Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Daytime napping may lead to early death



For all those who doze off during the day to catch some 'missed' night sleep, beware! You maybe harming yourself. According to an alarming research, middle-age and older adults who take daytime naps at office or home may be at increased risk of dying.

In particular, naps were linked with an increased risk of dying from respiratory diseases. Those between ages 40 and 65 were nearly twice as likely to die during the study period if they napped for an hour or more, compared to those who did not nap, the researchers from University of Cambridge said.

“Excessive daytime napping might be a useful marker of underlying health risks, particularly respiratory problems, especially among those 65 years of age or younger.

It may not actually be napping that is unhealthy, but rather, that those who tend to nap also have undiagnosed medical conditions that affect their risk of dying. The study involved more than 16,000 people in Britain who answered questions about their napping habits between 1998 and 2000, and were followed for 13 years.

People aged 40 to 79 who napped daily, for less than an hour, were 14 percent more likely to die over a 13-year period, compared to those who did not nap. People whose daily naps lasted an hour or more were 32 percent more likely to die over the study period, the research, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, added.

The researchers took into account many factors that could affect people's risk of death, such as their age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking, exercise, and whether they had certain pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer or asthma.

"Further studies are needed before any recommendations can be made," the researchers concluded.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Coming soon: Powdered Alcohol to give you a high



Frustrated with carrying wine or vodka bottles? Just sprinkle this powder over food, or mix it with plain water or juice and get a high! How kool is that.

The US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has approved the sale of powdered alcohol in tiny pouches. Named Palcohol, it could be available as early as this fall.

“Palcohol is a great convenience for the person on the go. One package weighs about an ounce and is small enough to fit into any pocket,” said its Phoenix-based developer Mark Phillips on his website. The firm proposes two formulas - V (made from vodka) and R (a rum-based powder).

Consumers would also be able to buy powdered versions of popular cocktails such as the mojito, the lemon drop and “powderita”, a powdered margarita.

According to the website, “Palcohol can be transported in your luggage without the fear of bottles breaking. In any situation where weight and breakage is an issue, Palcohol provides the answer.” But a section of the society has criticised the move as the product seems highly likely to raise a large number of legal issues and controversies.

I just wonder if they can make something like this for the beer drinkers. I know its a wild thought and next to impossible. No one likes their beers flat. But the thought of having a drink of beer anytime anywhere is enough for me to droll on!

Watch this space for more.

This Summer Fruits and Veggies to the rescue to keep you active



Summers are synonyms with laziness. The Soaring temperatures make people lazy, so it's time to make some dietary changes to stay fit during summer. Experts suggest that adding selective fruits and vegetables to everyday diet can show up great results.

Let me list some of those vital summer foods that will work wonders for your body. It took me sometime to research these, but I manage to put up an impressive list here:

* Strawberries: Strawberries are packed full of health benefits. Compared to other fruits such as apples and bananas, strawberries have more nutrients, and are known to burn stores fat (the anthocyanins stimulate the burning of stored fat), and are good for weight loss.

Spring onions: Spring onions contain allicin, which may keep you from overeating by stimulating satiety in the brain. Spring onion has a milder, sweeter taste than the dried white bulbs you buy later in the season. Enjoy it diced on a salad for a fat-fighting side or lunch.

* Asparagus: One of the first foods that signals the start of spring is the appearance of fresh asparagus at local farmers’ markets. Asparagus is a good source of fibre and protein, both essential for good digestion and immunity. It also contains a unique carb called inulin, which remains undigested until it raches the large intestine, where it helps to absorb nutrients better.

* Fennel: Most often associated with Italian cooking, be sure to add fennel to your selection of fresh vegetables in early spring when it is readily available and at its best. Just an ounce of the bulb in your salads adds a gram of fibre for only nine calories. Fennel bulb is also a very good source of vitamin C, folate and potassium.

Lettuce: Lettuce has been called ‘the perfect weight loss food’ because it contains fibre and cellulose. Besides filling up, fibre improves your digestion. Improving your digestion is important for long-term weight control. Fibre also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so.

Broccoli: Love it or hate it, broccoli is great for you! It is known as a smart carb and is high in fibre, which aids digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar, and curbs overeating. Furthermore, a cup broccoli has as much protein as a cup of rice or corn with half the calories.

