Jump by Kruti Bhatt

JUMP

Jordan, a young man stood on top of an office building looking over the city. The sun was setting over the horizon changing the sky from blue to pink. Stars were just now being able to be seen, barley, but they were still there. The air was cool, making it the perfect time to be outside.

Jordan shoved his hands in his pockets as he heaved a heavy sigh. He looked up towards the sky and then looked to the side at the park trees as if he were ashamed to look up at the heavens. He closed his saddened green eyes and lowered his head letting his brown bangs cover his face.

Life was unfair, he knew. His mother had told him that when he was younger and had not gotten his way. It wasn't until he was older he realized she was talking about the whole world, more specific her own

"Why am I here? What am I doing?" He let out a dry laugh as he questioned himself. He knew why he was here and found it weird of him to be asking questions he already knew the answer to. Better questions were why his mother had to pass away and why his life had to fall apart? He sighed. Perhaps, he knew the answers to those as well.

Why did life have to be so hard? Sure, it keeps it interesting, but there were other ways to make life interesting and have people happy. He wondered about life after death and where his mother had gone, heaven or hell. He felt like a lost puppy.

He jumped slightly hearing the door to the roof open. He let go of a breath he purposely held when he saw a girl around the same age as him standing with her back to the door.

An angel, he thought, That was the first thought that crossed his mind as his eyes rested upon her. She looked, dare he think, adorable in faded ripped blue jeans and a baby blue tank top. Her blond hair was pulled back in a bun and her eyes...her baby blue eyes showed him what she really was.

A broken angel, Her eyes were filled with such sorrow as his was. His head tilted slightly as he realized the expression on her face. Her face showed sadness, yet shock and fear at the same time. She sighed almost silently looking away the shock and fear disappearing from her face leaving nothing but her sadness.

"Could you move?" She whispered the only emotion in her voice was the same as the one on her face. "I would like to..." She tried to say it as if she was not ashamed of what she wanted to do. Her head lowered even more showing him she was. Truth be told, she felt more shame in what she was doing now, then any other thing she done in her life.

"Jump," He finished for her. She looked up at him before quickly averted her eyes towards the trees behind him. She wondered if he was judging her. She soon realized it didn't matter and started walking towards the edge. He noticed she was only wearing socks and her toes were fidgeting in them. He wondered what had happened to her that would make her want to do this, something that made her seem so uncomfortable

"Are you going to stop me...?" She asked looking at the sun that was barley able to be seen. He looked at her and then at the sun. He thought about it for a moment. Would he stop her? He wasn't really sure. Did he have a right too? After all, he was up here ready to take his own life as she was hers.

"I don't see any reason to." He told her. He saw her lower her head form the corner of his eye and began to regret his words until she spoke.

"Good," Her voice cracked slightly as tears came to the corners of her eyes. He stared out staring, but not really seeing the colors of the sky. He thought of what his mother would want him to do. He turned to her, taking his hands out of his pockets. He took a step towards her making her take a step back and wrap her arms around herself in a protective way. Her eyes closed in fear as he reached his hand out slowly towards her only to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear that had escaped her bun. Finally, not being able to take it, she fell to her knees and let her long awaited tears fall.

Jordan found himself falling down on his knees as well. He watched her cry for a moment before wiping her tears away. She just stayed up at him in wonder.

"An angel, such as you, should not be crying." He told her. Her mouth opened slightly, confused by his words. Anger soon grasped and squeezed her heart. She drew her hand up and slapped him across his face.

"You don't know me," She said, "Don't call me an angel. I'm far from it." She said anger hanging on to every word.

"No," He told her making her anger subside, and her confusion come back, "You are an angel. Perhaps, a broken angel, but an angel nonetheless," Her eyes filled with tears once more as she clung tightly to his shirt and cried into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her even closer to him as his own tears began to fall.

"What is your name?" He whispered as their tears began to calm. She pulled back slightly and rubbed her eyes to get ride of any tears. She lowered her head ashamed of the answer.

"Angel," She whispered making him smile,

"You look like one," He told her, "And you should feel like one," Confusion covered her face again.

"An angel is supposed to help people. Make people feel better." She told him trying to force her new tears back. He let out a laugh, that was more alive then the rest.

"You did do that," He told her with a small smile. She smiled back as she tucked another strand of hair behind her ear.

What's yours?" She asked, realizing she didn't know his.

"Jordan," He told her,

"Jordan," She whispered setting her head back into his chest as the sun finally set completely, the last rays of the sun leaving them, but not before knowing they would be warm, in each others arms.

- By Kruti Bhatt

Secret about guys that girls should know

Search for the right type of guy is a tricky business. The guy who touches the heart is worth living with for a lifetime. But it is difficult to find such a guy among the Generation-X. To make the job easier for girls,15 secrets about guys are cited.

