The power of two

Two to Tango: When the time comes, I hope we'll be able to meet. It takes two to tango. I am ready, the arena is ready

Two hands to greet: There is no friend like an old friend who has shared our morning days, no greeting like his welcome, no homage like his praise.

Two for Love: In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing. Two wings to fly: You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.

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Delhi Belly: 'Paranthe wali Gali'

In the heart of old Delhi's commercial hub, Chandini Chowk, lays a historical landmark since the time of the Mughals - the "Paranthe wali Gali." A very famous street, "Paranthe wali Gali" (‘gali' means street that sells ‘paranthas' - an Indian food delicacy, sort of chapatti) has seen almost three passed centuries. It houses descendants of the royal chefs of yore who make Paranthas that taste heavenly. So much so, that the Parantha is perhaps the only food in the world to have an entire street named after it!

The first impression of the gali is that of a bustling narrow by lane, crowds walking, bikes, cyclists' driving past, people browsing through the sari and jewellery shops! But as one strolls deeper into the street there begins an irresistible tingling sensation in the nostrils.

And one looks around sniffing the air for more of it and then you know for sure that you're in the right place. Sizzling hot paranthas are being fried here! Each day the dexterous hands of these chefs toss out the most amazing concoctions of a parantha.
Plain paranthas, salted or sweet paranthas, dal (pulses) ka parantha, gobhi ka parantha minced cauliflower), radish parantha, pudina parantha (mint), popadom parantha, cashew nut parantha - the variety is endless. You name it and they have it! All one is required to do is to knead some dough into small balls, roll it on a wooden base, addfillings ranging from cottage cheese, potatoes sprinkled with chopped ginger, and exotic Indian spices, fry it in ghee or butter and viola, it's the perfect recipe for a lip-smacking parantha.

At the moment there are about 40 varieties of paranthas and these chefs plan to add another 50 varieties in the coming years. The Paranthe wali gali caters only for the pure vegetarian - even no onion and no garlic!

What's different about the paranthas of Chandini Chowk is that they are fried in a kadhai, which is a griddle of sorts but very deep almost like an iron bowl. So the paranthas are doused in ghee or butter. The more oil used for frying the parantha the tastier it gets. It definitely is a satiating experience.

Earlier in the 1980s the gali had thirteen eateries cooking these sumptuous paranthas. But as more and more families are diversifying into other business ventures, only three families of Chandini Chowk are left in the field of parantha-making. It is their sixth generation that has taken on the endeavor to preserve the gali's name and offer the flavor of the past to the present.

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City Fashion: Winter 'Hot' Wear

Jackets, gloves and scarves are all what we associate with the winters. But miniskirts? Well, fashion freaks actually say it’s arctic cool...
Skirts are for summers and Uggs for winters and they mix like oil and water - is it what you believe in? Do you take it for granted that being a Delhiite your winter wardrobe can include everything from fuzzy sweaters to bulky jackets, but definitely not minis, whatsoever? Then it’s time to look around and whip your wardrobe into shape. With mercury keeping low, Delhi is getting ’hotter’ in fashion than never before. Thought this is the effect of roasted beans available in coffee shops cordoning the city?

Phew…it’s all because of Delhi damsels dressed to kill in mini skirts, long boots and leather jackets. The icy weather has in fact fuelled their flaunt-it fashion. It is not only to make a few heads turn at them whenever they walk in but more to feel sexy whatever be the season.

"A mini in winter is more than a style statement - it’s a declaration of youth and independence," says Payal, a central Delhi based airhostess. Tweeds and checks are the top choices in fabric and the skirt length averages about 40 centimeters.
At a leading store, in the South Extension II market, the assortment of skirts sold to young women (between the late teens and early twenties) this fall season turned out to be mostly minis. "In addition to tweed and checked skirts that give a traditional British feel, also popular are pleated skirts and skirts that come with belts and other accessories," says Lehar Grover, a designer, adding that since September, miniskirt sales throughout the stores have indeed grown compared to the previous years.
"Length of the skirts vary from long to midis to minis (with length 45 cm or shorter), and popular fabrics include denim, wool, and tweed," says Poonam Bajaj, designer.

If you are still wandering how these haute babes are managing their minis without getting frozen into ice cubes then we have one word for you: leggings! To complete your overall look, pull on the fall’s hottest boots and some super comfy jackets. As your stylish mercury hits the peak, you’ll step out in the cold with confidence! "Hand crafted Italian boots, leather boots and boots made from python skin in blacks, browns are indeed gorgeous," says Deepika Govind, designer based at Khan Market.

Whatever be your style, the rule of thumb is to be comfortable and happy in your style. "Remember you are wearing the skirt and the skirt is not wearing you," came a chorus from the fashion pundits unanimously.

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Capital Trend: Tea Lounges

The Tea Lounge, Lajpat Nagar: If you are meeting up with old friends partying late into the night is inevitable. Before the gang returned to their respective permanent addas in Maharashtra, we did some partying here in Delhi. A lot was cooked but only a little was photographed. I was too rushed at times, and the fact that my ‘food photography’ was the source of some amusement to the lot was not lost on me. All in good humor, of course.

Masala Chai, Kidwai Nagar: It may seem to some, who don’t live to eat, that tender ginger, giant cucumbers, and cups of tea, are not the best subjects for photography. Obviously they have forgotten all the art appreciation classes we had as undergraduates students of architecture. Food and drink are very suitable still-life subjects.

Cha Bar, Oxford Book Store: (Cha Bar, Oxford Bookstore, Statesman House, 148 Barakhamba Road, 011-23766084). Most Delhi wallas are tea lovers but only within home. Outside, they talk like coffee connoisseurs. That may be changing. No longer is this humble drink confined to grimy dhabas and JNU addas, or locked behind the counters of 5-star hotel lounges. Chai is becoming cool. Tea bars are the new hotspots. The brewed beverage has started infusing into the milky layer of the Delhi social scene.

App ki Pasand, Daryaganj: Most Delhi wallas are tea lovers but only within home. Outside, they talk like coffee connoisseurs. That may be changing. No longer is this humble drink confined to grimy dhabas and JNU addas, or locked behind the counters of 5-star hotel lounges. Chai is becoming cool. Tea bars are the new hotspots. The brewed beverage has started infusing into the milky layer of the Delhi social scene.

Everest Tea (Everest Bakery Café, G. No. 4591, Dal Mandi, Main Bazar, Paharganj) I sit down on the cane sofa, beside a samovar. Staring wide-eyed at the giant tea caddies, as a Japanese-speaking attendant serves Jasmine in a moderately large glass bowl. He insisted on iced tea but I wanted it warm. Though the chai's heady fragrance is soothing, its faint fruity sweetness playful, I continue to feel lethargic. It is eventually the zesty Neelgiri that lifts me from my afternoon languor.

