All posts by Sumana Rao

Don't worry about the people in your past; There's a reason they didn't make it to your future.
Failure is success in progress

Failure is an opportunity

Most people are afraid of failure in life. Truth is everyone in their life faces failure. Failure should not stop us on focusing on our goals- because failure is an opportunity. There are many successful people in the world – do you know all these successful people have failed but never gave up after they faced hardship? Luck will not just fall on anybody’s lap. We need to create an environment and be ready to accept any type of challenge in the life. All successful people whom we see today would have gone through lots of struggle, failure and trying again and again to achieve their goal.  Stories of these people should inspire and motivate us when we face failure in life.

If you have never failed, you have never lived! Take failures that you will face with grace because you’ll learn more in a single failure than in a lifetime of success. There are lessons in all our faults that are attempting to take us to our ultimate vision. Get the idea going and trust the process.

Everything you try to achieve your goal gives you experience and knowledge. We always gain while we try hard to reach the result.  Failure is also part of your journey in the road to success. Never be afraid of failure. In fact, one should embrace failure and learn from it to move on in life. Success feels very sweet after many attempts!

What we learn by failures and attempts?

1. Great experience :

No matter how hard you try not to face failure, it will happen in life anytime. One should have no fear attitude toward failure. When failure happens don’t take it too seriously and do not be discouraged. Failure also has a value. Think that it is  lesson and experience and fight back to get in track. Success will follow in your next attempt(s). Failure makes us reconsider and find new methods to achieve your goals!

2. Understanding your capability:

To make the impossible possible one has to understand their inner capacity and capability. This is where failure helps. Failure makes us try hard, push ourselves out of our comfort zone to reach goal. It builds confidence by removing the fear. “One of the biggest secrets to success is operating inside your strength zone but outside of your comfort zone,” –  Ralph Heath

3. Failure makes you more successful and yet keeps you humble:

When the ego is in charge we won’t learn from the mistakes that we make. Failure humbles a person and helps in reevaluating a situation. Mind prepares automatically, for such situations in future and helps in avoid doing the same mistakes again. We will start listening to views of others who has more experience than us and the ego goes away. In order to be successful, we have to accept that we were wrong, evaluate, learn and move on. It polishes our character and gives us more success than we think.

4. Helps to grow in life:

After failure, everyone goes through emotional low. It is natural and inevitable. But how we respond to our failures determines the road to success. People who take failure personally and give up on goal will lose in life. People who take failure positively and think it is a small set back in life, will be like phoenix bird and raise from the situation to grow in life.

Failure helps in understanding what went wrong and what difficulty we may face in life.  Best way to learn the lesson and grow after a failure in life is to read inspiring life stories of people who are successful. To accomplish something in life, instead of giving up – find better ways to reach the goal.

5. Failure is good – why?

Because, failure is a redirection. It shows you where you shouldn’t be. Failure is an opportunity. It’s a chance to re-evaluate and come back stronger with better reasoning. Failure is not fatal. No matter how hard it may be know that failure simply means you get another shot to try it all again.

What we all need to remember is: failure simply means in positive way- there is something to be learned or another direction to be taken.  Each failure is simply a feedback of how to perfect the craft. Failure won’t kill anyone but fear to fail  may keep anyone from success.

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Reference: Healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: “Albert Einstein 1879 – 1955” by oneredsf1 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 28, 2019
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Cancer Diet

Good Nutrition During Cancer Treatment

Good nutrition is especially important if you have cancer because both the illness and its treatments can change the way you eat.  Cancer and  cancer treatments can also affect the way your body tolerates certain foods and uses nutrients.

The nutrient needs of people with cancer vary from person to person. Eating well while you’re being treated for cancer might help you to fight cancer in following ways:

  • Feel better.
  • Keep up your strength and energy.
  • Maintain your weight and your body’s store of nutrients.
  • Better tolerate treatment-related side effects.
  • Lower your risk of infection.
  • Heal and recover faster.

These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins, and minerals.

ProteinsWe need protein for growth, to repair body tissue, and to keep our immune systems healthy. When your body doesn’t get enough protein, it might break down muscle for the fuel it needs. This makes it take longer to recover from illness and can lower resistance to infection. People with cancer often need more protein than usual. After  surgery,  chemotherapy, or  radiation therapy, extra protein is usually needed to heal tissues and help fight infection.

