The health benefits of being in love

Love lowers risk of alcohol abuse

You may be footing a bigger weekly wine bill for all of those cosy nights in, but research has shown that you are less likely to abuse or depend upon alcohol if you are in a relationship. In the study, only four per cent of people who had been in a relationship for between two and four years misused alcohol; whilst only three per cent of those who had been in a relationship for more than five years reported abusing alcohol. However, 12 per cent of the participants who were not in a relationship in their 30’s were described as misusing alcohol and 13.5 per cent of people who had not been in a relationship for more than two years treated alcohol in an unhealthy way.

Love keeps us young

 We all know that being in love and making love are two very different scenarios and apparently so does Mother Nature. Being in love is often very trying and can age us; however, research suggests that making love keeps us young. A study conducted by researchers at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland found that those women who have sex four or more times a week look 10 years younger than their actual age. Consultant neuropsychologist Dr David Weeks said that loving couples not only look after their bodies more, but that they also benefit from the physical and emotional effects of sex. So, next time you reach for your anti-ageing cream, maybe opt for the baby oil instead? 

Love: good for women, bad for men?

 When you think of a married man, do you think of the grumpy, beaten-down stereotype? If you do, then don’t worry, apparently there’s some truth behind this well-worn notion. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing found that women report a higher quality of life when they are in a relationship, but their husbands or partners report having a significantly lower quality of life. However, although it is possible that relationships fulfill the needs of women more than men, compared to single people, those in a relationship are still happier overall. In a separate study 40 per cent of married couples said they were happy, compared to only 25 per cent of single people. 

Love improves our mental health

Love has many physical benefits, but it would seem that men and women who are in a relationship get lots of mental health benefits too. In New Zealand a team at the University of Otago examined 1,000 people. They found that people who had been in a relationship for longer than five years were less likely to be depressed and attempt suicide. Other studies have found similar findings, stating that married people report lower levels of depression and distress. Apparently married men are also half as likely to commit suicide as single men, and one third as likely as divorced men. Perhaps the phrase “you’re driving me crazy” should no longer be used in reference to your partner?

Love gives us more birthdays

Sadly, being in love does not mean you get to have more than one birthday a year. However, it does mean that you get to see more of them. The mortality rates for single males aged between 30 and 59 are two and half times higher than their non-single counterparts! Don’t gloat too much though girls. Single women also face a 23 percent higher mortality rate than those who are married. Researchers suggest that this difference in longevity is due to the fact that most single people have poorer health benefits, a lower income and are socially isolated. Being supported and connected to others is an essential part of keeping healthy.

Love heals the heart

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that love is often depicted using a heart shape. A recent study by researchers at the University of Rochester in New York found that those in a happy relationship are three times more likely to survive heart surgery.  The researchers reported that a good marriage can be as beneficial to the heart as quitting smoking, staying at a healthy weight and reducing high blood pressure. Similar findings were found by those at the University of North Carolina and a study in Human Communication Research.  They both found that being in love and expressing your emotions had a positive impact on cholesterol.

Keep skin soft and supple

Q. Post childbirth a few months back, my skin tends to feel increasingly dry and parched at all times. Please suggest a way out. -Nikhila
After childbirth, there is a significant drop in oestrogen levels. This makes skin drier and less supple. Keep in mind a few things apart from moisturising your skin religiously. Extreme dry skin requires a very heavy emollient like petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or olive oil, so opt for products with a jelly base. Remember to apply a rich moisturiser immediately after your bath to help lock in maximum moisture. Avoid using soaps as they tend to make skin all the more dry. Also, don't take long leisurely baths as too much exposure to water and bath products tend to dry out skin. Most importantly, choose sunscreens that are water-based instead of matte-based and oil-free ones. However, if your skin still continues to feel severely dry, see a dermatologist.

Q. Of late, I have developed under-eye bags that make me look older than I am. What's the best way to prevent them? -Diksha
Minor puffiness is usually caused by the pooling of body fluids around the eye area during sleep and disappears by mid morning. However, such puffiness can also be due to an allergic reaction elsewhere on the body. However, prominent eye bags are more a case of accumulation of fat around the eyes which could be a sign of ageing, hormonal imbalance or even a thyroid problem. You need to see a doctor immediately. If very unsightly, you can opt for a relatively minor procedure called blepharoplasty, where a thin incision is made below the lower eyelid and excess eyelid skin removed so that it gets stretched and the pouches disappear.

MY TOP TIP

To reduce minor puffiness around the eye area, avoid salty food as salt causes water retention in our body. If it persists, apply eye gels containing plant extracts like witch hazel or chamomile.

