Self Health Tips - Cutting Down on Sugar - Part 2

Ten ways to get rid of the sweet stuff.


6. Instead of downing sugary-sweet drinks like lemonade, make your own sun tea. Steep decaffeinated tea bags in water and set the pitcher in the sun for a couple of hours. Add lemon, lots of ice and sugar substitute for a carb-free summer quaff.


7. Buy dietetic condiments at the grocery store. Given that 1 tablespoon ketchup can contain about 1/2 teaspoon sugar, buying sugar-free condiments can make a big dent in your sugar consumption. Most condiments and other packaged foods for people with diabetes are made without sugar or with sugar substitutes.


8. Remember these code words found on ingredient lists. The only way to know if the processed food you're buying contains sugar is to know its many aliases or other forms. Here are the common ones: brown sugar, corn syrup, dextrin, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrate, high-fructose corn syrup, galactose, glucose, honey, hydrogenated starch, invert sugar maltose, lactose, mannitol, maple syrup, molasses, polyols, raw sugar, sorghum, sucrose, sorbitol, turbinado sugar, and xylitol.


9. Look for hidden sources of sugar. Cough syrups, chewing gum, mints, tomato sauce, baked beans, and lunch meats often contain sugar. Even some prescription medications contain sugar. For a week, be particularly vigilant and scan every possible food label. You likely won't forget what you'll find.


10. If you must eat sweets, eat them with meals. The other foods will help increase salivary flow, thus clearing the sugary foods from your mouth faster and helping prevent cavities. Of course, this does nothing for the calories you're imbibing and won't affect your weight, but at least you'll have a healthier mouth.


Source : Reader's Digest

Self Health Tips - Cutting Down on Sugar

Ten ways to get rid of the sweet stuff.

In fact, the amount of sugar we eat and drink every year has soared nearly 30 percent since 1983 and is likely a major contributor to the soaring rates of overweight and obesity in the world. Even worse, since sugary foods often replace more healthy foods, nutrition experts say the influx of sweets indirectly contributes to diseases like osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer--all of which are directly affected by what we eat.

Beware : Uncovering all the sugar in your diet isn't easy. Sugar often hides under several pseudonyms and turns up in even the most innocuous foods (like bread, crackers, salad dressing, ketchup, and mustard). But with the following tips, you should be able to have your cake and
eat it too.


1. Cut down slowly.
Forget going cold turkey. Therein lies failure. Instead, if you normally have two candy bars a day, cut to one a day. Then next week, one every other day. The following week, one every three days, until you're down to just one a week. If you normally take 2 teaspoons of sugar in your coffee, use the same routine, cutting down to 11/2 teaspoons for a week, then 1, then 1/2. Eventually, get to the point where you're using artificial sweetener if you still need the sweet taste. The more
sugar you eat, the more you'll crave. So cutting down slowly is the best way to
tame a sweet tooth gone wild.


2. Go half and half.
Mix half a regular soda with half a diet soda. Half a carton of sweetened yogurt with half a carton of plain yogurt. Half a cup of regular juice with half a cup of seltzer. Do this for two weeks, then cut back to one-quarter sweetened to three-quarters unsweetened. Continue until you're only drinking the unsweetened version.


3. Grant yourself a daily sugar quota,and use it on foods where it matters most. For most of us, that means desserts. Don't waste it on dressings, spreads, breakfast cereals, and soda. Not only will this reduce your sugar intake in a day, but it will help you lose your sweet tooth. Sugar is incredibly addictive: The more you eat, the more addictive it becomes and the more it takes to satisfy you. The opposite is also true: Train your taste buds to become accustomed to less and you'll be satisfied with less.


4. Establish rules about dessert.
For instance, only have dessert after dinner, never lunch. Only eat dessert on odd days of the month, or only on weekends, or only at restaurants. If you have a long tradition of daily desserts, then make it your rule to have raw fruit at least half the time.


