20 weight loss foods in every Indian kitchen

20 weight loss foods in every Indian kitchen

Weight loss diets or weight loss foods do not require a 'special ingredient', they constitute foods that you see every day in your Indian kitchens.

These weight loss foods can be eaten directly or consumed in combination meals that you eat daily. Some health enthusiasts avoid typical Indian dishes that are are creamy and submerged in ghee or butter, but you can opt for healthy cooking methods using these same India-centric ingredients found in every Indian kitchen. These are weight loss foods common to Indian grocery markets and kitchens that can actually help you lose weight and gain health, using proper cooking methods.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #1

Moong dal

It is every Indian's favourite which ever class he/she comes from. This dal is full of Vitamin A, B, C and E and many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. It is often advised by dieticians to replace fatty foods with Moon dal as it is a weight loss food that is rich in proteins and fibre, so one feels fuller after having a bowl of dal for a long time and curbs your cravings. Along with weight loss, moon dal it also benefits the metabolism, immune system and protects against fatal diseases.

Enjoy this weight loss food with chapattis or you can also have them as sprouts with a tbsp of chilli powder, chat masala, a tbsp of lemon juice and salt to taste

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #2

Walnuts

As quoted by sciencedaily.com , according to U.S researcher, Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton, "Walnuts rank above peanuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios and other nuts. A handful of walnuts contains almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut" This weight loss food tastes delicious and low in cholesterol. While consuming this weight loss food one needs to remember that these are high calorie food that needs to be eaten in moderation.

Just when you are sitting for you meal add this weight loss foods to your salads, they will add crunch and taste to your boring veggie!

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #3

Spinach

This green veggie is rich in fiber, water, antioxidants, vitamins K and A, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron. All this just in 10 calories per cup of this amazing weight loss food! One bowl of spinach will make you feel fuller and stab your food craving in your stomach itself. Spinach also helps in curing constipation, being a good source of fibre. It cleanses the digestive tract.

Nutritive Value per 100gms of edible portion
Calories ( kcal): 26
Proteins (gms): 2
Carbohydrates(gms): 2.9
Fat( gms): 0.7
Iron( mg): 1.14

If you aren't a big fan of this weight loss food, try our innovative spinach recipes to fall in love with spinach.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #4

Bitter gourd

No don't make that face, if you cook in the right way this bitter veggie can taste yummy too. This weight loss food is effective to reduce the total calorie you intake while having a meal so that you are eating fewer calories than you burn.

Bitter gourd is believed to contain hypoglycaemic or insulin like properties designated as plant - insulin which helps in lowering blood sugar levelsthios weight loss food is also beneficial in treating blood disorders like boils, itching, psoriasis and other fungal disorders

Use bitter gourd in low-calorie, filling recipes, such as vegetable soups or stews. Another option is to eat it as a side dish with lean protein, such as chicken breast, fish or a soy-based vegetarian burger.

When cooking bitter gourd, chop them and keep them in salted water for 5 mins, this will reduce the bitterness in the veggie. Then go ahead and use thme in stew and soups. You can also keep this weight loss food as a side dish with other lean protein Indian dishes.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #5

Beetroot

According to Livestrong, Andrew Jones and other researchers at the University of Exeter's School of Sport and Health Sciences, discovered that drinking beet juice gives your body a stamina boost allowing you to exercise longer and burn more calories.

Beets are a blood-building herb that detoxifies blood and renews it with minerals and natural sugars. They are high in potassium, folic acid, and fiber, yet low in calories. This weight loss food also aids in eliminating toxins from your body.

Their edible leaves offer protein, calcium, fiber, beta carotene, vitamins A and C, and some B vitamins. We always restrict them to salads, but did you know there are more ways to adding this beautiful vegetable to your palate.

Beetroot Juice
2 medium sized beetroots
2 oranges
5 slice of fresh pineapple
Lemon Juice
Mint - 1 small sprig

Method
Peel the beetroot, and the oranges. Peel and core the pineapple.Cut all the above into chunks, then add the lemon juice, and place in the blender.Blend for 45 seconds or until smooth. Strain and serve, garnished with mint.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #6

Almonds

A study from the University of Toronto found that people who ate almonds with white bread didn't experience the same blood sugar surges as those who ate just the slice. And the higher blood sugar levels rise, the lower they fall; that dip leads to hunger, causing people to overeat. Plus, blood sugar changes cause the body to make insulin, which can increase abdominal fats.

This weight loss food is rich with important nutrients like monosaturated fats, vitamin E, folic acid, protein and dietary fibre. Almonds works best as a quick healthy snack when you are travelling or at your office desk, or the moment when you want to hog to something unhealthy. This weight loss food also keeps your blood sugar steady.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #7

Apples

According to self.com, a study from Penn State University at University Park revealed that people who chomped an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different snack.

Apple is one of the best weight loss foods, having this great fruit a day not only keeps the doctor away but also makes you skinnier. With 4 gms of fiber in a medium apple, they can make you feel fuller for a longer time as the fiber take time to break down. Apples are a sweet and crunchy snack full of all sorts of nutritional goodness, and they taste good on their own and in salads, desserts, and savory dishes, too.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #8

Black Beans

Beans stay in your digestive system longer and add to the feeling of fullness and a satisfied feeling, aiding weight loss. They contain soluble and insoluble fiber, protein, and a type of fat-burning carb called resistant starch. Black beans are really one of the greatest weight loss foods.

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, bean eaters weigh less and have slimmer middles.They are a 'heart healthy' addition to any diet as they contain an abundance of soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #9

Cauliflower

However beautiful this veggie looks it is as strong enough to fight toxic compounds in your body. This weight loss food is rich is indoles, glucosinolates and thiocyanates that bumps off all the toxic waste in your body. Cauliflower is low in calories while still offering filling fiber. This veggie is also super versatile and can make a great replacement for heavier foods.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #10

Cinnamon

Everything is nice about this weight loss food. Just 1/2 teaspoon each day can help control your blood sugar and prevent the post meal insulin spike that can trigger your body to store fat rather than burn it. This nutty flavor spice is also know for its diabetes fighting properties, cinnamon can work wonders for your sweet tooth while keeping you at a safe distance from fatty sugars and desserts. Cinnamon promotes effective blood circulation, which helps your body get fitter faster.

Add ground cinnamon as a replacement for sugar in cake dough or in your tea and coffee to get the most out of this wonderful spice every day.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #11

Turmeric

A clear favourite in Indian kitchens, turmeric wins the day when we talk about spices that aid digestion and weight loss. Curcumin, a phenol found in turmeric helps keep fatty tissue at a minimum. Adding turmeric to your daily diet will help weight loss in the long run.

