A Life Partner

Golden Rules for Finding Your Life Partner -

by Dov Heller, M.A.

When it comes to making the decision about choosing a life partner, no one wants to make a mistake. Yet, with a divorce rate of close to 50%, it appears that many are making serious mistakes in their approach to finding Mr./Miss. Right!

If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married, they'll say: "We're in love"; I believe this is the ..1 mistake people make when they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love. Though this may sound "not politically correct", there's a profound truth here.

Love is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come. Let me say it again: "You can't build a lifetime relationship on love alone"; You need a lot more!

Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you're serious about finding and keeping a life partner.

Question - 1: Do we share a common life purpose?

Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for 20 or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need to share something deeper and more meaningful. You need a common life purpose.

Two things can happen in a marriage:

1. You can grow together, or
2. You can grow apart.

50% of the people out there are growing apart. To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life!

Bottom line - Marry someone who wants the same thing.

Question - 2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with this person?

This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship. Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust - i.e. trust that I won't get "punished"; or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings. A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts and feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.

Question - 3: Is he/she a mensch?

A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person. How can you test? Here are some suggestions. Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis? Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher of mine defines a good person as "someone who is always striving to be good and do the right ";. So ask about your significant other: What do they do with their time? Is this person materialistic? Usually a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement.

There are essentially two types of people in the world -

1. People who are dedicated to personal growth and
2. People who are dedicated to seeking comfort.

Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking down the aisle.

Question - 4: How does he/she treat other people?

The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure.

Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves and self- absorbed?

To measure this, think about the following: How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc.. How do they treat their parents and siblings? Do they have gratitude and appreciation?

If they don't have gratitude for the people who have given them everything; can you do nearly as much for them? You can be sure that someone, who treats others poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as well.

Question - 5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this person after we're married?

Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to "improve"; them after they're married. As a colleague of mine puts it: "You can probably expect someone to change after marriage for the worse" If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them.

In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult and treacherous. The key is to try leading a little more with your head and less with your heart. It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating; to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues. Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don't want to find yourself trouble because you didn't do your homework.

Another Perspective -

There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going anywhere relationships. Observe the relationships around you.

Pay Attention -

• Which ones lift and which ones lean?
• Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
• Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?
• When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse?
• Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know, or appreciate you?

The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.

An African proverb states, "Before you get married, keep both eyes open, and after you marry, close one eye"; Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low self-esteem make you blind to warning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that what you see as faults aren't really that important.

• Do you bring out the best in each other?
• Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete, compare and control?
• What do you bring to the relationship?
• Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain?
• You can't take someone to the altar to alter them. You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.

If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and "a life"; you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain. Seeking status, sex, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship.

WHAT KEEPS A RELATIONSHIP STRONG IS -

1. Trust
2. Communication
3. Intimacy
4. A Sense of Humor
5. Sharing Tasks
6. Some get away time without Business or Children.
7. Daily Exchanges (meal, shared activity, hug, call, touch, notes, etc.)
8. Sharing Common Goals & Interests.
9. Giving each other space to grow without feeling Insecure.
10. Giving each other a sense of Belonging & Assurances of Commitment.

If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment withdrawal, abuse, neglect, and dishonesty; and pain will replace.

• Life starts with a Voice but ends with Silence
• Love starts with a Fear but ends with Tears
• Friendship starts Anywhere and ends Nowhere

Steel Tycoon - Laxmi Mittal

Laxmi Mittal - Steel Tycoon L.N. Mittal - Laxmi Niwas Mittal [Chairman and CEO of Mittal Steel]
Born: June 15, 1950
Sadulpur, Rajasthan, India
Occupation: CEO & Chairman of Arcelor Mittal
Net worth: $32 billion USD

Lakshmi Niwas Mittal (born June 15, 1950) is a London-based Indian billionaire industrialist, born in Sadulpur Village, in Churu district of Rajasthan, India, and residing in Kensington, London. He is the fifth richest person in the world, with a fortune of US$32 billion according to Forbes. The Financial Times named Mittal its 2006 Person of the Year.

In May 2007, he was named one of the "100 most influential people" by Time magazine.

