Doctors slam Mohanlal’s ‘cholesterol-free’ oil

His claims of cholesterol-free coconut oil not scientific, say medical professionals

A section of Indian doctors in the UAE have said they do not endorse a much publicised endorsement of a coconut oil brand by the Malayalam superstar Mohanlal.

Indian doctors at the All Kerala Medical Graduates Association (AKMG), a group of doctors practising in the UAE, said they are perplexed by the endorsement of a coconut brand by a superstar like Mohanlal, claiming that coconut oil is totally free from cholesterol.

What Mohanlal publicises through the advertisement is not scientifically proven and people may risk their health by blindly trusting a superstar endorsement, according to them. Earlier endorsement of a leading liquor brand by the superstar raked up controversy, similar to a celebrity brand endorsement by KJ Yesudas for a property firm that cheated hundreds of NRI investors.

“Coconut oil, like all saturated fats, should be limited to 7-10 per cent of calorie-intake because it can increase risk for heart disease, according to the AHA and 2010 Dietary Guidelines,” an Indian doctor said, quoting the American Heart Association.

A number of radio stations, television channels and newspapers are currently running an advertisement campaign for the new brand of coconut oil, claiming that the oil processed using a new technology will not cause heart disease or fat accumulated as spread by some foreign agents.

Mohanlal, one of the most popular Malayalam actors, acts as a Kerala King, sending out a Royal Decree, endorsing the specific brand of coconut oil.

According to marketing experts, celebrities are roped in to sell anything from gold ornaments to chit funds and financial products. The particular brand of coconut oil is claimed to be 100 per cent pure made with finest copra (dry coconut) pieces. Trans fats, saturated fats in coconut oils can be harmful and cause heart attack, doctors said.

In the advertisement Mohanlal, dressed as a traditional king of Kerala, says he is aware of a conspiracy hatched by foreign countries and is issuing a decree endorsing the pure coconut oil, free from cholesterol. Doctors say it is a highly misleading advertisement of Coconadu oil, because such claims are not scientifically proved.

“There are two basic categories of fats. Healthy fats are unsaturated and include vegetable oils, fish oils, and plant fats in nuts, avocados, and seeds. These fats should be the primary fats in your diet because they are either neutral or raise HDL cholesterol [considered good cholesterol] but don’t raise LDL cholesterol [considered bad cholesterol].

“The less healthy saturated fats found in animal fats and tropical oils, including coconut oil, are allowed, but in lesser amounts because they raise LDL cholesterol,” says Dr Hanish Babu.

“Trans fats in processed foods are the worst fats, capable of lowering HDL and increasing LDL, and should be kept as low as possible. Eating a nutritious diet that includes mostly whole foods and is balanced in calories is more important that worrying about specific nutrients and foods.”

“Coconut oil is an essential fat, saturated fat that can cause problem for heart by causing LDL cholesterol. Both coconut oil and palm oil can cause more cholesterol and can cause heart attack, which is scientifically proven. It is not misleading information spread by foreign countries, as Mohanlal claims in the advertisement. It is a scientifically proven fact that saturated fat can cause cholesterol,” said Dr Babu, who was speaking in his personal capacity.

He is also the Vice President of AKMG Emirates, but some officials in the Association have a different opinion.

Dr Babu said Keralites are more prone to heart diseases than people from many other Indian states due to many factors – increased use of red meat, egg and other fatty food items. About 7,000 tons of red meat is consumed every day in Kerala and now people are not doing enough physical exercise. High levels of stress, increased use of smoking and alcohol and negative attitude are factors causing heart ailments. It is definitely a misleading advertisement,” Dr Babu . There are different opinions on this issue and it is not the view of the organisation, he added.

According to studies, pure virgin coconut oil, containing no hydrogenation (the process of adding hydrogen to make a liquid fat hard), contains 92 per cent saturated fat – the highest amount of saturated fat of any fat.

“Most saturated fats are solid at room temperature, found in animal products (such as meat, dairy, poultry with skin, and beef fat) and contain cholesterol. Unlike animal fats, tropical oils – palm, palm kernel, and coconut oils – are saturated fats that are called oils but depending on room temperature can be solid, semi-solid, or liquid, and do not contain cholesterol.

Like all fats, coconut oil is a blend of fatty acids. Coconut oil contains an unusual blend of short and medium chain fatty acids, primarily lauric (44 per cent) and myristic (16.8 per cent) acids. It is this unusual composition that may offer some health benefits,” an Indian doctor said quoting relevant studies.

VM Sathish

 

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Sizzling Female Chefs Around The World

“Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good.”

 

 – Alice May Brock.