Finding the right guy indeed a tricky business. When even a proclaimed faithful like David Beckham can bend easily to a Rebecca or a Sarah and who knows how many more, and then what would the lesser mortals belonging to Generation-X do? Do guys come with ISI marks? IS there any Einstein or Freud working on gadgets to measure the sincerity of guys in a relations? Certainly this job of knowing whether the guy who touches the heart is worth living with for a lifetime is becoming difficult. To make the job easier, her are offered 15 secrets about guys that a girl must know read them apply them to your guy-in-love and decide.

Y Guys will do anything just to get the girl’s attention: So don’t get carried away. They like watching girls because it is their biggest pastime. They admire girls even if they‘re not that much pretty. And the next step in line is to get respond to them, it is just the feel-good factor t ensure that they are attractive enough for the girls. So don’t slip away your ground at the mere gimmicks shown only to attach you.

Y If a guy praises you to your face, don’t take it in face value: Guys are generally fun-loving and are pleased to see how they can make you believe their words. So don’t believe them if they say they can’t sleep without hearing your voice on the phone or can’t live without seeing you, etc. A guy interested in a serious relationship would use these dialogues selectively only at times when he thinks really need to tell you would believe him in return, Such a guy when he says like that, would have really meant that. But that takes some time into a serious relationship.

Y For guy’s chemistry is not necessary connected to beauty: Yes, it is something else. In fact, the way the girl presents herself attracts the guy to enter into a serious relationship than her efforts at the beauty parlor. The girl’s smile is the first missile that blows him off, and then it is about how she conducts herself in groups and in person. Generally, guys like to flirt but they don’t like flirts.

Y If a guy tells you he loves you one in a life time, he really does: Because no guy says so easily “I Love You” to a girl. But when he says he means it. He may be flirting around with so many, but would have special with so many, but would have special feelings for a special girl who he cannot forget. And if you happen to be that special friend, who doesn’t want to respond to him, then don’t expect him to give up. His entire life goal from then on will be to make you accept him. He will give up only when he comes to know that some other guy has successes in this application to you.

Y Rejection is the biggest nightmare for guys: they don’t accept defeat so easily, particularly If they have had a relationship with a girl for quite some time. They will keep trying to get your approval despite the “no” you have said. If they hear you say: no: they would actually hear it : not now.” So they will keep trying. See what happens with Beckham. He may have dated different times, but would be quick enough to seek pardon from his wife. If Victoria turns “spicy” enough to reject him, he is sure to break. Rejection by the girl is something the guys cannot bear. This brings out the next secret about guys that they do cry!

Y Guys cry: When something goes amiss in a relationship, guys are equally affected as girls. But it is better to let hi m off if he really proves unworthy in a relationship. That is the way guys learn to behave, it is experience and rejection that make them Mature and well-behaved. So let him cry to learn better. But if a guy cries in front of the girl in an otherwise normal relation. It is better to listen to him. He may be having a genuine reason to cry that the girl must certainly listen to. Because, as a generally rule, guys don’t cry in front of his lady love, unless otherwise there is a strong reason.

Y They always begin the conversation as though they were meteorologists: yes, a guy willing to hook you up for a serious relationship will talk about everything else but his heart. His favorite opener is the weather report. Then he will continue with everything that he will continue with everything that sounds inconsequential from your point of view. Only when you show signs of bidding goodbye, does he start speaking about his heart. You know guys are poor starters!

Y He that lets you go is the one really in love with you: NO guy would like to antagonize the girl he loves. Your guy will tease you, bully you, rag you but would be carefully enough to see that he doesn’t overdo. The moment he senses that you are really agonized, he would let you go, but only after making sure that you understand him to be only in his playful best. In the absence of real filmi villains in life, this is his way of showing that he really cares for you teasing you first you first cajoling you.

Y He that stammers in front of you is the cupid-struck: Guys put up a lackluster performance in the first encounters with the girl-in-love. Phone talks do a lot of good to them than face-to-face encounters. They would rather mouth some boring world news than speak up what they intended to say, mainly to get over the stammer. So, go easy on them if they stammer and lose the way.

Y Guys are good at listening but poor at understanding: They put up a good face as thought they are good listeners. But they alone can tell what they had been listening your words or voice or something else? if you want to convey something say clear It and ask for feedback. That is one way to make sure that he is indeed listening to you. Don’t strain your mind to find novel ways of expressing your thoughts Sign language also would do no good, as guys are said to understand very few signs which girls need not bother to know until they marry! So. If you have anything to say, you have to say in clear terms. Even if it is “I love you” you have to say so. Because UN till and unless you say no, he would not understand. The guy would only be steeped in doubts even if his heart tells him that you love him.

Y But they need to be listened to: In fact, a guy is ready to rely on his girlfriend than on another guy, to solve his problems. They hate to say that they need your advice, but the guy would expect you to listen to him, advise him to bail him out of his problems. In the end he won’t even thank you for the advice and can manage on his own. But he will do exactly the way you have advised. So girls, know this superiority sense in your guy and use it to your advantages. As guys can be easily bowled over by intelligent talk, it is possible for an intelligent girl to plant her Ideas in him and get them executed!