Good sources of protein include: low-fat dairy products, nuts and nut butters, dried beans, peas and lentils, and soy foods (if you are a non-vegetarian please click on the link at the end of the article for recommendation).

Fats: Fats play an important role in nutrition. Fats and oils are made of fatty acids and serve as a rich source of energy for the body. The body breaks down fats and uses them to store energy, insulate body tissues, and transport some types of vitamins through the blood. You may have heard that some fats are better for you than others. When considering the effects of fats on your heart and cholesterol level, choose monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats more often than saturated fats or trans fats.

  • Monounsaturated fats are found mainly in vegetable oils like olive, canola, and peanut oils.
  • Polyunsaturated fats are found mainly in vegetable oils like safflower, sunflower, corn, and flax seed. They are also the main fats found in seafood.

Saturated fats are mainly found in animal sources like meat and poultry, whole or reduced-fat milk, cheese, and butter. Some vegetable oils like coconut, palm kernel oil, and palm oil are saturated. Saturated fats can raise cholesterol and increase your risk for heart disease. Less than 10% of your calories should come from saturated fat. Trans-fatty acids are formed when vegetable oils are processed into solids, such as margarine or shortening. Sources of trans fats include snack foods and baked goods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil or vegetable shortening. Trans fats are also found naturally in some animal products, like dairy products. Trans fats can raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol. Avoid trans fats as much as you can.

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates (potato, spaghetti, pasta, rice etc) give the body the fuel it needs for physical activity and proper organ function. The best sources of carbohydrates – fruits, vegetables, and whole grains – also supply needed vitamins and minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients to the body’s cells. Whole grains or foods made from plants contain all the essential parts and naturally occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed. Whole grains are found in cereals, breads, and flours. Some whole grains, such as quinoa, brown rice, or barley, can be used as side dishes or part of an entrée. When choosing a whole-grain product, look for the words “whole grain,” “stone ground,” “whole ground,” “whole-wheat flour,” “whole-oat flour,” or “whole-rye flour.” Breads and other products labeled “100% whole wheat” don’t contain refined flour.

Fiber: is the part of plant foods that the body can’t digest. There are 2 types of fiber. Insoluble fiber helps to move food waste out of the body quickly, and soluble fiber binds with water in the stool to help keep stool soft.

Water: Water and liquids or fluids are vital to health. All body cells need water to function. If you don’t take in enough fluids or if you lose fluids through vomiting or diarrhea, you can become dehydrated.If this happens, the fluids and minerals that help keep your body working can become dangerously out of balance. . 8 ounce per day water is recommended but it might not be enough for your body. You may need extra fluids if you’re vomiting, have diarrhea, or even if you’re just not eating much. Keep in mind that all liquids (soups, milk, even ice cream and gelatin) count toward your fluid goals.

Vitamins and minerals: The body needs small amounts of vitamins and minerals to help it function properly. A person who eats a balanced diet with enough calories and protein usually gets plenty of vitamins and minerals. But it can be hard to eat a balanced diet when you’re being treated for cancer, especially if you have treatment side effects that last for a long time. In this case, your doctor or dietitian may suggest a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. If your food intake has been limited for several weeks or months because of the effects of treatment, be sure to tell your doctor. You might need to be checked for vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

Most are found naturally in foods. They are also sold as supplements in pill and liquid form. They help the body use the energy (calories) found in foods. If you’re thinking of taking a vitamin or supplement, be sure to discuss this with your doctor first. Some people with cancer take large amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements to try to boost their immune system or even destroy cancer cells. But some of these substances can be harmful, especially when taken in large doses. In fact, large doses of some vitamins and minerals may make chemotherapy and radiation therapy less effective.

If your oncologist says it’s OK for you to take a vitamin during treatment, it may be best to choose a supplement with no more than 100% of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamins and minerals and one without iron (unless your doctor thinks you need iron).

Antioxidants: Antioxidants include vitamins A, C, and E; selenium and zinc; and some enzymes that absorb and attach to free radicals, preventing them from attacking normal cells.

If you want to take in more antioxidants, health experts recommend eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, which are good sources of antioxidants. Taking large doses of antioxidant supplements or vitamin-enhanced foods or liquids is usually not recommended while getting chemo or radiation therapy. Talk with your doctor to find out the best time to take antioxidant supplements.

