Reducing your weight

Once you gain weight and the longer you keep it on, the harder it can be to lose. The best way to maintain a well balanced body is consuming low calorie diet and maintaining a regular exercise schedule. In these days there are number of weight loss programs to help you.

You need not to worry if it is difficult to spend money for weight loss programs. You can start your own weight loss program from your kitchen. Go to your kitchen and get rid of all unhealthy foods. First of all you have to remove all those fatty foods, chips, snacks and artificial drinks etc from your kitchen that are main contributors to your heavy weight.Strip That Fat…

Go to grocery store and purchase different varieties of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals and by including them in your foods you can get the proper nutrition. Avoid purchasing cakes and donuts. Purchase baked chips instead of fried. Dried nuts and fruits are good alternative for snacks.

Hair Fall Tips

Falling hair can be curbed immediately, if you take action promptly.

Shampoo hair regularly with shikakai, amia and reetha nuts.

· Combine together five tablespoons of pure, undiluted coconut milk with one tablespoon of lemon juice. Massage well into scalp. Allow it to dry. Wash off thoroughly.

· Beat two eggs along with three tablespoons of water and apply to hair roots. Rinse off. This prevents hair from falling by strengthening the roots.

· Massage whipped egg white all over scalp. Allow it to dry before washing off. It nourishes your hair and arrests hair falling.

· Make a thick paste of methi seeds and wash hair with this.

· Regular massage with warm castor oil goes a long way in promoting luxuriant hair growth.

· Use aloe vera oil regularly.

Five Tips For Flat Stomach

1. Many so-called “health foods” are actually cleverly disguised junk foods that actually stimulate you to gain more belly fat… yet the diet food marketing industry continues to lie to you so they can maximize their profits.

2. Ab exercises like crunches, sit-ups, and ab machines are the LEAST effective method of getting flat six pack abs. We’ll explore what types of exercises REALLY work in a minute.

3. Boring repetitive cardio exercise routines are NOT the best way to lose body fat and uncover those six pack abs. I’ll show you the exact types of unique workouts that produce 10x better results below.

4. You DON’T need to waste your money on expensive “extreme fat burner” pills (that don’t work) or other bogus supplements. A special class of natural foods is much more effective. I’ll tell you about these natural foods and their powers below.

5. Ab belts, ab-rockers, ab-loungers, and other infomercial ab-gimmicks… they’re all a complete waste of your time and money. Despite the misleading infomercials, the perfectly chiseled fitness models in the commercials did NOT get their perfect body by using that “ab contraption”… they got their perfect body through REAL workouts and REAL nutrition strategies. Again, you’ll learn some of their secrets and what really works below.

Care Your Eye

One of main part of human body is eye which is essentially to be cared throughout our life. Prevention is better than cure. Likewise eye cure is prevented by corresponding eye care. There are simple tips to care our eyes.

Eating excessive fruits and vegetables. Make test your eye regularly. Don’t sit continuously in front of Computer or TV. Have a eye break. Protect your eye from sunlight and other radiations by using sunglasses. Drink plenty of water which removes toxins from body. Avoid continuous rubbing of eyes by fingers or hands. Exercise to eyes by slicing potato or cucumber and keep in for certain minutes which cool your eye nerves and avoids the black round around the eyes. Whenever washing the face rinse the eyes in cold water which removes invisible dust in eyes.

Control Sleep

I asked many people what is your real problem everyday. 90% of the people from children to adult replied me I cannot sleep properly.
Well changing your body temperature could change you sleep well. Lack of proper food makes u unsleeping. When you go to bed just take a warm breath and free your mind without having any work. Maximum 8 hours of sleep should be there per day and minimum is 6 hours. If more or less than this make body temperature not maintained correctly which leads to headache, mental depression, stress and even heart attack. Keep your bedroom silent which makes an ideal and relaxed sleep. When going to sleep comfort yourself with bedroom. The correct time of sleep is 10.00 PM to 6 AM Maximum. If you follow this then you can sleep automatically.

Control Blood Pressure

Recent research estimates that one-third of adults in US is having blood pressure. But they don’t know whether they have or not. This leads to sudden heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. That’s why doctors say blood pressure as a “silent killer”. How to come out of this problem? There are simple steps to control blood pressure.

First make sure that your blood pressure is less than 140/90 mm Hg. If you have diabetes it is advised to control your sugar level and monitor blood pressure regularly. Eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and non-oily contents in food. Be active by exercising regularly. Don’t eat which contain large sodium level. Stop or reduce continuous smoking which leads good blood circulation. Reduce stress level by making your mind clear. Take meditation correctly.

Importance of Hip

Hip pain and fracture is common both in younger and in elder. How is comes and how to avoid this? Let’s see its importance.

Hip pains are most common while making heavy load works to hip, cycling and due to some accidents. It is primarily due to weak bones and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes loss of bone mass. Don’t pull and take larger weight which causes muscle over strain, so use some materials like crane or human resources to pull it. Have a cool cycling with bending your hip slightly. Walk through water to make your hip limber which allows you to work more than in dry land. Don’t make too many loads on aching hip. Stay out which aggravates your hip. If you have a continuous hip pain just crush some ice and take it over a small bag and apply at the site of pain for some minutes. Take a regular treatment if you have a continuous hip pain.

Control Stress and Fit yourself

Stress Control is very important for our health. Many latest research shows that stress reduces a person memory power and slow down the attitude he has. High Stress promotes depression for the physical and mental activities of human body. There are simple tips to reduce stress.

Sleep as early as possible around 10.00 P.M. and wake up early at 5.A.M. Refresh your mind by walking in and around by breathing fresh oxygen. Take proper exercise to fit your body which increases blood circulation. Spend little time for the family members and share everything with them. Eat healthy foods and take food at correct time. Think positive always and develop positive attitude in everything you see in your life. Smile and make smile the persons around you.

Making Strong Hair

I asked many people that what your major problem is. Maximum of them answered me that my hair is continuously falling. Why this problem occurs and how to tackle this? Lack of vitamins and nutrition’s is the main cause of hair fall. Not maintaining the hair by using necessary shampoos and oils. Control of foods.Here are some tips to beautiful your hair style naturally.

Have proper and healthy foods containing vitamins and minerals. Vitamin E which is crucial for good blood circulation to the scalp by increasing oxygen intake. Use natural shampoos for washing your hair. Use Coconut Oil regularly which has high affinity for hair proteins. Comb your hair smoothly and gently until your hair is smooth.This looks great for you…So try it out.

