Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Work-family conflict could make you abusive

People whose family life regularly interferes with their job are more likely to become emotionally exhausted and, in turn, verbally abusive, says a study. Having a supportive boss could, however, curtail this harmful spiral.
"It appears that having a supervisor who is aware and supportive of work-family balance may not only reduce the work-family conflict itself but also weaken its downstream effect on verbal aggression," said study co-author Chu-Hsiang Chang of Michigan State University.

For the study, Chang, associate professor of psychology, and colleagues surveyed 125 employees at five information-technology companies four times each week for three consecutive weeks. "We wanted to see if people who experience work-family conflict are less able to suppress their dark tendencies and more apt to act out on their aggressive impulses," Chang said.
Indeed, when family life interfered with work (such as having to miss an important meeting because of a sick child), participants reported higher emotional exhaustion, which led them to be ruder or verbally abusive towards supervisors, co-workers and family members.
Because supportive supervisors had a positive effect, Chang recommends companies make it a higher priority to select and train managers, who can provide family support for employees. "Supportive managers should model the right behaviour - in other words, don't send your employees emails at 11 pm and expect them to respond, for example," Chang added.
Employees can also engage in emotional and physical recovery activities both at work and at home, such as a lunch break away from the office or stretching exercises for relaxation, Chang said.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Try these 5 simple steps to prevent critical data loss

We all hate to hear "I told you so!" when we are recovering from the aftermath of the catastrophe which every technology user is scared of- their hard drive crashing. Even though we are all aware of the daring consequences of data loss FOREVER, we remain ignorant about the prevention of the same. Here is a list of five easy and efficient ways to prevent data loss.

1. Always Backup
This is one of the most known ways and believe it, there is no substitute to it. One should not only back up data, one should check the backup too by copying it again from the tape back to the computer. This may sound a simple task but it takes lot of effort and time to complete it.
2. Never store data files in the same drive as the OS
One should never store data or word files in the same drive as the Operating System. Whether it is system failure or a virus attack, Operating System is the first thing that gets affected and sometimes formatting the OS and reinstalling it is the only way out. In such a case, you are bound to lose all data stored in the drive.
3. Keep a watch at Email attachments
Beware of how you save word files attached in the mail. If there is a file with the same name as another file in the drive where the attachments are saved automatically, the old file would be overwritten by the new permanently. The best practice is to select a unique place in your computer to save email attachments.
4. Beware of static electricity
Your entire precious data can be erased completely by static electricity surges. Today's storage media is more vulnerable to extraneous static discharge.
5. Always classify the data
One of the most common mistakes we all tend to commit is to treat all data the same. It is not. Data should be identified according to its importance and then classified with utmost care, like some may be classified, some unclassified, some confidential and some public. Once this task is done, treat the data accordingly. This one of the most important steps to prevent critical data loss.

Signs You Are Sabotaging Your Own Success
Many entrepreneurs say they fear failure. In reality, they fear success--so they unwittingly sabotage themselves. It's easy to get wrapped up in the idea of success. You imagine how wonderful it will be when your company takes off and how you will spend the money you make. This is what you say you are thinking, but do your decisions and actions tell a different story? Are you telling the world that you want to succeed and are afraid of failure - but in reality, you are terrified of being successful instead? Do you inadvertently sabotage your chances? Here are some telltale signs you are sabotaging your own success:

