Healthy Indian breakfast ideas

Healthy Indian breakfast ideas (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Do you wonder about what to cook for breakfast every single day? With eggs, toast and cereal topping the list of all breakfast ideas across health journals, how about trying out some nutritious and healthy Indian breakfasts instead?

Long blamed for being unhealthy, it is possible to enjoy delicious Indian food without spending hours putting breakfast together. But how is an Indian breakfast possible while maintaining a healthy lifestyle (especially weight loss efforts), you ask? Here are some great, healthy and delicious Indian breakfast ideas to help you do just that.

Steamed masala vada
Served along with sambhar and coconut chutney, masala vada is a medium sized cookie shaped, preferably steamed (though often deep fried), dumpling prepared with a mixture of channa dal, curry leaves, ginger and green chillies. A healthy way to prepare masala vada is to steam or bake them. Also, coconut chutney is high in calories, so eat controlled portions of it, or substitute with a tomato or coriander chutney. Method: Soak chana dal in water and blend it along with red chilli, cinnamon, besan. Now add the rest of the ingredients and steam the dumplings until they are golden in colour.

Paneer ka chilla
Ingredients: Water, 1 tablespoon oil, chilli powder, turmeric powder and dry coriander along with 1 cup besan and salt to taste. For the filling take half a cup of grated paneer, 1 finely chopped green chilli and coriander. Method: Heat oil in a pan. Mix the besan mixture in the pan until there are no lumps left in the mixture. Pour the mixture in the pan and lightly cook from both sides until golden brown. Fill in the paneer mixture when done and serve hot.

Dhokla
Ingredients: Dhokla is a traditional Gujarati delicacy which is prepared by mixing 1 cup curd, a few green chillies, 350 grams besan, 1 tablespoon ginger, 1 tablespoon eno, 1 few drops of lime juice and 1 pinch of turmeric powder. Method: Mix all the ingredients together and make a smooth batter. Now steam them. For tadka- mix oil, curry leaves, mustard seeds, chopped coriander and green chillies.

Poha
Ingredients: 1 potato, 1 onion, a few green chillies, 1 tablespoon chana dal, 1 tablespoon urad dal, a few curry leaves, 4-5 peanuts, 1 tablespoon oil, 2 cups poha (beaten rice), turmeric powder, salt to taste and lime juice. Method: Soak the poha in water for around an hour. Now prepare the tadka by heating oil and add urad dal, mustard seeds, chana dal, green chilles, curry leaves, onions and potatoes to it. Give it a nice stir and add the poha to the mixture. Let it stay on slow flame for 5-7 minutes. Yummy poha for breakfast is ready.

Spicy and tangy scrambled eggs
Ingredients: 2 egg whites, 1 tablespoon olive oil, soy sauce, tomato ketchup, 1 small onion finely chopped, a few coriander leaves, a few green chillies, 3 cloves of garlic chopped, black pepper, salt to taste. You can also add a few chopped vegetables if needed. Method: Heat olive oil in a frying pan and add the chopped onions and garlic to the pan. Mix well all the leftover ingredients in a bowl and whisk them well. Pour the mixture in the pan and cook until done. Serve hot with two slices of whole grain bread.

Stuffed aloo parantha with no oil
Ingredients : 2 cup wheat flour, 1 cup water, 1 boiled potato, red chilli powder, salt and chaat masala to taste. Method: Mix water and flour to form a soft dough. Now roll the dough into small circles and flatten it to the size of a roti. For the mixture, mix potatoes with all the ingredients and add it to the flatten dough. Now place the parantha over a preheated pan and let it cook from both side until golden brown. You can also substitute potatoes with nutritional vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, or spinach.
Read more Personal Health, Diet & Fitness stories on www.healthmeup.com

Read between the slice

Using the working definition of a sandwich — anything wedged between two slices of bread — Mumbai's khau gallis give birth to bizarre avatars

This year celebrates the 250th anniversary of the sandwich. If you are posh, you'll like them itty-bitty cucumber ones with the crust taken off. If you are hungry and side with the Americans, you'll go for a classic BLT or ham-'n'- cheese. But if you are a Mumbaiker, you'll like it strange — with chocolate, mashed raw banana or even noodles packed in. We rounded up Mumbai's four disturbing sandwiches invented in its many bylanes, and dared to take a bite.

Jain grilled sandwich

Where: Balu's Classic Fast Food

What lies inside: Raw banana, tomatoes, capsicum

Street food is democratic in the way our thoughts are not. You belong to a particular sect that has dietary restrictions? No worry. Mumbai's entrepreneurial spirit will tap into this niche to draw out the monies. Balusaheb Gaikwad's Jain Sandwich is devoid of root vegetables because the community shuns all food that grows underground. You can't tell the difference between pre-cooked raw banana bhaji and potato mash. Sandwizza at Santacruz, Andheri, Vile Parle and Malad also makes a Banana Crush Toast that is essentially raw banana bhaji taken to another level of surprise. It's yours for Rs 50.

Samosa grilled cheese sandwich

Where: Balu's Stall, Opposite Starcity cinema, Mahim

What lies inside: One samosa, chutney and cheese

Balu's Classic Fast Food has been serving this mash since 1990 at its mothership outlet in Saitan Chowki. The stall at Starcity opened six years ago. There's not much to reject about a crisp potato packet smashed with chutney between two large triangular slices of bread. The delight is in the textures.

Maggi grill sandwich

Where: Outside St. Xavier's College side entrance, Dhobi Talao

What lies inside: The noodles, capsicum, chutney and cheese

Vinod Jadhav says you can sell anything in Mumbai: "Sirf dimaag chahiye." His seems particularly, what shall we call it? Warped? The two-tiered sandwich is a union of two crucial elements of the student diet — spicy noodles and cheese — topped with sev, served at 25 bucks. He also grills cubes of Cadbury dairymilk chocolate with butter between two slices of bread. Dessert for lunch?

Daal pao

Where: Guru Kripa Snacks, Sindhi Camp, Chembur

What lies inside: Three types of daal, chutney, slice onions

Lala Dal-Paovala migrated to Sindhi camp in Chembur and has been selling the daal sandwich for more than 58 years. You get a choice of kadak or naram pao, into which is poured hara moong, akkha moong and chaana daal. Onions and chuntey finish off this Pakistani breakfast. Lalchand Jagwani's family mans three vending stations, but the original haath-gaddi sits parked under a peepul tree outside Lalchand House.

Mitali.Parekh @timesgroup.com

Drinkers can't tell if wine is cheap or not

Drinkers can't tell if wine is cheap or not (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Most wine drinkers are not able to make out the difference between the cheap wines and those that cost up to six times as much, a taste test has shown.

The Daily Telegraph cited the study as suggesting that many wine drinkers were simply paying for the label when they buy expensive bottle.

As many as 578 people participated in a `blind' taste challenge that took place at the Edinburgh Science Festival.

The test participants were given a range of red and white wines, which were priced less than 5 pounds while vintages were priced between 10 and 30 pounds. They were told to say which were cheap and which expensive.

The media report said that according to the laws of chance, 50 per cent of their guess should have been correct and this was exactly their level of accuracy. This showed that the volunteers could not distinguish between wines just by tasting it.

These are remarkable results.

"People were unable to tell expensive from inexpensive wines, and so in these times of financial hardship the message is clear - the inexpensive wines we tested tasted the same as their expensive counterparts," said Richard Wiseman, a professor from the University of Hertfordshire, who led the research.

‘Slim jeans add to the look’

'Slim jeans add to the look'

Model / Actor Sahil Shroff on fashion, style and more...

What's your style quotient?

I always go for something which is stylish yet comfy. Slim jeans are in and add a lot of youthfulness to your look.

Tight fitted or loose t-shirts, you prefer?

As I have a well-toned body, I like flaunting it by wearing tight fitted t-shirts, but not too tight as well.

An outfit you can't part with?

I can't part with my shorts and ganjis.

Must-have accessories:

Sunglasses and a chain with a cross.

If you had just two minutes to put together the perfect outfit, what would it be?

Carrot jeans with slim shoes, t-shirt/singlet with a shirt on top and cool sunglasses.

Worst fashion trend:

Cowboy boots.

A trend that will never go out of style:

Bell-bottoms always go out and then come back in style.

A look you love sporting AT:

A party: Classic suit.

On a date: Light blue t-shirt with black jeans.

At a movie: Short, t-shirt with a hooded jacket.

A family function: Nice shirt with linen pants.

Do you believe style lives on, fashion fades?

I think style lives on and fashion is something that complements it.

