Tag: Health

Having sexual fantasies with your partner is not all that bad but people with high levels of psychopathic traits lean towards nonromantic sexual fantasies with anonymous and uncommitted partners that may harm their real sex life.

According to researchers, psychopathic sexual behaviour arises owing to a preference for sexual activity outside a loving, committed relationship rather than only an inability to form such relationships. Most people have sexual fantasies and that is quite healthy and normal. “However, people with higher levels of psychopathic traits are more likely to report having actually engaged in those fantasised behaviours, especially when the behaviours were not within the context of established romantic relationships,” explained Dr Beth A. Visser from the Trent University, Ottawa in Canada.

To reach this conclusion, authors performed two studies. In the first study, they rated content themes in the fantasy narratives of 195 men and women recruited at a Canadian university. In the second study, they administered a sexual fantasy questionnaire to 355 Canadian undergraduate students. The idea was to examine the relations between psychopathic traits and sexual fantasy content.

“That is, are individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits more or less likely than other individuals to fantasize about certain fantasy content? Specifically, at higher levels of psychopathy, does partner variety take precedence over emotional connection in sexual fantasies?” asked Dr. Visser. Furthermore, they sought to understand whether psychopathy moderated the relations between sexual fantasy and sexual behaviour.

“That is, are individuals with higher levels of psychopathic traits more likely to engage in the sexual activities about which they fantasise, particularly when those fantasies are deviant or outside social norms?” the authors deliberated. They found that individuals with deviant sexual preferences and normal levels of empathy, kindness and self-control have many strategies for satisfying their needs, including negotiation, compromise, and restraint.

“However, individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits might turn to sexually aggressive strategies to attain gratification,” Dr. Visser noted.

Are you looking out for a new relationship or want to just date men? You might come across somebody and hit it off nicely for a year or so, and then you begin to notice things that could make you part ways. To avoid the pain you undergo when things go wrong, here’s a list of ten types of men you should run miles away from.

The rebound shot

A man, who is fresh out of a relationship, is still lurking in the transition. At this point of time, he can be quite weak and might lean on the nearest support he can find. But that doesn’t mean that he’s really fallen for you. Although for some people it has worked, but mostly in the long run, there can be no assurance of this one coming to term.

No money, honey

Understood you are not a materialistic girl, you are independent and are alright with going dutch on a date. Women don’t necessarily want a rich millionaire, but a little something can be a good thing. Even the guy would feel his dignity is safe if he can contribute some. And a man who still cannot understand this – girl, dump the moron now!

‘Ex’ factor

‘You are good, but she was better!’ Are you still with a guy who says that? Bang your head on the nearest wall and tell him you might as well go back. He’s not yet over the exrelationship, and somewhere he’s sulking about it. Good or bad, the experience could be anything, but the fact that he still talks about her doesn’t help in getting the current relation any better. And even if you don’t dump him, but make him realise, talk it out; and if it still doesn’t work, it’s unbelievable you are still putting up with it!

‘Ex’ out the friendly factor

Men do have a tendency to still retain a certain amount of care for the woman they once loved. So, it doesn’t make any sense for them to remain friends once it’s over. What was there once can be re-ignited in some weak moments. So, dearest men, dump the ‘ex’ as ‘friend’ and concentrate on your current love. A bird in hand is always better than two in the bush.

Love at first sight

Well, it happens only in books or films. Most often, it’s just a liking or lust. But love, dearies, takes time to blossom. So, lady, if the gentleman has told you ‘I Love You’ a bit too soon, hold your horses and don’t jump into taking yet another big step.

‘The world is hard on me’

No darling, you are just a selfish man who has taken certain wrong decisions perhaps, but doesn’t want to admit it. I know you just said ‘no’, but deep down you know it’s a ‘yes’! Unaccountable, selfish or plain immature, grow up or stop pulling the other person down with you by blaming the world or her for your problems, lest she decides to move the ‘problem’ away from your life.

Can’t take ‘no’ for an answer

Even if it’s just gaining control over the remote. Read the key words ‘gaining control’ and get the hint. If you are ready to be a doormat, and are happy with it, man your relation is going to last a historical era! But if you are a person who commands respect, there are better people out there who give you that. Let Hitler be, you don’t have to become his Nazi army.