1. You don't make changes.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. When you let fear of success control you that is what you do. You watch different aspects of your company struggle day in and day out, but you don't try new methods or put alternative practices into place to make tomorrow better. This is a common question all ask entrepreneurs who feel buried in their business. What did you do today to make tomorrow better? What technology could you invest in or process could you document to make your business run more efficiently?
2. You change course too quickly.
It takes a new initiative about 6-9 months to prove out whether or not it works and you must allow this time. You can sabotage your success by stopping good practices too soon. Did you stop attending a networking event before you solidified important connections? Are you keeping up with your weekly blog posts? Are you discouraged that no one shared your one social media post or that you didn't gain any followers the week you "tried out Twitter"? All of these important activities require consistency, patience and focus. The payoff is rarely realized until significant time has been spent.
3. You haven't set any goals.
It is important to establish goals to measure your success and to help you plan for the future. It's when you see your company passing milestones that you have an understanding of the success you have experienced. This feeling of accomplishment prevents you and your team from giving up too soon. The goals you set must include actions to be taken at each achievement--hiring a new employee, introducing a new technology or process, looking for outside funding--so you can successfully handle new business without it becoming a burden.
4. You take unnecessary risks.
Risk is an entrepreneur's drug of choice. While it is true that some risk is necessary to be successful in business, we see many entrepreneurs implode their core business because they take on an unnecessary risk or bet their main money making enterprise on something untested or new. It's far better to establish new ideas or concepts separately with a distinct budget and operating group to provide for transparency and accountability. When kept as part of the overall business, it's hard to measure if a new risk is successful or not and it can easily drag the entire business down. An awareness of the ways you are sabotaging your own success will help you address the tendency before it impacts you and your business.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Shorter people have bigger risk of heart disease !!

Short people face a greater lifetime risk of clogged arteries, according to a study out Wednesday that confirmed the long-known link between height and heart disease by examining genetics.
The study is the first to show that the higher risk is primarily due to a variety of genes that influence whether a person is tall or short, and not potentially confounding factors like poverty or poor nutrition. The study led by researchers at the University of Leicester is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers examined 180 different genetics variants in a database of nearly 200,000 people with and without coronary heart disease, which is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries and can lead to heart attack. It is the most common cause of early death worldwide.
They found that every 2.5 inches (6.3 centimetres) in a person’s height affected their risk of coronary heart disease by 13.5 per cent. As an example, a five-foot (1.5 metre) tall person would have on average a 32 per cent higher risk of developing coronary heart disease than a person who was five-foot-six (1.68 metres), said the study.
The more height increasing genetic variants that you carry the lower your risk of coronary heart disease,” said co-author Christopher Nelson, a British Heart Foundation-funded lecturer at the University of Leicester.
And conversely if you were genetically shorter the higher your risk.” Researchers hope that further study of the genes implicated in height and heart disease may lead to better prevention and treatment in the future.

For more than 60 years it has been known that there is an inverse relationship between height and risk of coronary heart disease,” said lead author Sir Nilesh Samani, professor of cardiology at the University of Leicester. “Now, using a genetic approach,” he said, researchers have shown that the “association between shorter height and higher risk of coronary heart disease is a primary relationship and is not due to confounding factors.”

Saturday, October 10, 2015

How to learn from your failures?

'Failures are stepping stones to success', this adage signifies that failure is a matter of perspective and one should learn from it and overcome it.  Many think failure as the opposite of success. But failures are in fact the stepping stones of success. 

Failure means something different to everyone. But if you want to succeed, it can never be an endpoint. Be clear about what failure means to you. Remove the roadblock that is failure from your thought processes. Even the way you think of failure and the language you use to describe it makes all the difference. Take the stigma out of the word. Think of failures just as setbacks. And when you experience a setback, you reconsider, recalibrate and rebound. Everyone faces failures in life, what counts the most is how we bounce back and recover from it in the positive way. We tried to know how our colleagues take failure and how they learn from it.
In spite of feeling down, consider each failure is the pillars to success. Remember about the inventions happened in this world. If all these scientists stopped each time when they failed, what would have happen. They learned from their failures, correcting every mistake. So we must move on. When I come across failure I try to understand what went wrong and learn from it to be successful. Failure also encourages me to try harder and stronger replied one of the respondents.

For me failure has always been a motivational thing. It never stops me from trying nor does it discourage me to give up. One should always take failures in the most positive and constructive way by exploring what went wrong and rectifying the mistakes in the most appropriate way, commented another employee.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Amazing Benefits Of Black Tea

One of the widely consumed tea is black tea. Such a tea is obtained from the leaves of the shrub known as Camellia sinesis and it is more oxidized than the green, white and the oolong tea varieties. It has a stronger flavor than other varieties of tea. It is good to have black tea as part of one’s diet as it offers many health benefits which are part of its nutritional profile. The increased oxidation of the tea leaves makes them more flavorful and higher in caffeine content than the other varieties of tea. The flavor of black tea is retained for a longer time than in other forms of tea. The different health benefits of black tea are given below.