Early history -

He spent his first years in India, living with his extended family on bare floors and rope beds in a house built by his grandfather. His family, from the Marwari Aggarwal caste, was from humble roots; his grandfather worked for the Tarachand Ghanshyamdas Poddar firm, one of the leading Marwari industrial firms of pre-independence India. They eventually moved to Kolkata where his father, Mohan, became a partner in a steel company and made a fortune. Lakshmi was a keen student and his classmates knew him as a sharp student who was good with numbers. He graduated at the top from St. Xaviers in Kolkata with a Commerce Degree in Business and Accounting in 1969.[citation needed]

Lakshmi Mittal began his career working in the family's steelmaking business in India and in 1976, when the family founded its own steel business, Mittal set out to establish its international division, beginning with the buying of a run-down plant in Indonesia. Shortly afterwards he married Usha, the daughter of a well-to-do moneylender. In 1994, due to differences with his father and brothers, he branched out on his own, taking over the international operations of the Mittal steel business, which was already owned by the family. The family or Mittal never spoke to the public about the reasons for the split. Although, rumors have it that it was due to financial instablity between the brothers.

Today -

For last three consecutive years, he has been the richest person in the United Kingdom and is the President of the Board of Directors and CEO of Arcelor Mittal which is the world's largest producer of low and mid-grade steels, with assets in France, Belgium, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, South Africa, Poland, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and the United States. On July 13, 2005 it was announced that he had donated £2 million to the Labour Party, and on January 16, 2007 it was announced that he had donated a further £3 million.[citation needed] Although he has been living abroad for many years, he claims he will remain an Indian.

Personal wealth -

In March 2007, he was reported the 5th wealthiest person in the world by Forbes Magazine (up from 61st richest in 2004). The Mittal family owns 44% of Arcelor Mittal, the world's largest steel company.

His residence at 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens was bought from Formula One car racing boss Bernie Ecclestone in 2004 for £57.1 million ($105.7 million), the world's highest price ever paid for a house. Formerly, this house was the residence of Paul Reuter, the founder of the Reuters news service.

Mittal has two children. His son Aditya Mittal is the CFO of Arcelor Mittal. He paid over £30 million/$65 million to host his daughter Vanisha's wedding celebration in Vaux le Vicomte on 22 June 2004 and an engagement ceremony at the Palace of Versailles on 20 June 2004, the world's most expensive wedding ever. He even hosted a Bollywood night where superstars like Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai performed. Kylie Minogue also sang on stage.

His house in Kensington, London uses marble taken from the same quarry that supplied the Taj Mahal. The extravagant show of wealth has been deemed the "Taj Mittal."

Recently, Mittal - who is twice as rich as Roman Abramovich - has emerged as a leading contender to buy Barclays Premiership club Birmingham City, but has so far refused to comment. On June 25th Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung bought a 29.9% stake in Birmingham City making a full takeover from Mittal incresingly unlikely.

Charity -

After seeing India get just one bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics, he decided to set up Mittal Champions Trust with U$9 million to support 10 Indian athletes with world-beating potential.

For Comic Relief 2007 he matched the money raised (~£1million) on the celebrity special BBC programme, The Apprentice.

Awards -

• 2006: Person of the Year - Financial Times
• 2004: European Businessman of the Year - Fortune magazine
• 1998: Willy Korf Steel Vision Award - American Metal Market and PaineWeber’s World Steel Dynamics.
• 1996: Steelmaker of the Year - New Steel

Contact Address :
Lakshmi Mittal
Summer Palace
The Bishops Avenue
Hampstead Garden Suburb London
N2 OAB Great Britain
Phone : 0171 629 7988

[Source: Wikipedia]

A Soldier [touching]

A Soldier [touching story]
- Author Unknown

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietn@m. He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me.

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.

The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!! There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart You don't know how it happens Or when it gets started But you know the special lift It always brings. And you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care....

Common Hair Problems

- Common Hair And Scalp Problems -

1 - Itchy Scalp - If you have itching of the scalp, there maybe two main causes.