5. Similarly, establish rules about ice cream.
A half gallon of ice cream in the freezer is temptation defined. A rule we recommend : No ice cream kept at home. Ice cream should always be a treat worth traveling for.

To Be Continued......

Choosing a gym? How to make up your mind !!

It's January and the health clubs have come a-courting.

Their sign-up sales, special offers and discounted rates have arrived just in time to prod your resolution to get fit in 2010. But as one person's dream workout venue can be another's waste of money, experts have some tips on how to find just the right facility to add inspiration to your perspiration.

And topping their lists is location, location, location.

"Most important is, is it convenient to home or work? Far and away that's the number one reason people use or don't use a gym," said Shawn Talbott, spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine.

"If it's not hyper convenient, don't think you're going to go out of your way," he said flatly.

Talbott says be sure to visit a prospect during the same time you expect to use it.
"If you check out a gym on Saturday afternoon it could be fine, but on Monday morning you might not be able to get on a treadmill," he explained.

"Also," he said, "Are the classes offered at hours convenient for you?"

And don't underestimate the importance of ambiance: just how comfortable will you be sweating in the space?

"A club filled with gorgeous 20-year olds might not be the best place for an overweight or older woman," Talbott explained. "If you're concerned about your body, you don't want to join one of those meat market gyms. You might want to go to a more family-oriented facility."

Carol Espel, spokeswoman for the Equinox chain of luxury health clubs, agrees: "Gyms can be intimidating in the wrong setting. Find a place that you see yourself going to easily after work and on weekends."

She advised people to take time to do research.

"What's most important for you in a gym? Do you need a personal trainer to keep you in line? Do you like group classes? Commit to a place that can give you the tools you need."

In their guide, "How to Choose a Health Club," the American Council on Exercise (ACE) recommends using a day pass or trial membership to check on the following:

"How clean is the facility? Is the music too loud? Is most of the equipment in working order? Too many 'out of order' signs may indicate poor maintenance. Are new members provided with a club orientation and instruction on how to use equipment?"

ACE suggests talking to current members, checking the Better Business Bureau for complaints, and choosing a club that belongs to the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and must abide by their standards.

As always, read the fine print before signing on the dotted line. Does that deep discount come with a two-year commitment? Is there also an initiation fee? Find out exactly what the membership includes. Do you have to pay extra for towels, childcare?

Talbott says the right gym can make all the difference. "You can stay fit outside the gym but it's harder. The gym is a good crutch. It's part of your routine, a place where you can go to every day."

As Woody Allen once said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up."


Source : Indian Express

Self Help Mantra - Learn Facts of PIZZA !!

12 Facts About PIZZA

Just hearing the word "pizza" brings a smile to the face of just about every American. Whatever style or variety -- from thick, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza stuffed with gobs of cheese, sausage, and pepperoni to a thin-as-a-cracker crust topped with veggies -- pizza invariably makes it to the top of "favorite food" lists.

Here, we've compiled a list of fun and interesting facts about this American food icon. See how many you knew!

Pizza is one of the most popular foods in the United States.


1. Since 1987, October has been officially designated National Pizza Month in the United States.

2. Approximately three billion pizzas are sold in the United States every year, plus an additional one billion frozen pizzas.

3. Pizza is a $30 billion industry in the United States.

4. Pizzerias represent 17 percent of all U.S. restaurants.

5. Ninety-three percent of Americans eat pizza at least once a month.

6. Women are twice as likely as men to order vegetarian toppings on their pizza.

7. About 36 percent of all pizzas contain pepperoni, making it the most popular topping in the United States.

8. The first known pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738.

9. More pizza is consumed during the week of the Super Bowl than any other time of the year.

10. On average, each person in the United States eats around 23 pounds of pizza every year.

11. The first pizzeria in the United States was opened by Gennaro Lombardi in 1895 in New York City.

12. The record for the world's largest pizza depends on how you slice it. According to Guinness World Records, the record for the world's largest circular pizza was set at Norwood Hypermarket in South Africa in 1990. The gigantic pie measured 122 feet 8 inches across, weighed 26,883 pounds, and contained 9,920 pounds of flour, 3,968 pounds of cheese, and 1,984 pounds of sauce. In 2005, the record for the world's largest rectangular pizza was set in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Pizza restaurant owner Bill Bahr and a team of 200 helpers created the 129 X 98.6-foot pizza from 4,000 pounds of cheese, 700 pounds of sauce, and 9,500 sections of crust. The enormous pie was enough to feed the town's 5,200 residents ten slices of pizza each.

