Italian chef impressed with desi cuisine

Ever since he came to India, Italian chef David Rocco has piled on 15 pounds (6.8 kg) thanks to spicy daals, delectable chicken tikkas and tongue-tingling biryanis.

So impressed is he with the desi cuisine that he is planning a new TV series on Indian food.

"I'm working on a series on Indian food. My show 'Dolce Vita' has become of interest for people across the world and I received e-mails from Indian fans asking me to come. So I had talks with FOX Traveller and here I am. I find a lot of similarity between Indian and Italian food and culture," Rocco said.

Rocco will begin shooting the series from February.

"The surprising thing in both places is that within a 10 km radius, one can find the same dish being made in 25 different ways. The nature of my current trip is to explore Indian food, the ingredients and find out what makes Indian food tick," he said.

So far, he has been loving the experience and says "it's been life-changing".

"I came to India to explore food. And it is evident that I have loved it. I have put on 15 pounds; I have had no discipline on eating and everyone has just been feeding me - chai, food, snacks, and they keep giving second helpings here! I love it," he said.

The 42-year-old chef, known for his shows "David Rocco's Dolce Vita" and "David Rocco's Amalfi Getaway", says his understanding of Indian food has improved since he came here.

"I have tried some Indian stuff in Italy and North America, and my understanding of it is not very nuanced. It was not very authentic food, but here I have experienced the real food -- I tried Rajasthani cuisine in Jaipur and in Chennai, I tried various 'dosas' and chutneys. They use some amazing spices. In Delhi, I went to the Bukhara restaurant and the 'dal' was amazing," he added.

As of now, he is scouting the locations for his new series and wants to get into the heart of India for interesting recipes and concoctions.

He has especially loved 'tandoori' chicken dishes, tomato chutney and Rajasthan's famous 'laal maas'. He also loves the simplicity of the chapati.

With Indian television currently experiencing a boom as far as cookery content is concerned, what is the best recipe for a good cookery show?

"I think a good cooking show inspires you to cook, and a bad cookery show is the one which only teaches anyone to cook," he said, adding that people must cook with immense love and care because food binds people.

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'Ethnic literature can't be ignored any more'

Ethnic literature can no longer be ignored as these reflected the country's rich folk traditions and kept India's diverse languages alive, says acclaimed poet and translator Sitakant Mahapatra who has been honoured for his contribution to give recognition to tribal Santhali literature.

"The idea of a sovereign state is a myth. The state is surrounded by ethnic cultural identities and has to comprise of indigenous groups," says the 75-year-old former IAS officer, known for his two decades of work in bringing tribal Santhali literature into the national consciousness.

Mahapatra said the state must provide special facilities, open special schools and set aside more funds for the development of ethnic communities like Santhals.

"Literature is also an important aspect in the evolution of tribal people as distinct ethnic groups," Mahapatra said after receiving a lifetime achievement award at a literature festival here last week. Mahapatra has collected oral poems of Santhal tribal groups from the Orissa-Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh region and translated them into English.

These were published in eight volumes as "They Sing Life: Anthology of Oral Poetry of the Primitive Tribes of India".

Santhals, along with Gonds and Bhils, are the three largest tribal groups of the country.

But modernisation, Mahapatra said, brought about by unchecked industrialisation in the mineral and natural resource-rich region in the last two centuries, had changed the lifestyle and socio-political structures of the ethnic groups.

"New agricultural policies, educational system, political system and 'panchayati raj' have come in. This modernisation has touched all aspects-- their health, spirit and livelihood," Mahapatra said.

Another book of his, "Bringing Them Back to School", probes the high dropout rate among ethnic children, suggesting ways to make them return to classrooms.

He said he began studying Santhali society during his time as deputy commissioner of Mayurbhanj in Odisha and found that Santhali poetry was about everyday life.

"Its essence is simple. The Santhals sing of life, pain and joys. They speak of their community and their ancestors, who are their demigods. They sing of their gods...They take a holistic view of the world," Mahapatra said.

The poetry is also a mirror of the tribe's collective spirit, he said.

"They cannot think of being alone. They are close to nature and often worship natural symbols. Their gods are free. They believe in a five-fold reality as their philosophy in life and prefer to live as groups."

"Till the year 2000, they lived in a contiguous area. But they claimed and a got a state ( Jharkhand) where they are a majority. They have a script, invented by one of their leading intellectuals, Raghunath Murmu," Mahapatra said.

He has also published two volumes on the changing Santhali society- "Modernisation and Rituals" and "The Realm of the Sacred".

He is now working on a project on the Santhal rebellion.

Mahapatra, a native of Odisha, is also an accomplished poet - with 15 collections to his name, besides some essay collections, a travelogue and more than 30 contemplative works in Odiya. He has also been honoured with Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi awards and Padma Vibhusan.

Mahapatra said Telugu and Tamil poetry were languishing while Bengali, Odiya, Malayalam and Urdu were doing well.

"Folk traditions are keeping languages alive. One has to go back to folk to see how they have helped language evolve," he said.

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5 tips to managing your monthly budget

Planning is very important in order to keep the functioning of a house streamlined. Systematically thinking about financial planning can help a household immensely.

Running a household is a collective effort. So when you are thinking of savings, it becomes important to jot down things that matter most to your financial wellbeing. Here is a quick look at how you can plan your budget well:

1. Before withdrawing the salary from the ATM as soon as it arrives, just make a list of must do things for the month that may include your home loan EMIs or any other investment commitments.

2. Keep some money extra (even Rs 500 a month can yield you good results after couple of months) so that whenever you are required to pay your insurance premium, you have some surplus amount in hand.

3. Give priority to children's health and education related expense. At the same time, think about your expenses too.

4. Try not to get too tempted by offers in the market. Satisfy yourself with window shopping if you do not really require any product or service for that matter.

5. Plan your vacation well in advance so that you can save on your air travel fare. This really acts as a motivator. And enjoy life while saving.

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Top 15 New York Times Bestsellers

New York Times - Bestsellers, Fiction (print and e-books between November 25, 2012 and December 09, 2012)

1. Title: The Last Man

Author: Vince Flynn

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Synopsis: Joe Rickman, a CIA agent known for his clandestine operations in Afghanistan has gone missing and his absence has created a stir in the team. Rickman was part of many life-threatening operations in the war-torn state of Afghanistan pervaded by the Taliban, Iranians, Russians and Pakistanis- all fighting to claim their land. Director of CIA sends Mitch Rapp on a mission to find Rickman before he is brought to wrong hands. Rapp heads to Afghanistan in search of his friend and while navigating the conflict-ridden state of Afghanistan he feels something dreadful is awaiting Rickman. In the meanwhile, the FBI too has started hunting for the missing CIA agent and there are enemies all around. Will Rapp get to the truth and solve the case of his kidnapped friend?

2. Title: Merry Christmas, Alex Cross

Author: James Patterson

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Synopsis: Nineteenth in James Patterson's bestselling 'Alex Cross' series, Merry Christmas, Alex Cross is a poignant tale of a man who is on a mission to save a family from a terrible hostage situation but at the same time misses being home on Christmas eve. Alex left a mission behind him when he decided to come back home and decorate the Christmas tree with his kids and wife. However, he could not stay for long. A phone call informs him about an out-of-control situation learning which he rushes to the site. Separated from his own family to save another, will Alex Cross return alive on this festive day? For readers, this can be a holiday classic read this Christmas.

3. Title: The Racketeer

Author: John Grisham

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing

Synopsis: Malcolm Bannister, an ex-lawyer currently serving jail sentence at the Federal Prison Camp, Maryland, knows why Judge Raymond Fawcett was murdered and by whom. From the site of murder, the FBI couldn't deduce much for there was no forced entry, no sign of struggle, only two dead bodies, one of the Judge and the other of his young secretary's, and an opened and emptied extremely secure safe. Malcolm would like to give out every last detail, but there is one tiny hitch. He wants his freedom in exchange.

4. Title: The Perfect Hope

Author: Nora Roberts

Publisher: Penguin Group

Synopsis: Book 3 in The Inn Trilogy, Nora Roberts takes us through the lives of three Montgomery brothers- Beckett, Ryder, and Owen. Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper is particularly put off by the infuriating brother of them all, Ryder Montgomery. Hope is someone who delights in the joys of small-town living but is also used to appreciating glamour and adventure in life. Then, there comes the New Year's eve when Hope and Ryder share a kiss and the tough and stern Ryder begins discovering his emotional side toward Hope. There's however a past that threatens to appear like an uninvited guest in Hope's present. Will she be able to ward off the darkness of the past or will Ryder come to the rescue?

5. Title: Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Publisher: Crown Publishing

Synopsis: On her fifth wedding anniversary Amy Dunne suddenly goes missing without a trace from her rented home in North Carthage, Missouri. Under pressure from the police, media and Amy's doting parents, Husband-of-the Year, Nick grapples with a never-ending chain of lies, deceits, and his own oddly evasive behaviour. As events get murkier, the needle of suspicion points at Nick as the killer of his beautiful wife. With his sister Margo by his side, Nick pleads innocence. Then what was in that silver gift box in the back of Amy's bedroom closet?

6. Title: Fifty Shades of Grey

Author: E.L. James

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing

Synopsis: E.L James, a former TV journalist and mom of two in West London, fulfills her childhood dream of writing a book with Fifty Shades of Grey, the first of the trilogy, and turns into a bestselling author. Serving erotica to the audience with a plot that revolves around a drop-dead-gorgeous billionaire Christian Grey and his dangerous liaison with literature student Anastasia Steele who goes to interview the young tycoon, and ends up falling for him. They embark on a passionate physical affair while Ana unravels Grey's dark desires including her own.

7. Title: All In

Author: Raine Miller

Publisher: Raine Miller Romance

Synopsis: 'All In' is Raine Miller's second book from the 'The Blackstone Affair' series. In this, her dashing protagonist, Ethan Blackstone finds himself all alone after an explosive love affair with Brynne. He lied to her and broke her trust, and is now determined to win her back. But things are not as rosy as he had expected. Besides their share of dark secrets, Brynne is the cynosure of frightening political threats that can take her away from him forever. Feeling all the more protective about her, Ethan now takes the onus upon himself to keep her away from any danger that might cause him lose her.