Phytonutrients: Phytonutrients or phytochemicals are plant compounds like carotenoids, lycopene, resveratrol, and phytosterols that are thought to have health-protecting qualities. They’re found in plants such as fruits and vegetables, or things made from plants, like tofu or tea. Phytochemicals are best taken in by eating the foods that contain them rather than taking supplements or pills.

Herbs: Herbs have been used to treat disease for hundreds of years, with mixed results. Today, herbs are found in many products, like pills, liquid extracts, teas, and ointments. Many of these products are harmless and safe to use, but others can cause harmful side effects. Some may even interfere with proven cancer treatments, including chemo, radiation therapy, and recovery from surgery. If you’re interested in using products containing herbs, talk about it with your oncologist or nurse first.

Safety considerations: Many people believe that if they find a pill or supplement in stores, it’s safe and it works. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rules to help ensure that supplements contain what their labels claim they do, but the supplement’s safety and its effects on the body are not addressed by any FDA rules. The FDA does not make manufacturers of these products print possible side effects on their labels. And the FDA can’t pull a dietary supplement or herbal product from the market unless they have proof that the product is unsafe.

Tell your cancer care team about any over-the-counter products or supplements you‘re using or are thinking about using. Take the bottle(s) to your doctor to talk about the dose and be sure that the ingredients do not interfere with your health or cancer treatments. Some other safety tips:

Ask your cancer care team for reliable information on dietary supplements.

Check the product labels for both the quantity and concentration of active ingredients in each product.

Stop taking the product and call your cancer care team right away, if you have side effects, like wheezing, itching, numbness, or tingling in your limbs.

Source reference: https://www.cancer.org


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 27, 2019
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Natural ways to remove wrinkle

Tips To Get Rid of Face Wrinkles

Are you worried about wrinkles and black marks that are giving you older look?

Try these easy and simple tips at home to get “wrinkle free” skin.

1) To 1/4 tsp of carrot juice add 1 tsp of honey. Apply this on face and neck. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes and clean the face using a cotton ball dipped in very dilute baking soda (1 part baking soda and 10 part water).

2) To avoid getting wrinkles on face: Add equal part of glycerin and honey with turmeric powder. Apply this on face and neck. Leave for 15-20 minutes and wash using warm water.

3) To 1 tsp of turmeric powder add 1.5 tsp of fresh yogurt/ homemade curd. Mix both and apply o face. Leave for about half an hour. Wash using warm water.

4) To one mashed ripened banana (nendra variety is good) add rose water and mix well. Apply this on face leave for an hour and wash using warm water. This removes wrinkle as well as gives a fair skin.

5) Mix a tsp of lemon juice and turmeric powder. Apply this on face and leave for an hour. Wash face using warm water.

6) Chewing gum: Chew low calorie chewing gums for about 20-30 minutes. This will give exercise to face muscle and removes wrinkles as well as double chin.

7) To a tsp of glycerin, add honey turmeric and lemon juice. Mix well, apply on face and neck area. This releases wrinkles and makes face brighter and removes black marks.

8) To get a younger looking skin: Wash fenugreek leaves and make a paste. Apply this on face 3 hours before taking a shower. Wash face after 3 hours. This helps in reducing pimple, black heads and dry skin.

9) Sandalwood paste and rose water: Prepare sandalwood paste with rose water. Apply this to face and hands. This reduces wrinkles.

10) Sandalwood and yogurt: Mix these two ingredients, apply on face and neck and,  leave it  for 15-20 minutes. This gives a fair look to skin by removing wrinkles and any black mark.

11) Aloe vera liquid, turmeric and honey: For a tsp of Aloe vera gel and 1/2 tsp of turmeric and honey. Apply this on face, around eyes. Get rid of the wrinkle with this simple formula.

12) Yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric and sesame oil: Mix all these four ingredients in equal parts. Apply on face and neck. Leave it for about 2 hours and wash face using warm water. This not only removes the wrinkles  also gives a glowing look.

13) Besan (chickpea powder) and yogurt: Mix besan powder and yogurt to prepare a paste. Apply on face and neck. Leave it for about an hour. Wash face using lukewarm water.

14) Red sandalwood paste: Prepare a paste of red sandalwood using 2 tsp of milk. Apply this on face and leave it overnight. Wash face next day morning. If you feel it is uncomfortable then, morning apply this and leave for couple of hours to get some good results.

