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Experts lists some of the common foods that can keep you in pink of health We all want to be healthy, don’t we? But do we know what to eat in order to achieve this? Chennai Times comes up with ten everyday health foods which are guaranteed to get you fighting fit! TOMATO The Power: Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half, if eaten daily. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fibre. Drizzle fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat. RAISINS The Power: These little gems are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short on. Half a cup of raisins has 218 calories,0 fat and 3 grams of fibre. Sprinkle raisins on your morning oatmeal or bran cereal — women, consider this especially during your period. LEMONS/LIMES The Power: They contain limonene, furocoumarins...

Team building skills are critical for your effectiveness as a manager or entrepreneur. And even if you are not in a management or leadership role yet, better understanding of team work can make you a more effective employee and give you an extra edge in your corporate office. A team building success is when your team can accomplish something much bigger and work more effectively than a group of the same individuals working on their own. You have a strong synergy of individual contributions. But there are two critical factors in building a high performance team. The first factor in team effectiveness is the diversity of skills and personalities. When people use their strengths in full, but can compensate for each other's weaknesses. When different personality types balance and complement each other. The other critical element of team work success is that all the team efforts are directed towards the same clear goals, the team goals. This relies heavily on good communication in the ...

Stay fit, not thin... Do you make it a point to count calories as you skim through the menu card before ordering a plate of your favorite yummies? Do you starve yourself silly even as you dream of double-cheese dripping sandwiches and triple chocolate mousse? Well, then maybe it’s time you realized that size zero is out. Right from Kareena Kapoor to Priety Zinta, people have started shoving their size zero frames out the window, opting for a fuller and more voluptuous look. Says artist and socialite Asha Menon, “Five per cent of our country’s population is either overweight or obese. While those with so-called perfect figures and chiseled Greek God bodies hogged the limelight, those on the healthier side got used to being ignored. But slowly, people are waking up to the fact that round is a shape too!” ON THE DAY Talking about International No Diet Day (INDD), nutritionist Geetha Desikachari says, “About 18 years ago, Mary Young, a feminist, addressed the media on the dangers of ...

Red has more personal associations than any other color. Recognized as a stimulant red is inherently exciting and the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. Red draws attention and a keen use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention on a particular element. How the color red affects us mentally and physically?   Increases enthusiasm  Stimulates energy  Encourages action and confidence  A sense of protection from fears and anxiety  Increases the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure  Red is power, hence the red power tie for business people and the red carpet for celebrities and VIPs (very important people)  In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration  Red is the color of happiness and prosperity in China and may be used to attract good luck  Although not normally considered an ideal coupling, in combination with green, red is a Christmas color — a joyful season  R...

Why use this method? The 5 Whys is a simple problem-solving technique that helps users to get to the root of the problem quickly. Made popular in the 1970s by the Toyota Production System, the 5 Whys strategy involves looking at any problem and asking: "Why?" and "What caused this problem?" Very often, the answer to the first "why" will prompt another "why" and the answer to the second "why" will prompt another and so on; hence the name the 5 Whys strategy. Benefits of the 5 Whys include:    It helps to quickly determine the root cause of a problem    It is easy to learn and apply    How to use this method:   When looking to solve a problem, start at the end result and work backward (toward the root cause), continually asking: "Why?" This will need to be repeated over and over until the root cause of the problem becomes apparent.     Tip: The 5 Whys technique is a simple technique that can help you quickly get t...

Mustard seeds have been around for over 5,000 years. They’re known to have numerous benefits, as they’re low in calories, high in nutritional value, and have a lot of anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties. They’re available in different varieties — black mustard, white mustard and brown Indian mustard, in whole as well as in powdered form.   Mustard oil is known to be great for the skin because it generates warmth.   Mustard seeds are rich in a nutrient called selenium, known for its high anti-inflammatory properties.   The high source of magnesium in mustard seeds helps reduce the severity of asthma attacks and certain symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as lowering blood pressure.   Suffer from migraines? Mustard seeds are known to help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.  Mustard seeds are very rich in calcium, manganese, omega 3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, protein and dietary fibers.

