Vaastu in kitchen

Kitchen is the hub of your house from where the health of family members comes and Vaastu in your kitchen is supposed to make positive impact on the health and wealth of your family members. May be that is the reason why more and more housewives across Gurgaon are opting for Vaastu principles in the arrangement of their kitchens.

Kitchen is the only place in a home where two contrasting elements--fire and water--dominate. For proper functioning of the kitchen it is very important to balance the two.

"Our scriptures give lots of importance to the north-east direction. Kitchen is the most auspicious place in the house and if the kitchen is towards that direction then the result will always be positive because of the flow of positive energy from that side," says a vaastu expert.
"After taking possession of my house I found certain problems in my kitchen and I approached a Vaastu expert. Following his advice I made certain changes and obtained beneficial results," says Dr Gita Baruah Nath, resident of Richmond Park.

How practical is the advice of experts? "See Vaastu Shastra is quite scientific. I have derived cent per cent practical benefits from vaastu tips. The kitchen needs sufficient positive energy of Sun. Its rays kill all the germs and bacteria. Similarly, wind also carries away all offensive smells. Right now sufficient Sun rays enter into my kitchen with ample air. Thus vaastu is very practical for me," says Kiran Sharma, a resident of Nirvana in South City.

"In fact most of the kitchens and royal palaces of ancient India were built according to vaastu principles. Sadly during British period we lost interest in the rich treasures of our culture. People are again taking interest in Vaastu because now even westerners are using Vaastu in their kitchens and architecture. This is a positive trend," says Dr Ranjeet Mehta, a vaastu expert.
Even hotel kitchens are designed according to Vaastu. "I have designed kitchens in my hotels according to Vaastu. I am getting lots of positive results from it. Perhaps that might the reason why these days our food is getting yummier," quips Ajay Aggarwal, a hotelier and Vaastu believer.

"I had been facing lots of problems but according to Vaastu I have given vibrant colours to my kitchen. The direction of a small temple there has also been changed and I am now getting positive results," says Nira Bharioke, a lecturer from Delhi University.

The important thing is that without demolishing present structure one can bring about positive changes. For example if you are cooking non- vegetarian food then Vaastu prohibits you from keeping a temple and photos of the divine in the kitchen. It is really inauspicious and turns everything towards negative direction.

Old Fashioned Values in a Modern World

As you look around your current domain, it seems as if everything that you once knew as a truism is no longer exactly what you thought it was. Vinyl records moved into tapes and then CDs and now DVDs and MP3s are the “albums” you see.

Once the landline phone was the only way to talk to folks. Then came CB radios, Pagers, Cell phones, Satellite phones and now we have Video Phones Voice Over IP and other wireless communications about to be unleashed upon us.

Once, in order to become rich and famous in the music industry, you needed a major record label with a lot of money to push you on people. You needed talented musicians to actually play the music and today all you need is a computer and some software to record and produce that same music.

You know though, for as much as technology has changed, it is the old fashioned things in life that always seem to seep through and rise up to the top.

For as much as people like the instant gratification that is available in today’s Internet savvy world or virtual this and imitation that. There is still nothing like going and seeing a great rock band live at incredible volume where the bodies and sound waves bounce off each other as you soak up way too much alcohol and then sneak away to the local eggs and bacon joint to try and sober up before the sun comes up.

The whole experience of listening to some dude “spin” MP3 mixers of dance tracks just doesn’t cut it for me, or for many of the people out there clubbing today. It’s just that since it is cost effective for the club, it gets done and people eventually accept it.

It’s the old fashioned things that work like actually watching a bar tender pour a shot from a bottle with some personality rather than push a button on a gun to give you God knows what and coke in your glass.

One thing that really works well in today’s modern age and still maintains some old world integrity is the freelance market. It is a stage where the playing field is level and everyone has the equal chance of impressing a potential client. You can live in Middleville USA and get hired by someone on Madison Avenue as long as what you do is better than the competition.

Benefits of Healthy Breakfast

With busy routine and hectic lifestyles, we hardly get time to pamper ourselves by eating healthy breakfast. And we end up with an easy solution, fast food. Rather than trying out some healthy recipes at home, most of us prefer having breakfast in the nearest available fast food joint and relax for the rest of the day without thinking about the effects of fast food in the long run. Here we bring in some tips for healthy breakfast for every morning.

We all love fast food and most people have fast food breakfast on a daily basis. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If we skip breakfast, we might have to make a greater compromise regarding health and overall well-being. Having breakfast which is low on calories and high on protein count, is the best choice as such food increases the metabolism rate as well as sudden food cravings that we have at any hour of the day. Fast food is not healthy, it contains highest amount of calories, salts and sugars. Despite the fact, is it possible to have healthy fast food breakfast? The answer is yes. There are some healthy fast food breakfast options that can help benefit you.

