Sex hormones put women at allergy risk

London, Dec 30 Female sex hormones called oestrogens can worsen allergic reactions in women, says a study.

Get rid of unwanted hair permanently with this raw papaya pack

Unwanted hair on the body can be quite unsightly and difficult to get rid of. While you can wax or shave it off, going through the process every month can be cumbersome and quite painful. So, to help you get rid of unwanted hair and keep it from growing back, here’s an easy natural remedy.

Yoga a potential therapy for cardiovascular disease: Study

London, Dec 30 A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials has concluded that the popular mind-body practice of yoga can be a potential therapy for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

Breast reconstruction using own tissues yields better results

London, Dec 30 For women who have undergone mastectomy, breast reconstruction using the patient's own tissues - rather than implants - provides higher level of satisfaction, research has found.

Your birth year can influence obesity risk

New York, Dec 30 People born before 1942 are less likely to be affected by a variant to a gene linked to obesity risk than those who are born after 1942. The effect is stronger in those born in later years, finds a fascinating research.

Non-human sugar in red meat may promote cancer

Washington, Dec 30  A team lead by an Indian-origin researcher at the University of California, San Diego, has found that a non-human sugar present in red meat promotes inflammation and cancer progression in rodents.

6 Reasons You Should Be Eating Peanuts

6 Reasons You Should Be Eating Peanuts:

Can Lower Cholesterol and More
Even though peanuts are energy-dense (high in calories and fat) major studies show that peanuts and peanut butter can lower cholesterol, triglycerides without causing weight gain. 

Peanuts Help Control Blood Sugar

I was really excited about this study. The research shows that eating peanut butter or peanuts for breakfast can help control blood sugar levels throughout the day, even after eating a high carbohydrate lunch! That is a sign to add peanuts or peanut butter to your breakfast! 

Leaner Bodies

Peanuts and Peanut Butter Eaters have leaner bodies even though they consume more calories. Riddle me that! 

Good Fats

Peanuts can help you lose weight, and are packed with nutrition and good fat - this resource will help you find the right peanut or peanut butter.

Boosts Memory Power

Peanuts are brain food! According to this article, the Vitamin B3 found in peanuts offers many health benefits including improved brain functioning and boosted memory power.

Protective Nutrients

Cracking open a peanut shell reveals an edible package of naturally protective nutrients. Peanuts provide unique bioactive components that act as antioxidants and have been shown to be disease preventative. 

src:learni.st

Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes.

Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes

Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. Follow these simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden years.

Know your family’s eye health history. Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.

Eat right to protect your sight. You’ve heard carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too.i Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

Wear protective eyewear. Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. Many eye care providers sell protective eyewear, as do some sporting goods stores.

Quit smoking or never start. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.ii,iii

Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

Clean your hands and your contact lenses properly. To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.

Practice workplace eye safety. Employers are required to provide a safe work environment. When protective eyewear is required as a part of your job, make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times and encourage your coworkers to do the same.

src: www.nei.nih.gov

Are Ponytails and Topknots Damaging Your Hair? Know Here.

How often have you taken your hair out of a ponytail, only to cringe at just how much hair came out with it? And ask your hairstylist—we’ll bet you a bottle of nail polish that she’ll tell you to lay off the topknot. But is there any truth to the idea that wearing your hair up actually damages your locks? Or is this just another urban beauty legend? A quick call to celebrity hairstyling legend Howard McLaren resulted in great tips to prevent updo damage:

Vijaya dashami Puja 2015 date, Vijaya dashami Puja , Vijaya dashami Puja festival, celebrate Vijaya dashami Puja Puja, pooja, process, ritual, Vijaya dashami Puja, Puja katha, Vijaya dashami Puja, Puja women fast

2015 Vijayadashami Date: 22nd October 2015 (Thursday)

Vijayadashami Puja Time
Vijay Muhurat = 13:57 to 14:42
Duration = 0 Hours 44 Mins
Aparahna Puja Time = 13:12 to 15:26
Duration = 2 Hours 14 Mins
Dashami Tithi Begins = 11:58 on 22/Oct/2015
Dashami Tithi Ends = 09:51 on 23/Oct/2015

 Vijayadashami is celebrated as victory of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana and also triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo Demon Mahishasura. Vijayadashami is also known as Dussehra or Dasara. In Nepal Dasara is celebrated as Dashain. Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja (अपराजिता पूजा) and Seema Avalanghan (सीमा अवलंघन or सीमोल्लंघन) are some of the rituals which are followed on the day of Vijayadashami. According to Hindu division of the day, these rituals should be done during Aparahana time.

src:drikpanchang

Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami 2015,Vasant Panchami 2015, celebrate Vasant Panchami Puja Puja, pooja, process, ritual, Vasant Panchami Puja, Puja katha

Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami 2015: 24th January 2015
(Saturday)

Vasant Panchami day is dedicated to Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami day. Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Panchami.

2015 Tulasi Vivah, Tulasi Marriage, Tulasi Vivah Vrat, Tulasi Vivah 2015, Tulsi Vivah date, Tulsi Vivah, Tulasi Puja, Women fast, puja, katha, ritual

Tulsi Vivah Date 2014: 23rd November 2015 (Monday)

The tulsi plant is held sacred by the Hindus as it is regarded as an incarnation of Mahalaxmi who was born as Vrinda. The festival of Tulsi Vivah is celebrated in each and every household of Goa. The one special feature of the festival is that of preparing various delicious sweet dishes at home. The women folk engage themselves in preparations well in advance. A typical Goan ojhe (load of sweets) is sent to the daughter from her parental home along with jodi (cotton threads used to light lamp while performing aarti). 

