Tag: Health

Now you may know why you usually have a disturbed sleep at night – go figure out if your wife has higher marital satisfaction! Couples are more likely to sleep in sync when the wife is more satisfied with their marriage, a fascinating research reveals. “Most of what is known about sleep comes from studying it at the individual level.

However, for most adults, sleep is a shared behaviour between bed partners,” said Heather Gunn, a post-doctoral scholar at University of Pittsburgh. “How couples sleep together may influence and be influenced by their relationship functioning,” Gunn added.

Results show that overall synchrony in sleep-wake schedules among couples was high, as those who slept in the same bed were awake or asleep at the same time about 75 percent of the time. When the wife reported higher marital satisfaction, the percent of time the couple was awake or asleep at the same time was greater.

To reach this conclusion, researchers studied 46 couples who completed relationship assessments. Objective sleep data also were gathered over a 10-day period. “The sleep of married couples is more in sync on a minute-by-minute basis than the sleep of random individuals,” Gunn noted. “This suggests that our sleep patterns are regulated not only by when we sleep, but also by with whom we sleep,” she said.

For how long are you going to hide that paunch? Let’s not run away from the problem and, instead, face it head on! Arnav Sarkar, our Strength and Conditioning coach gives you the weapons to banish stomach fat forever. Read Arnav’s tips below to shed those baggy clothes…

• Strength train atleast 3 days a week. This will help boost your metabolism and help you burn more calories even at rest.
• Ditch the “500 crunches” workouts and do more intense core work with exercises like windmills, Turkish situps, hanging leg raises, etc.
• Perform 2-3 HIIT or high intensity interval training workouts a week. These need not and should be long in duration, 10-20 minutes is enough if done correctly.
• Get more active. Even if you spend 1 hour a day in the gym on all days of the week, it is still just 7 hours of a total of 168 hours in the week. Try to make the best of the remaining hours by getting more active. Plan playtime with friends/kids, and move a lot more during the day.
• Get 6-8 hours of sleep each night. Less than that and your hormones will always be in a fat storing state, and you will find your dreams of a flat stomach hard to realize.
• Meditate, and use other stress reduction strategies that will keep your cortisol levels under control and keep you from gaining abdominal fat and not make you age faster.
• Eat more protein, fiber, and healthy fats. This means more lean meats, veggies, and nuts. Eat less junk, refined and sugary foods. These are the worst enemies of a flat stomach, and they are often the cause of many other chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, etc.
• Drink more water, atleast 2 liters a day is a bare minimum. Less than that and your body will not be able to burn fat most efficiently.

These are some of the best tips you can get to lose abdominal fat and flaunt a flat stomach. Want it? Then lose it and flaunt it!

The ‘love hormone’ not only triggers emotions when you see your beloved but also helps old muscles work like new. According to new research, oxytocin – a hormone associated with maternal nurturing, social attachments, childbirth and sex – is indispensable for healthy muscle maintenance and repair.

“Our quest was to find a molecule that not only rejuvenates old muscle and other tissue but that can do so sustainably without increasing the risk of cancer,” said principal investigator Irina Conboy, an associate professor of bioengineering at University of California, Berkeley. Conboy and her research team found that oxytocin is a good candidate because it is a broad range hormone that reaches every organ and is not known to be associated with tumours or to interfere with the immune system.

“This is the hormone that makes your heart melt when you see kittens, puppies and human babies,” said Conboy. The new study determined that in mice, blood levels of oxytocin declined with age. To tease out oxytocin’s role in muscle repair, the researchers injected the hormone under the skin of old mice for four days, and then for five days more after the muscles were injured. After the nine-day treatment, they found that the muscles of the mice that had received oxytocin injections healed far better than those of a control group of mice without oxytocin. “The action of oxytocin was fast.

The repair of muscle in the old mice was at about 80 percent of what we saw in the young mice,” Conboy added. The researchers also found that blocking the effects of oxytocin in young mice rapidly compromised their ability to repair muscle, which resembled old tissue after an injury. They noted that oxytocin could become a viable alternative to hormone replacement therapy and for longterm health.