Cooking is their passion, Food is their ultimate love and kitchens are their devotional institution. Yes! Chefs are known for such qualities they carry on their shoulder. These Chefs are not only identified as the hottest but also known for their best gastronomic skills that wooed food lovers around the world.

 

1) Rachel Ray

 

Rachel Ray is one of the world’s highest earning chefs who won several audiences by some catchy phrases like “EVOO” (for extra virgin olive oil) in her first show, 30 Minute Meals. The owner of $25 million has four food network programmes which include Tasty Travels and $40 a Day. She is keen towards spreading the knowledge and love for food through cookbooks. Her ‘Every Day With Rachel Ray’ magazine has more than 1.5 million readers. The ‘Book of Burger’ is the 20th and the latest book by her.

 

2) Devin Alexander

Celebrity Chef Devin Alexander is New York Times Bestselling author, media personality and weight loss expert. She is a perfect example of beauty with the brain. Keeping healthy meal as the main mantra of cooking, Alexander even can tickle the taste buds of fitness-conscious food lovers with a sumptuous burger or pizza. Her unique approach of healthy cooking make her published eight books, including “The Biggest Loser Cookbook” series. This hottest Chef is the host of ‘Healthy Decadence’ on Fit TV and her perspective on being healthy have gave her scope to appear on several weight loss shows on Television, , as listed by MENSXP.  

3) Angela McKeller

The former model Angela McKeller is one among the hottest pastry chef and gastronomic marvel. Angela has published several books on cooking which are filled with mouthwatering recipes.  Her cookbooks are called Passion on a Plate: Affordable and EASY Gourmet. This curvy foodie teaches gourmet cooking as well.

4) Anjum Anand

Considered as one of the first food writers, Anjum Anand is known to bring a fine twist to Indian recipes. Her experiment with Indian cuisines have not only triggered the taste buds if foodies but also to people who follow strict diet. Anand’s recipes are the combination of mixed traditional dishes recreated with healthy ingredients and less oil. She tried her hands at different restaurant’s kitchens based in New York, New Delhi and Los Angeles. Her passion for food made her publish ‘Indian Every Day: Light Healthy Indian Food.’ Her thought of adapting healthy meals from traditional Indian food came from her personal experience while growing up. From 2004 to 2007, Anand was a usual guest for a show called ‘Great Food Live’ on UKTV and then featured in BBC for a two series of Indian Food in 2007.  The brand ‘The Spice Tailor’ has been launched in the middle of 2011 that combines seven authentic Indian sauces, mainly prepared to deliver restaurant quality dishes that fascinate foodies who love to gorge delicious Indian cuisines.

5) Eden Grinshpan

After graduating from London’s A Le Cordon Bleu, Eden Grinshpan, the hottest chef travelled to different parts of the world including India, Southeast Asia and Israel to taste cuisines and get in-depth culinary knowledge from local chefs.  She even realized that to enjoy and experience global delicacies, passport to travel to that very place is actually not needed. This beautiful chef has the degree of “Grande Diplome,” in pastry and cuisine. Eden, the culinary adventurer hosts her own show called ‘Eden Eats,’ on the Cooking Channel. The show on traveling is to hunt best global dishes in cities throughout U.S.
6) Casey Thompson

Hottest Chef Casey Thompson contended on Top Chef Season 3 and was one among the two runners-up to Hung Huynh. She is a winner of fan favorite. On Top Chef Season 8, Thompson competed and was eliminated fifth. She is the executive chef at the Brownstone in Fort Worth, TX. Adding to it, Thompson is the ambassador for ‘Terrazos de los Andes,’ the Moet-Hennessey brand.

More Than 80 Pct of Healthy Indians Are #VitaminD Deficient

We might live in a country full of sunshine but Indians are still deprived of the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D – which is wrongly called so – is a pro-hormone that influences the expression of more than 200 genes in human body. Nearly every tissue in the human body has receptors of Vitamin D, be it brain, heart, skin, kidney, pancreas etc. Any deficiency of Vitamin D in the human body is bound to affect normal functioning of all organs having Vitamin D receptors.

Vitamin D deficiency is fast becoming a global and National Health Concern. It is estimated that around 80 percent of the Indian population has Vitamin D levels less than normal. However, the bigger concern is that the population at large is not even aware of Vitamin D deficiency and its consequences.

One of India’s leading diabetologist, Dr Banshi Saboo, Founder of Diabetes Foundation of India, said, “Earlier Vitamin D was thought to be responsible for maintaining calcium homeostasis to prevent osteoporosis and maintain bone health. But, in the past decade research has established the strong association of Vitamin D deficiency in diabetes, immunity, asthma, TB, high blood pressure, neuro-muscular function, etc.“

Dr Saboo further added, “Low level of Vitamin D is associated with higher incidence of type 2 diabetes and correcting Vitamin D deficiency improves insulin sensitivity and helps in better management of hyperglycaemia. Also Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with high incidence of type 1 diabetes.”