Tulsi was married to demon king Jalandhar. But she prayed to Lord Vishnu that her demon husband would be protected, with the result that no god was able to harm him. However on the request of the other gods, Lord Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and stayed with the unsuspecting Tulsi. When the truth emerged after Jalandhar's death, Vrinda crused Vishnu and turned him to stone (Shaligram) and collapsed. From her body emerged the tulsi plant. That is why Vishnu pooja is considered incomplete without tulsi leaves. Tulsi vivah is celebrated on the next day of Kartiki Akadashi. On this day tulsi is married to Shaligram. 

On this day tulsivrindavan is coloured and decorated as a bride. Sugarcane and branches of tamarind and amla trees are planted along with the tulsi plant. Only vegetarian food is cooked on this day. At midday, a full meal consisting of rice, moongachi gathi, puri , sweet potato kheer , red pumpkin vegetable cooked with pieces of sugarcane, amla and tamarind is offered to Tulsi Vrindavan. Tulsi vivah ceremony takes place in the late evening. Various poha dishes are offered to Lord Vishnu. Then prasad is distributed among family members and friends.

Chhath Puja 2015 date, Chhath Puja , Chhath Puja festival, celebrate Chhath Puja Puja, pooja, process, ritual, Chhath Puja Puja katha, Chhath Puja Puja women fast

Chhath Puja 2015 date: 17th  November 2015 (Tuesday)
Chhath Puja Timings
Sunrise on Chhath Puja Day = 06:44
Sunset on Chhath Puja Day = 17:26
Shashthi Tithi Begins = 02:22 on 17/Nov/2015
Shashthi Tithi Ends = 01:43 on 18/Nov/2015

Bhai Dooj 2015 date, Bhai Dooj ,Bhaiya Dooj, Bhai Dooj festival, celebrate Bhai Dooj Puja, pooja, process, ritual, Bhai Dooj Puja katha, Bhai Dooj Tika, Bhai Dooj Date, Bhai Dooj Time, Bhai Dooj 2015

Bhai Dooj date:   13th November 2015 (Friday)
Bhai Dooj Tika Muhurat = 13:09 to 15:16
Duration = 2 Hours 7 Mins
Dwitiya Tithi Begins = 00:45 on 13/Nov/2015
Dwitiya Tithi Ends = 01:47 on 14/Nov/2015

Bhai Dooj, one of the main festivals of India is known by various names in different parts of the country. It is popularly known as Bhai Phota, Bhav Bij, Bhai Tika, Bhatri Dwitiya, Yama Dwitiya, etc. The traditional customs and rituals vary a little due to the cultural diversity in the various parts of India, but the essence of the festivities remains unchanged. Its significance too remains equally the same among the brothers and sisters. Every sister prays for the long life of her brother whereas the brother promises to always take care of her. Similar to the festival of Raksha Bandhan, Bhai Dooj strengthens the bond of love and care between the brothers and sisters. Read to know more about Bhai Dooj celebration in various parts of India.

Bhai Dooj In Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, at first, sisters give a piece of cloth, knotted into a circular shape, full of batashas (sugar balls) to their brothers. This piece of cloth is called as 'aabf'. For each brother, there are two aabf. After all the rituals, sisters apply a tika of roli and rice on the forehead of the brothers and then perform aarti, praying for the long and happy life of their brothers. At last, they offer sweets to them and then the story of Bhai Dooj is narrated.

Bhai Dooj In Bengal

In Bengal this festival is called Bhai Phota. On this day, sisters observe fast till the time all the traditional customs have been performed. After this, they apply tika made of sandalwood paste, ghee and kohl (kajal) on their brothers' forehead. Then the aarti is performed and sisters give sweets to their brothers to eat. Kheer and coconut laddus are the traditional sweets which are prepared on this day. At the time of applying tika, the sister chants the mantra which is as follows:

"Bhratus tabaa grajaataaham

Bhunksa bhaktamidam shuvam Preetaye yama raajasya

Yamunaah Visheshatah."

This mantras means "I, your sister making you eat this holy rice for the pleasure of Yama and Yamuna". In this way she prays God to bless her brother with the best in life.

Bhai Dooj In Bihar

In the Bihar, the festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated in the most unique way. The sisters curse their brothers in order to keep the evil spirits and dangers away from them. At first, they say very bad things to their brothers and then prick their own tongue with a wild prickly fruit as a punishment. By doing this, they ask their brothers to forgive them for the ill behaviour and mistakes which they have done till the date. Besides this, there is a unique custom in which brothers eat grains of bajri with water, from the hands of their sisters.

Bhai Dooj In Punjab

In Punjab, the day after Diwali is celebrated as tika and on this day, sisters make a paste with saffron and rice and apply tika on their brothers' forehead to keep away all the difficulties and dangers from them. After this, they exchange gifts and sweets among each other.

Bhai Dooj In Gujarat

Bhai Dooj in Gujarat is known as Bhai Beej and on this auspicious occasion, sisters get up early in the morning and then the traditional tilak ceremony is held. After this, they perform aarti of their brothers and pray for their good fortune and life. Then they offer sweets to their brothers and in return the brothers bless them and exchange gifts.

Bhai Dooj In Maharashtra & Goa

Marathi communities in Maharashtra and Goa called this festival as Bhav Bij. On this day, sisters draw a square on the floor in within the boundaries of which the brothers have to sit. After they are seated, it is a custom for to have a bitter fruit named Karith. After this, the rituals and applying the Tilak, traditional sweets such as Shrikhand Puri and Basundi Puri are served.