sexiest figure

With diabetes in India reaching epidemic proportions, a survey indicates that one out of every five Indians believe thatdiabetes is communicable. However, diabetes is fatal and this is never registered as more and more people look at it as a lifestyle related disease. The population also seeks comfort in myths rather than facts. The following article is a snapshot of a set of myths that are common and the truth behind them.

Myth About Diabetes: 34% believe that women are more prone to diabetes

Reality: Studies have indicated that Type I diabetes does not show a female bias. The overall sex ratio is roughly equal in children diagnosed under the age of 15. However, while populations with the highest incidence all show male excess, the lowest risk populations mostly of non-European origin, characteristically show a female bias

Myth about Diabetes: 20% believe that diabetes is communicable

Reality: We know diabetes is not contagious. It can't be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.

Myth About Diabetes: 52% are sure that Pre-Diabetes cannot be cured

Reality: Early treatment can actually return blood glucose levels to the normal range. In fact, you will not develop type 2 diabetes automatically if you have pre-diabetes.

Myth About Diabetes: 42% Think Diabetes can be completely cured

Reality: No. Cures for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have proved elusive to medical science.

Myth About Diabetes: 33% Think junk food, syrupy drinks, don't increase risk of Diabetes

Reality: Obesity is a cause of diabetes. There is conclusive evidence that junk food is the leading cause of obesityand so junk food is also linked to diabetes. Soft drinks and junk food raise blood glucose and can provide several hundred calories in just one serving. A typical 300ml soft drink has 10 tsp of sugar and 40gms of carbohydrates.

A diet that is good for your heart is also good for your prostate, which means an Asian or a Mediterranean approach to eating like lots of fruits and veggies, easy on the red meats and eating foods with good fats. To maintain your prostate health check some of the most useful foods below.

Brazil nuts
Of all the different types of nuts, these South America’s natives are a rich source of selenium that is important for prostate health. In fact, just an ounce of Brazil nuts can contain as much as 10 times the RDA for selenium. Studies have shown that selenium intake is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. The Brazil nuts are also a very good source of zinc, one more mineral that plays an important role in maintaining a healthy prostate. The high saturated fat content of these nuts suggests limiting your consumption to just a few ounces per week, but as they are such a super food when it comes to selenium, that is all you need to help promote prostate health.

Broccoli
It contains high amounts of the phytonutrients sulforaphane and the indoles, both having anticancer properties. One study published discovered that indole carbinol, which occurs naturally in broccoli suppressed the growth of prostate cancer cells and inhibited the production of prostate specific antigen. Investigators found that eating broccoli more than once a week can reduce the likelihood of developing stage III and IV prostate cancer by 40 percent. If the vegetable is cooked longer than five minutes, its anticancer abilities fade. Before cooking cut the florets into pieces and let them sit for about 5 minutes. This allows cancer preventing elements to form before cooking, because heat denatures the enzyme which causes the process to occur. To boost the healthful value of broccoli, add virgin olive oil, fresh garlic and cayenne.

source: fitnea.com

Apart from adding flavour to your food, garlic is extremely beneficial to your health, especially during winter months. A good source of calcium, phosphorus and selenium, the pungent spice is also rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Manganese. Here's looking at some other benefits of the spice. Increases blood circulation: Garlic helps reduce blood coagulation, thereby, reducing the likelihood of blood clots and the risk of having a heart stroke. Maintains blood pressure: According to several studies, garlic lowers the amount of cholesterol in your body and also helps control your blood pressure.

Stimulates the immune system: Winter months mean the increased likelihood of contacting flu and common cold. Having garlic in your diet may reduce your chances of catching infection as the spice has antiseptic, anti-fungal and nutritive properties that boosts the immune system.Next time, you have hot soup in the winter, add some garlic in the recipe too.Supports recovery from cancer: Since it contains germanium, an anti-cancer agent, it is known to kill intestinal parasites related to cancer. Prevents allergies: Killing fungi like warts, garlic helps strengthen your body's defenses against allergies. It even helps regulate your blood sugar levels.