We all have times in our lives when we have a lot going on like meeting deadlines, exams, due dates etc, which can affect our stress levels and put our health at risk. So, here are some ways to unwind after a hectic day.

Take 5-minute breaks every hour

Take 5 minutes for yourself if you have a busy schedule. No matter how efficiently you work, you’ll always get distracted and let your mind wander. So, step out of the office for a breath of fresh air and mild exercise to improve concentration levels.

Stretch

A great way to relax is to simply stretch. Try to feel your body and pay attention to your breathing. A simple stretch relieves muscle tension and can do wonders for improving your focus at work.

Take a refreshing shower

A warm water bath, a cold bath or a bubble bath can work wonders. It is a cheap and fun way to soothe your muscles and relax. Use your favourite bubble bath or bath oil to calm and relax you. A shower also clears your head and helps you sleep soundly.

Get close to nature

There is nothing more relaxing than being surrounded by greenery, the sea or the mountains. Being close to nature helps us connect with ourselves. So, simply looking out of the window or going for a walk in the park can do the trick.

Drink enough water & eat healthy food

It is tempting to order pizza, but it really pays off to take time to cook and eat nutritious and healthy food. Not only will it help you keep fit, it will also boost your mood. A full happy stomach always keeps us upbeat and energised.

A pet can help you relax

Pets are a great way to de-stress, as they make us feel happy and loved.

Spend time with family and friends

Spending time with friends, engaging in some light banter with co-workers, reading comics, spending quality time with your kids and spouse can improve your mood and help you relax. So, make sure you are in touch with people that make you happy and inspire you.

Pamper yourself at your favourite spa

It’s exhilarating to give in to your senses and simply relax. Get a pedicure or a nice soothing facial to rejuvenate both your skin and mind.

Meditate

You do not have to go on a retreat to the mountains to feel relaxed. Five minutes of quiet time is all it takes to reap the benefits of meditation and relieve stress and depression. So find a comfortable spot, concentrate on your breathing, and watch the stress melt away.

Accept yourself

Positive affirmations can greatly impact your mood. So, instead of indulging in negative thoughts, tell yourself you look and feel good, you’re doing great and that you can handle everything that comes your way.

Do something for yourself

Reward yourself with gifts, chocolate and mini-breaks whenever you finish a task. Focusing on yourself and making yourself a priority can boost your mood and help you relax.

Listen to your favourite music

Stress relieving calm music will help relax you and upbeat music will help boost your mood.

Cook a simple meal

Cooking can be therapeutic and can help take your mind off things that may be stressing you, plus you can enjoy the benefits of a good nutritious meal.

Wear comfortable clothing

On reaching home, shed your work clothes and change into clothing made from cottons and linens. This will help you relax.

Spend time with yourself

Find a zen spot in your home where you can sit down and relax for a few minutes after a long tiring day. Make sure to switch off your mobile phone.

Asalad with too much dressing and the wrong ingredients can cause more harm than good. Here’s how… If you are planning to go on a diet, forget ordering a salad the next time you’re eating out. Did you know that a restaurant salad with a dressing has as many as 1,000 calories? It joins the list of those foods that can make you pile on the pounds and tip the weighing scales. And people who have tried these, have had a bad experience…

How it affected people

Says Mumbai-based advertising executive Amisha Sinha. “I went on a lunch salad diet two months ago and decided to just have carrots with a little peanut butter for my mid-day meal. But slowly without my realising it, I started to dab on too much peanut butter on the veggies. It made me put on a lot of weight.” Another city-based entrepreneur Vikam Ramani has his own tale to tell. “To avoid a heavy meal, I thought I would switch to a simple, fresh salad at the canteen at a deli close to the office. They used to add a lot of mayonnaise and barbecue dressing to it, which I got used to for the taste and I didn’t realise the salads were actually making me sleepy and sluggish; till I had to discontinue them.”

Expert speak

What is unfortunate, says dietician Rima Goswami, is that people look at a salad with a automatic thumbs-up. “They just think anything connected with a salad has to be healthy and order everything on it. This is wrong; fried chicken, cheese and nuts all are culprits and avoidable.” Warns nutritionist Vaishali Mehta, “Having a salad like this is especially harmful for those with high-blood pressure. Salty ingredients contain high sodium levels. Instead try fresh lettuce, broccoli, beans, red peppers and sweet potato. Too much dressing is bad, try to just have a single tablespoon if it’s a large bowl.”