8. Title: Sweet Tooth

Author: Ian McEwan

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing

Synopsis: From the author who gave us 'Atonement', now comes a sweet, funny and entertaining story set during the Cold War of 1972. Serena Frome studies in Cambridge. She is beautiful, intelligent, loves reading fiction and therefore, an ideal candidate for MI5. Their aim is to ascertain writers whose politics align with those of the government. Serena begins to work for them under an operation with code name 'Sweet Tooth' where her job is to infiltrate the literary circle of a young writer named Tom Haley. At first, she loves reading his stories and slowly, she begins to fall in love with him. Will she ever be able to escape the tricks of the espionage and come to terms with her feelings?

9. Title: Life of Pi

Author: Yann Martel

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers

Synopsis: Yann Martel's Booker Prize-winning novel is back in news, this time for its adaptation into a film by director Ang Lee. Pondicherry-based Piscine Molitor Patel, known as Pi, is a bookish fellow. His family runs the local zoo and he spends most of his time among goats, bears, hippos and swans. He is sixteen when his parents decide to move to Canada along with their animals. Tragedy strikes and their ship sinks, leaving behind Pi as the lone human survivor on the lifeboat, along with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. An epic story begins spread over 227 days spent castaway, teaching Pi the lessons - adventure, survival and companionship.

10. Title: Fifty Shades Freed

Author: E.L James

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing

Synopsis: Since their first encounter, the third of the trilogy, and driven by their searing sexual desire for each other, Anastasia and Grey's lives have changed irrevocably. Initially repelled by Grey's need to control in bed, and his erotic tastes, Ana subsequently comes to terms with it, and demands from him a greater commitment. Grey agrees, and now they have everything going for them, from love, wealth, passion, to intimacy. But deep down Ana fears they'll never be able to stay together without her sacrificing her own identity.

11. Title: Fifty Shades Darker

Author: E.L James

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing

Synopsis: The second of the trilogy, Fifty Shades Darker explores the dilemma of Anastasia after her separation from Grey. She has moved on in her career, yet desires to go back to him, for the memories of their torrid physical affair still dominate her mind, and eventually she lands up with him in a new arrangement. Grey's inner demons grow darker, and as Ana delves deeper into his harrowing past, she is faced with the anger and jealousy of the women who came in his life before her.

12. Title: Reflected in You

Author: Sylvia Day

Publisher: Penguin Group

Synopsis: The emotional, turbulent and sensual saga of Eva Tramell and Gideon Cross in Sylvia Day's Bared to You continues in her latest novel. Reflected in You. In this novel, we get an insight into the characters in more depth and intensity that Bared to You did not reveal. We are informed about Gideon's not-so-pleasant past, Eva's bisexual friend and roommate Cary whose strategic interventions in the novel provide the readers with a dose of humour and of course our protagonist Eva who continues her struggle with her insecurities in love life. This is definitely not a fantasy romance but can be called a 'paranormal' (as described by a critic) one that's interspersed with suspense, psychological turmoil, dark sensuality and jealous rage.

13. Title: Poseidon's Arrow

Author: Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

Publisher: Penguin Group

Synopsis: The latest from the Dirk Pitt adventure series, Clive Cussler with Poseidon's Arrow establishes he is second to none when it comes to suspense and adventure writing. In this one, American defense technology builds an enviable attack submarine that travels at lightening speed underwater, and is perhaps the best naval arsenal any country has ever built. But all of a sudden an important element of the prototype goes missing, and its creator is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Does it have any connection with the disappearing of ships mid-ocean? Dirk Pitt and his team realise they have trouble on their hands as they try to unravel this murky plot.

14. Title: The Secret of Ella and Micha

Author: Jessica Sorensen

Publisher: Jessica Sorensen

Synopsis: Ella and Micha have been best friends forever and like all best friends, they're completely opposite of each in character. While Ella is a fiery rule-breaker, Micha is solemn and confident. Tragedy strikes one night, their friendship comes to a bitter end and Ella decides to go away to college. There she undergoes a complete change and becomes a more stable, secure person. Summer break arrives and now she has no option but to go home. With fear in her heart that she might want to go back to being her old, careless self, Ella reluctantly prepares herself to face her best friend once again, who knows all her darkest secrets.

15. Title: Naked

Author: Raine Miller

Publisher: Raine Miller Romance

Synopsis: Book 1 of the Blackstone Affair trilogy, Naked tells the story of Brynne Bennett, an American art student at the University of London who also works as a part-time photographic model, as she tries to escape the demons of her past by immersing herself in school and other work. Her brush with successful London businessman, Ethan Blackstone turns out to be life changing. Ethan is not an ordinary guy, he is someone who fell for Brynne after buying her nude portrait. He captivates her, and makes it clear that he is interested only to bed her. Brynne resists, but still finds herself drawn to this enigmatic man. Will she be able to overcome her ghastly past and give her relationship with Ethan a fair chance?

(Compiled by Anwesha Mittra, Arunima Mazumdar and Ipshita Mitra)

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A unique relationship with the ocean

How did the silent little fishing village of Kovalam turn into the location for this coast's very first surf school? We talk to these enterprising surfers.

The quaint blue little building overlooking Kovalam Beach definitely comes across as the right spot for a surf school to function. For sure, it is - with the sun and the sea in perfect harmony, Kovalam (Covelong) village off ECR has been a surfer's point, but previously frequented only by ardent surfers from all around. Thus, the story of the surf school begins with the chance meeting of an enthusiastic villager, an Israeli audio engineer and a green surfboard. And in the almost five years since that moment, Murthy — a fisherman and social worker, who is struggling to support his family — has worked hard, and with a whole lot of assistance from around the world, realized his dream of opening that surf school in his village.
"Please come in," a very excited Murthy invites his guests in as he takes them on a tour of his newly-inaugurated surf school. "This is the room where we keep the surfboards," he says in a broken mixture of Tamil and English, pointing to a stack of surfboards — both old and new. "The boards have been donated by people from around the world," he shares. He then points to the terrace of the building, a private space with a thatched covering. "That is for the ladies to practice ... if they get shy," he adds, grinning.
Murthy's story begins much earlier. After losing his fishing boat and livelihood, to the tsunami of 2004, he became a social worker, to help others who have suffered similar plights. It was during this time that Murthy happened to watch renowned audio engineer and entrepreneur Yotam Agam ride a wave in his village. "He saw I was interested in what he was doing and he gave me his green board to try out. I have never felt happier in my life," exclaims Murthy as he remembers the moment where it all began. "From that day, I was determined to learn how to surf. It's a different relationship. When it comes to the sea, it is surfing I love the most."
Since then, Murthy began to inspire others in his village, including many teenagers, to take up surfing. "I have about twenty-five students now, which keeps growing," shares Murthy. Says Ajith, a student of Murthy's. "We got interested in surfing by watching Murthy anna. And the foreigners who come to the village to surf would also lend us their boards to try out. We were so excited to learn!" And it wasn't long before Murthy started harbouring ideas of taking his passion a step further and establish a surf school in his own village.
With assistance from Yotam and the international community, Murthy began working on establishing the school, an endeavour that took him about four years. The school is now open to anyone who is keen to learn how to ride a wave. "This is an amazing achievement for all of us," says Yotam, about the entire experience. "What has started with catching a wave together has turned into a beautiful journey that we didn't expect. When we started surfing here, there was no such thing as a surfing culture here. With a lot of ups and downs, we managed to build a surfing community .... It's a movement," he affirms.

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Travel tips for a safe and sound trip

Enjoying a most deserved holiday depends on how you plan it. Here are few tips to make it memorable

So have you been longing for a trip for a long time, that deserved holiday that you have finally been able to plan? So if you want to make the most of the opportunity and want to make the most of it then here are few tips that will come in handy for making your trip safe and sound.

Books:
We usually ignore them, but books are one of the most efficient ways to get all the required information which is reliable. Get a hold of Lonely Planet and read through it before you embark on your journey, it will keep you on the right track.

Luggage:
Travelling light is the best way to travel. Pack only the essentials, you don't have to take the entire household with you, travels are meant to be fun and they can only be if you have a light bag.

Weather and clothes:
Do find out about the weather of the place you plan to visit and pack your clothes accordingly. You don't want to land up there finding yourself totally out of place and ill-equipped.

Accommodation:
If you are an adventure lover then this might not be for you, but if you like to play safe then make the reservations in advance, especially during the peak seasons.

Health:
If the trip is in a normal touristy city then this might not fall right. But if your destination is more interior parts say a sanctuary or trek etc, then keep a first aid box and some basic medicines for pain and fever. You never know when you might need them.

So, if you keep these points in check, then you sure will enjoy the holiday that has kept you waiting for so long.

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Remedies for brittle nails

Nails are made up of the protein, keratin, and their function is to provide protection for the finger tips. Weak and brittle nails are a common problem affecting both men and women, which is often a result of a poor diet. However, treating brittle nails is not that difficult as you might think. Here are some tips to help you do so:

To make brittle nails soft, apply moisturising cream over your fingers and nails and wear cotton gloves on your hands before going to sleep. This will help keep your nails moisturised and soft.

Soak your finger in luke warm salt water for sometime. Then wipe them clean and apply a good moisturising cream. Also, another remedy includes using tea tree oil on finger nails.

Avoid using acetone on a regular basis because they tend to strip off fingernails of moisture, thus making them dry. And if you do have to use acetone, make sure you use a good quality one.

Brittle nails are also caused due to lack of vitamins and minerals in one's diet. Intake of the mineral zinc is beneficial in treating brittle nails. Also, make sure you diet comprising of vitamins A, E and minerals like calcium and iron too.

Another remedy is to take a cotton ball immersed in olive or castor oil and gently swab it on your brittle fingernails.

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Fix your health at lunch break

10 easy lunchtime changes that can fit wellness into your exhausting work week.

If you work full time, your lunch break is probably sacred. But how often do you spend that precious hour at your desk, munching a mayo-heavy sandwich and barely tearing your eyes from your computer screen?

