Acne free skin through Ayurveda

Acne is a very common skin problem which affects young people at their puberty and few adults till they reach 45. Acne are referred as Youvana pitikas (which means the eruptions of youth) in ayurveda. This shows the prevalence of acne from ages. Ayurveda has described the causes of acne and recommends the best natural herbal acne remedies too.

What causes acne?

A large number of oil producing glands called “sebaceous glands” are present under the skin on face, back, chest and shoulders. During puberty or menopause due to the influence of the sex hormones, which are produced in male and female, these glands become more active and produce an oily secretion called “sebum”. The sebum makes the skin more oily .The excessive sebum clogs the skin pore or the pit of the hair follicle forming acne.

The blocked pore or acne acts as an excellent habitat for bacteria. The bacterial infection causes inflammation (red, painful swelling of the infected area) of the clogged pore or hair follicle leading to eruption of pimples.
Vata and Kapha are two main doshas, which are involved in eruption of acne and pimples. Rakta dhatu or blood also plays an important role in formation of acne.

Vata when gets vitiated due to unhealthy diet and lifestyles affects other two doshas (kapha and pitta) to aggravate them. Aggravated pitta affects rakta dhatu or blood. The vitiated blood affects the skin and causes excess secretion of oil from sebaceous glands. Kapha has sticky property. The aggravated kapha imparts the stickiness to the oil produced by sebaceous glands of skin. Thus the thick sebaceous plugs are formed in skin pores and hair follicles leading to eruption of acne.

Acne worsens when

1. grease, dirt or other harsh chemicals accumulate on skin.

2. you have Increased stress levels.

3. you indulge in Squeezing or pinching of acne.

4. when there are hormonal imbalances during menstrual cycle, menopause and puberty.

5. you are under medications like steroids or hormonal therapy.

Precautions to be taken to avoid exaggeration of acne eruptions:

• Avoid foods which are spicy, dry and oily. These may cause indigestion and lead to vitiation of vata.

• Keep a habit of emptying bowels regularly this always normalizes vata.

• Avoid fast foods and soft drinks.

• Wash your face twice daily with mild cleanser.

• Put a hair band to avoid falling of hair on face. The sweat and dirt accumulated on hair may fall on facial skin through hair strands

• Avoid application of scrubs.

• Wash your hair regularly with mild shampoo to keep it clean and avoid dandruff.

• Squeezing and pricking of pimples cause scaring. Hence avoid this

• Avoid exposure of skin to severe climatic conditions.

• Avoid oil based moisturizers. Water based moisturizers are always beneficial.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Practice a regular exercise regimen

Natural Herbal acne Home remedies :

• Wash your face with lukewarm water and mild soap twice a day.

• Wash fresh methi leaves (fenu greek leaves) and grind it to make a paste. Apply it on face and wash it off with lukewarm water after 10 minutes.

• Grind juicy tender neem leaves with turmeric to a consistency of paste. Apply this paste on acne and pimples. Wash this off after it dries.

• Apply a face pack of ripe tomato pulp and wash it off as soon as it dries naturally (preferably after 45 minutes) .

• Do not keep the make up while sleeping. Cleanse it with a mild herbal cleanser.

• Mix besan flour (gram flour) with rose water and apply a face pack.

• Consuming fresh vegetable salads and fresh fruits keeps the skin healthy and resistant to blemishes.

• Drink plenty of water (15 glasses a day)

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Ayurveda help through ayurveda consultations and remedy for diseases Read more about acne remedy on Acne pimple natural remedy  

Kids and TV

It is vital that your child gets leisure time every day. Just relaxing, reading or even TV can be a good break, provided, it is controlled. Psychologists suggest, not more that one and half hours of TV viewing is good for kids. Today TV, the idiot box, as it is called, has encroached the children's world. More number of TV channels are unfriendly for them. Children watch TV for more than fours a day. It retards the mental development of minors, say psychologists. Satellite channels have made children prisoners in their homes. They start viewing TV in the evening after coming form school hours and continue till late night. They do not play games outside. They play video games sitting in one place. An average minor in India spends more than 25hours a week watching TV. They do not stick to better ways of using their eyes. They do not blink often. Ultimately they face problems with their eyesight. TV crazy children have poor memory as compared to those who watch TV for a short period of time. Because of TV watching for long hours, children do not concentrate on their studies. They lose interest in out door activities. The child grows unimaginative and dull. Also TV watching weakens a child's ability to concentrate. They get tired. Their minds do not work efficiently. Violence is so much in our movies, They try to imitate the thing they watch on TV. 

TV programs are for entertainment. Parents should see that they do not take them for real. Sometimes children try imitating mannerisms of screen personalities. They sing movie songs instead of poems from the books. All these snub their activities of physical and mental development.

Parents should control the children. They should tell the children how TV viewing affects their studies and also harmful to eyes. An all round balanced development of children's personality is essential. Let your children read books. Books are far more superior to TV. Especially fantasy stories are pictured lucidly in the child's mind. Fairy tales run into child's imagination. The child gets a fair degree of cerebral exercise. The children become creative minded. Apart from reading books, games are equally vital for children.