(As told to Priyanka Naithani)

Top 15 New York Times Bestsellers

New York Times - Bestsellers, Fiction (print and e-books between October 28, 2012 and November 11, 2012)

1. Title: The Bone Bed

Author: Patricia Cornwell

Publisher: Penguin Group

Synopsis: Author Patricia Cornwell's 20th in the 'Scarpetta' novel series, The Bone Bed is a journey into the dinosaur age. Paleontologist Emma Shubert has suddenly gone missing in the wilderness of Canada while digging a dinosaur bone bed. Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist receives a video footage in her inbox that in turn can help decode the mystery behind the missing woman. Things begin to complicate when Scarpetta encounters a number of events close to home that give her clues on Emma's disappearance. Will Scarpetta be able to join all dots or entangle herself more in the labyrinth of evidences?

2. Title: The Panther

Author: Nelson DeMille

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Synopsis: Nelson has set 'The Panther' in the year 2004 when people are still coping with the repercussions of the September 11 disaster and the suicide bomb attack on the destroyer USS Cole. Anti-terrorist task force agent John Corey and FBI officer Kay Mayfield (his wife) are on a mission in Yemen (known to be one of the most dangerous places in the Middle-East) to hunt for the killer, 'The Panther', the prime suspect (an Al-Qaeda operative) in the Cole bombing case. The thriller novel takes a new turn when we see The Panther planning another lethal attack on the United States with the knowledge that Cole and company have begun their search operation. Will the US government be successful in bringing The Panther down to dust or will they lose their federal agents in the operation?

3. Title: The Twelve

Author: Justin Cronin

Publisher: Random House Publishing

Synopsis: Justin Cronin's The Twelve, the sequel to the first book of the trilogy, The Passage, takes off after a government experiment goes horribly wrong and unfolds the story of three strangers and their lives after an apocalypse. In this book, Cronin lets the intensity deepen and hence reveals an epic story of a man-made apocalypse. Lila is a doctor and mother to be who prepares for her child's arrival in the midst of a collapsing society. Kittridge is armed but alone on the road, depending on a tank of gas to escape the violence and infection. And April is a teenager endeavouring to save her little brother from getting killed. The three strangers are stuck in a chaotic and deathly situation, each one fighting on for humankind's salvation and emerging out hopeful in the process.

4. Title: Fifty Shades of Grey

Author: E.L. James

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing

Synopsis: E.L James, a former TV journalist and mom of two in West London, fulfills her childhood dream of writing a book with Fifty Shades of Grey, the first of the trilogy, and turns into a bestselling author. Serving erotica to the audience with a plot that revolves around a drop-dead-gorgeous billionaire Christian Grey and his dangerous liaison with literature student Anastasia Steele who goes to interview the young tycoon, and ends up falling for him. They embark on a passionate physical affair while Ana unravels Grey's dark desires including her own.

5. Title: The Casual Vacancy

Author: J K Rowling

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Synopsis: Moving away from the world of wizards and magic wands, J K Rowling's first 'adult' novel, The Casual Vacancy is a tragicomedy set in a West Country town named Pagford. The story begins with the death of Parish Councillor Barry Fairbrother and moves to the subsequent conflict over the 'vacant' seat on the council. An inevitable war breaks out before the elections for a suitable successor and there is mayhem in the town of Pagford. The author explores multiple themes ranging from class politics, prostitution and other social issues that probably the Harry Potter Series was devoid of. Will Pagford ever get its eligible successor or will the 'vacant' seat spell inexplicable doom?

6. Title: Fifty Shades Freed

Author: E.L James

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing

Synopsis: Since their first encounter, the third of the trilogy, and driven by their searing sexual desire for each other, Anastasia and Grey's lives have changed irrevocably. Initially repelled by Grey's need to control in bed, and his erotic tastes, Ana subsequently comes to terms with it, and demands from him a greater commitment. Grey agrees, and now they have everything going for them, from love, wealth, passion, to intimacy. But deep down Ana fears they'll never be able to stay together without her sacrificing her own identity.

7. Title: Reflected in You

Author: Sylvia Day

Publisher: Penguin Group

Synopsis: The emotional, turbulent and sensual saga of Eva Tramell and Gideon Cross in Sylvia Day's Bared to You continues in her latest novel. Reflected in You. In this novel, we get an insight into the characters in more depth and intensity that Bared to You did not reveal. We are informed about Gideon's not-so-pleasant past, Eva's bisexual friend and roommate Cary whose strategic interventions in the novel provide the readers with a dose of humour and of course our protagonist Eva who continues her struggle with her insecurities in love life. This is definitely not a fantasy romance but can be called a 'paranormal' (as described by a critic) one that's interspersed with suspense, psychological turmoil, dark sensuality and jealous rage.

8. Title: Fifty Shades Darker

Author: E.L James

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing

Synopsis: The second of the trilogy, Fifty Shades Darker explores the dilemma of Anastasia after her separation from Grey. She has moved on in her career, yet desires to go back to him, for the memories of their torrid physical affair still dominate her mind, and eventually she lands up with him in a new arrangement. Grey's inner demons grow darker, and as Ana delves deeper into his harrowing past, she is faced with the anger and jealousy of the women who came in his life before her.

9. Title: Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Publisher: Crown Publishing

Synopsis: On her fifth wedding anniversary Amy Dunne suddenly goes missing without a trace from her rented home in North Carthage, Missouri. Under pressure from the police, media and Amy's doting parents, Husband-of-the Year, Nick grapples with a never-ending chain of lies, deceits, and his own oddly evasive behaviour. As events get murkier, the needle of suspicion points at Nick as the killer of his beautiful wife. With his sister Margo by his side, Nick pleads innocence. Then what was in that silver gift box in the back of Amy's bedroom closet?

10. Title: NYPD Red

Author: James Patterson and Marshall Karp

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Synopsis: New York City is immersed in glamour to kick off the celebrations of Hollywood on Hudson. Red carpets are being rolled out for movie stars' arrivals, wealthy directors and producers are partying in five star restaurants, and several thousand fans and paparazzi gather to get a glimpse of their favourite faces. Amid the festive fervour, NYPD Red has been put on red alert to ensure nothing goes wrong. But when a renowned producer suddenly collapses at his power breakfast, that's when they know that a psychopath killer is on the prowl. Detective Zach Jordan is assigned to hunt down the moves of this deranged murderer.

11. Title: The Secret Keeper

Author: Kate Morton

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Synopsis: Laurel Nicolson is an established actress living in London. She plans a visit to her old childhood farm, Green Acres to celebrate her mother, Dorothy's ninetieth birthday. While at the farm she is reminded of some past events which she didn't give much importance to fifty years back, especially the day she spied a stranger walking up the farm road to speak to her mother in private, and the crime following it. Laurel casts her career aside and decides to exhume the secrets of the farm, and those from her mom's dark past.

12. Title: Sleep No More

Author: Iris Johansen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press Synopsis: Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor is haunted by the past, for she fought years after Bonnie, her daughter was abducted, and fought for closure. Things take a drastic turn when Eve's mother Sandra asks her to help her find a missing friend, Beth Avery. Eve knows that it is not the complete truth. Her suspicion is further piqued when Sandra refuses to go to the police. When she finds out that Beth spent time in some mental hospital for years before her disappearance, her suspicion is further reinforced. If Beth is on the run, what or who is she running from? Eve suddenly finds their lives strangely entangled.

13. Title: Bared to You

Author: Sylvia Day

Publisher: Penguin Group

Synopsis: Best-selling author Sylvia Day weaves an erotic, obsessive relationship between her two protagonists, Eva and Gideon, both fighting their respective demons of the past. Emotional turmoil juxtaposed with physical desire makes them bare their hearts to each other, only to complicate their present further.

14. Title: Mad River

Author: John Sandford

Publisher: Penguin Group

Synopsis: Three teenagers - Bonnie, Clyde and their anonymous sidekick, are on a spree of killing and robbing anyone who comes their way. First, they kill a patrolman on a deserted highway. Next, they gun down a woman during a robbery. And then, it simply became a habit to point, shoot and flee. Little do they know that their game plan is being tracked by the rural Minnesota cop, Virgil Flowers. He has replaced John Sandford's favourite cop, Lucas Davenport and is now on the hunt for the three reckless, young criminals.

15. Title: Down to You

Author: M. Leighton

Publisher: M. Leighton

Synopsis: Nothing is extraordinary about Olivia Townsend, a young college student who works her way through college in the day and comes back home to help her father run his business. Life turns upside down when she falls in love with Cash and Nash, two handsome twin brothers. While Cash is the bad boy who makes her go weak in the knees, Nash is everything a woman wants in a life partner. Her lust for Cash and love for Nash creates turmoil within her when she learns that the twins are hiding something from her. Will she ever be able to choose between the two brothers? Read on to find out.