Tips to stay healthy when you study abroad - Part 2

* Don't skip breakfast. If you are on the run, have milk/yoghurt/cheese with fresh fruits, muesli or nuts. On weekends, egg and toast (whole wheat or multi-grain) or whole grain sandwiches are good options.

* Stock smart.Make sure you have most or some of these around in your room: fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, roasted snacks, roasted gram, peanuts, low-fat milk, yoghurt, tofu and soups. If you have a cooking facility, stock vegetables and buy prepared sauces and dressings. Quick stir-fry or fruit-and-vegetable salads are great choices.

* Usually, there is considerable walking on campus. But engaging in active sports and participating in outdoor physical activities must be a priority.

* If you are studying till late night, snack on fruits, nuts, seeds or have a cup of hot chocolate.

* Critical nutrients for the 18-25 age group include calcium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin E. Take multi-vitamin supplements under supervision.

Source : Indian Express

Tips to stay healthy when you study abroad - Part 1

*Carry a weighing scale along. Stand on it at least once a week to know how you are doing.

* Watch your drink. Avoid cheap and abundant sources of calories such as sweetened sodas, beverages and fruit juices. Ask for water, unsweetened beverages, coconut water, lemon water, green tea, iced tea without sugar, soups and low-fat dairy. Also, limit alcohol intake to two drinks (for men) and one drink (43 ml) for women in a day.

* If you have a predisposition to gain weight, limit your intake of high-starch meals like bread, pasta, noodles, wraps, pizzas and burgers

* Include vegetables and fruits at least in two meals a day. Soups, salads or cooked vegetables are easy ways to make up for five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. One serving is equivalent to half a cup.

* Snack healthy every three hours with fresh fruits, dry fruits, nuts, seeds, roasted gram, yoghurt, roasted whole grains and cheese.


Source : Indian Express

Mood disorders common among women due high-fat foods.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne found that mood disorders were more common among women aged 20 to 93 who, over 10 years, ate primarily processed, refined, high-fat foods.

Eating a diet mainly of vegetables, fruit, whole grain foods, low fat dairy products, and lean meat, and reserving processed and sweet treats to "sometimes foods," will aid physical health and may also support mental well-being.

A team assessed diet and psychiatric evaluations gathered over 10 years from 1,046 women.

A total of 925 women were free of mood disorders, whereas 121 had depressive and/or anxiety disorders, the researchers reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry. When they assessed how diet might relate to mood disorders, they found that a "Western" diet - eating primarily hamburgers, white bread, pizza, chips, flavored milk drinks, beer, and sugar-laden foods -- was associated with more than a 50 percent greater likelihood for depressive disorders. By contrast, both depression and anxiety disorders appeared about 30 percent less likely among women eating a more "traditional" Australian diet --- mostly of vegetables, fruit, beef, lamb, fish, and whole-grain foods. These associations remained when the research team allowed for a variety of factors including age, body weight, social and economic status, education, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol drinking habits.

But similar "adjusted" analyses in women mainly consuming fruits, salads, fish, tofu, beans, nuts, yogurt, and red wine showed no similar associations. The researchers said the findings highlighted the need for additional investigations to determine whether unhealthy eating leads to declining mental health or vice versa.

Source: Indian Express

Ways to get a life and start living it - Part 2

6. Let the losers win. Don't argue about things that you don't care about. Unless there's some real threat, let the folks who have something to prove, prove what they need to. Why waste your living time trying to fix what's wrong with them?