In a first, scientists have come up with an explanation to why a sudden shock, stress and fear may trigger heart attack and they found that multiple bacterial species living as biofilms on arterial walls could hold the key to such attacks. Hormones released during these events appear to cause bacterial biofilms on arterial walls to disperse, allowing plaque deposits to rupture into the bloodstream, the findings showed. Because the biofilms are closely bound to arterial plaque, the dispersal of a biofilm could cause sudden release of the surrounding arterial plaque, triggering a heart attack.

“Our hypothesis fitted with the observation that heart attack and stroke often occur following an event where elevated levels of catecholamine hormones are released into the blood and tissues, such as occurs during sudden emotional shock or stress, sudden exertion or overexertion,” said David Davies of Binghamton University in the US. The researchers isolated and cultured different species of bacteria from diseased carotid arteries that had been removed from patients with atherosclerosis.

Their results showed multiple bacterial species living as biofilms in the walls of every atherosclerotic (plaquecovered) carotid artery tested. The researchers added norepinephrine, at a level that would be found in the body following stress or exertion, to biofilms formed on the inner walls of silicone tubing.

“At least one species of bacteria – Pseudomonas aeruginosa – commonly associated with carotid arteries in our studies, was able to undergo a biofilm dispersion response when exposed to norepinephrine, a hormone responsible for the fight-or-flight response in humans,” Davies stated. This research suggests that management of bacteria within an arterial plaque lesion may be as important as managing cholesterol.

Do you know why you look for chocolates or sweets when under intense stress? Because stress-activated hormones are hidden in oral taste cells responsible for detection of sweet and get activated under stress. These hormones, known as glucocorticoids (GC), may act directly on taste receptor cells under conditions of stress to affect these cells’ response to sugars and certain other taste stimuli.

“Sweet taste may be particularly affected by stress. Our results may provide a molecular mechanism to help explain why some people eat more sugary foods under stress,” said M. Rockwell Parker, a chemical ecologist at Philadelphia-based Monell Chemical Senses Center. Knowing that stress can have major effects on metabolism and food choice, the researchers used a mouse model to ask whether taste receptor cells contain these GC receptors. The findings revealed that GC receptors are present on the tongue where they are specifically localised to the cells that contain receptors for sweet, umami and bitter taste.

The highest concentrations of GC receptors were found in “Tas1r3” taste cells, which are sensitive to sweet and umami taste. The results suggest that sweet taste perception and intake, which are known to be altered by stress, may be specifically affected via secretion of GCs and subsequent activation of GC receptors in taste cells. “Taste provides one of our initial evaluations of potential foods. If this sense can be directly affected by stress-related hormonal changes, our food interaction will likewise be altered,” Parker maintained.

Bedroom decor should have a romantic essence to it, don’t you think? Considering that we spend a major part of our lives in our bedrooms, we should make it one of the most comfortable zones in our homes. It should be a room that spells romance and makes you feel good as soon as you step inside — a space that stimulates your senses. So, what do you need to make your boudoir a cosy love nest? Read on to find out some tips…

Make it look great

The way your bedroom is lit, can make or break the look you want to create. Interior designer Ketki Passi says, “The right kind of lighting can help create a romantic ambience.” Candles can work wonders — they are what romance is all about. the mysterious light and shadow effect of a candle can give a very special aura to your bedroom.

Bright, harsh bulbs are a big no-no. For the ideal romantic look dim, soft lights are key. Use heavy curtains to escape the glare of harsh street-lights. Of course, table and floor lamps are indispensable.

Make it comfortable

A bed that looks comfortable is a basic essential here. Four-poster beds look romantic. Use light fabric drapes in pastel shades around the bed to get a soft look. When it comes to bedspreads and covers, avoid rough and uncomfortable fabrics — soft, smooth and comfortable ones like satin, silk and very good quality airy cotton are essential.

