Month: February 2014

Does height matter when it comes to matters of the heart? Yes, and to women the most mostly for femininity and protection. “Evolutionary psychology theory argues that similarity is overwhelmingly the rule in human mating,” said Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology at Rice University in Texas. According to the study data, the dominant reasons females cited for preferring a tall partner are matters of protection and femininity. “As the girl, I like to feel delicate and secure at the same time,” said a woman in the study. She “something just feels weird in thinking about looking ‘down’ into her man’s eyes”.

According to her, “I also want to be able to hug him with my arms reaching up and around his neck.” Men were much less likely to say that height mattered, and for those that did, they preferred shorter women, but not so short that it would cause problems with physical intimacy. It is a widespread perception that tall height is a personal asset for men and a personal liability for women, said George Yancey, a professor of sociology at the University of North Texas.

The finding that height matters more to women supports the social system of patriarchy, in which males are the primary authority figures. “The masculine ability to offer physical protection is clearly connected to the gender stereotype of men as protectors. And in a society that encourages men to be dominant and women to be submissive, having the image of tall men hovering over short women reinforces this value,” Yancey added.

Kitchens need not really be the messiest place on earth as with a little bit of effort you can keep them spic-and-span and absolutely organised. Besides, when at home we do end up spending a lot of time in the kitchen, then why should a little inspiration hurt. Anurag Saxena of German kitchen furnishing brand, Hacker Kitchens, shares with us some ideas to tidy up the kitchen space and make it look more orderly and liveable.
1. Make more efficient use of your space, from simple drawer inserts to clever pullout shelving units, to fullon custom cabinetry that enables storing.
2. Store spice containers with labels facing out, and group by type or organise alphabetically. Discard and replace spices that no longer have much of a scent; if there’s no smell, there’s no flavour.
3. If your kitchen doesn’t have enough counter space, add a rolling cart that provides extra room to organise.
4. Remove any cookbooks or magazines you don’t use regularly. For instance, store holiday cookbooks outside the kitchen.
5. Keep dishes either close to the dishwasher so they’re easy to put away – or close to the table, so it’s a snap to set.
6. Consider different countertop heights. If you’re short, you might want to lower some countertops below the 36-inch standard — a good rule of thumb is countertops should be 3 inches below your elbow.
7. Keep extra trash bags in the bottom of your trash can so that you always have a new bag handy — and the unused bags don’t take up room in your cabinets.
8. Even a kitchen with lots of storage space can get overrun with clutter. Get rid of duplicates, and don’t be tempted to fill every shelf and drawer to capacity.
9. Choose drawers instead of cupboards for heavy, large items such as pots; they slide out and make it easier to find what you’re reaching for.
10. When cleaning the interior/exterior surfaces of your kitchen furniture, remember to never use scouring agents, furniture polish, abrasive cleaning agents, or artificial resin thinners, acetone or similar cleaners or micro-fibre cloths in order to prevent damage. 11. Wood is a natural material. Its grain and colour make every kitchen unique. To clean them, simply wipe them in the direction of the wood grain using a slightly damp cloth to remove dirt particles from the pores.

Ever woken up to a suspiciously empty looking fridge or a messy kitchen? You could have Nocturnal Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (NS-RED) Nocturnal Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (NS-RED) is a mild disorder where people tend to eat in their sleep. Although not as common as sleepwalking, it is often known to occur during sleepwalking. While many may just shrug this situation off or shy away from taking consultation, it is a lifestyle-related disorder that requires help occasionally. There are a number of reasons for the same.

Says Taryn Samuel, dietician and fitness expert, “People who diet rigorously during the day may find themselves sneaking towards the fridge in their sleep. Alcoholism or nicotine addiction are also factors, extreme stress can also infuse the desire to binge in one’s sleep.” The eating mostly occurs during delta sleep, which is basically deep sleep. Most sleep disorders are known to occur during this stage of sleep, when the mind is known to have very minimal control over the body. Interestingly, this is also the stage of sleep where sleepwalking and sleep talking is most likely to occur.

Since sleep eaters are known to often wake up during the night, this could severely affect their day functioning because of lack of proper sleep. If the syndrome is unheard of to you, this is what Renita D’Silva, a victim of the same has to say, “NSRED can be quite annoying in terms of what you end up eating in your sleep. It greatly interferes with your nutrition pattern. I remember instances of waking up with peanut butter smeared across my face or even uncooked pasta! There is virtually zero control over your eating.”