7. Create energy. Jump to forgiveness and love, then figure things out. Most conclusions we jump to are not only wrong, they're negative. Negative conclusions lead us to prepare a defense. Being on the defensive isn't living. It's hiding from life.


8. Learn the physical symptoms of when your head and heart become disconnected. We know when we're having a knee jerk reaction, when we're feeling sorry for ourselves, and when we're being blind to people's feelings. We can remember how it felt physically while we were behaving badly. Get to know those symptoms, and you can stop the behavior. Living life will feel a whole lot safer because you won't be in danger of shooting yourself in the foot.


9. Take small risks that push your boundaries in every way. The joy of life is packed in learning that matches our skill set. When we stretch just a bit intellectually, physically, emotionally, we grow. Living is growing. Even your cells know that.


10. Value and protect the people and the places you care about. A job isn't a life. It's just a part of one. Let the people you care about come first, and let everyone know that you do. Re-read numbers 1 and 2.

Ways to get a life and start living it.....

1. Give yourself permission to claim your life. That's right — permission. You're the only one who can decide you are in charge ofyour life. Even though it feels like you're not supposed to do so,turn off the internal editors, the old tape recordings, the "shoulds,have tos, and musts", and the rules that didn't come from you.


2. Define what living means to you. It's not as hard as it sounds.Just picture yourself at the end of your life looking back. What wordswould you want to describe how you lived your life and who you are asa person?


3. Stop living in the future. Every time you think "someday" or "whenI have time I will," stop. Ask yourself, "Why not now?" Think aboutthis sentence, "I always wanted to, but never did." Start doing thethings you always planned to do. Choose your life every morning. Planone thing you will do that day to feel alive.


4. Surround yourself with people who enjoy living. They've obviouslydiscovered how to have a life and live it. Why not hang with the pros?


5. Lay down your pain and your anger. Carrying them around makesliving harder and less fun. It doesn't bring anything, and it steals alot.

To Be Continued...

Self Health Tips : Eating Chocolate Can Do Wonders To Health

Many times have most of us reprimanded ourselves for indulging a bit too much in chocolates.While gorging on chocolates is certainly not what we recommend, eating it in moderation can do you a whole lot of good. The cocoa in chocolates is an excellant source of catechins, which are polyphenols of the flavanol group. These are known to defend us against heart disease and cancer, among several other ailments.

1) Eating chocolate reduces the risk of caner and heart disease and also helps prevent migraine headaches.

2) Endrophins are released in the brain once we consume chocolates, which not only give you a 'happy high', but also act as pain-relievers and reduce stress.

3) The serotonin present in chocolates acts as an anti-depressant, which cheers you up.

4) If you're trying to put on weight, chocolates are known to boost your appetite.

5) Having a small quantity of dark chocolate daily is good for your heart - it reduces blood pressure in people who suffer from high blood pressure and also lowers cholestrol by up to 10 per cent.

6) Dark chocolate is known to have more antioxidants than white or milk chocolate since it has 65 per cent or more cocoa content.

7) Avoid chocolates that have nougat, caramel or other similar fillings since they just contain extra sugar and fat. Instead, go in for chocolate that has nuts.

Source : Times Wellness

Self Help Mantra - Oxymoron

An oxymoron is usually defined as a phrase in which two words of contradictory meaning are brought together.

Some examples......

1) Clearly Misunderstood

2) Exact Estimate

3) Small Crowd

4) Act Naturally

5) Found Missing

6) Fully Empty

7) Pretty Ugly

8) Seriously Funny

9) Only Choice

10) Original Copies

And ......


11) Happily Married

Self Help Mantra - CRT v/s LCD Monitors

The two types of monitor technologies available to consumers are available in CRT monitors and LCD monitors. There are big differences between LCD and CRT, and while LCD technology has advanced to the point where its viewing quality is comparable to CRTs, many people today still choose to purchase a CRT monitor. CRTs are bigger and bulkier than an LCD, they consume more power and are prone to screen flicker. LCD monitors, however, are more expensive when compared to CRTs, they introduce the problem of viewing angles, and generally have less accurate color replication.