Benefits for the cardiovascular system – Research has shown that consuming black tea helps to prevent the onset of cardiovascular problems. There are antioxidants present such as flavonoids which help to prevent the LDL cholesterol from being oxidized. Damage to blood stream and artery walls is reduced and the risk of heart diseases is also lowered. Consuming black tea can help reverse coronary artery diseases which come on due to endothelial vasomotor dysfunction. The flavonoids are also effective in reducing blood clots and coronary vasodilation. Manganese and polyphenols also help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by keeping the heart muscles healthy.
Preventing cancer – antioxidants like polyphenols found in black tea help to prevent the formation of potential carcinogens in the body which results in preventing cancers like that of the colorectal, prostate, ovarian, lung and bladder. Black tea can help to prevent breast, prostate and stomach cancer. The compound known as TF-2 contained in tea promotes death of cancer cells and allows normal cells to remain unaffected. Black tea can also reduce the risk of oral cancer in those who smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products. Black tea prevents the growth and formation of malignant tumors.
Free radical elimination – free radicals can cause a lot of harm to the body such as cancer, atherosclerosis and blood clot formation. When one consumes unhealthy food the number of free radicals in the body increases. There are antioxidants present in black tea which help to remove such free radicals and protect the body from the onset of different ailments. Black tea is a good choice for such prevention.
Benefits for digestion – tannin present in black tea is beneficial for digestion. It can combat different kinds of intestinal and gastric illnesses and has a therapeutic effect. There is an anti-diarrhea effect as well which helps in the intestinal activity. Polyphenols present in tea helps to lower intestinal inflammation which cause irritable bowel syndrome.

Bones and tissue health – there are powerful phytochemicals present in black tea which can help to strengthen bones as well as connective tissue. Black tea drinkers have been found to possess healthier bones.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Foods to keep you hydrated in summer

When the temperature soars, dehydration becomes one of the major problems. An expert suggests that people consider food as a source of water. 

One should drink plenty of water in the summers. The solid food also provides a surprising amount of water which can balance water level in your body,” fitness expert and nutritionist Neeraj Mehta told IANS.
Here’s what to consume during summer:
Lettuce: Lettuce has 95 per cent water content. It has good amount of protein with no fat and very less calories. The nutritional value is amazing as well, as it has Omega-3, high fibre, iron and calcium.
Broccoli: It has 89 percent of water content with nutritional values. Its anti-inflammatory properties can enable you to fight summer allergies.
Apple: It has 86 per cent water in it and is an extremely good source of fibre, vitamin C and more.
Yoghurt: Yoghurt is one of the best choices in summers to prevent dehydration because of its 85 per cent water content. It is full of live micro-organisms called pro-biotic, which provides a lot of health benefits and fights summer allergies. It is a great source of protein, vitamin B and calcium.
Rice: Cooked rice has 70 per cent water content in it. It will help you in fulfilling the water loss in your body. It is also rich in iron, carbohydrates and more.

Simple Ways to Create Meaning at Work

Everyone wants to feel that they are making a positive difference in the lives of others. Show your people that they are making a difference every day of the week.The startling truth is that 70% of employees are disengaged at work checked out, with no one at home. That's a real dilemma for the companies trying to do more with less, which is of course all of them. The answer to winning back disengaged employees, (and keeping the engaged employees, well, engaged), isn't pay, perks or promotions. It's meaning--that is, giving work a greater sense of significance, and thus, making work matter.