Recent research found that half of office workers feel more stimulated after going out for lunch. Yet only 15 per cent actually leave their desk. You're not alone if you feel chained to your desk, but small changes can make a big difference.

1. Swap your sarnie
Your packed lunch could be seriously affecting your waistline if it's laden with calories. Aim to eat low glycaemic index (GI) foods, which contain slow release carbohydrates such as wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, says nutritionists.

By swapping a chicken-mayonnaise (535 calories), for an egg sandwich made with wholemeal bread (270 calories), you'll save 265 calories. Or save 136 calories by having a 100g pot of humus (187 cal) with a large mixed salad (222 cal).

2. Work out at work
If you really can't get out exercising, bring your fitness regime inside. No need to limber up in a leotard at your desk, but you can sneak in some exercise without getting funny looks from colleagues. Ab pull-ins are one of the best ways to strengthen your belly. Sitting straight, pull your abdominal muscles in by tightening them. Hold for five seconds, and release. Repeat 20 times.

3. Stay active
Sitting down at work all day can have adverse consequences for your figure — and your health. Research has shown that going on a power walk daily can halve the risk of a heart attack. Exercising at lunchtime can energise you, say fitness experts. "It means you're less likely to succumb to the afternoon munchies. Several offices now have in-house gyms, so that makes things easier. Or just head out for a short walk.

4. Ditch the coffee
You may love your creamy latte, but it's not doing you much good. Change your order from a large latte (280 calories) to a calorie-free green tea. Green tea is less likely to give you that afternoon slump as there's less of a blood sugar 'peak and trough' effect. It also protects you against degenerative diseases if drunk often. Else, swap your latte for a mug of tea with milk (20 calories), which means you cut out 260 calories. Go easy on the sugar.

5. Mind your mess
Finding it difficult to think straight surrounded by all those mouldy cups and piles of paperwork? Use your lunch hour to tidy your desk and give yourself a mental boost. Your subconscious mind doesn't discriminate between positive or negative. It defines your current state of mind and affects how you act.

So, messy spaces produce a muddled mind while a tidy desk brings clarity.

6. Sun substitutes
You won't get your recommended dose of vitamin D spending all day indoors. Nothing can replace getting out into the sunshine, but adjusting your diet can help. Eggs and mackerel are rich in vitamin D.

7. Take a screen break
If you work on a computer all day, getting regular screen breaks — especially at lunchtime — could save your eyesight. Screens subject your eyes to flicker and glare, which can cause myopia or short-sightedness. Staring at the screen can also cause blurred vision, double vision, dry and red eyes, headaches and neck and back pain. Blink often to keep your eyes moist, splash them with water and look away from the screen at regular intervals, to focus on objects that stand at a distance.

8. Trade your chocolate
If you can't resist the allure of chocolate at lunchtime, think of the long-term effects it could have on your figure. If you're addicted to colas, why not try a fruit smoothie instead? The micronutrients in a smoothie make it better than a cola.

9. Take the stairs
We don't just use calories by exercising. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the energy used for everything other than sleeping, eating or conventional exercise. By going for a stroll in a shopping area close to work, you could use 30 calories in 'neat' energy. Climbing the stairs every day could tally up, over a month, to the equivalent of a step class.

10. Do nothing
At lunchtime, find a park bench and watch the world go by. You might think you can just rest your body but you must never forget to calm your mind. A clear mind gives a feeling of fearlessness, confidence and clarity. Don't feel guilty about taking your lunch break. It's your time.

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Happy teens grow into wealthy adults

Happy adolescents are more likely to grow into wealthy adults, independently of every other influence, says the first in-depth study in this regard.

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, political scientist at the University College London (UCL) and Andrew Oswald, professor at the University of Warwick, presented these findings, based on an analysis of data from 15,000 adolescents and young adults in US.

They found that those who report higher 'positive affect', which is a technical measure of happiness, or higher 'life satisfaction' grow up to earn significantly higher levels of income later in life.

Their study found that happy individuals' greater wealth is due, in part, to the fact that they are more likely to get a degree, find work, and get promoted quicker than their gloomier counterparts, according to a UCL statement.

And greater happiness has a big financial impact: the study shows, for example, that a one-point increase in life satisfaction (on a scale of five) at the age of 22 is tied to almost $2,000 higher earnings per annum at the age of 29. This is on top of other influences on incomes.

The researchers paid careful attention to instances of siblings in the data, demonstrating that even in children growing up in the same family, happier youngsters tend to go on to earn higher levels of income.

Their results are robust to the inclusion of other important factors such as education, physical health, genetic variation, IQ, self-esteem, and current happiness.

De Neve said: "These findings have important implications for academics, policy makers, and the general public. For academics they reveal the strong possibility for reverse causality between income and happiness -- a relationship that most have assumed unidirectional and causal.

"For policy makers, they highlight the importance of promoting general well-being (GWB), not just because happiness is what the general population aspires to (instead of GDP) but also for its economic impact."

"Perhaps most importantly, for the general public -- and parents in particular -- these findings show that the emotional well-being of children and adolescents is key to their future success, yet another reason to ensure we create emotionally healthy home environments," concluded De Neve.

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The complete drinking guide for women

Did you know the way a woman drinks her cocktail and a man gulps his beer can be markedly different in terms of harming their respective bodies. Here's the complete drinking manual for all you gals! Go ahead and say cheers!

A study recently revealed that women who gave their mood a 'high' rating beforte they started consuming alchohol were 60% less likely to feel hungover after six units of alcohol. Getting high depends on your mood, if drinkers are feeling high on life, they can avoid a hangover. On the other hand feeling dull and depressed is likely to give you a painful hang over only after a couple of drinks. Here's how you can drink smart:

1. Say goodbye to the liquid lunch
Lunchtime is the worst time to consume alcohol because a woman's hormone levels are high, so the alchohol enters the bloodstream far too quickly for your liver to adequately break it down. Furthermore, the alcohol disrupts the digestive process, potentially leavign you with indigestion. A study from Cornell University in the US says we process alcohol most efficiently between 7 and 8 pm when our hormone levels are lowest, and that's also the best time for drinking because it'll leave you with a considerable margin before hitting the sack.

2. Prepare your body
Always have a snack to avoid a hangover. "Wash down a brown bread sandwich with a glass of milk 30 minutes before you start drinking. The complex carbohydrates in the bread give you lots of energy and the fat in the milk is the perfect stomach liner.

3. Physical fitness is key
Being fit protects you against drunkeness as you are likely to have a higher muscle-to-fat ratio, which means your body has a higher water content, diluting the alcohol. People who are physically fit and active also posess higher metablic rates, which means alcolhol moves quickly their system more quickly. Try and exercise a bit or do some effective yoga stretches before you drink as this speeds up your metabolism, so you'll process alcohol quicker. Or if your party or pub is round the corner, engage in a A brisk 20-minute walk.

4. Chilled truths
According to research from Lyon University , drink wine that's chilled at 5°C or less and you'll take nearly ten per cent longer to finish your drink. Adding ice will also bulk out your drink, so it'll feel fuller, and the extra water content will rehydrate you.

5. Forego the fizz
Fizzy wines and champagnes are absorbed more quickly than still ones because they are quite bland, but the alcohol content is just as high. Champagne has a heady intoxicating effect since its blandness doesn't cause the pylorus (the outlet of the stomach) to reach a spasm, as stronger-flavoured wines do. So your fizz passes through an open gateway into the gut, where it's absorbed - as you make it to the counter for another refill.

6. Always check the label
Always check the label to ascertain the alcohol concentration of drinks. Choose wisely.

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How meditation helps maintain healthy mind

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have proposed a new model that shifts how we think about mindfulness.

Rather than describing mindfulness as a single dimension of cognition, the researchers demonstrate that mindfulness actually involves a broad framework of complex mechanisms in the brain.

In essence, they have laid out the science behind mindfulness.

Achieving mindfulness through meditation has helped people maintain a healthy mind by quelling negative emotions and thoughts, such as desire, anger and anxiety, and encouraging more positive dispositions such as compassion, empathy and forgiveness.

But how exactly does it works has remained unknown, until now.

The new model was recently presented to His Holiness The Dalai Lama in a private meeting, entitled "Mind and Life XXIV: Latest Findings in Contemplative Neuroscience."

The researchers identified several cognitive functions that are active in the brain during mindfulness practice. These cognitive functions help a person develop self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART), which make up the transformative framework for the mindfulness process.

The S-ART framework explains the underlying neurobiological mechanisms by which mindfulness can facilitate self-awareness; reduce biases and negative thoughts; enhance the ability to regulate one's behavior; and increase positive, pro-social relationships with oneself and others—all-in-all creating a sustainable healthy mind.

The researchers highlight six neuropsychological processes that are active mechanisms in the brain during mindfulness and which support S-ART. These processes include 1) intention and motivation, 2) attention regulation, 3) emotion regulation, 4) extinction and reconsolidation, 5) pro-social behavior, and 6) non-attachment and de-centering.

In other words, these processes begin with an intention and motivation to want to attain mindfulness, followed by an awareness of one's bad habits. Once these are set, a person can begin taming him or herself to be less emotionally reactive and to recover faster from upsetting emotions.

"Through continued practice, the person can develop a psychological distance from any negative thoughts and can inhibit natural impulses that constantly fuel bad habits," said David Vago, PhD, BWH Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, and lead study author.

Vago also states that continued practice could also increase empathy and eliminate our attachments to things we like and aversions to things we don't like.

"The result of practice is a new You with a new multidimensional skill set for reducing biases in one's internal and external experience and sustaining a healthy mind," said Vago.

The S-ART framework and neurobiological model proposed by the researchers differs from current popular descriptions of mindfulness as a way of paying attention, in the present moment, non-judgmentally. With the help of functional MRI, Vago and his team are currently testing the model in humans.

This new model of mindfulness has recently been published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

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Why we love horror films

Haimanti Mukherjee finds out why we cover our eyes and ears, feel the shiver run down our spine, drop the popcorn, spill our drink, but still can't resist the urge to walk into a theatre to scare ourselves over and over again.