(Compiled by Anwesha Mittra, Arunima Mazumdar and Ipshita Mitra)

Get creative with table napkins

Knotty and nice (Thinkstock phots/Getty Images)

With the spicy, oily food that we all love, our table napkins are always left with some reminders of the sumptuous meals served at our tables. Table napkins, especially the whites have a way of stubbornly holding on to stains. And if you don't want to discard the napkins that are otherwise in perfect condition, then this will prove to be the best way to salvage them. Tie and dye napkins are easy to make .

Here is what you will need:
Napkins, Fabric dye, Rubber bands, A large bowl or vessel, Plastic wrap, Rubber gloves

Method:
Wash napkins and let them dry. Wear rubber gloves and mix the dye according to product instructions and transfer to your bowl. Now, pinch fabric in and then using rubber bands or thread, tie up fabric together at intervals on the napkin to create a design.

Submerge the tied napkins into the bowl of dye, letting dye seep in. Remove. Let it dry (designs absorb best when left overnight.)

Once it is completely dry, remove the rubber bands and unfold your napkin. The rubber bands would have left designs where the colour didn't dye. Rinse napkin with cold water until the water runs clear. Wash and dry according to dye instructions. Set the table with your new napkins. Cool, na?

Meeting Hemingway's ghost

Meeting Hemingway's Ghost

Author publisher David Davidar recounts a Cuban holiday spent battling a marlin much like the Old Man of the sea

When you have been addicted to books for as long as I have, a lot of things take on literary associations. And so, when my wife suggested a holiday in Cuba some years ago, I did not dwell on its legendary mojitos, cigars, rum, Cadillacs with tail fins, mobsters and molls. I thought instead of The Old Man and the Sea, which was written in Cuba in 1951, and is thought by many to be Ernest Hemingway's greatest published work. For those who don't know the novel, it tells the story of a legendary Cuban fisherman, in his eighties and down on his luck, who has gone for a long time without catching a fish. Then, one day, far out to sea, he hooks a giant marlin, and spends a long time battling it. I'm not going to tell you how the story ends, but, in short, sharp sentences, the master creates a work of art that is elemental.

Havana was magical. The Habaneros and Habaneras were lively and fun, and the absence of loud American tourists, made it one of the most relaxing places we'd visited. The rum slipped smoothly down our throats, the cigars complemented the cocktails to perfection, there was music on every street corner, and once you got past the obvious tourist traps, there was much to savour in that astonishing city painted in the faded colours of the evening sky. Hemingway was everywhere. We visited bars named after him, where we drank cocktails he'd made famous, and we visited places he had lived and worked in. The only part of the Hemingway experience we hadn't immersed ourselves in was big game fishing. It seemed like a lot of work.

But we were in the country that had inspired the finest work of fiction featuring a giant fish, bar Moby Dick, so on the last day of our holiday, we set off into heaving sapphire blue seas from the auspiciously-named Hemingway Marina. A couple of hours later our enthusiasm had dwindled. My friend, David, had caught a respectable mahi-mahi, but that was it. Nothing was biting, and the captain of our boat said our time was up, and he was turning back. Sunburned, and quite morose, all of us sat staring vacantly into the cresting waves. Then, one of the lines at the stern began hissing into the sea at a furious pace, we'd hooked something. "Marlin" the captain said, though how he could tell I didn't know, because whatever was on the line was close to a kilometre from the boat, and very deep down. I was tied into the fighting chair, handed the humming line, and given some very basic lessons in big game fishing, which essentially seemed to be to keep the line taut, but not so taut that the fish could snap it when it took off on one of its furious runs, and keep reeling it in whenever I could. Half an hour later the fish seemed no closer, nor did it seem in the least tired, whereas my arms ached, I was hot and sweaty, and my head and eyes hurt. But when the captain and David offered to take over I refused. This was my fish, I was either going to land him, or lose him. A little while later the marlin jumped (apparently they do this every time they are hooked). And as that great fish, arced out of the water, blue as the sea and grey as the sky, over one hundred kilos of muscle and bone, I finally understood every last nuance of Hemingway's masterpiece.

(As told to Aruna Rathod)

Fashion tips for pear-shaped women

Fashion trends for pear-shaped women (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

You are annoyed by your lower heavy portion and upper thin portion, right? Believe it or not, but all of us crave for something that we don't have.

But that shouldn't stop us from being less fashionable, what say? If you have wider hips and thighs and a smaller bust, then you are pear-shaped. Here are some fashionable tips for pear shaped women to look trendy and haute.

- Add broadness to your upper body by going for dresses or tops with small shoulder pads. Strapless, halter neck and spaghetti dresses are perfect for your body as they remove the attention from your lower half.

- Choose tops with voluminous sleeves. Go for dresses that have ruffles, embellishments or a luxurious pattern/texture around the neck as that will add volume to your bust.

- Wear dark colors for lower and lighter shades for your upper body.

- Where accessories are concerned, nothing works better than an oversize shoulder bag..

- Go for wide-leg trouser shorts, palazzo pants with front pleats, wide-pleated A-line skirt (instead of its tapered counterpart) or a wrap skirt. Vertical lines will slim you down.

- Wear coats that are belted at the waist. Make sure it is either waist length or more so that it covers your wide lower body instead of making you look bulky. Avoid coats that sit or end at your hips.

- Lingerie plays a very important role for a pear-shaped woman. Give your bust a boost with the help of a push-up or a padded bra that will help balance your larger middle area. Smooth the hip area by wearing shape-up/ shapewear.

Avoid metallic fabrics in your skirts, pants and trousers and follow these simple tips. Don't be upset with your shape. Remember you are in the league of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kelly-Clarkson, Shakira, Heidi Klum, Christina Aguilera, Keira Knightley, Paris Hilton, Mischa Barton and Eva Longoria.

Cafeteria-diet putting youth at risk

Cafeteria-diet putting youth at risk (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Fat- and sugar-rich junk food diets can increase the risk of stroke or death at a younger age, according to a study.

Researchers found that a high-calorie, high-sugar, high-sodium diet nicknamed the 'cafeteria diet' induced most symptoms of metabolic syndrome - a combination of high levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and obesity - in rats after only two months.

The animals were at an age roughly equivalent to 16 to 22 years in humans at the time of disease onset, according to lead researcher Dr. Dale Corbett, scientific director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery.

"I think we'll soon start to see people in their 30s or 40s having strokes, having dementia, because of this junk food diet," said Dr. Corbett.

"Young people will have major, major problems much earlier in life," he cautioned.

Researchers gave sedentary rats unlimited access to both nutritional food pellets and a daily selection of common junk food items including cookies, sausage and cupcakes. Animals were also given access to both water and a 30 per cent sucrose solution designed to imitate soft drinks. Like humans, the animals greatly preferred to consume the treats.

Dr. Corbett highlights the importance of preventing metabolic syndrome with regular exercise and a balanced diet.

"We're not sure whether metabolic syndrome can be reversed. If it can't, and we continue to live and eat like this, then we're each a ticking time bomb of health problems."

In addition to warning the Canadian public about the health dangers of a poor diet, the researchers' study opens the door to further research.

The study was presented at the Canadian Stroke Congress.

Stay healthy with these drinks

Healthy drinks for a healthy you (Getty Images)

The thought of taking time for a healthy breakfast rarely breaks the stride of the jet-setting business traveler. Why not opt for a few healthy drinks that are loaded with nutritiotional benefits instead.

Balance Smoothie
Ingredients
70 g Banana, 250 ml Orange juice, 5 ea Baby spinach leaves, 1 tsp Cocoa powder, 125 ml Soya Milk, 2 tbs (20 g) Ground Almonds

Method
Blend the banana, baby spinach, almond and cocoa powder with the Soya milk. Then add the orange juice and blend until completely smooth. Serve chilled.

The nutritionist's comments
Banana is rich in the important electrolyte potassium. A diet rich in potassium seems to have a blood pressure lowering effect. Banana is also rich in the water soluble fiber pectin's and acts soothing on the gastro intestinal tract. Pectin's have a cholesterol lowering effect too.

Nutritional information
Energy 1520 kJ, Protein 12 g, Fat 11 g, Carbohydrates 53 g, Fibers 4 g

Health Smoothie
Ingredients
60 g Banana, 100 ml Fresh squeezed orange juice, 120 g Strawberries, 6 Mint leafs, 125 ml Soya milk, 2 tbs (20 g) Ground Almonds

Method
Blend the banana, strawberries and mint leafs with the soya millk. Add the orange juice and almond and blend until completely smooth. Serve chilled.

