Monday, September 30, 2013

Beauty or Love

Beauty is a mere smile.
Love is a smile that warms the heart.
 
Beauty is but skin deep, from outside-in.
Love is beauty from inside-out.
 
Beauty changes, fades, decreases over time.
Love endures, never fails, is of a timeless dimension.
 
Beauty is in eyes that twinkle in the moonlight.
Love is in eyes that speak kindness, patience, concern, day and night.
 
Beauty is a figure, a shape, physical looks that appeal to the senses.
Love starts as a feeling, and becomes a sensitizer to the soul.
 
Beauty hates to hear the truth - "You're getting old".
Love embraces the truth - "I Love You more the older you get".
 
Beauty is vain-glory, a self-seeking competitor.
Love is humility, a self-giving peacemaker.
 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Love is in the heart of the giver.
 
So, what Foundation is built of Love?
 
I'll give you a hint.
 
It's the same foundation that has preserved marriages, friendships, families for a lifetime..
 
 
Its... LOVE

10 Steps to Ensure Continuous Improvement

Well, This is my second episode on management consultancy.
 
Ok, straight to the point, Continuous Improvement is an on-going effort in order to improve products, services or procedures of any organization. The effectiveness or efficiency enhancement can be in terms of cost optimization, better quality, improved customer satisfaction index, quick response time, fast production rate, reduced fault rate, Six Sigma Compliance, electricity conservation and several other domains.
 
According to management consultants there are three kinds of improvements;
 
Continuous Improvement: Improvement at a linear rate.
 
Continual Improvement: Improvement at gradual rate.
 
Breakthrough: A giant leap with major changes in a domain or several domains, sometimes executed only once.
 
Below is the recommended strategy for the Execution of Improvement Process:
1.    Define current performance of Product, Services of Procedure(s).
 
2.    Identify areas of improvements (suggestions available in first paragraph of this article)
 
3.    Brainstorm the available ideas
a.    Consider Fishbone diagram, Cause Effect diagram. Perform analysis by doing breakdown of bigger problem into smaller problems.
 
b.    Seek feedback and recommendations from Management Consultants
 
c.     Seek advice from Managers, Field Employees, Stake holders, Subject Matter Experts.
 
d.    Consider customers' / End users' feedback about quality of products and services. 
 
4.    Make final list of options to execute. Consider associated risks with each execution. Consider Mitigation strategies for these risks.
 
5.    Execute the options one by one on a small scale in a controlled environment based on risk mitigation strategies.
 
6.    Prepare the observation register and list down the lessons learnt.
 
7.    Review the observations with managers, senior management, SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) and stake holders.
 
8.    Implement the change on large scale and set new standard.
 
9.    Celebrate and reward.
 
10.  Go back to Step one for Continuous/Continual Improvement
 

5 easy steps to keep your heart healthy

Want to keep your heart healthy? Then you need to know the following:
 
Holly Andersen, director of education and outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has offered some easy steps to improve heart health and overall well-being throughout the year.
 
Step 1: Know your numbers. Your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are the most important numbers you will need to know before you begin on the path to good heart health.
 
Step 2: Start walking. Exercise is the fountain of youth. A simple 20- to 30-minute walk a few days a week can actually reduce the risk of premature death by more than 50 percent.
 
Step 3: Laugh out. Laughter really is the best medicine. Just 15 minutes of laughter is about equivalent to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise with respect to our cardiovascular health. Laughter has also been linked to the healthy function of blood vessels, an increase of the brain hormones that improve mood, and reduction of pain and anxiety.
 
Step 4: Focus on your waistline, not your weight. Your waistline is a better measurement of your overall health than your weight because the amount of fat around your waistline is directly linked to high blood pressure and high cholesterol and can place you at increased risk for diabetes.
 
Step 5: Get a good night's sleep. Sleep is one of the most undervalued elements of our daily routines, but it is absolutely vital to good health. Lack of sleep increases your blood pressure, induces stress, increases your appetite and slows down your metabolism, dampens your mood and decreases your cognition
 
 
Source: Unknown
 

What You Can Do With Now

Ralph Marston - The Daily Motivator
 
Even when the day gets off to a bad start you can still give it a good ending. Just because you have been unproductive doesn't mean you have to stay that way.
 