If you recall scenes from a horror film that you enjoyed the most, it would probably be the ones where as an audience you were made aware of the imminent danger that lay ahead, but the actor on the screen still hadn't suspected it.
The anticipatory build-up to that "bang" moment is exactly what you sought while buying the tickets of the film — that moment when you see the shadows emerge from the other side of the curtain even as the woman in the shower is totally unaware of her fate (Psycho), the moment an unsuspecting mother is pushed from the ladder as her innocent-looking son rams his bicycle into it (The Omen), the moment when a terrified woman runs into the last room of refuge, only to have a crazy killer break open a part of the wooden door and say, "boo, here's Johnny" (The Shining), are all memorable scenes from classic horror films that were preceded by a good few minutes of tension build-up, where the audiences felt a shiver run down their spine.
You may close your eyes and ears, clutch your movie date's hand, drop your popcorn, spill your drink, but ultimately, you would still love to walk into the hall for the same experience all over again.
Hit American TV shows like The Vampire Diaries, True Blood or even the resurgence of horror shows like Fear Files and Haunted Nights on Indian television — a good barometer to judge audience preferences — indicate that we have an insatiable appetite for everything paranormal and occult. We love to spook ourselves silly — whether on TV or the big screen.
It's like a roller-coaster ride
But what is it about fear that tempts us so much? Psychologist Dr Rajendra Barve believes people like horror movies because of the unexpected jerks they experience. "These movies work upon people's curiosity about the unknown, which has always been a fearful territory. The fear makes them uneasy, and that is what causes the excitement. It's like taking a ride on the roller-coaster. You may fear it, but you still seek the thrill," he explains.
Social commentator Santosh Desai feels fear is the most primal among all human emotions. "The fear of losing makes a person insecure, the fear of hunger makes people greedy, the fear of being upstaged makes you competitive — in short, fear is the most identifiable emotion in a human being. When a person goes to the theatre to seek the thrill of horror films, somewhere deep down he's challenging his innermost fears, testing his limits, waiting to see how far he can go," he says.
Grandmom's ghost stories
Horror is one of the most ancient forms of art. Much before cinema and television were invented, you grew up listening to horror stories from your parents and grandparents. All those ancient parables, legends, myths and deep-seated beliefs and taboos that you hear about in your childhood are reinforced when you go to watch a horror film. The audience is given an idea of what could happen should a person violate the law of the land or goes against faith, the same way a mother would tell a child that the bogeyman may show up if he didn't sleep on time. Memories of being afraid of the dark, being frightened of a shadow, a strong feeling of an unknown entity around you, come flooding back while watching a horror film, both exciting and scaring you at the same time.
Director Vikram Bhatt says even as horror films which delve deep into the psyche of the human mind are thriving in the West, in India, horror movies are driven by the heart, and are best told in the form of a love story. He elucidates, "Whether you think of old horror films like Mahal, Bees Saal Baad or a more recent one like Raaz, the connect for the Indian audience is the length to which a lover, a husband or a wife will go to bring the partner back from the clutches of evil. It's not so much the horror, but knowing and realising what's at stake that terrifies you."
Stokes the voyeur in us
Alfred Hitchcock was pretty clear about the chill he intended his audiences to feel while he was directing a film. "Give them (the audience) the pleasure — the same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare!" he had said. Have you ever woken up with fright after having a nightmare? And then felt the cloak of relief slide over you after realising that you were safe? You must have felt the voyeuristic pleasure of laughing about that kind of fear because you knew it wasn't real — though it felt real — and it really didn't happen to YOU. That's the kind of pleasure that the audience enjoys and keeps coming back for every time they watch a horror film. It's a cathartic relief for the audience when the actor on the screen feels the fear or stares at the deadly ending that the audience can foresee.
Screenplay writer Rajat Arora believes every human being has a secret devil buried deep within. "We all are capable of vicious feelings that are hidden under our ethical wraps. Horror movies let those emotions run riot. Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty explains the idea further. "The grotesque fantasy of a human being is entwined with his vicarious pleasures, and then the visuals and sound effects all put together result in a kind of heart-pounding suspense that we can't resist — whether it's a TV show or a film."
The master storyteller of the thrill and chill genre on TV and the big screen, Stephen King, had written in an essay on the appeal of horror films, "Horror films intend to take away the shades of grey. They urge us to put away our more civilised and adult penchant for analysis and let us be children again, seeing things in pure blacks and whites. It may be that horror movies provide psychic relief because their invitation to lapse into simplicity, irrationality and even outright madness is extended so rarely. We are told we may allow our emotions a free rein... or no rein at all".
Who else could have put it any better?
haimanti.mukherjee@timesgroup.com

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Your pet too can be depressed

A pet can go through phases of depression. Just like human beings do.

Who said that only human beings feel neglected or lonely? Who said that only we sulk in bulk when we sit in silence, thinking of nothing in particular, feeling blue? Animals may not speak our language. But when they feel terribly low, one need not be a qualified expert to comprehend their state of mind.

This writer has a cocker, a naughty, sprightly, lovable little cocker who is a few months away from his second birthday. So energetic is this brat that he takes a few seconds to get rid of his quiet self, a state of being he is rarely in. When excited, he stands on his back paws and jumps a few times to express his joy. When tired, he simply trudges towards this writer or his wife and goes off to sleep on either's lap.

There are moments when he gets a little sad. It could be because he needs attention at that time, but doesn't get it. Perhaps, he wants an extra chew stick, which one doesn't give him because he has eaten a few already. Or, it could be since he doesn't like the sight of his human parents when they are reading or watching TV.

That is when he starts feeling low. He curls on the floor and stares at his parents with big sad eyes. His energy disappears. The toys scattered all across the floor fail to attract him. On another occasion, he might choose to hide in a place where nobody can see him. He sleeps off there, far away from anyone's eyes, at a time which 'seems' a little odd.

There are times when he walks slowly towards me. Then, he sits close by and keeps on staring with his head slightly tilted. When I persuade him to come even closer, he walks up to me, places his head on the chest and seems to relax a bit. Intuition suggests that the little cocker had been sad till sometime ago. Reasoning tells me that I should have been playing with it, which I hadn't done.

A pet goes through emotional highs and lows. In feeling the way it does, it is just like us.
biswadeepg@gmail.com

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8 Ways to stay happy at work

Here are some simple tips to keep the negativity at bay.

If you are employed, chances are you often spend more time at office than home. And so, it's very important that you are happy and relaxed when at work. But that's easier said than done. A tyrant boss, backstabbing colleagues, poor pay packages, office politics, unequal distribution of work, favouritism — there are countless reasons to put one off work. Job stress can take a huge toll on your mental and physical health. Changing jobs constantly is not a solution, especially in today's economic scenario. So, here's how to make the most of what you have.

Eat out
Forget home-cooked food and that boring canteen fare. It's a great idea to step out for lunch with your colleagues. It will help you bond with them. If you hate going out, order take-away. And if you are the kind who always eats out, get a home-cooked dish sometimes. Good food will uplift your mood.

Be optimistic
Whatever the nature and number of problems you face at work, they're not going to disappear at the snap of your fingers. You need to be optimistic that the situation will improve slowly and steadily. Do not fall prey to negative thinking. If you find it tough to be optimistic, fake it. With time, your fake positivity will turn real. All you need is a little practice.

Change your attitude
Even if you hate your job, make the most of it. Analyse how you can improve yourself — make fewer mistakes and increase your efficiency. Whenever you leave a job, you should know that it has enhanced your skills, even if it is in a minor way.

Be friendly with colleagues
A friendly atmosphere makes a huge difference. If you're aloof, chances are you will feel left out at some point of time. We're not asking you to go shopping with them and share details of your personal life, but be cordial.

Take a chill pill
Slogging for 12 to 16 hours a day will leave anyone grumpy, stressed out and unable to concentrate. So, small 15-minute breaks are a must in between. Take a nap, read jokes or play games online, listen to music or chat with a friend. If napping and playing games online are prohibited, listen to some good music to pep up your mood.

Be grateful
Typing furiously on the keyboard, slamming the phone, and pushing the drawers of the cabinet forcefully may help you vent anger, but think about how lucky you are. In the current market scenario, there are many unemployed people who would love to be in your shoes.

Be assertive
Nobody likes to be bullied and harassed at work. If your detractors are under the impression that you can't speak up for yourself, it encourages them to trouble you even more. So, stand up for yourself.

Ask for feedback
It's important to ask for a feedback from your boss. Good communication will give you a clear idea of what's expected of you.

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Wake your coffee table up!

As you know, home interior decorating demands attention to detail if you want to create your decorating dream.

One of those details is your coffee table, which is at the centre of your conversation area.
Along with your area rug, it is the glue that helps to hold the pieces together. Because it commands so much attention, go the extra mile and transform your coffee table from a simple oversized coaster to a work of art. Try these 10 home interior decorating ideas:

Display books : Display a few hardcover books that are interesting and have covers which tie into your decor colour scheme. Preferably, the books should be the larger versions, but should not be too thick.

Add candles/candle holders : This is always a winner. If you have some intriguing candleholders, try those. Use at least two candleholders for balance.

Display a decorative box : I consider decorative boxes to be compact works of art. Find one that matches your style, but don't display a tiny box that will get lost on the table.

Display a figurine or sculpture : Any eye-catching sculpture or figurine will make a wonderful statement as well as a conversation piece.

Display flowers in a vase or decorative container : Place you favourite flowers in a decorative vase or display an arrangement of silk flowers. My coffee table below has a single white silk orchid in a miniature silver ice bucket.

Change or refinish the table base : If your coffee table has a glass top, change the base to jazz things up.

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How to preserve priceless masterpieces

The chrome yellow pigment used by renowned post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh and others in the 19th and 20th centuries is especially sensitive to certain types of light - making it extremely susceptible to darkening, according to a new study.

The finding could help preserve masterpieces by van Gogh and contemporaries like Gauguin, Cezanne and others.

In previous research, the scientists found that this alteration is at least partially due to a change in the oxidation state of the chromium in this type of pigment over time. In the current work, they wanted to determine the color change effects of shining different types of light on the yellow pigment.

