Why being Indian is good for your health

How dare our own stand up comedians make fun of us? If only they could learn to look beyond our accent and population, they would discover that our national foibles are doing wonders for our wellbeing. Find the secret to nirvana in hot spices, masala chai and yoga.

The sun saves your heart!
No matter how much you complain about the heat, studies show that exposure to the sun is good for your health.

Get hot to be happy
“Capital melts as temperature rises to a record 47.6!” scream newspaper headlines when summer temperatures soar perilously. However, there is some good in it. “The sun’s rays trigger the body’s production of Vitamin D, which is vital to the health of your bones,” says Dr Navin Taneja, director at The National Skin Centre in New Delhi. The UV rays also prod the pineal gland in the brain to release “tryptamines- mood-boosting chemicals.

Don’t bare it all
Limit your sun exposure though: “Skin cancer is on the increase amongst men, especially those who work outdoors,” adds Dr Taneja. He advises using a waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher- allowing you to remain in the sun without burning 15 times longer. Even in the sea or pool on holiday, apply some under your shorts and T-shirts as wet clothing doesn’t give enough protection.

Aim for the centre
Research shows that the further you live from the equator, the higher your blood pressure is likely to be.

UV rays prod the brain to release mood-boosting chemicals.

Chai helps fight diabetes
The therapeutic property of tea is folklore. But did you know that masala chai, our signature spicy brew, helps you to get through the day without any hiccups?

Cure your hiccups
Hiccups can be public embarrassment. “An infusion of cardamom (elaichi) with mint in chai helps relieve hiccups. Also, since hiccups are often caused by spicy foods, sum up an Indian meal with a glass of cardamom-mix masala chai to get immediate relief,” says Neha Sharma, dietician at Jaipur Golden Hospital.

Become a better kisser
To finish off a happy spicy meal, have a warm cup of masala chai. The aromatic flavour in cardamom will leave your mouth fresh and kiss ready. And the power of clove will help you get over the problem of premature ejaculation. Now you know why it’s best served hot!

Cut your blood sugar
The cinnamon (dal-chini) in masala chai can help treat diabetes! “A teaspoon of cinnamon with food can reduce blood sugar levels as it promotes insulin production and is therefore given to diabetic patients,” says New Delhi-based nutritionist, Dr Sonia Kakkar.

Get rid of indigestion
Have a guest ‘who cannot digest Indian food’ experience’? “Black pepper (kali mirch) in masala chai has an antioxidant effect and promotes healthy digestion.”

A cup of warm masala chai stops premature ejaculation.

The Hindu pushup builds muscle fast
The attitude towards training in India seems to orientate towards different fitness styles in diverse regions. You can easily pick up the best virtues of each to customise your own strength and fitness training.

Get explosive: North East
Men from the North-East seem to be very good physical specimens for a variety of sports requiring top explosive strength because of a low centre of gravity. Being naturally built muscular, they seem to readily adapt to any form of training. The proximity of many North-Eastern states to China also seems to have propelled them towards martial arts training. Throw in a generous dose of MMA in your training regimen to round off the rough edges.

Lift harder: North India
People from the North such as Punjab seem to be built taller with stronger bone structures, and this can be seen from the fact that Punjabi men have always had a stronghold in strength sports such as weight-lifting, wrestling and bodybuilding. Follow a rich diet of grains and dairy like they do to provide great fuel to your body. Avoid anabolic steroids that might pump your arms but make you hide the right muscle in bed. Aim for an athletic build.

Acquire a skill: South India
Down South in Kerala, football is quite popular and the general approach to staying fit is somewhat sports-conditioning orientated. Being the birthplace of martial arts in the form of Kalarippayattu, traditional systems are used to enhance flexibility. It is a region where some of India’s top athletes and players come from. Acquire a physical skill. To perform better with your body, you need to build fitness that can be used in real life.

Court discipline: West and Central India
In Maharashtra and UP where kushti and pehalwangiri thrives, the training of men has migrated more towards size and strength, and you can still find bodybuilding gyms run by gurus and masters on the old-school models of Vyayamshalas or Akharas. These are places where tough workouts and rigorous discipline have made many a man. You cannot build a perfect muscular body without discipline. Train tough with proper planning.

Fasts make you last
Apart from helping you to lose weight, our custom of fasting on religious occasions can also help you increase your life span.

Banish heart disease
You can reduce the risk for heart diseases and diabetes with short fasts (20-36 hrs), reveals scientific research. Fasting on occasions like Mahashivaratri, Ramzaan and Ekadashi can improve the sensitivity to insulin in your body which can give you better control over your blood sugar levels. If the fast is too rigid and does not allow water intake, break it with sips of fruit juice or water.