Dr Rekha Sheth is a leading cosmetic dermatologist. She is founder-president, Cosmetology Society (India) and also runs Yuva, a successful chain of skin clinics.

Repeated 'little' paracetamol overdoses could be fatal

London, Nov 23 (ANI): Taking even slightly too much paracetamol over a period of several days can cause a dangerous overdose that is difficult to spot, but can put the person at danger of dying, a new study has warned.

This clinical situation needs to be recognized and treated rapidly because these patients are at even greater danger than people who take single overdoses.

These so-called staggered overdoses can occur when people have pain and repeatedly take a little more paracetamol than they should.

"They haven't taken the sort of single-moment, one-off massive overdoses taken by people who try to commit suicide, but over time the damage builds up, and the effect can be fatal," said Dr Kenneth Simpson, author of the study.

The problem is that doctors normally assess how much danger an overdose patient is in when they arrive at hospital by taking a blood sample and finding out how much paracetamol is present.

In the case of a single dose overdose, the blood sample gives valuable information, but people with staggered overdoses may have low levels of paracetamol in their blood even though they are at high risk of liver failure and death.

Working in the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Liver Transplantation Unit, Scotland, Dr Simpson and his team analysed data from 663 patients who had been admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh between 1992 and 2008 with paracetamol-induced liver injury.

They found that 161 had taken a staggered overdose, usually to relieve a variety of common pains, such as abdominal or muscular pains, headache and toothache.

"On admission, these staggered overdose patients were more likely to have liver and brain problems, require kidney dialysis or help with breathing and were at a greater risk of dying than people who had taken single overdoses," stated Simpson.

The problem is also worse for people who arrive at hospital more than a day after taking an overdose - they are also at high risk of dying or needing a liver transplant.

"Staggered overdoses or patients presenting late after an overdose need to be closely monitored and considered for the paracetamol antidote, N-acetylcysteine, irrespective of the concentration of paracetamol in their blood," Simpson added.

The findings have been published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. (ANI)

Supplement use leads users to lazy, riskier behaviours

Washington, Nov 17 (ANI): Taking multivitamins promotes a false sense of invulnerability that actually leads its users to engage in riskier behaviours, a new study has claimed.

Taiwanese researchers conducted an experiment in which they gave placebos to 82 adults (45 women, 37 men, average age 31) and half of this group was led to believe that the placebo they were taking was a multivitamin.

After one week, all participants took surveys regarding their inclinations towards various healthy vs. less healthy behaviours.

Those subjects thinking they were taking multivitamins registered a 44 percent higher tendency to engage in hedonistic activities like casual sex, sunbathing, partying, binge drinking, as well as a 61 percent increased preference for all-you-can-eat buffets over healthy meals.

Compared to the placebo group, the "multivitamin" group not only reported exercising 14 percent less, they were 66 percent more likely to walk the shortest distance to their goal over a given time.

The researchers conclude that people relying on a multivitamin pay a hidden price, believing they have greater invulnerability and so adopt lazy, riskier behaviours that may actually lead to the exact opposite health outcomes they desire. (ANI)

Stewart, Pattinson to adopt a pet

London, Nov 20 (IANS) 'Twilght' star Kristen Stewart and her boyfriend Robert Pattinson want to adopt a pet together.

The 25-year-old Pattinson recently took in a rescue dog called Bear and the couple are keen to co-adopt another animal.

'It's really sweet. When Kristen returns to LA from the Britain where she's filming 'Snow White and the Huntsman', I think they'll adopt a new pet. They want to pick one together,' contactmusic.om. quoted a source as saying.

They are hoping to set up home together soon and although they are undecided on whether to settle in London or Los Angeles, they are hoping to purchase a holiday home on the Isle of Wight where they have spent the last two New Years' Eves.

'Because neither of them could cook, they did some Italian cooking lessons together earlier in the year. I think that's their idea of bliss - sitting on the sofa together at home after making a really great dinner,' the source added.

Tame your Blood Sugar

Keep stress at bay and control diabetes with these asanas:

YOGA has wide-ranging therapeutic values, one of the most important being the management of type 2 diabetes. But how exactly does yoga prevent/cure diabetes? 

Yoga helps you keep your blood sugar levels under control in three ways: by checking your weight; by relieving stress (a major trigger for escalating blood glucose levels) and by improving the functions of the pancreas (the organ that produces insulin, a glucose-regulating hormone). Even though there's very little scientific data to prove yoga's action on the pancreas, wisdom in the field points to it. I would recommend a few asanas that will help you control diabetes better than before.