Most people feel that when you live in a small room, it is impossible to decorate it well. But the truth is, despite having limited space, there are many a tricks you can use to make your house look spacious and pretty. It’s just how you use your interior decoration skills to give an illusion of more surface area. By using the right kind of furniture and the current amount of lighting, one can provide an illusion of space. Even, colours of rooms for that matter, can do the deed. Here are some tips to decorate you little room to make it look both spacious and pretty.

The right kind of lighting in rooms can help create illusion of space. When living in a relatively smaller room, avoid using ceiling lights. These light up such that they tend to cut the height of the room. Use lamps such that they do can eliminate shadows. Natural lighting is another great option. Keep your windows open during the day, as this will create a look of more space. If you can, try varying the sizes of the lamps used in the room. This will add a feeling of more space.

Furniture are a pivotal part of home decor. Using the wrong furniture can make your home look cramped. Avoid bulky furniture. For instance, large sofas, big chairs etc. are a no-no. Instead, furnitures like an ottoman (both multipurpose as it serves as a seating, a coffee table and a foot-rest) can be best used for small rooms. If you ant a sofa for the TV room, invest in one which has a bed as an extension. In this way you can use it whenever and fold it when not required.

Always place the bulkiest furniture of your home against the longest wall. Avoid placing furniture near to pathways, this can be inconvenient. In case you have wooden trunks which have an ancient feel to it, decorate them well. You can do this by either placing funky table lamps or vases on it, or by covering it with a prettilyprinted cloth. You can use it as aseating too.

Built-ins furniture is a must for small homes. For instance, having built-in cabinets is quite normal for houses be it small or big. You can have drawers, ookshelves which are also builtin. The idea is to avoid as many furniture on the floor space.

While wrinkles are a natural part of the ageing process, some people are more prone to them. There could be a variety of reasons for this, say experts. Causes range from bad habits like smoking, following a bad diet, not applying sunscreen to hereditary causes, stress, unexplained weight loss or pollution. Wrinkles happen when your skin loses collagen. Here are some simple ways to reduce the signs of wrinkles.

Take a banana and mash it up. Apply this mixture all over your face and wash it off after half an hour.

Packed with vitamin C, known to be good for the skin, pineapple pulp is said to be an effective way to reduce wrinkles. You can either massage your face and neck with pineapple juice or mash up the fruit and apply it on your face.

Not only is olive oil good for your health, it is also great for your skin and especially helpful when it comes to reducing wrinkles. Take a teaspoon of olive oil and add a couple of drops of lemon. Apply this mixture on your face and gently rub it in your skin.

Mix honey and lemon juice and use it as a face pack. Keep it on for about 20 minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water.

Papaya is another fruit that is effective in reducing wrinkles. Mash it up, add a few drops of lemon juice and honey and apply it on your face once a week.

You could also try making a paste of honey, rose water and haldi and applying it on your face.

Metabolic rate is based on age, height, weight and activity level. This will help to determine how many calories your body can consume and the number of calories you burn while eating and exercising. Metabolism is the process of breaking down carbohydrates, protein and fats to give your body energy. When you’re young, the muscle mass stores up energy, preventing weight gain. By the time you reach 30- 40, your metabolism starts to slow down. That’s why, fat gets accumulated and your weight increases.

Do not cut your daily calorie intake drastically, your body goes into starvation mode; this actually slows metabolism.

The best way to diet effectively is to cut out a small amount of calories.

Add more protein to your diet (Only if you don’t have any kidney problems). The digestion of proteins is the most time consuming. It takes over three hours to break down and assimilate proteins and burn calories.

Eat within an hour of waking up to keep your body from going into hunger overdrive and starvation mode. Eating also improves your mood and concentration.

Try to have three meals a day, plus two healthy snacks. This technique will help you stay full and avoid overeating.

You may try coffee or black tea for weight loss, due to the presence of caffeine, which boosts metabolism. However, be cautious while adding extra milk or sugar, to avoid extra calorie consumption.

Add green tea to your diet. Green tea helps in raising resting metabolism by 5%, and it does not have much caffeine. It also contains catechins, an antioxidant, which helps in maintain a healthy weight.

Dark chocolate also contains catechins and caffeine, which can help you lose weight. But, don’t go overboard, make sure that you are only eating about 28gm per day to limit the fat and calories.