They conducted laboratory tests with lab-made pigments that were similar in composition to pigments that van Gogh used, as well as a historical paint sample from Rik Wouters, a Belgian artist active in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Those chrome yellow paint samples that also are rich in sulfates were highly susceptible to browning, especially in regular, UV and blue light.

The researchers suggest that to prevent darkening, art collectors and gallery owners should minimize their paintings'' exposure to light in the blue/violet/ultra-violet range.

The study has been published in ACS' journal Analytical Chemistry.

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Traditional masalas for a delightful meal

Flavours of the coast are a trademark of the communities they represent. Here's a whiff of what's cooking in grandma's kitchen

In most Indian cuisines, the secret lies in the masala. Add that to the freshest catch of the sea, and you have yourself a scrumptious meal with robust flavours and a fiery temperament. While textures and spice notes vary vastly from region to region, each community too, blends in their own technique and ingredients to give it their distinguished touch. Three such communities give us a taste of their traditional masalas, easy enough to try and delightful enough to bottle.

East Indian masala

Known for their bottled masalas, East Indians are known to be guarded about their traditional methods and ingredients making them difficult to source. Quite often, women bottle and sell home-made masalas, almost never over the counter, to those who don't have the time. These go through a long arduous process of grinding and roasting before being powdered and preserved. This is an easier sample.

Anthony Maroo, Food enthusiast and trainee chef

Ingredients

75 gms Black peppercorns

35 gms Green cardamoms

75 gms Taj (ceylon cinnamon)

25 gms Cloves

15 gms Black cardamoms

15 gms Nagkesar (casia buds)

15 gms Shahi jeera (black cumin)

15 gms Whole asafoetida (hing)

1 kg Dried red chillies

250 gms Coriander seeds

25 gms Whole turmeric

15 gms Mace

1 no Nutmeg

15 gms Maipatri (Mugwort)

15 gms Star anise

13 gms Sichuan pepper

15 gms Indian bay leaf

75 gms Cumin seeds

25 gms Mustard seeds

75 gms Poppy seeds

75 gms Sesame seeds

14 gms Fennel seeds

Preparation

Saute the ingredients either individually in little oil or dry roast them over medium heat. Once heated, they will release intense aromas and flavour. Grind this to a fine mix. Be sure to crush larger pieces of asafoetida, turmeric and nutmeg into smaller bits before roasting. Cool the mixture and store in air-tight bottles. Add to any vegetarian or non-vegetarian curry preparation for best results.

Goan

The flavours of Goa are characterised by a pungent use of locally made Goan vinegar and soaked red chillies. Sour and spice is their winning combination, in addition to a generous use of coconut. These masalas can be added to any sea food or meat preparation in addition to a variety of vegetables for vegetarian options. If using dry, marinate the meat or fish and simply grill.

Jacinta Frenandes, Guest chef Renaissance hotel

Cafreal masala

Ingredients

1 bunch Green coriander

1 bunch Mint leaves

100 gms Ginger garlic paste

50 gms Green chillies

1 Capsicum

50 gms Cloves/Cumin/Fennel /Dry coriander /Turmeric

1 spoon salt and sugar

Preparation

Grind the ingredients with a few spoons of Goan vinegar and add to curries.

Rechaedo masala

Ingredients

100 gms Red chilli

50 gms Ginger garlic paste

50 gms Cumin

10gms Black pepper

10gms Cloves

5 gms Cinnamon

½ cup Toddy vinegar

2 tbsp Tamarind paste

1 Onion, fried crisp

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp sugar

Preparation

Soak all the dry spices in toddy vinegar for a few hours. Grind this in a mixture with chopped fried onions. Add tamarind pulp, salt and sugar. Mix this well and add to vegetarian or nonvegetarian curries or marinade meat, fish and grill.

Mangalorean

The bafat masala exclusively uses Kashmiri red chillies known for their deep red colouring, giving curries their typical colour. Don't be alarmed with quantities since the flavour is milder. The powder can be stored in an air-tight container for up to two months. These can be used for meat, fish or any number of vegetarian dishes.

Anita D' Souza, homemaker

Ingredients

500 gms Kashmiri red chillies

100 gms Dry red chillies

10 tbsps Coriander seeds

5 tbsps Cumin seeds

1 tbsp Cloves

3 - 2 Pieces of cinnamon

2 tbsps Peppercorns

2 tbsp Black mustard seeds

1½ tbsp Turmeric powder

Preparation

Heat a heavy-bottomed pan or griddle on medium heat. Put in the chillies (both kinds) and roast for two to three minutes, stirring constantly. Once roasted, move them off the flame. Now, add all the other ingredients other than turmeric powder, and roast for four to five minutes, stirring continously. As the spices become aromatic, take them off the flame and mix with the rest in a large bowl. Grind them roughly in batches and mix well. Put these in a dry air-tight container and store in a cool place.

Divashri.Sinha @timesgroup.com

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Ragini Khanna shops to de-stress

Actor Ragini Khanna tells us her style mantra

What did you mix-n-match lately?
A formal shirt with a kurti. It looked nice.

Are you a shopaholic?
Absolutely. I am a complete teetotaller. I don't drink or smoke so shopping is my way to
de-stress myself.

Your mirror says...
Not bad.

You party like a...
Rock star. I actually party like a mad person.

Money can buy...
All the beautiful clothes in the world but not good taste.

Heels or flats, you prefer?
With formals I prefer to wear heels and with casuals I go with flats.

Favourite pick-up line:
I don't like pick-up lines. I find them very cheesy and stupid.

What's the new black?
Black. Nothing can replace black.

(As told to Gayatri Deshmukh)

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Brazilian town with mighty waterfalls

Think Brazil and most people would be instantly transported to a land of pristine beaches, littered with stunning figures, the hedonistic carnival, samba drums, the magnificent Christ The Redeemer and perhaps the notorious favelas.

It's what we've all imagined Brazil to be like, courtesy Hollywood and lately, a bunch of reality TV shows. After spending a sizable amount of time in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, I could vouch for all of the above. But underneath the glitz and funk, I was determined to find more soul, more adventure, more of the real Brazil that we don't get to see back home. And with that firm belief in place, a number of road trips ensured.

First among them was Foz Do Iguacu, a little town South of Brazil which shares its borders with both Argentina and Paraguay. I spent the next 10 days in the company of a childhood friend of mine which made the whole experience all the more exciting.

Without much ado, we set out on our journey from Sao Paulo, stopping in Rio for a couple of days, moving to Curitiba for another two days before hopping on to the next available bus to Foz do Iguacu. As much as we both loved speed, we didn't want to rush our journey. Buses in Brazil are extremely comfortable and overnight buses even have a toilet onboard. You might have to ignore the fact that it costs as much as an air ticket.

After about 14 hours, we were at Foz do Iguacu — a quaint little town which thrives mainly on tourism thanks to the popular 'cataratas' (waterfalls). We chose a hostel close to the falls and wasted no time in heading out to them. With an entire day ahead of us, we were excited to explore the national park where they were all located.

From the hostel, we took a bus that took us right up to the gate of the Parque Nacional do Iguacu. We paid the entry fees to the national park and were immediately ushered into yet another open roof double decker bus with bold animated characters painted on it. The 15-minute journey zigzagged through lush vegetation and was accompanied with ambient sounds and an earthy smell, it was a delightful ride. At one point we zipped through a massive array of possibly a thousand butterflies. Where the bus stopped, more wildlife awaited — iguanas, monkeys and lots of grasshoppers. From this point on, we had the falls in sight.

Interestingly, the Foz Do Iguacu waterfalls are not only taller than Niagara — they are also twice as wide! As we walked past the 'trilha' — the trekking trail, the sheer expanse of the falls was spell binding and photographs just couldn't do justice to what we had in sight. Closer to the center of the falls lies an extended viewing gallery that allows you to soak in the experience (and yourself) in the screaming roar and brilliance of the majestic falls.

We spotted a few vultures circling nearby and took it as a sign to continue our journey towards lunch. Don't forget to wave to the good folks in Argentina waving at you from the other side of the border though.

After a hearty full course buffet, we were raring to go. As soon as we got out of the national park we headed straight to the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power plant. I've always marveled at Brazil's amazing industrial might and this was a great opportunity to get a closer look at it. Run as a joint venture between Brazil and Paraguay, the dam at this location — thanks to the might of the Iguacu falls, powers 90% of Paraguay and 20% of Brazil. Now those are some impressive facts. The structure's cost also makes it one of the most expensive manmade structures ever built. The entire tour and museum was well worth it and we stood in awe of both nature and man. On our way out, we lucked out by spotting the Parque Das Aves, a bird sanctuary which housed some of the world's most exotic birds.

Some of these winged folks were so friendly that you could often spot a random toucan prodding, pecking and jumping around with visitors. They look like they have a wacky sense of humour but I can't be sure.

All in all, it was a perfect day spent exploring one of nature's most stunning wonders. Not to mention the man-made mega structure that manages to power up a large chunk of two nations.

Getting there - local
From Rio de Janeiro, buses ply regularly to the city of Foz do Iguacu. It is common knowledge that a major part of the falls are on the Argentinian side while Brazil enjoys a better view. If possible, try to experience it from both sides. Border crossings are nearby and easily accessible. Do not accept to carry any luggage or material for co-passengers. I almost fell for this, had it not been for the alert bus driver who warned me that it could be counterfeit or smuggled goods being moved across borders!

From India
There are no direct flights to Brazil from India. You may fly via Dubai/ Johannesburg/ London, etc. Reach Rio de Janeiro city and fly/ take the bus to Foz do Iguacu.

Costs
Pint of beer (cerveja): R$2.50 (Rs 40) Budget Hostel: R$40 (Rs 800) - R$50 (Rs.1,000) Hotel: R$100 (Rs 2,000) onwards

leisure . mirror @ indiatimes . com  

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Actor Sonali Kulkarni loves Misal treats

The actress loves ditching chapatti and salads once in a while for a plateful of the scrumptious curry

These days Sonali Kulkarni's expeditions in the kitchen revolve around preparing things for her 10-month-old daughter Kaveri. She is usually busy preparing all sorts of juices and porridge for her. "The kitchen is full of her cuisine right now. I am so proud of her food habits. Kaveri's doctor is very impressed with her fondness for vegetables," she tells us.