This weight loss food when used in the optimum dose is highly effective in soothing gastric inflammation and ulceration, which could be the key to developing new drugs against such stomach disorders, say Indian scientists.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #12

Raddish

Like other types of vegetables, cooked raddish contains approximately 3 grams of fiber per half cup to help you stay full and satisfied. Raddish are considered as starchy vegetables, so it is recommended to be eaten in place of rice, bread or other starchy foods. They work best as weight loss foods.

Enjoy a crunchy raddish in your salad with chopped cucumber and tomatoes.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #13

Garlic

Overweight people who sprinkled their food with the zero-calorie spice lost an average of 30 pounds in six months, compared to only a 2-pound loss in the control group. This much loved Indian ingredient is used widely in almost all recipes and gravies.

Allicin in garlic is considered effective for fighting high cholesterol, high insulin and unhealthy blood sugar levels. Additionally, garlic is a great appetite controller - perfect for healthy weight loss.

This weight loss food also help prevent various cancers, fight cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and respiratory problems. Garlic also helps fight various infections.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #14

Lentils

Lentils is the fastest and easy to prepare food for mothers, while being the most popular ingredient in Indian kitchens. These daals can reduce your chances of a heart attack, stabilise sugar count and help in weight loss.

Lentils are a bona fide belly flattener. They're high in protein and soluble fiber, two nutrients that stabilize blood sugar levels. Eating them helps prevent insulin spikes that cause your body to create excess fat, especially in the abdominal area.

This weight loss food is perfect for diabetes patients and at the same time improve your iron level and source for vitamin B. It is not only a comfort food but also a good protein source vegetarians.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #15

Bananas

According to HMU expert Arnav Sarkar, Bananas are part of a healthy diet, and should also be part of a fat loss diet, however no food by itself helps one to lose weight. To lose weight one has to create a caloric deficit i.e to burn more calories than what they consume in a day.

For most cases a caloric deficit of 10-15% works best and ones that create a greater caloric deficit generally causes more muscle loss rather than fat loss.

For starters bananas offer healthy carbs which give energy to be more active and feel great. It is also high in the mineral potassium which helps to lower blood pressure. The fiber content of bananas helps to control hunger much better for those who are trying to lose fat. And it has also been found to help students study better thanks to its supply of the vitamin B6.

Some more benefits of bananas - It has been found to help reduce depression due to its content of Tryptophan, the iron content in it helps those with anemia and it also helps to reduce constipation due to its fiber content.

Breakfast is the best time to have this fruit. You can chop bananas in a bowl, add milk and a few strawberries.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #15

Tomatoes

This beautiful looking veggie works best in every Indian recipe and also as a weight loss food, every time you munch on a tomato, your body releases a hormone called cholecystokinin, which tightens the valve between your stomach and your intestine. As a result, CCK boosts feelings of fullness—making you less apt to overeat.

This weight loss food boosts your energy, stabilizes your blood sugar levels, controls your appetite, detoxifies your body and reduces cholesterol. Tomatoes are also low in calories, a plus for any dieter.

When using tomatoes in your dishes, avoid mixing thme with bread, pasta, potatoes or rice, as this combination can cause acidity.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #16

Olive oil

Olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. But that's hardly its only slimming feature.

Olive oil contains antioxidant - polyphenols. They help the body in detoxify unbalanced molecules, otherwise called - free radicals. This weight loss oil is an excellent remedy for rheumatoid arthritis. Various published studies speak of these rheumatoid arthritis fighting properties.

Research shows it has anti-inflammatory properties, and chronic inflammation in the body is linked to metabolic syndrome. Drizzle your salad with olive oil and you'll increase the antioxidant power of your veggies, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition notes.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #17

Cabbage

This weight loss food is found on every continent, so you have no excuses to shy away from this green leafy ball. Cabbage is the ideal veggie for constipation, skin and eye disorders, aging, stomach ulcers and Alzheimer's to name a few. Detox with patta ghobi; it is a good blood purifier as well.

It's very low in calories and high in fiber. Add to that, cabbage is way low on the GL scale too. This weight loss veggie doesn't just help you lose weight. is also a surprisingly excellent source of vitamin C, which some experts believe may reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #18

Eggs

Eggs are a good source of vitamins, proteins and minerals. Eggs are not only a great source of nutrition, but also very useful to help lose weight. When combining eggs with other dishes you will limit the consumption of complex carbohydrates in the body.

Egg itself is sufficient in helping in weight loss.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #12

Coffee

The caffeine in coffee can raise your resting metabolic rate by about 15 percent, and the effect can last up to four hours—that adds up to 30 to 50 calories burned per day. Plus, people who sip 3 to 4 cups of regular or decaf coffee per day are 30 percent less prone to type 2 diabetes.

Weight Loss Foods in Every Indian Kitchen #20

Pears

Pears deliver a dose of fiber (about 5.5 grams per medium-sized fruit), which helps keep you satisfied long after you eat them. But that's not where their fat-fighting power ends.

A Brazilian research team found that a group of women who included pears in their diet each day lost more weight than the group who included oat cookies—even though the pears and the oat cookies had the same number of calories.

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Being Too Active On Social Media May Damage Your Relationships

London: Engaging in too much social media activity may damage strong relationships, a new Oxford study has warned.

Research by Dr Bernie Hogan of Oxford University tested the theory of 'media multiplexity' (the ability to communicate via several communications channels) which was first posed in 2005.

The theory suggests that there is a clear link between the number of media channels used to communicate, the frequency they are used and the strength of relationship ties.

"This theory was first put forward in an era of email, chat and telephone conversations. However, we are now firmly in the age of digital communication with social media really taking off," Hogan said.

"We wanted to see if these more diverse communications channels strengthened relationship ties in the digital era," Hogan added.

Over 24,000 people in marital relationships took part in the new research, using 10 media channels.

"We found that those using more media tend to report no greater relationship satisfaction and some even reported decreasing satisfaction," Hogan said.

"This work suggests that media, which now includes online social media, still operates as a signal of ties of strength in relationships.

"However there may be a cut-off point after which the increasing complexity of maintaining so many separate communications threads starts to undermine relationship ties," Hogan said.

The study was presented at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society in Harrogate.

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Warriors beat Royals to snap 12-game losing streak

It was Pune's first win in 12 games, their previous success coming against Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla last April. For the Royals, it was their first defeat in three games.

PUNE: Pune Warriors snapped their losing streak with a thumping seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Thursday.



Australian Aaron Finch cracked a belligerent 64 and Robin Uthappa smashed a quick-silver 32 to help the Warriors get over their top-order woes and chase down Royals' competitive total of 145/5 comfortably.

It was Pune's first win in 12 games, their previous success coming against Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla last April. For the Royals, it was their first defeat in three games.

Uthappa and Finch, coming in for the injured Marlon Samuels, provided the rollicking start that the Warriors had been missing.

Finch, Australia's domestic one-day player of the year, smashed Sreesanth and debutant left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh over the ropes off successive overs.