As the mother is the sole source of vitamin D substrate for her developing foetus, vitamin D status is very important during pregnancy. Maternal deficiency of vitamin D is linked with abnormal foetal growth and gestational diabetes.

Sunscreen lotions, staying indoors, clothing habits, pollution and minimal exposure to direct sun light (during the period of 10 am to 3 pm) are the major reasons of such widespread deficiency in the Indian population.

The eminent endocrinologist from Mumbai, Dr Manoj Chadha said that Vitamin D deficiency has no defined signs or symptoms. “People who complain of back pains, unexplained muscle pains, general fatigue are the most likely to be Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency can be easily corrected by Vitamin D supplementation or some lifestyle changes. In a Vitamin D deficient person, oral 60,000 I.U per week for 8 weeks followed by maintenance dose of 60,000 I.U per month is a reasonably safe method to correct the deficiency.”

Although there are few major studies carried out in India to determine the optimum (sufficient) levels of serum Vitamin D 25(OH) D to be maintained to prevent chronic ailments, globally there is a consensus that Vitamin D deficiency is defined as serum 25(OH) D levels less than 20 ng/ml and insufficiency as serum 25(OH) D less than 30 ng/ml. Whereas serum 25(OH) D levels above 30 ng/ml is found to be sufficient.

Given the fact that Vitamin D receptors are present in various organs and tissues of the human body, maintaining Vitamin D levels in blood above 30 ng/ml may ensure normal functioning of the body organs and protect many from the suffering from chronic ailments.

Go Bananas for Good Skin

Bananas are so delicious, bright in color, and taste good with a variety of foods! Did you also know bananas are great for your skin? Since ancient times, they have helped cure people of skin-irritating bug bites and are ideal for soothing irritated and rash-like skin. Read on to learn some great things bananas can do for your skin:

Bananas can soothe even the most sensitive skin so as long as you are not allergic to bananas, you are safe!

Bananas are high in potassium, which is beneficial in fighting acne. Mash up a banana and apply directly to your skin. Doing so will suffocate the bacteria in your skin cells, forcing breakouts from acne to heal more quickly.

Bananas have many anti-bacterial properties which can reduce swelling and infections from other skin issues, including Psoriasis, Eczema, and painful bug bites as described earlier.

Use the inside peel of the banana and gently rub on your clean skin as an awesome exfoliating treatment! Doing so will soothe and heal your skin from other irritating skin conditions.

This yummy fruit is packed with nutrients and antioxidants like Vitamin C which when applied to the skin (even the peel), can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Blood flow will circulate better and collagen production will be boosted.

Make sure you eat a banana a day too! Your body will benefit from all the nutrients like Potassium and Vitamin C and your digestive tract will function better.

Who knew bananas could be so good for the skin? Now you do! Throw one in your purse or backpack on your way to school or work and enjoy it as a mid-day snack! Great burst to your energy and your skin will be beautiful too!

The Canadian adult star Sunny Leone to get Rs 1.5 crore to promote an energy drink

The Canadian born Indian adult star Sunny Leone who took Bollywood by storm with her film Jism 2 has since become a name to reckon with in the Indian advertising circuit. Post her signing her second Bollywood venture Ragini MMS 2, we hear that Sunny has been roped in to be the face of energy drink XXX, owned by actor-entrepreneur Sachiin Joshi.

Apparently, Sunny was paid a whooping figure of approximately Rs. 1.5 crore to be a part of the campaign. The reason behind signing on the actress we learn is that research carried out by the drink major revealed Sunny was by far one of the most popular faces among its target audience of youth in the age group of 18 to 25.

If that wasn’t all, the energy drink major will also be casting two other Bollywood personalities alongside Sunny in its adverts. While on the film front, Sunny will soon be seen in an item song Laila in Shootout At Wadala.

Skin Care Tips for Summer

With the enhanced flow of skin’s oily discharge, epidermal layer may be prone to dullness, loss of luster and blemishes. Secondly, owing to the increased susceptibility to the damaging UV rays of sun, there is a consequential increase in the formation of patches and wrinkles. In order to overcome the seasonal blemishes and loss of collagen, it is important to comply with certain skin care regimen.

