A Bowl of Fruits a day keeps illness at bay!!!

Have you wondered anytime, why we need to eat fruits in an empty stomach and not after a meal? Eating fruit in an empty stomach plays a very important role in detoxifying our system, supplying us with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other physical activities. Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes -all of these will NOT happen if you eat fruit in an empty stomach

Fruits are the most important food in our diet:

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body.  If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the Secret for Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and Normal weight. 

When you need to drink fruit juice, drink only fresh fruit juice, not from the packs and cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get only the taste... Cooking destroys all of the vitamins. Better still, eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit-fast to cleanse your body. Eat fruit and drink fruit juice for just 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends say how radiant you look!

Fruits and their Benefits:

KIWI: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange!

AN APPLE a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGES: Eating 2 oranges a day may help keep cold at bay, lowers the cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: The coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, watermelon helps boost our immune system. Watermelon also contains lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Rich source of vitamin C; they are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes. 

BANANA: Banana is one of the staple foods in our country and is a rich source of vitamin B6 and iron. Banana helps to overcome depression and is a great mood elevating fruit and also aids in digestion. Bananas are a rich source of fiber and aid in the proper functioning of our digestive system.

MANGO: Mango the King of fruits is a rich source of potassium, calcium and vitamin A, has anti- cancer and immune boosting properties. Mango helps in the production of Red Blood Cells and is a super fruit that has a calming effect on the nervous system.

So go ahead and indulge in a bowl full of these super fruits from nature’s bounty and lead a happy, healthy, radiant and a beautiful life.

Steps to live happily ever after !!!

The other day, I was having a chat with one of my neighbors. She is an old aunty, who gave me some pep talk. I liked the way she looked at life and at her age, she appeared so strong and balanced emotionally. After the chat with her, she did not appear to me old anymore and I could see the beauty in her emotional well-being. She was so happy with herself and with life.

Most of us do not need a definition for happiness; we know it when we feel it. However, there are times when we all feel low for some unknown reason, which keeps troubling us.

Poetry and Art: Patricia Walter.

These are the steps of highly happy and successful people, which I thought I will share with you. Maybe it can pull you through a tough time and bring a happier state of mind.

 1. Stop worrying. Whatever happens will happen and there is a reason behind all pain and gain.

 2. Allow yourself to be a beginner. No one starts off being excellent

 3. Don't let your happiness depend on anything outside you. You are the only person who can choose to be a happy or sad and make yourself feel happy.

 4. Stay close to everything that makes you feel alive.

 5. Listen to your body; it will lead you to unlimited health.

 6. Surround yourself with people who will make you feel happy. Better still; call up that one person with whom you are comfortable and who will definitely make you feel happy, at the end of the conversation.

 7. Make peace with your past. Do not worry too much about the future and bask in the glory of the present. Don't postpone joy.

 8. See all setbacks as growth and expansive opportunities.

 9. Comparing yourself to others will hurt your health and steal your joy. You are what you are.

10. Don't give up, EVER. Failure is the stepping stone to success.

11. You always have a choice. Do not settle for something less that you don’t deserve.

12. Stop chasing what’s not working. Just let go.

13. Believe wholeheartedly in miracles. Every day is a miracle.

14. Trust the universe, there is a plan greater than yours.

15. Wake up every morning with a grateful heart. Thank God that you are still alive.

16. Remember things take time. Give the time some time.

17. No need to change people and you do not have to change as well. Learn to accept people for what and who they are.

18. Forgive yourself. We are humans after all.

19. Your life is a creative adventure. Go on a jolly ride and take things easy.

20. Release expectations and enjoy the journey, there is no destination.

Last but not the least, have faith God. He is the creator of all things, Joy and sorrow. Nothing can happen without His knowledge. Believe that He will carry the burden of your welfare and nothing can go wrong.

Henry David Thorte

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Hidden Meanings in Corporate Talks.

Came across some funny corporate talks and thought will share them with you.

1."We will do it" means "You will do it"

2."You have done a great job" means "More work to be given to you"

3."We are working on it" means "We have not yet started working on it"

4."Tomorrow, first thing in the morning" means "It is not getting done "At least not tomorrow!"

5."After discussion we will decide-I am very open to views" means "I have already decided, I will tell you what to do"

6."There was a slight miscommunication" means "We had actually fibbed"

7."Let us call a meeting and discuss" means "I have no time now, will talk later"

8."We can always do it" means "We actually cannot do it on time"

9."We are on the right track, but there needs to be a slight extension of the deadline" means "The project is screwed up, we cannot deliver on time."

10."We had slight differences of opinion "means "We had actually fought"

11."Make a list of the work that you do and let's see how I can help you" means "Anyway you have to find a way out, no help from me"

12."You should have told me earlier" means "Well even if you had told me earlier, that would have made hardly any difference!"

13."We need to find out the real reason" means "Well, I will tell you where your fault is"

14."Well, Family is important; your leave is always granted. Just ensure that the work is not affected," means, "Well you know...you cannot afford to take off at this juncture"

15."We are a team," means, "I am not the only one to be blamed"

16."That's actually a good question" means "I do not know anything about it"

17."All the Best" means "You are in trouble"

All you corporate folks out there, are the hidden meanings really true????