Uthappa then plundered 20 runs from the Kerala seamer's second over, which comprised a four off a no-ball and a six from free hit. The fifty came from 23 balls. By the time Uthappa was dismissed, the partnership had swelled to 58 in less than five overs.

With the equation reduced to less than run-a-ball, Finch switched to cruise mode. When Faulkner finally saw his back in the 17th over, Finch - with six fours and three sixes during his 53-ball knock - had put the result beyond doubt.

Earlier, Rahul Dravid produced another age-defying knock, but the Royals couldn't capitalize on the solid start and their total didn't prove enough.

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Vodafone India launches Internet trial packs for 2G, 3G subscribers

With an aim to increase the uptake of mobile Internet on its network, Vodafone India has introduced 'one-time trial packs' for its 2G and 3G subscribers.The subscribers will have to shell out Rs. 25 for the 2G plan and Rs. 49 for a 3G plan. These plans are available for both postpaid and prepaid customers and have a seven days' validity. The data limit available in this pack is 500MB.
To activate this plan Vodafone users will have to send an SMS 'TRY' to 111. This is a trial offer and hence the subscribers will not be able to purchase it as a paper recharge or e-top up.
For a prepaid subscriber, who us already subscribed to an Internet pack, this plan will overwrite their current pack. On the hand, for a postpaid subscriber, the trial pack would be additive and customer would go back to the current Internet pack subscribed when the trial is over.
Post the completion of the seven day trial period, this pack will not be auto renewed. Additionally, the subscribers will be given an option to choose from the existing 2G and 3G Internet packs that Vodafone India is offering.
Sharing his views on these plans, Vivek Mathur, Chief Commercial Officer, Vodafone India said, "Our core objective is to drive mobile internet adoption among non-internet users. In our endeavour to provide differentiated experience to our customer, we have introduced a new category of trial packs to make mobile internet more interesting, less intimidating for them. We see tremendous potential in this offer as non-users will be able to discover the benefits of mobile internet and how it can change their lives."
Vodafone has also brought back its popular mascot Zoozoo, to help the company in creating awareness about mobile Internet. The company has also shared that the Zoozoo fan page on Facebook had crossed 10 million fans. To celebrate this feat, Vodafone has also created an exclusive video with an interactive Facebook application. This application shows users a new Zoozoo video every time they launch the app.

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Microsoft Office for iOS, Android not coming before October 2014: Report

Looks like we'll have to wait to wait till October 2014 to see Microsoft Office running on the iPad. According to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley an alleged roadmap about Microsoft's Office updates (code named 'Gemini') indicates that Office for iOS and Android, and Outlook for Windows RT would not see a release before fall (October) 2014.

According to the report the roadmap lists Office for iOS/ Android, as part of the Gemini Wave 2.0, along with Outlook RT, set for an October 2014 release. But it doesn't specify whether the apps will also support iPad and other Android tablets.

The roadmap also mentions that the Gemini update cycle would start with Wave 1.0 in October 2013 with Windows Blue app updates that will see the release of the Metro/ Modern UI Office applications - Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for Windows 8 and Windows RT.

The next set of updates, Wave 1.5, will be out in April 2014 which will include the release of the next version of Office for Mac and an updated Office for Windows Phone, in addition to an Office update that will bring support for large screen devices. It will also bring a new version of Office for Windows RT.

We've been hearing about Office apps for iPad for more than an year now. It was first reported by The Daily in February 2012 that Microsoft was working on Office for iPad. There were more reports that suggested a November 2012 release. However, earlier this year, Kurt DelBene, head of Microsoft's Office unit refused to comment on the matter and instead said that online versions of Office apps were available for all browsers and that the company had enhanced the web applications substantially, in partnership with Apple.

The risk for Microsoft is that putting Office on the iPad takes away one of the key advantages of its own Surface and other Windows tablets, that already run Office natively. Removing incentives to buy Windows tablets would be a blow to Microsoft's flagship Windows unit, which although less profitable than Office, is still key to the company's overall strategy.

As Paul Thurrott points out in his writeup, it is most likely that Microsoft is holding up the release of Office for iOS until Windows 8/ RT gets firmly established in the market. He also points out that if Office for iPad/ Android was released along with Office 2013, it could have most likely killed the market for Windows 8 and RT devices.

Microsoft does offer native iOS versions of some Office applications, including its OneNote note-sharing software, Lync communication suite and SharePoint collaboration site, as well as its SkyDrive online storage servic

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LG now number 3 smartphone maker by sales; Apple, Samsung lead, HTC drops to fourth

LG Electronics Inc has become the world's No.3 smartphone maker behind Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd for the first time in the $223 billion market, industry data showed, as solid sales of high-end models helped it win customers.LG saw its smartphone market share rise to 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter by sales, propelling it to the third spot for the first time, while rival HTC Corp slid to fourth, data from research firm Strategy Analytics showed.
Samsung and Apple took a combined 71.4 percent of the market and the rest is split among firms such as LG, HTC, Sony Corp and BlackBerry, the data showed.
Reflecting growing optimism that LG's smartphone business will recover, LG Electronics shares have gained 54 percent from their 2012 low hit in late July. The shares ended up nearly 2 percent on Thursday at 86,600 won, the highest in more than a year.
LG is betting high-end models that boast powerful hardware and software features and a fast 4G connection will help it rebuild its tarnished handset brand quality and increase its market share of the lower-end segment as well.
The South Korean company announced on Thursday software upgrades for its flagship Optimus G Pro model that will allow consumers access to features that Samsung touted as major selling points of its upcoming Galaxy S4. The move is its latest attempt to boost appeal to upmarket consumers before rival products hit the market.
The features LG is adding include motion detecting technology that stops and starts videos depending on whether someone is looking at the screen and snapping pictures.
The 5-inch Optimus Pro debuted in South Korea in late February and in Japan this month. It is LG's fastest-selling smartphone with sales hitting 500,000 in the first 40 days of the launch, LG said.
In terms of unit shipments, LG remains the seventh-largest with a 4.0 percent share, following Huawei, Lenovo Group Ltd, Sony and ZTE Corp which have market share of between 4 and 5 percent.
Analysts expect LG's smartphone shipments will rise by 16 percent to a record 10 million after 8.6 million phones sold in the fourth quarter, a strong performance as the overall market is seen contracting by 6 percent from the strong year-end holiday quarter.
HTC reported on Monday a record-low quarterly profit that missed analysts' estimates after it delayed the full launch of its 2013 flagship smartphone model, which will now debut against Samsung's newest Galaxy.
LG reports its first-quarter results on April 24.

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Prepare a digital will for your Google accounts

The company introduces a new tool to let people plan their digital afterlife.