Each type of monitor, as you can see, has its advantages and disadvantage. In this article we will provide a comparison of CRT and LCD monitors, along with defining some of the many specifications and terminology you should be aware as you decide between an LCD and CRT monitor.


CRT Monitors
Sort for cathode-ray tubes, CRT monitors were the only choice consumers had for monitor technology for many years. Cathode ray tube (CRT) technology has been in use for more than 100 years, and is found in most televisions and computer monitors. A CRT works by moving an electron beam back and forth across the back of the screen. Each time the beam makes a pass across the screen, it lights up phosphor dots on the inside of the glass tube, thereby illuminating the active portions of the screen. By drawing many such lines from the top to the bottom of the screen, it creates an entire screen of images.

LCD/Flat panel Monitors
Short for liquid crystal display, LCD technology can be found in digital watches and computer monitors. LCD displays use two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light. Color LCD displays use two basic techniques for producing color: Passive matrix is the less expensive of the two technologies. The other technology, called thin film transistor (TFT) or active-matrix, produces color images that are as sharp as traditional CRT displays, but the technology is expensive.


CRT vs. LCD - The Pros and Cons of Each

Resolution & Viewing Quality

Resolution on a CRT is flexible and a newer model will provide you with viewing resolutions of up to 1600 by 1200 and higher, whereas on an LCD the resolution is fixed within each monitor (called a native resolution). The resolution on an LCD can be changed, but if you're running it at a resolution other than its native resolution you will notice a drop in performance or quality.

Both types of monitors (newer models) provide bright and vibrant color display. However, LCDs cannot display the maximum color range that a CRT can. In terms of image sharpness, when an LCD is running at its native resolution the picture quality is perfectly sharp. On a CRT the sharpness of the picture can be blemished by soft edges or a flawed focus.

A CRT monitor can be viewed from almost any angle, but with an LCD this is often a problem. When you use an LCD, your view changes as you move different angles and distances away from the monitor. At some odd angles, you may notice the picture fade, and possibly look as if it will disappear from view.

Refresh Rate

Some users of a CRT may notice a bit of an annoying flicker, which is an inherent trait based on a CRTs physical components. Today's graphics cards, however, can provide a high refresh rate signal to the CRT to get rid of this otherwise annoying problem. LCDs are flicker-free and as such the refresh rate isn't an important issue with LCDs.

Dot Pitch

Dot pitch refers to the space between the pixels that make up the images on your screen, and is measured in millimeters. The less space between pixels, the better the image quality. On either type of monitor, smaller dot pitch is better and you're going to want to look at something in the 0.26 mm dot pitch or smaller range.

Screen (viewable) Size

Most people today tend to look at a 17-inch CRT or bigger monitor. When you purchase a 17-inch CRT monitor, you usually get 16.1 inches or a bit more of actual viewing area, depending on the brand and manufacturer of a specific CRT. The difference between the "monitor size" and the "view area" is due to the large bulky frame of a CRT. If you purchase a 17" LCD monitor, you actually get a full 17" viewable area, or very close to a 17".

Physical Size

There is no denying that an LCD wins in terms of its physical size and the space it needs. CRT monitors are big, bulky and heavy. They are not a good choice if you're working with limited desk space, or need to move the monitor around (for some odd reason) between computers. An LCD on the other hand is small, compact and lightweight. LCDs are thin, take up far less space and are easy to move around. An average 17-inch CRT monitor could be upwards of 40 pounds, while a 17&-inch LCD would weigh in at around 15 pounds.