Zinc reduces hunger by increasing your level of leptin, a hormone that gives you a feeling of satiety. Zinc rich foods /fruits are wheat, pumpkin seeds, cashewnuts, spinach, fish, mushroom, chocolate, pomegranates, dates, cabbage, potatoes and broccoli.

Cpsaicin, a chemical present in capsicums, gives the peppers their pungency. This chemical uses more energy for several hours after eating; which helps burn fat.

Do any kind of exercise .When you exercise, your muscles wake up, demand more calories and this helps burn calories faster.

Maintaining a good mood will help you stick to a healthy diet, it also makes you productive, and increases your confidence and personality.

Have any kind of fruit within an hour of waking up. Fruits are nutritious and healthy. Besides, they will keep you full for a longer time.

Eat small meals throughout the day. Include meals like salads, nuts etc, when you are feeling hungry.

Include good quality protein in your diet. Like eggs and meat, if you are a vegetarian then you can get good or completeprotein by mixing cereals and pulses together like khichadi. There are many other sources of protein like soya, nuts, whole grains, and sprouts.

Keep yourself very well hydrated, by sipping on water at regular intervals. Don’t confuse thirst with hunger.

Eat something before you exercise. Exercising on an empty stomach will ensure that your body uses a small amount of calories during exercise because you have fed nothing to the muscles. This leaves you feeling hungrier later, you may overeat.

Eat less, but never starve. Starvation can cause you to overeat and ruin your efforts to lose weight.

Try interval training, which will involve changing the intensity of your workout throughout each session. For example, if you walk for fitness, try jogging for one minute every five minutes.

Good metabolism cannot just be achieved by eating healthy food and exercise, you also need a goodnight’s rest. So, make it a point to sleep well

Limit is the key. Don’t go overboard with anything. This will just ruin your health. So, moderation and limitation are key for good health and successful weight loss.

In today’s jet set age where most of us have multiple roles, responsibilities and commitments, stress is inevitable. Coffee, to a lot of us, seems to be that one companion that helps us wake up and fight the `fatigue’ monster. The debate between caffeine addicts and health freaks, who stay away from it, is unending.So, I thought why not tackle the issue once and for all. Is coffee just bad, or too much of it is bad? To answer that, let’s ask a basic question…

WHAT IS CAFFEINE?

Caffeine is the most popular drug throughout the world for a couple of reasons – it is a stimulant to the central nervous system as it decreases the time taken by our mind to respond to some thing, thus increasing mental efficiency. It also increases the heart rate and impacts our breathing process positively, by relax ing the air passage in the respiratory system. It is also a di uretic as it increases the urine output and delays fatigue.

HOW MUCH IS SAFE?

Caffeine in right doses isn’t detrimental to our body’s functioning. Healthy adults, with no medical issues, can consume up to 300 to 400 mg of caffeine -approximately 3 cups (200 ml each) of coffee -per day, without any adverse effects. Some individuals are very sensitive to caffeine; even one cup of coffee (100 to 120 mg caffeine) hampers their sleep routine. Regular caffeine consumption reduces sensitivity to caffeine, and a higher intake is then needed to produce the same effects.

Thus, caffeine is con sidered an addictive drug. As you know, sleep is imperative for our body’s growth and wellbeing, any sub stance that hinders sleep should be avoided. This is why caffeine is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. With increasing demand on teens to perform well in studies as well as extra curricular activities, a caffeine has become their best friend; not to forget that coffee shop adda has become a part of an adolescent’s `cool’ lifestyle. But since teenagers undergo a constant brain development process, they should ideally keep their coffee consumption under 100 mg per day. Also, pregnant women and nursing mothers must consume as little caffeine as possible -a maximum of 200 mg per day -to prevent a negative effect on the developing foetus or the infant.

CAFFEINE IN TEA

Your daily limit of caffeine is the sum total of caffeine from your daily intake of coffee plus other sources, like black tea (47 to 60 mg per cup), green tea (25 mg per cup), energy drinks (80 to 100 mg per can) and aerated sodas (40 to s 50 mg per can). Also, remember that the type of coffee beans and methods of brewing also affect the overall caffeine content. A standard espresso contains 80 mg caffeine, while a cup of strong drip coffee has 140 mg.Generally, dark roast coffee has less caffeine content than lighter roasts as the roasting process reduces the bean’s caffeine content.

