Monday, June 1, 2009

India Vaccation pictures - Part 1

Friends, pls find some pictures that i took during my vaccation.This time most of my trip was spiritual based. Hope you will all enjoy the pictures.

1.Mangaadu Amman Temple : I always get some peace of mind in understanding about our sacred relegion.I wish i knew more when i was in chennai , coz i might have been able to visit temples around. Yet I've been blessed to get an opputunity to have darshan of Mangadu Amman everytime i visit chennai during vaccation.
This is one of my favourite temple. And there is a speciality to this temple associated with me.This temple is very close , about 25 mins drive from our place.
Whenever i tell someone (friends / relatives who are unmarried) to go and visit this temple , and pray sincerely, they will definitely get married very soon. This has happened not just once.... lot many times. Om Shakthi!!! Parashakthi!!!




Mangadu temple way to moola prathanam :

2.Om Shakthi Temple : Jainagar Arumbakkam, just 2 mins from our house in chennai. Very powerful temple. You dont have to ask anything to god, she herself will fulfill all your necessities that you deserve.


3.Thirumazhisai Temple: Also known as Jagannatha Perumal temple. Very close to our house in chennai, situated in Poonamallee road, its about 10 mins drive from our place.
There is also a shrine buit for anjaneyar inside the temple.This anjaneyar is supposed to be very powerful and fulfills all the wishes of the devotees praying there .He is supposed to heal incurable diseases , brings marriage to unmarried persons and also grant a person with wealth &prosperity.
In specific people who are facing difficulties in getting visa are said to have gotten it, when they pray to this Anjaneyar, and it is so true in my parents case, whose visa got rejected the first time and they got it after praying in this temple.Thus he is being called as VISA ANJANEYAR.No doubt your prayers for visa are fulfilled in this temple.
There is a community in orkut for this temple http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=50490252 There is also a similiar visa temple in Hyderabad called Balaji temple in Chilkur,Andhra pradesh.

4.Othandeeswar temple : A shiva temple kai thanda pran [devotee who gave his hand]. It is told that this temple was build at this site as Lord Shiva showed himself here to the devotee(A King) who cut off his hand when he accidentally used his sword to cut the climbers on the Lingam to pave way


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Im Out Of Town


Im out of town for couple of months.... So, there won't be much in the way of new posting activity here until...


I will be in india during my vaccation and will probably post pictures or a few articles when i find time.


Thursday, April 30, 2009

The Unexpected !!!


Sometimes in life we have to suddenly face situations, which we can only think of in our wildest nightmares. When we imagine ourselves to be in a difficult situation, we derive more thrills out of it, because we are actually not experiencing it in real life and at the same time we are having a marvelous adventure. The unexpected always gets us more excitement than the expected.Or sometimes it might even turn out to be more terrific.
LIFE IS a real mystery…. We don’t know what, when and where the life turns a new leaf and we are bowed to follow what it shows
So what do we do at that time?
Well the answer is ....not very easy! but it is not necessary that life will remain the same. Be prepared for whatever life has to offer you. All we can do is to simply face the unexpected thing with courage.
You might be wondering why am I talking philosophical stuffs. May be becoz im one among the scrapies who have experienced too much of unexpected stuffs in life!!!
Image Courtesy : Internet

Friday, March 6, 2009

Petty Shop Sweets!


The nicest thing is everything that brings back our pleasant childhood day memories. I spent my later childhood days in a place called Erode which is in western part of tamilnadu, close to the banks of the river kaveri. So the water there tastes better than many other parts of tamilnad, especially in chennai which is my hometown basically. Its a beautiful place , where theres a touch of nativity as well as modern amneties. Since its an economically well to do place basically through agriculture and textile, the people are more sophisticated and live in luxury.Well, thats where i was put up in 7th standard at a school called Kalaimagal, which is the best school at that time. I stayed there till my school finals.

There was a petty shop near by my school , where in , i found lot of delicious sweet/savouries which if i still think of , will make my mouth watering.... lol:-)Although my mom know that im gonna get some sweets from the shop , she will make sure that i dont cross my limits as those are less hygenic stuffs. There have been days where i ended up in sickness. But those are all part and parcel of our lives .

So let me explain the sweets that are available there :

1.Then Mittai

2.Kamar Katt

3.I dont remember the name but it will be round in shape brown in color...

4.Elantha Vadai

5.Elanatha Jam.


All these are delicious stuffs, will linger pleasantly in your mouth for hours together.
Cant forget those days which will have you wallowed in nostalgia.
I recently heard that these sweet stuffs are hygenically packed and sold in supermarkets in chennai.
Recently i got the recipe for Thenmittai , which i will be posting it in my cookbook blog soon.
Image Courtesy : The Hindu

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Tender Coconut Benefits


The water of tender coconut, technically the liquid endosperm, is the most nutritious wholesome beverage that the nature has provided for the people of the tropics to fight the sultry heat. It has caloric value of 17.4 per 100gmIt’s a natural isotonic beverage with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It’s the fluid of life.Numerous medicinal properties of tender coconut water reported are:-


  • Good for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances.