 

Google doesn't want you worry about what happens to your online self when you leave finally this world -- or just the virtual world.
The company introduced a tool today called the Inactive Account Manager that lets you tell Google what you want done with your data hosted on its network after you die, or stop using your account for a long period of time. Think of it as an automated will for your digital assets.
"Not many of us like thinking about death -- especially our own," Product Manager Andreas Tuerk wrote in a blog post. "But making plans for what happens after you're gone is really important for the people you leave behind. So today, we're launching a new feature that makes it easy to tell Google what you want done with your digital assets when you die or can no longer use your account."

That means instructions on what to do with things like your Gmail messages, Google+ profile data, Blogger posts, Drive files, Picasa albums, Google Voice data and YouTube videos. Just pick what data you want retrieved and have Google send it to "trusted contacts." It's not clear how your loved ones will receive all the data from your online Google life.
The settings also lets you choose when Google deletes your data. Pick from three, six, nine or 12 months of inactivity. It's a way to address privacy and security concerns -- scrub away all the photos, videos and messages that users thought would live on the Internet forever -- while letting Google unload inactive accounts with a clear conscience.

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Facebook adds icons and links to status updates

The social network is rolling out a feature that throws an icon and link into any status update having to do with a movie, TV show, or book. These will also show up in user timelines.

 

Facebook is adding a new twist to status updates as of today. Any TV show, movie, or book that users mention in their status update will also contain an icon and link to the Facebook page of whatever's mentioned.
"For example, if you share that you're watching a movie like 'Jurassic Park,' your post will contain the movie icon and a link to the movie's page," Facebook wrote in a blog post today. "'Jurassic Park' will be added to the Movies section on your timeline."

In other words, those TV shows, movies, or books that appear in status updates will also be kept on record in users' timelines. Those people who don't want this log kept on their timeline can tinker with their privacy settings to disable the feature.
It's unclear why Facebook is launching this new feature, but it may have something to do with the social network's revamped News Feed. Last month, Facebook announced it was redesigning its feed with new ways to interact with friends, brands, and people. The most significant change is a switch from navigating stories in only two ways -- "most recent" and "top stories" -- to literally dozens of views of the latest stories.
Facebook will continue to roll out this new link-and-icon feature in the U.S. over the next few weeks. CNET contacted Facebook for more information and we'll update the story when we hear back.

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The aloe vera miracle: A natural medicine for cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, inflammation, IBS, and other health conditions

The aloe vera miracle: A natural medicine for cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, inflammation, IBS, and other health conditions...Must Share


• Halts the growth of cancer tumors.
• Lowers high cholesterol.
• Repairs "sludge blood" and reverses "sticky blood".
• Boosts the oxygenation of your blood.
• Eases inflammation and soothes arthritis pain.
• Protects the body from oxidative stress.
• Prevents kidney stones and protects the body from oxalates in coffee and tea.
• Alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits.
• Cures ulcers, IBS, Crohn's disease and other digestive disorders.
• Reduces high blood pressure natural, by treating the cause, not just the symptoms.
• Nourishes the body with minerals, vitamins, enzymes and glyconutrients.
• Accelerates healing from physical burns and radiation burns.
• Replaces dozens of first aid products, makes bandages and antibacterial sprays obsolete.
• Halts colon cancer, heals the intestines and lubricates the digestive tract.
• Ends constipation.
• Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces triglycerides in diabetics.
• Prevents and treats candida infections.
• Protects the kidneys from disease.
• Functions as nature's own "sports drink" for electrolyte balance, making common sports drinks obsolete.
• Boosts cardiovascular performance and physical endurance.
• Speeds recovery from injury or physical exertion.
• Hydrates the skin, accelerates skin repair.

Share it with others

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Dinesh Karthik bosses over Daredevils at Wankhede

Mumbai Indians' Dinesh Karthik gestures after scoring a blazing half-century against Delhi Daredevils during their IPL 6 match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

MUMBAI: Both Dinesh Karthik and Rohit Sharma have had plenty to prove in recent times. Karthik, in fact, was once rated by Australia's then India coach Greg Chappell as a future India captain.



Six years hence, that observation seemed more like a poor joke on Karthik than anything else. The Tamil Nadu cricketer seemed to be fading into oblivion.

Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, is fast slipping into a zone where people wonder what he 'could have been' and pity him for what 'he has become.'

On Tuesday night at the Wankhede against the Delhi Daredevils, however, both looked keen to put all that behind for a while.

Karthik blasted 86 off 48 balls, with 68 of his runs coming in boundaries (14 fours and two sixes) while Rohit smashed 74 off 50 balls (4x6, 5x4) to snuff the life out of the Daredevils.

The duo helped Mumbai Indians race to a massive 209/5, easily the highest in this season of the league.

The target, expectedly, proved too much for the Daredevils who could muster 165/9 to lose by 44 runs, their third loss in as many games this season.

David Warner hit around powerfully to make 61 off 37 balls but did not get much of a support from his colleagues. Manpreet Juneja's 49 was too slow to be effective in the situation.

It was Karthik who pegged Delhi back when they seemed full of life, having seen the back of the 'dream pair' of Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar as early as the second over.

The wicketkeeper-batsman, who with scores of 60 and 37 in the previous two games, seems to have hit a purple patch, took the attack to the rivals in some style.

He and Rohit added 132 in just 79 balls as Mumbai Indians recovered from one for two to post their second 200-plus score against Delhi. While Rohit regaled everyone with his strokeplay, Karthik stole the night with some breathtaking strokes.

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Impressive tablet tripped up by $400 price tag

The good: The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is comfortable to hold and has the best-looking small tablet screen yet. Writing with the S Pen feels natural and is preferred over typing on a tablet screen. Storage can be expanded via microSD, and the Watch On feature has potential as a universal remote/video content hub.

The bad: The $399 price is a lot for a small tablet, no matter its features. It's not as thin or as light as the iPad Mini, and some people won't appreciate the highly saturated look of the OS. Also, its face buttons sometimes get in the way and there are occasional performance hangs.

The bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a stunning tablet with a truly useful stylus, but it's not worth $400 unless you're an artist or prefer pen input.

