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Lemon water and salt gargle
We all know lemon juice contains antioxidants and rich in vitamin C. It helps to keep mucous membrane moist. It reduces sore throat and symptoms of flu and cold.
What you need?
Fresh lemon juice 2 or 3 Tbsp
2 cups water
1 Tsp honey
2 tsp salt
To prepare gargle:
Boil water, cool and add lemon juice, honey and
salt. Mix well
To use: Either you drink the liquid or gargle using the lemon water. It helps to get rid of throat pain caused by sore throat.
Thyme also belongs to mint family. It is well known for its aroma and grown in Western countries fondly for its appearance as well as for aroma. In many herbal decoctions for cold, thyme is an important ingredient. It is a cough suppressant herb.
What you need:
Fresh thyme half bunch
Salt
Water – 2 cups
Honey- 2 tsp
How to prepare?
Mix thyme and water on low heat. Simmer till the content of water reduces to half. Strain and add honey, salt. Store in a jar. One can also prepare just thyme tea to get rid of cold and sore throat.
To use:
Take couple of spoon as tonic or gargle with the liquid every 3 hours, until the cough, sore throat reduces.
Marshmallow root is a good remedy for cold. It contains mucus like slimy substance that coats sore throat and soothes aching throat. It is also a good remedy for digestive problems related to stomach ulcer.
Afternoon nap or sleeping for a short time is good for various reasons. Did you know that more than 85% of mammalian species are polyphasic sleepers, meaning that they sleep for short periods throughout the day. Not a longer nap but a little nap up to half an hour in the afternoon – after lunch helps in boosting your health.
Nappers are in good company: Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Napoleon, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and George W. Bush are known to have valued an afternoon nap.
Types of naps!
Naps can be typed in three different ways:
Planned napping (also called preparatory napping) involves taking a nap before you actually get sleepy. You may use this technique when you know that you will be up later than your normal bed time or as a mechanism to ward off getting tired earlier.
Emergency napping occurs when you are suddenly very tired and cannot continue with the activity you were originally engaged in. This type of nap can be used to combat drowsy driving or fatigue while using heavy and dangerous machinery.
Habitual napping is practiced when a person takes a nap at the same time each day. Young children may fall asleep at about the same time each afternoon or an adult might take a short nap after lunch each day.
There are several benefits of taking a nap in the afternoon. People who are able to take a nap in the afternoon should not miss the opportunity for the following reasons.
Afternoon nap helps in reducing stress hormone level and helps in gaining body strength. It reduces lethargy and helps in increasing the productivity level.
A short nap is usually recommended (20-30 minutes) for short-term alertness.
It increases concentration and keeps mind in active condition. Little sleeps helps in boosting the memory! When the mind is active, person feels a task is easy to handle rather than hard.
Studies show that by sleeping 10 to 20 minutes in the afternoon conditions related to heart reduce by 40%. It reduces coronary mortality.
Creativity level increase!! Little nap for an hour or so enhances creative thinking, boost cognitive processing, improve memory recall and generally clear out the cobwebs of mind.
By sleeping for few minutes in the afternoon, body muscle stress goes down and exercising becomes easy afterwards.
Nap after lunchtime helps the nerves to calm down. Studies also show that, people who sleep in the afternoon feel more relaxed, happy and less anxiety level in the system.
According to Psychology today, will power is often highest in the morning because the brain is refreshed by sleep. And, sneaking a mid-day “power nap” into your schedule can reverse the usual willpower drain from morning to night.
Scheduled napping has also been prescribed for those who are affected by narcolepsy (Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hallucinations)
Tips to nap:
Your sleep environment can greatly influence on your ability to fall asleep. Make sure that you have a restful place to lie down and that he temperature in the room is comfortable.
Try to limit the amount of noise heard and the extent of the light filtering in. While some studies have shown that just spending time in bed can be beneficial, it is better to try to catch some sleep.
If you take a nap too late in the day, it might affect your nighttime sleep patterns and make it difficult to fall asleep at your regular bedtime. If you try to take it too early in the day, your body may not be ready for more sleep.
What happens if your nap time exceeds too much?
Naps can leave people with sleep inertia, especially when they last more than 10-20 minutes. Sleep inertia is defined as the feeling of grogginess and disorientation that can come with awakening from a deep sleep. A long nap or a nap taken too late in the day may adversely affect the length and quality of nighttime sleep. If you have trouble sleeping at night, a nap will only amplify problems.