15) Rose water, turmeric, sandalwood powder: Mix all three ingredients – 1 tsp rose water, 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1/2 tsp sandalwood.  Apply this paste on face and neck. Leave it for about 1/2 hour. Rinse face using warm water.

Disclaimer: If you are allergic to anyone of the above ingredient then we suggest you to test it on small area of the unexposed skin. If you develop any rashes then stop the remedy.

Sources:

  • Healthylife.WerIndia.com
  • B . Lobo: Griha Sangathi, 1996, Lobo Publishers, Mangalore
  • Image credit: Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Sleep : Important for Mind and Body

Sleep : Important for Mind and Body

We all have nights where we find it hard to fall asleep, find ourselves waking up in the night or have dreams that disturb our sleep. This is perfectly normal. Often, these problems will resolve themselves after a short period of time. Almost everyone has trouble sleeping once in a while – worries from the day have a tendency to stick in your brain and spill over into the night, and keep you from mentally taking the break your brain needs to recharge. If poor sleep is having a significant impact on your daily life, you will generally be considered to have a sleep problem. An uncontrollable wandering mind plays a key role in primary insomnia, according to a new study that links the sleep disorder with attention problems when awake.

Insomnia is, unfortunately, a common sleep disorder that can be short-term or ongoing. It can be the symptom or side effect of another problem, or its own distinct disorder.  Brain scans of insomniacs have revealed how regions of the brain associated with wandering thoughts do not shut down when the brain is given complex tasks, making sufferers put more effort into daytime jobs than healthy sleepers.

There are many common approaches that one can try to get rid of insomnia from life. The key is to success, however, is discipline!

Some common habits that can cause insomnia:

  • Eat a late dinner (less than 3 hours before sleep)
  • Have caffeine less than 5 hours before sleep
  • Watch tv or stare at the computer screen before bed. Bright lights activate your nervous system and can cause insomnia.
  • Have heavy, spicy, or fatty meal for dinner. Digestion takes up a lot of energy. While digesting, your body is active and you may be forced to stay awake along with your working belly.
  • With social life and tv shows being on everyone’s to do list in the evening, we got disconnected from the original harmonious existence with nature. Going against the law of nature has its price. According to ayurveda most people should go to bed before 10pm to get the most restful sleep.

Some common remedies (Ayurvedic too) that one can try are listed below:

  • One of the simplest and most effective ways to induce sleep is to rub some oil on the scalp and the soles of the feet before going to bed. Use sesame oil, brahmi oil, jasmine oil, or coconut oil and massage gently for a few minutes. Slightly warming the oil before applying is helpful.
  • Drink a cup of warm almond milk before going to bed.
  • Have a vata-pacifying dinner: include foods that are warm, moist, and grounding. Avoid eating dry or raw foods, and drinking ice-cold beverages.
  • Give yourself a positive affirmation, let go of the negative ‘I can’t sleep’. Positive affirmations to try: I sleep like a baby, I sleep well, my sleep is restful and nourishing to my body
  • Chamomile tea is caffeine free and is a traditional remedy for insomnia.
  • Valerian root is great to relieve stress and induce relaxation. It is available in tea or drops form at most health foods stores.
  • Grind coconut, jaggery and few poppy seeds. Boil and add little milk. Drink. This reduces body pain and gives good night sleep.
  • Try a guided relaxation before sleep. One can practice below mentioned yoga poses to keep mind calm and body to relax.
  • Nutmeg: Nutmeg can help induce sleep. Apply a fine paste made of nutmeg powder mixed with an equal amount of ghee around your eyes and on your forehead before bed to help you fall asleep.

How much sleep one’s body need?

Your sleep needs as determined by your Ayurvedic body type:

  • Vata = 6-7 hours
  • Pitta = 7-8 hours
  • Kapha = 8-9 hours

Yoga poses that can help to get sleep:

1. Seated Forward Bend:

What it does: This relaxing pose is calming and restorative. It also can help improve digestion. If digestive issues are keeping you up or waking you at night, this can help.

Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you, focusing on sitting up as straight as possible. Inhale, and raise your arms over your head, flexing your feet as you dive forward. Grab on to your feet, ankles, calves, or thighs. Do not worry about how far you go. When you feel a gentle stretch in the backs of your legs, you have gone far enough to get the benefits of this pose. Keep your back as straight as you can, and stay here for 10-12 slow breaths.