Y Guys love their moms: And they like girls who are like their moms. The generation X girl looking for a serious relation with such a guy need not worry about his mom. Recent studies have shown that the mom loves the girl more because her son loves the girl. And since the son sees the girl in his mom’s image, he is sure to possess the tenderness that he used to show to his mom. For instance, the girl can expect him to have some expertise in culinary because that is one area the guy would have excelled to help his mom. The mom too in turn is likely to reduce the household chores of the girl as a way of pleasing he son. Anyway, good luck girls!

Y Guys in a serious relationship tend to become Possessive: So no use accusing him If he tells flat to your face not to talk to your boyfriend. Guys in a serious relationship tend to become protective and jealous, and would do everything under their power to keep your other boyfriends off. The guy would also be watchful enough to keep you off potential problems. But is certainly dependable

Y Guys have obsession about their hairstyle: So make an adverse remark about his hairstyle only if you want to turn him off! Guys may even go without a proper dress-sense, but never without a “hair-sense” they are the Samsons whose secret of energy and charm are locked up with their hair locks or the absence of them! They may even show up in muddy shoes that were probably nit in use for years. But hair is something special. For a good many of them, their sex appeal lies in their hairstyle.

Y Guys hang around only as it is fruitful: This is one crucial fact that girls must watch out. The generation X guys are more social, as they have no qualms about reeling out sweet talks too any girl who is willing to listen to them. As long as the girl allows him space, the guy will hang around. If she chooses to ignore him or shows interest elsewhere, he will have all the ease to move away. So girls, if you are serious about a guy, for heaven’s sake, don’t ever make him that you are not interested. But if the guy truly gets involved with a girl, he would leave no stone unturned to reveal his mind. His socializing with other girlfriends would anyway continue but his girl-in-love always be in his mind. This is a dis-quieting habit of guys. Unless the boy come age with reference to this habit, it is very difficult for him not make his girl, now his mistress, throw tabs as well as tantrums at him at the slightest popping of suspicion. Victoria Beckham Failed to see this secret and the Real Madrid Me Clean succumbed in them for both guys and girls!

Don't have time to hit the GYM

Don’t Have the time to hit the gym? No worries here’s what you need to do. LOWER BACK : If your job requires you to stand most of the day, the best way to relax the lower back is by sitting, after short intervals, stretch your back by bending forward and touching your toes.

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ABS : Having a strong abdomen helps protect the back. Try and contract the abdominal muscles throughout the day as you work.

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KNEES : straighten the lower leg as if you kicking ball. Feel the muscles in the front of the thigh contracting. This will help you to protect the knees. .

CALVES : Take off your shoes and place both hands against a wall. Place the right leg in front and extend the left leg behind you. Both legs should be at least two to three feet apart. Bend the knee forward and keep your back leg straight. .

FEET AND ANKLES : point and flex your feet several times, while sitting an a chair Move your feet clockwise and counter clockwise several times.... .

SHOULDERS AND NECK : This can be done while standing or sitting. Rotate the shoulders from front to back to front. Stretch your arms try touching your fingers.......

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WINTER DAYS W ITH SKIN SKIN : The winter chill can wreak home havoc on the skin, particularly around the eyes and lips. To start with, switch to a heavier moisturizer if you have dry skin and check that it does not clog the pores. Sensitive skin needs particular attention. Use the moisturizer around the eyes and lips before applying make-up which is drying, despite what cosmetic giants claim. It offers the added bonus of keeping the make-up in place. The skin under the eyes needs special care, being prone wrinkle and fine lines. Simple tips like applying pure almond oil around the eyes and massaging gently for one minute, Using the ring finger helps reduce dark circles. Leave it on for 15 minutes an wipe off with moist cotton wool, for best results, Alternatively, cucumber juice mixed with potato juice in equal quantities, applied around the eyes for 15 minutes, at any time of the day, works wonders. La prairie’s cellular Revitalizing Eye gel and Shaahnaz Husain’sShamilk lotion are also great options. But the most important thing you can do for your skin is continue using sun block. Misty skies don’t stop harming ultraviolet rays from attacking the skin. If you have a time crunch use a combination of daily moisturizer and sun block 1.Soak your feet in warm water and exotic crystals. 2. Apply almond oil under the eyes to remove dark circles 3. Don’t forgot the sun block lotion before you head out. 4. A traditional oil massage works to keep hair looking lustrous. 5. Apply a heavier moisturizer as the weather can leave the skin dry and patchy. 6. Dramatic make-up fits in with the festival mood of the reason. .

BODY As summer makes way for foggy mornings and cold wind, the skin can get rough. The best way to combat it is a combination of exfoliation and hydration. Take a cup of olive oil or any other vegetarian oil that suits your skin and add coarse sea salt flakes till the oil is full of it. Use this mixture to scrub off dead skin cells from the neck down in gentle circular movements, before a bath. As you exfoliate, the oil acts as an emollient to ensure that skin is protected and hydrated. Switching to cream based soap is also a good idea for dry skin. And after a bath. Apply body lotion before power to keep the skin well moisturized. .