Poor eating habits are perpetrators of common stomach disorders like loose motions, which in turn, bring in a host of health troubles like weakness, loss of appetite, stomach pain and dehydration. So, use these five easy home cures that won’t let those watery unformed stools keep you down.

Ginger: 
Try eating a little ginger as it reduces the formation of unpleasant gases in the stomach, thereby, helping in controlling loose motions.

Sweet lime/Coconut water:
In case of mild loose motions, one can also try taking sweet lime water or coconut water.

Mustard seeds:
One can also try consuming a spoonful of mustard seeds with water as it brings remarkable change after sometime.

Buttermilk:
Buttermilk is an excellent option as acid in it fights germs and bacteria and helps clear stomach.

Bananas:
Consuming bananas with a little curd is the most traditional home remedy to stop loose and it works wonders.

Most of us know about the beauty benefits of honey, but did you know that honey is an effective ingredient for weight loss? According to research, you could drop a dress size in about three weeks, simply by taking a spoonful of honey before bed. Sounds too good to be true? Here's why honey works well for weight loss.

What is the honey diet? 

Founder of the honey diet, Mike McInnes, discovered that athletes who ate foods rich in fructose such as honey burnt a lot more fats and had increased stamina levels as well. Honey acts as a fuel to make the liver produce glucose. This glucose keeps the brain sugar levels high and forces it to release fat burning hormones.

To benefit from the honey diet, simply replace your sugar intake with honey, throughout the day. In addition to that you should consume three spoonfuls of honey with hot water every night before bed. Combine this with an exercise regime (try and exercise three times a week) and you will notice a sizeable drop in your weight. The study showed that the mechanism in the brain that caused the sugar craving could be shut down completely with this honey routine.

How it works?

According to McInnes, most of us struggle to lose weight because we consume too much sugar and processed food. When we consume honey before bed, the body begins to burn more fat during those early hours of sleep. When you go a step further and replace all refined sugar from your diet with honey, you rebalance the brain signal that compels you to consume more sweet stuff. The results noticed from the honey diet have been remarkable. But remember to keep these points in mind:

Replace all sugar with honey: Cut out sugar from your diet. This means you will also have to give up on artificial sweeteners. Use honey in your tea, coffee and cereal instead of refined sugar. Keep a check on what you cook too, so that you don't use sugar in there either.

Skip junk food: Junk foods are processed food that contains empty calories. To fully benefit from the honey diet, stop eating junk food.

Opt for unrefined carbs: Refined white flour in white pasta and white rice may cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Opt for wholemeal flour instead as they are good for digestion and will keep you fuller for a longer time.

Consume Proteins: Keep your proteins lean but make sure you consume proteins with every meal as it will keep you full and also avoid a blood sugar rise that leads to cravings. Be careful with your fruits: Fruits are a convenient option while dieting but remember that most fruits are high in sugar levels and can hamper your honey diet. Either reduce your fruit intake or opt for low-carb fruits like berries and rhubarb. No potatoes: Any form of potato can cause your body's insulin level to rise. The honey diet requires you to avoid eating potatoes.

After their kin were murdered, homes burnt and women raped before their eyes during the recent communal clashes, thousands of people fled to the safety of makeshift camps in the worst-hit Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of Uttar Pradesh. One such camp in Malakpur, 18 kms from Shamli, housed the largest number of such displaced persons until recently. Death has visited this camp almost on a daily basis since. It witnessed the maximum (28) number of deaths in the past one month, 25 of them infants, all under a month old.
Murshida Khatoon, 25, one of many grieving mothers in the camp lost her 20-day-old baby a week ago.
A plastic tent surrounded by filth and human excreta is now her home and the family sleeps on dried grass, without a quilt to protect her other children from cold weather.