Price

As an individual one-time purchase an LCD monitor is going to be more expensive. Throughout a lifetime, however, LCDs are cheaper as they are known to have a longer lifespan and also a lower power consumption. The cost of both technologies have come down over the past few years, and LCDs are reaching a point where smaller monitors are within many consumers' price range. You will pay more for a 17" LCD compared to a 17" CRT, but since the CRT's actual viewing size is smaller, it does bring the question of price back into proportion. Today, fewer CRT monitors are manufactured as the price on LCDs lowers and they become mainstream.

Self Help Mantra - Few Things We Do Not Know

The foot is home to the body's thickest area of skin
The skin on the palms and the soles of the feet is 4 mm thick and the thickest skin in the body, the heel portions of the feet being the thickest portions. It's also got the most sweat glands than in any other area.


The appendix isn't as useless as you think
Long denigrated as vestigial or useless, the appendix actually has a reason to be – as a “safe house” for the beneficial bacteria living in the human gut. The beneficial bacteria in the appendix that aid digestion can ride out a bout of diarrhea that completely evacuates the intestines and emerge afterwards to repopulate the gut.


The body is taller in the morning than in the evening
The body is taller in the morning than in the evening. You might want to schedule that basketball game for first thing in the morning. That's because our bodies are on average about half an inch taller in the morning, thanks to excess fluid between our discs, which is replenished while we sleep. As the day goes on, and our bodies undergo the strain of standing, the discs get compressed and the fluid seeps out, so the body loses that small bit of extra height.


Humans glow in the dark
It was revealed by ultra-sensitive cameras that our bodies emit tiny amounts of light that are too weak for the human eye to detect. Amazing pictures of "glittering" human bodies were released by Japanese scientists who have captured the first ever images of human "bioluminescence" . Although it has been known for many years that all living creatures produce a small amount of light as a result of chemical reactions within their cells, this is the first time light produced by humans has been captured on camera. Strangely, the areas that produced the brightest light did not correspond with the brightest areas on thermal images of the volunteers' bodies.


Body position affects your memory
Can't remember your anniversary, hubby? Try getting down on one knee. Memories are highly embodied in our senses. A scent or sound may evoke a distant episode from one's childhood. The connections can be obvious (a bicycle bell makes you remember your old paper route) or inscrutable. A recent study helps decipher some of this embodiment. An article of Cognition reports that episodes from your past are remembered faster and better while in a body position similar to the pose struck during the event.


Source : Times Wellness

Principles for Peace of Mind - Part 2

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:
This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control... If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:
This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly:
Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:
An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile . Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:
Do not waste time in protracted wondering " Should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over spilt milk

Principles for Peace of Mind - Part 1

1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked.

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God.. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.


2. Forgive And Forget:

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive,20Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yours lf in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely.


4. Do Not Be Jealous:

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody's life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment:

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

Self Help Mantra : Myths & Facts About Milk

Milk is a rich source of several nutrients including proteins, calcium, magnesium and B-vitamins. But it becomes unsafe for consumption when it is adulterated with urea, cheap fat, soaps, detergents, starch, baking soda and antibiotics.

Even when it's unadulterated, milk consumption often falls prey to many myths surrounding it. Here's busting some of those myths:

Myth: Raw milk is more nutritious than pasteurised.

Fact: There is no difference in the nutritional value. Pasteurisation exposes milk to high temperatures (70 degrees Celsius) for a short time to kill microbes. Pasteurised milk is, in fact, a safer option as it reduces chances of infections.

Myth: The fat content of milk can be reduced by adding water.
Fact: Adding water to milk dilutes all the essential nutrients, thereby, reducing its nutrient density.

Myth: When milk fat is removed, it loses its nutrition.
Fact: On the other hand, it becomes a better source of nutrients with fewer calories.

Myth: If you are lactose intolerant, all dairy foods are bad for you.
Fact: You can't have milk, but you may be able to have dairy in other forms like fermented milk, yoghurt, buttermilk or cheese.