FEET : Feet take the brunt of stress and have many pressure points that connect to the vital nerve centre in the body. A professional reflexology massage, one a week works wonders to distress, but if you are pressed for time, give your feet the attention they need at home. Fill a tub with warm water, dissolve exotic bath crystals in it an pop in 10 to 15 marbles. The rubbing sensation stimulates the nerves while the warm crystals relax the feet Before going to bed, apply a dab of body lotion and you can hold cracked soles at bay. .

HAIR : There is nothing like a weekly oil massage to keep the locks lustrous. Add a quarter measure of olive, castor or almond oil to coconut oil before warming it. Apply it on the scalp and leave it on for least half an hour. This hair the nutrition it needs particularly in dry weather. .

GROOMING : With festivities underway you can get away with dramatic make up, but keep the brighter shades fie the evening. In the office, opt for a deeper shade of lipstick that will work wonders ti cheer up a chilly day

HONEY

Honey with its countless benefits from head to toe doesn’t deserve to be just labeled as an old fashioned and “un cool” food to eat….this natural sweetner is truly a wonder; so precious and magical that till date it’s the only constant factor between health and beauty.

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LIVE IT UP WITH THE HONEY BEES

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, realized honey’s healing powers in the 1st century BC and prescribed it regularity to his patients for conditions such as skin disorders, sores, ulcer, respiratory ailments and fever, the physicians of Rome, prescribed honey to their patients who had trouble sleeping and even today, we might have a glass of warm milk sweetened with honey to help ensure a restful night.

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HONEY – THE DOCTOR IN YOUR OWN HOME

Modern science now acknowledge honey as an anti-microbial agent, which means it deters the growth of certain types of bacteria, yeast and molds,Research has shown that unlike most others sweeteners, honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins, minerals amino acids and antioxidants which are the necessity for every human body.A rich source of carbohydrates present in honey provides a quick of energy required by the.

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THE BENEFITS OF HONEY ARE WELL KNOWN A regular taken a mixture of organic cider vinegar in a glass of hot water every morning for years. Not only is it a very pleasant warming drink but also it gives you the energy that you cannot get from your morning tea or coffee.

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However did you know a mixture of honey and cinnamon can help cure many disease in adults?

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HONEY FOR ARTHRITIS Paste of one part honey to two parts warm water with a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder added can be rubbed onto the afficted joints of the body and massaged in , this reduced the pain within a minutes or two.A cup of hot water with two spoonfuls of honey and one spoonful of cinnamon powder taken morning and night is said to cure chronic arthritis if taken regularly. .

INDEGESTION Cinnamon power sprinkled on 2 tablespoons of honey, taken before food, relieves acidity and helps digest the heaviest of meals. .

CANCER, CHOLESTEROL & HEART DISEASE A paste of honey and cinnamon powder spread onto bread instead of jam and eaten regularly reduces cholesterol and can prevent heart attacks. Research has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones can be alleviated if a mixture of 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder is taken 3 times a day for 3 months.The Medical value of honey is seen to be increasing day after day. More and more researchers are now turning up to be increasing day after day. More and more researchers are now turning up to the evidence that honey can be trusted a real healer of lifestyle disease and the best part is that the healing is going to be natural . So Honey, eat honey and stay healthy

Food for Insomnia

Worried about getting back the hourglass figure after childbirth? Sleep off the anxiety and shed the extra kilos. Two extra hours of sleep could be all it takes to get back into shape, say researches at Harvard Medical School, UK. New mothers with six-month old babies, who were sleeping for five hours or less, were three times more likely to carry an extra 11 pounds at their baby’s first birthday than mothers who scheduled in seven hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation triggers hormonal changes that make women more hungry and prone to snacking. End result? Weight gain and obesity. On the plus side, a healthy diet and exercise and you can kiss the kilos goodbye.

Soya Belly

Hitting the gym and skipping meals to shed the pot belly? One Soya-based drink a day could be the secret to slash the amount of fat that accumulates around the stomach and shed the jiggly middle. The study published in the journal fertility and Sterility, USA is particular good news for older women who pile on the kilos menopause. Soya has also got the thumbs up for cutting the risk of heart disease and diabetes by reducing abdominal fat. Big bellies also increase the risk of hardening of the arteries, angina and heart for the Soya milk in the supermarket

Sky Babies

The biological clock may be ticking along happily, but having a baby before 20 is bad news. It makes women prone to chronic disease and raise their risk of deatt by1.42 times, compared to peers who had babies post 20. The study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, USA, found that the results are connected to the smaller nest egg that young single women with children manage status and chances of eventually typing the knot. Higher rates of heart disease and cancer also seen to dog the lives of women who have children pre-20, according to researchers.

Perfect Posture

It’s great way to get a toned body, reduce stress and improve flexibility, but yoga has got the thumbs up to need mote than that. It’s also just what the doctor ordered to hit the fast track to recovery after treatment for breast cancer, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and boost the energy levels of menopausal women. A study by scientists at Duke University of California, San Francisco, also found that menopausal women practicing yoga had a 30% decrease in hot flushes, less anxiety and sexual discomfort. And as if the list weren’t exhaustive enough, people with depression had a 27% improvement in their mood, according to the Boston university school of Medicine, USA.