The nutritionist's comments
Apart from the great sweet taste of summer, strawberries offer support for optimal health due to the phytonutrient that gives the vibrant red color in the skin of the berry. Strawberries tend to give us protection against inflammation and heart disease.

Nutritional information
Energy 1290 kJ, Protein 11 g, Fat 12g, Carbohydrates 39 g, Fibers 5 g

Good energy juice
Ingredients
400 g Beetroot, 40 g Baby Spinach, 500 g Carrots, 100 g Apple red, 1 Tsp Chopped dill

Method
Cut the beetroot, baby spinach, apple and carrots and extract juice with a extractor. Add the chopped dill. Mix until juice is smooth. Add a table spoon of crushed ice and stir before serving.

The nutritionist's comments
This juice is rich in healthy vegetables and helps you balance the blood sugar and gives you great energy and helps enhance your mood. Spinach helps detoxify hormones and beetroot supports digestion, which is important for absorbing nutrients.

Nutritional information
Energy 2141 kJ, Protein 8,5, Fat 4, Carbohydrates 115, Fibers 23

(Courtesy Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa)

Celebs and their tell-all autobiographies

Celebs and their tell-all autobiographies

They may keep mum during interviews, but they make explosive revelations when they pen their autobiographies

Arnold Schwarzenegger: This year has been quite a tumultuous one for the Terminator star. After it was revealed that he had an affair with his housemaid, which resulted in the birth of a love-child, his wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver, filed for divorce. And now, the former Governor of California has penned his autobiography -- Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story. So far, the most shocking revelation is Schwarzenegger's confirmation that he had an affair with Danish actress and his Red Sonja co-star Brigitte Nielsen in 1985 -- when he was dating Shriver, and she was dating Sylvester Stallone.

Andre Agassi: In his 2009 autobiography Open, which was serialized in a German publication, the former World No. 1 tennis player revealed that he always hated tennis, that his famed mullet was actually a wig, and that he lied to the ATP when confronted with charges of taking crystal meth. It caused much outrage in the tennis world, especially for his remarks about how rival Pete Sampras was "robotic" and his views on Boris Becker.

Jodie Sweetin: The Full House star developed a drug and alcohol problem soon after the show went off the air, but lied about being off hard drugs -- and, as a result, was booked as an inspirational speaker several times. This was the most shocking revelation in her autobiography, unSweetined, in which she also said that the money she made from her appearances fuelled her cocaine and methamphetamine habit.

LL Cool J: In his 1998 memoir, I Make My Own Rules, the rapper revealed that when he was a child, his father shot his mother in the back because he wasn't able to win her back. A stray bullet even got his grandfather in the stomach.

Biscuits taste better when packed in fancy wrappers

Biscuits taste better when packed in fancy wrappers (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Biscuits' taste is improved if they are in slick packaging, as people's perception of the flavor is heightened by the glossy images on the wrapping.

A study by consumer group Which? found testers who saw packets of biscuits before eating them, scored them higher than those who had tasted them blind, the Mirror reported.

To prove that people eat with their eyes as well as their mouths, the firm asked two groups of people to taste and rate chocolate chip cookies from the premium, standard and budget range at Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

One group was given the biscuits with their packaging and one group tasted the biscuits blind.

The group that saw the packaging rated all the biscuits significantly higher overall, and crucially, for taste.

Singapore's Merlion statue, a wonder

Singapore's Merlion statue, a wonder (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

The Merlion statue area, situated near Hotel Fullerton is a tourist's delight

The Merlion statute situated in the Merlion park, with the body of a fish and head of a lion is the symbol of Singapore, ensconced on the banks of the Singapore river, near the historic Fullerton Hotel giving a spectacular view, if you happen to go to Singapore. The ideal time to visit Merlion Park is evening around 5pm. As you go down the steps and sit on one of those steps clicking pictures of the landscape of Singapore with the Merlion, it becomes an ideal time to pass the evening even if you are alone.

On the steps, you find many families and couples gazing at the colourful landscape of Singapore marked with their tallest skyscraper hotel Marina Bay Sands, they do a wonderful light show as the sun sets. The place becomes even more breathtaking as it turns darker. The area around the Merlion facing the Anderson bridge is picturesque and you see tourists across the world clicking pictures and taking videos with their families. As you walk down the other side, you find a string of restaurants and gourmet cafes on the banks of the river, giving their guests an opportunity to sip cocktails and gorge on starters and enjoy a romantic evening watching the river.

One should sample the local cuisine restaurants, which serve amazing 'Kopi' (a Singapore way of making coffee) 'Kaya'(butter-jam toast preparation) and 'Laksa' (a coconut gravy dish made with eggs) that are typical of Singapore. With live musicians playing music and performing by the banks of the river and water flowing out from the Merlion, you don't realise how hours skip away. The cycle rickshaw rides are also fun.

Once you have had a fill of walking around the Merlion park, don't miss the 'chocolate buffet' that the Fullerton Hotel situated across the Merlion Park arranges on weekends. A must-do for all those who love feasting on chocolates.

Accessorise to suit your shape

Accessorise to suit your shape (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Quick tips on how to dress up according to your shape...

Petite

Do: Wear sling necklaces and chains that skirt your belly. They elongate your torso

Don't: Wear shoes with ankle straps; they slice leg length.

Top heavy

Do: Wear large, dangling earrings. They draw attention away from your chest and to your face. Hoops work well.

Don't: Carry short strapped handbags that rest close to your bust. You will look like an inverted triangle.

Tall

Do: Wear belts. You have the height to do them justice.

Don't: Carry tiny bags. They will look comical against your big frame.

Bottom heavy

Do: Wear scarves to shift focus to your upper body, and draw attention away from your hips.

Don't: Wear low-slung belts that accentuate your hips.

Women think why they bought leather pants

Women think why they bought leather pants (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Tight leather trousers, which are just too unflattering to step out in, are the fashion item most women regret buying, researchers say.

Almost half of the women surveyed, who had purchased a pair, said they shouldn't have done it, with many soon realising that wearing them looked 'tacky' and as if they were trying too hard to impress.

Shell suits were second in the list of regretted purchases, followed by velour tracksuits like the one worn by The X Factor's Tulisa Contostavlos, and anything fluorescent.

Risque see-through tops, crop tops and thigh-boots also made it to the top ten.

A third of women said a fear of showing too much flesh was one of the main reasons for binning an outfit, while other key factors were the realisation that an item looks 'cheap' or it having drifted out of fashion.

More than a quarter of women admitted being "so upset" at how they looked in offending clothing that they destroyed incriminating photographs.

According to the survey of 2,000 women by drinks brand Lambrini, 79 percent confessed to having bought 'embarrassing' clothes but some only realised their faux pas when it was brought to their attention.

21 percent said they stopped repeating their fashion error only when it was pointed out by a friend, while 19 percent said they had their partner to thank.

"It seems all of us have a few items lurking in the wardrobe that we'd be embarrassed about wearing," the Daily Mail quoted Lambrini brand manager Lorna Tweed as saying.

"Trying to copy celebrity style is often the reason for our style dilemmas and the rationale behind our dodgy purchases.

"Although celebs may look good in leather trousers, realistically most of us don't and should steer well away from the trend.

"It's wise to shop with female friends and get advice from them before buying - there's no point wasting money on something you're never going to wear," Tweed added.

The 'cocktail' dress code deciphered

The 'cocktail' dress code deciphered (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Dress codes are a tricky thing and usually it's easy to understand the difference between 'formal' and 'casual', but most of us get stumped by the code 'cocktail dress'.

Now, fashion editor Kellie Hush tells you what it really means.

"A cocktail party is traditionally a pre-dinner event and technically men should wear a suit and women a cocktail dress, which means a tastefully short evening dress," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Hush as saying.

"A friend once asked if it was OK to wear jeans to a cocktail hour wedding. No. They were new 300 dollars jeans, he insisted. Still no. If an invitation's dress code states casual, then yes, slip into your best denim," she added.

However, cocktail events aren't black-tie occasions either, so suiting up isn't necessary.

"A little black dress is perfect — just glam it up with accessories and a pair of killer heels. It's also the time to pull out the sequins and animal prints but try to avoid looking like a Las Vegas stage act. A dressy pantsuit or chic skirt and top are fine as well, but not if it's something you've had on at the office all day," Hush said.