Using sexy colours makes your room look, well, sexy. Choose bright bold colours like red, orange or rust. Place plush pillows on the bed of different sizes to make it look comfortable and inviting. Two large pillows, four medium rectangular pillows and around four to five smaller square cushions. A fluffy and soft comforter can add to the romantic look.

Prioritise privacy Curtains spell romance — pretty, flimsy, sheer curtains that sway with the breeze, light ones in lovely pastel shades that leave you feeling calm and relaxed. Of course, you should also have those heavy drapes to guard your privacy.

Indulge the senses

Romance is about titillating the senses and the sense of smell is important. Spraying room freshener is passe. Opt for fragrances of incense sticks, scented sachet, aromatic candles in lavender, vanilla, and camomile etc. Go and have fun doing up your bedroom!

Blackheads are dirty, tiny black spots that make home on the skin of your face, especially your nose. These are mostly the result of dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells, which clog the pores of the skin through which it breathes.

Here are a few home remedies that can help you prevent or control or remove blackheads: Wash your face Don’t be too harsh on your skin. But do wash it twice or thrice with a good facewash. Use a scrub at least thrice a week. Exfoliate Use gentle exfoliaters on your face as too rough a use can harm your skin too. But do use them once a week to remove blackheads.

Steam bath

Taking steam on your face loosens the blackheads, making it easier to remove them. Take a mixture of lemon, honey and add some sugar to it. Rub it gently on your skin till the sugar melts on your face and acts as a natural scrub.

You can also use a mixture of ground oats with a tiny pinch of salt and olive oil. While applying both these solutions, keep them for about 10 minutes and then rinse with lukewarm water.

While most people gorge on mangoes during summer, another fruit that should be a part of your summer diet is muskmelon, also known as cantaloupe. Its high water content helps you stay hydrated during the hot season. Having this yellow-orange coloured succulent fruit early in the morning is also good for your digestive system.

A great source of beta-carotene, folic acid, potassium, vitamins C and A, muskmelon not only helps you stay healthy, but is also great for your skin and hair. Here’s why you should include this fruit in your diet. Strengthens immune system: A rich source of Vitamin C, muskmelon helps boost your immunity by stimulating the White Blood Cells in the body.

Prevents cancer According to studies, the high carotenoid content in this fruit can help to prevent cancer, especially that of lungs.

Good for the heart The potassium content in the fruit helps control blood pressure and prevents hypertension. It also reduces the risk of heart diseases. Containing adenosine that has blood thinning properties, muskmelon also prevents blood clotting in the cardiovascular system.

Helps cure kidney diseases A good diuretic, the fruit helps cure kidney disease. Having it with lemon early morning is helpful.

Good for vision Rich in vitamin A and beta carotenes, studies have proven that regular consumption of foods like muskmelon can reduce the risk of developing cataracts by 40%.

Helps treat insomnia With effective laxative properties — a special compound that calms anxieties — muskmelon soothes your nervous system, getting rid of your sleeping disorders.

Treats menstrual problems The vitamin C helps regulate menstrual flow, thus relieving cramps in women. Have this fruit daily during the painful time of the month.

Cures Toothache The rind of this fruit is effective in curing toothache. Peel the fruit’s skin and add it to boiling water, till it is cooked. Once the mixture cools, strain and use it as a mouth rinse.

Prevents nausea Having muskmelon tea, prepared from the fruit’s root, is an effective diuretic and helps reduce vomiting sensation.

Helps lose weight The next time you scoop out the seeds of this fruit, don’t throw them away. High in fibre, consuming these seeds will help in weight loss.

Anti-ageing agent The fruit helps combat free radicals in the body that damage the skin and are responsible for causing premature ageing.

Rejuvenates skin The collagen content, along with the protein compounds in this fruit, helps in your skin cell regrowth, providing a beautiful glow to your skin.

Cures skin problems If you suffer from skin problems like eczema, make sure to have muskmelon juice regularly. You can also apply this juice as lotion to treat skin problems or as first aid for burns and abrasions.

Fights hair loss Insonitol, a form of Vitamin B, required for your hair growth, is found in most citrus fruits as well as muskmelon.