1. Lice - Apart from affecting the scalp, lice can reside on the body anbd on the clothes as well.The lice suck blood from the skin and may cause infection.The main problem, however is itching.The thing to look for, to confirm the presence of lice, are the eggs laid by lice; these are attached to the hair and are the size of a pinhead, so you really have to search carfully for them.Once the diagnosis is made the problem is easily treated with malathion or gamma benzene hexachloride;both have to be applied once a week for two weeks.

2. Dandruff -We all shed dead skin cells as a normal process; these cells are not shed off individually but as aggravates which are normally too small to be seen.In dandruff, however, the shedding of the dead cells is in larger visible aggravates;there is also an excessive production of dead cells.Dandruff is generally rare in children.Scaling generally begins to emerge at adolescence.Starting at puberty, dandruff increases gradually over the next few years; it is maximum in the early twenties.Later over the years, it gradually decreases and is decidedly rare in the elderly.

Getting Rid Of Dandruff -
There are two ways of treating dandruff:either the scales are removed as quickly as they are formed, or the formation of scales is suppressed.Shampooing is a good way to rapidly remove the scales.To be effective the washing should be thorough and frequent.Application of oils temporarily improves the appearance of a scaly scalp because the scales stick to the scalp and are less visible.But oils tend to nullify the effect of shampooing to a considerable extent and are best avoided if you are suffering from dandruff.Medicated shampoos are very popular, these contain selenium sulphide, zinc pyrithione or coaltar.These agents decrease the production of scales in addition to removing the scales.Corticosteroid applications are also very effective in reducing the production of scales and are used for severe dandruff.But the most important aspect of treating dandruff is that the medications should be used regularly till you outgrow the problem.

2 - Greying Of Hair -

The age of onset of the greying process is largely determioned by our genes.Generally by the age of 50, 50% of the population have at least 50% grey hair.Grey hair can sometimes appear earlier too.Premature greying runs in certain families.Rapid greying of hair may occur after severe emotional stress.In certain internal diseases like diseases of the Thyroid Gland,certain anaemias, hair may grey early.

What Can Be Done -
The usual and the most effective way of dealing with greying of hair is dyeing it.There are several dyes available.The oxidative dyes are the most versatile and the most frequently used, despite the fact that they can cause reactions.Henna is also used because apart from its safety it is a superb conditioner.

3 - Loss Of Hair-Baldness -

Causes Of Baldness:
All of us loose hair.A loss of upto 100 hair a day is normal, as this hair loss is replaced.Excessive hair loss which is not replaced leads to baldness.Baldness or alopecia, as your doctor would call it, has several causes:

1. The commonest form of baldness that affects men.It is called male pattern baldness.The hair loss in this condition depends on two factors, namely the presence of androgens(male sex hormones), and a genetic tendency to develop baldness.One out of every ten men is likely to develop some degree of alopecia by the age of 25; by the age of 35, 4 out 10 men show some baldness; and by the age of 50, nearly half of all men are bald.
2. Many systemic diseases can cause diffuse hair loss.Any prolonged debilitation(thyroid, viral fevers, malaria, operations, accidents and even child-birth) can be followed by diffuse loss of hair.Mental stress must be included as a cause of this type of baldness.Nutritional deficiencies, crash dieting and anorexia nervosa are all also associated with hair loss.Anaemia is an important cause of hair loss in women.
3. The third type of baldness is called alopecia areata.Patches of baldness first appear on the scalp, but can spread to the eyebrows and eyelashes as well.In men the beard area may be involved.Fortunately most of the time, the problem resolves on its own.This pattern of alopecia is more commonly seen in men and is sometimes associated with leucoderma and diabetes.
4. Some diseases of the scalp like fungal and bacterial infections on scalp can also cause baldness.
5. Finally physical trauma also results in hair loss; this type of hair loss affects women more often than it affects men.Tight hair styles, too much exposure to hot air can also be a cause to some extent.

Remedy -

• The easiest and the cheapest solution is to grow the remaining hair, and to restyle it to cover the bald areas.Conditioning the hair would give body to the hair, but these methods can be resorted to only in mild cases of baldness.
• Another but rather expensive solution is hair transplantation.Hair when transplanted from a hair producing area to a bald area of the scalp, continues to function and grow normally for a lifetime.If done with skill this method seems to work fairly well.