Exercise for a Healthy Heart

How Do I Get Started?
Before starting an exercise program, talk to your doctor about:

Medication changes.

New medications can greatly affect your response to exercise; your doctor can tell you if your normal exercise routine is still safe.

Heavy lifting.

Make sure that lifting or pushing heavy objects and chores such as raking, shoveling, mowing, or scrubbing aren't off limits. Chores around the house can be tiring for some people; make sure you only do what you are able to do without getting tired.

Safe exercises.

Get the doctor's approval before you lift weights, use a weight machine, jog, or swim.

What Type of Exercise Is Best?

Stretching:

slow lengthening of the muscles. Stretching the arms and legs before and after exercising helps prepare the muscles for activity and helps prevent injury and muscle strain. Regular stretching also increases your range of motion and flexibility.

Cardiovascular or aerobic:

steady physical activity using large muscle groups. This type of exercise strengthens the heart and lungs and improves the body's ability to use oxygen. Aerobic exercise has the most benefits for your heart. Over time, aerobic exercise can help decrease your heart rate and blood pressure at rest and improve your breathing.

Strengthening: repeated muscle contractions (tightening) until the muscle becomes tired. For people with heart failure, many strengthening exercises are not recommended. (See below)

What Are Examples of Aerobic Exercises?
Aerobic exercises include: walking, jogging, jumping rope, bicycling (stationary or outdoor), cross-country skiing, skating, rowing and low-impact aerobics or water aerobics.

How Often Should I Exercise?
In general, to achieve maximum benefits, you should gradually work up to an aerobic session lasting 20 to 30 minutes, at least three to four times a week. Exercising every day or every other day will help you keep a regular aerobic exercise schedule.

What Should I Include in My Program?

Every exercise session should include a warm-up, conditioning phase and a cool-down.

Warm-up.

This helps your body adjust slowly from rest to exercise. A warm-up reduces the stress on your heart and muscles, slowly increases your breathing, circulation (heart rate) and body temperature. It also helps improve flexibility and reduce muscle soreness. The best warm-up includes stretching, range of motion activities and the beginning of the activity at a low intensity level.

Conditioning.

This follows the warm-up. During the conditioning phase, the benefits of exercise are gained and calories are burned. Be sure to monitor the intensity of the activity (check your heart rate). Don't over do it.

Cool-down.

This is the last phase of your exercise session. It allows your body to gradually recover from the conditioning phase. Your heart rate and blood pressure will return to near resting values. Cool-down does not mean to sit down! In fact, do not sit, stand still or lie down right after exercise. This may cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded or have heart palpitations (fluttering in your chest). The best cool-down is to slowly decrease the intensity of your activity. You may also do some of the same stretching activities you did in the warm-up phase.

What Is the Rated Perceived Exertion Scale?
The Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale is used to measure the intensity of your exercise. The RPE scale runs from 0-10. The numbers below relate to phrases used to rate how easy or difficult you find an activity. For example, 0 (nothing at all) would be how you feel when sitting in a chair; 10 (very, very heavy) would be how you feel at the end of an exercise stress test or after a very difficult activity.

How to View High Quality YouTube Videos on the internet

I personally love watching youtube videos and sometimes that fuzzy FLV resolution just doesn't do it for me. I always wanted to see the youtube videos with a higher quality and I have found a way to do this. There is a downside, you must have a high speed internet to view high quality youtube videos over the internet.

How to watch high quality youtube videos

• Login to your youtube account
  


• Next to the word account there is a small drop down arrow
  


• Press on this for a menu to appear
  


• From this menu choose more..
  


• Then scroll down the page and under the heading account, choose video playback quality
  


• Put a check next to I have a fast internet connection. Always play higher quality video when it is available..
  


• Save settings. That's it.
  
  
  Now when you are logged into your account and you want to watch a Youtube video it will show you the highest quality resolution for that video. If nothings happens and it is still the low quality FLV version then that just means that youtube video is not available in a higher quality yet.
  
  There is also another little trick you can do to see if a youtube video has a higher quality video available. You simply add &fmt=6 to the end of the url in the address bar in your internet browser. For example a url of one my video's is http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=30qfCgwxzEPw and to see it in higher quality you would change it to http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=30qfCgwzEPw&fmt=6
  This only works if there is a higher resolution video available.
  
  


• Notes:
  When there is not a higher quality when you add &fmt=6 then you can also try adding &fmt=18 to the URL to get MP4 instead FLV.

How to restore the Run command window when it is missing from the start menu

Computer users are often faced with the dilemma of a missing run command window in the Windows XP start menu. The run command window is very important as it lets you type commands in to execute programs and change settings. For example to edit your registry or to get to a dos command window the run window comes in very handy.

There are several reasons why the run command window could be missing from the start menu. Two top causes can be that your computer has had a virus or someone has accessed your computer and changed settings in the Local group policy.

If you get an error message saying “This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator” this means that someone has tampered with your computer settings and disabled the run box access.

How to enable the run command box.

1. Right click your mouse on the start menu icon.
2. A menu will appear. Choose properties from the menu.
3. Go to the start menu tab.
4. Click on the customize button.
5. Then click on advanced.
6. Now browse for run command and make sure there is a tick in the box next to it.


If that does not work try:

Warning: playing with the registry can cause your computer to fail.

1. Open the registry editor (see below to see how)

2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

3. Make the word explorer blue

4. If there is an entry on the left side that says Norun then click on it once to make it blue

5. Right click on it and choose delete or change the value

(0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

6. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer and do the same thing

7. Restart your computer

Another way to restore your run window

1. Open Group policy to edit
   


2. Press on the plus sign next to User configuration
   


3. Press on the plus sign next to Administrative Templates
   


4. Find Start Menu & Toolbar in the menu and make it blue
   


5. A menu will appear in the right side
   


6. Double click on Remove Run from start menu
   


7. Chose 'Disable' and then click OK

5 Tips On Making Your Car More Fuel Efficient

With gas prices sky high most individuals who drive are interested in ways they can make their car more fuel efficient and save as much money as possible. While there are no fuel saving tips that will keep your car full of gas without filling up, there are some tips that really can help you save money on fuel over the long run. All of these tips focus on making your car more fuel efficient.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #1 Drive When You Crank Up This might seem obvious, but as soon as you crank up your car you should drive off. However, many people crank up and leave the car idling for a while. Instead of this, when you crank up drive off and only keep your car running when it is absolutely necessary.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #2 Don't Ride the Break Many drivers hit the break more often than is necessary. Additionally there are quite a few drivers that slow down for a braking car when they could easily switch lanes. Not riding the break can increase your fuel efficiency by up to 30%, so this is a great tip you should follow.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #3 Turn Off Your Car If you are going to be stopping for more than 10 minutes you should switch off your car to keep fuel efficiency at its peak and not burn more gas than is necessary.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #4 Don't Turn Off Your Car If you are only stopping for a brief moment or less than 5 minutes then don't turn off your car because the amount of gas used to crank up is more than you would burn in that short period of time. Fuel

