KNOW TRUTH ABOUT FAIRNESS CREAMS

KNOW TRUTH ABOUT FAIRNESS CREAMS 

1. Facts about skin colour

·      First, our skin derives its colour from the cells in the dermis and epidermis layers of the skin.

·      Second, blood vessels provide a red or blue tint depending on the level of oxygen.

·     Third and the most important factor is the pigment called melanin.

·     This colour-giving pigment plays a crucial role in protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

·     Greater the melanin content, darker the skin tone. 

·     The level of melanin in the skin is genetically determined.

2. The workings of the fairness cream

·     Most fairness creams hinder production of melanin.

·     Many are in fact, mere sun blocks.

·     Many of these fairness creams just offer protection from sun exposure, which reduces excess melanin production.

·     Most fairness creams do not disclose their contents, which could cause potential damage to the skin in the long run.

·    Worse, many of them do absolutely nothing they promise.

3. What goes into these fairness creams 

·    Fairness creams might contain chemicals like hydroquinone, mercury and some other harmful steroids.

·    Hydroquinone and mercury are both toxic and harmful chemicals used in the production of hair dye.

·   When these chemicals get exposed to ultra-violet rays for long periods, they re-oxidise, causing patchy skin and premature aging.

·   Hydroquinone solidifies collagen fibres, and this damages the connective tissues and causes rough and spotty skin.

·   Mercury can damage the nervous system, cause kidney problems, organ failure and even hearing impairments.

TIPS FOR KEEPING HEART HEALTHY IN WINTER

TIPS FOR KEEPING HEART HEALTHY IN WINTER

A. LIKELY CHANGES DURING WINTER

·        When the weather is cold, the heart has to work harder as the metabolic rate of the body increases to maintain body heat.

·        The arteries tighten, restricting blood flow, reducing oxygen supply to the heart, and increasing the blood pressure.

·        The shift of activities to morning hours, for trying to finish all outdoor work in the fewer daylight hours, also leads to a change in the body clock, leading to an increase in the heart rate, BP, and cortisol levels, putting pressure on your heart and increasing risk of an attack.

·        We are also more likely to eat food with high fat and high sugar content.

·        There is also an increased risk of mild viral illnesses involving the respiratory system.

B. SIMPLE TIPS DURING WINTER

1. Take a walk in the sun

·        Less daylight during winters can worsen mood problems, increase depression and can affect the heart.

2. Wear warm clothing

·        Protective insulation, like wearing a head scarf to protect ears and head, helps, as heat can be lost through the head, hands and feet.

3. Don’t over-exercise

·        Those suffering from high blood pressure should avoid early morning walks when it is cold, and those used to regular exercise should stay away from a hectic exercise regimen.

4. Control your diet

·        The combination of high fat food with little physical activity can lead to high sugar levels, which can increase the risk of heart disease.

5. Avoid tobacco and coffee

·        Nicotine and caffeine put much more burden on the heart.

6. Avoid getting wet

·        If you are a diabetic or hypertensive, get an influenza shot to lower the risk of winter-associated respiratory illnesses, which can reduce chances of angina and heart attack.

7. Avoid getting agitated and stressed out

·        Dark days and general gloominess of the weather can also create problems of the heart.

8. Regularly check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels

• Keep your BP less than 140/90 mms Hg.
• Fasting sugar should be less than 100 mgs/dl.
• Blood cholesterol should be less than150 mgs/dl.
• Keep your weight in control.
• In case you experience chest pain or uneasiness, consult your doctor immediately.

GETTING REHIRED

GETTING REHIRED

·         It's important not to burn bridges when you leave one company to take a job with another.

·         In addition to having your former boss provide a good reference, you may also have the opportunity to go back to work there in the future.

1. Why a company may want to rehire

·         Sometimes, you have to work elsewhere to gain new skills, experiences and growth opportunities.

·         Leaving a company doesn't have to mean the relationship with your employer ends there.

·         After you leave, the employer might realize that he has not found a suitable replacement.

·         Or perhaps a new opportunity opened up that can utilize your newly acquired skills.

·         Or perhaps you're on the market again and your former employer, who never wanted you to leave in the first place, gets wind of it.

·         If you were part of a temporary layoff, the former employer may re-approach you when funds are available to hire again.

·         Also, at times, people go to other companies only to realize it wasn't so good after all.

·         Whatever the reason, leaving on a good note is what matters.