  1. Bridge Pose:

What it does: A back bend might not seem like a sleep-inducing pose, but it can actually help you calm down and prepare for sleep. Inversions like bridge pose alleviate stress, which is one of the major factors that can contribute to insomnia.

Start by lying on your back, then bend your knees, drawing your feet in, so that they’re flat on the floor right by your bottom. On your next inhale, press down with your feet and your arms to raise your bottom off of the floor. Use your inner thigh muscles to keep your legs from falling out to the sides, and clasp your hands together. Squeeze your shoulder blades together gently, and breathe in this posture for 10-15 slow breaths, then slowly release your back onto the floor.

  1. Reclining Bound Angle Pose:

What it does: This is a relaxation pose that stretches your legs and reduces stress to help you sleep better and more deeply. It’s especially beneficial if racing thoughts or a restless body are keeping you awake.

Start in a seated position, with your feet touching each other. Lean back, so one elbow is on the floor, then lower yourself down so that your back is resting on the floor, and focus on rolling your shoulders back and pulling your shoulder blades together. Your arms should be in a neutral position, palms up, like in the photo. Close your eyes and breathe, staying in this posture for as long as you like. You can use a blanket or bolster to support your feet, like in the photo above, if necessary. You can also tuck pillows or folded blankets under your knees or thighs, if you feel like you need more support there.

  1. Shoulder Stand:

What it does: A basic inversion like shoulder stand helps you slow down and relax. This posture calms the mind and relieves leg and foot soreness that might be keeping you awake.

Begin by lying on your back, then bring your knees into your chest. Place your arms flat on the floor, so that your hands extend past your bottom, palms on the floor. Push with your arms, and curl your spine to bring your legs straight up into the air. Bend your elbows, and place your hands on your lower back to support yourself in this posture. If you find shoulder stand too intense, try Legs  Up the Wall instead. It is a simpler variation with many of the same benefits.

  1. Shavasana:

What it does: This pose may not seem like much, but the practice of lying still and letting your body soak in the poses you just practiced helps prepare your brain for rest and relaxation.

Lie on your back with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms in a neutral palms-up position by your sides. Close your eyes, and focus on your breath. Notice how your belly gently rises and falls as you inhale and exhale. Concentrate on center or middle of your eye brows and feel relaxed.

Simple diet and lifestyle rules keeps human nervous system and body balanced and healthy, while turning sleep into what it originally is meant to be – time to restore and recharge.

References:

1)  http://www.homeveda.com/

2) http://holisticonline.com/

 Image courtesy: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 26, 2019
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Unlimited Artificial blood from Immortalized stem cells

Unlimited Artificial blood from Immortalized stem cells

Often, we hear about shortage of blood supply in blood banks. There are thousands of donors who donate blood frequently as they know the value of donating blood. Donating blood saves lives and families. However, lack of awareness or scared of thought of losing blood many does not want to donate blood. People who live in war zone countries and soldiers who are protecting us suffer from wounds and when they need, blood should be available. Blood becomes shortage when there is a difficulty in finding matching blood types and storage issues.

According to WHO, every year 108 million donations of blood made globally but in developing countries lack donor numbers and short of capacity to store blood in larger quantities and screening blood for diseases makes it difficult to get blood on time.

Artificial blood is product made to act as a substitute for RBC (Red Blood Cells) to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.

Unlimited Artificial blood synthesis using stem cells

Scientists from various research Institute has been working on producing artificial blood. One of the earlier work has grown mature RBC from donated stem cells to make a concoction  to store in room temperature, to reduce risk of disease and compatible with any blood group.  However, the problem was small numbers of RBC was produced before a new donation of stem cells is required. This procedure relies upon a type of stem cell that manufactures RBC in the human body.

Recently researchers from University of Bristol and NHS blood and transplant came up with a alternate solution by developing immortalized cell lines that can be cultured indefinitely to produce artificial blood on much larger number (scale). This technique created immortal cells by manipulating stem cells in a way the traps stem cells in early stage of development.

Instead of turning adult stem cells directly to mature RBC, premature RBC cells called erythroblasts are used. Immortalizing erythroblasts to get generate continuous supply of mature RBC results in large scale of artificial blood production. It means, when stem cells are in early stage of development they divide frequently to produce unlimited number of cells!