How Kitchen cures can help you save your money, by using Natural Remedies for your Aches and Pains and Other Every Day Problems

There are ways for you to be healthy and save money too.

What you should do is, replace some of pricey drugstore medication, with natural remedies for aches, pain and common cold/ flu symptoms.

These natural cures remedies work the same way or even better than drugs.

How to heal your ache with ginger tea

If you have a headache, try to sip ginger tea instead of a classical medication.

Ginger contains a compound that will block the pain signal transition to your brain.

You can buy ginger tea at any supermarket.

Ginger is good for your stomach too.

Next time when you have tummy troubles, do not use anti nausea medication, take ginger.

It will calm your stomach in just a few minutes, neutralizing your stomach acid and speed up your digestion.

How to ease your skin’s wrinkles

You should make a mask by mixing one tablespoon fine sugar with the juice from two green grapes, then apply it on your face and leave it for 15-20 minutes.

Repeat this twice a week.

The acids contained in grapes will make your fine lines disappear; you will save money on expensive cosmetics too.

How to cure your cough with flax seeds

Next time when you get a cough opt for a tea made from one-tablespoon flax seeds and one-cup water.

Then let it simmer for 5-10 minutes and drink it while it is still warm.

The secret is in the mucilage substance from flax seeds, which will block your urge to cough.

If you are coughing with phlegm, break the congestion by drinking more water.

How to eliminate dandruff

You can easily turn your regular shampoo into a potential dandruff fighter by adding five to ten drops of eucalyptus oil.

You will notice an improvement in just a few days.

Eucalyptus oil contains anti fungal compounds that will kill the dandruff.

Courtesy: Unknown

An Ode To a Best Friend!!!

Long long ago and not so long ago, there came a person in my life who now I call my close friend or better still ‘My Best Friend’. Though we were in college together, we did not realize that one day we shall become the best of buddies. We may be miles apart and yet so close. My friend is my punching bag and she uses me as her punching bag as well. I am sure, that all of you will have that ‘one best friend’ or ‘best friends’ who have come as a blessing in your life.

This article is a dedication to all my best friends who have made me what I am today.

I think that the term ‘Best Friend’ may seem a little childish now that we have all grown to become adults and yet the term ‘Best Friend’ brings in so much of warmth and wonderful memories. We may all be busy with our families, children and work. We may no longer have the time for our best friends, but the very thought, that there is a best friend in our life make us smile. We may meet so many people in our lives some good and some not so good, strangers and acquaintances and yet nobody can be like your best friend. A best friend is like a treasure whose memories should be guarded and cherished. Years would have gone by and times changed, but it is difficult to forget a best friend.

 According to me:

  A best friend is someone you can argue with, then laugh with.

 A best friend is someone who’s always available to listen to your problems when you 

 need him/her.

 A best friend is someone who doesn't always do everything you want to do, but tries  to construct your personality.

A best friend is someone who always does what's best for you.

A best friend is someone who builds you up and not pulls you down.

A best friend is someone you can trust with your most hidden secrets.

A best friend is someone who will listen to all your nonsense talk and still be patient with you.

On a lighter note let me share with you some funny quotes on ‘Best Friends’. Read and enjoy them. Spare a moment’s thought for your best friend or friends, near or far.

We are best friends always. Remember that I will pick you up when you fall, after I finish laughing.

A best friend is the person who makes you laugh, when you think that you will never 

smile again.

Strangers think that I am quiet, but my best friend knows that I am completely insane.

Best friends laugh at the silliest jokes, come up with the craziest ideas, put up with each other’s mood swings and yet, remain best friends.

A best friend will always walk with you, when all others walk out.

So many memories, so many fights, so many jokes always when I am with you. You are my best friend.

A best friend is one who knows the angels and the demons in you and still loves you.

Best friends in your life will make you laugh a little louder, smile a little brighter and live life better.

I know that I have a best friend and I am happy for that.

.

Change is constant and permanent- Reinvent yourself.

The other day, I was reading an article in a magazine on ‘Why Reinvention is necessary for an Organization to sustain and succeed in Business’. The writer had stressed upon various issues stating as to why an organization, needs to keep reinventing itself, to compete with its competitors and to sustain in the business as well. That is when a thought crossed my mind. Is reinvention necessary only for an organization? Is it not necessary for the individual? As the saying goes ‘The only thing that is constant and permanent is change’. As an individual, it is essential for us to keep reinventing ourselves, to succeed in life and also to compete with our own selves.

It is necessary for an individual to keep learning new skills and acquiring more knowledge.  It is sometimes amazing to hear people in their fifty’s and sixty’s, talk about a new Application or a Tool relating to some software and the younger generation not making head or tail of it. It is equally amazing to come across some people, who are resistant to change and are happy being in their comfort zone. As long as you are happy and satisfied in your comfort zone, everything may seem just fine. But never give yourself a chance to complain in the future, that you should have probably taken that opportunity to reinvent yourself and change. Just as how an overhauling would do much good to a car, enabling it to perform better, similarly reinventing oneself would do as much as good to the individual. It will open the doors of opportunity and widen the spectrum of learning and experience.