Crafts House (Craft House, Metropolitan Hotel Nikko, Banglasahib Road (011-42500200)While the Craft House at the nearby Metropolitan Hotel oozes the same character as that of Premier's, here it's not only about the tea. The bar-counter with its cookie tray, and the wooden shelves with their Orange Pekoe and Organic Makabari share the showroom space with spices and silk, perfumes and pashmina. It helps that the place employs two knowledgeable attendants. Try visiting during noon when their work-shift timing clash. As the lady from Imphal prepares the chai, the other explains the art of tea-tasting.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
There are lots of reasons why I enjoy a hot cup of tea: I love the aroma of various flavors of tea; holding onto a hot tea mug warms my hands on a cold winter morning; sipping tea in front of the fireplace is a great way to relax. And those are just the feel-good reasons. If you're not drinking tea yet, read up on these 10 ways tea does your body good and then see if you're ready to change your Starbucks order!

1. Tea contains antioxidants. Like the Rust-Oleum paint that keeps your outdoor furniture from rusting, tea's antioxidants protect your body from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution.

2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. Coffee usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea (unless you're a fan of Morning Thunder, which combines caffeine with mate, an herb that acts like caffeine in our body). An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg caffeine; tea contains only 30 to 40 mg per cup. If drinking coffee gives you the jitters, causes indigestion or headaches or interferes with sleep -- switch to tea.

3. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Unwanted blood clots formed from cholesterol and blood platelets cause heart attack and stroke. Drinking tea may help keep your arteries smooth and clog-free, the same way a drain keeps your bathroom pipes clear. A 5.6-year study from the Netherlands found a 70 percent lower risk of fatal heart attack in people who drank at least two to three cups of black tea daily compared to non-tea drinkers.

4. Tea protects your bones. It's not just the milk added to tea that builds strong bones. One study that compared tea drinkers with non-drinkers, found that people who drank tea for 10 or more years had the strongest bones, even after adjusting for age, body weight, exercise, smoking and other risk factors. The authors suggest that this may be the work of tea's many beneficial phytochemicals.

5. Tea gives you a sweet smile. One look at the grimy grin of Austin Powers and you may not think drinking tea is good for your teeth, but think again. It's the sugar added to it that's likely to blame for England's bad dental record. Tea itself actually contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay. So add unsweetened tea drinking to your daily dental routine of brushing and flossing for healthier teeth and gums.

6. Tea bolsters your immune defenses. Drinking tea may help your body's immune system fight off infection. When 21 volunteers drank either five cups of tea or coffee each day for four weeks, researchers saw higher immune system activity in the blood of the tea drinkers.

7. Tea protects against cancer. Thank the polyphenols, the antioxidants found in tea, once again for their cancer-fighting effects. While the overall research is inconclusive, there are enough studies that show the potential protective effects of drinking tea to make adding tea to your list of daily beverages.

8. Tea helps keep you hydrated. Caffeinated beverages, including tea, used to be on the list of beverages that didn't contribute to our daily fluid needs. Since caffeine is a diuretic and makes us pee more, the thought was that caffeinated beverages couldn't contribute to our overall fluid requirement. However, recent research has shown that the caffeine really doesn't matter -- tea and other caffeinated beverages definitely contribute to our fluid needs. The only time the caffeine becomes a problem as far as fluid is concerned is when you drink more than five or six cups of a caffeinated beverage at one time.

9. Tea is calorie-free. Tea doesn't have any calories, unless you add sweetener or milk. Consuming even 250 fewer calories per day can result in losing one pound per week. If you're looking for a satisfying, calorie-free beverage, tea is a top choice.

10. Tea increases your metabolism. Lots of people complain about a slow metabolic rate and their inability to lose weight. Green tea has been shown to actually increase metabolic rate so that you can burn 70 to 80 additional calories by drinking just five cups of green tea per day. Over a year's time you could lose eight pounds just by drinking green tea. Of course, taking a 15-minute walk every day will also burn calories.

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City hangout : PVR Priya

Lets go for movie: One of the most famous hang outs in South Delhi is PVR Priyas, which is usually full of young turks from near by colleges like IIT Delhi, Jesus & Mary , Lady Shri Ram college & also from diplomatic enclave in Chankyapuri. Its crowded on weekends, full of young guns and dating couples.

Unstable Isotopes :Apart from a cinema complex, here you can find all major global brands and second hand book store right at the entry point, its must visit for book lovers. Across India, the way we watch movies today has changed completely, thanks to Ajay Bijli who came up with India’s first multiplex at Saket in New Delhi in 1997. Today, his company PVR is not just a film exhibitor but also a producer and distributor under the PVR Pictures banner.

Why should boys have all the fun? There are some good eating joints like 'Khaaza chowk' , Mcc Donalds, Nirulas, Pizza hut and many other restra offering Indian, chinese, thai, mughlai and other diffrent cusines, making it a good visit for food lovers & also dating couples and college/school bunkers. Beautiful girl can make you dizzy here , like you been drinking jack and coke all morning, they can make you feel high, for the single greatest comodity known to man - promise. promise of a better day, promise of a greater hope, promise of a new tomorrow. this particular aura, can be found in the gait of a beautiful girl, in her smile, in her soul, and the way she makes every rotten little thing about life seem like its gonna be ok.

Show what you have: The youngster here can be seen flaunting the latest bollywood fashion, hair style and wandering with most on window shopping. Smokers have thier own place, at the rear end of the complex. It has a disco and a famous bar.

Beware of night: Crowded by richie-rich kids, the bar here is place to show off money, power and lot more.

Young & restless : Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!

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Fitness Mantra

STRESSED OUT: They have businesses to run, deadlines to meet and power-packed meetings to attend. Four career women straddled the sometimes uneven balance between their hectic work and an equally busy home life that left them with little time for themselves. But the need to not just look but also feel good about themselves saw them carving out some me-time.
Each had their own special fitness mantra. Like 31-year-old Avisha Goswamy who hits the road in her running shoes every day or 34-year-old Neha Lidder Ganju who turns to Pilates.

Follow a portable diet when hard-pressed for time “Spending long hours at work and neglecting meals is a sign of trouble. I munch on fruits and drink a lot of juice at regular intervals when I am travelling. It’s important to keep the body fuelled at all times,” says Goswami.Pick an exercise that works for you

TIP: It’s very easy to have a rum and coke or smoke to ease the stress. But following a regular regime instead is beneficial.“I am used to being on my toes 24X7 and being hyperactive is second nature to me. An exercise that gives an instant adrenaline rush keeps me going, whereas forms like yoga, personally don’t work for me, as opposed to others,” adds Goswami, who believes that one shouldn’t forcefully take up a regime. Passion for wellness should be the key.

