Perfume

Why does one wear perfume?

In simple words, we wear perfume to smell good and to attract opposite sex. 

With so many fragrances available these days, one can truly reflect their individuality by the choice of perfumes. Fragrance triggers our mood. We can change the way we smell to match our mood or occasion etc. These days perfumes that we wear, strongly represents our personality. Every time when I get the smell of Fahrenheit- by Christian Dior, unconsciously I would look around for my Ex-boss! That was his favorite choice. Well, that reminds me of something else too. Fragrance has direct link with our memory. Not necessarily it has to be perfume; for example you are walking past a restaurant, and you get the smell of your favorite food that your mother used to cook, suddenly you will drift away, down the memory lane, thinking of those good old days…!!! So, fragrance plays a very vital role in invoking certain memories. Okay, let me share some secret with you; I still do wear (some times- depends on my mood) Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani, because that connects me with some good, positive memories of the time spend with my ex-girl friend (Shhhhh… secret! Don’t tell any one)!

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Healthy Brain – 5 friendly tips for a healthy brain

I hope this paper does not get into the hands of corporate recruiters ! This research paper published by University of California in Los Angeles ( UCLA), stated that obese people had 8% less brain tissue than average people. In other words, obese person’s brain was 16 years older than the average individual. This also implies that our waistline is inversely proportional to our intelligence. Before one takes this report too seriously, let me clarify that this study by Mr. Paul Thompson included only people in their late 70’s. Thus the percentage of brain tissue loss may not be similar to other age groups. It will also be illogical to say that a person of thinner waistline is more has more intellect compare to an obese individual, because what matters is how we use our brain ! Scientists are of the conclusion that Einstein used 2 % more of his brain than an average individual. Human brain was & still is an enigma to the world of science, but with newer technologies , some facts of this wonderful organ is established beyond doubt:

1. It’s not our genes that decide the life & quality of our brain (brain cells)
2. Brain cells do not necessarily decline with age at the same rate for all individuals.
3. Even though there is a self repair mechanism for damaged cells, neurons cannot divide & reproduce themselves.
4. Brain health is directly related to heart health.

The third point is related to UCLA research. Almost 20% of the blood pumped by the heart directly goes to the brain, thus when the functioning of the heart gets affected, it’s the brain that gets hit the hardest. When the arteries become smaller due to fat deposits, the blood flow to the heart is affected & this in turn affects the brain health. So all this is leading us back to the lifestyle choices & the kind of food we eat. We can safely assume that an obese individual has more fat deposited in the arteries & therefore come to a conclusion that being obese for long will certainly reduce the capacity of the brain.

How can we reduce the damage to brain cells?  These are 5 friendly tips for a healthy brain:

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Article by Prewit.P

Woman’s Guide to a perfect Suit

Until recently, corporate world was dominated by men. But after women started stepping in to the corporate world, fashion industry has taken a different turn in designing formal wear for women which not only demands respect but also satisfies the quench for fashion.

Fashion for women (even for metro men) is not just wearing fashionable dress. The way they dress, shows their individuality. More and more women are adopting into formal dressing culture these days. The advantage is, unlike men, they have the freedom to experiment with brighter and colorful materials instead of sticking to the usual black, brown gray etc (Though my recommendation would be Black, Blue, Gray and brown for office wear).

Suite is the most important piece of garment in woman’s wardrobe. So every care should be taken while selecting a suite. Well worn suit demands respect from colleagues and clients. The shape, fabric and color make the woman’s suite appropriate for different occasions. The advantage is that women can change the entire look of the suite by just merely changing few accessories.

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Dining Etiquette – Five common mistakes to avoid

“Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot” – this is what Benjamin Disraeli said as far back as 1860’s & it holds good today too. We imbibe most of our manners from home or school but it’s the table etiquette that baffle many. Many don’t get an opportunity to go to a finishing school in dining etiquettes & as a result of this, face awkward situations at formal dining. In a rapidly changing corporate culture many deals & offers are finalized over a formal meal.  I know many companies that give the final offer letter after a cocktail party. This party is held just to check your social behavior especially after few rounds of alcohol. A close friend of mine was rejected in a final round of interview with the director despite doing well. An insider later told him that the director was particularly upset that my friend blew the tea in an attempt to cool it. It is advisable to be trained in dining etiquettes, because one never knows when they will require it.

In this article, we will not be looking at basics like picking nose in public or chomping food with a loud noise; instead, the focus is on minor aspects that one normally neglects. The write up is appropriately titled:

Five common mistakes to avoid during formal dining

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Article by Prewit P

IS ALCOHOL GOOD OR BAD FOR THE HEALTH?