Look back at the opportunities you've missed just long enough to give yourself a little inspiration. Then look ahead to the opportunities that you now can fulfill.
 
What's important now is what you can do with now. This is the first moment of a more effective, more productive, more purposeful you.
 
The delays, setbacks and disappointments are over. It is now time to leave the excuses behind as you move persistently ahead.
 
Sit still for a moment and absorb the amazing energy of opportunity that is now yours. Then stand up and get busy making meaningful use of all that opportunity.
 
What you can do with now is whatever you choose. Choose the best, and find real joy in lifting your whole world higher.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Top 12 foods that lower blood pressure

Renita Tisha Pinto, Health Me Up
 
The prime focus of this year's World Health Day, which was observed on 7th of April worldwide, was on blood pressure and its dangers.
 
This World Health Day, doctors advised people to keep a track on their blood pressure-as it is one of the conditions that can contribute to the burden of heart disease, stroke and disability. Though it affects more than one in three adults worldwide, many people do not know they have high blood pressure because it does not always cause symptoms. As a result, it leads to more than nine million deaths every year. Horrified with these facts, or tensed because you have been diagnosed with blood pressure recently? Then worry not! We have planned a very tasty and beneficial way to lower down your blood pressure with the help of Ms. Sunita Pathania - Sr. Registered Dietician and Diabetes Educator, Healthy Living Diet Clinic, Mumbai. Start the slideshow and begin your journey to lower your blood pressure with these yummy foods.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 1: Peel down your B.P with bananas
If you want to lower your blood pressure, then bananas are a great option. They are cheap, available all throughout the year and are loaded with potassium. Potassium helps to lower your blood pressure by 2 to 3 points and helps to lower the risk of stroke.
 
Sunita says - Banana is one of the best foods, as it is loaded with potassium. Potassium helps the kidney to filter more pressure-boosting sodium out of your bloodstream and helps tiny blood vessels relax and make pressure in the artery walls function more efficiently.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 2: Skimmed milk
Want to lower your blood pressure, then sip in a glass of skimmed milk every day. Skimmed milk will do wonders for your body, as it loaded with calcium and vitamin D. These two nutrients work as a team and help to lower down your blood pressure and strengthen your bones. Besides, it also helps to reduce the risk of various cardiovascular ailments.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 3: Watermelon
Watermelon is not just a summer-refreshing food, but it is also a heart health promoting food. Watermelon is loaded with fiber, lycopenes, vitamin A and potassium. All these nutrients have blood pressure-lowering effects.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 4: Oranges
This super rich vitamin fruit - is another best food you should indulge in, to lower down your risk of developing high blood pressure. Opt in for a glassful of orange juice or eat the whole fruit to load yourself with fiber and vitamin C.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 5: Dark chocolate
Chocolate lovers rejoice! Eating a square piece of dark chocolate every day, will help to lower down blood pressure readings, because of their richness in flavonoids - they are the natural compounds that cause dilation of the blood vessels. Sunita recommends, choose dark chocolates, which have approximately 50 to 70 percent cacao.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 6: Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E, folic acid, protein and fiber. Just a handful of sunflower seeds consumption, will helps to lower your blood pressure and promote your heart-health. Sunflower seeds, release a peptide that inhibits the body's production of enzymes that's known to raise blood pressure. So start munching in salt less, sunflower seeds to promote your health.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 7: Whole grain
Indulging into whole grain rich breakfast like cereals and oats is one of the best ways to promote good health. Eating oatmeal or wheat for breakfast, not only helps us to stay full for a long time but it also helps to lower down your blood pressure. So, if you have been diagnosed recently with blood pressure, then start taking you breakfast as the most important mean of the day.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 8: Spinach
Popeye's favorite green leafy vegetable - spinach, is loaded with heart-healthy nutrients. It is low in calories, high in fiber, potassium, folate and magnesium. All these properties help in maintaining and lowering blood pressure levels.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 9: Sweet potatoes
This sweet food is loaded with potassium. Richness in potassium helps to keep the sodium levels low and thus drives down the blood pressure.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 10: Grape juice
Sip in grape juice, after your workout to reduce your blood pressure. Wondering why? Grape juice includes polyphenols, which helps to lower down the level of your blood pressure considerably. Polyphenols trigger the production of nitric oxide, which helps to dilute blood vessels and thus helps to lower blood pressure. Sip in at least 2 glasses of grape juice every day, but before sipping in loose out some calories as they are a good calorie source.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 11: Beans
Including beans like kidney beans or black beans is one of best ways, to load yourself soluble fiber, magnesium and potassium. All these nutrients are excellent ingredients for lowering blood pressure and improving overall health.
 