Healthy fast food breakfast choices
Making healthy fast food breakfast choices means finding fast food that is high on fibres and proteins and containing less saturated fats, sugar and salts. High fibre count is very important and can be consumed through some of the baked food items as well. One should avoid fast food that is high on fat, sugar and salt. There are many fast food joints that offer relatively healthy fast food breakfast that can be consumed without worrying much about the calorie count and budget as well. Healthy breakfast options are not too many but they are certainly available when consumed with a little bit of concern regarding the fast food nutrition facts. Here is some help regarding most healthy fast food breakfast choices that you can make. In addition to consuming the above things, you should make sure that you have smaller meals rather than the jumbo sized plates. Healthy fast food breakfast are perfect when you have food items like smallest sized burgers, salads and grilled sandwiches, sauces that are low in fat.

Guard against hypertension in winter

Winter is not only about dry skin and hyperacidity. Winter can also bring or aggravate more serious problems like irritable bowel syndrome, piles and hypertension. Peripheral vasoconstriction due to cold is blamed for elevated blood pressure during winter. Ayurveda believes that during cold weather if Agni is under-utilized, over-utilised or abused, then it gives rise to hypertension and cardiac problems related to hypertension.
Symptoms of hypertension:
1) Headache
2) Restlessness
3) Palpitation
4) Insomnia
5) More sweating
6) Chest pain
7) Irritability
8) Fatigue.
If not diagnosed and treated early, hypertension can lead too many serious complications like heart failure, paralytic stroke, retinal damage, kidney damage etc. Care should therefore be taken to avoid hypertension during winter.

Care to be taken:
Avoid deep fried and spicy food. n Avoid more sun exposure, especially after mid-day.
Avoid mental stress, anger.
Sleep at least seven hours continuously.
Regular walking and yogasan are also useful.
Avoid extreme fasting.
Avoid smoking, alcohol and having more salt.
Drink plenty of water.
Persons having history of hypertension should regularly check their blood pressure.
Add one table spoon of pounded Dhania seeds in one cup of water, keep overnight and on an empty stomach take this water as a protection against blood pressure.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Arthritis

Arthritis is caused by damage to the joints and has become quite widespread in the present day world. Many people above 35 years of age are suffering from arthritis today. There are different forms of arthritis, of which the most common one is osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative bone joint disease). Though the treatment of arthritis is available in allopathy, homoeopathy and other medicine systems, Ayurveda is gaining more and more nationwide popularity day by day.

 Arthritis as per Ayurveda: As per Ayurveda, arthritis can be defined as joint pain, caused by the aggravation of vata (air) dosha and excessive collection of amla (toxic byproduct of improper digestion) in the body of an individual. When amla increases, it starts getting deposited in the weaker areas of the body. When it starts accumulating in the joints and if at the same time aggravation of vata takes place, the result is Amlavata, in other words arthritis.

 Arthritis treatment in Ayurveda: In Ayurveda, the treatment of arthritis centres on the digestion of amla and reduction of vata, simultaneously. Along with that, efforts are undertaken to reduce the pain as well as the inflammation of joints. The major steps, recommended under Ayurveda, for arthritis treatment are:
1. First and foremost step recommended under Ayurvedic arthritis treatments consist of fasting. It helps in the digestion of amla.

2. Massage with Antivatatailas like Karpasasthyadi, Kethakeemooladi, Dhanwantharam oil, etc helps in the reduction of vata and reduces the pain. Concentrate more on the sore joints.
3. Take hot, bitter and astringent items.
4. Don't expose yourself to wind, cold, mist and drizzle.
5. Cover the body and heat with flannel.
6. Arthritic people must take special care of their diet. Under Ayurvedic treatments for arthritis, people are recommended to eat such food that does not lead to the creation of gas in the body. They should also avoid hot, spicy and fried foods as well as sweets. Things like tea, coffee, alcohol, white sugar, yogurt, chocolate and cocoa should be taken in moderation.

Medicated oils like kethakeemooladi, kottamchukkadi, sahacharadi, dhanwantharam etc. can be used for Vasti, Nasya, Abhyangam, Pizhichil etc. Kashayams like Dhanwantharam, Rasnadi, Indukantham, Gulikas like Yogaraja gulgulu, aisoragulgulu etc. can be given.Panchakarma treatment is also given according to the condition of the patient.

Beauty comes from within

Looking good is a major confidence-booster. Many of us make regular rounds of beauty salons and parlours. There is no harm in doing this, as these salons not only enhance the way we look but also take care of the hygiene factor. Yet, it is equally important to even feel beautiful from within. For, if you do not feel wonderful from inside, all the outer treatments won't make you look good.

Our food and mood both play an important role in shaping our beauty. Small alterations or additions in our daily habits are all that is needed. To start with, the age-old saying 'early to bed, early to rise' will work wonders in many ways. Try to fit this in the everyday schedule and see the results. Needless to say, a sound sleep will help dump the stress with which we live throughout the day. A fresh mind will definitely ooze out freshness on your face.

Today we live life at a very fast pace. This forces us to skip essential food habits like a healthy breakfast. Many of us even get into the habit of skipping it, reason being getting late for work. You may not notice this within the first few instances of skipping the breakfast, but with time when it turns into a habit, you may wonder why your face has started looking pale. Besides, consuming seasonal fruits and vegetables is very essential. Drinking plenty of water (eight glasses or 2.5 litres daily) will also help achieve the most sought after glowing skin. One glass of water when you wake up and one before going to bed is important, as your body releases moisture when you are asleep.