Editors' Top Picks

• 

  Apple iPad (4th generation)

  Starting at$480.00

  4.5 stars

• 

  Google Nexus 7 (16GB)

  Starting at$189.95

  4.0 stars

• 

  Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9

  Starting at$269.00

  4.0 stars

• 

  Google Nexus 10

  Starting at$399.00

  4.0 stars

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is an 8-inch tablet that costs $399. In a world where the 7-inch Nexus 7 exists for $200 and even the 7.9-inch iPad Mini starts at $330 or lower, $399 is a tough sell. If you're looking for a simple small tablet, the Nexus 7 is still your best bet and the iPad Mini provides Apple's still unbeatable app ecosystem in a smaller, lighter, and cheaper package than the Note 8.
The Note 8 is arguably Samsung's best tablet yet, but depending on your experience with the company's offerings, the weight of such an acknowledgement will vary dramatically. If you're a stylus devotee that liked what you saw in the Note 10.1, you'll be happy to know that thanks to some software upgrades, the Note 8 integrates the stylus, or S Pen, in a smaller package with fewer seams and a more impressive screen. Still, if you're not an artist and have no interest in coming near a stylus anytime soon, go for one of the many cheaper options.
At $300, this would be an easy recommendation; however, the $400 price means you'll have to decide for yourself if the inclusion of the stylus and its integration into the OS is worth it to you.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 gets in tune with nature (pictures)

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Design
Like the iPad Mini, the Note 8’s larger-than-typical screen necessitates a wider body -- by about an inch -- than, say, the Nexus 7. So, depending on how you're holding the tablet, its more expansive frame may feel a bit awkward, especially if your hands are of the wee variety. The Note 8 feels to be made of the same stuff as the Note 10.1, with a bit more metal along its edges thrown in for durability's sake. Its corners are smoothly rounded, but its more corpulent profile yields a slightly heavier device than the iPad Mini; however, you’d probably have to be holding one in each hand to notice the difference.

Tested spec	Samsung Galaxy Note 8	Apple iPad Mini	Google Nexus 7	Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9
Weight in pounds	0.76	0.68	0.74	1.25
Width in inches (landscape)	8.2	7.8	7.8	6.4
Height in inches	5.3	5.3	4.7	9.4
Depth in inches	0.31	0.28	0.4	0.35
Side bezel width in inches (landscape)	0.7	0.25	0.8	1.0

The Note 8’s design isn’t as simple or as elegant as the Mini’s, but what it lacks in simplicity, it attempts to make up for in utility. On the bottom bezel sit three buttons: a menu key, home key, and the back key. Samsung has also added the ability to use the S Pen with the three buttons, something that was missing on the Note 2.

 

The 5-megapixel rear-facing camera is located directly in the top middle of the back, and although the placement feels natural when holding the camera in portrait, my fingers were constantly getting in the way of shots when holding it in landscape. The back button as well can be a nuisance with the tablet held this way. There were several times when trying to take a picture or playing Riptide GP that I accidentally hit it. As a result of these buttons, we get back a small percentage of screen real estate that would otherwise be occupied by the Android nav bar. I’m thankful to have this space back, but making accommodations for the physical buttons' placement will take some getting used to. Somewhat inverse to that, while the physical home button is a very welcome addition, its convex nature makes it difficult to press with the stylus.
The S Pen of course returns with its pressure sensitivity in tow and writing with it felt a lot less cumbersome here compared with on the 10.1-inch Note. Though of identical length, the S Pen has a smaller radius than the Note 10.1's, and thanks to its flatter design is even less likely to roll away. The grooved pen button is a bit smaller than before, making it less likely to elicit accidental presses. The tablet includes palm rejection tech; however, if the skin on the knife edge of your hand folds in just the right way, making a "point," the tablet will, much to my frustration, mistakenly believe you're trying to write with it and accept inputs from it.

 

The front-facing camera sits off to the top-right corner on the front. On the bottom edge are two speaker grills, a Micro-USB port, and a slot for the S Pen. On the right edge sits a microSD card slot with an IR blaster, volume rocker, and power/sleep button on the left edge. The top edge holds the headphone jack.
Software features
Since the release of the Note 10.1, Samsung has been working to improve the user experience in its Note family of tablets, adding software enhancements that probably should have been there from the get-go. The Note 8 reaps the benefit of the company's hindsight as it includes not only the additions we’ve seen added to the Note 10.1, but a few unique additions of its own.

 

The Note 8 ships with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and includes Samsung’s TouchWiz UI skin. I personally have never had a problem with the colorful, somewhat Fisher-Price-ian look of the interface, but if you’ve never liked its more gaudy presentation, there’s nothing new here that’ll change your mind.
Samsung’s multi-windows feature, which allows for two simultaneous apps to run on the screen, has been thankfully enhanced. A deeper pool of apps is now compatible, including Twitter, Facebook, and Chrome, and each window can be easily resized, Windows 8 style. The feature feels more at home here on the Note 8 with the S Pen compared with on the Note 10.1, where it's more difficult to hold the tablet in one hand and use the stylus in the other.

 

S Note gets some notable improvements as well, and the veil of inhospitable-ness that greeted me in the first version of the app has thankfully largely dissipated. The app now includes a brief text tutorial to make jumping in a bit less confusing, and the interface has been tweaked slightly -- you can now easily load a completely blank sheet of "paper" -- toward the same purpose. Icons now present their functionality much more clearly when tapping them and can be further clarified by the new AirView feature, which lets users hover the point of the S Pen over a menu option, which in turn displays a text bubble of each option's functionality.
Typing in a Web site URL, composing an e-mail, searching for an app in Google Play, or doing pretty much any action that would normally cause a software keyboard to pop up at the bottom on the screen, instead triggers a notepad to appear. And instead of pecking away at each letter with the pen, you can simply write your entry directly into the text field. However, this feature must be enabled within each app by holding down on the settings button on the software keyboard and selecting the "T" icon. The pen-to-text translation software still misinterprets from time to time, however, and could use some better prediction software. Still, once enabled, it's an incredibly useful feature that gives using the interface a nice flow when using the pen.

 

Reading mode is unique to the Note 8 and simply alters page backgrounds in e-book apps to look more like paper rather than a stark, white background. It also uses the ambient light sensor to adjust the brightness to best fit the environment you’re reading in.
The Note 8 also comes with an exclusive version of Awesome Note HD. While the app has been available on iOS, the Note 8 is currently the only place you’ll find it on Android. Not surprisingly, it’s fully compatible with the S Pen. With a purchase of the Note 8, you also get 50GB of free space on Dropbox and a full version of Polaris Office.
Watch On
Watch On is Samsung's new universal remote/video hub app that integrates streaming-video content and OTA and cable TV. It includes typical social sharing "this is what I'm watching" options and seems like a pretty effective and accurate TV guide, but the real standout feature is its powerful and potentially very useful search.

Watch On is a better version of Peel's Smart Remote and then some.