At one point in life, we all reach that cross road where we are undecided and confused with the way our career or life is going. There are some, who would have made it in their careers and achieved all their dreams and yet would have reached that point of saturation and boredom, not knowing the next course of action. There are others, who may have not been as successful in making a career for themselves and are confused and disappointed with the way their life has taken them.  It is at this stage, that people realize that probably they should have taken the effort to reinvent themselves. But then it becomes too late when things have gone beyond control. When we resist change, it creates internal conflict. It leads to low self esteem and lack of confidence.  Never give an opportunity to complain about yourself. Opportunities are plenty. Make use of them.

I should confess here that it was this process of reinvention, which opened the opportunities for me as a blogger. All along I had been happy in my comfort zone, being the dutiful homemaker. But then I realized that apart from being a homemaker I need to do something extra to make myself happy. It was this reinvention, which has now given me the identity as a writer and blogger.

Reinventing oneself allows us to consider things from different angles. We do not lose our original identity but just add another dimension to it. It helps us to snap out of our boredom and monotony. It transforms us an individual and we can look forward to something new. Be it at workplace or at home, do not shy away from learning something different. The point is to learn and do something ‘Out of the Ordinary’.

Visualize how you want to see yourself 3 years down the line and not 10 years. Be practical in your dreams and goals. 10 years is a long way to go.

Strive to achieve your dreams and aspirations. Keep constantly looking out for opportunities to reinvent yourself, so that you will not become redundant.

It always seems impossible until it’s done. Nelson Mandela.

Be patient with yourself. Reinvention does not mean, performing miracles in a day or two where you learn the new skills in a day’s time and master it in a week’s time. Go slow but be steady. One day when you pause to reflect about how much you have evolved as a person, you will find a happier YOU!

Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition. Reinvent yourself. Abraham Lincoln.

Maryan-Movie Review

                                       

       

                                              Maryan (Tamil)

Cast:                           Dhanush, Parvathy Menon, Appukutty and Salim Kumar.

Directed by:               Bharat Bala

Written by:                 Bharat Bala

Music:                        A.R.Rahman

The Story:

‘Maryan’ is the story of a fisherman played by Dhanush. Maryan (Dhanush), lives in a village by the sea called Neerodi. He has a special bonding with the sea and calls himself ‘Kadal Rasa’ which means, ‘The Prince of the Ocean’. Panimalar ( Parvathy Menon), falls in love with Maryan and shows no inhibitions in confessing her love for him. However, Maryan tries to rebuff her advances towards him. Eventually, Maryan falls in love with Panimalar.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, Maryan is faced with a situation where he needs to support Panimalar financially and therefore, takes up a job in Sudan, for two years on contract basis.

After completing with the two years assignment in Sudan, when Maryan decides to come back to his motherland, that is when tragedy strikes in the form of Sudanese terrorists who kidnap Maryan and two of his co-workers. Maryan and his friend are held in captivity, the Sudanese terrorists demanding a ransom in return to set them free. Maryan escapes from the terrorists after being in captivity for twenty-one days.  How Maryan makes good his escape from a foreign land, the struggles that he faces during the days of captivity and escape and whether he unites with his ladylove back home, form the second half of the movie.

Review:

Should say that, Maryan’s struggles and his escape from the terrorists, is the main crux of the movie, ‘Maryan’ is nothing less than a poetry. In this age of masala movie making, where formula movies work and is the order of the day, ‘Maryan’ is like a breeze amongst the storm, especially for the Tamil film industry.

However, there are some loopholes and flaws here and there. ‘Maryan’ loses its poetry in the second half, when the movie transcends continents and moves to Sudan. There is a feeling of incompleteness.There is more melodrama and somewhere, the director seems to have wavered in the plot.

Talking about the actors, Dhanush has once again excelled as an actor and has really come a very long way from his early days. Nothing more needs to be said about the actor because; Dhanush has once again proved his mettle and acting capabilities with this movie. If there is one actor who can emote well and at the same time underplay his emotions with subtlety, the credit has to be given to this actor.

Parvathy Menon! Where was she all this while? Is this the actor who had acted in ‘Poo’? Be it when she confesses her love to Maryan and every time he rebuffs her or when she learns from his friend that Maryan may after all be in love with her or when she learns of his captivity in Sudan through a phone call, this lady for sure knows how to captivate the audience with her acting prowess.

Nothing needs to be said about the actors who have acted as the Sudanese terrorists. They just look like a bunch of sloppy kids.

I have never been a big fan of A.R.Rahman and as everybody says, to really like his songs, you need to listen to them a couple of times. But not ‘Maryan’. I took an instant liking to all the songs the very first time I heard the Album. And yes, the songs are on a repeat mode not because I am trying to like them, but because I have fallen in love with them.

'Maryan’ has some breathtaking visuals, thanks to the Cinematographer Marc Koninckx.

Would say that ‘Maryan’ is worth a watch for a wonderfully talented star cast, excellent music, breathtaking visuals and more so, if you want to watch a poetry written on screen.