Working from Home: Will it help?

Fed up of a 9 to 5 job? Is the constant honking on the roads and endless commute driving you crazy? If you are considering working from home, take heart, so are many others. But how viable is this option?

The truth is that traffic is only getting worse. You get stuck everywhere and anywhere and at all times. While many of us don't have a choice and have to put up with it, there are a small fraction amongst us who can consider certain options.

Can you work from home?

For young moms and women constantly trying to balance home and office, travelling to and fro between the two can be trying. There are others with health constraints, who need the money but can't put in the long hours and travel of a full-time job. Can they work from home and would that solve their problems? We spoke to four young individuals who took to working at home and got a lowdown on the pros and cons of this choice.

Kashmir, heaven on earth

Set like a jewelled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is a multi-faceted diamond, changing its hues with the season. The Mughal Emperor, Babar when describing Kashmir wrote, “If there is heaven on earth, this is it, this is it!”

Kashmir is a land where myriad holiday ideas are realised – Golfing at 2,700 m above the sea, water-skiing in the lakes or simply drifting down the willow fringed alleys of lakes in shikaras and living in gorgeous houseboats.

The main cities to visit are Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam and Katra. Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley and is spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. Its waterways with their own quaint lifestyle, the unique ‘Houseboat’, the blossoming gardens, water sports activities, shopping for lovingly hand-crafted souvenirs and the nearby resorts make it a cherished spot for a memorable holiday.

Gulmarg – the ‘meadow of flowers’, is an apt term indeed for this idyllic flower-laden meadow. An equally popular destination in winter, it is also known for its lush green golf course, which is the highest in the world. A must is a fun filled ride in the gondola lift through the pine-clad slopes.

Sonamarg – the ‘meadow of gold’, is situated in the Sindh Valley. The drive to Sonamarg presents yet another spectacular facet of countryside in Kashmir. Highly recommended is a pony ride to one of the glaciers for some fun in the snow and ice.

Pahalgam – the ‘valley of shepherds’ is situated on the confluence of streams flowing from river Lidder and Sheshnag Lake. It offers wonderful treks, skiing, mountaineering and camping sites.

Katra is the base camp to visit the famous shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. The cave shrine of Mata Vashnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment to millions of devotees from all over the world. Popular belief holds that anybody who walks the Himalayan trail to her abode to ask for a boon, rarely goes back disappointed.

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What should I wear on my first date?

“What should I wear…I have nothing to wear on my first date!” quipped a friend who was a bundle of nerves. He was going on his first date with a ‘looker’ and he wanted to be turn out to be ‘The Perfect 10.’ His staid blue jeans and a tee shirt weren’t going to give him any number, least of all a 10.

Gone are the days wherein a man can get away with his unkempt looks. The decade of grunge music and baggy clothes, wherein men got away with wearing ripped jeans and flannel shirts and calling them “fashion statements” are long gone. With Queer Eye’s popularity and the emergence of the “metro sexual” as the new trend for men, getting dapper on your first date is a must!

We women, expect a man who knows how to dress. And yes, we also tend to judge a man on his appearance on a date. The clothes you wear can make or break a romantic interlude, so I recommend it is wise to dress accordingly. Remember that your date is likely to spending hours selecting an outfit. And it does not do you any good to spend more than two seconds grabbing a T-shirt out of the “clean” pile on your floor.

The first thing to think about when dressing for a first date is, of course, where you are going.

But one golden rule is that no matter how casual your destination, looking clean, crisp, and put together cannot hurt.

Coffee shop cool - Pair jeans with a casual winter sweater or cardigan and T-shirt. Pick colors that complement your skin tone and eye color (ask a sales clerk for help if you lack confidence shopping or suffer from color blindness). Ditch the old runners and opt for a pair of casual leather boots or shoes and take time to give them a polish.

If dinner is what’s on the cards, then I recommend choose items that act as a backdrop to let your personality shine through. A cargo pant, unstructured jacket and tailored shirt combination. The outfit shouldn't overwhelm the wearer. It should say you are successful, in tune with trends and enjoy quality, but at the same time you are relaxed and casual by nature.

Wear clothes that fit you well and show off your best assets. A well-fitting pair of jeans or khakis with a cotton button down or polo (also well-fitting) will show off your shape and flatter you, regardless of how buff (or unbuff) you are. Huge and oversized is not the way to go, nor is the too-tight and shiny approach.