These may sound very familiar that you have been hearing since childhood. But these very essentials are what many of us fail to absorb. Many of us must have even heard them from our beauticians when we complain about losing our beauty.

Simple yet essential and effective habits are what need to be followed if you are concerned about your beauty. As the saying goes, beauty remains in the eyes of the beholder, it also remains very much in the mind. A content mind will always fulfill one's beauty quotient.

Of course, allow your beauticians to only enhance your inner beauty on the outside. Stay healthy and beautiful today, always!

Lakme Faces through the years Rekha Ash

Rekha, Ash, Bips, Lisa: Faces of Lakme through the years
Dozens of women have endorsed Lakme over the years. But some have stayed with us for the longest time. We look at 13 such women who have defined what beauty stood for and reflected the evolving desires of India.

Rekha
Lakme was first established by the Tatas on the request of Jawaharlal Nehru, who was concerned with Indian women spending foreign exchange on beauty products. So it wasn't surprising that the classy and urbane Rekha became the face of a company that primarily catered to the elite class of the country. We are told that the ad, which was designed by daCunha Associates, catches Rekha at a moment when she was on the threshold of superstardom but not entirely there.

Sonu Walia
At 5'7" Sonu Walia was perhaps the obvious choice to become Lakme's fresh new face of the early '80s. The sexy Miss India was featured in many Lakme commercials even as the brand itself was slowly but surely exploring newer markets.Walia showed off her shapely legs in Lakme's cold wax print ad on the one hand and became the girl-next-door in their lip gloss campaign on the other. Clearly, India's rising middle class was growing to prominence and could not be ignored.

Shyamolie Verma
As the '80s progressed there was a clear need to dispel the myths that surrounded make-up and cosmetics so as to make the Indian middle class use the products. The idea was to tell them that there was no harm in using beauty products. The campaign featuring Shyamolie Verma did just that. Educating consumers and encouraging them to use makeup was the call of the day.Outside of being a Lakme girl Shyamolie created some ripples when she starred in Mira Nair's controversial film Kama Sutra. She also appeared in another film called Rog that starred Slumdog Millionaire actor Irrfan Khan. Ironically, that too ran into a good deal of controversy because of its posters.

Aishwarya Rai
And then came the '90s. The Liberalisation Programme opened up the markets. That's when the brand picked Aishwarya Rai as their new model. Indeed, times were changing and Ash, who went on to become Miss World became synonymous with modern India and its changing aspirations.It would be awhile before she would create some dent at the box office, but the young star was already creating waves in the ad world. Aishwarya also appealed to the new and discerning consumer who was getting exposed to a wide range of international products.

Bipasha Basu
Her dusky complexion notwithstanding, the Bong beauty was next in line. For a culture obsessed with fairness, Bipasha must've come across as an unlikely model. But a close look at the pictures will reveal that she isn't as dusky in these pictures.

Akanksha Mathur-Nanda
Our first thought on looking at these pictures was: "Hey this looks like Sonam Kapoor!" Akanksha Mathur may not be a face that many of us remember. Hell, she even disappeared soon after her successful Lakme ad commercial. Apparently the model got married and has settled for a quiet life, but makes her presence felt from time to time at social events.

Laila Rouass
Laila Rouass became the face of the Lakme in the late '90s. It was also the time when Indian diaspora had begun to find its voice in films and literature. Born in England to Moroccan-Indian parents, Laila Rouass was perhaps the ideal face that represented the crossover generation. Rouass, who is a known celebrity in the British television circuit these days has also acted in the television adaptation of Meera Syal's book Life Isn't all Ha Ha He He.

Lisa Ray and Yana Gupta
With international brands like Revlon, Maybelline and L'Oreal among others crowding the market, out went the Indian girls and in came the firangs. Yana Gupta and Lisa Ray became the faces of Lakme.Meanwhile, the perception of beauty was also changing. It was no longer about just looking good but looking healthy. Yana, for instance, endorsed a vitamin-enriched lipstick. Traditional parameters of beauty were changing too and Lisa Ray with her strong personality and chutzpah became the face of a generation that genuinely believed that beauty wasn't just skin deep.

Raima Sen and Katrina Kaif
With an increasing emphasis on celebrity endorsements in the first decade of the new millennium, Lakme decided to hop on the bandwagon. Raima Sen and Katrina Kaif became the new faces and stayed on for some time. But sooner rather than later, Lakme was to return to non-Bollywood entities.

Indrani Dasgupta
Indrani, we are told, had been a Lakme girl for quite some time. But it wasn't until a few years ago that we saw her being plastered all over the town and countryside. With her chiselled looks and oh-my-gosh vital stats, Indrani Dasgupta became the hot 'new face' to look forward to.

Amrit Maghera
Amrit came to the Indian shores only a couple of years ago. She featured alongside Indrani in some commercials but has also done a few on her own. Her father is English-Scot and her mother Indian. She has currently taken over hosting After Hrs, a prominent lifestyle TV show from model Nina Manuel.