Bar Drinks

Hitting the bar and tossing back more than three drinks a day is bad news foe women. It ups the risk of breast cancer by a whopping 30%. And that holds good for any type of drink-beer, wine or spirits. Researches of Kaiser Permanente, a leading health plan organization in California, USA also found that puffing away on apck or more of cigarettes a day is related to a similar increased risk of breast cancer by 30%. The trigger for breast cancer is the ethyl alcohol content found in all types of drink, says Arthur Klatsky, one of the researches. Women who quaffed between one and two alcoholic drinks a day increased their risk of breast cancer by 10% compared with those who consumed less than one drink each day. Another good reason to give the bottle a miss.

Worker bees

Conscientiousness works. And in more ways than getting a promotion. It’s also just the thing to stave off Alzheimer’s By negating risk factors like getting hooked cigarettes or binding on alcohol. Conscientiousness has got the thumbs up for a life with a lower risk of dementia. According to research by the Rush University medical Centre in Chicago, USA, people low in the conscientious trait are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Drinkers ar Risk

Downing tequila shots isn’t the 20-somethings forte. It’s the 40 plus women who toss back six units of alcohol on one bout of binge drinking, unlike men who reach their alcohol peak in their 20s. An alarming 20% of all women also indulged in a drinking bout which put them at risk of injury. Research at Cardiff University UK, also found that the stereotypical binge drinking groups- students, younger drinkers and the unemployment- are not the most “at risk” for heavy drinking.

Money Rules

Trashing the stereotype that men are better managers of the two sexes, women have an edge when it comes to saving the pennies, A definitive 70% of British women say they are able to stick to a prearranged budget, versus 68% of men according to research carried out by Engage Mutual Assurance. Women also win hands down when it comes to tucking away a healthy sum in a saving account.

Quit Puffing Cigrettee

The list of smokers’ woes just got longer Infertility, lung cancer and heart disease apart, puffing away on a cigarette also cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – the leading cause of blindness. Researches at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Vision Research and Westmead Hospital found that smokers developed AMD when they were 69 years old, five years earlier than non – smoker. Another good reason to kick the butt.

Sleep Reduce HeartAttack

Jugging pressure cooker jobs, family and a social life may put sleep can be just the thing to kill the risk of health problems. Catching five or fewer hours of shut eye increases the risk of dying from all causes by 70%. Worse news still not sleeping enough also doubles the risk of death from cardiovascular problem, saysa study by the University of Warwick and University College, London. In the Short term. Fatigue, tiredness and excessive day time sleeping are common with a risk of piling on the kilos, high blood pressure and type2 diabetes, also in tow. Another good reason to swap the social do for some recharge time.

Women in Race

Looking for fatter pay cheques and greener pastures, women are quitting time, At the highest level yet, resignation rates of women between trainees and the chief executive level is at 7.8%, and it’s only on the up. Research carried out by the UK Chartered Management Institute also found that while women are racing ahead of men and chaliking up promotions faster than the other sex, bonus for women average 10.2% of their income, Where men’s receive 13.8%. The reason? Women hold back from demanding higher raise and gender biases persist, despite the weight of legislation and the reality that reward should match responsibility.

Women Coffee Queen

Staying sharp and wily at70 is easier then you think. All you have to do to give a lapsing memory that jolt is have three or more cups of coffee a day. A study by the French National Institute for Health and Medical research found that women at the ripe old age of 80, who drank three cups of coffee a day, were 70% less likely to have memory decline than those who sipped a cup or less. Men are not so lucky. Probably because women metabolize caffeine differently. Says study leader Karen Ritchie. Also on the plus side, the magic beans have beneficial effects against Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. win-win all the way for coffee lovers.

Side Up

Skip the lotion and anti-wrinkle creams and head out in the sun if you want to beat ageing at its game. Vitamin D produced by the skin in response to sunshine is just the thing to stay youthful, with the added bonus of protection from heart disease and cancer, say researchers at King’s College, London. People with higher levels of vitamin D have longer telomeres, the biological marker of being younger and healthier, compared to peers who shied away from sunshine. And for an added boost of Vitamin D, fish, eggs and cereals are the way to go.

Weight Issue

Pilling on the kilos is bad news for more for more than just cosmetic reasons. It raises the risk of breast cancer by a massive 50 per cent. A study by the National Cancer Institute in Maryland, USA, found that pushing up the needle of the weighing scale post 18, increase the threat of breast cancer. And that holds true no matter how overweight women were. The reason? Carrying around wobbly bits triggers a change in sex hormone levels, increasing the amount of oestrogen, which can cause some breast cancers to grow. Women who were not overweight at 18but were at 35, had a 40 per cent increased risk of development breast cancer. On the plus side, losing weight and keeping an eye on the calories help reduce the risk of cancer

Baby genious

Antibodies apart, breast feeding could be the ticket to have brainr babies by a whopping seven IQ points. According to a study published in the journal Proceeding of the National Academy of Science, USA. Breast-fed babies are happier, healthier and brighter than their formula-fed peers. But alarmingly, as many as a fifth of British women choose not to breast-feed, and a third of those who do, throw in the towel in six months, Breast-fed babies have the bonus of fewer intestinal, digestive problems, skin diseases and are less likely to develop high blood pressure. Also on the plus side. They have a lower body mass index as adults-26.1 compared to 26.9for bottle-fed counter parts.