Following a regulated diet and regime became inherent,” adds Ganju, who does Pilates and strength-building exercises at a gym, four times a week for two hours. “I don’t depend on a trainer. I pick up moves from different forms of exercise and add it my routine to make things interesting,” she adds. She isn’t one to hit the treadmill only after putting on weight, “I think strength and stamina are built over the years,”

Know your stress points “Everyone has different stress points like the lower back and shoulders. Don’t strain them to the level that they give away,” says Ganju, who concentrates on exercises like stretches, shoulder rotations to release the pressure.

Go the Arnold way “My husband and I treat Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book on body building like the Bible. It explains everything one needs to know about fitness. I pick out exercises that I find suitable for my body type and create a regime for myself,” says Ganju, who doesn’t believe in following a trainer blindly. “It’s imperative to understand the importance and focus of each exercise, and change is good to kill the monotony,” she adds.

Dieting is emotionally starving “Constantly stopping yourself from eating or mentally debating the kilo and calorie ratio will leave you exhausted. Rather than punishing yourself, eat everything in moderation,” says Ganju.TIP: Can’t get yourself to eat green vegetables all the time? Just pick up a carton of juice instead. It’s healthy and refreshing during summer.With two businesses to run, clients to meet and battling Delhi's traffic, Bhavna Jasra’s day is tightly packed. But despite the demands of her work, she chalks out time, thrice a week, to stay in shape. “I’ve always been on the slim side, but after my pregnancy, I put on seven kilos. I thought I’d lose the weight, but I got comfortable with it,” says the mother of six-yearold Tia. But it was while flipping through old photographs that Jasra decided she wanted to get back in shape. This was also the time when her business was getting off the ground and pressures were high. Jasra started going to the gym, but the monotony saw her switching first to swimming and later, Pilates. When the business began to franchise out of Mumbai, her stress levels hit a high and she decided to try Tai Chi. “Its holistic approach to well-being helped put my mind and body in sync and did wonders for my concentration,” she says. And it’s helped her go beyond just getting the right muscle tone to feeling good. She shares her tips on staying fit.Tuck into a big breakfast “A healthy breakfast that’s high on the nutrition count keeps energy levels running high,” says Jasra, who keeps it interesting with an omelette made of egg white, sprouts, cereal or a whole grain sandwich.Don’t deny a hunger pang, just keep it healthy “A fruit goes a long way in tackling a hunger pang and is low on the calorie count,” says Jasra, who carries fruit to work. She also warns against exercising on an empty stomach, suggesting a glass of juice or milk.Don’t do anything you’re forced to but not comfortable with “A sure fire way to feel let-down is on a diet that has you craving for that square of chocolate,” she says. Jasra allows herself the occasional indulgence, but keeps a mental track of what she’s eating without being obsessive.TIP: Take breaks from work for a long weekend or to spend time with the family. It’s the best way to rejuvenate and will reflect on your productivity.Nandini Sawhny has always been conscious of her weight. “I’ve been on the heavy side all my life and it’s made me keep tabs on the weighing scale,” she says. After her pregnancy, it became more of a challenge, when she put on 12 kg and was bordering on being overweight. Choosing yoga to shed the wobbly bits, she avoided the usual gym routines that she felt were hard on the knees and back. “I lost five inches and it’s also helped my sinusitis, allowing me to go off medication completely,” says Sawhny, who does yoga five times a week, for an hour every morning.She is also particular about what is cooked at home, additionally so because her father-in-law is a heart patient and her elder son is a few kilos too heavy. “I am a foodie but while I don’t obsess over what I eat, I know I have to work at staying a certain size and it helps me stay disciplined,” she says.Focus on the internal as much as surface good looks “Being able to cut off from everyday pressures and clear my head is more valuable than losing inches,” says Sawhny, who does a combination of breathing exercises and cardio to stay on her toes. And there’s the additional psychological boost of being able to fit into clothes she couldn’t earlier.Eat healthy and you don’t need to crash diet Sawhny doesn’t frequent dieticians or deny herself the odd cookie or ice cream. “I’ve swapped white rice for brown, rotis are made of bajra or jowar and fried foods are a treat for the children when we go the movies, but not lying around at home,” says the mother of Advaye, 10, and Arush, 8.

MAN HEALTH TIPS

Yet it’s obviously important that men of all ages become more proactive about their health. And an easy way to start is to follow these 10 basic steps to maintaining health and vitality.

1. Eliminate "White Foods" from Your Diet. White flour, white sugar and other processed foods are not only devoid of vitamins and minerals, but they’ve also been stripped of their natural fibre. As a result, they rapidly drive up blood sugar levels, which contributes to weight gain, diabetes and a host of other health problems. Avoid breads and baked goods made with white flour, sugar-laden sodas and snack foods. Instead, focus on eating fibre-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

2. Stay Away from Dangerous Trans Fats. While it’s important to reduce your overall fat intake, it’s even more important to watch the types of fat you eat. Deep-fried foods and anything made with hydrogenated oils (margarine, peanut butter, shortening, store-bought pastries and cookies) contain trans fats that raise your risk of heart disease. Eat only healthful fats, such as olive oil and the omega-3 oils found in salmon and other cold-water fish, which actually protect against heart disease.

3. Take a Potent Daily Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement. Although there is no substitute for a good diet, I am convinced that for optimal nutrition, you need to take a high-potency multivitamin and mineral supplement. Even if you are eating right, it’s unlikely that your food contains all the nutrients you need. Poor soil quality, storage, processing and cooking deplete our food of vitamins and minerals. Taking a high quality daily supplement is "health insurance" against possible deficiencies.

4. Include Weight Training in Your Exercise Routine. Aerobic exercise is great for cardiovascular conditioning, but it’s vastly inferior to weight training in attacking the "flab factor." Recent research has shown that as little as once-weekly resistance exercise can improve muscle strength. Even the busiest or laziest among us can find the time and energy for that. Join a gym, consult a personal trainer or ask an experienced friend to show you the ropes.

5. Maintain Your Optimal Weight. Current statistics suggest that half of us are losing the battle of the bulge, but maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You’ll look better, feel better and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other major killers. I know this is easier said than done, but if you just follow the four steps above, you’ll be well on your way.

6. Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation. You’ve probably heard of the "French Paradox," and that drinking wine protects against heart disease. Repeated studies have shown that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (all kinds) protects not only against heart disease, but also lowers risk of death from all causes. Remember that moderation is key. While one to two drinks a day are protective, excess alcohol consumption is devastating to health. And for some, one drink is too many.