Food that lower blood pressure # 12: Berries
Add all types of berries to your diet, as they are packed with polyphenols, flavonols and anthocyanins. Besides, they are also loaded with vitamin C, float, potassium and fiber. Just add handful of berries each day to boost your heart health, to lower your blood pressure and to spike your good cholesterol.
 
 

Read the first sign of tooth decay

ANAND HOLLA, Mumbai Mirror
 
If your teeth are showing the first sign of decay, here's how you can remineralise them naturally
 
You can brush, you can floss, but you can't escape tooth decay — or that's what you have been told. The truth though is that your teeth aren't designed to rot. Before you helplessly let bacteria drill cavities into your pearly whites, you can restore their strength, density and sparkle by remineralising them.
 
Tooth matters
Remineralisation refers to your teeth's natural healing mechanism; a process in which minerals are restored to the tooth's molecular structure. It is essentially the reversing of demineralisation — the first stage of tooth decay where your teeth lose minerals and become 'sensitive'. So if your teeth have chalky white discolouration or brownish black pits, you may just be in time to remineralise them.
 
Studies have shown that people who didn't eat modern foods had flawless tooth structure and virtually no tooth decay. Noted anthropologist Earnest Hooton once said, "It is store food that has given us store teeth." While modern foods are to be blamed — refined flour, refined sugar, fast foods and colas — the problem is compounded when the enamel isn't strong to begin with.
 
In 1883, Dr W D Miller, a pioneer in modern dentistry, said that a strong, dense tooth would "indefinitely resist" an attack from acid; be it from bacteria or food. The difference between Dr Miller's 130-year old theory and today's dentistry is summed up aptly in Ramiel Nagel's book Cure Tooth Decay. "Dr Miller knew that the tooth's density and structure are what protected it against tooth decay, whereas today, dentists are taught that it is the bacteria by themselves that cause tooth decay," Nagel points out.
 
Remineralise up
While conventional dentistry harps on what foods bacteria might be feeding off on, the solution lies in realising what food you might be feeding the bacteria. Dentist Dr Pooja Gunjikar says foods high in sugar and acidic content encourage plaque, setting off demineralisation. "For instance, eating chocolates makes your pH level drop, which causes formation of acids that erode the enamel of your teeth," she says.
 
Calcium and phosphorous are the most vital minerals for healthy teeth, followed by magnesium, copper, iron and manganese. "Calcium and phosphorous help form hydroxyapatite in the enamel, which replenishes the teeth's molecular structure," she says.
 
Foods that work
Calcium-rich foods like dairy products, leafy greens, tofu, broccoli, almonds and sardines help boost teeth health. For your phosphorous fix, eat pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds and cheese. But it's the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K that are critical in helping our bodies utilise minerals.
 
Phosphorous, calcium and hormones need vitamins A and D for our cells to produce osteocalcin — the protein responsible for deposition of calcium and phosphorous into our bones and teeth. For vitamin A, you can pick from sweet potato, carrot, watermelon, eggs, spinach, oatmeal and chicken liver, while sunlight, seafood, raw butter and eggs are excellent sources of vitamin D. The best twoin-one option for teeth health is cod liver oil.
 
Both endocrine and pituitary glands, which play a big role in teeth health, can be regulated by eating a lowsugar diet. Moreover, a fluctuating blood sugar level is bad news for teeth, as it upsets the pH balance of your mouth and accelerates decay. Since cholesterol boosts hormone functions, include healthy fats in your diet.
 
 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Thrown Away

By Wael Abdelgawad
 
Have you ever felt “thrown away”? Cast aside like trash that is no longer valued or wanted?
 
It’s not a good feeling, is it?
 