According to Jan Frayne one of the author of the research studies, “by taking an alternative approach we have generated the first human immortalized adult erythroid line (Bristol Erythroid Line Adult or BEL-A) and in doing so, we have demonstrated a feasible way to sustainable manufacture RBC for clinical use from invitro culture”

According to co-author Professor Dave Anstee of National Institute for Health Research and Blood transplant research unit,  at present the first therapeutic use of cultured RBC product is likely to be for patients with rare blood groups because suitable RBC donations can be difficult to source. The intention of producing artificial blood in large quantity by using this alternate procedure is not to replace blood donation but to provide specialist treatment for specific patients group. Moreover patients who suffer from life threatening conditions like sickle cell disease, thalassemia who require multiple transfusion of well-matched blood are going to get more benefit from this.

No HBOC’s are currently approved for use on humans in the US or Europe. The first clinical trial of artificial blood transfusion will possibly take place this year 2018 and for now they will use traditional technique method and not the recent alternate research method.

The research has been published in Nature Communications.

References:

Blood donation Image by Robert DeLaRosa from Pixabay (Free for commercial use)


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 25, 2019
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Plumeria geranium scented plants

Perfume your home naturally with these plants

Plant fragrances helps us to overcome many conditions related to mind. Aroma of plants helps us to keep calm, reduces anxiety, depression, brings alertness to brain and reduces stress. Instead of spaying synthetic air freshers, grow plants that helps your health.

Apart from rose there are many plants that produce good natural perfume.

These plants can be grown in pots or directly in the garden soil. Open the windows when they flower and the fragrance travels inside the house to make your day! Following plants helps you to perfume your home natural ways!!

Lavender perfume

  1. Lemon balm: Belongs to mint family. When leaves are rubbed between fingertips releases lemony scent. It is easy to grow lemon balm in pots. Place the pots near window and get benefits from its aromatic property.
  2. Plumeria: Is a small beautiful tree famously reminds us of Hawaii and Caribbean islands. Flowers are not only beautiful also highly fragrant especially during night time.
  3. Scented leaf geranium: Thick leaves of Pelargonium or scented leaf geranium when rubbed produces strong and sweet fragrance. Pot and keep them in bright sun.jasmine-gardenia-perfume-healthylife-werindia
  4. Lavender: Purple flowers in spike is a famous aromatic plant. English lavender has more aroma than other lavenders. It likes sunlight so, grow them in pots and keep in bright sun.
  5. Lilac: Lilacs are used as cut flowers for decoration. They produce sweet aroma that travels far long distance.
  6. Passionflower: Especially blue passionflower produces scent to attract bees. The colorful sepals and petals make it attractive and gives out minty, fruity aroma.Citrus perfume
  7. Jasmine: Known for its irresistible fragrance and beauty common jasmine or poet’s jasmine is very popular. Fragrance emitted by the flowers spreads to wide area. Flowers bloom throughout summer.
  8. Gardenia: Beautiful and gorgeous flowers of gardenia is one of the most wanted flowers for garden. When flowers it produces sweetest fragrant blooms. Growing gardenia is bit tricky, however if you are up to challenge try growing them in garden or in larger pots.
  9. Stephanotis: A beautiful plant Stephanotis has bright white fragrant flowers. Plant is a vine and flowers appear in cluster. It is good indoor plant.
  10. Citrus: Fruits and floral buds of citrus plants produce sweet aroma. One can grow dwarfed miniature trees of any type of citrus in large pots under good sunlight.
  11. Onicidum orchid: Also known as twinkle orchid, oncidium produces flowers that are emit spicy vanilla scent. It is easy to grow onicidum in pot under good sunlight.
  12. Ylang-ylang: A tropical plant yalng- yalng is one earliest known perfume tree in history. Essential oil of this plant has sedative effect and brings good sleep. Greenish-yellow flowers blooms profusely year round, producing exotic fragrance to the far long distances.

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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How to handle peer pressure?

How to handle peer pressure?

When you are in schools our friends who are our age group are your peers. Sometimes your friends might ask you to do or say something against your will. You may feel pressurized to do things on your own or against your will. This is called peer pressure.

Peer pressure can be good or bad

When your friend asks you to participate and play sport with him it is a good thing. If he convinces you to participate in a school play for the first time, it is a good thing. Because it is encouragement and it will help you to grow both physically and mentally.