Delay ageing
Stay younger longer by observing fasts like the Jains during Paryushan or the Christians during Lent because reduced calorie intake due to fasts like these cuts down free radical production. Studies show that this reduces oxidative damage and inflammation of cells, thus increasing longevity and delaying the onset of age-related diseases. However, avoid even short fasts if you are on medications.

Reduce risk
Short fasts can reduce the risk for heart diseases and diabetes.

Fasting smartly can help you burn flab and get lean quickly.

Spices sharpen your brain
Spices have been used in cooking for ages but their utility goes far beyond just culinary use.

Prevent cancer
Turmeric, black pepper, cardamom, cloves and a host of other spices have held fort in Indian kitchens, and their therapeutic properties are indisputable. For instance, it’s only now that the world is waking up to turmeric with its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Apply its paste on the face to keep acne at bay. Use it on wounds to disinfect. Drink it with milk to cure cough and cold. And researchers have discovered that an active ingredient curcurmin in turmeric also helps prevent cancer.

Stop bad breath
Use cardamom, the queen of spices, to get rid of bad breath. It is also a remedy for colic and digestive problems and well-known as a strong detoxification agent. Chewing cloves can cure your sore throat. And they have antispasmodic qualities as well. So apply clove oil to get relief from muscle spasms and improve blood circulation. Sum up the goodness with black pepper, the king of spices, to treat respiratory infections.

Remember this
A little bit of cinnamon on spicy dishes will improve your memory.

Turmeric is the world’s best natural miracle drug.

Indian food keeps you ‘up’
It’s not for nothing that the kama sutra was conceived in India. Eat Indian to rise up to the occassion, everytime.

Smell love
Glenn B Eastman, executive chef at The Leela Palace, New Delhi, says that he loves cooking with love-food. “Cinnamon,” points out the chef, “warms the flesh.” Eastman’s claim is backed by the Smell and Taste Research Foundation in Chicago, which says that the smell of cinnamon is known to increase blood flow to the penis more than any other aroma!

Get fresh
Fennel (saunf) enhances libido due to hormone-like compounds that imitate oestrogen. Pop a few seeds post meals to erect an unforgettable night. Garlic and chillies can also prop you up. Feast on garlic bread or go for garlic ‘pearls’ or capsules if your partner doesn’t like the smell. And eat chillies to feel a temporary high because the capsaican in it can mimic feelings of sexual arousal.

Aroma of cinnamon increases blood flow to the penis.

Yoga makes you wise
Yoga has become a fad globally and politically. However, the best form is still the one that was practised in India aeons ago.

Transform your life
Ashtanga yoga, vinyasa yoga, power yoga, hot yoga, kundalini yoga and nude yoga are packaged forms of the original. Most of these forms have degenerated into mere workouts. For instance, power yoga, which is very popular in the West, is a cardiovascular type of workout for weight loss. If you practise yoga and it doesn’t transform your life, then it is just a workout in yoga packaging.

Feel invisible
Yoga has its origin from “Patanjali Shastra”, which is an exhaustive treatise on yoga, filtering and consolidating the wisdom of sages from various parts of India. According to yoga experts, your body should feel invisible while doing yoga. If you can feel a joint, an organ or your head, you are not doing it right.

Family keeps you content!
Worried about stress? Relax. Research shows that Indian men are the most satisfied in the world due to their families.

Go home tonight!
Google ‘family+stress’, and you will be surprised at the sheer number of websites popping up to advise you on family-related stress. But in India, where family always comes first, research shows otherwise. A Men’s Health global survey discovered that though the Indian male was among the most stressed out in terms of jobs and living standards, a significant 46 per cent of Indian men were satisfied with their lives. And surprisingly, they attributed it to their families!

Share responsibilities
In India, the system of joint family acts as a stress management tool because members living in one family rotate household chores and responsibilities. On the other hand, working parents get help from other members for taking care of their children. Even arranged marriages have super powers. No wonder India boasts of one of the lowest divorce rates in the world.

Love forever
India boasts of one of the lowest divorce rates in the world, thanks to arranged marriages.
Originally at http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/why-being-indian-is-good-for-your-health.html

8 Tips to Look Great on a Date

You finally found the guts to ask out your crush, and she said yes. Now what are you going to wear? We polled the pros, combed the journals, and checked out the stats. The results? Eight scientific principles of dressing that leave nothing to chance.

Woo Her with Fragrance

“Women have a better sense of smell than men do, and it’s even sharper in the middle of their menstrual cycle, when estrogen levels peak and women are more likely to be deciding whether a man’s attractive,” says Helen Fisher, Ph.D., a professor of anthropology at Rutgers University and the author, most recently, of Why We Love. Wearing fragrant leather is one great way to get inside her head.

To encourage her animal instincts, wear the hide of a beast, and maintain it well. Preserving its oils releases natural fragrance.