Sometimes we feel this way when we've been rejected by someone we love; or when we are relentlessly criticized by
 
our
spouse,
parents
children,
family or friends. We can also feel this way when it seems like we’re not living up to society’s expectations.
 
Feeling this way makes you doubt yourself, makes you wonder if you are a worthwhile human being, if you have anything meaningful to offer, if you are someone worthy of love and praise.
 
When you feel this way, you might begin to act this way. You stop valuing yourself, and you start behaving as if you are worthless, ugly, invisible, not redeemable.
 
You do things that you know are bad for you, either because you no longer care, or you think no one else cares. Or maybe just to fulfill the negative labels that others have put on you.
 
I want to tell you something very important: Allah does not make “throw away” people. He does not create waste.
 
Look around at what Allah has created: the oceans, mountains, clouds and majestic trees; birds and animals from the eagle to the elephant; the stars, sun and moon; the four seasons, each with a special beauty; and a treasure-trove of amazing, healthy foods like olives, mangoes, almonds, oranges…
 
Allah says in the Quran, Surat Aal-Imran, 3:190-191:
 
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; exalted are You [above such a thing]…”
 
Allah created nothing in vain. Nothing that He made is disposable or worthless. Every one of His creations is precious and has a profound purpose, from the smallest bacterium to the greatest nebula. Everything is beautiful. Including you.
 
Allah did not create you to be thrown away. Whether or not you are ready to admit it, you have a profound purpose in this life. You are priceless, beautiful, unique, redeemable, and worthy of love. Because Allah made you that way.
 
We must begin valuing ourselves according to how Allah has valued us. Those people who would devalue us, they are not walking in our shoes, living our reality. They’re not responsible for our souls, and we are not responsible for theirs:
 
“No bearer of a burden can bear the burden of another.” (Quran 6:164; 17:15)
 
If others are not responsible for us, and cannot bear our burdens, then they have no right to value or devalue us. Allah has given us honor, therefore our honor is with Allah, not with the people. Allah has given us purpose, therefore our purpose is with Allah, not with the people.
 
Every person has a dignity and value that has been granted by Allah. It is inherent in our makeup and cannot be taken away by anyone. Every person is a gift. Every person is a miracle. Including you.
 

Stop - Think - Act

While communicating with people in all walks of lives, we come across various situations where communication comes to a standstill because either party gets into the mode of reacting.
 
Reaction is Acting First, then Stopping and then Thinking what was thought and said. (ACT – STOP – THINK).
 
Reactions are abrupt actions or expression of thoughts in reply to someone’s words or actions. When one reacts, he closes all the channels of communication and the entire system of communication gets shut. Mind gets cluttered with negative thoughts and presumptions. It fails to be receptive. Reaction does not take one anywhere. The party reacting becomes out of reach and difficult to communicate with. This disrupts not just the communication, but also the situation and has a negative impact on the relationship of both the parties.
 
Response is a well thought of and meaningful communication through words or actions. You are in control of the communication and you choose the way it flows further. Stopping and Thinking of an appropriate Response and then taking Action towards it. (STOP – THINK – ACT).
 
Reaction and Response can also make a great impact on our Relationship with others.
 
So let’s learn to respond instead of reacting. Here are a few tips of learning how to respond:
·        Be Patient and Listen.
 
·        Do not be in a hurry to answer any question asked.
 
·        Take your time, Stop, Think and Act and if you are not sure, buy time, by saying “This is important for both of us give me some time before I respond to this”
 
·        Listen, comprehend and then respond.
 
·        Empathize, Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and feel what the other person is feeling.
 
·        Do not Judge spontaneously about the right or the wrong.
 
·        Whenever people react, they expose themselves.
 
·        While you are on the receiving end of someone’s reaction, just stay patient. Let the other person’s steam out.
 
·        If the other person is over reacting, give that person a benefit of doubt. Think that he has gone through a turbulent time and you are the first one to meet him after that turbulence, and treat him well.
 
·        When you don’t know what to say or respond, do not. Keep Silent. Stop, Think & Act.
 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Things Your Pee is Trying to Tell You

 
You know that you've had your share of water/beer/coffee by the frequency in which you need to use the bathroom, but what else can pee tell you about your health and habits? A lot, it turns out. We asked R. Mark Ellerkmann, M.D., director for the Center of Urogynecology at the Weinberg Center for Women's Health and Medicine in Baltimore, MD, for some of the specific health and lifestyle issues your urine's odor, color, and frequency can indicate.
 