Napping has psychological benefits. A nap can be a pleasant luxury, a mini-vacation. It can provide an easy way to get some relaxation and rejuvenation. Keep in mind that getting enough sleep on regular basis is the best way to stay alert and feel your best. But when fatigue sets in, a quick nap can do wonders for your mental and physical stamina.
Recipe for Potato curry and red coconut chutney is below.
Method:
Wash and soak sago, idli rice, urad daal, fenugreek seeds and chenna daal in 2 cups water for 4 to 5 hours
Grind soaked ingredients using a grinder using same soaked water or add by adding fresh water. Grind the ingredients to masala dosa consistency.
Add required amount of salt and keep the batter for fermentation at appropriate temperature. If the temperature is favorable for fermentation then keep it overnight on kitchen counter top or use oven by setting the temperature between 78-83 F and leave it overnight. Place a plate beneath the vessel in case batter overflows.
Next day, remove the batter and stir it once or twice.
Heat a dosa pan or cast iron pan on medium heat. Pour a ladle of batter on center of the pan and spread it thin. Put little oil around and on the dosa batter.
Cook both sides of the dosa. Before removing dosa from the stove apply ½ tsp of red cocounut chutney on dosa and place a Tbs of potato curry at the center. Fold and serve hot dosa.
Serve hot dosa with potato curry, sambar or red coconut chutney.
Potato curry recipe: Boil 4-5 potatoes, peel the skin. In a deep vessel add 2 Tbs oil. When the oil is heated, add 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp grated ginger, few curry leaves and chopped onion (1/2 cup). Add salt and turmeric powder. Cook onion and now add smashed potato. Mix well on low flame. Turn off the flame and add 2 Tbs chopped cilantro and little lemon juice. Potato curry is ready for serving with dosa.
Red coconut chutney: This chutney is easy to prepare. Dry fry 1 Tbs of chenna daal, 1 inch tamarind, 6-8 red chillis together. Remove and allow it to cool. Grind these fried ingredients with 1 cup of grated coconut by adding ¼ cup water. Add salt as per your taste while grinding. Transfer chutney to a vessel and add seasoning on top. For seasoning – heat 2 tsp oil, add mustard, hing and few curry leaves.
If you have felt frightened or intimidated when walking
alone without company or alone at home? Then, you are not alone. Millions of
women face this issue. What should you do if are approached by a stranger or an
attacker? Have you thought about your safety
at work place, while walking and being alone at home? Are you afraid of
becoming victim of another violence or rape?
Unfortunately, there is an increase in the violence and rape
incidents in the society. Personal safety is an issue for everyone, especially
for women. How one can protect themselves while being alone?
Following violence are commonly recorded when women are
alone
Practice awareness: Self defense awareness is very critical. While alone, beware of yourself, your surroundings and be alert of any movements around you. Studies show that most criminals are adept at selecting or choosing victims who are unaware of their surroundings. What helps is, by being alert and keeping distance by projecting force presence, many such incidents can be stopped or avoided.
Sixth sense: Also known as gut instinct will help to bring insight on situations and people around. Women especially have this gift of gut instinct. Take full advantage of it and if you feel you are not safe, then probably it is time for you to get out of that place of not to be in the place.
Learn self-defense art before you get assaulted: Now a day’s self defense mechanisms are taught in most places. Watch videos and learn few moves. These self defense mechanisms are not like martial arts where you are aware of attacker. Self-defense training is with simulated assaults with an instructor who will show different scenarios of attacks and how to protect oneself.
Never go with predator: Stay in the primary crime scene, it means if someone confronts you and demands you to go with him, be quick to observe and do something that attracts people. Yell for help, run, use pepper spray, throw a stone towards something that gets attention. Throw your purse on one side and run other way.
Fight: You must fight. Defend yourself physically. It is your legal and moral right. As per the statistics, your odds of survival are greater if you fight back. Aim for attackers’ eyes first and then groin. If the person is holding, don’t hesitate to injure him and escape. Remember you will get only one chance.
Use pepper spray: This is a good tool, keep one in car or your vehicle where you can reach and one in your handbag or pocket. However, some people are surprisingly cannot be incapacitated. Along with spray, use your wits and body.