1. Help your team understand their purpose, and show them that their work matters
Carve out time for employees to explore the purpose--or the profound why--of what they do. So, introduce your team to their customers. Gather stories of how their work helps others, even in small ways, and encourage them to share their own stories. Re frame the work your team is doing so they can understand how and why they fit into that work.
2. Commit to crafting a learning environment that energizes and maximizes personal growth for your team
Make space for your team to create and execute their own learning plans, offering help along the way. Understand their different learning styles and attention spans, and provide experiences for growth expanding on what they already know, with immediate opportunities for practice.
3. Be intentional about building self-esteem so others feel valued and valuable
You care about your personal family and friends, but what about your work family, whom you probably see the most? Do you ever ask how your employees are doing, and care about what they say? By showing employees their value, they will feel valued as individuals and in turn are more likely to live up to their value in the workplace. What is competence without confidence?
4. Involve the troops in decisions to net a sense of control, and grant autonomy liberally
Micromanagement can be a meaning-killer. Including your employees in decisions and giving them space to get the job done helps them feel less like numbers and more like contributors. Whether it's where to put the new soda fridge, or how to solve a million-dollar problem, don't manage in a vacuum.
5. Create a caring and authentic culture, where people feel free to bring their whole self to work
This starts with bringing your whole self. By being your authentic self, you give employees permission not to check their identities at the door, even if they root for the Yankees.
6. Help others see where they fit in the mission, and that the mission depends on them to achieve it
Your employees will never think their work matters if they don't know that they matter. Achieve this by showing them the long-term vision and how they fit in it--beyond the org chart.
7. Free the workplace from corrosive behaviors that serve as barriers to the best self
Instilling fear and introducing uncertainty to your team can mean two steps back on any progress you've made to create an authentic, meaningful workplace. So can a lack of decision-making and/or integrity. Cut off corrosive behaviors that stand in the way of your team's potential to thrive in an authentic culture thriving on meaning, allowing each member to be his/her best self.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Powerful Habits That Drive Every Great Leader to Success

You can find the success you seek by adopting some very simple but powerful habits of today's greatest leaders. If you take a look inside most any management textbook, you'll find that there are four classic functions of management that have been written about for decades: plan, organize, lead, and control.

While I personally believe that these functions still do have their place in business, they don't really tell leaders how to best to unlock the energy within the members of their team to get things done.
Here are the five powerful leadership habits make the biggest difference in the success of every leader--and the organizations they work for -
1. Energize
Great leaders are masters of making things happen in their organizations by unleashing the energy and enthusiasm of each and every one of their employees. Great leaders create more energy in their organization than they consume by creating compelling visions that inspire their employees to bring their very best performance to work every day of the week.
2. Empower
Empowering the members of your team means giving them the responsibility--and the authority--to do their jobs at a high level of performance. Great leaders leverage the power of their team to accomplish a common purpose and goals. When you get out of the way and let your people do their jobs, their creativity and commitment will follow.
3. Support
The best leaders today are coaches, not watchdogs or micromanagers. Encourage your people to try new things to further the organization's goals, and to take risks--and reward them when they do. And if they fail, don't punish them--instead, encourage them to pick themselves up and try again.
4. Communicate
Information really is power, and as the speed of business continues to increase, the right information must be communicated to the members of your team, faster than ever. Err on the side of more communication rather than less, and work to hone your own communication skills as a leader.
5. Recognize

It's true--you really do get what you reward. If you want your people to do more great work, then recognize and reward their efforts when they do. Not only will you build a culture of excellence, but your people will be happier, more engaged in their work, and more loyal to you and your organization.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Have green tea and apple daily for good health

A compound found in green tea and apples can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and cancer, says a new research. Polyphenols in green tea and apples block a key molecule which in the body can trigger atherosclerosis and is a target for some anti-cancer drugs, the findings showed. 

Atherosclerosis can lead to heart attack, stroke, or even death. “These data provide a plausible mechanism, which links bioactive compounds in food with their beneficial effects,” said research leader Paul Kroon at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) in Britain.
In the body, the molecule ascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a main driver of blood vessel formation in diseased cells via a process called angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is crucial in cancer progression as well as in the development of atherosclerotic plaques and plaque rupture which can cause heart attacks and stroke.

Using cells derived from human blood vessels, the researchers found that the polyphenols—epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea and procyanidin from apples—stopped a crucial signalling function of VEGF. “If this effect happens in the body as well, it provides very strong evidence for a mechanism that links dietary polyphenols and beneficial health effects,” Kroon noted.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Decisions that can ruin your career

Your decisions have consequences. Some of your less than optimal decisions have a long-term impact on your career. Awareness and prevention is the best solution. Here are a few decisions that can ruin your professional life.
 