7. Protect Your Prostate. Around the age of 40, the prostate gland begins a growth spurt that results in symptoms such as frequent nighttime urination. The good news is that this condition, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, can be prevented or reversed by taking extracts of two herbs: saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and pygeum (Pygeum africanum). Dozens of studies have shown that these herbs work in improving urinary flow without adverse side-effects. Suggested doses are 160 to 320 milligrams of saw palmetto and 40 to 80 mg of pygeum daily.

8. Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer. Experts estimate that 80 per cent of all cancers can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. Avoid saturated and trans fats, which may fuel prostate cancer growth, and incorporate protective foods, such as soy, green tea and tomatoes, into your diet. Soy contains isoflavones with specific anti-cancer activity. Green tea is rich in polyphenols that inhibit the formation of cancer-causing compounds and block the growth of prostate cancer cells. And tomatoes, particularly cooked tomato products, are an excellent source of lycopene, which is linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. In addition, make sure your daily nutritional supplement contains high doses of the antioxidant selenium (200 micrograms) and vitamin E (800 IU), which have been shown to dramatically lower the risk of prostate cancer.

9. Maintain Vigorous Sexual Function. Most cases of erectile dysfunction (impotence) have a physical cause: You’re just not getting enough blood to the area in question. To improve overall circulation, follow the diet, exercise and supplement recommendations above. If you’re taking drugs, review them with your doctor, as many can worsen erectile function and impair libido. Smoking also significantly impairs erectile function. Several herbs have been shown to improve sexual function. Ginkgo biloba increases blood flow to the penis, and Panax ginseng, oats, horny goat weed, maca and seroctin improve libido.

10. Maintain Close Relationships. Another thing women seem to do better than men is maintain close relationships. Make a point to strengthen ties with your family and friends. Volunteer work, religious ties, even pets–anything that keeps you involved with others–reduces stress and enhances health. Take charge of your health by incorporating these 10 steps into your life. The rewards of optimal health and well-being will be well worth your efforts.

FOR WOMAN

When you are eating well and exercising daily, one of the last things you want to do is feel as though you are depriving yourself of some of your favorite treats. So, be sure to treat yourself. You may wish to have a small indulgence each day if you wish or a slice of cake as a reward once a week as an example. A small piece of chocolate has about 50 calories. If you choose dark chocolate, it is rich in flavonoids (just like red wine) and they are actually good for you! Cadbury has a 100 calorie thin chocolate bar that is also great. If you choose a once a week treat, then adjust your calories accordingly throughout the day and you should be just fine. Even if you eat more in one sitting such as at a restaurant on Saturday night, this can actually work to your benefit.

When your body is kept guessing each day on the amount of calories you are consuming, it actually tends to burn more fat over the course of the week.I know organic produce, dairy and meat is generally more expensive and harder to find in many cases, however the sooner you start budgeting for this, the better. There are a lot of toxins in our food chain that are making us progressively sicker as a society.

Do a little research and you'll see that this is indeed true. In addition, the moment you try some of the produce for example, you'll start to notice a real difference in quality. Standards vary, so be sure to read labels and become a more educated consumer. The whole foods industry is growing and we will soon see decreases in pricing as demand for these wonderful products increases.Eat berries and more berries. Berries are rich in antioxidants, high in fiber and low in calories. Foods that are rich in antioxidants are highly recommended.

According to Wikipedia.com: "an antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells". Free radicals can lead to cancer.

Try putting those berries in your oatmeal, and not only are you helping ward off cancer but you are also lowering your blood cholesterol levels too!Meditate for the sake of your heart and circulatory system, as well as your overall sense of well-being. Meditation in its simplest form involves closing your eyes and focusing on your breath. When a distraction enters your mind, you simply re-focus on your breath. After a few sessions, you'll find that you are able to go longer and longer without interference. The benefits of meditation have been documented over the past 25 years in leading research studies.

In a nutshell, meditation can: reduce stress, increase energy, increase creativity and intelligence, increase inner calm, promote a younger biological age, improve memory and learning ability, reduce anxiety and depression, reduce insomnia, and increase happiness and self-esteem.

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Random Alphabets: C for Cigar dinners

There is a perception of success and that you have ‘arrived’ in life,” says young a Delhite. The cohiba company has organised polo events and four-course cigar dinners—a different cigar, wine and food dish for every course.

There is also a Cingari club being planned, which will gather cigar connoisseurs over dinners. “We also plan to open signature retail stores, Casa del Habanos, where you can sit and smoke and even have your own lockers.”While many of the newer converts are youngsters, Ameeta says the customers vary from city to city. Delhi sees a lot of businesspeople smoking, while younger professionals are taking to it in Mumbai and Bangalore.

Delhiites prefer established names such as Montecristo and Cohiba; limited edition cigars are also popular. “More people now prefer short, robust cigars like Churchill as they don’t have the time to smoke a cigar for two hours,” she adds. For the novice, one member has some advice: “Start with a small, mild cigar, buy it at a reputed place and don’t be embarrassed to ask questions. Don’t inhale and don’t light up with a gas lighter. Don’t stub out the cigar; let it die with dignity.” But it is also about creating and selling an image: picture a sophisticated evening with close friends at a plush farmhouse. “Cigars are aspirational; they speak of world travel, single malts and international food.

WARNING: SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH

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What Delhi did on New Year

Some enjoyed live night shows

Some drunk n drive. Taking Delhi Police head on

Waiting before dance floor is jam packed

Fireworks marked the new year eve

Only to woke up to very foggy & chilly New Year

Light gliitered at Gurgaon, NCR

Fountains dance at Connaught Place, New Delhi

City was kept awoke n bikers kept honking at Delhi-Gurgaon expressway, taking Supreme Court verdict of Jan 1st as 'NO HORN DAY' head on , yet again

Businees as usual for MCD workers. New Year or not, work is work

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The new vocubalary

The new vocubalaryThe change in lifestyles, thanks to the Great Depression of 2008, has also led to a change in vocabulary. We are hearing a new set of Hate Words; or words we hate to hear. Here are the ones that are destined to dominate headlines and conversations in the foreseeable future, words that are guaranteed to send anybody into a depression.Global cues: If anybody can explain how stock markets behave the way they do, he/she would be set for life and the afterlife. When the bulls were on the rampage, it had nothing to do with what was happening in the rest of the world. Now that the bears are clawing their way back, everything is attributed to 'global cues'. For those who have invested heavily in the markets, there is nothing more depressing than watching anchors on business channels babbling on about global cues. Well, actually there is: they also have a habit of telling viewers that the bear market is the best time to invest in blue chip stocks since prices are low, just a day before the markets tumble to a new low. It's hard to bear. Pink slips: I used to think pink slips were some mysterious undergarment (Victoria Secrets?) that women wore to look sexy in bed. Now, it's a piece of paper that tells you that your career has slipped and mysteriously gone under.