Home invasion: Put a camera outside in places – front door, back door, balcony, patio. Never open the door unless you are certain that you know who’s there outside. Verify and ask for the reason. Peep hole can tell you who is outside. Trust no one. Sometimes thieves and intruders can come in different disguise – policeman, postman or as handyman. Install deadlock and strong door. In case intruder breaks in and you are aware, move to a safe room to retreat. Do not keep windows open all the time.
Vehicle safety: Before getting inside the vehicle, if you find some materials like – paper, ruler, cloth etc. on your car, do not touch them, just walk back to the building. Seek help from trustworthy people. They will escort you to your vehicle. While inside the car, lock all doors and keep windows up while driving. Car jacking takes place in intersections, most time attacker approach from blind spot. Beware of someone approaching you in the intersections. Being generous is good, but don’t give lift to strangers or don’t pull window down to give money to beggars unless you feel safe. Never pull your car if someone points their finger pretending something wrong with your vehicle. While servicing your car, give only the car keys to service person. Keep your house keys safe. In case you are thrown into trunk, kick the back-tail lights and stick your arm out, wave wildly. This attracts everyone else but the predator.
Staying in hotel: If you have travel alone for work reason, stay in known hotels. Do not open the door to strangers. Make sure the person knocking on door is legitimate. Carry a door wedge while traveling. It secures door well.
Social media: Never talk about your whereabouts, tour, your status on social media. Be careful on what you are going to put on your social wall. Keep your address, phone number and other personal information confidential and absolutely there is no need to enter this information in your profile.
More than one stranger: If you are approached by more than one stranger, back off and run to a safe place. Yell for help, distract them somehow. If they offer help, don’t take it. Walk away.
Clothing, jewelry, late night: Unless you are accompanied by more than one person, avoid stepping out at late night. When parking vehicle at night, park under bright light and close to the building that you are visiting. Wear clothes that are comfortable for walking, avoid high heels as much as possible and wear less jewelry or no jewelry. Tight skirts will not help you to run, so also high heels.
Image: Courtesy: Delhi police & Wikipedia
In case you get into a situation, run, run, run! Stat put and do not allow predator to take you to abandoned area. If it happens, then the likelihood of you getting injured seriously increases multi-fold. Never give up on your self-defense. With increasing crime on women, whether it is home or outside it is never late to learn the safety tips and to be alert where ever you go.
Rust stains not only spoil the look of items, we might have to end up discarding or trashing the items or end up replacing the items. Iron and iron alloys can get rust when exposed to moisture as well as air. When rust come in contact with many materials including clothes, it can leave behind stains that won’t come off easily. One can use commercial stain remover to remove rust stain. However, the chemicals that are present in the commercial stain removers can be harsh and exposing ourselves to harsh chemicals can make us sick. Try these tips to remove rust stains at home with easily available non-harmful materials.
Rust stain from knife: Take a large onion and plunge the knife few times in onion. Strong natural chemicals present in onion can help to remove stain.
Surface rust: Mix turpentine and salt – use a old cloth and apply the mix on surface.
From porcelain dish: Apply toothpaste using old toothbrush and brush the stain.
Ceramic tiles: Use hydrogen peroxide and tartar- mix 3:2 of hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar and prepare paste. Using a sponge apply paste on rust stain. Let it sit for few minutes. Scrub using a brush and wash with water.
Metal boxes: Use car wax to clean the metal box and remove rust
Iron skillet: Place coffee filter to absorb moisture that prevents rusting.
Stainless steel: Apply lighter liquid using a old cloth and rub it on the surface followed by washing liquid.
On many surfaces: Mix lemon juice and salt, prepare paste. Apply the mix on rust stain. Let it sit for few minutes (an hour). Wipe using dry cloth. The abrasive properties of both salt and acid removes the stain.
Floor and carpet: Mix vinegar and salt in a bowl. Saturate a cloth with the mix and rub it over the stain or leave soaked cloth on surface for an hour or so. The action of vinegar and salt is like lemon juice and salt – both are abrasive and act on stain.
Kitchen stainless steel sink: A dash of friendly baking soda helps to remove rust from stainless steel. It has abrasive property and clears rust. Prepare baking soda paste with water, apply on the rust. Use a paper towel and clean after few minutes.
Fabric rust stain: Use white vinegar or lemon juice. Place the fabric on a towel. Saturate the stain with white vinegar or lemon juice. Using another towel blot the area. Put clothes to dry under Sunlight. Sunlight helps to fade the any left behind mark.