Myth: Since there are other-calcium-rich foods, you can give up dairy products.
Fact: Milk is a good source of calcium in a highly bio-available form. It also contains other essential nutrients including protein, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and vitamin A which help in bone-building. Calcium from cereals, nuts, seeds and leafy vegetables is not absorbed as efficiently.

Myth: Milk is a complete food.
Fact: Milk is deficient in iron, vitamin C, D, E and K.

Myth: Cow's milk is superior to formula milk for infants.
Fact: Formula milk is better for infants under one year of age because cow's milk is a potential allergen and the fat in cow's milk is less digestible. Also, cow's milk is a poor source of iron, vitamin C, zinc and essential fatty acids.

Myth: Milk is only needed in childhood, not adulthood.
Fact: Everybody needs milk as it helps meet calcium requirements throughout life. It also reduces the risk of age-related bone loss (osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures).

Myth: Milk makes you fat.
Fact: Certain milk proteins, amino-acids and milk fats have anti-obesity effects.

Myth: Milk can increase blood pressure.
Fact: Milk is rich in calcium and is hypotensive (causing low blood pressure). It forms an essential component of dietary recommendations for management of hypertension.


Source: Indian Express

Nap At Work is Good For Boss & more....

Taking a nap at work is good for your boss
A 20-minute nap can improve your overall alertness, boost your mood, and increase productivity. William Anthony, co-author of The Art of Napping at Work (Larson Publications, 1999), says the post-nap boost can last for several hours. In addition, your heart may reap benefits from napping. In a six-year study of Greek adults, researchers found that that men who took naps at least three times a week had a 37 percent lower risk of heart-related death.


Ejaculation may cause men to sneeze
Some men experience pain, headaches, or sneezing as a result of ejaculation. The increased activity in the nervous system during orgasm may be the culprit in triggering headaches. A possible explanation for the sneezing is that in the brain, the center for orgasms is close to the centers for yawning and sneezing.


Every person has a unique tongue print
Just like fingerprints. The tongue is a unique organ in that it can be stuck out of mouth for inspection, and yet it is otherwise well protected in the mouth and is difficult to forge. The tongue also presents both geometric shape information and physiological texture information which are potentially useful in identity verification applications.


White skin has evolved over time
It seems we were all black ones (consistent with evolutionary fact of first humans in Africa). White skin was a result of humans moving away from the equator. Also all skin, without coloring, would appear creamy white. Near-surface blood vessels add a blush of red. A yellow pigment also tints the canvas. Lastly, sepia-toned melanin, created in response to ultraviolet rays, appears black in large amounts. These four hues mix in different proportions to create the skin colors of all the peoples of Earth.

Things We Didn't Know About Dreams - Part 2

Quitters have more vivid dreams
People who have smoked cigarettes for a long time who stop, have reported much more vivid dreams than they would normally experience. Additionally, according to the Journal of Abnormal Psychology : Among 293 smokers abstinent for between 1 and 4 weeks, 33%reported having at least 1 dream about smoking. In most dreams,s ubjects caught themselves smoking and felt strong negative emotions,such as panic and guilt. Dreams about smoking were the result of tobacco withdrawal, as 97% of subjects did not have them while smoking, and their occurrence was significantly related to the duration of abstinence. They were rated as more vivid than the usual dreams and were as common as most major tobacco withdrawal symptoms.

External Stimuli Invade our Dreams
This is called Dream Incorporation and it is the experience that mostof us have had where a sound from reality is heard in our dream and incorporated in some way. A similar (though less external) example would be when you are physically thirsty and your mind incorporates that feeling in to your dream. My own experience of this includes repeatedly drinking a large glass of water in the dream which satisfies me, only to find the thirst returning shortly after - this thirst loop often recurs until I wake up and have a real drink.