Efficiency Tip #5 Inflate Tires Properly Too many drivers never think of their tires, unless one goes flat. However, having tires that are properly inflated can save fuel and make your car more fuel efficient, saving you money. Because of this, you should check your tire pressure on a regular basis. While gas prices don't seem like they will be dipping considerably in the next few months every tip to help you make your car more fuel efficient is helpful. So, follow the above fuel tips and you will see that over time your car really is more fuel efficient.

Healthy Recipes

The recipes given below are easy to cook,using minimal fat and spices and hence are easy to digest.Weight reduction diets,diabetics,hypertensives,people with painful joints,even ulcers,would benefit from these simple healthy recipes.

1.Moong Dal Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole sabut moong dal(preferably sprouted), 1 tsp oil/ghee, 1 tbsp tamarind paste,4 cloves garlic(crushed), 1/4 cup chopped leaves of methi,1/2 tsp jeera, Salt to taste.

Method:

Steam dal with chopped methi leaves in 3 cups water for 5 minutes or till soft.Add tamarind paste and blend in a blender.Add salt to taste.In another saucepan,heat oil;put jeera,when it splutters, add crushed garlic.Pour it over the dal, and simmer for 5 minutes.

2. Paneer Casserole

Ingredients:

1/4 kg paneer(cubed), 6 cloves garlic(crushed),2 tomatoes and 3 onions(cubed),1 tsp grated ginger, 1 small piece pumpkin(cubed),1 cup sprouted moong,2 tbsp cooking corn,1 tbsp cornflour, 1 tsp butter, 1" stick cinnamon, 1 cup dry breadcrumbs(preferably from brown bread).

Method:

Mix all the ingredients,except cornflour,butter and breadcrumbs,in 4-6 cups water and simmer on a slow flame till soft.Roast cornflour lightly in 1 tsp butter and add to the cooked mixture.Pour out this mixture in a baking dish(lined with butter).Sprinkle a thick layer of breadcrumbs on the surface and bake for 15 minutes in a moderately hot oven.

3.Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients:

1 medium cabbage,1 cup rice(cooked with a pinch of haldi and salt),1 tsp curry powder, 1/4 cup boiled peas, lemon juice to taste.

Method:

Separate cabbage leaves,keeping them whole as far as possible.Remove any hard core.Soften leaves in hot water for 5 minutes.Grate the inside hard part of the cabbage and mix with the rice,peas and coriander leaves.Add curry powder and lemon juice to taste.Drain cabbage leaves.Put a little of the mixture in the centre and wrap each leaf around.Arrange in a row,seam side down,in a baking tray.Arrange the remaining stuffing,if any, on either side.Bake for 20 minutes in a moderately hot oven,or steam for 20 minutes.

4.Saucy Cauliflower

Ingredients:

1 cauliflower(approx. 400gm,broken into flowerettes),1onion(chopped),1 small piece ginger (grated),2 cloves garlic(crushed),1/2cup tomato puree,1 tbsp butter,1/2 tsp sugar,1 tsp brown vinegar,Salt to taste,soya sauce and chilli sauce(optional).

Method:

Cook cauliflower with a pinch of salt in just enough water.Arrange in a shallow serving dish.Heat butter and fry onion,garlic and ginger till th eonions are soft and transparent.Add tomato puree,vinegar,sugar,salt and simmer for 5 minutes.Pour the sauce all around the cauliflower.

5.Carrot Paranthas

Ingredients:

1 cup grated carrot,3/4 cup atta, 1/4 cup besan, 1/4 tsp jeera powder,a pinch of ajwain,salt and chilli powder to taste,oil/ghee for cooking.

Method:

With oiled fingers,knead all the ingredients into a soft dough,adding water only if necessary.Roll out,as for chapatis.Cook on a tava with very little oil.A non-stick tava may also be used.

6.Stuffed Capsicums

Ingredients:

4 capsicums,1/2 cup rice,1/2 cup shelled green peas,1 cup tomato juice,1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves,Salt to taste.

Method: Halve the capsicums and remove the seeds.Wash rice well.Cook rice and peas with tomato juice and salt.Mix in coriander leaves.Stuff mixture into the capsicum halves.Steam till capsicums are soft(about 5-7 minutes.

Neck Exercises To Keep You Going

Got A Stiff Neck?Here are 2 good remedies

1.Sit Upright on a chair.Put your palms against your forehead and apply a little resistance.Try to bend your neck forward.Release.Now put your palms against the back of your head and apply a little resistance.Try to bend your neck backwards.Continue the same way on either side of the head too.
2.Gently try to rotate your neck.Do not overdo.First in a clockwise direction,similarly in an anti-clockwise direction.Rest.

Do you have a pencil thin neck that you wish to build up:

Lie faceup on a flat bench.Put your palms against your forehead and apply a little resistance.Lift up and down until your neck muscles are fatigued.Flip over and reverse the move.

Dos and donts

1.Do not strain your neck too much by sitting or lying in the wrong postures.

2.For persistent and severe neck pain consult a doctor before performing any of the above mentioned exercises.

Daily Health Task Lists

Just like brushing your teeth, healthy habits should be cultivated on a daily basis. The following is a guide to daily tasks:

1. Activity should be a daily occurrence. Walk, run or jump for a minimum total of 20 minutes a day.

2. Protect your skin. Sun block should be applied on face, neck, arms and hands even in the dead of winter. It protects against climatic toxins too. Moisturize skin daily.

3. Eat fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products and small amounts of protein. Avoid sweets and other processed foods.

4. Meditate or spend a minimum of five minutes daily in quiet time.

5. Find your spiritual self. Discover what inspires you, raises your level of consciousness, motivates you, and satisfies your soul.

6. Exercise your brain. Read, study, solve problems, and learn new skills. As does the body, the brain atrophies with lack of use.