• Drink at least 15-20 glasses of water to keep yourself hydrated. Other than providing the necessary moisture, it will help flush the toxic content.
• Make sure that the sunscreen used is applied at least fifteen to thirty minutes before stepping out in the sun.
• According to dermatologists and skin care specialists sun protective formula meant for summer should have a higher SPF content. SPF-30 should be used during summer.
• Similarly special care should be taken to have it applied twice or thrice during summer, other than using the same prior to stepping out in the sun.
• For those choosing to swim and bask in sun, sun protective formula should be applied every hour and twenty minutes to overcome the damaging impacts of sun burn, rashes and blister formation.
• Use of moisturizer watery in base is necessary during summer. Rose water which happens to be an effective toner cum moisturizer may be used as part of toning and moisturizing.
• Juice extracted from cucumber or watermelon may be similarly used for moisturizing facial skin.
• Application of moisturizer containing aloe extracts or for that matter application of aloe gel serves to be an effective summer healing option.
• As far as caring of feet and hands are concerned, soaking hands and feet in water enriched with a pinch of salt will help boost blood circulation.
• Make it a point to resort to the same at least once in a week.
• Avoid wearing closed shoes that block free circulation of air, in its place go for flats and sandals that make for necessary circulation.
• Other than avoiding moisturizer with oily base, it is also necessary that one avoids using synthetics and silk preferable during winter.
• For excessively dry skin types, olive oil may be used as an alternative to oily based moisturizers and toners.
• In order to make for healthy breathing and free circulation of the epidermal layer, tight fitting clothes blocking circulation should be avoided.
• Exfoliating the facial skin by means of a homemade scrub prepared out of half a cup yogurt, five table spoons of gram flour, a dash of turmeric and six drops of rose water can prove to be an effective option.
• Exfoliation followed by the application of facial pack consisting of three table spoons of mashed papaya , one table spoon of honey or lemon juice and white of an egg will serve to revive radiance and glow lost during summer.
• In case you want to avoid the use of egg white, the resulting blend of cucumber, honey and yogurt may be used to provide cooling touch to the skin
• In order to get rid of uneven summer tanning, go for a blend of gram flour, yogurt and squeezed juice of half a lemon, to apply the same on parts affected.
• Mixture consisting of honey and potato juice serves to be a good option for overcoming tan.
• Honey is similarly effective in overcoming conditions of scars and rashes.
• Avoid carbonated drinks containing soda and high doses of sugar. Instead go for juices extracted out of fresh fruits like lemonade and that extracted from unripe green mango.
• In cases of bites and stings during summer, soothing the affected part by means of an ice pack will prove to be healthy.

The Best Anti-Aging Foods

             

Photo Credit fruit and vegetables image by photo25th from Fotolia.com

Diet can have a profound affect on how we age. The basic ingredients of a healthy, anti-aging diet are not too surprising: a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, some protein, and a small dose of healthy fats. Beyond that, however, there are some foods that exhibit truly remarkable anti-aging properties.

Blueberries

Blueberries contain vitamins C and E as well as antioxidants called anthocyanins which are known to neutralize free radicals and provide support to the cardiovascular system, the eyes and the digestive system.
In a 1999 study at the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, rats that were fed blueberries in addition to their regular chow scored better on tests of balance and coordination as they aged. In a study at the University of Michigan, after 90 days of eating blueberries, rats had better insulin sensitivity and lower fasting blood sugar–important indicators of a reduced risk for diabetes, one of the most common diseases of aging. A University of Reading and Peninsula Medical School study showed that rats that ate blueberries had less cognitive decline with aging as well.

Olive Oil

Olive oil’s protective qualities for both the heart and in regard to cancer come from polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. These findings have been reported in The Journal of Nutrition and the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, among others.
In addition to other benefits, a Journal of the American College of Nutrition study suggested olive oil and other Mediterranean diet staples may be connected to less wrinkling of skin.

Green Tea

Green tea is another food loaded with antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin and catechins. As reported in The Journal of Nutrition, Cancer Prevention Research and elsewhere, a growing number of studies indicate that it has some protective effects in regard to certain cancers as well as liver damage.
A study reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that green tea antioxidants called catechins travel to the tissues of the eyes where they may reduce oxidative stress for up to 20 hours. A German study improved the effects of LED skin treatments for wrinkles by adding a lotion made of green tea extract.

Red Wine

The results from numerous studies have been reported in Carcinogenesis, Nature and Clinica Chimica Acta: the International Journal of Clinical Chemistry. Red wine contains several antioxidants, including a polyphenol called resveratrol that may help ward off age-related illnesses. In one study, resveratrol appeared to prevent cancer by limiting tumor growth in rats. In another study, resveratrol extended the lifespan of mice on a high-calorie diet.