Want a cozy, comfortable and yet light and sophisticated chair or couch to put in the living room? Buy a beanbag. Today beanbags are the rage coming in stunning range and attractive colours and sizes as big as to accommodate your entire family. Bean bag furniture can be used to furnish almost any room in your home, from the family room or den to a kids’ playroom.

They are incredibly comfortable and soft, providing a great place to relax and unwind. Whether you’re enjoying a drink with close friends, watching a favourite show on TV, or reading the kids a bedtime story – a bean bag is a wonderful place to sit and be snug.What’s so great about bean bags? Bean bag chairs were the craze of the 70s. The reason they have made such a big comeback recently is really a nobrainer.

Versatile, long wearing, ‘child proof,’ portable, practical and fun are keywords used in describing bean bag chairs, and why they remain popular in so many households – especially those with children. Though initially a favourite, the old Styrofoam beans/pellets filling became a safety issue especially for children and people avoided buying them.

But now with improved designs, made of fashionable material, with polyurethane shredded foam/memory foam – which adheres to all safety standards – beanbags are staging a grand comeback. Bean bags vs traditional furniture With most traditional furniture you couldn’t dream of sliding them outside to lounge by the pool (if you are strong enough to), as some sofas can run up to thousands of rupees and you wouldn’t dare think of ruining the beautiful leather.

A convenient and easy way to take a comfortable and lightweight chair is to make a bean bag chair your new best friend. They will help you relax and are especially great for easing back or neck pain. Think of it as your own personal masseuse. Kids rooms Great for kids as they provide a soft place for your children to sit while watching TV, reading or playing a video game.

Things you need to know about bean bags As great as they are, there is also a safety issue to be addressed when using bean bags in your home. If you do decide to by yourself or someone else a bean bag chair, make sure you remove the pull tag once the bag is filled with polystyrene beans. This is done to prevent a choking hazard for children.

A liner that slides between the bag cover and the beans can also be purchased as extra child hazard prevention. Shapes There are typically four shapes of beanbags – teardrop, armchair, cylinder and a sack. Sack, the beanbag couch, is now the most popular beanbag – finding favour with young and old alike. Now that beanbags can be customised, you can get it to exactly match the decor of wherever you are going to put it. Size When looking for a bean bag chair, look at the shape that best suits your needs.

Bean bag chairs with a pear shaped design offer better back support because they are taller and cover more of your body. The flatter pancake shaped bean bag chair works great for two people or as a coffee table substitute. The pancake works better as a lounger than as a chair. Fabric With the wide variety of bean bags available in the market, there is a wide variety of fabrics available.Vinyl is very common in bean bag chairs, although some people feel that vinyl is too sticky and not as comfortable as cloth bean bag chairs.Vinyl is easy to wipe up and keep clean which is a definite advantage.

When selecting vinyl ensure the fabric uses leadfree vinyl inks. Other bean bags come in leather, fun fur, microfiber, denim and cotton. If possible when choosing a fabric, look for a bean bag chair that has a liner so that the cover can be removed and washed periodically. Microfiber, leatherbased, cotton and denim are the most popular materials used for covering. Fill Bean bag stuffing is cheap to buy and offers a simple way to refill your favourite bean bag arm chair with fresh beads, plumping it up and giving it a new lease of life. When choosing the fill for your bean bag chair, look for high quality recycled polystyrene fill.

You want a bean bag chair that has enough fill to offer support but soft enough to be comfortable. Polystyrene fill is the best as it is soft enough to provide great comfort but is also strong enough to withstand lots of compression without losing its sponginess. For the benefit of the environment, choose 100 per cent recycled polystyrene. When choosing fill is sure to look for polystyrene that is fire retardant or complies with flammability standards. Make your own bean bag chair filler Why not make your own filler. It is appropriate, isn’t it? You can find some dried beans or rice and fill your bag with them – of course, these food items might attract some pests. Also, you need to watch out for moisture. Something else that you might consider is wood shavings.

Perhaps you have seen the pet beds that come filled with wood shavings. Cedar shavings have a very pleasant smell, as well. For some added fluff,why not use feathers from old feather pillows? Or you could try nut shells, Styrofoam or plastic pellets, or polyester stuffing. Be creative with your bean bag chair filling! Brilliant colors. These days the bean bag is available to you in myriads colour combinations that you cannot even imagine. You will get options that are very different from the normal and plain looking ones.