“We got a quilt after I lost my child,” said Khatoon. “But what is one quilt for a family of seven?” Another riot survivor, Dilshana Begum, whose five-month-old baby died at the camp, said, “We took loans and sold our motorcycle to collect Rs. 20,000 to pay for the hospital expenses. But even after spending every penny we had, we couldn't save our child.” Stories of deep despair can be heard at other camps. Three other camps— Khurban, Badheri Khurd and Barnabi — have witnessed eight deaths, which include four children aged less than 30 days. Too afraid to take the dead back to the villages that were once home, hurried burials are carried out in graveyards adjacent to the camps. “Newborns and old people are dying of cold. There is a severe lack of warm clothes and toilet facilities in the camps which makes the situation very grim. The last time a medical officer visited any of these camps to treat the inmates was almost a month ago,” says Chaudhary Gulshad, a member of a local committee running the camp.


A number of deaths have been reported from Muzaffarnagar, the epicentre of the bloody clashes. Shahpur and Basi Kalan camps have seen four deaths while Loi, another camp with a large number of displaced people, has witnessed 12 deaths, the last one a day ago. Mohammad Shaqir and his wife, Sabira, rushed to a nearby health centre around midnight after their eight-month-old kid woke up screaming and wheezing. The doctor told them that the boy needs to be administered oxygen, a facility they didn’t have. So, the couple rushed to another hospital. “While we looked for a hospital, I realised that he had stopped breathing,” recalls Shaqir.

“He died in my arms.” Shamli additional district magistrate Pratap Singh has no information of the deaths in the camps in Shamli. Muzaffarnagar ADM Indermani Tripathi said that 11 deaths have taken place in the Loi camp. Clearly unaware of the deaths in the camps, Muzaffarnagar chief medical officer SK Tyagi said only “one or two deaths have taken place” in the camps in the district and he has been looking after medical measures for the camps’ inmates. Rehana Adib, whose organisation Astitva has been involved in the relief work, said many more deaths have gone unreported because the camps lack proper supervision by health officials. More than 60 people died in the riots in Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring districts of Shamli and Meerut, but now, the humanitarian crisis unfolding in these camps has claimed an equal number of lives. Three months after the riots, about 18,000 people are still huddled in camps, 4,500 in the Malakpur camp alone. More than 40,000 people were displaced by the riots.

Cauliflower Salad

Ingredients

    1 cauliflower, broken into florets
    2 tbsp olive oil
    1 red onion, thinly sliced
    3 tbsp sherry vinegar
    1½ tbsp honey
    3 tbsp raisins
    small bunch dill, snipped
    3 tbsp toasted, flaked almonds
    50g baby spinach

Preparation

    Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the cauliflower with the olive oil, season and roast for 15 mins. Stir in the red onion and carry on roasting for 15-20 mins more until tender.
    While the cauliflower is roasting, mix the vinegar, honey and raisins with some seasoning.
    When the cauliflower is done, stir in the dressing, dill, almonds and spinach, and serve

Brown rice doesn't taste as good but is nutritionally superior to white rice

Brown Rice

There has been constant debate over white rice versus brown rice for decades. Although white rice seems to be a favourable choice for the majority of people for its appetising taste and appearance, brown rice wins hands-down when it comes to health benefits. Says holistic health guru Mickey Mehta, "Brown rice is healthier since the refining process only removes the hull of the rice kernel, leaving its nutrition intact. On the other hand, the milling and polishing used to make rice white, strips off its essential nutrients and vitamins."

Technically speaking...
A cup of brown unpolished rice contains 88 per cent of manganese, 27.3 per cent of selenium, 20.9 per cent of magnesium, 18.7 per cent of tryptophan and only 12 per cent calories. The conversion of rice from brown to white destroys about 60 per cent of iron, 80 per cent of vitamin B1, 67 per cent of vitamin B3, 90 per cent of vitamin B6, 60 per cent of iron and almost half the phosphorous, manganese and dietary fibre naturally present in the rice.

Nutritious and wholesome
Packed with natural oils, brown rice is extremely heart-friendly. Due to its fibrous concentration, brown rice facilitates healthy bowel movement and promotes weight-loss.

A cup of brown rice fulfils about 80 per cent of the daily requirement of manganese in the body. Manganese helps in the formation of healthy cholesterol. Brown rice improves metabolism and keeps you feeling fuller for a long time.