Following your passion: If your passion is playing the guitar or physical adventure, you can choose a career in a band or the armed forces respectively. However, both choices can limit your income generating ability. This could leave you resentful later in life when you seek wealth. Know that your passions are not permanent. Realise that the world pays for what it needs and pays well only if you are very good at delivering it.
Accepting the bird in hand: Though at first glance the first opportunity that comes your way seems better than opportunities you cannot see, accepting it is not always the best decision. The endowment effect causes you to ascribe a higher value to what you own and prevents you from working towards a better opportunity. Think before you accept the first offer on the campus and avoid getting on to a sub-optimal career trajectory.
Finishing your education: Done with graduation? Good. Finished your postgraduate professional course? Great. Done with your education? Bad decision! While you may heave a sigh of relief with a coveted degree under your belt, it is only good enough to give you a great first job. Later opportunities are an outcome of skills you learnt at your current job. When your formal education ends, your on-the-job learning begins and this phase should last your lifetime.
Switching jobs for salary: At any point of your career, the highest paying job amongst competing opportunities is probably pointing towards a dead end. Choose it only if it is your last job before retirement. Consider the demand-supply dynamics for your skill set. A job that offers higher longterm rewards is attractive to more applicants like you and thus employers would prefer to offer lesser compensation in the short-term. Where long-term career growth or returns are missing, employers offer higher compensation to attract you and your competitors.
Choosing a bad life partner: If your life partner is not aligned with your professional ambition, your career will plateau. A huge amount of your bandwidth will be expended in getting a buy-in for every career move, every late night and every weekend spent on work. This will leave little motivation to put in the effort needed to succeed.
Settling roots too early: Choose a city to settle down early in life and you are blinded to opportunities that could take you places. Buy a house and move into it early in your career and you are unable to rationally evaluate opportunities that either require a long commute or a change of house.
Avoiding sales: You have decided to never be a salesperson? Terrible decision. Know that at every point in your professional life, you are required to sell if you wish to succeed. Sell yourself at the interview, sell your achievements during appraisals, sell the benefits of your output to a client, sell your ideas at a meeting. Recognise that sales is part and parcel of every role you choose, so welcome opportunities to get better at it.
Forgetting your job friends: Every time you switch jobs, you leave behind a set of friends made at your old workplace. As you get caught up in your new role, those relationships fall by the wayside. Not only do you lose an external professional support system, but also on great job opportunities in the future. The best job opportunities are never advertised on job boards or to headhunters. They go to individuals referred in by employees who know about the vacancy. So keep your past relationships alive.

Changing careers: Are you a pilot who is fed up of flying or a software engineer who is done with coding? You switch careers and find yourself starting afresh in a temporarily exciting job. You find yourself at the bottom of the heap, where your past experience is not acknowledged. People your age are ahead of you and will continue to remain so. Sticking to one career gives you exponential benefits with increasing experience so change careers with caution.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Ways to Improve Your Webinars

Web conferences or webinars are a great way to explore new possibilities, engage staffs with new learning methods, or provide training and insights to employees or clients. Making your Web conference engaging can be more challenging than it sounds, however. The key, is making the most of your interactions and personalizing the webinar experience. Here are the suggestions for making the most of your Web conferences. 