"It surprises me that she doesn't have a sweet tooth. She likes namkeen stuff," adds the doting mother.

Post a rich diet during her pregnancy, the actress is also getting back to her regular diet. "I am getting back to my soups, salads and juices." But the change in the weather always bring along cravings, and Sonali loves indulging herself in Usal and Misal. "These days, about twice a week we have either matki and moong usal. I am always looking to break from the routine of chapatti and salads," she confesses.

Changing menu with changing seasons

While there isn't a hard and fast rule, for the season gone by — monsoons — Sonali says she follows what most traditional kitchens do. "I avoid going for the leafy greens. In fact, it has scientific basis. Studies have shown that heavy rains in certain areas may cause leafy greens to be exposed to contaminated soil due to rain splashing." During this season she prefers vegetables like "ivy gourd (tendli) and okra (bhendi)".

And in case of fruits, it's the seasonal variety and apples, she says. "And the changing weather calls for lots of hot drinks, so soups are always on." So is chai. Sonali, who is a "sada chai loyalist", says, "Chai should be chai not some spicy concoctions!" And one mantra she makes sure her family follows to the T is "Not to have anything stale," she says.

saadia.dhailey@timesgroup.com

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From paunch to punch

The city's 40-plus are turning karate kids for a healthier, better lifestyle. We explore

You thought they would be mute spectators by the ringside, egging their kids on, clapping after a good performance. Not anymore. Neighbourhood supermoms and dads are slipping into the white dress and stepping on to the mat, punching, kicking and jabbing, just like their juniors. If figures at various martial arts centres in the city are anything to go by, many in their forties have taken to karate, taekwondo, aikido and judo like never before.

Goutam Motilal, who has his dojo or karate club at Ballygunge Cultural Seminar, says, "I have had more than seven middle-aged students who joined Shotokan karate classes in the past one year. They include professionals and homemakers who would earlier only accompany their kids. They are not too kicked about running on a treadmill at a gym hence karate. It's not for any competition but just plain therapeutic." Says Dipannita Majumdar, 44, who used to be an ardent rower in her youth, "I was putting on weight. I found Karate more relaxing than the gym. I used to accompany my 12-yearold daughter before I decided to join." Roy's Taekwando Academy in Salt Lake has seen a surge in the 40 plus agegroup. "These days, cholesterol, asthma, hip joint pains are quite common in people above 40. Doctors suggest exercise but many are averse to gymming. Martial arts combine meditation, yoga and other aspects of very basic exercises. I have around 12 students in the age group of 40-50. There is a busy techie, Nilanjan Chandra, who never misses a class," says Pradipta Roy, of the academy. Palash Sarkar, 42, besides taking classes at the Indian Statistical Institute, still finds time to get his taekwondo moves right. "This is a unique set of skills that helps you in so many ways. I have hardly any time to practise, but whenever I can, I brush up on taekwondo," he says.

Martial arts is a great stress reliever too, say many. "I even have a 60-year-old student who practises Aikido. There are less punches and kicks and it doesn't hurt your joints at all," says Arijit Mitra, chief instructor at the Academy of Aikido, at Calcutta Judo Club. Specific styles and stances are taught to aid and strengthen specific parts of the body. "The kiba dachi or the horse stance, for instance, strengthens the knee. We have back stances and front stances that help in joint rotation. However, chronic diseases like arthritis cannot be completely healed," says Motilal.

Trinamool Congress councillor for ward number 86, Durga Mukherjee, swears by karate. "I am 69 and am busy all day. The free hand exercises have helped. Unlike many politicians I don't have a paunch," he laughs. Says businessman Amit Mitra, 41, "It's about mental, physical and spiritual welfare." "And there are no side effects at all," quips lawyer Barun Ghosh, 44.

Doctors, though, add a word of caution. "No new fitness regime should be suddenly started after 40. There should be some kind of preparation and readiness for it," says Dr Debasish Chatterjee, an expert in sports medicine. So, there's never really any 'wrong side' to 40, is there?

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Why sex can become super boring

When two people are dating we often hear about their puppy love, tiffs, both big and small but the moment they get into a serious relationship, we barely get to know what's really going on in their life. We help you get an insight into the secret of modern marriages!

The unspoken pressure on married couples to present a happy, healthy relationship to the outer world doesn't let anyone get a peek inside their real world. Admitting that you are unhappy can be seen as failure so people prefer to keep such details to themselves. Also, as soon as we experience a lull in our sex life, we assume that everyone else must be having more sex than we are. We found out five common issues that all married couples face...

Sex can be boring, occasionally
True, sex can occasionally be messy, painful, boring and unwanted. Shares HR consultant Deepika Kapur, "The first time we had boring sex, I was left shaken. I thought our chemistry was over and now our sack sessions would never be good again. But I soon got over the fear. Our next sack session was one of the best that we ever had."

One partner is always left craving
No two people in a marriage have the same libido. One is always left craving for sex. Modern life has also given way to new sexual pressures and expectations that can not always be met. Says consultant Hemant Sinha, "I have always had a high sex drive. My wife and I have fantabulous sex but there are many times when I am craving for it and she's not in a mood."

Sex drive disappears once in a while
The reality is that a large number of couples experience sexual difficulties at some point of time in their marriage. This is when their sex drive drops. Suggest sex therapist Payal Kapoor, "Instead of thinking how badly it reflects your feelings for the partner, concentrate on bigger issues that are making you feel disinterested in sex." Payal goes on to add, "Sometimes separate beds can reignite the spark! It has helped many couples I have known. It breaks the monotony and makes them long for each other."

Sexually unfaithful thoughts are common
Some people need constant reminders of how desirable and sexy they still look. When that doesn't happen, they look for admiration outside. And having sexually unfaithful thoughts are common. Someone rightly said, 'Sex pulls you away but love gets you back!' Adds psychologist Seema Hingorani, "It is human tendency to feel wanted. And when couples don't get it in their marriage, they seek it outside and such thoughts are common."

Incessant fights are normal
You often wonder seeing a happy couple around you how they manage to be so in love, while you pull the trigger almost every second day. Do not feel guilty thinking you are the only one who does it. All couples fight, and this is the rule!

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'Asopalav' unveils bridal couture in Gujarat

Asopalav, Gujarat's renowned name in ethnic wear, unveiled its bridal collection at an exclusive fashion show — 'Asopalav Bridal Couture 2012'.

Choreographed by Utsav Dholakia, the show presented a collection that clearly reflected an awe-inspiring blend of modernity with Indian traditional wear. Every trousseau reflected carefully crafted designs, vibrant colours, classic fabric woven in contemporary style and beautiful workmanship, which comprised elegant flat embroideries as well as old crafts like Marodi and Resham.

A hint of trends with stylish cuts and drapes was clearly visible in the collection. The range comprised gowns with lotus motifs, Benarasi sarees and lehengas, heavy sherwanis with rajkush, heavy lehengas with gold tops, velvet tops with cream lehengas, Kanjeevaram sarees and much more.

The store is known to provide customised outfits for the bride and the bridegroom, creating an attire that would complement their personality and make them look ideal as a couple on their D-day. A part of the wedding collection was also unveiled at the show that received rave reviews from the audiences. The showstopper dress looked as stunning as actor and model Mugdha Godse, who sizzled on the ramp.

Asopalav presents a range of ensembles, which spell out sheer beauty and class. Unification of all the finer elements of tradition with modernity is what the fashion hub tried to incorporate in their Bridal Couture Collection. Carefully crafted designs created at their in-house studio have garnered brownie points with their customer base, which comprises not only customers from Gujarat, but also many NRGs living in different parts of the world.
With focus on the quality of fabric, workmanship and the choice of color, the collection exemplifies finesse in creating fascinating styles and unique designs. With a motive to delivering the best of fashion essentials, the store strives for fashion excellence for years to come.

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10 Things never to say to a woman

There are few guarantees in life, but this much we can say with certainty: The sun rises in the east, death comes to us all, and you will -- at one time or another -- suddenly find yourself in the midst of a blazing fight with your girlfriend without even realizing it.

Many of us have been there. One minute you're having a conversation, maybe a minor argument, but that's OK; it's all under control. Then you say something -- a word or passing comment, something relatively harmless, or so you think -- and it sets her off. As soon as it leaves your lips, the air changes, and there's no easy way back.

There are some things men should never say to their women -- conversational land mines that appear insignificant on the face of it, but are anything but. The good news is that we know, for the most part, what they are. Many men have suffered before you. It would be wise to heed their counsel.

1. "Are you really going to eat all that?"

Your girlfriend is, by definition, as light as a feather and nimble as a ballerina. To so much as whisper a hint of the notion that she might be, you know, otherwise, is to risk paying a price as heavy as you suspect her to be. In fact, avoid the topic of food altogether if you can. Eating is an emotional, often obsessive business for women, and occasionally it's an actual disorder. It's tied up with their identity, their self-image, their fantasies. So the answer is, yes, she's really going to eat all that. All that ballet must have given her an appetite.

2. "B*tch"

The B word is like the N word: Unless you've been appropriately oppressed, you don't get to use it. You might be able to pull off an ironic Snoop Dogg-style "beeeyatch," so long as you're smiling as you say it. But to say "b*tch" with any kind of intent is to pull the pin out of a grenade.

3. "My ex used to ... "

Anything you say with the words "my ex" in it will be held against you in a court of law, as it should. Of course it's natural to compare your girlfriends, but keep it to yourself. There are inside thoughts and outside thoughts. This belongs firmly to the former category.

4. "You always do that"

One sure way to escalate a minor tiff into a nuclear showdown is to use words like "never" and "always." They're too sweeping to be true, so you'll not only upset her, but also give her the opportunity to prove you wrong and seize the higher ground. And it tends to drag every other argument you've had into your present one, which is like rehashing all the worst parts of your relationship all at once.

5. "You sound just like your mother"

Don't compare her to her mother. Or her sister, for that matter. You don't know those people like she does, and you don't know the full complexity of their relationships. And anyway, everyone wants an independent identity, separate and distinct from their family members.