Replacing white rice with brown rice in your diet can help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Says Mickey Mehta, "Like wheat, brown rice is also a type of whole-grain. Organically grown wild brown rice is the best as it is packed with all the essential nutrients and vitamins."

Brown Rice Nutrion Facts
Brown rice is whole grain rice. It has a mild, nutty flavor, and is chewier and more nutritious than white rice, but goes rancid more quickly because the bran and germ—which are removed to make white rice—contain fats that can spoil.

Nutrition Facts
Rice, brown, long-grain, cooked
Amount Per 100 grams
Calories 111
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.9 g 1%
Saturated fat 0.2 g 1%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.3 g
Monounsaturated fat 0.3 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 5 mg 0%
Potassium 43 mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 23 g 7%
Dietary fiber 1.8 g 7%
Sugar 0.4 g
Protein 2.6 g 5%
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1% Iron 2%
Vitamin D 0% Vitamin B-6 5%
Vitamin B-12 0% Magnesium 10%
*Per cent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Desi Cow

1. After mother’s milk, it is only the cow’s milk which gives energy and full protection and is Digestible
2. As per Ayurvedic tradition, Cow Ghee helps in the growth and development of Children’s brain

3. Regular consumption increases good (HDL) cholesterol (and not bad LDL cholesterol)

4.Stimulates digestion and aids absorption of fat soluble vitamins

5. An excellent all round anti-ageing vegetarian food & external applicant on the skin

6. Desi Cow milk is like nectar, because it has amino acids which make its protein easily digestible

7. It is good for kidney

8. It is a rich source of Vitamins like B2, B3 and A which help increasing immunity

9. Cow Milk helps in reducing acidity, (a common problem today)

10. Reduces chances of peptic ulcer

11. Helps in reducing chances of colon, breast and skin cancer

12. Desi Cow milk prevents the formation of serum cholesterol

13. It is one of the best natural anti-oxidants

Cucumbers are number four most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your overall health, often referred to as a super food.

Cucumber rehydrates body

If you are too busy to drink enough water, eat the cool cucumber, which is 90 percent water. It will cheerfully compensate your water lost.

Cucumber fights heat inside and out

Eating cucumber will get your body relief from heartburn. Apply cucumber on your skin and you will get relief from sunburn.

Cucumber keeps kidneys in shape

Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your body and though keeping the kidneys healthy.

Cucumber eliminates toxins

All that water in cucumber acts as a virtual broom, sweeping waste products out of your body. With regular eating, cucumber is known to dissolve kidney stones.

Cucumber replenishes daily vitamins

Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. A B and C, which boost your immune system keep you radiant and give you energy. Make it more powerful by juicing cucumber with spinach and carrot. Don’t forget to leave the skin on because it contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 12 percent of the daily recommended allowance.

Cucumber supplies skin friendly minerals

Cucumber is high in potassium, magnesium and silicon. That is why spas abound cucumber based treatments.


Cucumber aids in digestion and weight loss

Due to its high water and low calorie content, cucumber is an ideal source for people who are looking for weight loss. Use cucumbers in your soups and salads. If it is not your favorite snack you can crunchy cucumber sticks with creamy low fat yogurt dip. Chewing cucumber gives your jaws a good workout and the fiber in it is great for digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as an aid for chronic constipation.

Cucumber revives the eyes

Placing a chilled slice of cucumber over puffy eyes is a clichéd beauty visual but it really can help reduce under-eye bags and puffiness due to its anti inflammatory properties.

Cucumber fights cancers

Cucumber is known to contain secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol and pinoresinol. The three lignans have a strong connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including ovarian, breast, prostate and uterine cancer.

Cucumber cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure

Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which is widely spread to be beneficial to diabetic patients. Researchers have found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers can help decrease levels of cholesterol. Cucumbers contain a lot of fiber, potassium and magnesium. These nutrients work effectively for regulating blood pressure. That is why cucumber is good for treating both high blood pressure and low blood pressure.