Last month, when my cousin got married, he threw a bachelor party for his colleagues and being “geographically” close to him, I was also called for the party.

My cousin was a pure teetotaler but all his friends threatened to boycott the party if he did not consume alcohol, at least on that particular day. That day, we were all in the excitement of his “run away wedding”! His colleagues, being from medical transcription back ground, were encouraging him with medical jargon and scientific benefits of alcohol…especially on “that night”! Words, which caught my attention, were “aphrodisiac’’ and “libido”! Well, the party ended fine, though we had to carry the unconscious groom to his waiting bride; a real tragedy! However, the incident forced me to dig deep into the benefits of alcohol…and some myths as well.

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Cholesterol facts – Benefits, risks & tips

I recently came across an 18 year old boy who was diagnosed with high cholesterol. This boy’s family immediately changed his diet. They have also started buying only those food products that are labeled as “cholesterol free” . While most of us will agree with this approach, it will be better to understand this so called malice – “cholesterol”

Many among us believe that Cholesterol is bad for us.  Let’s look at the function of cholesterol in our body & re-asses our opinion of Cholesterol.

Cholesterol performs many important functions in the body. Some of the benefits of cholesterol are:

• It’s cholesterol that is converted to vitamin D by our body in the presence of sunlight.
• Cholesterol is responsible for digestion of fats by helping in production of bile.
• Cholesterol insulates our nerve cells.
• Cholesterol maintains the structure of cell walls.
• It helps in the synthesis of many critical hormones

Do you still think cholesterol is bad? What is the truth about cholesterol?

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Protein Facts

My son is preparing for his fourth grade science exam & I can hear him repeating & memorizing this statement – “ Protein is a body building food”. Coming to think of it, this is the only statement most adults associate with protein.  Our ignorance about protein is making many brands profit through unwarranted protein supplements & shakes.

Let’s look at some interesting facts of protein:

• Protein is a macro nutrient & thus our body requires proteins in larger quantities.
• Unlike fats & carbohydrates, our body does not store proteins, so we need a constant supply of protein.
• Since protein is present in every cell of our body, it is present in every hair, every nail, bone, enzyme, blood etc…….

But the most significant facts of protein are these:

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Controlling Anger.

“Anger is just another emotion” – is it ?

Do you know what anger does to you? We have all seen the external affects of anger. We have also seen anger destroying nations too. Anger may range from being just an irritable state of mind to a wild rage. Whatever is the intensity, anger destroys US much- much more than the person it is targeted at.

This is how anger affects your metabolism:

• Anger builds up your blood pressure.
• Anger interferes with the secretion of your gastric juices.
• Anger puts undue strain on your heart muscle.
• All this leads  to you becoming exhausted & weak.

( The repeated use of word “your” was intentional). We never realize that that the person on whom this anger is targeted is blissfully unaware of this & is probably enjoying life at this very moment.

Lets also internalize & see when anger works within:

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Do we ever listen to our body???

Do we sleep when our eyes hurt? Do we exercise whenever we feel heavy? Do you rest at the first sign of infection/cold/flu etc.?  Modern lifestyle is so fast paced that we don’t even realize that our body is screaming for attention.  Abusing body with stress, late nights, television, overeating & alcohol has almost become the norm. The results of these abuses become clearer as we age, nowadays even teens need alarm clock to wake up! Shocked at the statement? Even heard of animals using alarm clock to get up at the stroke of dawn? Dentists are laughing their way to the bank & vision correction centers are booked to the brim.

Today, let us look at few natural tips to get the natural glow back to your face. No one can deny the importance of eyes & teeth in conveying hundreds of emotions & making us look more attractive. Let’s dig into the friendly tips on healthy eyes & teeth – the most visible features in us.

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Article by Prewit P

I wasn’t surprised when I saw the news article about people approaching psychiatrists due to fear psychosis or hysteria caused by swine flu. As always, media has succeeded in blowing the swine flu issue out of proportion and creating panic among the general public. While the government is taking every step to create the awareness, I guess, as a citizen, we should also be part of this campaign.

Before I get down to FAQ’s about Swine flu and H1N1 virus, let me give you few encouraging statistics about the current mortality rate of H1N1 virus compared to other diseases. If you consider the entire population of the world, there are approximately 200923 suspected cases of swine flu of which 1606 died. That means, mortality rate due to H1N1 virus is just 0.003 %. In India, out of 1000 plus suspected cases, 13 died, which is about 1.3% mortality rate. On the other hand, one person die for every one hour due to falciferum malaria, about 100 patients die due to TB daily and 50 patients die due to HIV AIDS every day in India. Feeling better now????

Some FAQ’s about swine flu

What is swine flu / swine Influenza

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