6. "Yeah, she's hot"

Chances are she lured you in with an innocent question, like, "Do you think she's cute?" shrugging her shoulders like it wouldn't matter either way. But don't be fooled. You must lie quickly and reflexively. Whether it's a girl in a magazine, a Facebook friend, a waitress -- whoever -- the answer is always no. In fact, you win extra points for casually finding fault in her the closer you look. Watch your girlfriend light up as you say, "Is it me, or is her nose a bit weird?"

7. "What's up with your hair?"

Her hair looks great and it suits her perfectly. She's allowed to have a bad hair day, but you're not allowed to notice. For girls, hair isn't just hair.

8. "Relax"

The thing about "relax" is it dramatically reduces the chances of her relaxing. The same goes for "chill" and "calm down." Here's an alternative: "I can see how you would feel that way." It takes a Zen master to actually use it in the heat of combat, but it's there if you need it.

9. "Is this your time of the month?"

Even if it is, you're not to mention it. Your role is to pretend that her menstrual cycle has no effect on her tendency to shriek and stamp and then burst into tears for no reason whatsoever. In this matter, you must occupy the high ground and show pity. Indulge her delusion that she is not in fact deranged by hormones and that she's making a valid point. The moment will pass.

10. "I love you"

I know what you're thinking. This is supposed to be the magic pill, the cure-all, the instant fix. But the thing about the L word is that it sends women into a heightened sense of awareness. As soon as they hear it, they can tell whether or not you mean it. Misuse the force and it may destroy you. Or as the saying goes, if you play with fire, you might get slapped in the middle of a restaurant.

Content courtesy: Men's Life Today, Global

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How to get your French sauce right

Chef Satbir Bakshi elaborates on the nature and texture of the five mother sauces and what makes them special...

French cusine is storming the city and our panel of experts, Chef Satbir Bakshi from The Oberoi and the duo from the French bistro Chez Vous, Frederic Fernandez and Satyen Melwani teach you how to get your sauces and techniques just right.

Fernandez says, "The basis of French cooking is the sauce. The base of most begins with a roux which is a cooked mixture of wheat flour and fat, traditionally clarified butter. It forms the base of three mother sauces, bechamel,veloute and espagnole."

Skill counter
Frederic Fernandez and Satyen Melwani get your techniques in place
-Most French food uses baking or a combination of pan searing and baking — cooking time is minimal with a focus on protecting the internal flavour of the main ingredient which maybe the meat or any vegetable.

-One of the most flamboyant and glamourous cooking techniques used is Flambeing. Pastis — a traditional fennel flavoured liqueur is warmed and then poured over a cooking dish close the the finish. The volatile mixture can then be lit up using a match stick or the burner. Contrary to common belief that this is done to burn off the alcohol, the actual reason is to caramelize the ingredients by flaming them a little. The French love caramelisation — This brings on an addition of sweetness and is present in many of our dishes such as the caramelised onion tart of the prawns flambeed in Pastis.

-Poaching is a short cooking method to simmer food and bring out a tender texture.

-Braising uses a flavoured liquid as a medium in which food is cooked slowly, to accentuate the flavour.

-Broiling and grilling are nearly identical cooking methods where an oiled piece of food is cooked over direct and moderately high heat.

Hollandaise
The best looking sauce is also the most difficult to make. Hollandaise is pleasant yellow in colour and has a mayo-like texture. It's prepared using eggs, vinegar, shallots, black pepper corn and oodles of clarified butter. The ingredients are whisked constantly over a double-burner until its consistency starts to change and it turns creamy.
Taste bud test : It feels rich on the tongue and leaves a mild sour aftertaste.
Goes best with : Eggs benedict, salmon.

Bechamel
One of the earliest sauces to be made, commonly known as white sauce. It's made using flour, butter, milk and cream. Milk is simmered for a few mintues and added to the roux while continuously whisking to avoid lump formation.
Taste bud test : Bechamel is smooth on the tongue due to the presence of velvety cream. It has a milky aroma and a slightly raw aftertaste coming from the flour.
Goes best with : Cannelloni, mushroom, chicken.

Espagnole
Another name for espagnole is brown sauce. The thick, viscous sauce is made with roasted meat bones, tomatoes, celery, bay leaf, pepper corn, carrot, boquet garni (tied bunch of herbs) and water. It is classically used as a base for sauces such as pepper and bordelaise.
Taste bud test : The sauce has a luscious buttery glaze top and an earthy, roasted meat-like flavour with a slight tang introduced by the tomatoes.
Goes best with : Chicken, lamb chops.

Veloute
Veloute is French for velvety. Made with equal portions of butter and flour, the sauce is white with a tinge of brown. Veloute can be made using chicken, fish or mushroom stock depending on your taste and preference. Ensure you whisk continously to avoid lumps.
Taste bud test : Due to the abundance of butter, it has a rich thick texture.
Goes best with : Poached and steam chicken, fish.

Tomate
The base sauce for our favourite Penne Arrabiata is the tomato sauce. Predominantly consisting of juicy Roman tomatoes, Tomate has evolved into provencal, amatriciana and puttanesca sauces. The traditional recipe is a medley of garlic, onions, celery, leek, peppercorn, bay leaf, carrots and tomatoes of course!
Taste bud test : The red sauce is chunky and tangy. If made well, it leaves a slightly piquant aftertaste of bay leaves.
Goes best with : Pizza base, penne, macaroni, baked dishes.

Crabe farci Chez Vous presents a signature French-style baked Crab with coconut
Crabe farci a la creole servis en habit, sauce rougail (pimen crase)French Caribbean style stuffed crab Served with its Rougail crushed chilly sauce

Chef's Tip : Make sure you cook with lemon and coconut milk and add chives only in the end only after the mix is cold or else the chives will wilt. Heat oil in a pan and temper chillies. Add chopped onions and garlic and sautee for a few minutes. Then add carrots, rosemary, thyme and sautee for another few mintues. Add crab meat and cook on medium heat. As it starts slightly sticking to the bottom of the pan, add coconut milk and lemon juice.

Check for seasoning, add breadcrumbs and blend into the mixture. Let it cool and then add chives, parsley and mix again. Stuff the mixture into crab shells. Just before serving, add powdered coconut on top and cook in the oven for a minute and half or until light browning occurs. Serve hot.

Ingredients
300gms crab meat
60gms carrot
10 gms chilly
10 gms garlic peeled
60 gms onion
5 gms thyme (chop rough)
5 gms rosemary (chop rough)
50 gms chives
juice of three limes
30 ml coconut mil
30 gms bread crumbs
15 ml milk
3 crab shells

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How to make high heels more comfortable

Make your high heels more comfortable...

-If the shoes are new, break them in by wearing them around the house.

-Buy a pair of insoles or heel liner, that come with gel padding and cushioning, this will ease up the pain on the balls of your feet.

-Apply antiperspirant to your feet as sweating and moisture might lead to friction and cause blistering.

-Always carry a pack of band-aids along in case of blistering.

-Be sure to relax and dip your feet in warm water afterwards. Always moisturize your feet, as wearing heels constantly can lead to dry and cracked heels.

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Your practical guide to weight loss

Let's face it, none of us find weight loss easy. Common perception is that weight loss is a science for trainers, a blessing for supermodels and a harrowing task for the rest of us.

Today, we get behind the weight loss scene and bring you a practical weight loss guide that will help you decipher its finer points. So, if you want to lose weight, then here are 10 pointers that are easy to understand and will help you lose those extra kilos and keep them off for good.

Understand where energy comes from and how to burn only fat.
When you exercise you're burning proteins, carbs and fats depending on your workout. Burning these components results in energy, but we are interested in burning calories. Regular exercise will help to lose weight, but your body should adjust to a healthy adaptation. This means, your cells should learn to burn unwanted fat without an effort, regular exercise should enhance your body like improves the circulation of blood. It is suggested, to increase metabolism one should lift weights.

Adopt the 80-20 principle in weight loss
If you're a party animal or love to try out new places, you will tend to binge on food. But if you want to lose weight, here's what you should do. If you're out for dinner, your 80 percent aim should be to avoid ordering food that uses processed food or food that is soaked in oil, au contraire, go for grilled dishes; while the 20 percent incentive should be a good glass of wine. As for dessert go for the 70 - 30 ratio.

Avoid spot targeting, a major mistake in weight loss efforts
Repeat after us - spot targeting does not work. This one is a rookie mistake. A lot of first time weight loss warriors believe that if they want to lose weight from a particular body part, then they only need to exercise that body part. So, people with paunches attempt a hundred sit ups, people with flabby arms stick to bicep curls and people with thunder thighs invest in squats.

However, what all of them need to know is that such spot targeting simply does not work. To lose weight in one spot, you have to first exercise the entire body. Ever heard the phrase - the place you put it on first, is the last one you lose it from? Well, it's true. The only way to lose weight in one or all parts of the body is to follow a strict routine of cardio, strength training, balance, flexibility and healthy eating.

Make your own to-do list for weight loss
Before embarking on any big project, it is common practise to outline a carefully planned to-do list. Why not do the same for your weight loss efforts? The five musts on any weight loss to-do list are: Fitness training, bad carbs control, full body resistance training, protein inclusion and being active everyday.

Nip it in the bud - banish more weight gain
Many times, it turns out that people put on more weight while trying to lose weight. Before you question the logic behind this state of affairs, take a look at fad diets. These are what damage metabolic health, impairing it for a long time to come. Therefore, stay away from any diet that tells you to give up on any essential nutrients like carbs, fats and proteins. It is important to know what makes you add the extra pounds, so nip extra weight gain in the 'butt.'

Which brings us to our next point - beware of weight loss scams
Most of us are brainwashed by publicity stunts, even when it comes to diets. We literally judge the book by its cover. We fail to ask questions or prod at the fine lines and end up following the trend blindly. Don't fall for scams like weight loss creams, body firming gels, vibrating bands that knock off pounds while you sleep and diets that tell you to eat a turnip for dinner.