Cucumber refreshes the mouth

Cucumber juice heals and refreshes diseased gums. Get a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for a half minute, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing unpleasant breath.

Cucumber smoothes hair and nails

The wonder mineral Silica in cucumber makes your hair and nails shinier and stronger. The sulfur and silica in cucumbers help to stimulate your hair growth.

Cucumber promotes joint health, relieves arthritis and gout pain

As cucumber is an excellent source of silica it promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. When mixed with carrot juice, cucumber can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering levels of the uric acid.

Cucumber cures hangover

To avoid a morning headache or hangover you can eat a few cucumber slices before going to sleep. Cucumbers contain enough B vitamins, sugar and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients and reducing the severity of both hangover and headache.

Whole Foods Market is recalling two kinds of bulk curried salad- chicken and vegan, because they may contain undeclared allergens of egg and soy.  Labels for the products were accidentally reversed. The vegan “chick’n” salad contains soy, and the curried chicken salad contains egg.
Consumers with egg or soy allergies should not consume these products. No illnesses have been reported in association with this recall.

The recalled products were sold at salad bars on May 7 and May 8 at the following 15 stores: Darien, CT; Fairfield, CT;  West Hartford, CT; Portland, ME;  Framingham, MA; Fresh Pond in Cambridge, MA; Milburn-Union, NJ; Montclair, NJ;  Rose City-Madison, NJ; West Orange, NJ; Jericho, NY; Lake Grove, NY; Manhasset, NY; Columbus Circle in New York City and Upper West Side in New York City. Each of the locations has signage is posted in affected stores notifying customers of this recall.  All affected product has been removed from the salad bar.

 Mindful eating is not a diet, or about giving up anything at all. It’s about experiencing food more intensely — especially the pleasure of it. You can eat a cheeseburger mindfully, if you wish. You might enjoy it a lot more. Or you might decide, halfway through, that your body has had enough. Or that it really needs some salad.

Two things that contribute to weight loss and maintanence-mindfull eating and regular physical activity. You are a vegetarian, also please monitor your energy levels by keeping an eye on how you feel throughout the day, loss of energy could mean a calorie and nutrient deficit.
If possible do get a body composition analysis done, to find your fat percentage, that way we know you are losing fat, and not muscle. Since you are doing a lot of cardio- tennis, walk , swim, please have a small snack eg, small apple, few dates or raisins, half an hour before your work out. Swimming is a type of weight training, or resistance training, but you might want to add some weight training under expert guidance to your exercise plan.  Today’s experiment in eating, however, involves becoming aware of that reflexive urge to plow through your meal like Cookie Monster on a shortbread bender. Resist it.

Combats constipation

The most undisputed advantage of insoluble fibre is its ability to soften and expand stool volume, speeding up fecal transit and elimination.

Commercial preparations such as agar (Agarol) and psyllium (Metamucil) are effective stool bulkers.

Improves control 
Soluble fibre from legumes, barley, oats, some fruit and vegetables can help regulate blood sugar swings and by lowering serum cholesterol, protect against heart disease.

Excess blood fats are possibly reduced by soluble fibres such as pectin, bean and oat gums, and the types in legumes (lentils, chickpeas, navy, pinto or kidney beans).

This is a list of the states of India ranked in order of percentage of people who are overweight or obese, based on data from the 2007 National Family Health Survey.

States	Males (%)	Males rank	Females (%)	Females rank
India	12.1	14	16	15
Punjab	30.3	1	37.5	1
Kerala	24.3	2	34	2
Goa	20.8	3	27	3
Tamil Nadu	19.8	4	24.4	4
Andhra Pradesh	17.6	5	22.7	10
Sikkim	17.3	6	21	8
Mizoram	16.9	7	20.3	17
Himachal Pradesh	16	8	19.5	12
Maharashtra	15.9	9	18.1	13
Gujarat	15.4	10	17.7	7
Haryana	14.4	11	17.6	6
Karnataka	14	12	17.3	9
Manipur	13.4	13	17.1	11
Uttarakhand	11.4	15	14.8	14
Arunachal Pradesh	10.6	16	12.5	19
Uttar Pradesh	9.9	17	12	18
Jammu and Kashmir	8.7	18	11.1	5
Bihar	8.5	19	10.5	29
Nagaland	8.4	20	10.2	22
Rajasthan	8.4	20	9	20
Meghalaya	8.2	22	8.9	26
Orissa	6.9	23	8.6	25
Assam	6.7	24	7.8	21
Chattisgarh	6.5	25	7.6	27
West Bengal	6.1	26	7.1	16
Madhya Pradesh	5.4	27	6.7	23
Jharkhand	5.3	28	5.9	28
Tripura	5.2	29	5.3	24