Breast Feeding

Trouble for babies if pregnant mother take drinks

Women who quaff drinks during pregnancy are in for a bumpy ride bringing up their children. The higher the number of drinks being tossed back, the greater the risk of having badly behaved children, say researchers at Indians University, USA. Fighting, bullying and being and being disrespectful are just the tip of the iceberg, with developmental problems called fetal alcohol syndrome, also of the package for children of heavy drinkers. Lead researchers Brian D’Onofrio say it’s because alcohol affects areas o the developing brain which govern behavior.

53% Women

53% BRITISH WOMEN SAY THE FIRST YEAR OF MOTHERHOOD IS THE LONELIEST IN A WOMEN’S LIFE.

Poll by Mother and Baby magazine and Tesco, Uk

Foresight Report

50% OF BRITISH WOMEN AND 24 PER CENT OF CHILDREN IN THE UK WILL BE CLINICALLY OBESE BY 2050 IF CURRENT TRENDS CINTINUE.

The Foresight Report, UK

8% Women

8% OF BRITISH WOMEN ARE CATEGORISED AS BINGE DRINKERS. Survey published by the department of Health, UK

7% Women

7% OF AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE ANSWERED A WORK CALL OR EMAIL WHILE HAVING SEX.

Poll by Esquire and Marie Claire magazine, USA

19% Women

19% OF BRITISH WOMEN SAY THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PARTNER IS STRONGER AFTER HAVING BABY. Poll by Mother and Baby magazine and Tesco, Uk

National Family

The NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH SURVEY III ALSO FOUND THAT 50% OF MEN BELIEVE THAT A WOMAN WHO IS FEEDING CANNOT BECOME PREGNENT.

78% Women

78% OF BRITISH WOMEN IN THEIR 30S DON’T HAVE TIME TO EAT PROPERLY AND 31% ADMIT TO SNACKING ALL THE TIME Poll By Top Sante Magazine, UK

Breast Cancer

ONE IN 20 CASES OF BREAST CANCER IN THE UK EACH YEAR CAN BE BLAMED ON DRINKING. Study By Cancer Research, UK

32% Women

ONLY 32% OF AMERICAN WOMEN GET150 MINUTES OD EXERCISES A WEEK, THE MINIMUM RECOMMENDED TO PREVENT CANCER. Poll By the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre and Prevention magazine , USA

50% Women

50% Of AMERICAN WOMEN SAY THEY FIB ABOUT AN ITEM’S COST OR HIDE NEW PURCHASE FROM THEIR SPOUSE. Poll by oprah.com USA

42% Women

42% OF AUSTRALIAN WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 34 CONSIDER THEM-SELVES OVER WEIGHT OR OBESE. Survey by Cosmopilitan magazine, Australia

51% Women

51% of INDIAN MEN DON’T FIND WRONG WITH ASSAULTING THEIR WIVES. National Family Health Survey III, India

22% Women

22% OF AMERICAN WOMEN SAY THAT SHOP PING HAS PUT THEM IN DEBT. Poll by oprah.com USA

59% Women

59% OF BRITISH WOMEN BELIVE THE 30S ARE THE TOUGHEST DECADE.

Poll by Top Sante magazine, UK

70% Women

70% OF SINGLE WOMEN STAY ALONE AT HOME OR GO WINDOW SHOPPING ON HOLIDAYS. Survey by sina.com China

93% Women

93% WOMEN MAKE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO LOSE WEIGHT AND LOOK LIKE WOMEN ON TV.

Poll by People Magazine, US

35% Women

35%OF CANADIAN WOMEN DON’T LIKE THEIR HUSBAND’S FRIENDS. Survey by Research House on behalf of BBC, Canada

41% Women

41% WOMEN JUSTIFIED WIFE BEATING IF IT WAS BECAUSE THEY SHOWED DISRESPECT TO THEIR IN-LAWS. National Family Health Survey-III, India

Postmenopausal

ONE IN 10 POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN HAS HAD AT LEAST ONE PANIC ATTACT

Study by Harvard Medical School, Uk

blood pressure

BATTLE HIGH BLOOD PRESSUR? A LITTLE DARK CHOCLATE IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. Journal of the American Medical Association