No proof yet that mobile radiation leads to CANCER


All the researched evidence shows that there is no link between cell phone radiation and cancer, said oncologist and renowned author Siddhartha Mukherjee.

"I would have suggested to WHO to downgrade cell phones in the list of carcinogens (cancer causing substances) but there is a process to that," Mukherjee said in a media interaction at the India International Centre (IIC) here Monday.

"There are large studies which are pending, but we have to be scientifically accurate. There is no direct evidence but that does not mean that we stop investigating," he added. The status of radiation from mobiles should be "pending further investigation", he said.

Mukherjee is the author of famous book on cancer "The Emperor of all Maladies: A Biography of Cancer", which won the Pulitzer prize in 2010. The author further said that the landscape of cancer treatment has transformed over the years, and that there would be a transformation in all cancers and their treatments.

Mukherjee, here to receive the prestigious Padma Shri award from the Indian government, said that the extent to which carcinogens can trigger cancer depends on the amount or dose to which a person has been exposed to.

"We need to educate people on the appropriate doses of carcinogens to which they can expose themselves to within the safety net," he said. Awareness, said the expert, who specializes in blood cancer or leukaemia, is the key to prevention and control of the disease.

"Cancer is like a detective story. You cannot solve it using only one evidence," he added. At a separate lecture on "Emerging Carcinogens in an Emerging World" also at the IIC, Mukherjee said: "The world has to understand exposure to carcinogens with respect to changes and age profile of the population."

Tracing the history of cancer in medical literature, he said that it is the environment which mutates genes to cause cancer. "The levels of diversity which cancer cells exhibit is unique in nature," he added.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Fingernails glowing when you make a call



You will soon have fingernails that would glow as you call someone. Unlike "E.T." in the 1982 Steven Spielberg film, modern-day Japanese fashionistas need only pick up their Android-powered smartphone to set their finger glowing.

A Japanese firm has unveiled fingernails that light up when you make a call. Building on the immense popularity of manicure art - where small gem-like stones are stuck on the nail - a Japanese toy firm Takara Tomy ARTS has developed a micro-thin LED sticker.

The "LumiDecoNail" uses a technology called Near Field Communication.
In this, small amounts of power are transferred very short distances to communicate with a smart phone.

It also flashes whenever the wearer uses an electronic money card.
The product would go on sale in Japan next week, with a set of 16 nail stickers, one of which contains the LED.

“I am now wearing it on the middle finger of my right hand. It blinks whenever I pass through train gates, which lifts my heart a bit,” a company press release said.
The company would consider marketing the cosmetic product overseas after seeing how consumers in Japan react.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

How to sleep sweat-free during summer nights


Now this is one topic, I was so relieved to read about. getting that sweet sound and specially sweat-free sleep during summer is a head-ache for most. Getting a good night's sleep can get tough in summer due to overheating and sweat. So try using curtains smartly or wash your feet before slipping into bed for a sound nap.


Sleep expert Nerina Ramlakhan says "there needs to be a fractional temperature difference between our body and our brain - a warm body and a cool head."
"When the outdoor temperature rises this becomes more difficult but there are plenty of things you can do to beat the heat," Ramlakhan as says.

Here are some tips:
* Keep a plant mister containing water by your bed to spray on your face during the night.
* Stop your bedroom overheating during the day by keeping curtains and blinds closed.
* Wash your feet with cold water before getting into bed, and/or run your wrists under cold water.
* Place a wet flannel in the fridge for an hour or so before getting into bed and lay it on your forehead to help you drift off to sleep.
* Sleep in cool wet socks or even a damp T-shirt.
* Use light bed sheets.
* Finally, and most importantly stay well hydrated during the day and don't fret too much if you can't sleep. Use the time to rest and think positive thoughts, then you will be extra productive the day after

All you beautiful people have a good nights sleep here onwards. Cheers to all!