4 - Superflous Hair -

Superflous hair or hirsutism maybe due to heredity or ethnic causes.A mild hirsutism might be seen in women after menopause.

Remedy -

1. Bleaching: Bleaching is one way of making existing hair less conspicuous-it is good for down, rather than for thick coarse hair.It is the most commonly used method for camouflaging facial hair.But blaching might cause irritations in some.
2. Shaving: It is a fallacy that hair grows faster and becomes coarser after shaving.Yes, after shaving hair does reappear with great rapidity(within 24 hrs), because shaving cuts the hair just at the surface.
3. Pumice Stone: Abrasives in the form of pumice stones and special emery covered mitts and pads, are frequently used to remove unwanted hair.Though this method is cheap, its effects are temporary.This method is most effectively used on moderately coarse hair of the legs and arms and is not practical for use on the face.
4. Chemical Depilation: Depilatory agents such as creams, lotions and sprays used in the method of depilation may cause irritation and dryness of the skin and thus should never be used on broken skin.However conduct a patch test before using any of the depilatory agents.
5. Waxing: This is one of the oldest methods of removing hair.However, the wax should be warmed to the right temperature(neither too hot or too cold) and applied by an expert.If doing at home use cold waxing method instead.Waxing reduces hair growth if done frequently and is the best method of hair removal
6. Plucking And Threading: These methods are usually reserved for eye-brows, hair on the upper lip and chin and for removing odd hair around the nipples.These methods do not increase hair growth.
7. Electrolysis: Electric epilation is considered a safe and a cosmetically acceptable method of removing unwanted hair permanently.It is a useful way of getting rid of facial hair, but for hairy arms and legs it might prove too expensive and time-consuming.

Skin Types & Care

- Skin Types And Skin Care -

It is really important for you to be able to identify your skin type.This is to enable you to look after your skin correctly.Also the selection of your cosmetics is, to a considerable extent, influenced by your skin type.Although no two skins are exactly similar most have characteristics which enable them to be grouped into one of the following types:Dry skin, Normal skin, Combination skin and Oily skin.

To determine your skin type, wash your face with a mild face wash.Then, after 30 minutes, press a clean tissue against your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin.If the tissue shows no trace of oil, then you have dry skin.Dry skin looks rough and is prone to premature fine lines and wrinkles.If your skin is oily in some parts but dry in others, then you have combination skin.Normal skin usually looks smooth and is not prone to break outs.Oily skin feels oily to touch and tends to shine.Oily skin is also prone to blackheads and pimples.A sensitive skin needs special care, as it may be sensitive to some ingredients found in popular cosmetics.Those with sensitive skin should always use beauty aids that are hypoallergenic to protect their skin from allergic reactions.A regular skin care programme, adapted to the needs of your particular skin type, goes a long way in keeping your skin radiant and problem free.

Dry Skin -
Dry skin needs extra care, as it is prone to fine lines and wrinkles.This is especially true during the winter months when it feels even drier and may feel too taut or may even flake.A few measures help alleviate dryness and keep your skin supple and, at the same time, guard against premature aging.

1. Always wash your face with a mild, soap-free face wash.Never use soap, as that would further strip your skin of natural oil.
2. Always use a moisturiser during the day.Use upward,circular motion to lightly massage the moisturiser into your face.Make sure not to pull or tug your skin.
3. You should consider using a night cream before going to bed at night.It is advisable to use a cream that contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids(or AHA's, as they're commonly known).AHA's are derived from sources such as milk, fruit and sugar-cane.These acids gently exfoliate the dry, dead, outermost layers of skin while they moisturise the newly revealed layers.They greatly benefit complexions that look dull, dry or flaky and they give your skin a beautiful glow.
4. Both AHA and Vitamin C help reduce fine lines and other signs of aging.Thus, you may get good results quickly by using a moisturiser or cream that contains Vitamin C during the day and an AHA-based night cream.Most known brands have moisturisers and creams that contain these.
5. If you have dry skin that tends to flake off, looks red and has some itchy patches that scab, consult your doctor to rule out eczema.Eczema, also known as atopic dermititis, is generally considered to be a hereditary condition that can occur throughout the year.Other causes of eczema can be fabrics such as wool, some skin-care products or detergents etc.Your doctor may prescribe a cream to soothe the redness and irritation.Non-irriating fabrics such as cotton also help avoid flare-ups.
6. Many people suffer from weather-related dry skin. If the weather in the winter months is normally drier and this tends to dehydrate your skin, regular use of moisturiser will keep your skin hydrated and supple.