Sometimes the peer pressure can be bad – for example, if your friend forces you to participate in harassing or bullying a fellow student or a junior student and you know it is bad then it is bad! This bad peer pressure makes you think several time and brings fear and unhappiness in your mind. In bad peer pressure, one can try to convince you to do dangerous stuffs too. It is negative peer pressure and not good at all.

How to respond to bad peer pressure?

Your friends may try to convince you to do something which you don’t want. Then be strong and make up your mind not to do it. Don’t fall for it. The harder they push you to do, you must resist because you know it is either dangerous or can harm others or is not good for you.

When someone tells you behave negatively, walk away saying I cannot do it. It does not mean you are a loser. It means you are smarter, very careful and you are mature enough to understand the outcome of doing such things.

Sometimes they might use tactics to make you feel worse and sorry about yourself. For this they will use such sentences and might make you angry about yourself. Keep your balance, don’t give up. Always be alert and if someone pushes you to edge give it back nicely, politely.

While putting pressure, your friends may say several things. You should be able to answer firmly.

For example,

If you don’t want to do something that you were instructed to do by a friends, they may say “you are a loser” or “Don’t be a loser”

Your answer can be: “But this loser won’t bet benched for the rest of the season” or “I don’t like to be a part of it, sorry”

Another tactic of bad peer pressure is:

Someone may say “Oh, we are good friends and you should do it” Or “ If you are a good friend, you will”

Your answer should be: “a good friend will not try to make a friend to do something, which he don’t want to do” or “a good friend will not put other friend in trouble”

Another way they might try to force you or convince you with some logic

“Only babies are scared to do this” or “only girls are not allowed to do it”

You must answer “ I am aware of it, still I don’t want to do it”

While growing your friends may try to drag you to perform dangerous acts, smoking, drinking and they might say it is for fun. Your friend might try to convince you by saying  “No one will find out” or “Your parents will never find out”.

Your answer can be “Yes, You obviously don’t know anything about my parents” or “ They trust me and I don’t want to disappoint them”

As you are aware that smoking and drinking is not good, you can say “we don’t need these activities to have fun” or “Don’t force me, If you think it is fun for you, be happy to keep it to yourself” Or a simple, straight forward answer is “ I don’t like it, I don’t feel like it”

Another way is getting out of the situation by suggesting some other activities  like games, sports, movies, dinner, discussion or start hanging out with friends who don’t force you to do what you don’t want to do.

Practice these types of answers few time, you will get courage and won’t be under peer pressure.

Don’t be afraid to say no to negative (bad) peer pressure as it can put you in situation which can harm you and you may feel guilty about it and unhappy about doing such things. Instead, stand tall, be confident, resist and reject things which you don’t want to do. Be proud of yourself for resisting, for not getting into do things which your mind does not like.

For more: www.healthylife.werindia.com

 

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Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 24, 2019
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Spinach soup hot and sou

Hot and sour spinach soup

A combination of Indian and Chinese flavors, hot and sour spinach soup is good for throat and helps in easy digestion. Adding finely chopped vegetables adds taste to this soup and gives comfort to stomach. It is a low calorie soup with almost no fat.

Ingredients:

  1. Spinach – One small bag
  2. Cilantro – Chopped ½ bunch
  3. Green chilli- 2 or 3
  4. Soy sauce -1 Tbsp
  5. Vinegar – 2 tsp
  6. Corn starch – 1 Tbsp
  7. Spring onion – Chopped for garnishing
  8. Chopped vegetable mix – Carrot, cabbage, capscium

Preparation:

  1. Wash and clean spinach leaves. Cut into pieces
  2. Blend spinach with coriander and green chillies to a paste
  3. Place a deep-frying pan on medium heat, add oil. Add finely chopped ginger and garlic pieces, sauté for few seconds
  4. Add spinach coriander paste and fry for couple of minutes
  5. Now add finely chopped carrot, cabbage and capsicum, continue frying
  6. Add 3 cups water and salt to the spinach mix and bring it to boil
  7. Add soy sauce and little vinegar
  8. To ¼ cup water add 3 Tbsp cornstarch, mix well and to boiling spinach vegetable mix. Continue stirring until thickened.
  9. Simmer for couple of minutes. Garnish with chopped spring onion and serve hot with bread, fried rice or spring rolls

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 18, 2019
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