 

References

• Journal of the American College of Nutrition: Olive oil’s anti-aging benefits
• Science Daily: Green tea may help fight glaucoma
• Science Daily: Green tea may reduce wrinkles
• Tufts study abstract: blueberries provide aging-related benefits in rats
• U-M study: blueberries provide aging-related benefits in rats

KATH BEE

Guide to Excellent #Health and #Fitness I Exercise Fitness #Yoga Gym #Calorie Chart and #Stress Management

STAMINA EXERCISES

Walking: Excellent cardiovascular benefits for the advanced age groups.. Should be done briskly with swinging of the arms. Comfortable shoes must be worn. May be done morning or evening for 30-60 minutes.

Jogging: Suitable for younger age group below 50 years. 30 minutes is all that is required and may be done continuously, or jog and walk in between when fatigued. The pace of jogging is equal to that of a brisk walkrun on soft or grassy surface. Wear comfortable clothes and breathe freely.

Swimming: For those who know how to swim, 20 minutes of continuous swimming is sufficient. Alternately swim the length of a pool 10-20 metres, rest at the end for 30 seconds, swim back. 10 such lengths is good. Use any stroke you know. They are all of almost equal cardiovascular and muscular benefit.

Cycling: For any age group. Minimum time 45-60 minutes of continuous controlled fast cycling. Cycling up slopes gives added benefit. Ordinary cycles are good enough and indoor stationary exercycles may also be used at low resistance for 45 minutes.

Games: For the fitter younger age group. Get fit first before playing games such as squash, badminton, tennis, handball, basketball, football etc.. Warm up before the games. 30-45 minutes of the game is sufficient. Weekend or once a week games must be avoided unless other fitness programmes are done on other days. Play within your capacity.

STRENGTH EXERCISES

Strength Exercises: Improve muscular strength with 10-20 repetitions of each of these movements.

MOBILITY EXERCISES

BACK EXERCISES

YOGA

a) Yoga should preferably be done under expert supervision 2-3 times per week.
b) In case you know Yoga, we suggest that the following ‘asanas’ be included in your programme.
c) Each Yogasana is repeated 2-3 times except serial Nos. 1, 14 & 15.
d) Persons with back problems should avoid serial Nos. 2, 4, 10 & 12.
e) Persons with Cardiac problems, HBP, etc. should avoid serial 4 and 5.
f) This programme will not only keep you fit, but is also beneficial for those persons who have high B.P., respiratory problem, mental strain, head – aches, digestive ailments, back problems, joint problems, etc.

STANDARD YOGASANAS

1.  Stand warm up for Pawan Muktasana series.
2.  Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation) Effect – on full body including heart and circulation.
3. Ardh-halasana (30, 60, 90 degrees, double leg raises) Effect – on abdomen, legs, back reproductive organs.
4. Sarbangasana (Shoulder stand) Effect – on brain, nervous system, thyroid, circulation.
5.  Halasana (Plough pose) Effect – on spine, nervous system, back, lungs.
6.  Matsyasana (Fish pose) Effect – on chest, neck, thyroid, lungs.
7.  Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) Effect – on lower back, reproductive organs, lungs, spine, chest, abdominal organs.
8. Salabhasana, (Locust pose) Effect – an buttocks, legs, hips, constipation, gas, digestion, etc.
9. Dhanurasana (Bow pose) Effect – on abdomen, digestion, legs, back.
10.  Naukasana (Boat pose) (V sit-ups) Effect – on spine, abdomen, chest, etc.
11.  Bakrasana (Half spinal twist) Effect – on spine, fat on waist, gas, digestive organs.
12.  Paschmottasana (Sitting toe touch) or Padahasatasana (Standing toe touch) Effect – on digestion, spine, legs.
13.  Trikonasana (Triangle) Effect – on spinal nerves, waist, digestion.
14.  Pranayama (Deep breathing) 10 rounds each. a) Anulome / Vilome – alternate nostril breathing, and b) Kapalbhatti.. – belly breathing Effect – on lungs and respiratory system.
15.  Shavasana (Corpse pose) – as often as required. Effect – on physical / mental relaxation.

YOGASANAS

GYM EXERCISES / WEIGHT TRAINING

Weight training is basically for strengthening and building up the muscles. An all-round programme must have some stretching and cardio-vascular exercises as well. In addition, weight training loads the bones thereby strengthening and protecting against osteoporosis. The points to keep in mind in weight training are as follows:

1. The ideal weight training schedule is on alternate days i.e. 3 days a week with a complete rest on weekends.
2. The systems of training different muscle groups on different days, may be good for competitive sportsmen. The best system for non-competitive sportsmen is to exercise the entire body in each session. The major muscle groups are: Upper body – Shoulders, Arms, Chest and Lower body – Back, Abdomen, Legs.
3. Suppleness and stamina can also be built up through weight training by following a body builder-type schedule. Weights are also used to stretch muscles, build muscular endurance and cardiovascular stamina by repeating each exercise by using lighter weights with more repetitions.
4. If repetition are too easy, the weight used is too little. And in case it is not possible to complete the repetitions, it means the weight carried is too heavy.
5. A repetition is one complete exercise movement from the starting point to finish and then back again to the starting point. A set is a group of repetitions of the same exercise. Therefore, for the upper body 8 repetitions is one set. For the lower body, 15 repetitions forms one set.
6. We prescribe three sets of exercises for each muscle group. However, several systems of weight training prescribe different repetitions as well as different sets.