Some shops are also providing great patterns to the customers like polka dots, stripes and various other selections that are great for your office as well as home. The colours are very vibrant and they would look good in any home. If you are looking for a particular colour combination then you can purchase your own material and get a customised sofa.

Portable Bean bags are lightweight and easy to move about, so it’s easy to rearrange your seating. For instance, if you got friends around and you’re playing a board game at a coffee table and you need to sit closer than your other furniture allows, then bean bags are the perfect solution. They are perfect to take along to a picnic, while visiting distant relatives, for enjoying a firework display outside, or to bring along for small children to nap on while visiting friends.

What about while camping, to relax in after a long day of hiking and campfire cooking? Bean bag covers Bean bag chair covers come in a huge variety of colours, patterns and fabrics, so you can choose whatever will match your decor or add a splash of colour to a room. Beanbags put up with a lot of rough use. Removable covers are a good idea so that it is easy to clean when necessary.

Your inability to drag yourself to the gym is only in your head. Here’s how to overcome it and train your brain. Exercise not only makes you feel fitter, happier and sexier, it also increases your tendency of living to see your next meal. At least that’s how your brain’s `pleasure means reward centres’ (the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens) view the situation. In fact, the brain is wired to allow the body to rest. When we push ourselves, it wonders why.

The hardwiring that promotes voluntary movement or exercising -is tied to the same neurocircuits involved in searching and feeding. So if our bodies have evolved to conserve energy and resist things like fat loss, then it makes perfect sense that our brains will actually defend against moving too much. The solution is to correct your brain’s hardwiring to trick those pleasure-reward centres into perceiving exercise as necessary to your survival.

In other words, you need to make your workouts desirable. Here’s how you can do it with just a few simple tweaks to your current fitness regime.

SPEED UP

When you sprint all out toward a goal your brain’s reward is a blast of dopamine thanks to the previous memory of your success and how good it felt.High-intensity workouts have similar effects.Unlike resistance training or even long-distance cardio, it significantly increases blood flow in the frontal cortex.Your Move: Find a slope that takes about 20 to 30 seconds to sprint up, and after a brief warmup (10 minutes of jogging on the spot is enough), run up to the top as fast as you can. When you get there, do 40 mountain climbers followed by 10 push-ups, and then walk back down.

Repeat the entire circuit (sprint, mountain climbers, pushups, walk) as many times as you can in 20 minutes.

SEX DRIVE

Have you ever found yourself doing thoroughly boring activities -spending half a day at a mall, attending random get together parties -only to please a woman? Well, there is science behind it. The neurochemistry in the brain is prodding you to muscle through the anguish to increase your odds of having sex.

Similarly, you can use sex as a motivator to keep yourself moving through your exercise routine.Your Move: Each month, take a week out and strike a bargain with your partner -you can have sex only on the days you (better still, both of you) exercise. Besides, increased blood flow from exercise stimulates the genitals, enhancing arousal and pleasure. Sex requires plenty of repetitive motions, especially in the core. So, if you want to sustain that partner-pleasing rhythm, you’d better hit the gym regularly.

FLAUNT YOUR SKILLS

Socialising, playing, and being cordial with fellow human beings can have an impact on workout perform ance. A recent research found that people who worked out together as part of a team exercised harder and more than twice as long as those who pumped iron solo. Their motivation? Fear of being the weakest link. Your Move: Participate in more group workouts like zumba or aerobics, pref like zumba or aerobics, pref erably with complete stran gers.

Or join a pickup game at an unfamiliar basketball court. If you’re playing or exercising with new people, you’ll hustle and work harder to elevate your game.

SWEET SOMETHING

There’s a reason you have a sweet tooth. Your brain rewards you for ingesting sugar, which is a major source of cellular energy once it’s converted into glucose. Energy drinks are meant to replenish those glucose stores. But you don’t need to actually drink them to enjoy a boost. Your Move: When you feel yourself hitting a wall during a spin class or long run, swish a mouthful of your favorite sports drink and spit it out. You’ll get the neurochemical reward without the caloric price tag.