Welcome your guests with an interactive "lobby"
Greet your guests by asking them to do something as soon as they log into the Web conference. "Using a 'lobby' with interactive features where early arrivals can wait is a good way to get the audience involved. Interactive features could include an open chat pod to encourage conversation among attendees, or an interactive trivia quiz.
Get first names and build rapport
Let your audience know you are a real person, and not just a recorded voice. If participants include their first names in the interactive lobby, then welcoming some of them by name. It's amazing how much more interaction you will get throughout the webinar if you try this simple technique right at the start. Build rapport with your audience by engaging them through specific questions that require responses in chat.
Speak to an individual
One way to really connect with each attendee is to pretend you're having a private conversation. Think of your webinar as a conversation with one other person. This cn be done by using the word "you. For example, say, "How would you address this situation?" instead of ,"Can anyone tell me how they would address this situation?"
Vary your voice and keep your energy levelup
A webinar removes almost all nonverbal communication. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't move naturally. Stand up and pace while you speak, or make hand and armgestures while talking. Physical activity translates to a more energetic delivery. The webinar hosts should avoid speaking in a monotone, and be aware of changing tone and speech speed.  Varying these factors can refocus your audience on your voice and content, keeping listeners engaged.
Add interactive features gradually
While there are many interactive features available to enhance webinars, don't be tempted to add too many; they may overwhelm and confuse your audience. If you're a first-time host, pick just two or three points of interaction throughout your first webinar. Then add other interactive elements as you become more comfortable with webinar presentations.
Get visual
Presenting business information visually is a key best practice for Web conferencing. Use attention-getting graphics in your slide deck. Two good rules of thumb are "use one key point per slide" and "spend no more than one minute on each slide". It's also important to make your slides relevant and memorable. If you talk about achart or diagram, show it.
Ask questions of your audience
A simple but effect Web conferencing best practice is to simply ask questions. Asking questions engages participants, ensures understanding [and] lets adultlearners share their knowledge, adding that most webinar platforms have polling tools to collect answers and make your webinar more of a conversation. You can also have a few 'questions from the audience'prepared ahead of time to help with a more conversational versus lecture feel, or to jumpstart a Q&A session.
Engage participants continuously
A successful Web conference or webinar keeps participants' attention for the entire presentation. Do this by encouraging interaction frequently. Studies show that webinar producers and virtual presenters should plan some sort of interaction every five to seven minutes throughout a virtual presentation to keep the audience engaged, attentive and more likely to retain the content. Interaction simply means that your audience performs an action in response to something in your webinar. This could be anything from using emoticons to polls, chat, Q&A or anything that gets them touching the screen to interact with your webinar platform.
Tell a story
Storytelling is a valuable best practice for Web conference hosts who want their attendees to remember a lesson. People love stories. Make your critical points memorable by wrapping them in a story. Going on camera makes a story really come to life. Whether or not you appear "on screen," it's important to personalize the stories you use. Don't just spout theories, instead, show your audience cases and examples, and encourage them to use these examples to practice problem solving. Help them apply your techniques to real-world problems that they experience. Help them demonstrate the value of your methods.
The best "best practice" is practice
Perhaps the most critical best practice when hosting an engaging and entertaining webinar is practice. Practice your presentation at least once with the webinar tool you'll beusing, and practice it enough so you can comfortably use bullet-point-style notes rather than a scripted presentation. Doing so will help you speak more naturally throughout your webinar.  Lastly, don't forget the purpose of your Web conference. Remember to include a well-planned summary and call-to-action at the close of your presentation.


Monday, September 21, 2015

Orange glasses may help you sleep better

You may have a great night's sleep if you put on orange glasses some hours before going to bed, says a study. Orange glasses have been found to block certain wavelengths of light emitted by electronic screens which hamper our sleep cycle, making it easier for us to sleep. Studies have shown that light from the blue part of the spectrum, inhibits the body's production of melatonin, a hormone that helps people fall asleep.

A Swiss study of 13 teenage boys showed that when the boys donned orange-tinted glasses -- also known as blue blockers and shown to prevent melatonin suppression -- in the evening for a week, they felt "significantly more sleepy" than when they wore clear glasses. The boys looked at their screens for at least a few hours on average before going to bed, and were monitored. The findings were published in The Journal of Adolescent Health.
Older adults may be less affected by blue light, experts said, since the yellowing of the lens and other changes in the ageing eye filter out increasing amounts of blue light.
But blue light remains a problem for most people, and an earlier study of 20 adults ages 18 to 68 found that those who wore amber-tinted glasses for three hours before going to bed improved their sleep quality considerably relative to a control group that wore yellow-tinted lenses, which blocked only ultraviolet light, The New York Times reported.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Health benefits of pomegranate peel you never knew !