Acts as natural conditioner Mash the fruit in a cup and massage your hair with its pulp after shampooing. Wash off after 10 minutes.

Yoghurt is one of the most beneficial food items and must be made a part of everyone’s daily diet.

It is not just rich in calcium -which is good for the bones -but protein as well, which helps build muscles. Yoghurt is also good for the skin and hair. Here are some other benefits…

It aids digestion. Eating yoghurt after a meal stimulates digestion, as it helps absorb nutrients from the other food that you have consumed.

It is an anti-oxidant that not only keeps the body cool, but also cleanses it.

The bacteria present in yoghurt boosts immunity by fighting different microorganisms in the body.

Yoghurt contains several vitamins that ensure your nervous system functions well.

Apply yoghurt on your scalp to keep dandruff at bay . The lactic acid and anti-fungal properties make it a good home remedy.

It is also good for the skin as it contains vitamin E, zinc and phosphorous. Add yoghurt to homemade facial packs for better results.

We are programmed to believe that losing weight is a Herculean task, which involves grueling exercise schedules, crash diets and drastic lifestyle changes. But the truth is far from it.

Yes, you need exercise to feel and be your best and healthy eating should be a part of your daily life, but weight loss isn’t just about a one hour fitness routine or some simple diet tips. It’s about how you live each day, what you do, and how you do it.

So if you’re fresh out of ideas and want some extra help to burn 500 more calories every day, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s a list of 15 activities that will help you knock off those extra calories stacking up on the weighing scale.

2 hours of bowling burns 500 calories. According to fitnessforweightloss.com one can burn 105-285 calories in 30 minutes of bowling, depending on your weight.

If you are 72 kgs than you burn 219 calories in one hour

If you are 91 kgs than you burn 273 calories in one hour

If you are 109 kgs than you burn 327 calories in one hour

Talking to your loved ones on the phone in the office basement? No, don’t stop, just start walking up and down the stairs while you continue your act of care.

This wil not only burn calories but tone your glutes, as well! Body weight influences caloric usage during 5 minutes of stair climbing. 30 min at a pace of 8 min per mile burns 500 calories. How many calories you burn depends on your body weight.

The more you weigh the harder your body has to work and so the more calories you burn. Clean, mop and dust your house for 2 hours and burn 500 calories for sure! It depends on your current weight, how long you work, how hard you work and what activities you do. The type of activity you’re doing makes a difference.If a person weighing 45kgs spends 15 minutes mopping, he/she will burn 77 calories. Washing dishes for 15 minutes would burn 38 calories.

Scrubbing the floors would burn 65 calories. And if this doesn’t sound interesting, you can just turn on your favorite playlist and dance with your broom too! That can boost the number of calories burnt by another 15%! Don’t just stop there. If you’re on the phone, walk around while you talk. You’ll burn more calories standing than sitting. Stand while talking on the phone. Better yet, try a standing desk — or improvise with a high table or counter.

Eat lunch standing up. If you can’t get away from your desk, try standing to make a phone call or read a report. Even shutting your office door to squeeze in 5 minutes of pushups or jumping jacks can burn another 50 calories. Six hours of kissing burns 500 calories! Foreplay burns fewer calories. A person weighing 70 kgs would burn 25 calories in 15 minutes of foreplay. Stretch foreplay out to burn more calories. The same person would burn 216 calories in 45 minutes of foreplay.

Oral sex: 100 calories Woman on top, 10 minutes: 300 calories for women, 130 calories for men. Sex standing up: Up to 600 calories for both people. What’s the use of just watching Kareena shaking her booty on popular Bollywood tracks? Go join a Zumba class yourself and burn 500 calories! Provided you give your full effort throughout the class! Dancing gives your body a complete workout.

Rumba is good for stretching; it increases your flexibility and builds muscle strength. Most dance forms concentrate on your core muscles, especially the back. A fast dance form like jive works on your legs, as well as your arms. A person weighing 70 kgs would need to do fast ballroom dancing for approximately one hour and 25 minutes to burn 500 calories, according to Nutristrategy.