Saturday, April 12, 2014

The shocking cost of Food Waste

30 percent of the global food supply is wasted – the retail equivalent of $1 trillion of food each year.
In addition to the retail cost of food lost, another $700 billion is wasted in natural resources, including $172 billion in wasted water, $42 billion in cleared forest and $429 billion in greenhouse gas costs.
But what is most shocking to me are the social costs that are also linked to the food wasted in storage, in transit and rotting on store and home shelves.  Wasted food also means $150 billion in human health costs because of pesticides (implying that the 70% of food not wasted also costs us $350 billion a year in health costs because of chemical use in the fields).  $280 billion in loss of livelihoods (as natural resources become more scarce) is also tossed out the window when we throw away food.
Lets also not forget the costs we have not yet calculated.  Loss of wetlands used to purify local water supplies or even the cost of scarce agricultural inputs such as phosphorus are costs we currently do not understand.
And another point to make is not only not to purchase only what you can consume.  It is also critical we find better means of storing food – especially in places with little electricity – and of transporting it without massive loss.  Food waste is the low hanging fruit, ready to be used to feed the world’s hungry and to ensure food security for all.
I came across this video from Food and Agriculture Origanization that asks us to wake up and take notice of this global increasing problem of Food wastage. All of us would not want mankind to face a day of food shortage and starvation all around the world. And these problems are already faced in many differrent parts of the world.

PLEASE DON'T WASTE FOOD...

Student creates Iron Man costume entirely from cardboard.



I came across this news on the net and it entirely blew me away. I just couldnt stop from sharing this with all of you.....as its about Iron Man :P


Kai-Xiang Xhong takes ordinary cardboard boxes and turns them into extraordinary pieces of art. The 20-year-old's latest work is a full sculpture of Tony Stark's Iron Man suit, and you would be hard-pressed to find words that can do it justice.

Xhong is a student in Taiwan and began turning sketches into sculptures when he was in high school.
"I have since produced lots of artwork with cardboard," Xhong told the Stan Winston School of Character Arts. "For example, Optimus Prime from TRANSFORMERS, skeletons of the T-Rex and a Pterodactyl, an IRON MAN suit, and so on. And the last three of them were all made full-size."
The detail in the costume is incredible. Xhong painstakingly carved out nearly every notch and indent in the "armor," along with creating the hinges and joints throughout the life-size suit.
"For my cardboard IRON MAN SUIT, I used pepakura technique," he explained, referencing a method that uses buildable and foldable 3D models. "But I did not add any special color on the surface. Keeping the cardboard color and texture was deliberate. That's my style."

It took the Taiwanese student almost a year to complete the project, as he worked on it only in his free time. Xhong's art is now receiving international recognition.
"Creating is the most important part of my life," he said. "I hope I can keep going in the future."
His newfound fanbase hopes for the same thing, and cannot wait to see what "out of the box" idea he comes up with next.
What do you guys think, how kool is this guy?

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

6 Benefits of eating Tomatoes:

No matter how much i hate this red vegetable, after reading the below benefits it makes me wonder and reconsider my judgement. Wait! let me stand corrected, not red vegetable, its a red fruit. Even though most people think the tomato is a vegetable, it is scientifically a fruit. A popular ingredient in food preparations across the world, this wonder food is loaded with nutrients that make it extremely healthy. Here are some of its top health benefits.





1.    Reduces risk of heart disease
Cholesterol is one of the major culprits behind the rising incidences of heart disease among today’s population. Tomatoes contain many vitamins and antioxidants that prevent cholesterol build-up, but they especially contain lycopene which has been associated with improved heart health. 
2.    Prevents cancer
Tomatoes have a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits that makes it great for preventing cancer. Free radicals, or oxygen containing molecules with one or more unpaired electrons often react with other molecules and lead to tumours. Therefore, it is important that you eat foods like tomatoes which are rich in antioxidants in order to prevent the damage.
3.    Good for weight loss
Tomatoes are extremely low in calories with a 100g serving containing just 18 calories. Also, it has fibre which helps you feel fuller thus ensuring that you do not overeat.
4.    Helps cure constipation
Constipation is caused due to food stuck in your colon and can be an extremely unpleasant condition to deal with. Tomatoes contain a lot of water and fibre that helps clear the food stuck in your colon thus curing constipation. 
5.    Keeps you looking younger
As we age, our skin undergoes free radical damage that can lead to the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Even though this process is inevitable, tomatoes contain antioxidants that delays it.
6.    Good for your vision
Even though tomatoes are not as rich a source of Vitamin A as carrots, they are still a good source of the nutrient. Vitamin A helps in preventing vision disorders like age-related macular degeneration which people suffer from in old age. 
All of these reasons make tomato a great food that you should definitely stock up on the next time you go to a supermarket.