7. Hug somebody.

Daily Exercise Suggestions

Walk 10 Minutes a Day and Increase Your Fitness Level

Old thinking was to work out in a sweat-filled gym for hours a day. No pain, no gain. New studies show that even short bouts of activity can increase your fitness level, especially if you're new at working out.

Park and Walk

Whenever you have an errand, park your car as far away as you can handle and walk to the store. At the mall, park at the farthest end and walk the length of the mall. Use every opportunity to walk. At the end of the day, it all adds up to better fitness.

Crunch in Bed

Before you even get out of bed in the morning, do 10 stomach crunches while lying flat on your mattress. Increase daily by one until you get up to 100. Think you'll never get there? Try it. You may eventually have to set your clock to wake up 15 minutes earlier, a small price to pay for a flatter stomach.

Dr.Deviprasad Shetty, (Famous Heart Specialist) answers Queries of Wipro guys

Here was a chat, arranged by WIPRO for its employees, with Dr.Deviprasad Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Famous Heart Specialist) Bangalore.The transcript of the chat is given below. Useful for everyone.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Qn: What are the five thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?

Ans:

1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil

2. Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week; avoid liftsand avoid sitting for a longtime

3. Quit smoking

4. Control weight

5. Control blood pressure and sugar

Qn: Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart?

Ans: No

Qn: It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy persongets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?

Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone pastthe age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups.

Qn: Are heart diseases hereditary?

Ans: Yes

Qn: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices doyou suggest to de-stress?

Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection ineverything in life.

Qn: Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise requiredto keep a healthy heart?

Ans: Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigueand injury to joints .

Qn: You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?

Ans: Mother Theresa, who was my patient.

Qn: Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?

Ans: Extremely rare

Qn: Does cholesterol accumulates right from an early age (I'm currentlyonly 22) or do you haveto worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?

Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Qn: How do irregular eating habits affect the heart?

Ans: You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and yourbody's enzyme release for digestion gets confused.

Qn: How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?

Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Qn: Can yoga prevent heart ailments?

Ans: Yoga helps.

Qn: Which is the best and worst food for the heart?

Ans: Best food is fruits,chapathi's(without oil) worst are oil.

Qn: Which oil is better - gingili, groundnut, sunflower, saffola, olive?

Ans: All oils are bad; the so-called best oil company has the largestmarketing budget. try to consume less oil while cooking.

Qn: What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there anyspecific test?

Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP,Treadmill test after an echo.

Qn: What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?

Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position, put an aspirin tablet underthe tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to acoronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the firsthour.

Qn: How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack andthat caused due to gastric trouble?

Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.

Qn: What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongstyoungsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks andserious heart problems.

Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, edentarylifestyles, smoking,junk food, lack of exercise in a country where peopleare genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks thanEuropeans and Americans.

Qn: Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of120/80 and yet be perfectly healthy?

Ans: Yes.

Qn: Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for thechild. Is it true?

Ans : Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may nothave a software engineer as a child

Qn: Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have tostay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart? What precautionswould you recommend?

Ans : When you are young, nature protects you against all theseirregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.

Qn: Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications(short / long term)?

Ans : Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modernanti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Qn: Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?

Ans : No.

Qn: Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?

Ans : No.

Qn: How would you define junk food?

Ans : Fried food like Kentucky, McDonalds, samosas, and even masaladosas.

Qn: You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?

Ans : Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately, Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Qn: Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?

Ans : No.

Qn: Can a person help himself during a heart attack (Because we see a lotof forwarded emails on this)?

Ans : Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of anydescription under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearestcoronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulancesince most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.

Qn: Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low hemoglobin count lead toheart problems?

Ans : No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase yourexercise capacity.

Qn: Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So,does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs inthe house, work as a substitute for exercise?

Ans : Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour andeven the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair andsitting helps a lot.

Qn: Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?

Ans: Yes. A strong relationship since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.

Qn: What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?

Ans : Diet, exercise, drugs on time. Control cholesterol, BP, weight.

Qn: Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart diseasewhen compared to day shift workers?

Ans : No.

Qn: What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?

Ans : There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the rightcombination for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs andgo for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet toreduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.

Qn: Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heartattacks?

Ans : No.

Qn: Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?

Ans : Nature protects women till the age of 45.

Qn: How can one keep the heart in a good condition?

Ans : Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise everyday, do not smokeand, go for a health checkup if you are past the age of 30 for at leastonce in two yrs. And work very hard and Enjoy urLife...

12 Ways To Quit Smoking!!!!

Here are 12 techniques that will help you quit the habit.

Remember - you can do it!

1. Deep Breathing Perhaps The Single Most Powerful And Important Technique: Every time you want a cigarette, do the following. Do it three times. Inhale the deepest lung-full of air you can, and then, very slowly, exhale. Purse your lips so that the air must come out slowly. As you exhale, close your eyes, and let your chin gradually sink over onto your chest. Visualize all the tension leaving your body, slowly draining out of your fingers and toes, just flowing on out. This is a variation of a yoga technique and is very relaxing. If you practice this, you'll be able to use it for any future stressful situation you find yourself in. And it will be your greatest weapon during the strong cravings sure to assault you over the first few days.

2. Taking In Fluids: The first few days, drink LOTS of water and fluids to help flush out the nicotine and other poisons from your body. Remember that the urge to smoke only lasts a few minutes, and will then pass. The urges gradually become farther and farther apart as the days go by.

3. Stay Away From Alcohol, Sugar And Coffee Do your very best to stay away from alcohol, sugar and coffee the first week or longer, as these tend to stimulate the desire for a cigarette. Avoid fatty foods, as your metabolism will slow down a bit without the nicotine, and you may gain weight even if you eat the same amount as before quitting. So discipline about diet is extra important now. No one ever said acquiring new habits would be easy! Nibble on low calorie foods like celery, apples and carrots. Chew gum or suck on cinnamon sticks. Stretch out your meals; eat slowly and wait a bit between bites. After dinner, instead of a cigarette, treat yourself to a cup of mint tea or a peppermint candy.

4. Taking An Oral SubstituteIn one study, about 25% of quitters found that an oral substitute was invaluable. Another 25% didn't like the idea at all - they wanted a clean break with cigarettes. The rest weren't certain. One can use cinnamon sticks, chewing gum or artificial cigarettes as a substitute. You will mostly find that after the first week of being a non smoker, you wouldn’t even need these.

5. Get Exercising Go to a gym, sit in the steam, exercise. Change your normal routine – take time to walk or even jog around the block or in the local park.