Home Remedies For Dry Skin -

• Add 1/2 tsp of rose water to 1 tsp of honey and gently apply to the face. Leave it for about 15-20 minutes, then wash off with tepid water. Honey moisturises and soothes dry skin, and is gentle enough for daily use.
• Massaging you face regularly with almond oil or olive oil works wonders for dry skin.
• Take 1/4 of an apple. Peel off the skin and grate. Cool in the refrigerator. Apply it on the skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. Wash off with cool water. Apple helps soothe dry skin and gives it a pleasant glow.
• Take 1 tbsp of cream. Stir lightly till it becomes a smooth paste. Apply to face and neck before bath. Cream helps remove suntan and makes your skin silky and supple
  

Normal Skin-
Nomal skin is usually trouble-free and needs simple care to keep it healthy and glowing.Normal skin also tolerates most popular lotions and creams as well.A regular skin-care program combined with a balanced, healthy diet helps keep normal skin stay supple and young.Regular care for normal skin should include a few simple steps.

1. Cleansing, toning, and moisturising daily keeps normal skin in great shape for a long time.It is advisable to use natural products on your skin.
2. It's easy to take trouble-free skin for granted.But, if neglected, it will begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles.So always remember to nourish and moisturise your skin.
3. Creams and lotions that contain vitamin A, C and E help improve the texture of your skin, making it smoother and softer.Moreover, these vitamins counter the effects of free radicals.
4. Even if your skin is normal, you still have to give it regular care.Your skin, like any other skin type, is constantly assaulted by free radicals.Free radicles are molecules formed in the skin when it is exposed to the environment, pollution, or sunlight.
   

Home Remedies For Normal Skin -
Mash 1/4 of a ripe banana. Apply on the face, taking care to avoid the areas under the eye.Leave it on for 10 minutes, then wash off with cool water.Banana is excellent to do away with dead skin that makes your skin look lifeless.Regular use of banana gives your skin a fresh, healthy glow.

Combination Skin -
Skin that is oily in some parts but dry or normal in others is considered as combination skin.The oily skin is concentrated on the T-zone, which is across the foreheat, down the nose and chin.Whenever you wash your face, you may find that some areas of your face feel tight after washing; and that these parts look dull or feel dry and rough whereas the T-zone looks shiny, feels oily to touch and is prone to pimples and blackheads.Combination skin needs special attention because the dry parts of your face need to be considered, whereas the oily parts need to be kept clean to avoid breakouts.Follow these simple tips each day and see what a difference they make to your skin.

1. Cleanse your entire face twice a day.Always use a mild cleanser to gently remove dirt, grime and make-up from your face.
2. The dry areas of your face need to be moisturised to prevent the formation of premature wrinkles.Use a good moisturiser on the dry parts of your face, and if possible, use an oil-free moisturiser on your T-zone.
3. If you use make-up, try and use oil-free/shine control type of make-up on the T-zone.These products are easily available in the market today and help absorb all the excess oil secretion and control the shine.
4. If you have a combination skin, your skin will greatly benefit from AHA and Vitamin C moisturisers and creams.Products that contain AHA tend to normalise the skin.

Home Remedies For Combination Skin -

• Always keep a small bottle of rose water in the refrigerator. Saturate a bit of clean cotton with cool rose water and dab liberally on your face. Enjoy the fresh feeling.
• Take 3-4 tbsp of ripe, deseeded papaya pulp.Mash well and cool in the refrigerator.Apply on face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then wash off with cool water.Papaya helps normalise combination or oily skin and gives it a beautiful healthy glow.
  