WrestleMania 30: What you missed and what were the High's and Low's


The Road to WrestleMania's final destination has led us all to the biggest wrestling extravaganza of 2014 - WWE WrestleMania XXX! The 30th anniversary celebration of WWE's past, present and future will feature a wide array of great matches and unforgettable moments.


The results of WWE's WrestleMania 30 are in, so it's time for us to look back on the evening and break down the highlights and low points that made the event what it was.


The Biggest Highlight of the night was undoubtedly - Hulk Hogan, Austin and The Rock in one ringHowever, this was truly an epic moment to showcase the legacy of WrestleMania.


Both older fans who have followed WWE for the past 30 years and newer ones who appreciate the history giggled and cheered at this sight.

Whether it was Hulk Hogan's flub, where he mixed up the Silverdome and Superdome, the bevy of catchphrases that the crowd could get behind or the atmosphere itself, this was an amazing way to start off the night.

Low point can be a disappointing match of John Cena vs Bray WyattThe slow pace of the match was tough to swallow since everything before it was packed with action.


Even worse, the fans appeared to be supportive of Bray Wyatt instead of John Cena, but the way it was booked was clearly designed to create the opposite feeling.

If the whole point of the match was for the audience to feel Cena's struggle, but the crowd couldn't have cared less, then the contest fell flat. 

Another low point was Divas Championship invitationAny fan with their head on straight knew that this match would turn out to be a giant mess, and it surely didn't shock anyone when that actually happened.



Having all of these women in the ring at the same time was a recipe for disaster, considering how only a few of them can be trusted to wrestle a decent match.


While the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal had rules that allow for some leeway with a large quantity of performers, this was a one-fall disaster.

And we come to the lowest point and one of the biggest shock of the night: The Undertaker vs Brock LesnarThis was yet another match that was far too slow for its own good. Having to follow John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt meant that momentum was already not on their side.


Lesnar's entrance felt long, and The Undertaker's naturally was, but there was nothing special this year that we haven't seen before to liven that up.


Then, instead of starting off with a bang, this match almost literally limped on. Lesnar attacked Undertaker's legs, which went on longer than anyone would have wanted it to go. This match was already facing an uphill battle with a poor build, and the in-ring action didn't save it.


But the biggest reason why this was a low point was the outcome.
After a disappointing setup and match, ending The Streak was a perfect way to finish a giant low point.

Highlight finally towards the end: Daniel Bryan Wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship - The one big thing that WrestleMania 30 was about this year, above all else, was the story of Daniel Bryan's triumph over The Authority. Accomplishing this was an epic tale from start to finish, going all the way back to SummerSlam 2013.

With such a long build and so many different ups and downs along the road, anything short of Bryan winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship would have been a travesty.

This is going to be one of those moments in WWE history that is referred to for years to come and used in constant video packages.


You all can watch the highlights of the WrestleMania 30 2014 below:


Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Top 10 movies to watch out for in 2014



01. The Hobbit: There and Back Again
We all did enjoy the widely acclaimed novels of the Hobbit series. These books have been brought up to form the featured movies.

The Company of Thorin has reached Smaug's lair; but, can Bilbo and the Dwarves reclaim Erebor and the treasure? And, if so, can they hold on to it? With the success of the last two movies, the third and final installment of Peter Jackson's Hobbit would definitely be one of the most eagerly awaited films in 2014.




02. X-Men: Days Of Future Past
Great though 2011's X-Men: First Class was, it's exciting to have Bryan Singer back in the chair for Days Of Future Past, an adaptation of the 1981 comic book run which aims to tie the two timelines in the X-Men cinematic universe. To this end, we'll have both James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart playing Professor X in two separate epochs, and Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen playing Magneto.


Having a fight for mutant survival play out across two points in time could prove too much for some directors, but Singer's The Usual Suspects is evidence that he can handle complex storylines with ease. Among the expected cast, including Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and a returning Anna Paquin as Rogue, there's also Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde, and the great Peter Dinklage as scientist Bolivar Trask.