2. Consider the rehiring offer

·         Even if you never imagined you would return to your former company, be open to the possibility.

·         But first, recall whether you had quit for personnel issues or ethical concerns.

·         If working conditions (like a temperamental boss, or a lack of resources) were the reason, find from your former co-workers whether anything has really improved.

·         If they haven't, you should avoid returning to that environment again.

3. Negotiate smartly

·         You're often in a better negotiating position if you go back to a former employer.

·         You know the company well at this point and know what you should and can negotiate upfront.

·         And since you're returning as a known entity, you're even more valuable.

·         Also, your situation may have changed along with the company's needs.

·         This is the time to work out a flexible working arrangement, compensation structure, or any other alternate employment options.

4. How to get rehired yourself

·         If you are yourself wanting to work with your former employer anytime later again, resign properly and make the transition smooth for the next person who occupies your role.

·         Stay connected to the company, either through its corporate alumni networks that you can join, or follow the company's LinkedIn group or Facebook page.

·         Do the same for your former colleagues and send them emails every once in awhile.

·         Also, stay in touch, catch up in-person, and connect on other professional networks.

·         Keep checking in on the company's careers page to see if any new opportunities arise.

·         Even if it's a different department, your old boss can help with a recommendation to hire you.

·         Always be prepared to answer lots of questions about why you left and why you want to return.

TOP TEN INSTANT ABDOMEN FLATTENERS

1. Pike 90

·         Lie face up, raise legs until perpendicular to floor, feet flexed.

·         Lower right leg so it hovers 1 or 2 inches off floor and place hands lightly behind head.

·         In this position, do 15 crunches, lifting chest toward ceiling and lowering.

·         Switch legs and repeat.

2. Crunchy frog

·         Sit with knees bent, feet flat.

·         Keeping legs together, raise feet several inches and bring knees toward chest.

·         Wrap arms around knees without touching legs.

·         Extend legs and stretch arms to sides, palms forward.

·         Return to wrapped-arm position, and repeat.

·         Do 15 repetitions.

3. Tornado

·         Stand with feet hip-width apart, right leg in front of left, right foot turned out.

·         Bend elbows and raise arms out to sides at shoulder level (like goal posts).

·         In one motion, raise right knee to lowered right elbow.

·         Return to start, switch sides and repeat to complete one rep.

·         Do 15 repetitions.

4. Corkscrew

·      Lie face up.

·      Press legs together and raise them toward ceiling until they're at a 90-degree angle, with knees slightly bent and toes pointed.

·      Raise butt and legs off floor using abdomen muscles.

·      Twist legs slightly to left.

·      Repeat, twisting to right, for one repetition.

·      Do 15 repetitions.

5. Side arm balance

·      Start on floor on knees.

·      Lean to left and place left hand on floor under shoulder; extend right arm up and to left, palm down.

·      Straighten right legs out to right with foot on floor, resting on left knee, and hold for 5 breaths.

·      Return to start and switch sides.

·      Repeat twice per side.

6. Plank pose

·         Balance on toes and forearms (or palms), keeping back straight.

·         Pull belly button to spine for up to a minute.

·         Do 10 repetitions.

7. Standing bicycle

·         Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent.

·         Clasp hands behind head and elbows pointed out to sides.

·         Straighten left leg as you lift right leg, knee bent and thigh parallel to floor.

·         Keeping knee lifted and steady, twist torso toward right.

·         Return to start, and repeat on other side for one repetition.

·         Do 10 repetitions.

8. Side winder

·         Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent.

·         Clasp hands behind head and elbows pointed out to sides.

·         Lift right leg to side, knee bent and thigh parallel to floor.

·         Keeping knee lifted, bend torso to right side, bringing elbow and knee toward each other.

·         Return to start, and repeat on other side for one repetition.

·         Do 10 repetitions.

9. Seesaw

·         Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands on hips.

·         Lift right leg, knee bent and thigh parallel to floor with foot flexed.

·         Straighten right leg, pressing heel toward floor, as you lean torso backward.

·         Return to knee lift position and repeat five times.

·         Switch sides and repeat.

10. Forward bend

·      Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, arms overhead with palms facing in.

·      Lift right leg, knee bent and thigh parallel to floor.

·      Keeping knee lifted and arms raised, bring torso and knee toward each other as close as you can.

·      Return to start, and repeat on other side for one repetition.

·      Do 10 repetitions.