So what if you are going to the races? It depends on the race, said Hush.

"Flemington and Randwick are not Royal Ascot but they're not nightclubs either. Your hemline should be no shorter than mid-thigh. Leave the sequins for the dance floor. Cleavage is a winner after dark but not for race one. And finally, yes, you do need to wear a hat, not just a cheap plastic flower in your hair," she said.

3 Best spa vacation destinations

3 Best spa vacation destinations (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

If you're the kind of person who believes in taking a short break and going on a vacation every year, we've got the perfect vacation plan for you. Give the hill stations and beach destinations rest; instead opt for a relaxing and rejuvenating spa holiday this time. We list down some of the best spa vacation destinations of the world.

Phuket, Bangkok

Thanks to Bangkok's massage culture, Phuket is fast becoming a spa haven. Offering various spa options,be it the Cheraim Spa Village or the much-acclaimed Banyan Tree, you can have a tranquil vacation here, by treating yourself to modern treatments as well as Thai massage like Nuat Phaen Boran!

Istanbul, Turkey

Think Istanbul and you'll think of rejuvenating Turkish baths! Naturally, a trip to this city is incomplete without experiencing an ancient Turkish bath. Cagaloglu Hamam, a classical Ottoman wonder that's almost 270 years old is one of the best known ones, especially if you're looking for a traditional Turkish massage along with sweet Turkish tea.

Negril, Jaimaica

If you're looking for health and relaxation resorts, right from holistic havens to popular resorts, you should visit Negril in Jamaica. This laid-back resort is famous for its glorious white sands as they offer a number of massage treatments, which you can enjoy throughout your stay.

purvaja.sawant@timesgroup.com

Gresham, the globe-trotting storyteller

The classic fairy tales and folklore which grandmas have related through the ages to put little ones to sleep find a new portal of expression in Xanthe Gresham, a globally acclaimed British performance-storyteller.

For Gresham, who travels the globe narrating a vast repertoire of fables, storytelling is an integral part of good parenting and forging strong bonds with one's children without being preachy.

"They only listen when I tell them stories. Parents can get through to them via stories. Keep repeating the stories, add twists, and the more you tell, the better you get. I think stories are fun, they are playful and they help you remember," Gresham, who was at the Oxford Bookstore here to conduct a storytelling session in association with the British Council, advised parents who want to be good storytellers.

Telling stories for both children and adults, Gresham has created many performances such as "Aphrodite" and "The Real Red Shoes".

Live performances for family audiences include the popular "Shahnameh" or the "Iranian Book of Kings" performed with musician Arash Moradi and "Indian Tales" performed with storyteller Seema Anand.

Gresham wishes to narrate the epic Mahabharata to perfection some day.

"I find this epic fascinating. It has so many brave characters. I will try to interact more with the people to get the names of the characters and their pronunciations right," Gresham, who is in her 30s, said.

What was once identified as Grandma's storytelling has morphed into a 21st century narration-based live art replete with props, anecdotes, rhymes, music and, most importantly, getting the crowd to participate.

"Telling a story, not with a script and actually improvising and luring the audience to participate and making them one with the story, is the way of the storyteller. It is both an art and a craft", Gresham pointed out.

Known for her energetic and fired up signature live acts of folktales, fairytales and mythology, she draws inspiration from European, Russian, Celtic, Greek, Persian, Iraqi, Mesopotamian, Afghan, South American, Egyptian, Viking, Chinese, Native American, Indian and Sufi traditions.

"I have travelled a lot and somehow keep coming back to mythology and folktales. And I find children are more attracted to the folktales because of the variety those offer. I love to perform my favourite - the tale of Shahnameh," explained Gresham, who also lectures in storytelling and drama at the University of East London.

For Gresham, who was trained in literature and theatre, storytelling as a way of teaching happened quite accidentally.

"I had no idea there was such a thing as storytelling. I was teaching, but I wasn't doing very well with the children. Then a professional storyteller walked in one day and it was like a magic spell had been cast. The children were rapt with attention. Even if you are learning loads, it's not work," she emphasised.

What began as an aid to teaching has now become a form of expression for the vivacious keeper of tales.

"Ben Haggarty is one of my inspirations in the field. I trained with him and after six or seven years of on-the-job training, I developed my own style," revealed the storyteller.

Dressed in bright colours and draped in shawls, with an accordion to highlight sensory moments during the telling, her one-woman show uses props to make it a well-rounded audio-visual experience.

"Props prop you up. The children need to have a visual aide to get the point," says Gresham whose acts are marked with voice modulations to bring to life the characters.

With an adroit mix of folklore and allusions to political and social happenings, Gresham makes it a point to use words, phrases and proverbs specific to the area of origination of the story that affords a glimpse to a different world.

"It is a cross-cultural thing. People from different lands are transported to other places, the unknown. I do play a bit of music as well to remind them of the specific country," Gresham said.

With hi-tech entertainment forms springing up every other day, performance storytelling is getting bigger by the day.

"It is a big thing in the U.K. When I started, there were more men than women, but now there are more women. When it comes down to other art forms, I feel all arts are brothers; they are like each other and complement each other. In fact, India is known to us for its tradition of storytelling, " said Gresham.

Shaken cocktails less potent

Shaken cocktails less potent (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

The shaken not stirred debate about martinis has been made famous by James Bond, but now you can find out whether a shaken cocktail will make get you more drunk than a stirred one.

The site Gizmodo conducted an experiment to find out the answer to the perennial shaken vs stirred question.

They created cocktails with precise measurements of ingredients, for eg, 14 identical ice cubes from the same tray, each made using exactly 25 grams of water, and 70 grams of vodka with 40 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV). The temperature was also kept at an exact 73 degrees Fahrenheit.

To calculate the contents of the shaken and stirred samples, a digital scale was used to measure how much water weight the solution gained, and a distilling hydrometer called a Proof and Tralle Hydrometer was used to measure proof.

The results for the two drinks were measured on the basis of temperature, weight and measurement of water content by the hydrometer.

The temperature of the shaken drink was found to be 29 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas the stirred cocktail measured only 38.1 degrees. The two drinks were then weighed.

Both the solutions had started with 70 grams of vodka, but the stirred solution was found to weigh 86 grams, due to the water gained by melting ice.

However, the shaken solution weighed 116 grams, gaining 46 grams from the amount of water knocked off from the ice cubes while shaking.

Once both solutions had reached a temperature of exactly 72.4 degrees Fahrenheit, they were tested with a hydrometer.

The stirred drink had dropped down from 80 proof to 60, meaning it had a final 30 percent ABV.

The shaken drink measured between 45 and 46 proof on the hydrometer, which means it had an ABV of around 23 per cent.

Shaking just ice and alcohol had cut the spirit's potency nearly in half, diluting the drink 1.75 times more than stirring did.

Guide to balancing parenting and sex

Guide to balancing parenting and sex

Parenting and sex with your partner can often collide. Here's how to balance the two

Being a parent needn't ring a death knell for your sex life, but it is wise to keep the two apart. While it's important that children witness moments of love and sharing between parents — holding hands, cuddling, and sharing a light kiss — it's important to figure what's appropriate around them and not. Here's a guide to striking a balance, and how you should react if you are caught out.

Your baby is 10 months old
Your baby is old enough to stand upright in its crib, and watch the two of you get intimate. Worse, it's staring at you and gurgling. Should you stop? Experts say, keep at it. Until your baby is about two years old, it won't register what's going on. But, with kids around, it's tough to slip into heady passion. Moms find it especially tough. If you can't slip into another room, distract your baby with a toy.

Your baby is a pre-schooler
Some three year-olds with a separate room still prefer to crawl into bed with their parents, especially during moments of insecurity. "I had a bad dream!" is a favourite. If you are in the middle of canoodling, and your child walks in, stop. You should not be having sex in front of your kids. That's the rule. Shift to another room or wait till it falls asleep.

Your baby is four, and walks into the shower
You've decided to shower together, when you baby walks in. It wants to know what's going on, and might even point to a private part and get curious about it. Don't freak out at being seen naked. It's your child, after all. When it is old enough to tell you it is not comfortable seeing the two of you like this, it will tell you anyway. Read the cues.

Your baby is five, and swings open the door
A five year-old is not old enough to make the right connections, and could misinterpret what's going on. It interprets movement differently from adults. If your child sleeps in a neighbouring room, make sure your door is locked. In case, it walks in on the two of you making out, don't lie. Say you were enjoying private time, slip on your clothes, and share a tight hug of reassurance.