  • Oral rehydration medium for various diseases such as diarrhoea.

  • Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties.

  • Keeps the body cool and prevents dehydration.

  • Application on the body prevents prickly heat and summer boils and subsides the rashes caused by small pox, chicken pox, measles, etc.

  • Kills intestinal worms.

  • Checks urinary infections and effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones.

  • Excellent tonic for the old and sick.

  • Cures malnourishment by meeting the energy requirements.

  • It acts as a Diuretic balance your pH and reduce risk of cancer.

  • It can be injected intravenously in emergency case.

  • Found as blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, does not produce heat, does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body.

  • Aids the quick absorption of the drugs and makes their peak concentration in the blood easier by its electrolytic effect.

  • Urinary antiseptic and eliminates poisons in case of mineral poisoning.

  • Coconut helps detoxify and flush toxins out of the body and cleanses your digestive tract.

  • Coconut heals hot flashes and restores emotional stability in menopausal women.

  • Boosts immune system.

  • It has more potassium and lesser sodium than any sports or energy drink .

  • Coconut water contains high levels of lauric acid which is what is used by the body to make monolaurin -– a disease fighting fatty acid derivative. Lauric acid has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties which protect the body against various infections and boosts the immune system.

Coconut water also helps relieve constipation, improves intestinal function and promotes digestive health -– it is often recommended to people suffering from acidity and ulcers.
Constipation, sluggish digestion and heartburn
are common problems during pregnancy and can be helped to some extent by drinking
coconut water. Thats the reason doctors recommend pregnant women to drink tender coconut water during pregnancy.
In the heat of summer when you are looking for something other than water to quench your thirst, you can have this nutritious and refreshing beverage instead of sugar and calorie laden aerated drinks and fruit juices. It is naturally sterile and so perfect for drinking while travelling without the fear of contamination.

Image Courtesy: Internet

Content Courtesy : Sanjana Dietician , Manipal Group of Hospitals , Mangalore, India.

Friday, February 27, 2009

First Birthday for my Blog!


Time to celebrate my blog’s first birthday. Surprising to know that its been one year today since I started writing my very first post. It was just some random thoughts that floated around in my head. Blogging proved to be a huge help during a difficult time of my life. It also helped me discover my writing skills. Now the blog, my fellow bloggers , blog readers & visitors comprise an important part of my life. And I sincerely hope it will remain so in coming years. Besides, your comments, your feedback is the driving force that makes me blog. Hopefully the love and bond we share via this blog, will stay fresh and friendly forever.
Thanks everyone once again. And again. Happy Birthday abigeeth.blogspot.com !!!
Image courtesy : Internet (yet to post my own picture...)

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Herbs of India - Part 4


Neem : (Botanical name - Azadirachta indica)


Neem is a medium sized to large tree characterized by its short, straight bole, furrowed, dark brown to gray bark, and dense rounded crown of pinnate leaves. The Neem seeds, Barks, Leafs, are the sources of various Neem extracts. Neem has been in use for centuries in the Indian Agriculture as Best Natural Bio Pesticide and organic fertilizer with pest repellent property. The Indian Medicinal field has also been using Neem for various types of diseases to be cured. Neem is also used in manufacturing Natural Herbal Cosmetics. Neem comprises of 40 different active compounds called Tetranortriperpernoids, or more specifically liminoids. These liminoids create hormonal disruptions and prevents the insect from Feeding, Breeding or Metamorphosing.


Herbal Neem Usage: A wide multitude of diseases or conditions can be successfully treated with various elements of Neem.


Herbal Neem Cures Cancer: Throughout Southeast Asia Neem has been used successfully by herbalists for hundreds of years to reduce tumors. Researchers are now supporting these uses. Neem has been tested on many types of cancers, such as skin cancers, using Neem-based creams and lymphocytic cancer, using the herb internally. In India, Europe and Japan scientists have found that polysaccharides and liminoids in Neem bark, leaves and seed oil reduced tumors and cancers and were effective against lymphocytic leukemia.


Herbal Neem Cures Dental Care: People in both India and Africa have used Neem twigs as tooth brushes for centuries. Neem twigs contain antiseptic ingredients necessary for dental hygiene. Neem powder is also used to brush teeth and massage gums. In Germany many researchers have shown that Neem extracts prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease.