EYE WORKOUT WHILE WORKING

STEP 1

·        Close your eyes and gently massage the eyelids with your middle finger.

·        Now open your eyes and fix 2 different points – one at some distance and the other up close.

·        Close your eyes, open them and focus on the faraway point for 10 seconds and then shift to the closer one for 10 seconds.

·        Repeat the cycle 10 or fifteen times.

STEP 2

·        Sit comfortably with your elbows resting on your knees.

·        Cup your eyes with your palm and rest the lower end of your palm on your cheek bones.

·        Ensure that you are able to blink freely and your palm is not putting too much pressure on your eyes.

·        Once you open your eyes, objects will appear sharper, with shapes and lines more defined.

STEP 3

·        Close your eyes.

·        Open them and look up.

·        Then rotate the eyeballs clockwise 5 times and then close the eyes again.

·        Now look down and rotate them anti-clockwise 5 times.

STEP 4

·        Blinking is the simplest way to keep your eyes fresh.

·        Blink often as it helps you to focus longer.

·        Try blinking every 5 seconds for 2 to 3 minutes and then continue working for an hour.

STEP 5

·        The ‘power of 8’ exercise increases the flexibility of eye muscles.

·        Imagine a larger-than-life figure of 8 in front of you.

·        Trace the figure of 8 with your eyes slowly.

·        Do it one way for a few minutes and then do it the other way for a few minutes.

STEP 6

·        Imagine a larger-than-life pendulum swinging in front of you.

·        Focus on the pendulum and follow it while it is moving.

STEP 7

·        Put your index finger in front of both of your eyes.

·        Slowly move your finger away from the eyes and again bring it closer to the eyes.

·        Keep focusing on the tip of the finger.

STEP 8

·        After the exercises, keep your eyes closed for at least 2 minutes to relax the eye muscles.

TOP 20 TIPS FOR A LONGER LIFE (PART 4 OF 4)

TOP 20 TIPS FOR A LONGER LIFE 

(PART 4 OF 4)

16. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

·         It can help ward off heart disease and stroke, control blood pressure and cholesterol, and prevent some types of cancer.

·         It is recommended to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

17. Nature of job matters

·         Research suggests a strong relationship between how long people live and the nature of their jobs.

·         Life expectancy for males in the professional groups is more than that for those in the unskilled manual groups.

·         The gap between the social classes is smaller for women than for men.

18. Have a happy marriage

·         Married people tend to have better health than unmarried people.

·         A happy marriage tends to offer encouragement, support, and protection from daily problems.

·         They are also more able to handle stress better as a result. 

19. Be optimistic

·         People with a positive outlook on life can actually live longer.

·         Researchers found that optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by 50 per cent compared with those who leaned more towards pessimism.

20. Eat chocolate

·         Chocolate contains flavanoids and antioxidants which have positive health benefits.

·         Flavanoids aid cardiovascular health, while antioxidants are believed to prevent or delay certain damage to the body’s cells and tissues.

·         Dark chocolate is considered best as it contains more than twice as many antioxidants as a bar of milk chocolate, and has fewer calories.

TOP 20 TIPS FOR A LONGER LIFE (PART 3 OF 4)

TOP 20 TIPS FOR A LONGER LIFE (PART 3 OF 4)

11. Get more friends

·         Research suggests that friends help people live longer, and socializing with friends is beneficial.

·         Having friends around as you age can do more for life expectancy than having family members around.

·         They  may also encourage people to look after their health, and help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety at difficult times.

12. No smoking

·         It is better not to start at all, but the sooner a smoker quits, the better.

·         The longer a person smokes the greater the risk of lung cancer or heart disease.

·         Within one year after quitting, the risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker, and within 10 years, the risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker.

13. Relax

·         Relaxation reduces blood pressure and helps reduce conditions such as depression.

·         A relaxation technique such as yoga or meditation can help reduce stress levels.

14. Get a pet

·         Ownership of a pet, particularly a dog, means people are more active.

·         Animals are known to reduce anxiety both from the actual physical comfort from stroking them, but also because they are a distraction and something pleasant to focus on.

·         They are also good friends to many and provide a source of amusement, making us laugh.

15. Exercise more

·         Exercise reduces heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity.

·         It keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible, besides helping treat depression, stress and anxiety, and also aids better sleep.

·         Even if you have less time, you could gain simply by walking up the stairs rather than taking the elevator, or even by walking or cycling on shorter journeys rather than taking the car.