Nutrition and Calorie Management:

Generally speaking, our daily food intake must comprise a balanced diet of 1500-2000k calories with fibre (above 75 gm) and low fat (below 30 gm). Consult your nutritionist for specific advice.

Micro – Nutrients:
The guide to healthy eating pyramid provides you a balanced diet, with ample vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. The therapeutic benefit of these micro-nutrients are explained below.

STRESS MANAGEMENT
Stress has existed from the time of Early Man but has now become an omnipresent phenomenon in the life of ‘Modern Man’. It has pervaded all layers of life. Stress is the bio-psycho-social response of the body to a demand, mental or physical. Stress is an arousal response the body makes, when a situation is perceived as being stressful. The impact of this arousal affects emotional as well as cognitive thinking. The impact is seen in behavioral and physiological change.. When stress is long term and chronic it leads to chronic psychosomatic ailments. While there is an undeniable link between stress and illness, optimal stress is a prerequisite for success in every task. Stress is the wind beneath your wings pushing you towards achievement. If stress can trigger off psychosomatic ailments in those living in the fast track, it can be a trigger even to those who suffer from monotony, boredom or frustration. It is therefore very essential to bring a balance between too much and too little stress.
The first step in managing stress is to develop a stress-free personality. A high self-esteem, assertive behavior and a positive attitude help in building a stress-free perception. It also helps to focus on areas where control and change are possible. Locate the source of stress and use a problem solving approach to deal with it step by step. All stress you can understand. Some you can change. Some you may have little control over. You may then need to change your attitude and response towards these stressors. Thereby reducing stress. Any exercise programme done regularly utilizes the body’s stress hormones. Exercise not only makes the body fit, but also acclimatizes the heart and lungs to increased activity, as in stressful situations. Relaxation and meditation techniques result in calming brain waves, and reducing the effects of stress. This is especially effective with stressrelated ailments such as Hypertension, Headaches, Digestive ailments, Cardiac ailments, Sleep problems to name just a few. Stress may be an irritant in your life or it may be a factor of passive existence.
Change of perspective will help change this stress to an active, rewarding life. One of the best gifts of nature is sleep. Daily sleep of 6 – 8 hours helps in relaxation and repair of the body and mind. It provides sufficient time for deep – NREM and dream REM sleep restoring physical and mental health. Stress may be an irritant in your life or it may be a factor of passive existence. Change of perspective will help change this stress to an active, rewarding life. One of the best gifts of nature is sleep. Daily sleep of 6 to 8 hours helps in relaxation and repair of the body and mind. It provides sufficient time for deep – NREM and dream REM sleep restoring physical and mental health.

• Use some of these stress defense mechanisms & optimize your stress.
• Quality time for family will ensure that you have a retreat called home.
• Plan your career well, it will give you challenge, satisfaction & security.
• An assertive personality is responsible to self & others. Learn this skill.
• Communication is the key to relationship building. Listen better and your conflicts will slowly dissolve.
• Develop a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at life, its paradoxes and at yourself.
• Plan a little idleness & quietness each day. You will be able to recharge.
• Exercise is arousal and relaxation is the opposite. Yet both are necessary on a daily basis. Practice both.
• Sleep well and you will have renewed energy to face the next day’s Stresses.
• Plan your time well. You only have 24 /hours a day and many important areas to fit in. A simple formula for time & stress management. You could personalize it to suit your needs. Remember you can’t delete any activity or reduce time for health factors.

More than 60,000 #Children Go Missing In India Each Year

Childhood is an eternal bliss until it lasts, but if childhood is lived in misery and abuse it becomes a curse with no reasons attached. Missing children has been highlighted as one the biggest problems in the country. Being a recurring concern it needs stringent method in order to repress the social menace. The Justice Verma Committee was formed to look into amendments in criminal law and he is working on making amends in the justice system to curb the number of missing children in the country. He said, “A lakh kids go missing every year. The police must file an FIR, DM should maintain records,” as reported by Meenakshi Upreti for ibnlive.com

Most of the missing children become victims to human trafficking and sexual abuse, which occurs often with police collusion, informed the Justice Verma commission. The conclusion was derived from the case of a minor girl, who was trafficked from Jharkhand to Delhi, who was forced to work without pay for a year and then trafficked to Punjab.