This happened sometime back when I was working for IT Company. (FYI I am still in the same company) My mom started looking for a bride for me. She insisted me to register in matrimony site also. That was the only option I had in my lifetime to sit with my mom and comment on girls. I would say this girl is good because she has nice hair, then mom would say “No no this girl is nice because her smile is good”. Again I will comment that this girl is nice because she has a good education background, then mom would say “This girl is nice because she has a good family background”. We both were discussing like this all the time but we never ever finalized on a single girl. To find a girl for a typical arranged marriage is very difficult. Because all the girl’s features (education, look and feel, family etc.) should satisfy all the family members. All the family members include me of course. One fine day our neighbor asked my mom my photograph and bio-data saying that he know his friend’s fr...

READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BEST SUMMER DIET OPTIONS Though summer may bring to mind picnics, chips and delicious chocolate desserts, dietician believe that it is easiest to ‘eat healthy’ during this time. During summer, there is an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and the opportunity to grill and roast are aplenty and way healthier too. Along with healthy meals and proper exercise you are sure to shed all the unwanted weight you carry around. DRINK WATER TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST: We tend to consume more aerated drinks during the summer, but water is a smarter choice. It keeps the body cool, prevents dehydration and it also helps avoid unnecessary calories. Fresh lime water and coconut water are also great thirstquenchers, specially during the summer. ADD AT LEAST TWO SERVINGS EACH OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO YOUR DAILY TO YOUR DIET: Summer has a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, so make the most of them. Fruit smoothies and milkshakes are easy to make, just t...

Laila has created a big difference in the life of Chennaities. She came yesterday and will cross the Andhra border today. In both the states she created a chaos and left her impression in heart of every chennaities. Yes I am talking about the cyclone Laila. The next day to a rainy day always looks very bright & sunny. Isn’t it? I felt the same and started my day to office. I could feel the cool breeze as Laila was drizzling lightly. Sitting near the bus’ window and enjoying the cool breeze with drizzling rain is something everyone has enjoyed. All the way to my office I was looking at Chennai after Laila’s attendance. It had inundated roads, uprooted trees, few huts and houses under water, footpath owners struggling for shelter, roofless shop owners struggling for shelter and so on. I could see the kids playing in water by making paper boats. One kid has kept its cycle in the stagnant rain water and started pedaling the cycle very fast, so that the stagnant water moves away alon...

Listening is one of the most important skills you can have. How well you listen has a major impact on your job effectiveness, and on the quality of your relationships with others.     We listen to obtain information.  We listen to understand.   We listen for enjoyment.   We listen to learn.   Given all this listening we do, you would think we’d be good at it! In fact we’re not. Depending on the study being quoted, we remember a dismal 25-50% of what we hear. That means that when you talk to your boss, colleagues, customers or spouse for 10 minutes, they only really hear 2½-5 minutes of the conversation.     Turn it around and it reveals that when you are receiving directions or being presented with information, you aren’t hearing the whole message either. You hope the important parts are captured in your 25- 50%, but what if they’re not?  The way to become a better listener is to practice “active listening”. In...

I could feel that it is raining outside. I am lazy enough to get up from my bed and see how the climate outside is. But the alarm in my mobile is reminding me for the 7th time and my wife standing next to me became an alarm and started reminding me that I have to go to office. I have snoozed it 6 times already (I am talking about my mobile alarm) for 10mins interval each and I had set the alarm at 6:00AM. So I had to get up from my bed to get ready for the office. (I know it’s going to be another _____ day (Yes you got it...) With no interest to go to office I got up from my bed. And the next lazy thing to do in this rainy morning is to take a bath, that too with normal water. Anyway I had to do this for the benefit of others. Now that I am done with my bath went to the dining hall. Mom and my wife had prepared hot idlis & vadai (made of banana flower) with coconut chutney. I should thank my mom for serving me that hot idli and should thank my wife for that tastier chutney....