Herbal Neem Cures Diabetes: Because Neem is a tonic and a revitalizer, it works effectively in the treatment of diabetes, as well. More than a disease that requires change of diet, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people ages twenty-five and seventy-four; it also damages nerves, kidneys, hear and blood vessels; it may even result in the loss of limbs. Incurable, it can be treated in a variety of ways. One recommendation is to take one tablespoon (5ml) of Neem leaf juice daily on an empty stomach each morning for three months. An alternative is to chew or take in powder form ten (10) Neem leaves daily in the morning. Some studies have shown that oral application of Neem leaf extracts reduced a patient’s insulin requirements by between 30 and 50 percent for nonkeytonic, insulin fast and insulin-sensitive diabetes.



Herbal Neem Cures Heart Disease: Major causes of a heart attack include blood clots, high cholesterol, arrhythmic heart action and high blood pressure. Neem has been helpful in these conditions too. Its leaf extracts have reduced clotting, lowered blood pressure and bad cholesterol, slowed rapid or abnormally high heartbeat and inhibited irregular heart rhythms. Some compounds may produce effects similar to mild sedatives, which reduce anxiety and other emotional or physical states that may prompt a heart attack. The antihistamine effects of the nimbidin in its leaves cause blood vessels to dilate. This may be why the leaves help reduce blood pressure.


Herbal Neem Helps For Birth Control: Neem has been shown to be a powerful, relatively inexpensive birth control agent for both men and women. In the first century B.C., Charaka, the Indian physician, gave a detailed method for using Neem for contraception. Cotton soaked in Neem oil was kept in the vagina for fifteen minutes before intercourse. This killed the sperm.

Neem’s contraceptive uses for women are even more varied. Even the leaves are said to be effective. Many women in Madagascar chew a handful of Neem leaves every day, which according to their statements prevents pregnancies. In the case of unwanted pregnancies, Neem is said to be capable of inducing a miscarriage. Neem oil based vaginal creams and suppositories are extremely popular in India. Nonirritating and easy to use, they are almost 100 percent effective. When tested against human sperm, Neem extract (sodium nimbidinate) at 1,000mg was able to kill all sperm in five minutes and required only 30 minutes at a lower, 250 mg level. It is suggested that these creams and suppositories also prevent vaginal and sexually transmitted diseases. Oddly, Neem oil has also been taken internally by ascetics who wish to diminish their sexual desire.


Herbal Neem For Prevention Of Malaria: Malaria is quite common in India and throughout the tropics. Neem has been shown to be effective in a number of ways against this deadly disease. Both water and alcohol based Neem leaf extracts have been confirmed as effective. It has been shown to block the development of the gamete in an infected person. Neem leaf extract greatly increases the state of oxidationin red blood cells, which prevents normal development of the malaria virus. Irodin A, an active ingredient in the leaves, is toxic to resistant strains of malaris; 100 percent of the malaria gamete are dead within seventy-two hours with a 1 to 20,000 ratio of active ingredients. Other experiments have used alcoholic extracts of Neem leaf, which performed almost as well. Gedunin and quercetin, compounds found in the leaves, are also effective against malaria. Several studies show that Neem extracts are effective even against the more virulent strains of the malaria parasite. Some scientists believe that stimulation of the immune system is a major factor in Neem’s effectiveness against malaria. Even though Neem may be effective against the parasites that carry malaria, it has not been shown to prevent the malaria infection once it’s in the body.


Herbal Neem Cures Rheumatism: Neem leaves have anti-inflammatory activity, similar to that in drugs such as phenyl butazone and cortisone. They can relieve pain and reduce acute pain edema. For rheumatism, tropical applications of a warmed Neem cream that contains Neem oil and perhaps a mild Neem tea will help lessen pain.


Herbal Neem Cures Stress : Relatively new scientific findings indicate that Neem may even be useful for reducing anxiety and stress. An experiment was done on test animals and has been proved the fact that it reduces stress.


Monday, February 16, 2009

Herbs of India - Part 3


Indian gooseberry: is a wonder herbs and one of the precious gifts of nature to man. It contributes towards health and longevity.

Indian gooseberry has been used as valuable ingredient of various medicines in India and abroad. Indian gooseberry also called Amla in Hindi, increases red blood cell count. It is one of the highest natural source of Vitamin C (3,000 mg per fruit) .Amla is known as amritphala in Sanskrit, which literally means "the fruit of heaven" or "nectar fruit." It is so called because it is rich in many desirable properties. It was described in a 7th century literature that several scholars and sage the sage is reputed to have restored their vitality with this fruit.