35% women

35% WOMEN WOULD RATHER HAVE SOME TIME ALONE THAN TAKE A VACATION IN PARIS. Poll by Oprah.com, US

3.5% AMERICAN WOMEN

3.5% AMERICAN WOMEN SUFFER FROM BINGE EATING DISORDER FOUR TIMES MORE THAN ANDEREXIA. Published in the journal of Biological Psychiatry

cardiovascular

PILLING ON THE KILOS AS A CHILD COULD HURT MORE THAN BARBS ABOUT BEING FAT-IT ALSO MEANS HAVING A HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPMENT HEART DISEASE AS AN ADULT. COMPARED TO THEIR SLIMMER PEERS. CHILDREN CARRYING AROUND WOBBLY BITS FACE 14.5 TIMES THE RISK OF HIGHBLOOD PRESSURE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, Study at the Cinicinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Centre in Ohio, US

by clinical sexologist

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO SPICE UP THE SEX LIFE, GIVE THE LINGERIE-AND-PERFUME ROUTINE A MISS. INSTEAD, SHRIMP,OLIVES, GINGER, TOMATOES AND CHOCLATE WILL WORK WONDERS, RELEASIING HORMONES FOR SOME ADVENTURES IN THE BEDROOM,

By Clinical Sexologist Ava Cadell, US

Choclate sex

CHOCLATE WINS OVER SEX WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING MONEY HAPPY, Poll for princes quay shopping Centre in Hull, UK

research house

42% OF CANADIAN WOMEN WHO WERE OWNED MONEY FELT TOO AWKWARD TO ASK FOR IT BACK.

Survey by research house on behalf of BBC, Canada

Kaiser

67% OF AMERICAN WOMEN TAKE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS DURING PREGNENCY Study by the Kaiser Parmanente Centre for health research in Portland, USA

Blame game

The number of Indian women popping contraceptives may be on the up, but men still have a hands-off approach to family planning. The reason? It's a women's bussiness of course. That's what an alarming 22 per cent of men have to say about erole in avoiding unwanted pregnancies. More regressive still. 16 per cent of men say that women on contraceptives are promisesuous.

Women running a risk

Pushing the bar with strenous exercises in the gym or hitting the jogging track for long hours is a bad idea for pregnent women. It triples the risk of miscarriage, says a study by the University of Southern Denmark . Jogging, ball games abd racquet sports are all on the list of no-nos, as well as clocking more than seven hours of exercise a week. But that's not to say exercise should be put off completely swimming is safe and one of the most popular forms of exercise among women, say researchers, and wins favour over high impact sports. moderate exercise also improces thecardiovascular system, and maintains muscletone - all good things for the mother-to-be.

survey by cosmopolotian magazibe, Australia

ONE IN TEN WOMEN WOULD RATHER SKIP A MEAL THAN GIVE UP ALCOHOL TO PURGE THE POUNDS Survey by cosmopolitian magazibe , Australia.

Masters your memorising skills!

You have a wonderful memory। How did you react to this introductory statement? perhaps, your reaction was one of disbelief. A majority of us (As per studies), are convinced that we have a poor or average memory. the truth is something else. your brain is capable of storing a quadrillion (1 followed by15zero1) and more memory impulses. So there , you do have a wonderful memory. Let us put it differently.there is no such thing as a poor or bad memory. The aforesaid bit of information may irritate you. especially if, for years, you have been using the 'bad memory' myth as a golden excuse for various purpose. Any expert in the realm of memory empowerment is likely to assert, "there are only trained and untrained memories. There is no such thing as a bad memory."Moreover, whatever may be your age,you can always train your memory to retain and recall whatever you would like to - facts and figures names faces, or numbers and dates । । । GETTING STARTED

Eight times world memory champion, Dominic O;Brien testifies, "I typically memorise a 200-digit number spoken at the rate of one once. I regularly give presentations where I am introduced to 80,90 or 100 or more people just once, after which I am able to reel off not only their first names, but also their surnames. People think that because I can remember so many facts and figures, I must have a photographic memory. This is not the case. Years ago, before training my memory, I could recall only seven or eight digits, about the length of a phone number-which is the average human memory span for numbers. I did not just wake up one morning with the ability to remember. I simply studied the techniques for making my mind more supple and put them in to practice.

"Well, by now, if there is a stirring within you to enhance your memory power and you are wondering you can train your memory for better performance.. the answer is an emphatic 'Yes'. Let us explore a couple of memory a techniques along with some rules that ensure super memory performance. But before that, take the following simple memory test. It will help you compare your own memory performance before and after you have learnt and applied the memory tis explained in this article.

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A BRAIN_TEASERD

Do any one of the following:* Select and memorise a speech you need to make at a forthcoming presentation, seminar ar meeting.* Read this list of 15 objects just once. You may take about four minutes to do so and memorise them in their proper sequence - choclate, book, refrigerator, Shah Rukh Khan, Tarot, roses, boss, potato, interview, pen, fish,bed,cat,mother & children. Now try to read the speech, photographs/headines or the list of objects in exctly the same order. When scoring yourself, remember that if you leave out one object (concept/thought in case of the speech), that will make theremaining ones incorrect for they will be out of sequence. Give youself five points for each correct entry. If the objects are out of sequence, you do not score.