Is there any treatment available for the same?
Says obesity consultant Dr Seema Paranjpe, “Its quite a mysterious condition. An extensive sleep evaluation is the first step in order to diagnose the basic problem. Sleep eating often gets induced during times of stress, learn to manage your stress to take control of your eating habits.” Experts also stress that weight gain and other dietary issues might be related to sleep eating.

Hence, it becomes crucial to eat a balanced diet and allow yourself a few treats here and there. If you suspect you have this disorder, there are ways you can prevent it. Seek help before it gets any worse. Or start putting a lock on your fridge.

Symptoms of nocturnal eating disorders:

• You find yourself waking up at night with a gnawing hunger in your stomach.
• You have very little or practically no appetite for breakfast.
• You wake up to food left out in the open.
• You notice a major weight gain despite keeping a check on your eating habits.
• You don’t have much of an appetite throughout the day

Causes of nocturnal eating disorders:

• Excessive dieting can lead to sleep eating.
• Depression, stress or being overworked can also add to this disorder.
• An irregular eating pattern can be a possible cause.
• A history of medical problems like sleep apnea or bulimia.
• Past alcohol or nicotine addictions

With a warm, spicy and sweet flavour, nutmeg not only enhances the taste of your food but also nourishes your health in many ways. Here’s why you should add this spice to the glass of milk or in your North Indian recipes. Cures joint pain: The essential oil of nutmeg brings relief from muscular and joint pain. Apply it to the area where there is a swelling and discomfort. Boosts immunity: Rich in potassium, calcium, iron and manganese, nutmeg helps to improve your body’s immune system.

Clears skin: Apply a little amount of nutmeg, ground and mixed with water or honey into a paste on your face. It can help clear your skin of scars and acne and also improve your complexion. You can add nutmeg to your face scrub for the same benefits. Protects teeth: Due to its antibacterial properties, this spice also helps in dental care and is often used as an ingredient in toothpastes. Nutmeg oil has eugenol, which brings relief from toothache. Combined with cinnamon, it makes a powerful antiseptic, antimicrobial paste. Helps digestion: For centuries, nutmeg has been used as a medicinal spice that brings relief from digestive problems. Grate this spice into your soup and stew.

Hate milk? Opt for these milk-free sources of the bone builder — calcium. Milk and milk-products are considered to be a rich source of calcium. But what do you do if you are not too fond of it, and more so, if you are lactose intolerant? Not many of us know this, but there are there are certain foods that are a great-vehicle for calcium — fish, nuts, dried beans, green leafy vegetables and seeds. When you have fish, you should chew on their bones too, to get the most out of it, and munching on a few nuts and seeds every morning can supplement your daily calcium requirements.

Sesame seeds
These seeds are nutrient-rich. Munching on just one tablespoo can get you around 50 mg of calcium. A handful can provide necessary minerals, vitamins, phenolic anti-oxidants and protein. 100 GM OF SESAME SEEDS: 975 MG

Almonds
Though you have to eat this nut in moderation, because is rich in calories — half-a-cup is around 500 calories — the almond is a rich calcium source. 100 GMS ALMONDS: 264 MG

Chinese cabbage or Bok choy
This plant is a rich source of calcium. Use it in generously in your salads. 100 GM OF BOK CHOY: 105 MG

Sardines
This fish is a great source of Vitamin-D, not easily seen in our regular diet. Vitamin D plays a very crucial role in increasing calcium absorption and therefore, is great for bone health. 100 GMS SARDINES: 382 MG

Orange juice
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, in May 2005, published a study that said, that of two types of calcium sometimes used to fortify orange juice, your body absorbs calcium citrate malate better than a combination of tricalcium phosphate and calcium lactate. There are many different brands of fortified orange juices available and one needs to the check labels. HALF A CUP OJ MAY HAVE: 175 MG

Okra/ladies’ fingers
This green vegetable is rich in calcium and other nutrients. One could have it raw, when tender, organic and freshly plucked off or when lightly steamed and quickly stir fried. 100 GMS OKRA: 81 MG

Tofu
The way tofu is made, determines the amount of calcium it may contain. Silken tofu has around 130mg while firm tofu may contain around 230mg. When using tofu, make sure you press the water out of it by keeping in between kitchen towels. Avoid adding too much oil to tofu dishes, try oilfree ones, because it absorbs a lot of oil. 100 GMS TOFU: 350 MG

Salmon
Most fish are a good source of calcium, more so when you chew on the bones. Half a tin of salmon has around 440 mg of calcium. 100 GM SALMON: 9 MG