03. Transformers: Age of Extinction
In the fourth installment of Michael Bay's magnum opus, depicts a completely new storyline and new cast with Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and Stanley Tucci. We have already seen glimpses of wat to expect in the teaser that was release. Expecting a lot of action and thrills from this one.




04. Transcendence
All Johnny depp lovers would be eagerly waiting for this. A terminally ill scientist downloads his mind into a computer. this grants him power beyond his wildest dreams, and soon he becomes unstoppable. The plot looks simply marvellous. The movie is set to release on 4th April 2014.




05. The Amazing Spider-Man 2
By such a high bench mark set by the predecessor, this movie has a really high expectation. The sequel of the amazing spider-man is expected to bring forth new villains in the movie the likes of Electro, the Rhino. This movie is scheduled to be released on May2, 2014. The spiderman movie has always been entertaining, but what lacked was its connection to the comic books. So this new franchise was created to correct the work of the previous directors. The first was success and the upcoming part will also be truly enjoyed.




06. Godzilla
With 2010's Monsters, director Gareth Edwards proved that he could make an engaging sci-fi drama on a miniscule budget. And with Godzilla as his second picture, we'll get to see what he can do with a larger effects department and an entire team of technicians behind him.

The 1998 Godzilla adaptation may have played fast and loose with Japan's most famous kaiju, but there are signs everywhere that Edwards plans to make his film in the mode of Ishiro Honda's dark, sombre 1954 original. This is certainly backed up by the cast, which is full of actors capable of bringing the requisite gravitas: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Ken Watanabe and David Strathairn are just a few of the most prominent names.


A recently leaked Comic Con trailer fuelled our excitement further, with its ominous soundtrack and images of a devastated city establishing the mighty Godzilla as a truly intimidating force of nature.




07. Guardians of the galaxy
In truth, Guardians Of The Galaxy may not turn out to be the best Marvel movie of 2014. But on paper, it's comfortably the biggest gamble. Not for the first time, Marvel is taking a property that the mass audience isn't particularly familiar with, and giving it to a director who isn't the most obvious choice.

So, we get a space-based adventure, from the man who directed Slither and Super (films we like, we should point out), that includes a talking tree, Bradley Cooper voicing a raccoon, Karen Gillan with no hair, and a cast of characters that don't easily lend themselves to the shelves of Toys R Us.


Bluntly, we can't wait. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Benicio del Toro and Michael Rooker are amongst the rest of the cast, and it seems clear that if you were looking for a comic book movie that's happy to resist the usual template, Guardians Of The Galaxy is looking like your best bet. How will it gel together with the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe? We're already getting clues and teases for that through mid-credits sequences. But we look forward to finding out more on August 1st.




08. How to Train Your Dragon 2
There are some terrific-looking animated movies that we simply didn't have space to squeeze into this countdown - Mr Peabody & Sherman and Big Hero Six chief amongst them. But our animated movie of choice for 2014 is the eagerly awaiting How To Train Your Dragon 2.

I loved the first film from DreamWorks Animation, and arguably one of its very best films. And whilst co-director Chris Sanders went off to make The Croods (and is now working on The Croods 2), the other co-director - Dean DeBlois - has been calling the shots on this sequel. In fact, he's also knee deep too in How To Train Your Dragon 3, which is scheduled to land in 2016.

For the purposes of chapter two, five years have moved on, so when we meet Hiccup and his friends again, they're late teenagers. But Hiccup is no ordinary teenager - he's not spending hours locked in his room looking at 'educational' YouTube videos - as he finds himself in the midst of a new conflict between humans and dragons. Oops.
We've already seen the trailer for How To Train Your Dragon 2, and it went down a treat. Here's hoping the final cut of the film does when we finally get to see it June 2014.


09. Hercules
The Rock has come back..Dwayne Johnson in and as Hercules, it doesn't get better than this. This action-packed mythical drama is sure to catch a lot of eye balls.

Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord. Interesting!






10. 22 Jump Street

Who would have thought that a seemingly by-the-numbers remake of an 80s TV show would turn out to be one of the funniest films of 2012? Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) clearly had a great time making this high school comedy thriller, and Channing Tatum showed off his knack for comic timing alongside Jonah Hill in an improv-heavy, good-natured hit. Can the same team of actors and filmmakers pull off the same trick twice in this year's sequel? We certainly hope so.