Kids react in a positive manner to tender methods of disciplining rather than to constant threatening. Scolding or beating your child for every little mistake that they commit will only make them more rebellious. The task of disciplining a child needs to be handled carefully, delicately and with plenty of love. Here’s how you can discipline your child: Set examples for them to follow. Kids tend to ape the behavior of elders. If you want them to get habituated to doing something, then you should do it too. For example, throw garbage in the bin or straighten your bed when you wake up or eat without chomping on your food. Your kid will automatically learn and follow these habits. If kids are unruly in a public place, be patient and try reasoning out with them first. If they still don’t pay heed to you, resort to some stern words. If the behavior continues, walk away from them. However, remember not to raise your voice or slap them. Such a move on your part will result in them throwi...

What qualities are most important for a project leader to be effective? Over the past few years, world leaders in Project Management Training, have looked in to what makes an effective project leader. With the unique opportunity to ask some of the most talented project leaders in the world on their Project Leadership courses experts have managed to collect a running tally on their responses. Below are the top 10 in rank order according to frequency listed. 1) Inspires a Shared Vision An effective project leader is often described as having a vision of where to go and the ability to articulate it. Visionaries thrive on change and being able to draw new boundaries. It was once said that a leader is someone who "lifts us up, gives us a reason for being and gives the vision and spirit to change." Visionary leaders enable people to feel they have a real stake in the project. They empower people to experience the vision on their own. According to Bennis "They offer people op...

Dwindling testosterone levels in men reduce sleep At 30 years, male testosterone levels drop by one to two per cent annually. By age 40, a man’s quality of sleep begins to diminish. Could there be a link between decreased testosterone and reduced sleep? Absolutely, according to Zoran Sekerovic, graduate student at the University of Montreal (UM) Department of Psychology. Sekerovic discovered a link between testosterone levels in men over 50 and their quality of sleep — specifically less deep sleep, that is, phases III and IV of the slumber cycle. “Deep sleep is when the recuperation of body and mind is optimal,” said Sekerovic. In young men, deep sleep represents 10 to 20 per cent of total sleep. By age 50, it decreases to five to seven per cent. For men over 60, it can disappear altogether. The study however, didn’t find any correlation with other parts of the sleep cycle: Falling asleep, phases I and II, or paradoxical sleep, when most of dreaming occurs. The UM researcher expla...

The Key to Efficiency   Do you frequently feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do? Do you face a constant barrage of looming deadlines? Or do you sometimes just forget to do something important, so that people have to chase you to get work done?   All of these are symptoms of not keeping a proper "To-Do List". To-Do Lists are prioritized lists of all the tasks that you need to carry out. They list everything that you have to do, with the most important tasks at the top of the list, and the least important tasks at the bottom.    While this sounds a simple thing to do, it's when people start to use To-Do Lists properly that they often make their first personal productivity / time management breakthrough, and start to make a real success of their careers.   By keeping a To-Do List, you make sure that you capture all of the tasks you have to complete in one place. This is essential if you're not going to forget things. And by prioritizing work, yo...

Financial problems can rock the boat, when it comes to relationships. Experts gives you some important rules to quash the problem. What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours may have been the mantra couples swore by in the good old days, but in today’s times, where both partners are the keepers of well-paying jobs, money matters, if not sorted out right at the start itself, can become the bone of contention between couples. Here’s a list of important do’s and don’ts that should constitute your financial bible as a couple: Don’t live beyond your means: Okay, so the easy availability of credit cards and personal loans has put money at your disposal at all times. But before you head out on that merry shopping extravaganza or a weekend out or even decide to holiday at some exotic destination, both of you must take time out to check the current position of your finances and see whether you are really in a position to spend or you need to save for the future — home, children’s educatio...