Pomegranates are known for their taste and amazing health benefits. While most of us chomp on the red tangy tiny seeds or the fruit to reap its benefits, it’s tough red skin is often discarded. However, like the fruit. the peel too has lots to offer. Here are few benefits of pomegranate peel you probably never knew.  
Pomegranate peels are good for skin and hair health
Here is how the fruit peel helps take your beauty and hair care regimen to a new level altogether:
#1 It fights acne, pimples and rashes
Because of its healing properties, pomegranate peels can effectively fight acne, pimples and rashes. The peels are rich in antioxidants and help in keeping bacteria and other infections at bay. Here are some herbal remedies to get rid of pimples.
How to use it: Take a handful of sun-dried pomegranate peels and roast them over a hot tava or a deep-bottomed pan. Allow them to cool and grind them in a grinder or mixer. Make a paste of this powder with lemon juice or rose water and apply it all over your face, especially on your pimples or acne. Let it dry for a while then wash it off thoroughly with lukewarm water.
#2 It prevents wrinkles and other signs of ageing
The peels prevents breakdown of collagen in your skin, in turn promoting cell growth, which helps delay signs of ageing and wrinkles effectively. Here are 10 tips to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging.
How to use it: Take two spoonfuls of sun-dried and powdered peel and add little milk to it. If you have oily skin, add rose water to the powder instead of milk and make a paste out of it. Apply this paste on your face and keep it till it dries. Wash your face with lukewarm water and try using the powder at least twice a week for better results.
#3 It acts as a natural moisturizer
Pomegranate peels are great for your skin. It hydrates and protects your skin from pollutants and other environmental toxins. It restores the pH balance of the skin. The ellagic acid present in the peels lock moisture in the skin. keeping it soft and supple. Here is how to moisturise your skin naturally.
How to use it: Grind sun-dried pomegranate peels in a mixer and empty the powder into a clean bowl. Make sufficient powder to last you for a week and store it in an airtight container. Take two spoonfuls of the powder and mix well with some yoghurt to make a paste out of it. Apply this paste on your face and neck and leave for 10 minutes. Next, wash it off with cold water.
#4 It acts as an effective facial scrub
Pomegranate peels can help in removing dead skin, black and white heads from your face when used in form of a facial scrub. Here are 10 natural homemade facial scrubs to get rid of dead skin.
How to use it: Take two spoonfuls of sun-dried pomegranate powder and add one spoon of brown sugar to it. To make a paste, add one spoon of honey, one spoon of avocado oil or any essential oil of your choice and mix well. Next, scrub your face with the homemade scrub and massage thoroughly. Wash it off with water to get smooth supple skin. However, don’t forget to use a toner and a moisturiser after scrubbing.
#5 It acts as natural sunscreen
Pomegranate peels also have sun-blocking agents in them that can save your skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays which can go a long way in preventing skin cancer. Here are some home remedies to get rid of suntan naturally.
How to use it: Make a powder with sun-dried pomegranate peels and store in an airtight container. Mix this powder with your lotion or cream, preferably 20 minutes before leaving the house. Alternatively, you can also mix the powder with some essential oils and apply on your face, if you wish to use a natural sunscreen.
#6 It arrests hair loss and prevents dandruff
Pomegranate peels can also help you fight hair loss and prevent the menace of dandruff. Here are seven home remedies to control dandruff.
How to use it: Mix dried-pomegranate peel powder with your hair oil. Next, apply it on the roots of your hair and massage thoroughly. You can wash your hair with a mild shampoo after two hours of the application or keep it overnight as per your convenience.
Pomegranate peels help to restore your overall health
Here is how the peels can help one combat various health crisis and boost overall health:
#7 It’s an excellent home remedy for sore throat
If you are having sore throat or are suffering from tonsil pain and need immediate relief pomegranate peel powder can help you soothe your troubled throat.
How to use it: Take a handful of sun-dried pomegranate peels and boil them in water. Now strain the concoction and allow it to cool for a while. Next, gargle with this water often to get relief from sore throat and tonsil pains.
#8 It protects against heart disease
The peels are packed with powerful antioxidants that help fight against dangerous and life threatening heart diseases. It also lowers cholesterol levels, reduces stress and restores heart health. They reduce oxidative stress and lower blood pressure too. Here are eight ways to prevent a blockage in your heart.
How to use it: Mix one teaspoonful of pomegranate peel powder with a glass of warm water and drink the mixture daily to improve your heart health. However, having the drink every alternate day will also help you restore your heart health alongside proper diet and regular exercise.
#9 It improves dental hygiene
Pomegranate peels can help deal with a host of dental problems like preventing bad breath, gingivitis, carries and mouth ulcers. Here is how poor dental hygiene can lead to oral cancer.
How to use it: In a glass of water, add one teaspoon of sun-dried pomegranate peel powder and mix well. Next, gargle with this mixture twice daily to get rid of bad breath. Massaging your gums with pomegranate peel powder can prevent gum diseases by soothing swollen, inflamed and bleeding gums. Mix a pinch of black pepper powder with pomegranate powder and apply the mix with your fingers on your teeth and keep it for a while to prevent dental decay. Rinse your mouth with water after around 10 minutes.
#10 It boosts bone health
Because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, pomegranate peels are effective in reducing bone density loss, especially in menopausal women. Studies indicate that consuming concoctions made of pomegranate peels can help boost bone health and prevent the onset of osteoporosis after menopause. Here are five things that can help improve bone density.
How to use it: Add two spoons of  sun-dried pomegranate peel powder to a glass of warm water and mix well. You can also add a spoonful of lemon juice and a dash of salt, to make it taste better. Drink this concoction at night to strengthen bones.
#11 It helps improve gut-health
The peels have tannis in them that help reduce inflammation of the intestine, swelling of hemorrhoids, tighten intestinal lining, stop bleeding during diarrhea and improve digestion. Here are nine home remedies for better digestion.