6.Pamper Yourself Go ahead and join a yoga class or maybe reiki – they're gret! Get a one hour massage, take a long bath - pamper yourself. Get yourself involved in a hobby.

7. Ask For Support Ask for support from co-workers, friends and family members. Ask for their tolerance. Let them know you're quitting, and that you might be edgy or grumpy for a few days. If you don't ask for support, you certainly won't get any. If you do, you'll be surprised how much it can help. Take a chance - try it and see! Ask friends and family members not to smoke in your presence. Don't be afraid to ask. This is more important than you may realize.

8. Destroy All Your Cigarettes On your quit day, hide all ashtrays and destroy all your cigarettes, preferably with water, so no part of them is smokeable.

9. Write It Down Write down ten good things about being a nonsmoker - and then write out ten bad things about smoking. Do it. It really helps.

10. Don’t Pretend Don't pretend smoking wasn't enjoyable – it was. This is like losing a good friend – and it's okay to grieve the loss. Feel that grief, don't worry, it's okay. Feel, and you heal. Stay with it - you can do it!

11. Affirm Yourself Several times a day, quietly repeat to yourself the affirmation, "I am a nonsmoker." Many quitters see themselves as smokers who are just not smoking for the moment. They have a self-image as smokers who still want a cigarette. Silently repeating the affirmation "I am a nonsmoker" will help you change your view of yourself, and, even if it may seem silly to you, this is actually useful. Use it!

12. Holding Out Here is perhaps the most valuable information among these points. In Phase 2, the period which begins a few weeks after quitting, the urges to smoke will subside considerably. However, it's vital to understand that from time to time, you will still be suddenly overwhelmed with a desire for "just one cigarette." This will happen unexpectedly, during moments of stress, whether negative stress or positive (at a party, or on vacation). If you are unprepared to resist, succumbing to that "one cigarette" will lead you directly back to smoking. Remember the following secret: in these surprise attacks during Phase 2 - and they will definitely come - do your deep breathing, and hold on for five minutes, and the urge will pass.

In conclusion

Remember that if you quit you will live longer and feel better. Quitting will lower your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. The people you live with, especially children, will be healthier. If you are pregnant, you will improve your chances of having a healthy baby. And you will have extra money to spend on things other than cigarettes. So get the information and support you need to make the stopping process a little easier. Seek the help of family and friends, and most important decide you want to do it and visualize yourself as a non-smoker.

Top 10 Beer Myths

Top 10 Beer Myths

It seems like there is always that guy in the bar that has a crazy story about the beer he's drinking. The worst part, sometimes its believable, so you tell someone, then they tell someone, and that's a beer myth. Here are ten of the more outrageous myths about beer and what you need to know to set that guy in the bar straight.

Beer Myth 1:

Beat the Beer Belly with Light BeerOK, light beers have maybe 90-100 calories, regular beers generally have less than 200 calories. A beer lover would say the difference is comparable to the difference between McDonalds and a 5 star restaurant. A dietician would tell you the difference is negligible. So unless you are drinking 300 beers a week, I would drink the good stuff.

Beer Myth 2:

The darker the beer, the more alcohol it containsNot even close. Guinness is black, and has 4.2% alcohol. The colour of a beer comes from the toasted malts, which has no effect on alcohol content. Ingredients like rice syrup, honey, and corn syrup add alcohol to beer, but do not influence the colour.

Beer Myth 3:

Beer is ruined if warmed and then refrigeratedThis can be true, if you do it many, many times, and it will happen gradually. People think re-chilling beer will cause it to be "skunked". Beer can be ruined by air, light and time. Temperature won't ruin a beer unless it's extreme. Get fresh beer and store it in dark place, and it will be fine.

Beer Myth 4:

Imported beers have more alcohol than domestic beersThis comes from the way US beers reported their beers' alcohol content. The rest of the world uses "Alcohol by Volume", here is the US they used "Alcohol By Weight". Since beer weighs less than water, US beers had smaller numbers, but not less alcohol.

Beer Myth 5:

The Guinness they serve in Ireland is betterIt seems widely accepted that beer in "the old country" is better than what they export to the rest of the world. The brewing process is cheap, so why would a brewery risk their reputation by brewing a different beer for export? It doesn't make sense, and it's not true. With few exceptions, the beer that is exported is the exact same beer that they serve in the bar across the street from the brewery. The difference is purely freshness. It takes two weeks for a keg of Guinness to get from Dublin to your favourite bar in the states. Some beers, like Fosters, is brewed in Canada under a license for sale in the US. But it is clearly stated on the bottle when this is the case.

Beer Myth 6:

Beer shouldn't be BitterThe bitterness of a beer comes from the hops. Hops are in all beers to balance the sweet malts and to act as a preservative. Some beers have a lot of hops, like India Pale Ales (IPAs) and some beers have less hops, like Wheat Beers. Hops can give a beer complexity and add all sorts of flavours and aromas, like pine, citrus, and earthiness. Hops are why people say beer is an acquired taste, but they also make beer delicious.

Beer Myth 7:

The best beers are in green bottles.As it turns out, brown bottles protect the beer from the light much better than green bottles or clear bottles. This myth comes from when there was a shortage of brown glass in Europe after WWII. The European beers were bottled in green instead, so green bottles came to represent imports. This certainly isn't the case anymore.

Beer Myth 8:

The Thai beer Singha has formaldehyde in itIt seems widely believed that Singha is brewed with formaldehyde, as is Chang beer, San Miguel, Vietnamese 33, and Singapore's Tiger Beer. The most believable explanation for this one is that Singha is much more bitter and contains more alcohol than most lagers. When American or British expatriots and soldiers were drinking beer in Thailand, they got drunk much more quickly then they were used to, and it was much more bitter flavor then they were used to. To explain this it was suggested that it contained formaldehyde. Crazy.

Beer Myth 9:

Corona is Mexican PissIn the 1980s there was a rumor that Mexican workers were peeing in the Corona tanks that were destined for the US. Certainly alarmingly disgusting... if true. As it turns out this myth was started as a result of Corona's rising popularity in the US market, and who was jealous? Heineken. This was nothing more than a rumor started by a Heineken wholesaler in Reno. It all worked out, the guy from Heineken admitted his wrongdoing, and Corona continued it's rise to popularity. But the rumor can still be heard today in bars across the country.Beer Myth 10:

Women don't like beerThats crazy! My wife loves beer almost as much as I do. Women have brewed more beer than men . Sister Doris in Bavaria brews Mallersdorf lager. Fortunately, this myth is far from true.