And if you thought that it was an old woman’s tale that women judge men by their shoes, then you are way off the mark. Because many women judge men by their shoes, which sounds silly, but is very true. A man, who takes care of his appearance, including a “small” detail such as footwear, is likely to take care of his apartment, his car, and in the future, her!

And I would strongly recommend do away -shirts with beer, sport or rock group logos. You don't want to come off looking like college kid on the run, do you?

Don’t bling it on. The ‘metro sexual’ look tends to take shades of going heavy on bling. Most women like their men to look like men and when I say that, I mean keep away from the chunky jewellery. Walk the minimalist path – A watch and a ring or necklace will do the trick just fine.

Only wear sandals if you have good feet -- yellow toe-nails are not sexy.

Don't show off your tattoos, play it safe and save them for a showing on a later date.

I would recommend a fresh haircut. Neck and sideburns well trimmed. And brush your teeth before you step out. You just may get lucky for the first kiss on your first date.

Never try to impress your date with inside fashion knowledge if you don't know what you are talking about. Chances are she will know more than you and will see through your act.

Give your date a compliment on what she's wearing. Even if you dislike her outfit, find one thing to focus on and be complimentary.

And last but not the least, wear a great pair of underwear. You just may get lucky to get an invitation to a nightcap!

Apple: Stock up on the super fruit

Can an apple a day keep the doctor away? Well, the apple is indeed a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. Its consumption has been associated with the reduced risk of cancer particularly lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, asthma and type 2 diabetes. There are 7,000 varieties of apple and all have varying contents of vitamin C and vitamin E—powerful antioxidants that boost immunity and slow ageing.
A crucial element in apples is pectin, a soluble fibre that helps lower cholesterol, bind toxic metals such as mercury and lead, and excrete them out of the body. Cooked apples help relieve diarrhoea, dysentery and colitis. One large apple a day has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol levels by eight to 11 per cent. Pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and helps manage diabetes. Pectin's gelling property helps in making apple jams and jellies.

Apples and apple juice are rich in phytochemicals (plant chemicals) including flavanoids and polyphenols. Polyphenols such as tannins (tannic acid) are potent enemies of viruses like the herpes simplex virus that causes blisters on the skin and sores around the mouth or genitals. Tannins have anti-oxidant properties, which help in cancer prevention. A recent study reported that the risk of colorectal cancer was reduced by about 50 per cent on intake of more than one apple a day. Tannins are also astringent, which may be why cooked apples help in diarrheoa management.

Quercetin, a flavanoid present in high concentration in apples, has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, cholesterol-lowering and anti-cancer properties. A recent study reported that combined apple pectins and polyphenols lowered cholesterol and triglycerides by a much greater extent than either apple pectin or polyphenols.

Two polyphenols -- phloridzin and phloretin xyloglucoside -- in apples have, till date, not been found in any other fruit. Not only are apples exceptionally rich in phenols, they also have the highest concentration of "free phenols", which means they are more available for absorption into the blood stream. The antioxidant capacity of one apple is equivalent to about 1,500 mg of vitamin C (although one apple has only about five mg of vitamin C).

Apple peels have more antioxidant compounds, especially polyphenols and vitamin C, than the flesh. A peel provides two to six times (depending on the variety) more phenolic compounds than the flesh, and about two to three times more flavanoids.

It has also been reported that people with the highest consumption of apples had a lower risk of thrombotic stoke compared to the ones with the lowest consumption. Apple consumption has been inversely linked with asthma and has also been positively associated with pulmonary health.

Apart from being rich in nutrients, they are also a great bonus for weight watchers and diabetics. With a low glycemic index (which means the carbohydrates break down slowly and release glucose gradually into the blood), apples dampen appetite, keep you going for longer, are low in calories and help maintain blood sugar levels.

Apple cider vinegar, made by fermenting apple juice, has been used by naturopaths for curing hyper acidity, asthma, arthritis, sinustis and improving absorption of nutrients like calcium.

Malic and tartaric acid present in the apple regulate stomach acidity and help in digestion of protein and fat. Concentration of malic acid in apples is especially high, which accounts for it often being called "apple acid." Because of its role in cellular energy production, malic acid may help individuals suffering from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia (muscle and connective tissue pain).

No doubt, apples with their high antioxidant properties, fibre content, low glycemic index and hytochemicals, have been recognised as superfoods.

Tangy fruits help stay slim

Munching on tangy fruits can help you stay slim, reveals a new study.

The study conducted on mice showed that the juice of the blood orange stopped them from piling on weight when fed a high-fat diet.

However, those fed with sweeter oranges gained significant amounts of fat.