Regarded as a great form of aerobic exercise, cycling is an activity any one can take up. It’s also the best way to take in the countryside… When it comes to your fitness, it’s time to reinvent the wheel, pun intended! More people are finding cycling a way to boost stamina levels, with some even cycling to work every day. Today, more folks are pedal pushing their way on offbeat tracks and scenic routes around the city. Here’s more on the sport…

It can save the environment
For cycling enthusiasts in the country, the going isn’t easy because of chaotic streets, the poor condition of roads and a lack of dedicated cycling tracks. They hope cycling will become a dedicated sport so that things change. “So often we see a hike in petrol levels, so a cycle is a transport option. We have a lovely sea coast and if they can make a track right from Nariman Point to Borivali, about 100 kms up and down, it might save the environment.

We are actually breathing poison today, owing to the crazy carbon levels and we can reduce the carbon footprint this way,” says Vishal Sharma, of a cycling club in Mumbai. Adds cyclist Dhawal Shah, “Being on wheels is also a nice way to take in the sights. I think more people are opening up to cycling and we must move toward it in an effort for a clean and green environment.”

Warm up before starting
Always do an initial bike check for brakes and check for tire air pressure. Also, clean the reflectors.

Always ride on the correct side of the road
Make sure you always ride on the correct side (left for India/UK and right for US) of the road. Also, do not listen to music while cycling. Do not overtake other cyclists unnecessarily.

Health benefits of cycling
A fun exercise, cycling is said to improves cardiovascular fitness, so there is a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. Since pedalling is a lowimpact activity, you can improve muscle tone without stressing your knee and ankle joints. Says orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Vivek Shetty, “Cycling helps build cardiac stamina and strengthens lower limbs.

However, someone with an osteoarthritis knee should get an evaluation done by a doctor before starting to cycle. Also, someone with an injured tissue should not cycle for more than half an hour a day,” he says. Adds orthopaedic specialist and joint replacement surgeon, Dr Nilen Shah, “One can strengthen the muscles of legs through it, tackle osteoarthritis of the knees in the early sages as well as fight obesity.”

Diet dos and don’ts

• Eating before a ride is advisable, but try to take in food at least two hours prior to setting off. Avoid greasy or fatty food.
• Remember to eat 10-15 minutes after your ride as well, as this will carry energy to your tired muscles where it is needed the most and can help prevent soreness later on.
• Longer rides should be followed by a high carbohydrate meal in the late evenings so as to replace the calories burned during the day.

Safety tips
Keep in mind basic techniques and skills while on the road. Here are safety measures to follow… Wear a helmet: One important rule is to wear a helmet while in motion. These can reduce head and face injuries. Ensure that: The reflectors are provided on spokes of wheels, on the pedals and on the front/rear mudguard.

Make sure that both the brakes are working properly. Tire pressure: Always check your tire pressure. Cycling in the rain: On wet roads, there will be friction, so don’t slam on the brakes and expect to halt. Dress brightly: Always don brightcoloured clothing, especially at night or in wet weather.

While we all know water is essential to our basic wellbeing, not many of us can manage to gulp down more than a daily dose of one or two litres. Water, after all, is plain and can tend to get boring beyond a point. But with a little imagination and initiative, you can easily increase your daily water consumption. Here are some tips…

1. First things first. So, as soon you wake up in the morning, down a glass of water. Coffee, tea, milk — whichever you prefer — can follow a little later. Apart from making you feel good about sticking to your resolution, it also kickstarts your metabolism.

2. Make that water bottle your constant companion. No matter where you are — at home or office — keep taking small sips. Go for a water bottle in your favourite colour. That will make the idea of drinking from it more appealing. Fancy glasses will also do the trick.

3. Water can be made interesting and healthier. Add a flavour of your choice and relish the taste. Squeeze half a lemon, crush some berries, add a few mint leaves or fruit slices — the options are many.

4. Try to have some fun while drinking water. For example, lay a bet with a colleague, friend or spouse on who will drink more. You can also compete with yourself, increasing the quantity each day. Also, keep taking small water breaks with friends and colleagues while at work. It’s called ‘healthy’ bonding.