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have provena its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningtitis, kidney and urine disea ses, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhoea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes

3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.

6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure main diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days

2. Gastric - 10 days

3. Diabetes - 30 days

4. Constipation - 10 days

5. Cancer - 180 days

6. TB - 90 days

Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment for only 3 days. In the 1st week to be followed by daily treatment. This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

Eye Care "20-20-20" Important

This info' is sure to help PC users very much.

During a recent visit to an optician, one of my friends was told of an exercise for the eyes by a specialist doctor in the US that he termed as 20-20-20." It is apt for all of us, who spend long hours at our desks, looking at the computer screen. I Thought I'd share it with you. 20-20-20 Step I :-

After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn your head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This changes the focal length of your eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.

Step II :-

Try and blink your eyes for 20 times in succession, to moisten them.

Step III :-

Time permitting of course, one should walk 20 paces after every 20 minutes of sitting in one particular posture. Helps blood circulation for the entire body.

Circulate among your friends if you care for them and their eyes. They say that your eyes r mirror of your soul, so do take care of them, they are priceless................

10 Essential Health Tips..!

1. Move More:

Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat:

Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking

The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress

Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution

If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt

Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth

Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking

While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook

There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well

The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

22 Herbal Tips for Skin Care

22 Herbal Tips for Skin Care

1)Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.

2) Cut some beet root into small pieces and grind them. Squeeze juice from beet root and massage to your face for 5 minutes. Shower after 10 minutes with mild soap or gram flour.

3) Mix sandalwood powder with rose water and add 4 to 5 drops of milk in it and apply on to your face and body. Shower after 15 minutes with warm water.

4) Mix honey in water and drink daily in the morning to keep your skin shiny and smooth.

5) Warm honey and mix with lemon juice and apply on to face. Wash after it dry.

6) Mix Turmeric, sandal powder and olive oil and apply to body. Shower after 10 minutes.

7) Massage your skin with milk. Milk has moisturizer, it will keep your skin smooth.

8) Use humidifiers and keep room temperature moderate to keep your skin away from dryness.

9) Hot water blushes your skin and you don't feel fresh unless you have bath with little cold water. If you have shower for a longtime, dead skin will be automatically be removed. Do not rub with towel, be gentle on your skin.

10) Take food which contains more A and C vitamin.

11) Grate carrot and boil. Massage that mixture to body to get fair and smooth skin.

12) For natural bleaching: - mix milk and lemon juice. The milk will break as soon as you mix the lemon juice in it. Use that mixture to massage on your body. It works as natural bleaching.

13) Mix turmeric and cream on the top of milk, massage that mixture to body.

14) If you go into sun your skin will lost the fair ness. To get your skin color to normal take equal quantities of cucumber juice and tomato juice and apply on to skin. Shower after 10 minutes.

15) Massage mustard oil to your skin for 5 minutes and have shower with gram flour or mild soap.

16) Mix cream on the top of milk and all-purpose flour and apply that paste on to your skin avoid eyes, eyebrows and lips. Shower after 5 minutes. This will make skin smooth.

17) Mix curds (yogurt) with wheat flour and apply to your skin and take shower after 5 minutes.

18) Grind rose petals and mix with cream on the top of milk and apply to your body. Shower after 10 minutes.

19) Scaly skin is a result of fluorine deficiency. Fluorine is the anti-resistant element of the human body, the absence of which creates problems in the blood and spleen. Since cooking and heating foods destroys fluorine, it is better to eat uncooked raw fruits and vegetables. Other foods rich in fluorine are goat milk and cheese, rye flour, avocados, sea plants and cabbage, cream whey and cottage cheese.

20) Wrinkle skin is a result of Sodium deficiency and makes skin sticky. Cucumbers are ideal for combating and preventing sodium deficiency because they are not only high in sodium, but also help in keeping the body cool, a great summer's treat.

21) Skin rashes are the result of silicon deficiency. To avoid pus and rashes, eat plenty of sprouts, alfalfa, barley, tomatoes, spinach, strawberries and figs.

22) Skin eruptions are the result of Chlorophyll. And are found in wheat grass and other green leafy vegetables

10 Biggest Brain Damaging Habits

1. No Breakfast

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.
2. Overeating 

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.
3. Smoking

 It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.
4. High Sugar consumption

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.
5. Air Pollution 

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the sup ply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.
6. Sleep Deprivation

Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.
7. Head covered while sleeping 

Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.
8. Working your brain during illness. 

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts

 Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.
10. Talking Rarely Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help,the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.

However,these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.

Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!!

Hope none of you and your loved ones will ever need it, but still please spread it aroundYou can confirm this with any cardiologist

Lemon Health Tips

Listed below are some common problems and ailments which can easily be cured from the use of Lemons:

Colds and sore throats : For relief, mix a teaspoon of honey and the juice of one lemon, in a glass of water and drink every two hours. Another family remedy is a clove of crushed garlic, mixed with half a lemon and sweetened with honey. This usually clears up anything you may be "coming down with" by the time Fajr prayer arrives.

Cystitis: to acidify the urine and to stop bladder infections, drink a glass of cherry juice, lemon juice and water on an hourly basis at the first sign of infection.

Mouthwash: Lemons are more natural then fluoride and effective in removing plaque. They also whiten and strengthen tooth enamel

Cystitis: to acidify the urine and to stop bladder infections, drink a glass of cherry juice, lemon juice and water on an hourly basis at the first sign of infection.

Asthma: One tablespoon of pure lemon juice before each meal relieves Asthma.

Excessive Menstruation: Consuming the juice of 3-4 lemons a day will help.

For children: Rub the body with two halves of a lemon to open the pores of the skin and release the body heat

Fevers: Hot water and lemon juice will support and speed up the fevering process, helping the body fight off infections or toxins. Without the fever, the immune system has fewer ways to combat the disease. However, if there are bowel problems this should be avoided

Diphtheria: Use pure lemon juice every hour as a gargle and swallow some until it cuts loose the false membrane in the throat.

Toxins: Squeeze some lemon juice into warm water and drink it to help cleanse the body of toxins .

Clearing blemishes: Lemons can be rubbed directly onto skin and left for about 2 hours before rinsing to clear skin. This is good to reduce wrinkles and treat blemishes. The treatment will work better if followed by olive oil after rinsing. It works by speeding up skin renewal and uncovering a fresh new layer of skin. However, it is important not to do this before going out in the sun as it will have a bleaching effect. As a cleanser, beat an egg white with lemon juice and honey. Leave to dry on face for a few minutes then wash with warm water.