BHUJANGASANA 

Lie on your stomach with legs and toes together and pointing outward, hands by the side of the body, palms facing upward and forehead on the floor. Now bend hands from the elbows and place palms on the floor near each shoulder. Keeping your thumb under the armpit, raise the chin and turn the head backward over the right shoulder as you inhale. Raise the thorax up to the navel. Hold this position for some time while breathing normally. Come down to the starting position while exhaling. Also good for bronchitis, asthma and spondylitis. It strengthens the spine, lends flexibility to the chest, shoulders and abdomen and firms the buttocks.


DHANURASANA 

Lie on your stomach and bend your knees, holding your ankles with both hands. Inhale and raise the upper body and legs. Hold for some time, breathing normally and come back to the starting position. Also good for digestion, this asana cures constipation while strengthening and improving the function of your spine.

NAUKASANA 

Lie down on your back with your feet together and palms resting on your thighs. Inhale and raise both legs, lifting your upper body off the floor. Hold it for some time and breathe normally keeping your hands parallel to the floor. Now come back to the starting position slowly. Also good for nervousness and tension. Naukasana lends flexibility to your joints and bolsters the capacity of your intestines, while improving the functions of your stomach, liver and pancreas.

BHRAMARI PRANA-YAMA 

Sit on the floor in a comfortable posture with a straight back, eyes closed and shoulder muscles relaxed. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly with a murmuring sound like a bee. Also good for lungs. It enhances your oxygen efficiency by reducing carbon-dioxide in the blood.

VAMANKRIYA 

Add one tablespoonful of salt to one litre of lukewarm water and drink all of it, as quickly as possible, until you feel full to the point of throwing up. Lean forward and insert the middle and index fingers of your right hand deep into your throat. Vomit out the water until your stomach is empty. Relax in the shavasana pose for 10 mins. You need to do this near a wash basin. Also good for gastro-intestinal problems. It also relieves you of headaches, nervous weakness, chronic cold and asthma.

Numero Love Profile

Numero Love Profile

If your ruling number is 1, will you be passionate, romantic or adventurous? Will you be an impressive date?

1 – Your adventurous nature makes your love life highly passionate and your mate will never have a dull moment with you around. Short romantic vacations will make your love life exciting. You have the elegance and charm to impress your date and make sure he or she has a good time.

2 – You are a bit cautious and you keep your feelings guarded. Your bruised ego from a failed relationship may lead to an unsatisfactory love life. Your dating style needs a lot of improvement. You need to be a bit more socail and let your guard down.

3 – You are an optimistic and fun loving person. You meet new people all the time and your chances of falling in love more than once are quite high. You are a serial dater and will enjoy the time that you spend with your date having as much fun as you possibly can!

4 – Your conservative nature and your busy schedule leaves no room for love and increases the chances of love life being a little dull. Although you like the idea of falling in love you hardly ever have the time for it. To enjoy dating you need to expand your social circle and meet new people.

5 – You seek freedom no matter what you do. You will want to have a very understanding mate who gives you enough space and freedom to do what you want. A nagging wife is definitely not your cup of tea! Your dating style is quite cool and you have a unique style of your own which is quite impressive

6 – You are a responsible person and are not too much into fairytale romances. You will be equally happy with someone who is sensible and has much in common with you. It's not just looks that draws you to your mate. When you date someone, you like to take things slow and never jump into a relationship.

7 – You find it hard to express your feelings and get close to people. Chances of your having one sided relationships are quite high. But when you do have that special someone in your life, you will do everything you can to make him or her happy. You make friends but hardly ever go out on romantic dates.

8 – You like to be in control of your love life. You will not settle for anything less than true love. You want complete honesty and loyalty from your mate. Chances of your getting jealous are quite high. When it comes to dating, you need to learn to be a bit more subtle and not interrogate your date on the first meeting itself!

9 – You believe in passionate romances. Your marriage will be a dramatic affair and will surely be a love match. Your romantic affair will definitely get toungues wagging. When it come to dating you are a pro. You need no tips or advice and you know exactly how to get what you want.

Top 10 healthy breakfast options

Porridge and berries

Use oats and skimmed milk to make your porridge, then add any berries such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries and honey. This is a great way to start the day as the oats have a low GI(Glycaemic Index) this tells us that oats do not raise the blood glucose level very quickly, which is good as it can help stabilize the appetite. Just go easy on the honey!

Beans on toast

Beans (whether they are just ordinary baked beans or kidney, borlotti or black eyed beans) also have a low GI like oats. They are full of soluble fiber, which helps keep you full for longer and can therefore help you manage your weight. Serve the beans on granary toast and pass on the butter; a great, low-fat breakfast.