An NGO rescued the girl fortunately. However there are thousands of children waiting for a silver lining. Unlike in the case of the 11 year old son of Kunwarjit, who went missing two years ago, Kunwarjit informed that no legal action has been taken by the authorities to locate his son so far. He said, “Police hasn’t done a thing to find him. I got a call from my son once but the police refused to act on it saying that it was a hoax call. Had they acted then, probably I would’ve had my son, but now I think I won’t see him again,” as reported by IBN Live.
As per the official records 53, 000 children went missing in India in 2010, in 2011 the number increased to 59,000. It has been estimated that in every 8 minutes one child goes missing. The NGO activists claim that the biggest trouble with the increasing number and children remaining untraced is police inaction.

The capital, Delhi has the largest number of untraced children with 14 children estimated to go missing from the city each day. In most cases the police claim that children willingly run away, only occasional investigating chances of child sexual abuse and trafficking occur.

AR Chaurasia, an activist said, “The police shut the case saying that the child ran away and came back on his own. My question is what did the child do for four years? Someone must have employed him, why don’t they probe it?” as reported by ibnlive.com

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) estimated that 60, 000 children go missing each year even with the fact that large states like Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also Jharkhand and Punjab have not provided the missing children data.

The chief secretaries of all the states and Union territories have been asked by the Supreme Court to instruct all the police stations to register an FIR and start investigation of the reported missing children.
A bench of chief justice Altamas Kabir, justices Vikramajit Sen and J Chelameswar has also directed that all police stations should have a special juvenile police officer to handle the cases of missing children, as reported by Rakesh Bhatnagar for DNA.

It was informed that these officers will be in plain clothes and will coordinate with the child welfare committees regarding the cases. The order was passed by the court on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO ‘Bachpan Bachao Andolan’ which claimed that between January 2008-2010 over 1.7 lakh children have gone missing in the country.  About 60,000 children go missing in India each year, with over 30,000 remaining untraced.

As per the recent report by the statistics ministry, it informs that while an absolute increase of 181 million in the country’s population has been recorded during the decade 2001-2011, it also records a reduction of 5.05 millions in the population of children aged 0-6 years during the same period.

Losing a child is the greatest sorrow felt by parents, it cannot be understood by anyone, let alone the police force. As the missing child isn’t considered as a fiendish crime in the Indian legal system very little attention is paid to the recovery of such children. With the numbers increasing the country is taking the matter seriously, however the need for efficiency and speedy recovery to resolve cases is most asked for in the country.

 

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30 Cool High Tech #Gadgets you will love for your home

Gadgets are becoming a part of our everyday life and like the mobile phone (one of the first gadgets) we are starting to be addicted, depending on them for our daily actions. As technology advances, so do these gadgets that we are fond of and we are amazed by the new concepts created by young and ambitious designers. These innovations appear from a necessity of solving the problems that old products have and besides new and improved functions, they also come with a beautiful design.

Transparent TV

The transparent tv designed by Michael Friebe is a marvelous piece of technology that combines conventional LCD and the latest TOLED display technology. This allows to create non-transparent / solid moving pictures with rich color reproduction and full contrast range from solid black to pristine white.

Floor Plan Light switch

Have you ever had a problem with forgetting which light switch stands for what light? Taewon Hwang came with the great idea of creating a master light switch with a simple design that shows you what lights you are turning on or off.

The AURA Lamp

Looking almost alien like, the AURA lamp lights up a room with a certain texture and that is because it’s a woven lamp hand made in France.

Dimensional Wall Panels

People aren’t familiar with 3D wall panels. I don’t know why, cause they surely bring a nice feel to a room, with their interesting shapes that create a beautiful arrangement of light and shadows. They can also be put in shops, restaurants, offices and because of their different that usual look they transmit a nice futuristic look.

The RIMA lamp

The RIMA lamp is one like no other because of its interesting feature that allows you to control the light via four controller rings that you can slide. This beautiful lamp created by Matthias Pinkert has a processor which controls the heat, intensity, angle of the beam and color.

Sony Eclipse

This Sony Eclipse concept created by Hoang M Nguyen and Anh Nguyen is a media player that uses photovoltaic cells situated on its backside to draw in solar power. With this player you have a slight change of seeing the battery low warning very very rare.

Pouring Light Lamp

A strange but interesting lamp that will surely be sold really fast if it would be put in stores is this one created by Yeongwoo Kim. The lamp uses LED lights that are situated in the bucket and with the help of phosphorescence in the “water” it lights in a marvelous way.