Your child is seven, and playing a video game
Older kids need to be told gently that parents need private time, without going into the details. So, in case it jumps up from a session of playing video games, and bangs on the door, demanding you open up, ask it to wait, slip on your clothes, and have a chat when you are out. Sharing the importance of knocking before entering will work wonders.

Your child is ten, and has friends over
When kids are older, and especially when they are with someone else's kids, it's important to ensure that they do not see or hear too much. It can confuse and upset them. If your child is in the adjoining room watching a movie with friends, make sure you keep the television in your room on to drown out any whoops of passion.

mirrorfeedback@indiatimes.com

Dump a few beanbags in living room

Want a cozy, comfortable and yet light and sophisticated chair or couch to put in the living room? Buy a beanbag.

Today beanbags are the rage coming in stunning range and attractive colours and sizes as big as to accommodate your entire family. Bean bag furniture can be used to furnish almost any room in your home, from the family room or den to a kids' playroom. They are incredibly comfortable and soft, providing a great place to relax and unwind. Whether you're enjoying a drink with close friends, watching a favourite show on TV, or reading the kids a bedtime story — a bean bag is a wonderful place to sit and be snug. What's so great about bean bags? Bean bag chairs were the craze of the 70s.

The reason they have made such a big comeback recently is really a no-brainer. Versatile, long wearing, 'child proof,' portable, practical and fun are keywords used in describing bean bag chairs, and why they remain popular in so many households — especially those with children. Though initially a favourite, the old Styrofoam beans/pellets filling became a safety issue especially for children and people avoided buying them.

But now with improved designs, made of fashionable material, with polyurethane shredded foam/memory foam — which adheres to all safety standards — beanbags are staging a grand comeback. Bean bags vs traditional furniture With most traditional furniture you couldn't dream of sliding them outside to lounge by the pool (if you are strong enough to), as some sofas can run up to thousands of rupees and you wouldn't dare think of ruining the beautiful leather. A convenient and easy way to take a comfortable and lightweight chair is to make a bean bag chair your new best friend.

They will help you relax and are especially great for easing back or neck pain. Think of it as your own personal masseuse. Kids rooms Great for kids as they provide a soft place for your children to sit while watching TV, reading or playing a video game. Things you need to know about bean bags As great as they are, there is also a safety issue to be addressed when using bean bags in your home. If you do decide to by yourself or someone else a bean bag chair, make sure you remove the pull tag once the bag is filled with polystyrene beans. This is done to prevent a choking hazard for children. A liner that slides between the bag cover and the beans can also be purchased as extra child hazard prevention.

Shapes

There are typically four shapes of beanbags — teardrop, armchair, cylinder and a sack. Sack, the beanbag couch, is now the most popular beanbag — finding favour with young and old alike. Now that beanbags can be customised, you can get it to exactly match the decor of wherever you are going to put it. Size When looking for a bean bag chair, look at the shape that best suits your needs. Bean bag chairs with a pear shaped design offer better back support because they are taller and cover more of your body.

The flatter pancake shaped bean bag chair works great for two people or as a coffee table substitute. The pancake works better as a lounger than as a chair. Fabric With the wide variety of bean bags available in the market, there is a wide variety of fabrics available. Vinyl is very common in bean bag chairs, although some people feel that vinyl is too sticky and not as comfortable as cloth bean bag chairs. Vinyl is easy to wipe up and keep clean which is a definite advantage. When selecting vinyl ensure the fabric uses lead-free vinyl inks. Other bean bags come in leather, fun fur, microfiber, denim and cotton. If possible when choosing a fabric, look for a bean bag chair that has a liner so that the cover can be removed and washed periodically.

Microfiber, leather-based, cotton and denim are the most popular materials used for covering. Fill Bean bag stuffing is cheap to buy and offers a simple way to refill your favourite bean bag arm chair with fresh beads, plumping it up and giving it a new lease of life. When choosing the fill for your bean bag chair, look for high quality recycled polystyrene fill. You want a bean bag chair that has enough fill to offer support but soft enough to be comfortable. Polystyrene fill is the best as it is soft enough to provide great comfort but is also strong enough to withstand lots of compression without losing its sponginess.

For the benefit of the environment, choose 100 per cent recycled polystyrene. When choosing fill is sure to look for polystyrene that is fire retardant or complies with flammability standards. Make your own bean bag chair filler Why not make your own filler. It is appropriate, isn't it? You can find some dried beans or rice and fill your bag with them — of course, these food items might attract some pests. Also, you need to watch out for moisture. Something else that you might consider is wood shavings. Perhaps you have seen the pet beds that come filled with wood shavings.

Cedar shavings have a very pleasant smell, as well. For some added fluff, why not use feathers from old feather pillows? Or you could try nut shells, Styrofoam or plastic pellets, or polyester stuffing. Be creative with your bean bag chair filling! Brilliant colours These days the bean bag is available to you in myriads colour combinations that you cannot even imagine. You will get options that are very different from the normal and plain looking ones. Some shops are also providing great patterns to the customers like polka dots, stripes and various other selections that are great for your office as well as home. The colours are very vibrant and they would look good in any home.

If you are looking for a particular colour combination then you can purchase your own material and get a customised sofa. Portable Bean bags are lightweight and easy to move about, so it's easy to rearrange your seating. For instance, if you got friends around and you're playing a board game at a coffee table and you need to sit closer than your other furniture allows, then bean bags are the perfect solution. They are perfect to take along to a picnic, while visiting distant relatives, for enjoying a firework display outside, or to bring along for small children to nap on while visiting friends.

What about while camping, to relax in after a long day of hiking and campfire cooking? Bean bag covers Bean bag chair covers come in a huge variety of colours, patterns and fabrics, so you can choose whatever will match your decor or add a splash of colour to a room. Beanbags put up with a lot of rough use. Removable covers are a good idea so that it is easy to clean when necessary.

Good looks, ease, style, convenience, and versatility — bean bag furniture has it all! Comfort is indeed the second name for beanbags!

Why we struggle to meet deadlines

80pc adults unable to meet `to-do` deadlines (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Eight in 10 adults put off following daily "to-do" tasks - causing domestic rows and financial problems, a new poll has revealed.

One in 10 surveyed admitted to feeling "overwhelmed" as they struggle to complete 3,869 chores each year.

These include tasks such as ironing, food shopping, paying bills and doing DIY.

Men are most likely to procrastinate, with 87 per cent looking for an excuse not to do chores, the poll by energy firm E.ON found.

This compares to 83 per cent of women.

More than one in five couples admit bickering over their partner's delay in getting things done, the study of 2,000 adults found.

"People are struggling to manage their lengthy to-do lists and this is playing on their mind," the Daily Express quoted Anthony Ainsworth, from E.ON, as saying.

How to prevent dry and chapped lips

How to prevent dry and chapped lips

The skin on lips lack oil glands and hence they tend to get dry and cracked easily, especially in winters. You have to take special care of your lips to maintain their moisture level.

Here are some tips to prevent chapped and cracked lips.

- Apply a thin coat of lip balm before applying lipstick
- Every night before going to sleep, apply petroleum jelly on moist lips. Also make sure that you remove lipstick before going to bed
- Dip a black tea bag in warm water and put it on your lips for three to four minutes. This helps increase their moisture level
- Dip some cotton in warm ghee and place it on your lips for 20 minutes
- Don't lick your lips too much. It provides temporary relief but has a drying effect in the long run

Why you shouldn't talk about your ex

Managing your ex-files! (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Dropping an ex's name way too often? Then decide what your plan of action is..

When it comes to a relationship, talking about an ex is like walking directly into a minefield. You just don't know when one of them is going to blow up in your face. Here are some reasons why you shouldn't talk about your ex.

For a girl, hearing another woman's name (especially an ex) can incite some very violent reactions. Other women just clam up and decide not to talk. Now, men would go mad if that happened. Men shouldn't talk about their ex in the first place to the woman in front of them because it will only end in trouble. There's no good way to end a conversation that starts with your ex. You can be certain that its going to end with an awkward.. "Soooo, that's that" or a .. "yeah, so that's how it ended".

Really? Would you want your conversations to end that way? Alisha Kumar, a designer says that when her boyfriend mentions about his ex, it is usually in the context of "she was a really nice woman". "While I understand that this woman would have been the one, he has to understand the fact that I am with him now. I feel compared always. I just don't need to listen about what a great soul his ex was. I am sure she was a lovely woman." says Alisha.

Women have a knack of talking about their exes to get their boyfriends jealous. The strange thing with women is that the minute they realise that a man is falling for them, they do everything in their will to stay away. Not because they don't like the guy, but because here they're trying to follow the "play hard to get". Women, stay away from such complications and do us a favour by just not mentioning your exes.