Saas bahu serials: Millions of housewives are in depression and it has nothing to do with cost cutting, inflation or the state of the husband's bank balance but the on-going TV industry strike that has robbed them of their daily entertainment watching saas bahu serials. The serial killer means that they are now forced to watch re-runs which could be a permanent punishment since the TRP's of earlier episodes are actually higher than the latest ones. Go figure.

ICL: Used to stand for the Indian Cricket League, a hugely popular made-for-TV serial with high TRP's and a great cast of individual stars from sports, entertainment and business. Now that business is down, it stands for Individual Credit Limit which is what banks and credit card companies have started to shrink. Which is where so many of those affected by the current crisis are headed---the nearest shrink.

Crash diet: Used to be a popular fad and made for great social conversation with everyone exchanging notes on the latest crash diet. Now that the real crash is here, the diet is the first thing that everybody's cutting down on. Who has time to calculate calories and carbs and cholesterol when calculating your shrinking bank balance is proof enough that are fast losing pounds, and dollars, and rupees.

Marxism: Was pretty much a hate word except among a handful of faithful followers in West Bengal, I mean the guys been dead since 1883 and last heard, he went out of fashion with the collapse of the USSR in 1989. In fact, he went deeper in the red, metaphorically speaking, with the ascent of the Marx Brothers (no relations). Now, with bankers and financial institutions clamouring for greater state controls over capital, he's returned to mock all of us who treated the free market like the flea market and are now feeling groucho.

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Foot Asleep? Wake up to Diabetes!

If your foot often falls asleep and there are cuts or bruises on them that cause no sensation, brace yourself - it may be a case of diabetic foot. With World Diabetes Day falling on Friday, experts have a word of advice. Leading a life of discipline and being cautious with one's feet is the key to living with diabetes and dealing with the potential risk of gangrenous infection is simple, they say."Diabetic patients are often lazy about basic instructions - following a disciplined routine of taking medicines and regular exercises as prescribed. These are essential to keeping the circulation of blood and sugar levels in check," said Ashok Jhingan, diabetologist and chairman, Delhi Diabetes Research Centre, Diabetes is a growing problem on the Indian subcontinent and in the Middle East.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there were an estimated 40 million people with diabetes in India in 2007 and this number is predicted to rise to almost 70 million people by 2025.

"When a normal person wakes up in the morning, he goes to the mirror to look at his face. But a diabetic needs to look at his feet with the same care," Jhingan said.

This is because the symptoms and signs of a diabetic foot include numbness or tingling in the feet, persistent sensation of cold feet, ulcerations on the foot or the toes.

"One must also be wary of small cuts or burns that can develop into gangrene or deformities on the toes and the foot," Jhingan explained.

A recent study compiled by Kushagra Katariya, CEO Artemis Health Sciences and cardio thoracic surgeon, ahead of World Diabetes Day on Nov 14, found that approximately 5 percent of diabetics develop foot ulcers and 12 percent develop poor leg and foot circulation and every 30 seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes.

"Unfortunately as a result of these problems, a diabetic is 15 times more likely to have an amputation of the leg than a non-diabetic," Katariya said.

Diabetic foot problems can occur at any age and after any amount of time following someone being diagnosed as a diabetic.

"However, most patients with diabetic foot problems are older, as circulation gets poor with advancing age," he added.

It is important for diabetics to get their feet regularly checked by a healthcare professional that specializes in this field, feel doctors.

"If there is a small infection, it can be controlled before it develops into a gangrene-like threat - the dead skin can be scraped, aspirin like drugs for speeding circulation to wounded areas can be prescribed, but first the diabetic must check his feet and be careful," Jhingan observed.In some cases, the blood circulation in diabetes patients is so bad that it can cause vascular blockages. These can be removed surgically but also through an angioplasty or laser."The doctor may order simple tests such as a vascular ultrasound to check the circulation in the legs. More advanced tests may include a CT-Angio or an MRA to look at the vascular supply," said Katariya.Many diabetic foot problems can be nipped in the bud by raising patient awareness to potential problems - watch your weight, keep blood sugar levels in control and get regular checkups."Diabetics should always buy footwear in the evenings," Jhingan quipped, "not in the mornings as poor blood circulation causes the foot to swell in evenings - the shoes should not be tight or smaller. Comfortable soft soled footwear should be worn."In winters, the diabetic foot is often likely to be regarded as a chill bite."In which case the patient should be doubly cautious - keep warm but avoid prolonged exposure to hot water - this can cause bacterial infections and non-healing ulcers in diabetic patients, as their wounds take longer to heal. Due to loss of sensation in their feet, diabetics often don't come to know about such injury early enough," Jhingan averred.In India almost 40,000 legs are amputated every year due to diabetes alone."Due to a gradual decrease in vision, diabetic patients tend to wound themselves. And due to a simultaneous loss of sensation in the feet, they do not feel the pain and hence the wound is ignored, causing prolonged infection - the limb then has to be amputated," Jhingan said.

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Every broken Coriolanus revived

It is often said that we know nothing of Shakespeare’s personal views. This is largely because he had such a genius for expressing almost every possible human type from within... and [we] cannot know what a man thought who was able to see every question from every possible angle, and who never once appeared in his own guise... Moreover, his plays show moral problems; they do not preach their solutions... I think, however, that the unknowability of Shakespeare’s views can be exaggerated. We can safely deduce... that he was not puritanical in his views, but neither was he an amoralist. In politics... he was neither a utopian nor a complete cynic. Moreover, since the dramatic effect of his plays depends on the plausibility of his depictions, when he shows the crowd as foolish, fickle and frenzied, we must suppose that he thought this to be at the very least a plausible depiction. Shakespeare was no friend of tyranny, but neither did the multitude ever appear heroic in his works. In his last tragedy, Coriolanus, Shakespeare examines political life in as unsparing and unsentimental a way as Machiavelli. Coriolanus [is] devilishly proud and utterly disdainful of the lower orders... Unfortunately, after his great victory at Corioli, Coriolanus stands for the office of Consul. [To] be elected he needs the approbation of the plebeians...

Shakespeare [has] not simply made a mistake with Coriolanus, in showing him to be an empty vessel filled up by activity. He is showing us a type that appears to me to becoming more common: someone for whom public adulation [is] a kind of scaffolding that keeps the whole edifice of the personality upright, that prevents the ego from crumbling into nothingness... Coriolanus does indeed hold the people in contempt; but it is not true that he wishes to establish his own dictatorship, as the tribunes later pretend. And the tribunes, while goading the people on, pretend that they are moderates, intent upon holding the people back. Has political life really changed very much since Shakespeare’s day...? If anything, it seems to have regressed towards it...