Oily Skin-
Skin that looks oily, feels greasy to touch and is prone to blackheads and pimples is known as oily skin.It is imperative to keep oily skin clean and to control the excess secretion of oil.On the positive side, oily skin tends to age more gradually as compared to other skin types, as natural oil protects oily skin from fine lines and wrinkles.A simple but regular skin-care programme coupled with a well-balanced, healthy diet helps manage oily skin and minimises skin break-outs.

1. It is essential to cleanse your face twice a day, once in the morning and once at bedtime.Always use a mild cleanser.They help prevent clogged pores and reduce pimples..
2. Follow up the cleanser with an astringent as this will remove all excess oil.It is best to avoid an alcohol-based astringent. Instead, it is asvisable to use natural products.Alcohol-based products strip too much oil from the face.
3. If your skin does break out, do not touch or squeeze the pimples.Pimples, if squeezed, may leave permanent scars.There are a number of effective pimple creams available in the market today.Consult a dermatologist to know which one is best suited for you.
4. If possible, get your face professionally cleansed once a month.
5. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day.Water helps flush out toxins from the body.
6. Avoid fried foods and chocolates.
7. Make sure that you eat a well-balanced diet which includes fruits and green leafy vegetables daily.

Home Remedies For Oily Skin -

• Keep a bowl of water in the fridge and splash this cold water on your face 3-4 times a day.Cold water will not only leave you feeling refreshed but will also tighten the pores.
• Neem leaves are excellent for pimples.Crush washed neem leaves to form a paste and apply this to the affected parts.Leave it on for at least an hour.Neem will help the pimples dry up faster.
• For marks and blemishes left behind by pimples use calamine lotion.Just dab some lotion on the blemishes at bedtime and they will gradually fade away.
• A great pack for oily skin is the chilled cucumber.Finely grate cucumber or blend a cucumber in the blender to form a paste.Chill in the fridge.Apply it on the face and relax for 15 minutes.Wash off with cold water.For best results, repeat twice a week, on a clean, cleansed face.

Smart Eating Habits

- Smart Eating Tips-

Most of us have a busy work schedules and a dozen other commitments to look into. But, to do justice to all these various aspects of your life, you MUST pay attention to your diet and health.

How you eat your food is as important as what you eat. So, the next time you sit down to eat, enjoy your meal by keeping these pointers in mind.

1. Eat Slowly Chew your Food Well -
   It takes 20 minutes before your stomach sends a clear message to your brain that you're full.
   If you take the time to chew your food well, you will find you end up eating less. Ideally, you should have smaller, frequent meals as opposed to larger, infrequent ones.
   
   
2. Eat More -
   If you want to lose weight, starving yourself does not help -- you need to eat well.

   Surprised?

   Here's the explanation: When your body doesn't receive the required nutrients, your metabolism slows down. Metabolism is the rate at which you burn calories while resting. So, if you don't eat enough, fewer calories will be burnt and there will be less fat loss. You should eat small meals at regular intervals to keep your energy levels high. Eat till you are satiated (at the same time, don't forget what we suggested in Tip No 1).
   
   

3. Eat Less Red Meat -
   Red meats are high in saturated fat and should be avoided by people with high cholesterol.
   Chicken and fish are the best meats to consume. Fish is better than chicken because it has antioxidants. Antioxidants are organic substances that include vitamins C, E, A and carotenoids; carotenoids add pigment to some fruits and vegetables. For instance, carrots wouldn't be orange without them. Beta-carotenoid is the most popular of carotenoids. Antioxidants help prevent cancer, heart disease and stroke.
   
   These meats can be baked, grilled or roasted. Frying will add unnecessary fat.
   
   
4. Prevent Constipation -
   Add fibre to your diet; this adds bulk to your food and prevents constipation. Whole grain foods like oatmeal, bran, wheat germ, brown rice, fruits (especially with their skin), prunes (dried plums), etc, are all good sources of fibre. Home remedies for constipation including the following:
   
   - Have guavas with the seeds.
   - Have honey in a glass of milk twice a day.
   - Have one tablespoon of corn syrup in a glass of water. Corn syrup is actually corn starch, which is primarily glucose. It is used in making candies, jams and jellies because it does not crystallise like sugar. Corn syrup is available in any well-stocked supermarket.
   