The fact is that, its never really over with your ex but if this man is really it, then you should refrain from doing such things. Arun Jacob who has been in a relationship for the past one year says that his girlfriend mentions about her ex in a very casual manner, hoping it wouldn't upset him. "She's trying to keep me in the loop with this ex of hers. So that I don't read it somewhere or find out details from other people. I think that's really sweet of her. It's nice to know that she tells me everything!" Arun is also of the opinion that if you really trust your woman, you shouldn't have issues with the ex.

If you're on the receiving end of the conversation, keep these in mind:

1. Stay it out straight that you aren't comfortable listening about the girlfriend/boyfriend

2. Want to get back at? Then, start the ex-wars. (If this is your option)

3. The happy solution? Don't mention the ex. There's always trouble there.

rehna.k@timesgroup.com

Women who cover up get ahead at work

Women who cover up `get ahead at work` (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Women who want to get ahead at work should avoid wearing provocative clothes like low-cut tops and tight miniskirts, a new study has revealed.

According to a poll of 1,000 women, even Eighties-style "power dressing" is no way to earn a promotion.

But although 61 per cent thought the biggest faux pas was excessive cleavage, the survey voted Holly Willoughby the best look for the modern British office.

The 31-year-old TV presenter, who won the Best Celebrity Cleavage award earlier this year, received 35 percent of the votes.

Her runner-up, 'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson was some way behind, having been chosen by 15 per cent of those questioned.

The poll, which sought to uncover how attitudes to female fashion at work have changed, found the worst thing women can do at work is overdress.

More than half of those surveyed (54 per cent) frowned at tight mini-skirts at the office and 51 per cent said slapping on excessive make-up was a strict no-no.

"The office is the new catwalk and fashion doesn't stop during office hours," the Daily Express quoted Julie Donnelly, head of womenswear buying at the fashion website Very, as saying.

"Instead of trying to make a power statement or impress 'the boys', the easy glamour exhibited by Holly Willoughby, individuality and not trying too hard can only be a good thing," she added.

20 Best foods to lower cholesterol

High cholesterol is a big threat to healthy living. Hence, if you are diagnosed with high cholesterol, it is imperitive to change your eating habits, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

As with other lifestyle-related diseases, certain foods are good and bad for people with high cholesterol. Today, we bring you some foods that can actually lower down your cholesterol level. Mrs. Eileen Canday - Chief Dietician at Breach Candy Hospital, gives us a list of the 20 best foods to lower cholesterol.

Almonds

Opt for a fistful of almonds as a daily snack, when diagnosed with high cholesterol.

Almonds are filled with vitamin E and flavonoids, which help cut bad cholesterol by almost 10 percent and also decreases the development of artery blockage.

Oats

Oats contain soluble fibre called beta-glucan, which helps in lowering your body's ability to absorb cholesterol.

Hence, eat oats daily for breakfast, to lower your cholesterol level and stay healthy.

Avocados

Avocados have cholesterol-lowering properties because they contain beta-sitosterol, which can lower cholesterol levels by nearly 15 percent.

Olive oil

Use extra-virgin oil for cooking, instead of normal cooking oil.

Olive oil is a good heart-healthy choice, because it contains antioxidants and polyunsaturated fats that can lower bad levels of cholesterol.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Include fishes like mackerel, salmon and tuna at least twice in a week.

Fishes that are rich in omega-3 can lower cholesterol levels and aid in boosting good cholesterol. For vegetarians, choose foods like flaxseeds and rajma.

Beans and lentils

Again beans and lentils are a good source of soluble fibre, which aids in lowering cholesterol levels.

They are also high in protein and low in fat, which is a complete package for healthy hearts.

Soybean

The protein present in soybean protects against various heart ailments. Soybean helps in lowering bad cholesterol and simultaneously increases good cholesterol.

Eggplants and okra

These two vegetables are great agents for lowering cholesterol, because they are good sources of soluble fibre. But avoid frying these, as that would diminish their nutritional properties.

Garlic

Garlic helps lower cholesterol and fights plaque that clogs your arteries.

Eat not more than 3-4 garlic cloves each day, to obtain maximum heart benefits.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, vitamin C, potassium and fibre, which help in cutting cholesterol levels.

Prefer eating tomatoes which are cooked or sun-dried tomatoes.

Green tea

Results may vary from individual to individual, but some studies suggest that drinking green tea early in the morning may fight high cholesterol.

Blueberries

Compounds present in blueberries are good for your heart. Eating blueberries regularly can sharpen your mind as well as lower bad cholesterol level.

Apples

Apples contain soluble fiber called pectin, which helps in lowering bad cholesterol.

Carrots

Raw carrots contain pectin, which helps in lowering cholesterol levels. Besides, carrots are also good for your eyes and skin.

Barley

Barley has unique health promoting properties, especially for heart health.

Like oats, barley too contains beta-glucan, which helps in lowering cholesterol and prevents artery blockage.

Red wine

We all know about red wine's health benefits. Consuming red wine helps heart health as well.

The fibre called tempranillo, found in red wine, is great in lowering cholesterol.

Plant sterol

Consuming fortified foods like orange juice and yoghurt, which have high levels of plant compounds, is good for heart health.

They help prevent cholesterol absorption and lower the level of cholesterol.

Dark chocolate

Eating dark chocolate is very beneficial for your health. It helps lower cholesterol levels by almost 10 percent.

Sesame seeds

Sesame seeds are rich in a fibre called phytosterols. This fibre helps in preventing artery blockages and lowers cholesterol levels.

Spinach

Besides spinach being Popeye's secret for quick power, it is also good for cardiovascular health.

Green leafy vegetables like spinach contain lutein, which helps guard against blockages in arteries and lowers cholesterol.

Read more Personal Health, Diet & Fitness stories on www.healthmeup.com

Having dogs in family cuts allergy risk in kids

Having dogs and more siblings cuts risk of egg allergy in kids (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Exposure to the family dog and more siblings reduced the risk of babies developing egg allergies, according to a Melbourne study.

Allergy experts from Melbourne's Murdoch Childrens Research Institute studied more than 5000 babies and found those with young siblings and infants exposed to a dog inside the home were less likely to develop an allergic reaction to egg, News.com.au reported

According to the study published in the journal Allergy, food allergies now affect up to 10 per cent of babies.

It found 10.8 per cent of infants with no siblings were allergic to egg but as the number of brothers and sisters increased the incidence of egg allergy decreased.

Meanwhile, about 10 per cent of babies in households without a dog had an egg allergy compared to only six per cent of those with a dog.

Lead researcher Dr Jennifer Koplin said the risk of developing a food allergy seemed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

She said the immune system evolved at a time when people were exposed to more bacteria in food and the water supply, and infections through crowding and larger families.

Dr Koplin said it was possible developing infants were now not exposed to the right environmental factors to teach their immune systems how to react appropriately.

"They are reacting inappropriately to something that they should be able to tolerate which is in this case, food allergens, or food proteins," Dr Koplin told a foreign news agency.

The research suggested the protective effect of a family dog on egg allergy could be due to exposure to endotoxin, a type of bacteria.

Dr Koplin said endotoxin stimulates the immune system to attack bad bacteria and in doing so, is distracted from attacking harmless things in the environment like foods.

The study also found babies with a family history of allergy and those with parents born in East Asian countries like China and Vietnam are at increased risk of egg allergy.

Dr Koplin said East Asian families, as well as being genetically at higher risk of food allergy, may be exposed to different bacteria in their home countries.

"When they migrate over here and the kids are born here, they don't have that same exposure that suppresses the development of allergy," she said.

Create your own organic kitchen garden

Create your own organic kitchen garden

No need to stock up on overpriced organic vegetables any more. Preeti Patil of Urban Leaves India shows you how to grow your very own kitchen garden

With Mumbai's space constraints, cultivating a garden for pesticide-free vegetables and fruit may seem like a far-fetched idea. But growing and owning an organic kitchen garden is actually utterly achievable.

Preeti Patil of Urban Leaves India — an NGO that promotes city farming — says it can be surprisingly simple. "The process is cost-effective, and low-maintenance. The only requirements are a lot of patience and perseverance," says she.

Most people would think the terrace is their only option and too only if the housing society is forgiving. Try this for an idea. Use your windowsill to grow some vegetables. One of the biggest requirements to grow fruits and veggies is sunlight, something the city is amply blessed with. Patil has also cultivated a full-fledged kitchen garden at her home in Dockyard. She adds, "At least, you are certain that they are not growing along the railway tracks. Being able to smell fresh fruit and vegetables is an added incentive. It's a rarity in cities these days. Not to mention the asset home grown vegetables provide. We won't face dearth of vegetables like we do today if each home takes the onus of growing their own veggies to a partial extent."