Hair tonic: Massage some lemon juice onto hair and leave it for a while before rinsing. Again, do not do this before going in the sun. This treatment is especially good for greasy hair as it will regulate the sebaceous glands which produce oil and make the hair shine and prevent dandruff. Chilblains: Rub a slice of lemon dipped in coarse sea salt on unbroken affected skin to clear Chilblains.

Itches: Rub fresh lemon juice on the itching area.

Acne: To healp against acne, mix 1 teaspoon lemon juice with 1 teaspoon finely ground cinnamon powder. Apply on affected areas frequently.For acne spots, apply lemon juice with a cotton bud as bactericide.

Useful Tips on the Yatra.

The Yatra is organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Govt., in the month of Shravan, and commences mainly from Pahalgam on specified dates. In recent years the route from Baltal has also been thrown open for the pilgrims to approach the holy Cave.
Dress: Pilgrims are advised to carry sufficient wollens such as sweaters, drawers, wollen trousers, monkey cap etc. Other items could include wind cheaters, rain coat, sleeping bag or blankets, umbrella, waterproof boots/shoes, walking stick, torch etc. Ladies are advised not to go on the trek in saris, instead pants or Salwar suits with drawers should be used.
Medical Assistance: Medical posts manned by qualified doctors and nursing staff are established enroute to cater to the needs of the pilgrims, free of cost. However, pilgrims are advised to carry along any medicines specifically prescribed for them.
Provisions: Essential rations are available at fair price rates from the specially established Govt. Depots at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtami, Numerous wayside tea-shops and small restaurants are set up by private parties. However, pilgrims are advised to carry with them biscuits, toffees, tinned food etc. to cater to their immediate needs. Firewood or gas can be obtained at Chandanwari, Sheshnag (Wawajan), Panchtami and near the Cave.
Insurance: In view of the hazardous nature, pilgrims are advised to insure themselves before proceeding on the Yatra.
Accommodation: Good tented accommodation with allied facilities are set-up during the Yatra period by the J&K TDC as well as private parties. These are provided on the basis of payment of rates fixed by the State authorities. Facilities for booking of such accommodation will be available at the base camps.
Registration: Registration of pilgrims are undertaken about a month ahead of the date fixed for commencement of Yatra. The dates are generally notified through press advertisements. No Yatri will be allowed to proceed on the journey without a Registration Card.

useful household tips

1) Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
2) Use a meat baster to “squeeze” your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time.
3) To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
4) To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
5) Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan-the marshmallow won’t stick to your fingers.
6) To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
7) To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove-top - skillet will be much easier to clean.
8) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces - no more stains.
9) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead - no white mess on the outside of the cake.
10) If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant “fix me up”.
11) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator - it will keep for weeks.
12) Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
13) Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.
14) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
15) To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
16) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
17) Don’t throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
18) If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
19) Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
20) To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area, instant relief.
21) Ants, ants, ants everywhere … Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march - see for yourself.
22) Use air-freshener to clean mirrors: It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
23) When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
24) NOW Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer: Clean a toilet - drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china. Clean a vase - to remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Polish jewelry - drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle - fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). Unclog a drain - clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

Lip Care tips

You can mix one-tablespoon cranberry sauce juice with two tablespoons Vaseline for a delicious home made lip balm.
Apply the juice of lemon skin for avoiding black colour of lips
Massage your lips with coriander leaf juice for soft and rosy lips.

Eye care tips

Dip wads of cotton in a chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off. Apply a little baby oil.
For long eyelashes.., apply a thin coat of castor oil every night. It strengthens lashes and cools your eyes.
Massage a few drops of coconut oil around the eyes to get rid off dark circles.
To reduce puffiness of your eyes, grate a potato; tie in a cloth and place the cloth over your eyes for about 15 minutes.
Add a small pinch of salt in water and wash for bright and sparkling eyes.
Mix tomato juice and lemon juice in equal quantity and apply around the eyes. After 30 minutes wash it off with cold and hot water alternatively.
Make a paste of sandal wood and nutmeg. Apply the paste around the eyes before sleeping and wash it off in the morning.
Crush a cucumber and take the juice. Add a little rose water and apply around the eyes and wash it after 30 minutes.
Place cotton wool swabs dipped in cold milk on closed eyes for removing dark circles.

Body care tips

Mix six-teaspoon petroleum jelly, two-teaspoon glycerin and two-teaspoon lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week if you have dry and flaky, arms and legs
Peel and grate a cucumber. Squeeze the juice to this, mix half-a-teaspoon glycerin and half-a-teaspoon rose water. Apply this on sunburns, leave it for some time.
If you have cracked heels, melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your heels will become smooth.
Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and any of your favourite scented oils like lavender or rosemary.
For rough palms, use a mixture of glycerin and limejuice in equal proportion.
For cracked heals, massage the foot with coconut oil and keep the foot in warm water for some time. Wipe the water off the feet and apply a mixture of hibiscus flower(10), Henna (1 handful) and juice of half a lemon. when dry wash it off.
Remove scars on your hands and feet by rubbing them with lemon peel.

Brain Exercises...

Our bodies are very much a part of all our learning, and learning is not an isolated "brain" function. Every nerve and cell is a network contributing to our intelligence and our learning capability. Here are four basic "Brain Gym" exercises which implement the ideas developed in "Smart Moves" and can be used quickly in any classroom. They are surprisingly simple, but very effective!
Drink Water:Water comprises more of the brain (with estimates of 90%) than of any other organ of the body. Having students drink some water before and during class can help "grease the wheel". Drinking water is very important before any stressful situation - tests! - as we tend to perspire under stress, and de-hydration can effect our concentration negatively.
Brain Buttons:This exercise helps improve blood flow to the brain to "switch on" the entire brain before a lesson begins. The increased blood flow helps improve concentration skills required for reading, writing, etc.