   
5. Have Onion and Garlic -
   Onion decreases blood pressure and garlic decreases cholesterol. Any amount and form of onion and garlic will give you the benefits of their properties, but a raw garlic clove taken on an empty stomach in the morning is the best.
   
   
6. Use Less Salt in your Cooking -
   Use minimum amount of salt for cooking if you have high blood pressure. Salt also causes water retention. This means your body will retain water if it is not receiving enough.
   
   After all, it still has to carry on the normal functioning of the organs and, if you are not drinking enough H2O, then the body starts keeping it.
   
   Water being taken in other forms, such as, soups, dals, drinks, etc, is retained for later use. Bloating and puffiness are all signs of water retention.
   
   
7. Have Calcium-rich Foods -
   Use skimmed or double-toned milk and milk products as these contain less fat. Double-toned milk has lesser fat than toned or full cream milk.
   
   In the non-packaged variety, cow's milk is just as good as skimmed milk; it is definitely better than buffaloes' milk as the latter contains large amounts of fat. You should have between one and two glasses of milk a day.
   
   Other sources of calcium and protein can be taken instead of milk, if one is allergic to it. Calcium rich foods include almonds, figs, red kidney beans (rajma), mustard greens (sarson ka saag), etc. Proteins can be found in meats, sprouts, soya, dals, etc.
   
   
8. Switch from Maida to whole Grains -
   Replace maida products with whole grains, whole wheat, soya breads, etc, as these have a good amount of fibre; fibre helps in binding cholesterol, which helps in less production of bad cholesterol. Whole grain foods like oatmeal, bran, wheat germ and brown rice, fruits, especially with skins, prunes, etc, are all good sources of fibre.
   
   Too much fibre may cause loose stools, so you have to monitor your individual intake accordingly. Medically, approximately 25 gm of fibre a day is enough to help maintain your digestive system.
   
   A good indicator: four slices of brown bread contains five grams of fibre; so does one large banana or orange.
   
   
9. Have Foods that Contain Iron -
   These include red meats, especially liver, fruits like watermelon and pomegranate, vegetables like spinach, beans, beets and broccoli, whole grains, dried fruits, especially prunes, sunflower seeds, etc.
   
   
10. Relish the Flavours -
    You may have heard some of these before. But the best good food habit, which we all seem to overlook, is to actually taste and enjoy the flavour of the food with your emotions instead of just your tongue

Praise of India - Quotations

- In Praise of India: Top 10 Famous Quotations -

1. Will Durant [American historian] - "India was the motherland of our race, and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages: she was the mother of our philosophy; mother, through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics; mother, through the Buddha, of the ideals embodied in Christianity; mother, through the village community, of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all".
   
   
2. Mark Twain [American author] - "India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only."
   
   
3. Albert Einstein [American scientist] - "We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made."
   
   
4. Max Mueller [German scholar] - If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India.
   
   
5. Romain Rolland [French scholar] - "If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India."
   
   
6. Hu Shih [former Ambassador of China to USA] - "India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border."
   
   
7. Mark Twain - "So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked."
   
   
8. Keith Bellows [VP - National Geographic Society] - "There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won't go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds... I had been seeing the world in black & white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolor."
   
   
9. Mark Twain - "India has two million gods, and worships them all. In religion all other countries are paupers; India is the only millionaire."
   
   
10. A Rough Guide to India - "It is impossible not to be astonished by India. Nowhere on Earth does humanity present itself in such a dizzying, creative burst of cultures and religions, races and tongues. Enriched by successive waves of migration and marauders from distant lands, every one of them left an indelible imprint which was absorbed into the Indian way of life. Every aspect of the country presents itself on a massive, exaggerated scale, worthy in comparison only to the superlative mountains that overshadow it. It is this variety which provides a breathtaking ensemble for experiences that is uniquely Indian. Perhaps the only thing more difficult than to be indifferent to India would be to describe or understand India completely. There are perhaps very few nations in the world with the enormous variety that India has to offer. Modern day India represents the largest democracy in the world with a seamless picture of unity in diversity unparalleled anywhere else."