Signs of Obesity
Aching in the back and knees
 Depression or other emotional problems
 Difficulty walking or moving around
 Heartburn Rashes in the folds of the skin
 Shortness of breath with exertion

By taking wheatgrass juice shots or adding the intensely flavored juice to their smoothies, wheatgrass juice fans aim to boost their immunity, detox their systems, and increase their energy. Some proponents claim that chlorophyll can raise the body's oxygen levels and stave off or treat conditions like gout, rheumatic pain, and even cancer.


 Wheatgrass nutrients
On a macronutrient and micronutrient level (fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals), wheatgrass doesn’t seem like a health food to get excited about. A typical one-ounce serving contains only seven calories, no fat and virtually no carbohydrates and protein. Wheatgrass contains no essential omega-3 fatty acids nor does it have much vitamin content with the exception of 7 percent of the daily value (DV) of vitamin C. A one-ounce shot also contains 10 percent DV of iron, but only a trace amount of any other well-known vitamins and minerals.

Wheatgrass Juicing

Although it may not wipe out your health woes, using wheatgrass juice can add a considerable nutrient boost (much like other, more affordable antioxidant-rich foods, such as blueberries and strawberries). Since introducing large amounts of wheatgrass juice into your system too quickly can cause nausea and diarrhea, it's important to start with no more than two to three tablespoons daily.

Chocolate lovers no longer have to fear the flab as eating more can help you keep slim, new research claims.

A study has found that despite boosting calorie intake, regular chocolate consumption is related to lower body mass index (BMI).

The effect is modest but greater than can be explained by chance, say the US researchers who took account of influencing factors such as overall fat consumption and exercise.

BMI relates height and weight and is the standard measurement used to assess levels of obesity.

The good news about chocolate emerged after scientists screened a group of 972 men and women with an average age of 57 for a study of statins - cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Among other diet and lifestyle questions, participants were asked: "How many times a week do you consume chocolate?"

Chocolate is known to contain plant chemicals called polyphenols that combat heart disease and may influence metabolism.

The researchers suspected they might, to some extent at least, off-set the unwelcome effects of high saturated fat levels in chocolate bars and sweets.

No account was taken of different types of chocolate, some of which contain more healthy elements than others.

The results showed that chocolate was not only "calorie neutral" but actually appeared to make people slimmer.

Participants who ate chocolate on more days of the week than average were statistically likely to have a lower BMI than those who did not.

This was despite the fact that people who ate more chocolate did not consume fewer calories overall, or take more exercise.

Study leader Dr Beatrice Golomb, from the University of California at San Diego, said: "Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight.

"In the case of chocolate, this is good news - both for those who have a regular chocolate habit, and those who may wish to start one."

There's not too much you can do about a receding hairline, other than curse your gene pool.

But facial hair is a different story. "The condition of your facial hair directly corresponds to the health of your body," says Jim White, registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesman. Specifically, he continues, "The same nutrients that have a positive effect on our heart and other major organs also benefit our skin and hair."

In other words, you can literally eat yourself to a shinier, smoother, more healthy-looking beard. We asked White to tell us which vitamins are an essential part of a healthy facial hair diet, what they do, and how to get them into our diet. Results of our conversation below.

Vitamin A amd Beta A Carotene

How they better your beard: "Vitamin A maintains and repairs skin tissue," says White. "And keeping your skin healthy allows for better hair growth." Beta carotene is a nutrient that your body converts to vitamin A. Since it's found in foods that are lower in saturated fats than those that are rich in vitamin A, you're better off eating foods that are high in beta carotene.