Put one hand so that there is as wide a space as possible between the thumb and index finger.
Place your index and thumb into the slight indentations below the collar bone on each side of the sternum. Press lightly in a pulsing manner. At the same time put the other hand over the navel area of the stomach. Gently press on these points for about 2 minutes.
Cross Crawl:This exercise helps coordinate right and left brain by exercising the information flow between the two hemispheres. It is useful for spelling, writing, listening, reading and comprehension. Stand or sit. Put the right hand across the body to the left knee as you raise it, and then do the same thing for the left hand on the right knee just as if you were marching. Just do this either sitting or standing for about 2 minutes.
Hook Ups:This works well for nerves before a test or special event such as making a speech. Any situation which will cause nervousness calls for a few "hook ups" to calm the mind and improve concentration. Stand or sit. Cross the right leg over the left at the ankles. Take your right wrist and cross it over the left wrist and link up the fingers so that the right wrist is on top. Bend the elbows out and gently turn the fingers in towards the body until they rest on the sternum (breast bone) in the center of the chest. Stay in this position. Keep the ankles crossed and the wrists crossed and then breathe evenly in this position for a few minutes. You will be noticeably calmer after that time.

Avoid Eye Strain When Using Computers.....

If you spend most of your weekday sitting in front of a video display terminal, you've probably noticed that using a computer can be a pain in the neck, the eyes and almost every other part of your body! It's no wonder computers cause eye strain. Studies have shown that computer users tend to stare at a glowing screen without blinking for much longer periods than do people who use typewriters. This is why many people using computers experience dry eye problems. In addition, computer screens reflect a great deal of glare - from windows, overhead lights and even the user's own bright clothing. Finally, many computer users sit practically face-to-face with the monitor.
Whether you spend every day or only a few hours a week using a computer, there are steps you can (and should) take to reduce the physical strains from computer use. Steps to follow, when using a computer:
Have a thorough eye examination. While everyone should have their eyes checked once a year, annual eye exams are especially important for computer users.
Follow the "20/20 rule." Keep your face at least 20 inches from the screen and pause every 20 minutes or so to look around the room, so your eyes can focus on distant objects. Regular eye exercise helps prevent eye strain.
Place all materials you are working with at the same distance as the screen. This reduces strain of your eyes and neck.
Make sure you have a glare screen, which should block glare without making the characters on the monitor appear fuzzy. Also if possible, move or adjust the computer screen to avoid reflections from windows or indoor lights.
Sit on a stable, comfortable, adjustable chair. If it is possible to put the keyboard a few inches below the desktop, for example, with an adjustable table, or by using a center drawer of a desk for a pullout keyboard rest, do so. This will keep your arms at a more comfortable angle.
Place computer monitor at a 35-degree angle below your eyes. This reduces incidence of Dry Eye.
Use preservative-free artificial tears intermittently when on the computer if your eyes get red and irritated. Much of computer fatigue is caused by Dry Eye.
Finally, take periodic breaks from the computer during the day, walk around and do some non-computer tasks for about 15 minutes every two or three hours.

Avoid back pain......

If you sit in front of a computer screen all day, make sure to sit up straight and keep your feet slightly raised off the floor on a footstool or other low object. Don't sit for long periods; get up and walk around the office or step outside for a break at least every half hour.
Wear flat, comfortable shoes. As your stomach grows and your balance shifts, a pair of high heels will only make your posture worse.
Always bend from your knees and lift objects and children from a crouching position to minimize the stress on your back. Let someone else lift heavy objects; this is not the time to risk throwing your back out completely.
Start an exercise programme early in pregnancy, one that includes stretches that strengthen and stretch muscles that support the back and legs. Don't worry if you're well past your first trimester; you can start a simple stretching routine at any time. Swimming is a particularly good choice for pregnant women because it strengthens your lower back muscles, and the buoyancy of the water takes the strain off your joints and ligaments. Avoid doing breaststroke, though, as this can affect your lower back joint.
Stand up straight. This gets harder to do as your body changes, but try to keep your pelvis tucked in and your shoulders back. Pregnant women tend to lean back as their bump grows, which puts more strain on the spine.

How to Avoid Heat Exhaustion During Summer

Heat exhaustion leads to severe effects on skin and body. Care should be taken to avoid heat exhaustion and keep the body cool. The below tips and technics can be followed meticulously to safeguard from heat durin summer seasons
Get out of the sun, drink plenty of water. Ideally you should have plenty of water atleast half an hour before you go out into the sun.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. This is because they have fairly high water content and good salt balance. Drink diluted electrolytes.
People who sweat heavily tend to loose a lot of potassium and sodium. There are many over the counter electrolyte packs.
Avoid salt tablets, alcohol, caffeine, smoking and do not bare your chest.
Do not suddenly go out into the sun from an air-conditioned room or do the opposite. Learn to acclimatise slowly.
Dousing your head and neck with cold water will help if it is hot and dry.
Use a newspaper, handkerchief or a traditional hand held fan to keep yourself in cool breeze.
Wear light and light coloured clothes. the preferred coloured is white because it reflects the heat. Use cotton or polyester blends because such cloth material can breathe.
Use an umbrella or a hat, preferably one that also shades the neck and is well ventilated.

Are you getting enough sleep?

Adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night, to perform optimally. Children need even more sleep. Less sleep causes morning headaches and daytime fatigue, leading to poor concentration and performance.
Insomnia includes the inability to sleep, frequent awakenings during the night and not being able to go back to sleep, or waking up too early. Women are more likely to suffer from chronic insomnia – the ratio is about two women to one man. Working women, in particular, build up a large sleep debt over the years.
To a large extent, we can control the quantity and quality of our sleep. The key to a restful night’s sleep is to calm down your brain rather than rev it up.
What you eat affects how you sleep. Some food slows down nerve traffic and calms the brain and contributes towards a restful sleep; such food are called sleepers. Other perk up the brain and keep you awake; such food are called wakers.
Sleepers contain tryptophan, an amino acid that makes up protein, which produces the sleep – inducing substances, serotonin and melatonin. Food that contains tryptophan or make more tryptophan available to the brain make us sleepy.
Ideal sleepers are food which contains moderate amounts of carbohydrate stimulates the release of insulin which clears amino acids that compete with tryptophan making it more available to the brain. At the same time, protein contributes tryptophan directly to the brain.
Great snooze food includes; dairy products (paneer, cheese, milk and curd), meat, poultry or seafood, whole grains vegetables and pulses (including soyabeans).
Indian dinners usually have a fair share of these types of food. However, our traditional cooking practices include a lot of fat and spices, both of which in terferes with sleep.
Calcium helps the brain use tryptophan; this explains the soporific effect of a glass of milk at bedtime. Foods containing caffeine such as tea,coffee, colas and chocolates are wakers. a high-protein meal without carbohydrates contains the amino acid, tyrosine, which perks up the brain.
An all carbohydrate snack, especially one high in sugar, is less likely to help you sleep. It will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low, you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep. Also, you will miss out on the sleep-inducing effects of tryptophan.