Saturday, March 17, 2012

March 17, 2012

Top Nutritional Tips To Support Healthy Hair Growth

 

Top Nutritional Tips To Support Healthy Hair Growth

1. Eat adequate amounts of protein.

Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair. Five amino acids are of particular relevance to hair growth - cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine. Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later. It is obvious then that sufficient portions of protein rich foods should form part of your daily diet. The best sources of dietary protein are lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds. At least 15% of your daily calories should come from protein-rich foods.

2. Eat adequate amounts of useful carbohydrates.

Carbs are an essential source of energy and help in the growth of body tissues, including hair. They are an important source of the B vitamins that are vital to healthy hair.

It is important that you concentrate on consuming non-refined carbs rather than the sugars and white flour that are so prevalent in many over-refined carb products. You should place an emphasis on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. It is recommended that you obtain 55-60% of your daily calories from the carbohydrates found in these foods.

3. Achieve a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Fat is used in energy production and can be found in both animal and plant foods. Your body needs sufficient levels of fat to maintain good health. That fat should be obtained from a mixture of lean animal and plant sources. Roughly 25-30% of your daily calories should come from these sources.

4. The right nutritional balance is one that suits your personal circumstances.

How much of each food group you eat depends on a host of factors including age, sex, health and level of physical activity. When choosing meals and snacks, take account of the following key principles of sound nutrition:
  • Eat a variety of foods.
  • Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.
  • Choose natural and lightly processed foods as often as possible.
  • Do not over cook.

5. Support a nutritious diet with a few carefully chosen supplements.

Following a nutritious diet is essential for good hair health, but on its own this may not be sufficient for a number of reasons:
  • Modern farming methods may deplete the nutrient quality of food.
  • High stress levels may diminish nutrients in your body.
  • Dieting may affect nutrient levels.
  • Aging reduces the ability of our bodies to utilize certain nutrients.
  • Exercise can deplete some nutrients.
It may be sufficient to supplement with a well-balanced multi-vitamin / mineral product but a number of products are available that specifically cater for the requirements of healthy hair.
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Thursday, March 15, 2012

March 15, 2012

We make our lives Swami Sukhabodhananda

We make our lives
Swami Sukhabodhananda
Man is his life. Our lives are series of experiences. As is the experience, so is life. If a person’s experiences are unhappy, his life is unhappy and vice versa. A single day in one’s life is a small replica of one’s whole life. If man is unable to work towards change for even a day in his life, then he will not be able to change his life. To change his life, he has to change every moment... every day. If he does not change but says he is working on changing himself, then it is just a figment of his imagination.
To change one’s life, one has to observe. Observe one’s body, mind, feelings, values, and observe as to how one responds to the various situations in life. But if one gives excuses of changing from tomorrow, then one will never work on changing today, but only postpone it to tomorrow. This is one of the gravest diseases in spirituality.
In order to truly work on changing oneself, one has to define one’s work. The field of one’s work is today.
How do you know that you are working on the process of changing yourself? The true quality of work is to observe your reactions to the situations in life. Are you reacting or responding to situations? If you are reacting to a situation, then the situation is controlling you, but if you are responding to it, then your commitment is guiding you.
For instance, when someone scolds you and you react, then the situation is controlling you but if you pause and observe your behaviour or question whether you should remain quiet or ignore him or answer him back….then you are bringing your ‘presence,’ your conscious ‘presence’ to the situation. This is a response. True responsibility is the ability to respond.
Managing Life Creatively is a two-day session conducted by Swami Sukhabodhananda in Bangalore. Interaction will focus on shifting from foggy thinking to clear thinking, from frozen feeling to flowing feeling, and meditations guiding one to discover peaceful and restful centres. For more information, call 4153 5835, 99017 77006, or visit www.prasannatrust.org
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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

March 06, 2012

Latest Lehengha choli dresses photo

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Monday, March 5, 2012

March 05, 2012

COMING OF AGE



Ageing is a part of living, yet no one wants to age before time. Fortunately, ayurveda has detailed many procedures, nutrition plans and herbs to delay the signs of ageing and keep the body healthy and youthful. These rejuvenation plans consist of nutrition therapy, herbal therapy, ayurvedic treatments and practices.

NUTRITION 
Foods can be of many types, depending upon the effect they have on the body. Some can have an inflammatory effect which causes the body to age and also develop disorders.
The second type of foods gives energy and some degree of regeneration. But the regeneration is not very effective, and hence ageing continues according to the natural DNA coding.
The special third kind of foods (coupled with therapies) slows down the ageing process. Foods that cause accelerated ageing: Sugar, refined foods like maida, cornflour, sooji, all other refined carbohydrates, alcohol, too much salt, dairy products with oxytocin, all non-vegetarian foods, fried foods, hydrogenat ed fats and packaged foods. Certain lifestyle traits also result in accelerated ageing, such as sleep deprivation, too much stress and erratic time schedules.