Explore the Vertical

Women rate tall men as more sexually attractive than shorter guys, and tall men are more likely to find a mate. Proof: A British study of more than 10,000 people found that men 6 feet tall were more likely than average-height men (5’10”) to be married and have children.

Wear pinstripes. Vertical lines enhance your height, and it’s easier than standing on your toes.

Convey Status

We all know what you’re looking for when you check out a woman. You dog. But that doesn’t mean she’s looking for sex signifiers when she scopes you out. A study of mate selection in 37 cultures found that women seek partners with status, class, and success. So when she’s checking you out, she’s looking for the bulge in your pants, all right: the one made by your wallet.

“Now, this doesn’t mean that every woman wants a businessman from New York City,” says Fisher. “But if she walks into a bar and there are three accountants and one is wearing a nicer suit, she might notice it and be attracted to that man. Women like signs of money and educationthings that indicate that not only is this guy going to have some resources, but he’s also willing to share them.”

Spend, and spend some more, on watches and cool shoes. They’re the first two stops on her itinerary.

Show Off Your Testosterone

“Women are looking for men with good genes so their children can have good genes,” says Devendra Singh, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Texas. One thing they’re noticing, probably without realizing it, is a man’s waist-to-hip ratio. In cross-cultural studies, women rate men with 0.8 to 0.95 ratios (almost a straight line) as most appealing. “Women are unconsciously performing these calculationsjudging men on the basis of how body fat is distributed,” she says.

The ratio is an indicator of testosterone. Testosterone inhibits fat in the buttocks and waist but allows it in the upper body, explains Singh. So when a man has a large waist or butt, it indicates low testosterone, and a woman will consider him less attractive.

Don’t leave home without a sport coat. It creates a visual line from your neck to your thighs, which conveys an appealing waist-to-hip ratio, according to Michael Cunningham, Ph.D., who studies attraction at the University of Louisville. Unless you regularly appear on the cover of this magazine, avoid anything cinched or tightly belted at the waist.

Give Good Face

Pure animal attraction is linked to your face and its symmetry. Sixty-five studies of 42 species have connected symmetry and sex appeal, according to the Penguin Atlas of Human Sexual Behavior. In addition, the better a man’s symmetry, the more quickly he gets women into bed, the more sexual partners he has, and the more orgasms he causes in women partners, says the Atlas. You can’t change your face (at least not without a scalpel), but you can frame it properly:

Wear a straight-point-collar dress shirt, with collar points 2 3/4 to 3 inches in length. This collar frames the face best and with the least margin of error for most men, regardless of face shape, says Alan Flusser, men’s-fashion expert and author of Dressing the Man. When you’re not wearing a tie, unbutton the top one or two buttons.

Project Strength

Broad shoulders connote strength and confidenceand 22 percent of women in a British study rated them as men’s sexiest body part.

Wear a shirt with raglan sleeves (diagonal seams from the armpit to the neck). Ballplayers wear ’em, and they routinely reach third base.

Display Your True Colors

“Women have a better sense of color and a better color memory,” says Fisher. “They’re more likely to notice when something doesn’t match; more likely to notice what you’re wearing.” Use different colors to convey different desirable personality traits and to evoke different feelings in your date.

Surrender to pink. “It’s a color women gravitate toward,” says Lisa Herbert, an executive vice president at Pantone, a leading color-research firm. “It indicates intimacy and sensitivity.”

Not ready for pink? Meet her halfway with purple, which combines the masculinity and stability of blue with the softness of pink, says Herbert.

Encourage a crush: Wear orange. “It’s very outgoing and high energy,” says Herbert. “For an active date, we would recommend wearing a really bright orange.”

Go Skin to Skin

Your first mission on a date (indeed, the key to all subsequent missions) is contact: Get her to touch you. “Touch is the mother of the senses,” says Fisher. “Not only are women more sensitive when they touch, but they’re also more sensitive to being touched.”

It has to do with millions of years of nurturing behavior, explains Fisher. Women, as mothers and caretakers, have to identify health threats such as fever, swollen glands, and so on, by touch. Show a woman your soft sideshe’ll expose hers in return.

Apply moisturizer at least twice a day, and if you must cover skin, do it with touchable all-stars like cashmere, pima cotton, brushed corduroy, merino wool, and suede. When sex is on the line, definitely wear velvet.

Originally at http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/look_great_on_dates/

14 Shocking Seal Slaughter Photos

Hearing about the barbaric Canadian seal slaughter, in which thousands of baby seals are beaten and skinned every year, is nothing like seeing it for yourself. The photos below show young victims suffering at the hand of the greedy fur industry. Will you speak up for baby seals to help end the seal slaughter for good?
Warning: Graphic Images Below
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Are you ready to help stop the seal slaughter? Tell Canada to end it’s shameful seal slaughter now!

Originally at http://www.peta.org/features/14-shocking-seal-slaughter-photos.aspx