Beneficial points :
Respiratory disorders:
Indian gooseberry is beneficial in the treatment of respiratory disorders. It is especially valuable in tuberculosis of the lungs asthma and bronchitis.
Diabetes:
This herb, due to its high vitamin C content, is effective in controlling diabetes. A tablespoon of its juice mixed with a cup of bitter gourd juice, taken daily for two months. Will stimulates the pancreas and enable is to secrete insulin, thus reducing the blood sugar in the diabetes. Diet restrictions should be strictly observed while taking this medicine. It will also prevent eye complication in diabetes.
Heart Disorder: Indian gooseberry is considered an effective remedy for heart disease. It tones up the functions of all the organs of the body and builds up health by destroying the heterogeneous or harmful and disease causes elements. It also renews energy.
Eye disorder: The juice of Indian Gooseberry with honey is useful in preserving eyesight. It is beneficial in the treatment of conjunctivitis and glaucoma. It reduces intracular tension in a remarkable manner. a cup of juice mixed with honey can be taken twice daily for this condition.
Rheumatism: To treat rheumatism a teaspoon of the powder of the dry fruit mixed with 2 teaspoons of jaggery can be taken twice daily for a month.
Scurvy:As an extremely rich source of vitamin C, Indian gooseberry is one of the best remedy for scurvy. Powder of the dry herb, mixed with an equal quantity of sugar, can be taken in doses of 1 teaspoon, thrice daily with milk.
Ageing: Indian gooseberry has revitalizing effects, as it contains an element which is very valuable in preventing ageing and in maintaining strength in old age .It improves body resistance and protect the body against infection. It strengthens the heart, hair and different gland in the body.
Hair Tonic:
Indian gooseberry is an accepted hair tonic in traditional recipes for enriching hair growth and pigmentation. The fruit, cut into pieces is dried preferably in the shade. These pieces are boiled in coconut oil till the solid matter becomes charres. This darkish oil is excellent in preventing graying .The water is which dried amla pieces are soaked overnight is also nourishing to hair and can be used for the last rinse while washing the hair. Indian gooseberry is used in various ways. The best way to take it with the least loss vitamin C, is to eat it raw with a little salt. It is often used in the form of pickles and it is dried and powdered. The berry may also be used as a vegetable. It is boiled in a small amount of water till soft and taken with a little salt.
Other Uses:
The root bark is astringent and is useful in stomach ulcers.The bark is useful in gonorrhea, jaundice and diarrhea.
The leaves are useful in curing conjunctivtis , inflammation, indigestion, diarrhea and dysentery. The fruits are sour, astringent, bitter, sweet, cooling, digestive, laxative, anti pyretic, diuretic and tonic. Amala fruit aids digestion, cures flatulence, helps correct body functions and metabolism

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Herbs of India - Part 2



Thulsi or Holy Basil



Holy Basil is commonly grown in Hindu homes and it is a sacred plant in the Hindu religion. Native to India , Tulsi has a long tradition of use in ayurvedic medicine.Holy Basil has been used for thousands of years as a prime herb in ayurvedic treatment, and is mentioned in the Charak Samhita (the central teaching of ayurvedic medicine) which was written at least two thousand years ago.


Beneficial points:


1.Used in ayurvedic medicine for common colds, headachesstomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria.


2.considered an adaptogen, which means that it assists the body adapt to stress (environmental, physical, or chemical), restore balance in the body, and normalize body functions


3. It is currently being studied for its beneficial properties and has been found to be effective for cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, stress, wound healing, the immune system.


4. Research has proved that liver support and protection, hypoglycemic conditions, ulcers, digestion, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, radiation poisoning, cataracts, the memory, respiratory system, urinary problems, eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions, been treated successfully.


5.It is an antioxidant.


Contraindications:


Not recommended for use if pregnant, nursing, or are considering becoming pregnant (may have an anti-fertility effect). Do not administer to infants or toddlers. May lower blood sugar, consult a doctor if hypoglycemic (in separate studies, it has also been shown to be beneficial for those with hypoglycemia). Holy Basil has mild blood thinning properties.

To be continued ................................

Courtesy : Pacific Botanicals.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Herbs of India - Part 1


Lately i had been posting articles which is someway or other connected to natural & healthy living. This time i've planned to post some articles on Indian herbs. Hope you all like it.

Indian herbs are renowned all over the world for their medicinal properties. India is the second highest producer of medicinal herbs in the world after China. Himalayas, Aravalis, and Nilgiri mountains are the greatest reserves of medicinal herbs in India.

Let me take one at a time so that we can stay focussed.

Turmeric:

is one of nature's most powerful healers. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Tumeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.
The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.


The list doesnt end here; 2o reasons to add turmeric to your diet :


1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

No wonder we Indians use turmeric almost everday in our cooking.

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.


To be continued.....................


Courtesy : http://www.indiabook.com/
Image Courtesy : Internet.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Guilt free snacks :


This article is dedicated for those who are in diet and tired of egg whites, steamed vegetables and other diet food.

Most of us follow an unusual eating pattern to reduce the weight but the key to a successful wightloss is portion size (to control the calorie intake) and the ability to satisfy your hunger. SO you can continue eating what you eat regularly but restrict the portion size.