Bagel with reduced fat cream cheese and smoked salmon

Bagels are high in starchy carbohydrates, which help kick start the body into action for the day after a fast of at least eight to 10 hours. The smoked salmon provides the body with omega-3 fatwhich is essential for the body. Many of us eat far too much saturated fat (which is bad for us) and not enough omega-3 fat that is vital for our health.

Fruit and yogurt

Try adding your favourite fruit to a small pot of low-fat or diet yogurt for breakfast. A small pot of yogurt counts as one of your three portions per day of dairy foods, essential for the teeth and bones.

Bacon, tomatoes, beans, mushrooms and toast

For those of you who can’t resist a cooked breakfast at the weekends try this. It really is a healthy twist on a traditional fried breakfast; grill the bacon, tomatoes and large, flat field mushrooms.

Crumpets and fruit spread

Crumpets are a starchy food (they should be the basis of every meal). The only problem with crumpets is the tendency to add lots of butter to them. Try a fruit spread, a great way to top them without adding all the calories and fat in butter.

Muesli and soya milk or low-fat milk (such as semi-skimmed or skimmed milk)

Swiss-style muesli has milk powder added to it, which increases the calcium content of this breakfast cereal. Add calcium-enriched soya milk or semi-skimmed milk and you have a bone-friendly breakfast!

Pure fruit juice and iron-fortified breakfast cereal

Next time you are in the cereal aisle at the supermarket, spare a few minutes to check out the labeling on the packets. Not all cereals are equal when it comes to the vitamins and minerals that are added to them. Iron is a mineral that is added to many cereals, try sultana bran or bran flakes, drink a glass of pure fruit juice such as orange or grapefruit and the vitamin C that the juice contains helps your body to absorb the iron more easily.

 Smoothie

If you really can’t face breakfast try to have a smoothie instead. If you fancy trying to make one yourself (easy if you have a hand blender) then fruits such as berries, apples and bananas are great with some milk. All those antioxidant vitamins in the fruit help boost your immunity.

Scrambled or poached egg on granary toast

Eggs are not bad for us! It is what you do with them … Poaching or scrambling eggs with a little milk is a good way to incorporate them into your diet — they provide valuable protein. Scrambled eggs on toast is a much better choice over a fried egg sandwich.

Motivational diet tips

Just a few pounds to go before you can squeeze yourself into that Christmas party dress? We've teamed up with the lovely folk at Ten pilates to bring you a different motivational fitness tip for every day in November...

1)     Find a workout buddy so you can both push each other to work that little bit harder.

2)     Set an achievable goal....that might be to think ahead to the Christmas party season and that Temperley floor length number you want to wow the room with.

3)     Prioritize your workout - block it out in your diary and treat it like an important meeting which can on no account be missed.

4)     Train early, no one wants to train on dark evenings. 

5)     Sign up for London Marathon in April 2012 (or other sports event) – something that you know you need to train for throughout the winter in order to be in your best shape in time.

6)     To avoid the excuses of ‘it’s too early I don’t want to train’ you need to make things as easy as possible for yourself. Set your alarm and put this on the other side of the room so it makes you get out of bed. Get your workout gear out and ready the night before and place a picture of your goal (that dress or perhaps the celebrity figure you aspire to have) to give you motivation to train.

7)     Make it fun – try something different with your workout that you can enjoy with friends like Dynamic Pilates or Zumba.

8)     Reward yourself with healthy snacks or little gifts – buy that body-con dress you’ve been coveting for the last few months and feel great wearing it!

9)     Get a Personal Trainer – they’ll ensure you reach your goals in a realistic way by matching them to your workout – sometimes it just helps to have someone by your side urging you on!

10)  Book yourself a beach holiday for January/ February and let the thought of that bikini stir you into action.

11) Tell yourself that training in the miserable winter makes you a mentally stronger athlete. In the Madrid World Cup last May, athletes from hotter countries suffered with the rain and cold, whereas us tough Brits stuck it out.

12) Stick to a training plan. Print it out and put it somewhere you will see it so you can't forget. And always have a backup plan in case the weather is just too bad - then you can switch and improve in another area.

13) Do the training that you really enjoy doing in winter and limit it in the summer months: mountain biking, long rides and cross-country runs. A mountain-bike ride will keep you much warmer than road cycling, as well as giving variation in your speed.

14) Winter is the time to work on weaknesses, make changes and try new ideas. Winter training is about flexibility and compromise, so do not set a training programme that does not allow for this.

10 Things Not to do on a First Date

As an old saying goes, "first impression is the last impression".

One has to subscribe to this saying when going on a first date. Here are 10 things you should absolutely avoid doing on a first date.