Recycle and reuse
At the outset, you don't need to invest in fancy or earthen pots.

You can even make use of plastic bottles, buckets and bathtubs to grow vegetables. Take a medium sized bathtub; fill it with soil and home compost to grow cabbages, cauliflowers, capsicums, radish and onions.

Make your own soil
The most important step in kitchen gardening is to make Amrut Mitti (nutrient-rich soil), which has abundant and diverse microbial life that support healthy plant growth. It is simple to prepare and the results are extremely effective. "Start with what you have. There's no need to buy earthworms or any other stuff. Simply convert your kitchen waste into resource," says Patil. Keep sprinkling some red earth in the pots from time to time.

Always mulch your soil
Keep it covered with a layer of dry crushed leaves or sugarcane baggase. If the waste becomes too wet, add newspaper, dry leaves and soil to cover it. This helps in reducing loss of water due to evaporation. It insulates microbes and organisms in the soil from direct heat and also provides food for them.

Add a dose of amrut jal
Add a dose of Amrut Jal every 15 days, after you have sown the seed. Amrut Jal is essentially a liquid solution comprising cow urine, fresh cow dung (available outside temples), organic black jaggery and water. If organic black jaggery is unavailable, replace it with six ripe bananas/jackfruits, or two glasses of plain sugarcane juice. » Mix together ten literes of water, one litre of cow urine, one kg of fresh cow dung and fifty grams of organic black jaggery. » Keep this solution for three days. » Stir this solution twice or thrice a day — stir it twelve times clock wise and anti-clock wise. » On the fourth day, the concentrated solution is ready. » Mix one part of this concentrated solution with ten parts of water and Amrut Jal is ready. Add a fistful of wood ash every three months to your soil.

Start simple
"One can source the seeds for as cheap as Rs 10 from any of the nurseries in the city," she says. Always go for open pollinated seeds, not hybrid. You can start by growing basic vegetables like basil (tulsi), mint leaves (pudina), kadi pata, chillies, lemon grass and different varieties of spinach. "They are one of the simplest to grow. Since they don't require too much sunlight the plant can be kept in a living room or placed near the window," she says. For fruits, you'll need a grafted sapling. You can grow guava, pomegranate and pineapple, preferably on your terrace garden since it requires a lot of space. You can also grow turmeric (amba or raw haldi) easily. Once you are well-versed with simple plants, graduate to growing cabbage, cauliflower, capsicum, radish, onions and tomatoes. Bear in mind, tomatoes need a trellis or will fall. Patil says, "Experience and explore the process, kitchen gardening is therapeutic."

Reema.Gehi@timesgroup.com

Destination review: Johannesburg, South Africa

South Africa is a perfect vacation spot and its natural landscapes, high-end lifestyle and skyscrapers, lure one and all. Read on...

Johannesburg, Jo'burg or Jozi is an offspring of the Gold Rush. Don't feel intimidated by this buzzing city which still gleams with the sheen of those heady times. Big, brash with a kind of in-your-face glamour, Johannesburg has often received stepmotherly treatment from tourists who use it as the country's transit lounge before moving to someplace else like exciting Kruger National Park.

Get under the skin of South Africa's largest city and you will discover a metro with a heart and a fun-loving disposition. Mandela Square at Sandton City is a happening venue dominated by hotels, restaurants and hip shops and boutiques. At its heart stands the 6-metre tall bronze statue of the father of the nation - Nelson Mandela. Spend a day at Gold Reef City where you can re-live the charged days of the Gold Rush and browse at the Tuscan-style Montecasino, a shopping and entertainment complex with hotels, restaurants, a casino and a small bird sanctuary. Or relax one evening at Moyo, a unique South African brand that oozes Afro charm in terms of spotlighting African culture and cuisine in its restaurants. A visit to this outlet in Melrose Arch (or at any other location in the city) is a unique entertainment experience with its singing ladies who wash your hands, drumming waiters, henna artists, face painters and fresh herb-packed cuisine.

There are many other experiences that guide books don't talk about like plugging into jazz/Kwaito music at Bassline in New Town. This is where artists network, play and jam to the delight of jazz and Afro music buffs; the clubs in Sandton such as Taboo have a lively pulse while FTV Cafe in the Michelangelo Towers is the place to be seen. The 88 Lounge is a stylish music, dance and cocktail venue. The music is hot, for the tracks are spun by the best DJs and the party continues into the wee hours.

For a quiet evening, sip a strawberry daiquiri in the Polo Lounge at Westcliff or amble around the artists' quarter at 7th Avenue, Parkhurst. For retail therapy, splurge at the Rose Bank Mall and the Rose Bank Craft Market on Sundays.

The other destination one should visit is the pretty Port Elizabeth, at the eastern end of the famed Garden Route, a South African icon, known for its funky, sporty, loose-limbed lifestyle. This coastal stretch is the country's beloved playground, dedicated to the pursuit of happiness. You can stay at any number of picturesque towns like George, Knysna, Mossel Bay or Plettenberg Bay - just zen out, play golf or simply flex your muscles.

Bungy jump, gorge drop, zip line, paraglide, parasail, go kloofing or abseiling...do any crazy thing that locals devise to scare sporty tourists out of their wits. For a price of course! The ultimate high is freefalling into the blue yonder from the Bloukrans River Bridge, the world's highest commercial bungy jump at a whopping 216 m, 21 km west of Storms River on the Garden Route.

Yes, this once reclusive country, packs quite a punch. We have traversed its known and little known circuits and like a flight on a magic carpet, a variety of landscapes and experiences unrolled before our eyes... the muffled roar of a lion in the bush, cities with creature comforts and scenic splendour, adventure unlimited on the Garden Route or in the mountains of the Drakensberg... It's a panorama that never fades!

I considered suicide: Ian Thorpe

'I considered suicide'

In a new book, Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe talks about battling "crippling depression" with alcohol and denies rumours that he is gay

The swimming legend, the man who won five Olympic medals, Ian Thorpe has rarely experienced the ecstasy of winning. Thorpe was suicidal, clinically depressive, and even thought about specific ways to kill himself. In a shocking new book titled 'This Is Me: The Autobiography', Thorpe, who turned 30 yesterday, talks about battling crippling depression, how he took to drinking to kill his blues, denies rumours that he is gay and mentions how he hid his dark secrets even from his parents.

"My illness was so severe that, at times, I considered suicide, he wrote in the book. "My blackest periods would often last a month, and it was during those times that I thought about "it" happening. I even considered specific places or a specific way to kill myself, but then always baulked, realising how ridiculous it was. Could I have killed myself? Looking back, I don't think so, but there were days in my life that, even now, make me shudder."

He has revealed that he still takes medication all the time. Has he ever tried stopping them? "I'd love to, but it works for me. It's not fun. I don't like it. It removes the lows for sure, but also the highs. I never feel ecstasy ... but I'm glad I've won some races without medication so I know how high it can be - my first world record, for example, and my first Olympic gold.

"The goal is to stop, but you have to do it very gradually," he says. "I know from changing meds - it's terrible, you get these pops in your brain, it's the synapse not firing properly and you're like, 'What was that?' "

The rumours about his sexual orientation shot up during his commentary stint for BBC during London Olympics when he appeared each day in colourful sweaters with plunging necklines. A google search of "Is Ian Thorpe gay" throws up 744,000 results. He addresses that issue in his book, saying he has just found a girl friend and he is not gay.

"For the record," he writes in his book, "I am not gay and all my sexual experiences have been straight. I'm attracted to women, I love children and aspire to have a family one day." But he adds: "I know what it's like to grow up and be told what your sexuality is, then realising that's it's not the full reality. I was accused of being gay before I knew who I was."

He reveals how he hit the bottle to keep his depression in check. "I found that the more I drank, the better I felt - or rather, the less bad I felt, although that only lasted until I woke up the next morning to go to training. My poison was always red wine, at times drunk in quantities that now seem unbelievable. I used alcohol as a means to rid my head of terrible thoughts, a way of managing my moods - but I did it behind closed doors, where many depressed people choose to fight their demons before they realise they can't do it without help. Now I am getting that help and managing my depression properly.

The battle continues to the day. "Even today, at a time when I'm pretty happy with my life, I have to manage what is quite a severe illness. It's a day-by-day proposition. When I wake up, every day is potentially a dark one and I realise that it's something I'll have to live with all my life."