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OPEN SESAME TO GOOD MEMORY

Any memory trainer worth his/her mnemonic will vouch for the fact that the foundation of trained memory is association. Consider this: You know what a line is. You form a square by connecting four lines of equal length together. You make a cube understand the concept of the cube because you know what a line and a square is. Likewise, you learn and remember a thing that is new to you, only by associating it with something youalready know. Think about it. Youwill be able to recall many conscious associations you have made to remember some new piece of information you have made to remember some new piece of information. For instance, the spelling of thr words 'belive', 'piece' and 'cemetery' were made easy to remember and recall when associated with simpler words learnt earlier-lie, pie,' and 'Eee there is a cemetery!

'Now that you have become awareof how association is crucial to memory training, let us qualify association with an adjective-ridiculous, Yes. Ridiculas association is the magic mantra for empowering your memory.Using your imagination and creativity, if you can link a new piece of information to something you already know in a ridiculous/silli/illogical way and actually see that silly image in your mind's eye. you can perform memory magic.

Check it out right away with our list of 15 words. Presuming you already know and remember choclates, the new piece of informationyou wish to remember is book. Go ahead, make a crazy association between chaolate and book. (No, it's not being childish. It's being childlike and it'll give you results). Perhaps you may see your toddler eating your favourate book instead of the choclate. ( It is mandatory that you see the picture in your mind for a moment.) Next, you must associate refrigerator with book, again in a ridiculous manner and see the mental image. May be you picture your spouse finishing a novel and keeping it in the deep freezer. then assciate Shah Rukh Khan with refrigerator. perhaps you see yourself opening the fridge door and Shah Rukh Khan leaping out at you!

Thus, Associating the current piece of information with te preceding piece of information with the preceding piece of information in a ridiculous way, you complete your list of 15 items

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LET'S REVIEW

Think of choclate। What does choclate make you think of?Your toddler chewing a book of course! ' Book' brings the silly image of your spouse putting the novel in the refrigerator. 'Refrigerator' brings to mind the picture of Shah Rukh Khan leaping out at you. So on and so forth. If all your associations were ridiculous and you actually saw them in your mind's eye fora moment, then you will definitely remember and recall all the items in correct sequence after having read through the list just once! The same aforementioned steps need to b applied to memorising list of errand, to-dos, short notes, speeches, sales talk ... just about anything you wish to remember in a sequence. After all, speeches or long answers are idea/concepts/ thoughtin a sequence. Read the speech /note one or twice. Pick out the key words. A keywords A key word is a word that will bring the ebtire sentence/thought/concept to mind. Make a list ofkey words in proper sequence. Make ridiculous association and see the image in your mind's eye If you have linked teh key words. you are raedy to deliver the speech Think of the first item and say what you want about it. When you are through with it. When you are through with it , the next key word will come to mind Making a list of key words will cause each thought to automatically lead you to the next thought and so on, right through to the end of your sakes talk, speech or article.

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REMEMBER NAMES AND FACES

Try the 'Feather Link" techniques to help you rememebr and recall names। The first step is to hear the name clearly. If the name is meaningful and you can picture it in your mind, it helps, if possible ask what the name means. Peoplelove talking about their names and Indian names have beautiful meanings which aid visualisation-Arti,Pooja, Kiran ... If the name is meaningful and can be visualised. for jasbir, You think of Jazz and beer. The next step is to observe the person. Oneparticular feature may strike you- a mole, dimple, scar,beautiful eyes, a colourful turban... Now you have to link the name to the feature in a ridiculas manner. Perhaps you may visualise a minimature jazz habd playing on and beer flowing from jasbir's colourful turban. Next time you meet Jasbir, the silly image will coem to youe mind and tyour trained memory will hwlp you recall the name jasbir. Guranteed!

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REMEMBERING NUMBER

Mnemonics is an ancient Greek technique for remembering numbers and dates. The method uses words to make numbers more meaningful and theerby easy to memorise.For example you may memorise your saving account number 2557by constructing a phrase comprising words that have the same numbers of letters as each didit- my [2] money[5]keeps[5]growing[7].

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THE NUMBER RHYME SYSTEM

In this technique, you think of a word, Preferable a noun that rhymes with each number. For example, 1 sun,2 loo,3 tree, 4 door, 5 dive, 6 bricks, 7 heaven, 8 gate, 9 wine, 0 hero, 10 pen. If you can see the mental image of your parents who dive into the loo to cast their votes, you will never forget that in 1952 [5 dive,2 loo] Indains began exercising theie adult franchise! Know for sure taht the more you practise the art of association , the more natural it wiull become. Once you becoem adept at creatively imagining ridiculas associations, you will memorise ridiculous associations you will memorise with ease fact and figures.

Survey by cosmpolitian magazine Australia

The first puff could be all it takes for a teenager to spiral into a smoking addiction. sixty seven percent of teenager who experiance a sense of relaxation after their first cigratte become hooked to the nicotine kick. A study by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA, found that psychological factors like being deprassed and looking to experimant boosted the likelihood of addiction . But abeasing of tension post a few dragsis the biggest risk factor for being unable to kick the butt.