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Ring the CAT

Unpredictability is the only prediction for the Common Admission Test (CAT) as over 2.76 lakh students are all set to sweat it out on November 16 to get a place in the top B-schools of the country. There will be over 54,000 female candidates taking the test this year. Over 118 B-schools would accept CAT scores this year. And no one is hazarding a guess as to what surprise is in store in this edition of CAT. However, before the trends, here is what CAT-2008 looks like in numbers in comparison to 2007. In comparison to 2.3 lakh applicants in 2007, 2.85 lakh applicants have been accepted this year. According to Satish Deodhar, member CAT committee, "Close to 3 lakh forms were sold for 2008. While 2 lakh wrote the test last year, it would be 76,000 more this year." The exam, scheduled to start at 10.30 am, would have three sections and would be of two-and-half-hour duration. According to sources from IIM Bangalore, CAT would be conducted from IIM Bangalore this year. On condition of anonymity, a faculty of IIM Kolkata, said: "The trend has been a special surprise after a three-year interval. Going by that trend in 2006 and 2007, the number of questions remained 75 and English remained comparatively the toughest section and so we can expect a new variation this year." However, neither faculty members nor aspirants are going with a fixed mindset as CAT is known to turn all strategies upside down. Deekshant of MBA Guru said: "It would be foolish to predict anything. Variations have been random and the only consistency we have seen is that in last five years the test has been tough and getting tougher as the number of questions are coming down. Earlier, it was speed based, now it is more of testing your managerial skills, rather than your knowledge." In last five years (2002 to 2007), the variations have been random with one section being the toughest, much more so than others. In 2002 and 2003, the English section has been the easiest. From 2003 to 2005, data analysis was comparatively the toughest, while in 2006 and 2007, English became the nightmare. Then there were variations in the number of questions, with the only consistency being that since 2002 it has seen a gradual decline in the number of question asked. In 2002, the paper had 150 questions. In 2003 and 2004 there were 123 questions, which came down to 90 in 2005. In 2006 and 2007 there were only 75 questions, which is fairly similar to what GMAT adheres to, giving rise to speculations about CAT going the GMAT way. While the number of question remained the same in 2003 and 2004 and so also the toughness of the section on data analysis, CAT sprang a surprise by bifurcating the paper into sections A and B. Section A contained questions worth half and one mark each, while section B had question worth two marks each. Does that leave much option to guess as to what it would be like this time? Rajiv Kumar, an aspirant said: "Why hazard a guess? CAT is not for guess work. And that's where the fun of the game is." Agrees Asha Kaul, professor, IIM Ahmedabad, "I don't want to comment on what CAT would be like or predict anything. Yes, it has been the toughest challenge for those aspiring to pursue MBA from the best institutes in India and I feel it would maintain that status. And except for those setting the paper, no one has actually been able to anticipate what surprise CAT will throw up. Only those with the right attitude can crack this exam." So no fixed mindset before you step in for the exam. Ulhas Vairagkar, director, TIME, Delhi, said: "Don't worry about the surprise element. Just do your best. Even if one attempts 40 to 45 questions and even if seven to 10 of those are incorrect, even then there is a huge probability of getting a good percentile and a call from a good B-school."

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Rethink

You can laugh out loud at Tim Moore's alcohol-at-lunch solution to overcome pain while cycling up the Pyrenees. But believe that it's just a piece of dramatic license, and the joke's on you. The dark side of the pretty peaks of the Tour de France is turning out to be more fact than fiction as skeletons keep tumbling out.For an event that began as a newspaper's circulation-boosting gig, damaging disclosures are nothing new. Stories of a little something to help overcome the tough road have been floating around from the time the Tour was started by L'Auto , now called L'Equipe . But as sport was codified, the line between fairness and cheating became too thick to skip past. Now, with cycling probably at the lowest ebb in its history, and talk of credibility overriding every stage win, maybe it's time to look at the race itself.There are stories of positive tests too often these days, across sports. For a fan, every request for a B-sample examination comes as a blow. Why is it that the Tour de France practically lives in the shadow of chemicals? There have been clean riders who have won the race. It would be unfair to cast a suspicious eye on each of the maillot jaunes . But is there something about the 21-stage, 23-day examination of the body, heart and the mind, guaranteed to bring out the best in a rider, that brings out the worst in a man?What if the race was made just a little less 'superhuman'? Of course, it can be argued the biggest draw of the race is exactly that. The masses want to see the riders fight, suffer, and cover themselves in blood-oozing glory. French towns continue to bring on the carnival atmosphere as the peloton puts their tiled streets and sunflower fields on the world stage for one day.The stakes are high. There is television and sponsors. But as an advertisement, it must be said, the Tour would rank pretty low. TMobile withdrew its title sponsorship from what is now Team Colombia. And fans are choosing to take a long, measured look everytime a glorious stage victory is achieved.The last two years have seen one race winner, and one winner-in-waiting, being disqualified and thrown out of the sport. Floyd Landis lost his Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal recently, while Michael Rasmussen is still team-less. Jan Ullrich, a former winner, and Ivan Basso, both long-time favourites, were dismissed even before the race started in 2006.This year's race, touted as the one where the cycling would come out of its murky past, has already seen three positive tests. The cynics have been given another helping of raw material. What will it take to set the Tour de France right? An easier route? A smaller race? A five-year break to get rid of the dirty riders? Athletes are a much-admired lot. Since when did chemicals find the same pedestal

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Yes I Can.....

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Lagey Raho India

ABOUT a decade ago, not many would have imagined that a little palm-sized gadget would become the symbol of ubiquity across India . Yet today, everyfourth Ram, Sita and Hari — or about 25% of India —flaunts a mobile phone. Indeed, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the cell phone mania has spread like a virus.

In a fall-out of the infamous MMS case, Delhi government on banned mobile phones from all schools run and aided by it and advised public schools to follow its lead.The onus to ensure that the ban was enforced had been put on principals and a formal notification was issued after the MMS case.