Searching for a particular piece of video content returns results sorted by delivery system. In other words, if you search for "Thor," Watch On returns a number of matching options. Choosing the "Thor (2011)" movie option takes you to an information page with its Rotten Tomatoes score, sharing options, IMDb info, and related content. Tapping the "Watch Now" button shows a list of video delivery services like Samsung's Media Hub and Blockbuster Video. You then choose through which service to watch the movie, and that service's app will launch and take you directly to the "Thor" page, where you can choose to stream, purchase, or rent the video. Unfortunately, neither Netflix nor Hulu will be integrated in time for launch, but I'm very interested in revisiting this app once they have. Having this kind of inter-service video hub is something I've been hoping Peel would implement since it debuted its Smart Remote app a couple of years ago.
Hardware features
The S Pen returns with its useful cache of shortcut gestures, making tasks like screen capture, calling up an app's menu, and going back to the previous screen a simple act of holding down the pen button and swiping or tapping the screen in the appropriate way. After using the Note 8 for a couple of days, I came to the conclusion that I'd much rather write on a tablet screen than attempt to type on one. A quick e-mail reply or entering a search query just feels much more natural to scribble than tab out. The interpretation software isn't perfect so making an attempt to write legibly is a must, but it was usually able parse out the vast majority of my writings.
With the S Pen you can also take a screenshot of pretty much anything by holding down the button and circling whatever it is you want to capture. A menu of apps then pops up at the bottom of the screen, and choosing one drops your screenshot into the app where you can then edit it as you see fit. It's in thoughtful moments like these -- where the interaction feels natural and intuitive -- that the S Pen really earns its keep.

With the S Pen you can circle anything on the screen and capture it in a screenshot.

The Note 8 houses a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos Dual (4410) CPU and 2GB of RAM, and includes support for 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS, as well as gyroscope, accelerometer, a digital compass.
Performance
The Note 8 houses an 8-inch screen with a 1,280x800-pixel-resolution screen. That’s 189 pixels-per-inch (ppi) compared with 163 on the iPad Mini, and the relative difference in clarity is immediate and dramatic, especially with fonts. Fonts on the Note 8 lack the jaggy, unpolished look they deliver on the iPad Mini. Note 8 fonts are clear and sharp, and the screen’s sharpness is only buoyed by its extremely bright and colorful Plane Line Switching (PLS) panel. And in a first for tablets, three screen presets are included: Dynamic, Standard, and Movie. Each adjusts the screen’s contrast to be more appropriate to the setting.

Tested spec	Samsung Galaxy Note 8	Apple iPad Mini	Google Nexus 7	Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9
Maximum brightness	458 cd/m2	399 cd/m2	288 cd/m2	394 cd/m2
Maximum black level	0.47 cd/m2	0.49 cd/m2	0.28 cd/m2	0.41 cd/m2
Maximum contrast ratio	974:1	814:1	1,028:1	960:1

The screen responds quickly to swipe requests and delivers page turns smoothly at 60 frames per second; however, there is a second long, but still noticeable, delay after pressing the home button as the tablet sometimes appears to stall for a split second.
The Mali T400MP4 GPU is a capable if unimpressive chip for gaming. Riptide GP ran at a very playable frame rate, but never came anywhere near the 60fps smoothness I look for and have only seen rarely in tablets. 2D games like Angry Birds, however, look beautiful thanks to the screen’s high ppi and large color palette.
Just to give you an idea of the its 3D performance, here are a few 3DMark test results I conducted. Notice that while the Note 8 trails far behind the Nexus 10 in GPU prowess, it more than holds its own on the CPU front. Unfortunately, 3DMark has so far yet to be released on the iOS. Once it is, I’ll update this review with iPad Mini results.

Device	CPU	GPU	RAM	OS tested
Samsung Galaxy Note 8	1.6GHz quad-core Exynos 4 Quad (4412)	Mali T400MP4 (quad-core)	2GB	Android 4.1.2
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1	1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 4 Quad (4412)	Mali T400MP4 (quad-core)	2GB	Android 4.1.2
Samsung Galaxy Note 2	1.6GHz quad-core Exynos 4 Quad (4412)	Mali T400MP4 (quad-core)	2GB	Android 4.1.2
Nexus 7	1.2GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3	ULP GeFOrce (12-core)	1GB	Android 4.2.2
Google Nexus 10	1.7GHz Dual-core Samsung Exynos 5 Dual (5250)	Mali-T604 (quad-core)	2GB	Android 4.2.2

3DMark performance score(Longer bars indicate better performance)

3DMark (normal)

Nexus 10

8055 

Nexus 7

3545 

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

3303 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

2767 

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

3300 

3DMark GPU tests(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Graphics test 2 normal (GPU)

Graphics test 1 normal (GPU)

Google Nexus 10

32.9 

36.9 

Google Nexus 7

15.5 

12.1 

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

18.4 

8.9 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

16.3 

7.3 

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

19.1 

8.7 

3DMark CPU test(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Physics test normal (CPU)

Google Nexus 10

26.2 

Google Nexus 7

21.4 

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

33.1 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

28.2 

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

34.2 

As portable devices, battery life is one of the most essential of tablet attributes. The Note 8’s battery delivers a good amount of life, but fails to come close to the Nexus 7's or especially that of the iPad Mini. For details on the test methodology, check here.

Tablet	Video battery life (in hours)
Samsung Galaxy Note 8	8.5
Apple iPad Mini	12.1
Google Nexus 7	10.1

The 1.3-megapixel front camera features typical "only good enough for crude video chatting" quality, with washed-out colors and plenty of screen "snow." However, the 5-megapixel rear-facing shooter is fairly capable as tablet cameras go. The camera's aperture appears to be set fairly high, so it has trouble capturing enough light, but with enough ambient light in the mix, it captures more details than the iPad Mini's rear camera.
Conclusion
The Note 8 is arguably the best Samsung tablet yet. It has a beautiful screen, and at the end of the day, I'd much rather write using a stylus than type on a tablet screen. The Nexus 7 or iPad Mini are much better bargains, but if the idea of writing out your e-mails or drawing on your tablet interests you, the Note 8 is worth a serious look.

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Samsung Galaxy simpler than iPhone, survey says

In deep, deep research conducted by branding company Siegel+Gale, Samsung's Galaxy phones have allegedly overcome the iPhone when it comes to ease of use

A picture of simplicity?

I like to think I'm very simple.
Lovers have told me I'm not -- often while they toss my Golden State Warriors T-shirts out their apartment windows and curse quite loudly.
So simplicity is an entirely subjective concept.
In my own subjectivity (and that of many others), Apple's phones have always seemed so very simple to grasp. Both physically and emotionally.
But now, very vast brains have come along to declare that this might not be so.
Branding agency Siegel+Gale -- motto: "Simple is smart" (sigh) -- claims it used a proven (and presumably simple) methodology to examine whether Apple is simpler than Samsung.
I cannot believe that this was simple to do without the presence of Judge Lucy Koh.
Still, Siegel+Gale claims its "original" and "exclusive" methods give rise to a splendid Global Brand Simplicity Index.
Before we look at the Apple-Samsung simplicity showdown, might I mention that on top of the Global Brand Simplicity Index for 2012 was Google. Second was McDonald's.
Apple was fifth, which is perhaps why one of the conclusions of the showdown is that Apple's overall brand still represents more simplicity than does Samsung's.
It is, however, at the product level that Samsung is simply the better.
Respondents indicated their affection for the Galaxy's "easy-to-use advanced features -- from high-speed file transfers to instant photo-tagging and sharing -- making it simpler for users to share information."
They also expressed simple pleasure at the phone's compatibility. "By being compatible with nonproprietary apps and accessories, the Galaxy came across as simpler to the many people we surveyed," was the Siegel+Gale conclusion.
The "many" people was 400.
Should you still be wondering what Apple's claims to simplicity fame were in the survey, I shall tell you.
Intuitiveness and customer service were two of the aspects praised.
Both companies' advertising was said to be pleasantly simple.
In a press release, Siegel+Gale offered some spectacularly dramatic writing to describe the result: "At the brand level, Apple is perceived as simpler than Samsung, but on a product level, challenger Galaxy has knocked the long-standing simplicity champion onto the canvas and out of first place."