1. Be a braggadocio

A braggadocio is a person who boasts about his own deeds irrespective of the response from the other person. Such kinds of empty pretentious bragging can be an anti-climax. So, avoid boasting about yourself in a bid to leave a pleasant impression on your date.



2. Mention past relationships

Broaching the subject of a past relationship could prove to be a speed breaker in your rendezvous. You will get ample of time to talk about the past. You needs to realize that the girl wants to move over her past. Don't be a victim of the circumstances instead be a master of it. After all nobody wants to spend his/her first date wiping tears.



3. Eat like a glutton

This means: do not end up going on a date when you are ravenously hungry. The objective of a date is to have a pleasant conversation. Eating is an excuse for the date. It is embarrassing and awkward to talk while eating. It is better if you adhere to one activity at a time.



4. Act nervous

This could be a tough task; it is crucial to realize that women like confident men. Assertiveness will help you score some brownie points on a first date. An amalgamation of confidence and sense of humour is an ideal recipe for a nice date.



5. Money can't buy love!

Talking about money will project your image as selfish and self centered who equates everything in terms of money. It can paint your image as someone who is deficient of emotions. This could affect the equilibrium of a relationship in the long run as your show-off may appear condescending.



6. Fiddle with your phone


There are two reasons for this. Talking or texting on the phone can be a hindrance on your first date. It will neutralize the essence of the date. Second reason is that flaunting your phone may not help win her heart. It is advisable to keep the phone on silent mode because one needs to give exclusive attention to the partner.



7. No Touching!

Only seeing

 If you get too close to your first date, there are chances that your first date will unequivocally be the last. A woman can determine the intentions of the partner from his touch. Thus, a date does not give the license to touch her figure but to touch her soul.



8. Smoking



Smoking is one of the most overlooked aspects which could annoy your date. Smoking can affect the gravity of your conversation. It is advisable not to smoke prior to a date as black finger nails and a smelly mouth can be a deal breaker.



9. Compare

A woman hates comparison with the other person. It is crucial to acquiesce that every woman has an identity and you should give due respect to it. Any comparisons to another person can be troublesome.



10. Lie



Honesty is the quintessential part of any relationship. Do not base the beginning of what can be a potential relationship on a falsehood since such relationships will be feeble and may not last long. 

Bollywood Stars as Kids

Whenever we think of Bollywood stars, we think of glamour, mystery and power.

These stars were not the same throughout. They were like any other kids when they were kids and hardly cared much about fame and stardom. Below is what many Bollywood stars looked like when they were kids.

Read more:

• Twitter savvy celebs
• Ideal celebrity husbands
• Photos: Stars without make-up

Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh is barely a year old in the pic but the mischievousness seen in his eyes as a child is something that is still a part of his personality.

Amitabh Bachchan

Senior Bachchan looks amazingly cute as a junior. He looks dressed as a freedom fighter in the dated pic.

Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya apparently knew all about poise and elegance much before she won the Miss World crown. She was definitely a very pretty young girl and years only added to her beauty. 

Salman Khan

Salman Khan looks quite the bad boy in his childhood pic. Looks like growing up to be labelled a bad boy was inevitable for him.

Imran Khan

Imran Khan never really lost his baby-face. Despite of his great filmy career and marriage, Imran Khan looks the same.

Ranbir Kapoor

Those inherent looks are simply unmissable when it comes to Ranbir Kapoor's young days. TheKapoor family 's genes still loom large on that face.

Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor looks nowhere close to what she was as a kid. Hers is quite a transformation even though she wasn't quite the ugly duckling.

Katrina Kaif

There is no doubt about what the Indian barbie must've looked like as a child. Extremely cute and adorable was Katrina as a kid.

Aamir Khan

It might be ages that Aamir Khan was a kid, but the childlike quality in Aamir makes him come across as a young person. Also the fact that Aamir understands the psychology of kids so well adds to his charm.

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone looks very bubbly as a kid. Today, however, it is a different story with all the dignified and ladylike ways about her.

Abhishek Bachchan

Much pampered and loved as a child, Abhishek is all set to be a proud daddy himself in a few days.

Hrithik Roshan

As a kid, Hrithik faced a lot of problems, the main being his stutter. Now, Hrithik has evolved to be, perhaps, the most confident actor in Bollywood.

Kajol

Not really the typically cute kid, Kajol's childhood pics look very similar to what her daughter Nysa looks like. Like mother like daughter?

Kareena & Karisma Kapoor

Kareena and Karisma were apparently quite healthy as kids and it isn't hard to figure why since they belonged to the Kapoor family. Today, however, the two sisters are known as the most fashion forward ladies in the industry.