There are some foods that you must avoid if you want six pack abs. Generally, we tend to consume these foods out of laziness and availability, but you can’t be careless when you’re working on your six pack. We have listed the foods that you should avoid if you want a toned defined midsection.

Whole milk:
To build abs you need to cut down on calories. So consume low fat milk and avoid whole milk due to its high calories.

Commercial peanut butter:
Peanut butter is one of the best foods you can consume if you want to build muscle, due to its high protein content. Peanut butter is also a great post workout snack. But try and avoid consuming commercial peanut butter. The packaged and ready-to-eat peanut butter is rich in fats, calories and additives.

Diet foods:
In order to build muscle, it is important to have a balanced diet which includes carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Diet foods and diet meal plans prevent you from consuming a balanced diet. Plus there is an urge to consume far more calories when you are on a diet.

Crackers:
Crackers are recommended for good digestion, but they are prepared with refined flour and sugar, both of which are not good for building muscle.

High fructose corn syrup:
This is the main ingredient in several processed foods, but this sugar has a different method of processing in the body compared to regular sugar. It doesn’t have nutritional benefits and does nothing for building muscle.

Processed cheese:
There is a different between fresh organic cheese and processed cheese. The worst enemy for building abs is processed cheese – it lacks nutritional value, contains fats, salts and excess calories.

Processed starch food:
Potatoes are rich in starch, which is healthy. But processed starch has no nutritional value and loads of calories. Avoid processed starchy food to build abs without gaining weight.

Sausage:
This again is a processed food and rich in calories and fats. Stay away from processed meats like bacon, sausages and salami if you want toned and defined abs.

Artificial sweetener:
Artificial sweeteners have no nutritional value and get you addicted to sugar and junk food. These sweeteners make you gain weight and prevent you from developing abs.

High sugar breakfast cereals:
Breakfast cereals that have additional flavours and artificial sweeteners only increase weight. Instead, buy wholegrain healthy cereals.

Ice cream:
It may be a tempting way to cool off, but it can prevent you from building abs. Ice cream is rich in calories, artificial sweeteners and flavours.

Refined flour:
Unlike flour sourced from wholegrain, refined flour lacks nutritional value. Refined flour increases your sugar levels and increases the storage of fat in the body.

Spending too much on expensive shampoos, but not getting the desired results that you see in TV ads? It is mostly possible and very common, because we see overly exaggerated results on TV, since these ads are designed to attract customers. But, reality speaks a different story. Instead of spending on those branded shampoos and conditioners, Dr. Sandeep Suttar – Hair Restoration and Skin Rejuvenation surgeon at Hairrevive, Mumbai, shares some natural ways to get great hair. Follow these easy and simple steps to give that luster and shine to your hair, and flaunt your hair like the models do…

Egg treatment
Use the entire egg to condition your hair. If you have dry or brittle hair, use egg whites to moisturize your hair. Use ½ cup of any egg mixture (egg white, entire egg) and apply to clean, damp hair. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with cool water.

Cleanliness is important
The most important reason for hair fall is dandruff and itchy scalp. Therefore, maintain good cleanliness for beautiful and healthy hair.

Avoid hot water
Skip hot water showers, because hot water will make your hair dry and brittle as it strips protective oils from your hair – says Dr. Suttar. Thus, prefer a temperature which is just a bit warmer than your body temperature.

Bottle gourd treatment
Extract some bottle gourd juice and apply it into your hair. Keep this solution for half an hour and wash it off thoroughly.

For that shiny soft hair
Prepare a mixture of 1 cup of your daily conditioner and 2-3 tablespoons of honey. Apply this mixture evenly on your wet hair. Leave it for 30 minutes and wash it off thoroughly. This mixture will close down your hair’s cuticle and give your hair that amazing shine.

Baking soda therapy
Make a mixture of 3 tbsp. of baking soda and some water. Rinse your hair with this solution after shampooing. Let it set in for at least 5 minutes before the final rinse. This therapy will help to remove the excess shampoo and styling product from your hair.