In a less than simple melange of metaphors, Siegel+Gale also described the winner as being the brand that "takes the cake."
So now I have visions of large people punching each other for a black forest gateau.
Siegel+Gale quotes one respondent who, the company claims, sums up Samsung's success: "Samsung Galaxy is a significant threat to iPhone because it is able to do more -- and do it more simply -- than iPhone."
It's clear that the Galaxy S3 and S4 are competing strongly with the iPhone 5. Whether simplicity is the reason for this isn't quite so clear. The larger screen might have something to do with it.
But then perhaps the larger screen makes everything else simpler. Or not.
I feel sure that some people don't immediately gravitate to the Galaxy because of its rather plastic-y feel, as well as an inferior taste level in terms of icon design. And, well, in terms of aesthetics in general.
Equally, I feel sure that the iPhone looks tired to some eyes. It suddenly seems a little small and somehow too familiar.
Perhaps, over the next months and years, the two companies will attempt to out-simple each other. In a Forrest Gump vs. Rain Man kind of way.
Gaining a lasting advantage will, I fear, be anything but simple.

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Only happy newlyweds gain weight

Happy newlyweds likelier to gain weight

Young newlyweds who are satisfied with their marriage gain weight in the early years after they exchange vows, putting them at increased risk for various health problems, a new study has found.

That is the finding of a study on marital satisfaction and weight gain, according to psychologist Andrea L. Meltzer, lead researcher and an assistant professor in the SMU Department of Psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

"On average, spouses who were more satisfied with their marriage were less likely to consider leaving their marriage, and they gained more weight over time," Meltzer said.

"In contrast, couples who were less satisfied in their relationship tended to gain less weight over time," she said.

The study's researchers said the findings challenge the long-held notion that quality relationships are always beneficial to one's health.

Instead, they said, the findings suggest that spouses who are satisfied in the marriage are less motivated to attract an alternative mate.

As a result, satisfied spouses relax efforts to maintain their weight.

Previous psychological research has established that marriage is associated with weight gain and that divorce is associated with weight loss.

But the role of marital satisfaction in those changes in weight is less clear, Meltzer said.

Previous research also has demonstrated that marital satisfaction is associated with health maintenance behaviors, she said.

"For example, studies have found that satisfied couples are more likely to take medications on time and schedule annual physicals," Meltzer said.

The study is published online in the scientific journal Health Psychology.

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5 Types of men women hate

Women would never want to be seen with certain stereotypes

There might be ample qualities that make men irresistible. But women being the fairer sex have created certain stereotypes in men that they would never want to be seen with.

We list the most common kinds of men that women love to hate...

Thumbs down to dominant men : Gone are the days when a male dominated society used to be the way of life. So, if the next time you try to show your superiority in front of your girl, it might land you in a tight spot. Women prefer mates who're recognized by their peers for their skills, abilities, and achievements - and not those who use coercive tactics to subordinate their rivals, reveals a new study.

Expert says : Dr. Chirta Bakshi, a relationship counsellor says, "Dominant behaviour is highly opposed by a female partner as she wants to enjoy the bond with equal respect. In any relationship, if one partner tries to have the upper hand in taking all decisions and if they portray their dominant self, it will not do any good to that relationship."

Macho guys aren't always lucky : A macho guy with an angry young man personality might look good on silver screen, but when it comes to real life, women aren't game to hang around with macho dudes. A recent study claims that macho guys don't always get the girls. The study further revealed that the most aggressive guys ended up with fewer wives and children.

Expert says : Personality development expert Varun Chhabra says, "Women today are more keen to pick a guy who flaunts a good body combined with a metro sexual image rather than the typical rough and tough hunk. Men who look tough from the outside and bear a soft heart within are women's favourite."

Keep sex starved men at bay : Men are usually sexually more charged up. But when it comes to choosing a mate, women don't opt for a sexually ravenous partner. This is maybe because for such men, sex is the top priority in the relationship whereas the woman continuously seeks love and romance, sans physical intimacy.

Expert says : Relationship and sex counsellor Dr. Geetu Bhardwaj shares, "It's not that women are not keen to have sex with their partner, but a man's sexual inclination does plan an important role when it comes to choosing their partner. Women generally aren't too comfortable with the idea of being with a man who has sex on his mind throughout the day. In such relationships, things like understanding and love are secondary and sexual intimacy is all that matters for the male partner."

Chauvinism is out completely : Remember Bobby Deol's chauvinistic character in Dostana, which was enough to drive his lady nuts. An excess of anything is bad. Women don't find a chauvinistic man a great companion to spend the rest of their lives with.

Expert says : Dr. Ratan Kumar, a clinical psychologist asserts, "There is a very thin line of demarcation between being a gentleman and chauvinist. A girl might love your care and concern, but your over chauvinistic attitude may irritate her at times. Make an attempt to give enough space to her and let the comfort zone be there as per mutual convenience."

Using slangs won't take you anywhere : Using abusive lingo every time you indulge in a conversation might lend you a cool dude look cool in front of your male peers, but girls don't want to hang around with a abusive man. Being too abusive and stressing on using slangs too often is a 'turn off' for today's women.

Expert says : Psychiatrist Dr. Anupam Randhawa states, "Men need to realise that a woman would like to be associated with a respectful and well-behaved mate. So using excess of slang language and abusive words during conversations can backfire. The reason why women keep such partners at bay is because they find it offensive when their man gets abusive as it comes as a gesture of disrespect to the relationship."

Read More

5 Types of men women hate

Women would never want to be seen with certain stereotypes

There might be ample qualities that make men irresistible. But women being the fairer sex have created certain stereotypes in men that they would never want to be seen with.

We list the most common kinds of men that women love to hate...

Thumbs down to dominant men : Gone are the days when a male dominated society used to be the way of life. So, if the next time you try to show your superiority in front of your girl, it might land you in a tight spot. Women prefer mates who're recognized by their peers for their skills, abilities, and achievements - and not those who use coercive tactics to subordinate their rivals, reveals a new study.