Door Handle With Self-sterilization System

Senzo Nightlight

It’s really annoying during the night when you wake up and not find the light switch. The solution is provided by Soledad Clavell and Marcos Madia who created this wonderful nightlight that lights up the room when touching it.

 

 

Electrolux Fireplace

This fireplace created by Camillo Vanacore for Electrolux looks almost magical because of its transformation from off to on, from an opaque ceramic column to a transparent one.

 

Eco Cleaner

Without using regular dish detergents, the Eco Cleaner makes the plates bright and fresh using ultrasonic waves to ionize food particles on the dishes, converting the food into reusable compost for plants. Less waste and more nutrients for plants are a good idea for the future and a solution for enriching the soil. Of course, we’re talking about the soil for the plants that you keep in your apartment.

Document Extractor – Combi Monitor

Saving space on the desk has always been a problem for some and to solve this issue Byeong Min Choe has come up with a marvelous idea of combining a printer and a monitor.

On Switch

Minimalistic and elegant. That’s how you define this light switch created by Burakov Denis.

Green Smart Glass

The Green Smart Glass has an interesting technology that harnesses the heat energy from the hot beverage and stores it to be used later.

 

iQ Alarm clock

Instead of the snooze button which you unwillingly press in the morning, this alarm clock has questions that need your lucidity to solve them. This way, you will surely get up fast in the morning.

Change It! Wall

This wall has been passed around on the internet for some time and has become a neat attraction. It’s not LED or anything digital, it’s actually made of turning triangles with different colors on them, white, black and a rainbow color. It is limited at these three options for now, but I’m sure we’ll see in the future various patterns and images.

Orbital Washing Machine

Washing clothes has never been so easy. With the incorporated basket you can load and unload the clothes in the washing machine as easy as 1, 2, 3. This isn’t the only innovative feature. The spherical drum is moving on two axes washing your clothes better than the old washing machines that use only one axe.

Bediator

Having a warm bed underneath you is a cool thing, especially if you’re in a place where winters are incredibly cold. Now I don’t know how much weight this bed radiator-bed supports but if it can take two medium people it is awesome.

LED Ceiling

This is an interesting concept created by Seo Dong-Hun that allows you to create on the ceiling the light shapes you want. Literally, you can paint the ceiling with light. Imagine the artworks that would result from some people’s imagination.

LULA Lung Lamp

LULA is a product that collects data and indicates the air quality in your room. If it’s connected to the internet, it can process the data and tell you the health issues that you are facing in that situation and how you can avoid having problems caused by the quality of air.

WAT Lamp

The WAT lamp has the interesting ability to generate light if you fuel it with water. Yeah, it sounds outrageously futuristic, but the system is actually not that strange. The water combines with a hydroelectric battery to generate an electrochemical reaction that lights it up.

Miranda

This surface tile is not for everyone but it is fun for sure, having the ability to morph the way you want it and create shapes and basic drawings on it. More info can be found on Giles Miller’s site.

WAVE Ultra Sonic Wine Ager And Refrigerator

Ever wanted to age your wine so that it will be of a higher quality? Now you can, it’s not only a movie idea. Designer Mika Yamamoto has created this device that does this incredible thing. The Wave uses magnetic cooling system that is based on the magnetocaloric effect, which is the ability of some materials to heat up when magnetized and cool when removed from the magnetic field. It reduces carbon emissions and increases energy efficiency. It can possibly cut energy consumption by 40%. It also reduces the cost of electricity.

The Wave Dish Washer

This dishwasher beautifully designed by Guilherme Parolin makes the action of washing dishes a piece of cake thanks to its user friendly control panel.

Swan Umbrella Dryer

Drying up a wet umbrella has always been a problem. Till Noh Seon Mi designed the Swan Umbrella Dryer, of course.

 

1limit Faucet

Unlike the +- water faucet which only tells you how much you consume and doesn’t technically help you to reduce your costs, the 1litre limited faucet helps you to consume only the water that you need.

iChef+ Oven

From what I’ve seen on the market, the ovens are not user friendly at all, having changed over the years only at an aesthetic level without modifying the process in which you actually cook the meal. The iChef Oven has an innovative and powerful computer behind it’s technology and I believe it can be considered a milestone in its niche.

The Book Light

This product with integrated LEDs in a plastic body is an interesting product for the people who read a lot and need a discreet light over their pages. Don’t worry about the light being to powerful, cause you can adjust it as you please.

The Tulip Bath/Shower

In a small bathroom there’s always a problem with space and the Tulip Bath/Shower designed by Piotr Pyrtek provides the solution. Saving space is not its only feature, having a number of characteristics that qualifies it as a luxury item, like underwater jets or massage programs.