For bouncy hair
Apply a one to one mixture of warm water and apple cider vinegar to your hair. Rinse it thoroughly after 5 minutes to get rid of the apple cider smell.

Don’t wash your hair frequently
Wash your hair every 2-3 days, for proper regulation of natural hair oils. Washing your hair less often will also help regain your hair’s natural body and luster.

Make your conditioner
For a protein packed conditioner, mix eggs and yogurt and rub it into your scalp. Leave on for five or 10 minutes, and then wash it off completely.

For strong hair
Use almond oil to treat dry and damaged hair. It is a very simple procedure, pour some almond oil in a bowl and heat it for 40 seconds. Then evenly distribute on your hair. Leave it for 30 minutes and then rinse normally with shampoo and conditioner using cold water.

Say bye-bye to dull hair with lemon juice
After the final rinse, apply 1 tsbp lemon juice to your hair. Simply towel dry your hair and style as normal to get rid of dry hair.

Use protection before you jump into the pool
Pools can do great damage to your hair as it contains harsh chemicals – says Dr Suttar. He says; prevent your hair from the pool damage by simply applying a little conditioner to your hair before you swim. This will protect your hair before it comes in contact with the pool water

Treat sun damaged hair
Make a mixture of ½ cup honey, 1-2 tbsp olive oil and 1-2 tbsp of egg yolk. Apply this mixture on your hair for 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water. This treatment will help to replenish keratin protein bonds – says Dr. Suttar.

Tight is NO-NO
To prevent breakage due to brittle hair avoid using bands and do not tie your hair too tightly.

The proper brushing technique
Avoid using a comb with plastic bristles to prevent hair breakage from static electricity. The best way to brush your hair is by first brushing the ends to remove tangles and then take the long stokes from the roots of the hair to the ends. This technique will help proper spreading of natural hair oil and thus prevent breakage.

Moisturize your hair
Pour a little beer in your wet hair. Distribute evenly and massage your scalp with your fingers for 20 minutes. Then rinse it thoroughly to get rid of the beer smell. Do this procedure once a week for salon smooth hair. Dr. Suttar says- it is recommended that people with sinus and cold should avoid using this treatment.

Trim your hair regularly
Get your hair trimmed at least every six weeks to eliminate dry, split ends.

Do not brush wet hair
Wet hair is three times weaker and thus more likely to break – says Dr. Suttar. He recommends, towel dry your hair first and then gently detangle your hair using a wide tooth comb.

Let your hair air-dry
Allow your hair to dry by itself instead of using a blow-dryer or hot rollers. Using this artificial mode of drying technique will make your hair more brittle and dry. If you have no time to let your hair air dry, then use blow-dryer sparingly and make sure you use a warm setting instead of a hot setting.

The 17th century design style from Europe is being redefined in home decor this year. We show you how to do up your home in a modern baroque finish With vintage pieces thriving in the world of home decor, baroque is reemerging as the must-have design style for architects and interior designers. It started out as an ornate design aesthetic in Europe in the 17th century. This year, it’s being reinterpreted to suit current lifestyles and tastes. Traditional baroque furniture and art was heavily ornamented and profusely detailed. It sported gold, marble and featured shepherdesses, cherubs, angels and other mythical creatures.

What is modern baroque? Not everyone wants to live in a decadent, over-elaborate house, but mixing present styles with vintage baroque elements can take your home to another level.

Modern baroque is all about marrying old-world design with new age finesse. Imagine a futuristic-looking chair in front of baroque wallpaper or a vintage baroque mirror looking over your white bedroom. It is becoming popular for homeowners who like opulence, albeit in a toned-down way. Pay homage to Europe’s classical past in a new way through our shortcut to modern baroque decor.

Contrast with gold Use gold to contrast brighter colours. The introduction of gold brings the other colours to life and also creates a buffer between them. This was trick used in baroque interiors in the past. An alternative to gold is matte gold or chrome yellow.