Learn to distinguish which weight loss is good for you
You have to be aware that there are a lot of weight loss programs and you need to know all are not designed to suit you. Fitness comes in many different types of programmes. If you like dancing, for instance, you will never enjoy weight training. Keep the essentials in mind, i.e., resistance, cardio, core, balance, flexibility, and experiment with different types of workouts. The same applies for meal plans. Understand which nutrients you need every day and in what quantity, then attach this knowledge to an eating pattern that suits your body type and caloric requirements.

Socialise and still lose weight
Even though popular belief says that alcohol will add pounds to your figure, we give you hope. If you had a choice between a Pina Colada, Mimosa or Irish Cream, what will you choose? Simple decisions you make will have a big effect on your body in the long run. Stay happy, drink healthy (but don't drive, if you do drink).

Focus on making sure that your metabolism runs like a well-oiled machine
Metabolism is a chemical reaction that speeds up the breakdown of organic matter either for energy or for growth. There are few ways to develop this process and enhance metabolism that you can do on a regular basis like have breakfast, consume protein based food and get chromium in your diet. Exercise is an excellent metabolism booster.

Unhealthy weight loss will make your skin sag. Avoid it.
When you lose weight, the unhealthy way, your skin wants to contract but the end result is sagging skin. But there are ways to avoid sagging skin after weight loss. Firstly, avoid losing weight rapidly; stop weight gain and reverse it right now, as the older you get, the more weight loss will make your skin sag; drink plenty of water and follow a healthy diet. As always, exercise is the best way to ensure that your skin remains supple and tight.

Read more Personal Health, Diet & Fitness stories on www.healthmeup.com

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Dogs imitate owners automatically

A new study claims that dogs instinctively copy their owners' behaviours and movements.

"This suggests that, like humans, dogs are also subject to ''automatic imitation". They cannot inhibit online the tendency to imitate head use and/or paw use", Discovery News quoted lead author Friederike Range and her colleagues from University of Vienna.

For the study, all the dogs received preliminary training to open a sliding door using their head or a paw.

The dogs then watched their owners open the door by hand or by head.

The dogs were next divided into two groups. Dogs in the first group received a food reward whenever they copied what the owner did. Dogs in the second group received a food reward when they did the opposite.

All of the dogs were inclined to copy what the owner did, even if it meant receiving no food reward.

"This finding suggests that the dogs brought with them to the experiment a tendency automatically to imitate hand use and/or paw use by their owner to imitate these actions even when it was costly to do so," the authors report.

The results indicate that the range and intensity of their developmental training by humans plays a powerful and specific role in shaping their imitative behavior.

The study is published in the latest Proceedings of the Royal Society B .

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How overeating leads to diabetes and obesity

Overeating can cause a malfunction in brain insulin signalling, and lead to obesity and diabetes, according to new research from Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Christoph Buettner, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease) and his research team found that overeating impairs the ability of brain insulin to suppress the breakdown of fat in adipose tissue.

In previous research Dr. Buettner's team established that brain insulin is what suppresses lipolysis, a process during which triglycerides in fat tissue are broken down and fatty acids are released.

When lipolysis is unrestrained, fatty acid levels are elevated, which can initiate and worsen obesity and type 2 diabetes.

"We are interested in understanding why people who eat too much eventually develop diabetes. Our recent studies suggest that once you overeat, your brain develops insulin resistance. Since brain insulin controls lipolysis in adipose tissue by reducing sympathetic nervous system outflow to adipose tissue, brain insulin resistance causes increased spillage of fatty acids from adipose tissue into the blood stream," said Dr. Buettner.

Increased fatty acids induce inflammation and that, in turn, can further worsen insulin resistance, which is the core defect in type 2 diabetes. Fatty acids also increase glucose production in the liver which raises blood glucose levels, Dr. Buettner explained.

"It's a vicious cycle and while we knew that this can begin with overeating, this study shows that it is really the brain that is harmed first which then starts the downward spiral," he added.

In the latest study, researchers fed rats a high-fat diet comprised of 10 percent lard for three consecutive days. This increased their daily caloric intake by up to 50 per cent compared to the control rats that were fed a regular low fat diet.

The researchers then infused a tiny amount of insulin into the brains of both groups of rats that they had shown in earlier studies to suppress release of glucose from the liver and fatty acids from fat tissue.

They found that overeating impaired the ability of brain insulin to suppress glucose release from the liver and lipolysis in fat tissue. Similarly, short-term overeating in humans is known to produce comparable insulin resistance, which could be explained by brain insulin resistance.

"When you overeat, your brain becomes unresponsive to these important clues such as insulin, which puts you on the road to diabetes. We believe that what happens in rats also happens in humans" said Dr. Buettner.

Dr. Buettner's team plans to investigate methods of improving brain insulin function that could restrain lipolysis and improve insulin resistance.

The current study has been published online in The Journal of Biological Chemistry.

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Think different! Try sex in storeroom

If your bedroom boredom has taken a toll on your sex life, all you need is a drastic, yet quick change. How about changing the place in which you are having sex?

Forget the boring kitchen or the bathtubs... think bizarre, out-of-the-box! Try out unexplored corners in your house, which you've have never earlier considered as apt places to enjoy a steamy sex session. From your storeroom to the dirty basement that you've never bothered to clean up to the garage that you thought was only meant for car parking - try out off-beat sex destinations and convert them into sensuous love dens.

Sex expert Dr. Deepak Arora agrees, "Whenever you experience a change in your life you feel more excited and the same holds true for sexual intimacy. Couples should keep changing the decoration of their rooms like lighting, placement of objects, wall colours, curtains etc to infuse a fresh feel every time they get intimate, as it boosts their sexual pleasure."

Sex counselor Dr. Shivi Jaggi supports, "Taking of sex variations, a place can influence a couples' pleasure quotient. Any place outside the stereotypical bedroom will help couples keep alive their sexual fire. The reason why they find hotel rooms more appealing than their bedrooms is for because it's a new pleasure playground that takes their mind away from mundane domesticity and adds a zing of excitement. So, if they pay a little attention and experiment with the decor of certain places within their own homes, they can perform wonders in their sex life."

So, the next time you plan an intimate session with your partner, try out these unexplored places within your house and see the heat of passion building like never before...

Garage Passion : Everyone loves a wild backseat romp, but it can get even wilder if you try sex in the garage. The dark ambiance and the rusty feel will surely build up the mood for a night of passion. Fun would be at its peak when you play love games of hide and seek behind the parked cars and let your partner look for you and thus build up your sexual mood. Alternately try a sex romp on top of your car. Dr. Jaggi explains, "In a garage, it's the raw energy of the destination that adds to the pleasure and once you're away from the comfort of your bedroom, this crude place is definitely racy and exciting. If you really wish to have a new-fangled change, you can specially design your garage to make it an apt place for sex."

Word of caution: Make sure you do not make too much noise by pressing the car horn and disturbing your neighbours as they may interrupt your sexual act.

Arty Attic : An attic fills the space between the ceiling of the top floor of a building and the slanted roof, and they are known for being awkwardly shaped spaces with exposed rafters and difficult-to-access corners. So why not make the most of this neglected area in your house? Decorate it in an alluring manner to seduce your partner and during the act, try out new positions in accordance with the structure of the attic. Dr. Arora states, "Due to hectic lifestyles, couples have no time to maintain their attic space. But just devoting a single day to covert it into a lavish area to have sex can turn the heat on. Couples will surely leave their bedroom luxuries behind and have sex on rough surfaces like that of an attic."

Word of caution: Since attics bear a slanted roof, ensure that you don't get up much during the sexual act or else you'll end up hurting yourself and spoiling the fun.

Basement Pleasure: While some convert their basements into an office area, others keep it vacant as a partying hall. But think of decking it up in a way to arouse your trigger zones. Try having a set-up that looks completely breath-taking with a spa setting or a club like scene with a pole dancing space. Such creations enable a prolonged foreplay, thus building the mood right for hot sex. Dr. Jaggi adds, "If resources allow, you can get a boring basement area revamped totally and make it an exciting place to enjoy sex with your partner. Right from assortments of scented candles, aroma oils, and sexual paintings to dim lights etc, liven-up this area with everything that act as perfect aphrodisiacs".

Word of caution: Don't be too loud with your moaning sounds, as the echoes in an empty basement can wake up the other members in your house.

Cosy Corridor : If you thought the corridor was just meant for kids to play during the day and the elderly to relax in the evening, think again! You can make the most of this zone during your moments of pleasure. Think of a converting your otherwise tedious corridor/balcony into a sex inspiring den. Place a cot adorned with satin sheets and scented flowers can act as an add-on. Dr. Arora suggests, "If you're staying on the top floor of a high rise, then the balcony or corridor can be a perfect place to have sex. Remember, you've moved to the balcony because you want to enjoy the fresh air and have sex in an open area, so no curtains are required. Also, ensure there are no surrounding buildings at the same level as your balcony and if there are, then wait for mid-night, so you can enjoy the act in the dark."

Word of caution : Ensure that your kids are carefully locked inside their bedroom on that night and do not get to witness your act in open. Beware of peeping tom neighbours.

Storeroom Surprises : Imagine how a broken table lying wasted in the storeroom can make for a wonderful base to get intimate with your lover. While in the storeroom, you can try being a little more creative by taking out antique items, sexual pictures, Kamasutra paintings etc and creating an atmosphere to arouse your partner. Dr. Jaggi shares, "Having sex in the storeroom is a welcome change. Having limited space, it usually stimulates sex in standing positions. The little spaces meant for ventilation allow some amount of light to enter the room, so it would be an excellent shift, as far as the surrounding is concerned."

Word of caution: Clear the excess dust in the storeroom as it may cause discomfort for either of the partners.

Romantic Roof-top: Having sex in the open on your terrace can be awesome, provided you make optimum use of the space. It can be by arranging a candle-lit dinner for your beau or decorating the entire roof-top with flower strands reviving your first-night charm. Dr. Arora opines, "If the rooftop is too high from which noone can see you from the outside, it can be an experience to remember. To make it more arousing, you can have a roof-top garden, which will not only add to the sexual energy, but also let you enjoy the fragrance of the blossoms. The moonlight adds to the ambience."

Word of caution: Your roof-top should be as private as your bedroom, so ensure there are not too many roof-tops adjacent to your terrace that may hinder your moments of passion.

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