NUTRITION FOR REJUVENATION 
The foods that aid in slowing down ageing work by improving the rejuvenation and replacement of cells by better cells. Such foods include all foods that are highly alkaline in nature after digestion and do not increase the acid load of the body. Some examples of such foods are: Herbal plants: Aloe vera juice, amla juice, seabuckthorn, rhododendron, barley grass juice, spirulina, wheat grass juice, harar, behar (together with amla they make triphala).
Spices and condiments: Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, saunf, elachi and cumin seeds. Seeds and nuts: Flaxseed, sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, pinenuts and other nuts.
General foods: Mung sprouts, sprouted wheat, fruits, vegetable juices.
Foods that are free of preservatives and chemicals, those that are organically grown, and non-refined foods are the ideal foods for consumption for enabling rejuvenation.
Meal times: Fixed meal times should be followed to allow for good digestion and absorption. The time is between 7 am and 6 pm. Before 7 am the body is sluggish and the same goes for post 6 pm.
Seasonal foods: One should also try to eat seasonal foods and try to avoid non-seasonal foods.
Food combinations: Certain food combinations produce toxins and should be avoided, such as dairy and fruits, fruits and cereals, melons and citrus fruits and non-vegetarian food and fruits.
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March 05, 2012

Serious about getting ahead? Ask yourself these five tough questions `Whatever your plan or idea, it must be a burning desire'



Serious about getting ahead? Ask yourself these five tough questions `Whatever your plan or idea, it must be a burning desire'

 -Rashmi Bansal, Author

T here is a story about a young man, who ­ like all young men ­ wants to become a millionaire. So, he goes to see a wise guru.
“Meet me at the beach tomorrow at 4 am,“ says the wise guru, “And I will reveal the secret to success.“ So the next morning, the young man shows up on the beach at 4 am, wearing a suit and tie. The guru is already in the water and reluctantly, the young man wets his feet.
“Come out further,“ the guru says.
“This is an expensive suit,“ the young man replies, “I came here to learn the secret to success, not the secret to swimming.“ “The secret must be told in this water.
It is your choice to learn the secret or not,“ replies the guru.
So the young man goes waist-deep.
“Further,“ the guru says.
So the young man wades deeper, until the water is up to his neck.
“Now tell me the secret,“ the young man demands.
“Sure,“ says the guru, and suddenly forces the young man's head under the water.
The fellow resists and tries to push the guru off, but can't.
Just before the young man loses consciousness, the guru pulls him back up and asks a question: “When your head was under water, what did you want to do?“ “I WANTED TO BREATHE,“ the young man sputters. you want success as much you wanted to breathe just now, then, and ONLY THEN, will you have success.“
The difference between people who are successful in life and those who aren't can be summed up in one sentence: Successful people are always willing to get their suits wet.
A `suit' is just a metaphor for your comfort zone. A belief or an idea that you hold dear. Perhaps you wanted to become an artist but you were conditioned to think: artists can never make money. To earn my living, I must be a doctor or engineer.
So that's what you do with your life.
You might make a lot of money. You might even be seen as `successful' by the world. But deep inside your heart you know. This isn't what you wanted.
And if you didn't get to live your life the way you wanted to, how the hell can it be a success?
You are merely sitting on the shore, watching the waves of possibility. You accepted the role of an `extra', when you could have chosen to be a star.
But it's never too late, to rewrite the script. Because the movie that's playing out is your life. If you want success, you need to start by asking yourself some tough questions. Here are five of the most important ones.
1. How much do I really want it?
So you daydream about how your life could be or should be. But then you snap out of it and come back to `reality' That's not good enough. Whatever your project, your plan, your idea ­ it must be a burning desire. You must want it so badly that it becomes a reality ­ at least in your own head.
When you hold a vision of that magnitude within you, it gives you courage.
The courage you need to leave the safety of the shore, and wade into the unknown.
2. How far am I wiling to go?
You have a vision in your head, that's great. But other people don't see what you see. Can you deal with that?
The world is full of cynics and know-it-alls (and parents) who believe that things should remain just the way they are. You will have to turn your back on them all, knowing that you know better.
You have always been rewarded for `good behaviour'. Now, learn to seek out and stand up for your own good.
3. How long will I hold out?
Success doesn't come in a day, in a month, or in a year. Rishis and munis stood on the mountain tops, on one leg, until Gods descended from the heavens.
Choose your mountain and choose which leg to stand on. Then be there, with utmost devotion and sincerity, for as long as it takes. That is tapasya ­ the passion for your work.
One day, you will open your eyes and `Success' will be standing there, in front of you.
4. How does it make me feel?
Anything worth having takes blood, sweat and toil. But anything worth having also feels very good. And I don't mean when you actually have it, but even as you sweat for it.
A life is enjoyed in its living, and not in some distant future moment of achievement. When you lose yourself in what you do, every moment is a luminous pearl.
Success is visible when you've strung all those pearls together, when the necklace is `complete'. But the process of creation is the real miracle.
5. How much further do you want to go?
You have name, fame, money, lifestyle and `success' in your chosen field. Everything you ever dreamed of has come true, now what?
Yesterday you were nobody, today you have something to lose your market cap, your popularity, your `price' in the market.
The trouble is, the more you try to hang on to things outside of you, the more they weigh you down.
Success is ultimately about lightness of being. About peace and quiet, internal joy.
If you were to `lose it all' ­ can you still preserve that state of mind?
Then you too will be a wise guru, beckoning young men and women into the water. To make their millions, then look back and laugh.
Because what you thought was `success' is no big deal, after all.
­ Rashmi Bansal is the bestselling author of Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish and I Have A Dream.
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Thursday, March 1, 2012