Some usefull tips on how to add spice to a diet-friendly palate especially the snacks time food.


Soup: tomato-based soup with a touch of meat or fennel is healthy and can feel very special. Stay away from cream-based stocks and go with broths with vegetables and grains, like chicken vegetable or vegetable barley.


Chocolate: Here’s the good news: Minimally processed dark chocolate has heart-healthy flavonoids that have antioxidant power. And in small quantities [chocolate] can have a positive effect on brain functioning. The less-good news: You have to have the willpower to eat it small enough quantities.


Brussels sprouts: As long as they aren’t overcooked just lightly browned at the edges with some oil or vinegrette are much more nutritious than celery. Helps to maintain your youth.


Acai: You can find it in the freezer section of health food stores and markets. It is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and phytosterols. She suggests whipping it together with other fruits for a morning smoothie to kick-start your day. Acai is rainforest fruit from the Amazon that has great rejuvenating qualities.


Cheese: Apart from its fat content it’s also high in protein yet it helps with weight control, when combined with a right amount of carb in a manageable way gives a balanced and satisfying nosh.


Pomegranate: is high in free-radical fighting antioxidants and in flavor. The power of this potential superfood is in its high level of phytochemicals (plant chemicals that have protective or preventive properties). IT can be consumes as juice , Use the juice as a holiday cocktail, sprinkle the seeds over salads or cereal .


Nuts: Again high in fat, but this is why they can be so satisfying. Pay special attention to portion control. One third of a cup, or one and a half ounces, just four times per week. Any nut will do cashews, walnuts, almonds, pecans, or try macadamia nuts for something a little more exotic.



Wish you all luck guys.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Body Butter


Impportance of moisturizer :


A moisturizer is an essential product for a healthy skin which many people fail to realise or give least importance. Moisturisers prevent and treat dry skin, but that's not all they do. They can improve skin tone and texture, and mask imperfections. Skin tells itself how old it is or, how young it is. Extreme winters and summers are biggest challenges for any skin type. To face all these challenges we need to protect our skin with a right choice of moisturizer that suits our skin type.
There different types of skin types but basically they can be categorised into 3 namely

1.Normal

2.Dry

3.Dry

and theres one more called combinational where that type of skin has oily skin type on the T zone and rest of the area dry.

Therefore choose the moisturiser that's best for you depending on many factors, including your skin type, your age and whether you have specific conditions, such as acne.



Wait a minute ..... why would i talk about moisturizer under the topic "BODY BUTTER" ? You may think i got a bit deviated but , for those who are new to the product i just wanted to give them a small intro about moiturizer and then go the topic "Body Butter"


Now what really is a body butter:

Body Butter is like moiturizing lotion minus the water (most lotions are 70 to 90% water) and the preservatives. So what you are purchasing are the straight oils and butters in the concentrated form. Unlike lotion, Body Butter will not wash right off.



Lately I started to use body butter and found it a lot better than many other lotions which would eventually make my skin dry and scaly again. Body Butter is thick and creamy and also the skin seems to absorb it quickly.


You can choose any brand of body butter that works for you , i found The body shop's butter to work fine with me. I just love their range of products and fragrance and last but not their least the quality.


So guys please understand the importance of moisturizing ur skin and have fun using them.

Have a healthy skin!!!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Vaccation 2008

My vaccation last year was great except the fact that we all fell sick (flu). Other than that it was a nice trip. we had been to LA & Lasvegas and most of the picture i clicked was at lasvegas. So pls find the picture below and let me know ur valuable comments. Took all the pics with my ordinary compact digita camera - canon.

Disneyland Castle dec 2008:



Disney Parade :



Disney Parade :

Bellagio Chihuli glass at the lobby :


City view from our room @ bellagio:

Friday, January 16, 2009

Pongalo Pongal

This is one of the major festivals of tamilnad which is in south india. Since i hail from that place i wish to add few words about it. Pongal is such a sweet festival really as well as literally .It is very special to the farmers as it is mainly oriented to the harvesting. But every Hindu thanks lord "surya baghvan" which is the sun , for giving life to the plants and there by food to all the living being. We make a speciality dish called Pongal which is basically a slow cooked rice & jaggery and offered to god as a token of thanks.



My friend sent this is a picture of her office in chennai decorated for the festival of Pongal. The pots, sugarcane branches with leaves and flowers are traditional parts of the Pongal celebration. In rural areas of Tamil Nadu and northern and eastern Sri Lanka, the pots would be on an open fire with milk and traditional pongal food being boiled in them.
Happy Pongal to all of you.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Happy NewYear 2009


Hi friends happy newyear wishes to you all. I just landed back from my vaccation. Will post my vaccation pics soon.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas 2008


Happy Christmas folks! sorry couldnt find any great deal coz im on vaccation.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Christmas Shopping

We finally planned for a vaccation after about 5 years , to the west coast for a week. So trying to find some good deals for shopping. But honestly i couldnt find a good deal for outfits and cosmetics. hope to find one soon.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Calcium & Bones -Part 2



If your daily diet alone does not provide adequate Calcium, it is recommended to take a multi-vitamin supplement that contains Calcium and Vitamin-D. At the same time, latest research suggests that food items that are rich in calcium help to strengthen bone better than supplements taken in the form of pills.