Expert says : Dr. Chirta Bakshi, a relationship counsellor says, "Dominant behaviour is highly opposed by a female partner as she wants to enjoy the bond with equal respect. In any relationship, if one partner tries to have the upper hand in taking all decisions and if they portray their dominant self, it will not do any good to that relationship."

Macho guys aren't always lucky : A macho guy with an angry young man personality might look good on silver screen, but when it comes to real life, women aren't game to hang around with macho dudes. A recent study claims that macho guys don't always get the girls. The study further revealed that the most aggressive guys ended up with fewer wives and children.

Expert says : Personality development expert Varun Chhabra says, "Women today are more keen to pick a guy who flaunts a good body combined with a metro sexual image rather than the typical rough and tough hunk. Men who look tough from the outside and bear a soft heart within are women's favourite."

Keep sex starved men at bay : Men are usually sexually more charged up. But when it comes to choosing a mate, women don't opt for a sexually ravenous partner. This is maybe because for such men, sex is the top priority in the relationship whereas the woman continuously seeks love and romance, sans physical intimacy.

Expert says : Relationship and sex counsellor Dr. Geetu Bhardwaj shares, "It's not that women are not keen to have sex with their partner, but a man's sexual inclination does plan an important role when it comes to choosing their partner. Women generally aren't too comfortable with the idea of being with a man who has sex on his mind throughout the day. In such relationships, things like understanding and love are secondary and sexual intimacy is all that matters for the male partner."

Chauvinism is out completely : Remember Bobby Deol's chauvinistic character in Dostana, which was enough to drive his lady nuts. An excess of anything is bad. Women don't find a chauvinistic man a great companion to spend the rest of their lives with.

Expert says : Dr. Ratan Kumar, a clinical psychologist asserts, "There is a very thin line of demarcation between being a gentleman and chauvinist. A girl might love your care and concern, but your over chauvinistic attitude may irritate her at times. Make an attempt to give enough space to her and let the comfort zone be there as per mutual convenience."

Using slangs won't take you anywhere : Using abusive lingo every time you indulge in a conversation might lend you a cool dude look cool in front of your male peers, but girls don't want to hang around with a abusive man. Being too abusive and stressing on using slangs too often is a 'turn off' for today's women.

Expert says : Psychiatrist Dr. Anupam Randhawa states, "Men need to realise that a woman would like to be associated with a respectful and well-behaved mate. So using excess of slang language and abusive words during conversations can backfire. The reason why women keep such partners at bay is because they find it offensive when their man gets abusive as it comes as a gesture of disrespect to the relationship."

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5 things Indian men do to look handsome

5 things Indian men do to look handsome (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Women are not alone in this! Men also do care immensely about their looks and indulge in elaborate grooming rituals to enchant women.

They spend ridiculous amounts of time studying their reflection in the mirror from various angles, and prefer to keep themselves abreast of the latest skincare products among other toiletries on the market. Some even love hitting the salon or spa for a luxuriant facial rounded up with a manicure and pedicure. From cosmetic treatments, using hair removal creams to even shaping eyebrows, men have all this and more on their to-do list to get handsomer than their peers.

Here we list down a few very obvious things Indian men do to make heads turn.

Men USE fairness cream
Every man has used or continues to use fairness cream to get fairer, and that is an undisputed truth. Inspired by Bollywood heroes, many Indian men lead themselves to believe that good looks are all about having fair skin! The television does its bit by hawking men's fairness cream every half an hour, indicating just how huge the Indian grooming market is turning, and how nuts Indian men are about fair complexion. Taking care of your skin and body is a good thing but if you are totally obsessed about having fair skin and think it's manly in any way, you need to reconsider.

Men SHAVE their hairy chests
Remember Bollywood of 80s and 90s when romantic heroes like Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan flaunted their chests through transparent unbuttoned shirts revealing a sprinkling of hair to impress the heroin and subsequently millions of fans all over the world. But times have changed, and women are now falling for the clean-shaven look with cult-like passion. So, hairy bodies have given way to smooth, shiny, ribbed and leaner physiques, and the craggy macho look has been replaced by a metrosexual, boy-next-door appearance that makes them more trusting, and at the same time, seductive. And of course taking cue from Bollywood icons like Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, Shahid Kapur, and not to mention Salman Khan, who has transformed himself with time, Indian men have started taking grooming more seriously than ever, and are going hammer and tongs to bare chiseled, hair-less torsos akin to their on-screen idols'.

Men WANT muscles and more muscles
Going to the gym is a great practice for a fitter and toned body, but some men mistake them for a factory to pile up muscles. More often than not they pick workouts that only muscles up their biceps while letting the rest of the body lie in neglect. Result: bizzare bulged biceps and a shapeless and awkwardly thin lower body especially calves. So, workout to look good, but don't convert yourself into a muscle shop!

Men LOVE manicures and pedicures
They can't help complain about how women spend the better part of their waking hours before a mirror. But men are not left far behind in the race to look attractive. They like never before have become picky about their salons, love giving a hard time to their hairdressers, and prefer a manicure and pedicure session at the spa over an afternoon of tennis at the club. That's how serious grooming is for them.

Men STRAIGHTEN their hair
Like women who spend a fortune getting their hair straightened, smoothened, re-bonded, and what have you, men too have taken a shine to poker straight, non-messy hair that they can gather up into a pigtail or leave it open. Debunking the cliche that long, shiny locks are solely a woman's domain, some men have even gone ahead to own their personal hair straighteners which they use from time to time depending on the occasion.

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Interest rate cuts only if inflation eases: RBI

BANGALORE: Reserve Bank governor D Subbarao indicated on Saturday that the banking regulator would reduce interest rates further only if inflation continues to ease.

RBI has been lowering the cash reserve ratio (CRR) and benchmark interest rates since January last year, with inflation in this period dropping from 11% to about 7%.

Speaking at a function organized by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the governor said that the country's economic climate was a cause for concern. He said growth for 2012-13 was at a relatively low 5%, inflation was still high at 6.8%, and the current account deficit stood at 5% of GDP, historically the highest.

"Investment is decelerating, which by far is the biggest cause for concern because today's investment is tomorrow's production capacity," he said. He added that the economic situation today was more a consequence of domestic factors than global factors.

The governor noted that the three big factors keeping inflation levels high were food prices, global commodity prices, particularly of oil and gold, and demand pressures.

"Today we are seeing structural food inflation. The poorer segments of the population are seeing an increase in their incomes, and consequently their dietary habits are changing. People are shifting from cereals to proteins," Subbarao said. He estimated that over the past five years rural wages had gone up 20% year-on-year.

"People are eating more of eggs, meat, milk, vegetables, pulses, and fruits. This shift in food habits from cereals to proteins is what's causing food inflation," he said.

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