1. You're Pregnant.
The reason you have to pee on a stick after your first missed period is that shortly after conception (when a fertilized egg implants into the lining of the uterus), the fetus begins to secrete the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, which is what is detected by home pregnancy tests, Dr. Ellerkmann says. Some women also notice a strong, pungent odor early on, even before they're aware they're pregnant.
 
Once you've got a baby on board, running to the bathroom constantly is just one of the pesky parts of pregnancy, for a variety of reasons: your kidneys have to work harder to eliminate waste products from both you and the fetus, and as you (and the baby) get bigger, pressure on your bladder from your expanding uterus can send you to the ladies' morning, noon, and, annoyingly, in the middle of the night.
 
2. You have an injury or a medical condition.
Medically speaking, if there are red blood cells in your urine-known as "hematuria"-this could indicate a variety of conditions, according to Dr. Ellkermann, from kidney stones to an impact injury (in rare cases this can be caused by strenuous exercise like running long distances). A sweet odor can be indicative of diabetes, since your body isn't properly processing glucose. If you're over 35 and have erratic or heavy periods and an increase in urine frequency, you may have fibroids, benign uterine tumors that can press on your bladder (depending on their size, which can range from an olive to a grapefruit). Needless to say, if you see blood, smell any usual odor, or have any other concerns, see your doctor.
 
3. You're a big fan of blackberries.
Crazy for carrots? Bananas for beets? Certain fruits and vegetables that have dark pigments (like the anthocyanin that gives beets and blackberries their deep red color) can tint urine either pink, in the case of red or purple produce, or orange if you're eating foods rich in carotene like carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins. If you're on a produce kick or just a really big fan of borscht, a change in urine color is nothing to be alarmed about, just take note if it stays the same after you've given the farmer's market a rest (vitamins can have a similar effect, particularly Vitamin C, as well as certain medications). And of course there is the notorious asparagus pee odor, caused by a harmless compound the veggie contains.
 
4. You have a UTI.
Yes, that awful burning feeling is a pretty good indication you've got a dreaded urinary tract infection, but frequency (more than seven times a day, according to Dr. Ellkerman) is also a sign it's time to call your doc. Other symptoms of a UTI can include fever, chills, pelvic/lower-back pain, and, occasionally, the presence of red blood cells can tinge urine pink, while white blood cells that are rushing to fight your infection can turn urine cloudy or cause an unpleasant odor. If you experience any of these symptoms, you likely need antibiotics to clear up the infection; your doctor can detect the presence of a UTI with a urine sample. If you're tempted to swill some Ocean Spray instead, don't bother-unless you really like it. Cranberry juice won't help after the fact, but may prevent a UTI by making it difficult for bacteria to adhere to the bladder wall.
 
5. Your kitchen is stocked with either wine, chocolate, coffee, or hot sauce.
And they should be, as all of those things are either necessary, delicious, or both. Unfortunately if you have stress incontinence, they can also make it worse. While this isn't terribly common in woman under 40 (though it can occur if you've had a baby or gynecological surgery), coffee, alcohol, sugar, and spicy foods can irritate bladder walls and aggravate the condition.
 
6. You're dehydrated.
You've may have heard that urine color-specifically dark yellow-can indicate dehydration, and this is indeed the case. When you're properly hydrated, pee should be clear or just vaguely straw colored (the color in urine is caused by a pigment called urichrome, which gets lighter and darker depending on how concentrated urine becomes), and you should be going regularly, about once an hour depending on a variety of factors. A strong urinary odor, also due to concentration, is a sign of dehydration as well. And yes, you do need the recommended eight cups of fluid per day, but you don't have to guzzle water to get it. Fruits and veggies contain water; if you're loading up on those, it contributes to your daily eight-cup goal. But hydration is also about self-regulation. If you're exercising, you need more fluid, (though only if you're training for a marathon or doing some other sort of very intense and long-duration activity do you need a sports drink), so be aware of your body's needs; fatigue and irritability can indicate dehydration as well.