As i said earlier, Vitamin D is essential for Calcium absorption in the body. The amount of Vitamin D required for Calcium absorption grows with age. If you get adequate sunlight, taking a walk out in the sun with light clothing for about 30 minutes gives you enough Vitamin D for the day.

The vitamin D is measured in terms of international unit called IU. Daily recommended intake quantity of vitamin D is shown in the picture below.









To be continued............................

Source courtesy NY department of health.
Image courtesy Internet

Calcium & Bones Part - 1




I used to think that women don’t have to worry about frail bones until they get older. I was wrong! I found out too late that women of all ages need to take steps to keep their bones strong. Unfortunately, like me, many more women already are at risk for bone weakness. Bone strength in later life depends on the development of bones earlier in life. Adequate calcium intake during youth is essential to achieve peak bone mass.


Everyone knows that calcium is essential for building strong bones and teeth. But did you know that it is also important for maintaining a normal heartbeat and regulating blood pressure – and it even helps with the healthy functioning of your nerve system


There are many diseases that is associated with bone weakness, but to name a few which is very commonly found in women (especially in old age, but not necessarily) are osteoporosis , osteopenia etc.

How can I find out if I have weak bones?
There are tests you can get to find out your bone strength, also called bone density. There are also other types of bone strength tests too. Talk with your doctor about which type of test is best for you. Don’t wait until age 65. You have a higher chance for breaks.

How can I prevent weak bones?
The best way to prevent weak bones is easy―start by building strong ones.
No matter how old you are, it is never too late to start! Although building strong bones during childhood and adolescence is the best. But there are steps you can take to stop your bones from becoming weak and brittle.



  1. Get enough calcium each day (Just a rough estimate) - about 1000 mg till age 50. After which it may need to be increased to 1200 mg.


  2. Get enough vitamin D each day - which helps your body to absorb the calcium.


  3. Healthy diet


  4. Be active


  5. Avoid smoking/alcohol/caffeine


Examples of Calcium-rich Foods
Dairy Foods
(for overall health, choose fat-free or low fat products)
Milk
Yogurt
Cheese (5 grams fat or less per ounce)
Non-dairy foods
Chinese cabbage (bok choy), cooked
Figs, dried
Greens (dandelion, kale, mustard, turnip), cooked
Salmon, Sardines, canned with bones
Soy nuts
Fortified foods
(be sure to select foods with calcium added)
Breakfast bars, Granola bars, Cereal bars
Cereal
Juices
Soymilk
Rice milk
Tofu
Waffles



To know more varieties of food that contains different amount of calcium content in it you may visit / click this link in blue color.



Reading food labels for calcium content


The food label does not list calcium in milligrams. Instead, the label lists % Daily Value (%DV) for calcium in each serving. 100% of the DV for calcium is equal to 1000 mg of calcium per day.
To find the calcium content (mg per serving) from %Daily Value:
Read the %DV for calcium per serving.For example: 1 serving (1 ounce) lowfat cheese contains 20% Calcium.
Determine the calcium in each serving (mg/serving): Simply replace the % from the DV with a "0."For example: 20% Calcium = 200 mg calcium.



Terminology & Definitions


A "Calcium-fortified" or "Calcium enriched" food has 10% or more of the calcium DV added (100mg or more of calcium is added when compared to the same serving of a similar type of non-fortified food).
An "Excellent source" of calcium contains 20% or more of the calcium DV (200mg or more).
A "Good source" of calcium contains 10% to 19% of the calcium DV (100 to 190mg).



NOTE: At the same time excess of calcium intake may be unwise too. It may result in kidney stones, cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and so on. So it is advisable to stay within the range of daily calcium intake quantity.



To be continued .........................................










Source courtetsy - NY state department of health


Image sourcee - Internet

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Happy Happenings!

1st Place Winner: Srinidhi Suresh - Middle.


What could make you more happier than your child's achievements?!! That which makes you far happier than the enormity..... Yes , I would like to share one such incident with you all. I'm sure everyone is aware of the competition called Spelling Bee. I love spelling competitions and have always had a feeling that they should have had a competition for it, during my school days. Unfortunately they did not have one in my school (during my school days, back in India).

Anyways, the movie 'Akeelah and the Bee' is one of my favourite movies. If you like spellings, English grammar/vocabulary and origin of words, you’ll really love that movie.