Today, as the mobile technologyreadies for another leap, the gadget’s utilitarian virtues and its involvement in consumers’ lives will get a boost in several ways. One such area is that of m-commerce — use of the phone as a payment device for travel ticketing, utility services, merchant payments , P2P transactions and even banking. Pradeep Shrivastava, CMO, Idea Cellular , alluded to the fact that though the mobile is referred to as the 3rd screen after TV and computers, at 4 billion units, it has, in fact, become the biggest screen in terms of volumes worldwide, ahead of TV (1.6 billion units) and PCs (800 million units). He added that mobiles will see usage developing for microfinance payments , m-banking and mobile money transfer, and pointed out that the mobile is used for transactions as varied as buying groceries and sending remittances in the Philippines

Mobile phones in India have become a passion, more than a necessity. In early 1997, Essar was the first company to get license to launch a public mobile service in North India mainly Delhi. That was the time when this mobile mania was born and by the end of 2005, the number of mobile subscribers have exceeded the landline subscribers count.With more than 20 mobile operators in the country operating in various regions, the country is well connected with mobile network. There are various companies like Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung, Sagem, LG whose mobile phones are available in the market. Motorola and Nokia are the earliest players selling mobile phones in India.

There is also a great variety of mobiles. Simple monochrome screen phones to smart phones, all types of phones are available in the market. India is a major hub of mobile phone companies and one of the world’s biggest mobile phone market bases.

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Self Fulfilling Prophecies of Greed, Fear and Doom

In the beginning, the money orientated greed god said; let there be greed and yay, it was good. Well, maybe not good, but it sure felt good to the housing cartel of owners and estate agents who were feasting on an upward spiraling market. It also felt super good to the investment banks that were hatching out leveraged collateralized notes on falsely valued homes with little or no down payments and low interest payments for a few years. House prices doubled and trebled. Trophy homes sprung up on the mountaintops and the hallelujah avaricious chorus of high-pitched prices echoed in the valleys below. All too soon the gilt began to fade on the exterior rhetoric of the experts who inaccurately stated... it will be different this time. As prices began to tumble experts began to realize they had been duped by their own cleverness and intellectual education that never taught the meaning of wisdom. Still, they stated all will be well and prices will recover soon, while keeping their fingers and toes crossed. Then the greed god directed his flock into the hell pits of the commodity markets. The self-acclaimed experts once again sang the praises of greed god's doctrines as oil prices accelerated to $147:00 a barrel. The fact that there was never a shortage was ignored.
And yay, again it was good for the greedy few who knew how to use lies and propaganda as true facts. Many other essential commodities played follow the leader and as the greed grew, people in poor counties began to fight for a bowl or rice. Still, the stock markets were still doing ok. The USA consumer began to feel the effects of insane gas prices as it moved from $1:00 a gallon, huddling to $4:00 a gallon, in a couple of years. The USA economy slipped into a mild recession without anyone noticing. As the USA economy slowed, the expert choirs began to sing the praises of the economies of China and India, chanting the world economies will do dandy without the USA. They vocalized companies will still earn big profits from outside the USA as the rest of the world is booming. Yet again, the intellect experts articulated ... it is different this time.All too soon, the greed god took off his crown n robes dripping in diamond and pearls... Quietly, he snuck back to his hovel, where he eternally lives in his true garb of rags and tatters. On his way home, the fear god, who was racing to earth to inflict his erroneous powers on the gullible and susceptible educated experts, crossed his path.
Once he sat on his thorny throne, the fear god employed every educated trick in his book to teach the intellectual experts how to contaminate the public with fear-laden reflections. In droves, the fear mongers began to pollute the TV and newspaper audience with their inept expert advice and unsound opinions. Many of them were the same experts who once sang the greed god's praises and now growl the fear god's doctrines in dulcet tones.News began to break that investment banks had been hoodwinked by the greed god, who was nowhere to be seen now. The banks began to falter and drop like ten pins in a bowling ally. Where once, greed reigned supreme, fear now was at the helm. People realized not all was good it was bad. In fact, it was rotten to the intellectual core and was never a good education. Governments around the world met and stated they will all work together for the betterment of all. Well, my dear reader, this is the story so far, in a nutshell. The god of doom is getting his horses out the stable and hitching them on to his chariot of condemnation.
If you buy into the misrepresentation of the mythical gods of greed, fear and doom, that feed expert opinion, you may be in for a burdensome few years ahead. The media experts, producers and anchors can and do manipulate the minds of naive people who view or listen to their programs. This is because media experts, producers and anchors believe in their own educated cleverness, which exists outside the realms of their instinctive and intuitive intelligence. They really believe what they express is sound until it is proven unsound.... They will then declare the opposite of what they first expressed in the past, as if they never uttered it. Confusing ain’t it?
It is no wonder people are confused and do not know how to protect their hard earned savings. If you follow the herd of misguided experts, then for sure the doom god will soon be knocking on the door of your conscious mind, requesting permission to infect your mind. Fortunately, there are a few high-ways of authentic information that can protect your sanity and keep the door to doom closed.
Panic buying or selling always leads to large losses.
Decisions made by greed and fear will lead to doom laden anxiety.
If you are still following the advice of the experts who got you into the confused mess, the doom god may take you to an early grave in double quick time.
There is a switch on the radio or TV that turns it off, discover the benefits how it works.
Get out of the habit of listening to the fear mongers.
Everything good, bad or indifferent passes with time and this too will pass.

In every human being, there is a spirit of love & joy that can weather any storm in harmonious tranquility and peaceful grace. That is the only true channel of authenticity to be aware and tuned into. A simple person understands when enough is enough and never goes hungry for authentic counseling by a higher power; whoever or whatever they deem that to be. However, a person who does not know when to stop consuming will always go hungry for more and more. This type of person will always be in want and lack the real treasures of heaven and earth.