March 01, 2012

Defining "moderate-intensity" exercise

 

Defining "moderate-intensity" exercise

Engage in moderate-intensity physical activity for a minimum of 150 minutes each week. That's the current national recommendation on physical activity. It's easy enough to understand, except for the "moderate intensity" part. Does that mean walking? So-called "brisk" walking? Jogging?

San Diego State University researcher Simon Marshall has come up with a practical rule of thumb for figuring out "moderate intensity" as it applies to walking: it's akin to taking at least 100 steps per minute.

To get to this definition, Marshall and his colleagues recruited 97 women and men. Each walked on a treadmill four times at four different speeds—from 2.4 miles per hour to 4.1—while a machine measured the amount of energy he or she was expending. The volunteers also wore pedometers to count their steps.

Complex calculations later, the researchers determined that walking at a speed of at least 100 steps per minute fulfilled the lower limit of moderate-intensity exercise (American Journal of Preventive Medicine, May 2009).

Aim for 100

This number, 100 steps per minute, is a useful guide. You can see how your pace stacks up to it using a few simple tools: a pedometer, a watch, a notebook, and a pencil.

A pedometer is a small device that, when clipped to your belt or pocket, records every step you take. Some have advanced features that calculate how far you have walked or how many calories you've burned. You can buy one for as little as $5 or as much as $50.

To calculate your steps per minute, put on your pedometer and head to your favorite walking spot. Walk at an easy pace for a few minutes to get warmed up. When you are ready, note the number on the pedometer. Walk for exactly one minute and note the new number on the pedometer. Subtract the starting number from the ending number and you have the number of steps you take in a minute. For an even more accurate estimate, walk for five minutes, and divide the number of steps you took by five.

If you cover more than 100 steps in a minute, great. The more intense your activity, the better it is for your heart. If you cover fewer than 100 steps a minute, think about gradually trying to pick up your pace.

Keep in mind that this 100-steps-per-minute figure is for generally healthy people with no physical limitations. And it's just a guide—the number of steps per minute that got people to the moderate-intensity mark ranged from 92 to 102 steps for men and 91 to 115 steps for women.

Other ways to gauge moderate intensity

There are other ways to gauge if your activity is in the moderate-intensity zone. Using a heart monitor, exercise so your heart rate is between 50% and 85% of your maximum heart rate (220 minus your age). Or do the "talk test." You are exercising at moderate intensity if you are breathing faster than normal but can still say a sentence or two out loud or sing a snatch of a favorite song. If you aren't the least bit out of breath, you are walking at low intensity; if you have trouble finishing a sentence, you are exercising at high intensity.

Engaging in moderate-intensity activity for 150 minutes a week is a good choice for many people. But it isn't an upper limit, nor is it right for everyone. Some people can't exercise that strenuously, or aren't ready to do so. Others prefer to exercise more vigorously for shorter amounts of time. If walking isn't your thing, try swimming, water aerobics, tai chi, bicycling, ballroom dancing, tennis, or any other activity that speeds up your breathing and makes your heart beat faster.

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March 01, 2012

10 simple steps to help de-stress

 

10 simple steps to help de-stress

There is no shortage of angst-inducing news these days: natural disasters, economic woes, political unrest. Add to this backdrop stresses in our personal lives, layoffs, illness, money woes, temper tantrums, and traffic jams, and it is clear that stressful situations are constant and inevitable.

Just as serious as the stressors themselves are the adverse effects stress can have on your emotional and physical health. Many well-respected studies link stress to heart disease and stroke — the No. 1 and No. 3 causes of death, respectively, in the United States. Stress is also implicated in a host of other ailments such as depression and anxiety, chronic lower respiratory diseases, asthma flare-ups, rheumatoid arthritis, and gastrointestinal problems.