Coming to the point, I got an email from my Cousin Sister today, that her daughter Srinidhi( 5th Grade), has won the first place, in Spelling Bee contest at her school . Immediately i called my sister and congratulated her. I could sense her voice starting to streak with tears that contains a mixture of happiness, proud and humble emotions. Ah! There's great satisfaction in experiencing a daughter's success. I have normally seen parents to be too pushy to make their kids study well and score good grades, but some kids could only make it up to a certain point. Where as in some case, the parents might be ignorant or less educated to even teach their kids, but the kids will study so well on their own. It is so rare to happen that a super smart kid could get a super coach Mom like my Sister & her daughter. Good luck to Srinidhi and the other kids. And thanks to my Sister for sharing her daughter's pictures.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Naming the natural calamities :

I was pretty unhappy during the long weekend becoz of two major incidents that happened in India. 1. Mumbai terror attack 2. Cyclone Nisha in Tamilnad.
The name of the cyclone, sounded funny to me at first. But later i was thinking about it and realised that there should be a reason behind it. And then did some research on it, and here comes the result. Presenting with humble, the few bits of knowledge that i read out of curiosity.


What is a tropical cyclone?
A tropical cyclone is the generic term for something like a thunderstorm activity.The terms hurricane and typhoon are regionally-specific names for a strong tropical cyclone.

Tropical cyclones are categorised below based on their intensity:

Hurricane - in the North Atlantic Ocean and the north-east Pacific Ocean regions
Typhoon - in the north-west Pacific Ocean region
Tropical cyclone - in other regions, including the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean.

How do they get their names?
Tropical cyclones are named to provide ease of communication between forecasters and the general public, regarding forecasts, watches and warnings. Since the storms can often last a week or even longer, and more than one can be occurring in the same region at the same time, names can reduce the confusion about what storm is being described.

Who name them ?
The lists are decided on, depending on the regions, either by committees of the World Meteorological Organization (called primarily to discuss many other issues), or by national weather offices involved in the forecasting of the storms. Each year, the names of particularly destructive storms (if there are any) are "retired" and new names are chosen to take their place.







Source courtesy : world wide tropical cyclone center.
Image Courtesy : Internet

Friday, November 28, 2008

My favourite clicks - Part 2

These photographs were shot about 5 yrs ago. It was taken from my old digital camera .Happen to find these pictures while i was browsing my album. Thought i would post few of them.


1. Long shot - Lake George , NY.

2. I just fell in love with this lovely bike with a bull's horn at the bottom of the handle bar.
(Lake George NY - 2004):
Ganesh Chathurthi at our house:

This is a private residence for Dr. Emlen Physick and his family built on 1879. The 18-room mansion is now Cape May's only Victorian house museum and is administered by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts. Entertaining and educational guided tours of the Estate run year-round.
Took this picture from our garden , a beautiful Old-garden-rose plant on 2006:
And tried to make a garland out of the flowers that we got from the plant:

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Haphazard Unelightened!


I was traumatized to hear to such news. I have noticed that such tragedies always happen during the end of the year. Our nation need serious help. The city of mumbai is in a state of misery, being attacked few hours ago ,with ongoing gun battle and blasts at several places and holding to hostages. The terrifying incident has created a sense of extreme anxiety among Indians all over. It reminds me of the famous lyrics in tamil" Endru thaniyum intha suthanthira thaagam " meaning - when will the thirst of freedom be quenched?

Its a pity to note that the resque group is not enough for the amount of people being attacked and there are no enough amneties to help the people. Especially for a prosperous city like Mumbai which is the inhibitance for most of the VIP or influential people. Most interesting thing which the whole world would expect is the speech of president/primeminister of India not being delivered even after several hours of the incident! And the most disturbing fact is that, nobody really knows what is happening around. What should i add more to illustrate the haphazard state?

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Hurray Long weekend!

What shud i say . I got no time to sit and research for the blackfriday sale. As of now i honestly dont have anything big in my list especially with the ongoing economic crisis.
But im planning to take lot of pictures so u can expect some pictures on my next post. Have a great long weekend folks.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Noneother than Nambiar!


Its a true loss to the indian film industry that the great legend is no more with us.

The man who created an impression with the audience that he may be a real villian, which proves his ability to impress the audience. In reality he has been a real humble and soft natured man says his fellow actor/actresses. It is really amazing to know that he has been acting since seven generations. Actually if you think of it, its not an easy thing to make the audience like you for 7 generations. At some point we might loose interest , but this man has broken the record and has done a fabulous job. May his soul rest in peace.

Image courtesy - Internet

Monday, November 17, 2008

What is black friday?


Black Friday is the friday after thankgivingday in the UnitedStates, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season.