Where to find them: Vitamin A is present in milk, cheese, butter and egg yolks. Beta carotene is found in yellow and orange produce (e.g., carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and papayas) and leafy green veggies (e.g., spinach and kale).

Vitamins C and E

How they better your beard: Vitamins C and E promote the production of sebum, a natural oil that is produced by our bodies and lubricates and moisturizes hair, making it look thicker and more lush. Additionally, vitamin C assists in the growth of bodily tissues, including those that comprise our skin and hair follicles.

Where to find them: Citrus fruits, green peppers and broccoli are good sources of vitamin C. Wheat germ oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, safflower oil, peanut butter, corn oil, spinach, broccoli, mangoes and spinach all contain high amounts of vitamin E.

Protein

How it betters your beard: Our skin and hair are composed primarily of keratin, a structural protein made up of amino acids. We don't produce amino acids on our own; instead, we need to eat protein, which the body then converts to amino acids.

Where to find it: Fill up on fish, lean meats, poultry, eggs, rice, beans and milk.

Vitamins B6, B12 and Biotin

How they better your beard: B vitamins help your body synthesize the protein you eat so it can be used to build new skin cells and hair. Getting enough B vitamins, says White, also helps reduce stress and prevent hair loss.

Where to find them: Fish, poultry, leans meats, eggs, nuts, and whole grains such as brown rice and oatmeal are chock-full of B vitamins. Foods that are rich in B12 include beef, milk, cheese and wheat germ.

Omega-3 fatty acids

How they better your beard: Essential fatty acids are just that: essential to normal growth, including that of facial hair. They also protect cell membranes, helping to prevent your whiskers from getting dry and brittle.

Where to find them: Make sure flax seed oil, walnuts and fatty fish (e.g., salmon) find their way into your diet.

Want to make your beard even more beautiful? Of course you do! Supplementing the above foods with a multivitamin, or with any of the individual nutrients listed above, might do the trick.

Just don't overdo it: Your body will excrete any extra water-soluble vitamins (e.g., vitamin C or B12), but it'll hold on to extra fat-soluble vitamins (e.g., vitamin A). Excessive doses of vitamin A could actually lead to hair loss. Ask your doctor to recommend a proper dosage, and you'll soon be on your way to winning whiskers.

Content courtesy: Men's Life Today, Global

*. Make an Herbal Hair Mask
Combine 1 teaspoon of triphala powder (an Ayurvedic herb you can purchase online), with 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel and a small amount of water until a paste is formed. Wet hair and apply paste to scalp and hair. Leave mask on for at least 20 minutes and then rinse.

* we absorb all nutrients from our food, can help reduce your hair loss and stimulate hair regrowth.

* Use beer as shampoo to add more body to your hair. Also it will make your hair appear shiny and bounce. You need to heat 1 cup of beer in a saucepan until ¼ cup is left. Let it cool and store it in a clean and empty bottle of shampoo. Apply it in your hair just like your ordinary shampoo. Do not forget to rinse well.

* Grab a spray bottle, fill it half way with water and add three tablespoons of olive oil. Shake well and use daily to add moisture to the hair. Spray liberally.

* You can use natural hair care products like henna, shikakai, lemon, coconut oil etc. for hair care. Rinse dry hair in lemon juice to get back the lost shine.

Drinking three to four cups of coffee a day can make us 17 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke, a new research has found.

Antioxidants in the drink stop blood clots in the brain as they protect against cholesterol build-up, the report said.

Scientists came to this conclusion after looking at data from eight studies on consumption from the past 45 years, a media report said.

Meanwhile, researchers found those drinking two cups a day were 14 per cent less likely to suffer a clot in the brain than non-drinkers.

Caffeine addicts who get through six or more cups a day only see a reduction in risk of around 7 per cent.

But the Swedish study admitted coffee “may have both beneficial and harmful effects”.

The research has been published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.