Dreams Prevent Psychosis
In a recent sleep study, students who were awakened at the beginning of each dream, but still allowed their 8 hours of sleep, all experienced difficulty in concentration, irritability, hallucinations, and signs of psychosis after only 3 days. When finally allowed their REM sleep the student brains made up for lost time by greatly increasing the percentage of sleep spent in the REM stage

Dreams are not about what they are about
If you dream about some particular subject it is not often that the dream is about that. Dreams speak in a deeply symbolic language. The unconscious mind tries to compare your dream to something else, which is similar. Its like writing a poem and saying that a group of ants were like machines that never stop. But you would never compare something to itself, for example: That beautiful sunset was like a beautiful sunset. So whatever symbol your dream picks on it is most unlikely to be a symbol for itself.

You are paralyzed while you sleep
Believe it or not, your body is virtually paralyzed during your sleep -most likely to prevent your body from acting out aspects of your dreams. According to the Wikipedia article on dreaming, Glands begin to secrete a hormone that helps induce sleep and neurons send signals to the spinal cord which cause the body to relax and later becomeessentially paralyzed.

Things We Didn't Know About Dreams - Part 1

Everybody Dreams

Every human being dreams (except in cases of extreme psychologicaldisorder) but men and women have different dreams and differentphysical reactions. Men tend to dream more about other men, while womentend to dream equally about men and women. In addition, both men andwomen experience sexually related physical reactions to their dreamsregardless of whether the dream is sexual in nature; males experienceerections and females experience increased vaginal blood flow.


Blind People Dream

Who become blind after birth can see images in their dreams. People whoare born blind do not see any images, but have dreams equally vividinvolving their other senses of sound, smell, touch and emotion. It ishard for a seeing person to imagine, but the body need for sleep is sostrong that it is able to handle virtually all physical situations tomake it happen.


You Forget 90% of your Dreams

Within 5 minutes of waking, half of your dream if forgotten. Within 10,90% is gone. The famous poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, woke one morninghaving had a fantastic dream (likely opium induced) - he put pen topaper and began to describe his vision in a dream in what has becomeone of English most famous poems: Kubla Khan. Part way through (54lines in fact) he was interrupted by a Person from Porlock. Coleridgereturned to his poem but could not remember the rest of his dream. Thepoem was never completed. In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A statelypleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through cavernsmeasureless to man Down to a sunless sea. Curiously, Robert LouisStevenson came up with the story of Doctor Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde whilsthe was dreaming.


We Only Dream of What We Know

Our dreams are frequently full of strangers who play out certain parts- did you know that your mind is not inventing those faces - they arereal faces of real people that you have seen during your life but maynot know or remember? The evil killer in your latest dream may be theguy who pumped petrol in to your Dad car when you were just a littlekid. We have all seen hundreds of thousands of faces through our lives,so we have an endless supply of characters for our brain to utilizeduring our dreams.


Not Everyone Dreams in Color

A full 12% of sighted people dream exclusively in black and white. Theremaining number dream in full color. People also tend to have commonthemes in dreams, which are situations relating to school, beingchased, running slowly/in place, sexual experiences, falling, arrivingtoo late, a person now alive being dead, teeth falling out, flying,failing an examination, or a car accident. It is unknown whether theimpact of a dream relating to violence or death is more emotionallycharged for a person who dreams in color than one who dreams in blackand white.

Self Help Mantra - Principles of Life - Part 4

A Reminder of the Principles of Life

WISHING U ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2010

16: You hear with your ears- but you listen with your mind. You look with your eyes- but you see from the heart.


17: Consciousness is not contained in your body- you are the consciousness that contains the body. Consciousness draws to itself form through which to express


18: Your mind cannot exist in the moment. You cannot think your way into the moment, you can only think your way out of it. This indicates that your mind/intellect cannot set you free. Only your consciousness is aware of NOW. True freedom is a state of consciousness.


19: We each live in our own universe, a universe of our making. It is designed to support our beliefs and our focus. Our thoughts are our focus, so observe your thoughts, focus on your blessings, and trust. This is how you become a participant.


20: Practise seeing all life around you as an aspect of yourself. In this way you shatter the illusion of separation.


To Be Continued...

~ Unknown Author