Tomatoes have many health benefits, but a new study finds that a daily supplement of an extract found in tomatoes may improve the function of blood vessels in patients with cardiovascular disease. Lycopene – a powerful antioxidant that is 10 times more potent than vitamin E – is good for your heart. “There is a wealth of research that suggests that the Mediterranean diet that includes lycopene found in tomatoes is good for our cardiovascular health.

But so far, it has been a mystery what the underlying mechanisms could be,” explained Joseph Cheriyan, an associate lecturer at University of Cambridge. One component of the Mediterranean diet thought to play a role in reducing cardiovascular risk is lycopene found in tomatoes and other fruits. Its potency appears to be enhanced when it is consumed pureed in ketchup or in the presence of olive oil.

To understand the underlying mechanism, researchers carried out a randomised trial investigating the effects of lycopene. Thirty six cardiovascular disease patients and 36 healthy volunteers were given either Ateronon pill (an off-the-shelf supplement containing seven mg of lycopene) or a placebo treatment. The researchers found that seven mg of oral lycopene supplementation improved and normalised endothelial (inner lining of blood vessels) function in the patients but not in healthy volunteers.

Lycopene improved the widening of the blood vessels by over a half (53 per cent) compared to baseline in those taking the pill. The supplement had no effect on blood pressure arterial stiffness or levels of lipids. “It reinforces the need for a healthy diet in people at risk from heart disease and stroke. A daily ‘tomato pill’ is not a substitute for other treatments but may provide added benefits when taken alongside other medication,” Cheriyan maintained.

Sunlight missing from the lives of busy young women is making them deficient in Vitamin D, which has emerged as a major health issue among them, experts say. Vitamin D deficiency in young girls can precipitate osteoporosis and increase the risk of fractures. “Vitamin D is a major regulator of calcium metabolism and hence is an important determinant of bone health.

Despite abundant sunshine, Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in India,” Palash Gupta, senior consultant, Orthopaedics, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, told us. Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone architecture leading to increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. Primary osteoporosis refers to a reduction in bone mass related to aging and menopause, whereas secondary osteoporosis results from specific diseases or drugs.

Osteoporosis is also characterized by abnormality in the amount and architectural arrangement of bone tissue. Estimates suggest that 20 percent of women and 10 percent of men by would be osteoporotic by 2015. Palash Gupta said: “Judicious exposure of arms and legs or hands to sunlight, typically for not more than 5-15 minutes per day, for 2-3 times per week during spring and summer is all that is required to satisfy the body’s requirements.” Anoop Mishra, Chairperson of the Fortis-C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, said: “It is one of the important health issues in women because of lack of exposure to sunshine due to clothes and lack of outdoor activity”. Vitamin D deficiency is the cause of bone loss (osteopenia and osteoporosis) which leads to fractures, he added.

Henna isn’t just for covering grey hair. It makes your hair strong, voluminous and shiny. Find out why applying henna pack is good for your hair. Henna is one of the most popular beauty herbs in India and tropical countries that is known for its cooling effects.

Since ages it has been used to make hair shiny, healthy and gorgeous. The power of this green herb is not only used to decorate hands or cover greys, but is also applied on hair to bring back the health of your tresses. Healthy hair Apply henna pack twice a month to make hair healthy, glossy and voluminous. It helps bring back the lost health of your hair and repairs damaged locks.

Henna restores the acid-alkaline balance of the scalp without affecting the natural balance of your hair. Steep henna for two hours in amla-brewed water and apply on hair including scalp to get the best results. Conditions hair Henna is a very good conditioner for your hair. It covers each hair shaft and builds a protective layer that safeguards the strands from damage. Regular use of henna makes your hair thick and strong by locking the essential moisture in the hair.

This herbal hair pack adds a natural shine and gloss to your mane and makes them two times stronger. Covers greys If you want a rich coloured mane without affecting the health of your hair like other chemical dyes, then henna is your answer. It has no amino acid or other chemicals that takes away the moisture from your hair which leaves it damaged and dull. Boil water with two tablespoons of dried amla, one teaspoon of black tea and two cloves. Strain the water and add in henna to make a thick paste.

Leave overnight or for at least two hours and apply on hair. Treats dandruff Henna is known to cure dandruff quite effectively. Soak one two teaspoons of fenugreek seeds overnight in water and grind them in the morning. Heat some mustard oil and add a few henna leaves. Let it cool down and add fenugreek paste in the oil. You can strain the oil mixture to get rid of coarse particle and apply on the scalp an hour before the shampoo.

