 minutes. It will make you feel positive and fit.

8) Play with children. Become a child again, laugh without any inhibitions and enjoy the innocence of childhood.

9) Keep sometime aside for meditation and spirituality. It helps absorb the stresses of life more easily.

10) Volunteer for community service.



Source : Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman,
Cardiac Sciences and Chief Cardiologist.
Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre.

Creative Ways to Say "Thank You" !!

Every day there are people in our lives who deserve our thanks. Sometimes a simple "Thank you" is appropriate. At other times, it is more thoughtful to be creative in expressing appreciation. It's just good business.

Here are some suggestions for thanking people at work, at home, and in the community.

1. When you say "Thank you" tell the person specifically what it is you appreciate and why you appreciate it. "Thank you for going to the Post Office for me. It saved me a lot of time."

2. Send an e-mail note. When I sent a thank you note to my staff in the Pentagon, the energy level shot up.

3. Send a hand-written thank you note. These are noteworthy because so few of us take time to write and mail them.

4. Place an unexpected phone call just to say "Thank you." Connecting verbally adds warmth to your appreciation even if you reach voice mail.

5. Present a small certificate. Half-page certificates take up less space if displayed and are as meaningful as full sized certificates. They tend to draw attention because they are different.

6. Give a single flower from your garden, flowerpot, or florist, with a verbal "Thank you" or a note.

7. Put a candy bar or piece of fruit on the desk of the person to be thanked, with or without a note. (Be sure the person is not on vacation!)

8. Bake some cookies. This is especially effective when men bake and present a few cookies in thanksgiving.

9. Say something nice about the recipient of your thanks to someone else when the person you appreciate can overhear you. This is especially powerful in a business setting.

Measures Before Practising Yoga !

WHAT MEASURES SHOULD ONE TAKE BEFORE PRACTISING YOGA?

~ Yoga should be done on an empty stomach.

~ One should be in a relaxed state of mind.

~ Its advisable to practice yoga after taking a bath.

~ There should be a gap of at least three hours after attending to lunch.

~ There should be a gap of at least one hour after doing yoga practice for taking solid meal.

~ If one is practicing yoga in the morning, he/she should take one glass of water so that excretion is facilitated.


Source : TOI

BARBEQUE & GRILL MYTH

Most think Barbequing and grilling means the same, which is not. Both involve different process and methods and of course tastes. In general, we refer to barbeque as a method of cooking food with the heat and hot gases of a fire, smoking wood, or hot charcoal.

TYPES OF GRILLS
There are variations in grills and methods too owing to regions and tastes :
- Gas Grill
- Charcoal Grill ( Considered best for the perfect flavour )
- Salander Grills throw heat on the food from the top. This is mostly used in restaurants to give colour to the food.

An Apparatus called a smoker, where in hot smoke is drawn past the meat for very slow cooking. This process is also called smoking.

A type of grill that has become popular recently is the water smoker. Thi is either electric or coal burning, where in burning wood chips and boiling water combine to slow cook the meat while the circulating steam constantly bastes the food to keep it juicy.

More locally to define grills are, our own tandoors, sigris and not forget the coal grills used by our favourite corn.

BARBEQUE
Barbequing means cooking food slowly via indirect heat and smoke. Barbequing primarily involves wood-fired flames that produce smoke that slow cooks the meat, adding extra flavour that coals or gas would not. Usually used on larger pieces of meat. A slow process using indirect heat or smoke.

GRILL
Grilling involves placing the food directly over the heat source, be it coals, ga-fired flame or others. A fast process over high heat.

WHAT ESSENTIALS OILS CAN ONE USE TO ENERGISE A ROOM?

• Squeeze half a grapefruit in your bath water to re-energise the body.
  
  
• Orange is the ideal fruit in the morning because it is great for awakening the sense. Spritz orange in bedrooms first ting in the morning to awaken sleeping bodies.
  
  
• Eucalyptus always awakens the senses especially when you are feeling under the weather.
  
  
• Rosemary is a good oil to use when studying. It improves your mental clarity.
  
  
• Lemon is a clean scent and nice to spritz the room on a hot day.

Source : TOI

Ageless, Timeless, Limitless Love.. ( Part - 3 - Old Love ) !!

Old Love

I wanna make you smile / Whenever you are sad / Carry you around / When your arthritis is bad / All I wanna do is / Grow old with you - Adam Sandler, actor

Desire to Love :

Dont just blame Viagra : the desire to find love is intense at 62 for a Colonel. He says, "I lost my wife some years ago and was looking for friendship. So, when I found love for the second time, it was more about sharing." A psychiatrist, opines, "I've had men come to me, who have spouses whodont want sex. There are a lot of mismatched couples looking for emotional fulfillment. The solution is to find newness in your daily routine."

Maintenance of Love :

At 77, Mehtab's defination of love is, "loving stays young; the body grows. Love can give you a glow even in your 70s.". Says a doctor, "Many people face the empty nest syndrome, so love in this stage has to be supportive." The need for physical intimacy is reflected in the attitude of 60-plus men in many movies, where converstaions revolve around sex! Says Dr.Raj, a sexologist, "There's new hope with Viagra. men want sexual gratification even after 70. There's no age for love and sex. It can happen anytime."

Source : Times News Network.

Ageless, Timeless, Limitless Love .............. ( Part - 2 - Middle-aged Love ) !!

Middle-aged Love

Love gets me every time my heart changed my mind - Shania Twain, singer

Desire to Love :

Even Google does not have a clear description of love for a middle-aged person! You are supposed to be looking after your babies and making a success of your career or having great sex outside marraige? This is the most vulnerable group; 'settled' couples feel 'unsettled', and divorce isn't uncommon, as most feel there's still time to find love. Expert Rohit Juneja says "These are people living lives in quiet desperation. They want to break free. So they start by having affairs. Monogamy is the monopoly of one individual, which leads to monotony. One lady author met a man when she was 47. "Love happened to me. We share everything and have a deep sense of bonding!'. A doctor says, "You cannot imagine how unhappy mid-lifers are with their marraiges. When they meet attractive people, the chemistry is lethal. There's a craving for deep emotional intimacy in this group." So what do men and women look for in love at this age? Says Anu, 52, accessory exporter, "I'm looking for love that is serene not heady and hip-hop." A VP of a travel agency believes "Being in loves makes you vivacious. For men, its to be with someone who is emotionallly and sexually attractive.

Maintenance of Love :

Growing up doesn;t cool off desire, rather, it fires up. "Love is about intimacy, appreciation and communciation. Remove your conflicts." advises Dr.Juneja. A recently married lecturer at 42 feels, "Keeping love alive is about indulging in small romantic gestures, giving compliments and showing gratitude.

To Be Continued......

Source : Times News Network.

Avoid Effects of Jet Lag !!

How does one avoid the debilitating effects of jet lag ?

1. Get plenty of sleep before you leave.
2. Don't drink a lot of alcohol.
3. Eat well-balanced meals.
4. Avoid overheating.
5. Exercise as much as you can on your trip.
6. Use sleep medicines for only a few days.
7. Get used to a new time zone by going along with the local meal and bedtime schedules.
8. Even healthypeople can get blood clotes in their legs after long flights. Try to walk every now & then during the flight (unless the crew tells you not to ).
9. Drink water, stretch your calf muscles while you're sitting and wear support stockings.

Source : TOI