The research team from University of Milan believe the fat-busting powers of the fruit, grown in Italy and the US, may be partly due to its high levels of anthocyanin.

Herbal cure not good for asthma patients

Asthma patients using herbal remedies may make their quality of life worse and suffer from increased frequency of symptoms, a new study claims.

A study conducted by American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology observed 326 asthma patients over a 33-month period.

Of those, 25 percent reported herbal remedy use and lower adherence to use of prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

It was learnt that patients using herbal remedies were more likely to have been hospitalized or intubated for asthma.

Also, they had concerns about possible adverse effects of ICS and difficulty following a medication schedule.

Angkana Roy, M.D., lead author, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, said: "Results indicate patients using herbal remedies are less likely to take their prescribed medications.

"These patients report worse asthma control and poorer quality of life than patients who follow medication plans. Underuse of prescribed medication is one of the main factors contributing to poor outcomes in asthma patients."

Also, Leonard Bielory, M.D., ACAAI Integrative Medicine Committee chair, added: "Patients interested in herbal remedies need to use them to complement treatment and not as an alternative, or they will not maximize their health and may actually hinder it as this study shows.

"Remember, asthma is a serious disease and needs to be treated that way. Always ask your allergist about medication concerns and discuss use of herbal remedies."

The study has been published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of ACAAI. (ANI)

Doctors' do's and dont's for epilepsy

The following are do's and dont's for epilepsy:

Do's:

-Take medicines without fail.

-Avoid quacks.

-Make patient lie down on one side if there is an attack.

-Remove sharp objects from near the person.

-Babies born at home may be at risk of getting epilepsy.

Dont's:

-Don't eat unwashed or partially cooked green leafy vegetables. They could have tapeworms, which cause epilepsy.

-Don't pin down a person getting an epileptic attack.

-Don't put anything into the mouth of patients during an attack.

Gloomy Kids

Early abuse linked to more depression in kids

Early abuse is associated with more depression in children, a new study has found.

According to a new study of low-income children, although children can be depressed for many reasons, new evidence suggests that there are physiological differences among depressed children based on their experiences of abuse before age 5.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center, has been published in the January/February 2010 issue of the journal Child Development.

Children who experience maltreatment, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect, grow up with a lot of stress. Cortisol, termed the "stress hormone," helps the body regulate stress. But when stress is chronic and overloads the system, cortisol can soar to very high levels or plummet to lows, which in turn can harm development and health.

The researchers studied more than 500 low-income children ages 7 to 13, about half of whom had been abused and/or neglected, to find out whether abuse early in life and feelings of depression affected their levels of cortisol. High levels of depression were more frequent among children who were abused in the first five years of their lives than among maltreated children who weren't abused early in life or children who weren't maltreated at all.

Dante Cicchetti, McKnight Presidential Chair and professor of child development and psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, who led the study, said: "The results of this study have significant implications for children in the child welfare population and underscore the importance of providing early preventive interventions to children who have been abused." (ANI)

Get Youthful Skin

You should use a good facewash and a sunscreen with SFP 30 or more regularly. Preferably every morning and if possible reapply it after 2 hours. Before going to bed use a medicated skin lighting cream with 2% hydroquinone-available at your local medical shop. Use this only on the blemishes. However, if you feel any irritation, stop using it and consult a dermatologist. You could also try some home remedies. Apply a paste of cream(malai)and turmeric(haldi), 3 to 4 times a week. You can also make your own face pack with mashed fresh fruits and a little honey.

Maya, 34, was diagnosed with SLE(lupus)seven years ago and her skin has deep sc sc ars rs as a result. She wants to know about the best anti-ageing products and skincare routine for her.

Maya, you need to use a good sunscreen regularly, preferably with SPF 50. Here are some more easy tips for your daily skincare that will benefit you greatly.

1. Use a facewash for dry and sensitive skin.

2. Avoid using scrubs.

3. A sunscreen should be fine during the day, but if your skin still feels dry, you could use a moisturiser with anti-oxidants and vitamins in addition to it. Try products from L'Oreal, Olay, Avon and Vichy-they are good options.

4. Use a night serum with AHA(alpha hydroxyl acids). It will serve as an anti-ageing cream and also help reduce scars.

5. I also suggest you avoid using aromatic products. Such products contain fragrances and colours that may not suit your sensitive skin and cause some irritation.

Viru

Thanks to his unique style, super cool attitude and amazing game...Viru is a hit among gals! With his recent hair transplant, the guy is looking smarter, we have to admit!