Build a foundation Approach this step tastefully and with restraint. Use black, grey and white as your foundation colours and build on them. The remaining colours in the scheme are preferably romantic. Incorporate silver or gold — never both together — with mirrored surfaces and crystal into your home.

Invest in glam pieces Invest in baroque items and furniture that will bring glamour to your home, like a chair with baroqueembroidered upholstery or an ornate mirror. Scour through the lanes of furniture markets in Chor Bazaar, Oshiwara and Malad for inexpensive reproductions. High gloss black or soft white pieces look the most authentic. If you don’t have kids at home, you can safely buy damask upholstery to do up your seating or curtains.

Avoid going over-the-top Unless you want your home to resemble Louis XIV’s palace in Versailles, don’t be excessive. Arrange not more than one to three statement pieces carefully in each room for effect. Have one focal point piece — like crystal lighting and one ‘surprise’ piece, something guests don’t expect to see.

Marry the old with the new For a contemporary spin, mix fabric in a baroque pattern with striped wallpaper in the same colours. The modern-classic choice is vertical stripes since they lend clean lines to furniture in the room, create a sense of space and bring height.

Rummaging through your kitchen can give you kissready lips, read on how. The way your lips look can affect the overall look of your face. Darkened, dry, chapped or bleeding lips can mar the beauty of your smile. A perfect pair of lips looks healthy, pink, soft and flexible.

Find out how you can solve you lip problems at home. To get lighten dark lips and make them pink, mix equal quantities of heavy cream, tomato paste and a good quality of pink lip colour. You should make a fresh mixture everyday and apply it on your lips. Within a few days, the colour change will become noticeable. Stretchy, bleeding lips are an effect of dry and dead skin accumulating over the skin. Just mix some olive oil and sugar and rub it on your lips.

You can also use a toothbrush to remove the dead skin, but be gentle. Once the dead skin is completely removed, your lips will be smooth and supple. You can even make your very own lip balm at home by melting some bee wax with apricot oil and cooling it. Later, add some drops of coconut oil and mix. Keep aside till the mixture sets. You can use this balm everyday for strong, supple lips.

Night-eating syndrome may appear when the genes that synchronise eating patterns with sleep are faulty, research on mice concluded. This alters meal times, leading to over-eating and weight gain. About 1-2% of people have the condition. Signs include waking in the night and being unable to go back to sleep without eating.

The syndrome has recently been classified as an eating disorder, but the cause is unknown. The food consumed is often unhealthy and high in calories, leading to weight gain and sometimes obesity. The study, published in Cell Reports, looked at mice bred with a human version of a body-clock gene in place of the mouse one. When the gene was silenced, the mice ate much earlier than normal ones, when they should have been asleep.

Mutations in a related bodyclock gene – implicated in sleep disorders – led to the mice sleeping more. The researchers think the genes work together to keep eating and sleeping synchronised. A fault in either gene causes disruption in sleeping and eating patterns. “For a long time, people discounted night-eating syndrome as not real,” said lead researcher Satchidananda Panda, of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, US. “It opens up a whole lot of future questions about how these cycles are regulated.”

Screening family history could lead to preventive treatment of multiple cancers, heart disease and diabetes – altering the destiny of many of these diseases that pass on from generation to generation, a study has indicated. Researchers have identified a set of questions that can be used to identify people who may be at increased risk of various diseases because of their family history of these conditions.

The family history screening questionnaire can be used to provide insight into people’s susceptibility to breast, ovarian, bowel and prostate cancer, melanoma, ischaemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes, researchers claimed. “This finding could be used as a screening tool in general practice to identify people who need a more detailed discussion about their family history of cancer, diabetes or heart disease,” said Jon Emery, a professor of primary care cancer research at University of Melbourne in Australia.

“Some people may require referral to a genetics clinic to discuss genetic testing, many more may require earlier cancer screening and lifestyle management,” he added. Family medical history remains the most relevant genetic risk tool in use in clinical practice. Evidence suggests that having knowledge of a family history of a specific condition is associated with improved uptake of a range of disease-preventative activities, such as cancer screening and reduced sun exposure.