How to use it: Soak half-cup sun-dried pomegranate peel in water for 30 minutes. When it softens, put it in a blender, add one teaspoon cumin seeds, three-fourth cup buttermilk, a dash of rock salt and blend all the ingredients. Drink this mix at least three times a week to combat piles, inflammation of intestine or digestion problems. If you are suffering from diarrhea or have bloody-stools, you can drink it three times a day to relieve your symptoms.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

5 common health mistakes you are making !

You may be surprised at just how many 'innocent' habits and routines could, in fact, be doing you harm.

Using the mobile before bed
Why it's bad: Radiation from cellphones can cause insomnia and headaches, according to Swedish scientists. They found people who used their mobiles before bed took longer to reach the deep-sleep stages, essential for cell rejuvenation and repair. Simple solution: Use your landline for bedtime calls and don't keep your mobile on your bedside table, advises Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre. 
Brushing teeth after meals
Why it's bad: "While you should brush teeth twice a day for two minutes, you shouldn't brush after meals," says Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. "The sugar in food reacts with plaque to create acid, which softens tooth enamel — so brushing straight after meals can actually do more harm than good." Simple solution: "Wait an hour after eating and brush your teeth before you have breakfast as this will prevent dental erosion by coating the teeth with fluoride," advises Dr Carter. Chew sugar-free gum to freshen your breath after meals.
Worrying about your weight
Why it's bad: It's good to keep your weight at a healthy level, but obsessing about a few kilos won't do you any good. "Body mass index doesn't take into account the amount of muscle or where the fat is," says Dr David Haslam, the National Obesity Forum's clinical director. "Many athletes are classed as overweight when in fact they have a low amount of body fat. Some people may have a healthy BMI but have a lot of abdominal fat and be at serious risk of health problems." Simple solution: Concentrate on waist measurement instead and aim to keep it below 80cm, advises Dr Haslam. This reduces risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Carrying a heavy handbag
Why it's bad: Big bags are bad news. "Carrying a heavy load on one side causes an imbalance in the muscular structure, triggering neck, shoulder and back problems," warns Danny Williams, council member of the British Osteopathic Association. Simple solution: "Distribute weight across the body with a cross-body shoulder bag rather than carrying it on one shoulder," says Williams. Buy small bags.
Starting the day with warm water and lemon

Why it's bad: It may be a great detox but dentists say it's a mistake. "Hot water and lemon is corrosive to your teeth," warns Dr Mervyn Druian from The London Centre for Cosmetic Surgery. Simple solution: "It's better to drink peppermint tea as it works to strengthen tooth enamel," says Dr Druian.