Not the obvious hotspots, but there are some spots which if you identify can make your man go bonkers with experiencing maximum erotic pleasure. The body gets its maximum pleasure from the senses and touch makes all the difference when it comes to experiencing erotica.

While a lot is said about the male G spot, it varies from man to man on which part of the male body gets titillated the maximum. If fathoming the man’s contentment is through his stomach – by good and tasty food, one’s way of excellent foreplay depends a lot on identifying his erotic hotspots that will make him experience the pinnacle of pleasure during your course of intimacy. Here’re some places where you can make your man feel absolutely titillated and sexually moved.

Back

The G spot need not be centrally located. There are various pleasure hotspots which one can find out. Caress the back gently with your lips, better still with your tongue. Moist tongue or lips will move your partner and the gestures and emotional currents themselves will tell you whether that touch was a major turn on or not.

Mouth

A kiss indeed sums it up beautifully. And it is this kiss – the lips, the tongue and the pleasure while the lips gently give each a peck that one can know how the touch of the lips turns your man on. Make it a gentle affair with your lips first and then let your tongue explore those lips and the mouth to make him feel the hotspot.

Ears

Not an obvious hotspot, but ears are where lie the points which if titillated can work wonders in your foreplay. Move your tongue close to your ears and explore the outer parts of his ears first gently and do it vigorously if you see him getting turned on.

Do you often doze off on your desk at work? Fatigue is a major workplace hazard. It reduces your performance and productivity. Many studies have revealed that jaded people are often incompetent at work, and are thus paid less! To put it simply, fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy that does not go away even when you rest. People may feel fatigued in body or mind (physical or psychological fatigue). But what is the cause of fatigue? Most of the time, it can be traced to one or more of your daily habits or routines. It is usually a result of physical exertion, poor eating habits, emotional stress, boredom, lack of sleep or weight. With a few simple lifestyle changes, you can regain vitality and boost your energy levels.

ALWAYS BE ACTIVE

Walk over to your colleagues instead of using the chat messenger or email to communicate with your workmates. Take the stairs instead of the lift if your workstation isn’t too high up in a building. Park your car a little further off and walk to your office. You may think that these small moves don’t really matter, but your body is silently burning calories. You need to burn only 3,500 calories to lose 12 kg of weight.Even if you don’t remember the math, your body keeps count of every single move you make, or don’t make.

GO FOR SMALL MEALS

If you are used to eating three big meals a day, break it up into six to eight meals, and eat every two hours. Remember this, digestion is a calorieburning activity in itself. Your body burns calories to digest the calories you eat. Eating at longer intervals fails to give your digestion sys tem a good workout. Apart from breakfast, lunch and dinner, go for mini meals (a fruit or biscuits) during your midmorning and mid-afternoon snack breaks.

HAVE A HEARTY BREAKFAST

Not eating breakfast isn’t smart – you may think you are eating less food during the day by directly going for your mid-morning tea or lunch, but not eating breakfast makes you gain weight! Because your body has been starved of food while you were sleep ing, it needs food within an hour of waking up, to get its various systems running smoothly (including me tabolism). So, when you skip breakfast, your body panics because it thinks it’s starving and stores the next meal you eat in its fat reserves.

SLEEP ON TIME

Sleep deprivation causes weigh gain and makes people tired very easily. There are two main factors that regulate appetite. Leptin is the satiety hormone (which gives you the signal that you are full) while ghrelin is your hunger hormone (which gives you the signal that you are hungry). There are studies that suggest sleep deprivation causes both leptin and ghrelin to malfunction, leaving you with the feeling of not being full enough or making you feel hungry even when you may not need food.

EXERCISE ON WEEKENDS

If you’re too busy with work to incorporate exercise in your daily routine, make it something you look forward to every weekend. Clubbing fun with fitness is the key to staying motivated. There’s a host of things you can do – play squash, tennis, football, or jog, run, spin, dance and do yoga.

A BETTER BALANCE

Finding some `me’ time is the ideal way to beat stress. Ask yourself: Are you taking on too much? Can you delegate some of your work? If you are constantly feeling overwhelmed and pressurised at work,maybe that’s the reason you are gaining weight, even if you aren’t leading a sedantary lifestyle. No matter what anyone says, a work-life balance is crucial to get the best of both your body and your mind.