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31-23-32 Equals a Big Zero

Many a time young Indians have been influenced by the unreasonable lifestyle, food habits and crazy fads of the West. The latest to hit them is the size zero body. Boosting the cravings of this group of women, aged between 15 and 35 years, are leading Hindi cinema actresses, Kareena Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai, and, of course, fashion designers who prefer to showcase creations on size-zero models. It all started with Aishwarya Rai - whose net popularity skyrocketed with her marriage into the Bachchan family - dropping oodles of weight for the blockbuster, 'Dhoom II'. However, even as posters of her sculpted body created a buzz in the media, they never really kicked off a weight loss trend. After all, Rai - a former Miss World - was meant to have the unattainable perfect figure. But with the hitherto healthy Punjabi 'kudi' (girl) Kareena Kapoor - whose cinematic 'khaandan' (family) is known to relish non-vegetarian fare - shedding those extra pounds to gain long beanpole legs, hollow cheeks and a concave-shaped tummy (displayed ever so blatantly in her latest flick 'Tashan') - size zero has finally arrived. Kapoor's apparent size zero bod - reportedly a result of a sustained diet of cabbage and apples - has definitely catapulted her to dizzying heights. Suddenly the media, college-going youngsters and even middle-aged moms are discussing Kapoor and her latest weight drop, with dreams of attaining the proportionate nothingness! So what is size zero? It's a women's clothing size according to the US catalogue sizes system that is the equivalent of an UK size 4 or an Europe size 32-34. It is also a concept within the fashion media relating to models with low body mass.Thus, being a size zero means having a 31.5 "(bust) - 23" (waist) - 32" (hip), or simply being able to fit into a pair of 22-inch waistline jeans. To look like their favorite star, young women are willing to go to any extent - dangerous crash diets, strenuous exercise routines and starvation - so much so that many end up as classic cases of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight. A recurrent binge eating, followed by compensatory behavior, referred to as "purging", like self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, diuretics, and so on, characterizes bulimia."These girls and even boys don't realize the irreparable damage this causes to their bodies, especially the bone mass," says a very worried Dr D. Srinivas, a well-known orthopedic surgeon and consultant, attached to InLak and Shushruti Hospitals in Mumbai. Srinivas is concerned, as the number of patients coming to him with complaints of bone affiliated ailments has risen considerably, with most belonging to the vulnerable age group of 15 to 35 years. He explains that after the age of 17 for young women and 18 for men, the body stops growing physically. It then starts accumulating bone mass till around the age of 30-35 years. It is this mass that acts as a protection from osteoporosis and other bone-related ailments later in life. Reckless lifestyles and thoughtless diet choices hinder this body function. "Bone mass is like a huge bank balance, which if not accumulated properly can cause havoc at a later age," he cautions.Mumbai-based Neesha Maria Bukht, a registered dietician and an International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) fitness expert, agrees. She says that there are dubious dieticians who promise to help youngsters reduce weight within a few days or weeks. "The unknowing clients are not told about the dangerous effects a severe diet will have on the bone mass or density of the body," reveals Bukht, who heads the Talwalkars Training Academy which provides cutting-edge programming and educational information to aspiring fitness professionals. The hurried measures taken to achieve the coveted weight can lead to other serious problems. Hair loses its sheen and the skin, its elasticity. Stamina is depleted and this leads in turn to mood swings. In severe cases, depression sets in. Irregular menstrual cycles resulting in temporary ovulation problems and, of course, osteoporosis are the more serious consequences. "Drastic weight loss may not cause permanent damage but temporarily the ovulation will be affected. The reproductive system has the capacity to regain its normal functioning. But it all depends on the age of the woman, the extent to which the body has been damaged and how healthy the other organs are," says Dr Partho Guha Roy, a consulting gynecologist. Mumbai-based fashion designer Anita Dongre admits, "Designers do create collections that are worn by thin models at fashion shows and shoots, because that adds to the look of the creation." But she is quick to add, "That does not mean that we are encouraging young girls to be the same size." She acknowledges that the fashion industry wields great influence over youngsters and often shapes the way young women feel about themselves. "Teenage girls aspire to look like their role models. If their role models are healthy it will help inspire girls to be the same. But it is also true that all thin women aren't unhealthy. Designers prefer thin models with glowing skin and lovely hair, which is not possible to get if one tries dangerous methods of losing weight," says Dongre. Losing weight slowly by maintaining correct BMI (Body Mass Index) doesn't affect health. "Diet and exercise should be controlled in such a way that only 0.5 to two kilograms is lost per month. Not more. And at all times the minimum BMI should be monitored. A BMI of less than 18.5 is not good," warns Bukht. "It is important to educate young girls who, under the thrall of fashion, either starve or force themselves to throw up, to follow a healthy lifestyle. Dieting is not bad, but starving takes a sure toll on the body. I think it is awful the way women and young girls are slotted by society because of their weight. There are more important things to worry about than one's body weight," says Dongre. "And the worst part is that youngsters who come to me with bone related complaints don't realize the root cause of their ailments is their obsession with losing weight. They refuse to believe that they are suffering from osteoporosis and need to eat properly," reveals Srinivas. Bukht admits that Kareena Kapoor, who reportedly weighs only 48 kilos, as against her ideal minimum weight of 55 kilos, may start developing problems. "And the side effects of achieving size zero within a short period of time are universal. One has to understand that there is no magic pill to lose weight. It has to be done in a controlled way," she says

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Man want Red & Blonde?

Woman in red drives the men crazy: Study

If a woman wants to drive the men wild, she might want to dress in red. Men rated a woman shown in photographs as more sexually attractive if she was wearing red clothing or if she was shown in an image framed by a red border rather than some other colour, US researchers said on Tuesday. The study led by psychology professor Andrew Elliot of the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, seemed to confirm red as the colour of romance -- as so many Valentine's Day card makers and lipstick sellers have believed for years. Although this ‘red alert’ may be a product of human society associating red with love for eons, it also may arise from more primitive biological roots, Elliot said. Noting the genetic similarity of humans to higher primates, he said scientists have shown that certain male primates are especially attracted to females of their species displaying red. For example, female baboons and chimpanzees show red colouring when nearing ovulation, sending a sexual signal that the males apparently find irresistible. "It could be this very deep, biologically based automatic tendency to respond to red as an attraction cue given our evolutionary heritage," Elliot, whose findings appear in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, said in a telephone interview. The study involved more than 100 men, mostly college undergraduates, who were shown pictures of women and asked to rate how pretty they were, how much the men would like to kiss them and how much the men would like to have sex with them. Men were shown a woman, with some of the pictures bordered in red and some bordered in white, gray or green. Even though it was the same picture of the same woman, when she was framed in red the men rated her as more attractive than when she was bordered by another colour. Men were then shown photographs of a woman that were identical except that the researchers digitally made her shirt red in some versions or blue in others. And once again, the men strongly favoured the woman in red. The men also were asked, "Imagine that you are going on a date with this person and have $100 in your wallet. How much money would you be willing to spend on your date?" When she was clad in red, the men said they would spend more money on her. The researchers noted that the colour red did not alter...

Men prefer brunettes to blondes when it comes to marriage

Blondes might make men’s hearts flutter, but when it comes to marrying, blokes would rather prefer a brunette, a new research has shown. according to the study, men think blondes are preferable as girlfriends, while brunettes are best for settling down with. In all, 52 per cent of men said they would rather marry a dark-haired woman because they are more dependable and sensible - whereas only 18 per cent think blondes would make good wives. In the poll of 3,000 men, 36 per cent said blondes were the sexiest women, while 31 per cent thought brunettes were sexier. A mere 18 per cent of the men thought a blonde would make a good wife, Hairdresser Andrew Collinge, whose company commissioned the poll, said: “This shows just how much men judge a woman by their hair colour. It is surprising – I thought men were more modern than this.” Almost 37 per cent said women with fair hair were the most fun, but dark-haired women were considered the best long-term option, with more than half of all the men saying they were the trustworthiest. The research also revealed that 33 per cent of males have a particular hair shade they always go for, with 44 per cent saying they are more attracted to brunettes.

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