The term Black Friday was first used to describe Sept. 24, 1869, when several financiers had tried to corner the gold market and the market crashed, and a depression ensued. Due to the depression it was observed as black friday.

You might think it contrarily describes the scene of hoards of shoppers trampling towards shopping malls. It's because it is when retailers' balance sheets supposedly move out of the red (red ink was used by accountants of old to indicated losses) and into the black (the retailers turning their profit).
Source courtesy - retailindustry.com

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Children's Day - Nostalgia !

I remember speaking in an oratorical competition when i was studying 3rd grade on a Children's day Contest in our school. The whole school participated in the competition which was till 8th grade. It will be interesting to know how eagerly i waited to hear the final results as other contestants. They finally announced the results, at first they announced the first runner up and the 2nd runner up. Now there are only 2 good speech givers in the whole school and they both are my seniors. So everybody was expecting one of their names to be the winner.
And now, they pronounced my name & said that I was a winner. I was happy but not surprised. Because i was so confident. Wish i have some now. My dad was so happy when he heard the announcement. And then my dad asked me to send the speech in written format to the prime minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi at that time . I did what my dad said ( at that age ! :-))) And to my surprise i was happy when i saw a congratulating letter from Rajiv Gandhi's personal secretary, which came to me within a month. I still have that letter. I would definitely post it in my blog later. All such sweet memorable events, happened during our childhood stays forever. Wish we could have a rewind button in life !

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

veterans day2008




Im so absent minded that i finished writing a couple of articles long back, and save it. But forgot to publish it onle when it will appear in the blog to view for public. So here it is:



Its a day where they show their gratitude for the people who have served the country (in military)and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This is something good about the country & their people's attitude towards their countrymen. Well , this gave me an insight that , we do not have something like that in our country. Surprising huh! Though we have honored few from the huge amount of freedom fighters like Gandhiji & Nehruji & others. But why dont have honor everyone? Some might say that we have the Independence day where we honor them all. But wait all the countries in the world has an Independence day. Why would they(some of them) have allocted a day seperately & specially for veterans. I have no answer!
Image courtesy - internet.

Hate Mondays ? Love Fridays !


Do you hate Monday?
Well i hear some people (mostly men!) often saying this word "I HATE MONDAY", they just hate geting up, shutting down the alarmclock, hate the taughts of a weeks work/school/college. Sundays make them angry and depressed because a whole week has gone by and they have to get back to work/school the next day. They might also fantasize and wish mondays were a day of rest.And that fridays make them feel so relaxed.
I personalized not hate all Mondays, but sometimes i just feel a little bit lazy to start a new task in the morning esp. after a long weekend.
New research shows that people's beliefs about being in a better mood at the end of the week than at the beginning is really just a bias in the way human memory works. In reality, people's moods do not change dramatically over the course of the week, and people are not vastly happier on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings than they are on Mondays.
Stereotypes like 'Monday morning blues' and 'TGIF -- Thank God It's Friday' are largely inaccurate theories of how moods vary" day by day.
The reason lies in the difference between people's actual moods on any given day and how they remember them later, and it reflects the difference between two different mental processes. Memory is partly about recollection and partly about the meanings we associate with events. Fridays mean liberation from the chores of the workweek, and Mondays mean putting on the yoke again. Those meanings influence our recollections of our moods: When a conflict arises between meaning and memory, meaning usually wins.

Now please take a look at the funny video below:



Hate Mondays? Love Fridays







Source courtesy : Department of Human Behaviour by Shankar Vedantam.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Winter Blues


Although I had enough activities around , to keep my self busy i always felt low during winter and had a kind of unexplained feeling which would make me dull. I couldnt figure out what i was going through until few episodes. And then i came to know thru one of my friend that there is something called winter depression which is very usual to occur in western countries . That sounded strange for me, because we never had 'depression' back in India! (Or ateast until we got married! :-)) lol ).

So this is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - is a type of depression that is triggered by the seasons. The most common type of SAD is called winter-onset depression. Symptoms usually begin in late fall or early winter and go away by summer. Researches proved that SAD is related to changes in the amount of daylight in effect to our brain during different times of the year.

Common symptoms of winter-onset SAD include the following:


  • A change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods

  • Weight gain

  • A drop in energy level

  • Fatigue

  • A tendency to oversleep

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Irritability and anxiety

  • Increased sensitivity to social rejection

  • Avoidance of social situations and a loss of interest in the activities you used to enjoy

So there are several treatments for this depression which includes, light therapy, anti-depressive drugs, and counselling. Since its a new thing for someone from tropical countries like India, we find it little weird. Although most of us would not go for anti-depressive drugs/counselling it is real simple to get rid of such a feeling but invloving ourselves into as much activities as we could and make use of the day light time, from my personal experience. Well , after all, we people are super smart adaptive to any places, regions, situations!!!


Source Courtesy - webmd.com