Stress is not all bad. Your perception of a real or imagined threat can spark the stress response, which prepares the body to fight or flee. That swift reflex was encoded in you for survival. Thanks to the stress response, you might suddenly jump out of the path of a speeding car or flee from a burning house. But when your stress response is evoked repeatedly, your body experiences unnecessary wear and tear — such as high blood pressure — that can lead to poor health.

Even if you only have a few minutes to spare, the stress-busting suggestions described below can make your days calmer, if not easier.

Take the sting out of 10 common stressors

Sometimes just thinking about embarking on a program of stress control can be stressful. Rather than freeze in your tracks, start small and bask in the glow of your successes. Give yourself a week to focus on practical solutions that could help you cope with just one stumbling block or source of stress in your life. Pick a problem, and see if these suggestions work for you.
  1. Frequently late? Apply time management principles. Consider your priorities (be sure to include time for yourself) and delegate or discard unnecessary tasks. Map out your day, segment by segment, setting aside time for different tasks, such as writing or phone calls. If you are overly optimistic about travel time, consistently give yourself an extra 15 minutes or more to get to your destinations. If lateness stems from dragging your heels, consider the underlying issue. Are you anxious about what will happen after you get to work or to a social event, for example? Or maybe you're trying to jam too many tasks into too little time.
  2. Often angry or irritated? Consider the weight of cognitive distortions. Are you magnifying a problem, leaping to conclusions, or applying emotional reasoning? Take the time to stop, breathe, reflect, and choose.
  3. Unsure of your ability to do something? Don't try to go it alone. If the problem is work, talk to a co-worker or supportive boss. Ask a knowledgeable friend or call the local library or an organization that can supply the information you need. Write down other ways that you might get the answers or skills you need. Turn to CDs, books, or classes, for example, if you need a little tutoring. This works equally well when you're learning relaxation response techniques, too.
  4. Overextended? Clear the deck of at least one time-consuming household task by hiring help. If you can, hire a housecleaning service, shop for groceries through the Internet, convene a family meeting to consider who can take on certain jobs, or barter with or pay teens for work around the house and yard. Consider what is truly essential and important to you and what might take a backseat right now.
  5. Not enough time for stress relief? Try mini-relaxations. Or make a commitment to yourself to pare down your schedule for just one week so you can practice evoking the relaxation response every day. Slowing down to pay attention to just one task or pleasure at hand is an excellent method of stress relief.
  6. Feeling unbearably tense? Try massage, a hot bath, mini-relaxations, a body scan, or a mindful walk. Practically any exercise — a brisk walk, a quick run, a sprint up and down the stairs — will help, too. Done regularly, exercise wards off tension, as do relaxation response techniques.
  7. Frequently feel pessimistic? Remind yourself of the value of learned optimism: a more joyful life and, quite possibly, better health. Practice deflating cognitive distortions. Rent funny movies and read amusing books. Create a mental list of reasons you have to feel grateful. If the list seems too short, consider beefing up your social network and adding creative, productive, and leisure pursuits to your life.
  8. Upset by conflicts with others? State your needs or distress directly, avoiding "you always" or "you never" zingers. Say, "I feel _____ when you _____." "I would really appreciate it if you could _____." "I need some help setting priorities. What needs to be done first and what should I tackle later?" If conflicts are a significant source of distress for you, consider taking a class on assertiveness training.
  9. Worn out or burned out? Focus on self-nurturing. Carve out time to practice relaxation response techniques or at least indulge in mini-relaxations. Care for your body by eating good, healthy food and for your heart by seeking out others. Give thought to creative, productive, and leisure activities. Consider your priorities in life: is it worth feeling this way, or is another path open to you? If you want help, consider what kind would be best. Do you want a particular task at work to be taken off your hands? Do you want to do it at a later date? Do you need someone with particular expertise to assist you?
  10. Feeling lonely? Connect with others. Even little connections — a brief conversation in line at the grocery store, an exchange about local goings-on with a neighbor, a question for a colleague — can help melt the ice within you. It may embolden you, too, to seek more opportunities to connect. Be a volunteer. Attend religious or community functions. Suggest coffee with an acquaintance. Call a friend or relative you miss. Take an interesting class. If a social phobia, low self-esteem, or depression is dampening your desire to reach out, seek help. The world is a kinder, more wondrous place when you share its pleasures and burdens.


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Rare Vintage Ganesha Painting: The Story of Shiva, Parvati & Baby Ganesha

Lord Ganesha Creation Story - Rare Classical Indian Painting | Shiva Parvati Ganesha Meta Description: Discover the divine moment of Lord G...