Playgrounds are like laboratories that enable children to relate themselves to the outside world. At times, while they play, children quarrel. But again they become friends. They understand each other.

Tips to the parents:
1. Reduce the TV viewing hours.
2. Put off the TV while children are studying their school subjects
3. Lock the channels that you don't want your children to watch.

What parents don't realize is that TV plays a big role in a child's life, too much negativity and violence on TV has the most daunting effects on them. The advertisements shown on TV tempts them. According to a study children who watch violent TV shows run the risk of learning to behave violently. The TV can be a way of showing children new things but only to certain extent. It is unfortunate that parents spend more time with their children watching TV.

This article is copy righted. The author Mrs.Deepa Manoj is web master of Kids world-for kids and teens. Read complete article at Kids and TV

Answer Kids questions

Curiosity is the human instinct. It is same with children as with the elderls. Usually children ask parents innumerable questions. Parents have to answer them patiently. Curiosities of children must be attended to on priority. They ask one or the other question.
Daddy why do you go to office?
Why sun shines in the morning only. Why not in the night?
why there is a big house (mosque, temple, etc.) just for only one God?

The questions are not like text book questions. They may be anything. Today's children are faster and wiser than ever before. They desire learning. If parents or guardians do not answer their questions properly, in desperation they may go to the extent of becoming their own guardians. They too have brains. If we do not satisfy them, they will be brought up with false notions and thereby their inherent talents cannot be improved. Today's children are more practical than us. We, the elders are always busy with our work schedules and we do not play with our children. Especially when both father and mother are employed, this sets for miseries. Many parents ignore questions put by their kids. They treat them as innocent questions. Even parents ask their children when they put up questions: don't you have any other work to do? Actually, many parents are not capable of answering questions. Hypocrisy mars child - parents relationship.

Parents should be diligent while answering questions. Half baked answers serve no good. Later, when the child discovers the truth behind them, he thinks poor of his parents. Sometimes, parents may not know the answer. In such a case they feel embarrassed in admitting ignorance. Do not pretend that you know all. Better, tell them that you do not know the answer or it is made known. Admit your ignorance.  There are parents who just say- "my child, grow up a little. Then you will come to know all these. Why do you hurry to know each and everything?" Try to find out the answer and satisfy the child. Never ask them to stop asking questions. Now a days we have good medium of communication like, mobile, internet, etc. You may contact the person who knows the answer and tell your child. Take some time, nothing wrong in it. But do not curb the curiosity of the child.

If we parents do not make our children to know things better, they may remain children even when they grow up. We may see the lack of maturity. Such children remain shy, do not mingle with others properly. They may even stammer in speech. All these certainly impedes unfolding of child's personality. There will be no exposure. As parents, find some time to sit with the children. Play with them, listen to them carefully. If you are very busy, at least tell them that you would be available after sometime and attend to him. Just beating or teasing won't help. In fact, it irritates the child. The child becomes averse. Working couple should invariably spend their entire holiday with children. They have to take them to a park or an exhibition, or a picnic spot. This keeps the children in peace and happiness.

This article is copy righted. The author Mrs.Deepa Manoj is web master of Kids world-for kids and teens. Read complete article at Answer Kids questions

Leadership Skills

Many kids show good leadership traits from an early age. Its the parents duty to develop these traits into proper directions and help the kids turn into better leaders of tomorrow The term leadership skills refers to a series of skills that allow a person to succeed in the top positions of a career. When it comes to learning leadership skills, kids are in a winning position, as they can be taught without pressure and guided through the process at their own pace. To make sure our kids develop the right kind of leadership skills, please go through the below tips.

Developing communication skills: Developing good communication skill is the most important factor in the making of a good leader, and this can be encouraged from an early age by working on reading and speaking. You can read aloud for the kids who still cant read themselves. Keep on conversing with the kids, by asking them questions, and making them answer those questions, as this means that they are listening and learning to interact.

Encourage independence: Try to make the child independent to some extent. When the child wants to something on his or her own, don't stop. If your children say that they can do something for themselves, let them do it. The attempt is more important than the result. This goes for almost anything, from setting up the table to cleaning up the bedroom. Even if the results are less than satisfying, praise your children and resist the urge to fix things yourself.

Problem Solving Skills:
Developing good problem solving skills is one of the important aspect for our potential leaders. One easy way to do it is to role-play with the child. In this role-play, present the child with a difficult situation he might encounter when playing with another child or sibling. Challenge the child to come up with solutions that will resolve the conflict. Encourage and help him come up with as many solutions as possible. Then, discuss the pros and cons of each solution. This will help structure how a child thinks about solving problems he encounters.

Encourage organization: Leaders need to know how to manage their time and guide others towards a common goal. You can encourage this by giving your children the power to make decisions. For example, older kids can take part in the planning and organization of a trip, deciding how to change or decorate a room or choosing their own after-school activities. You can also use these opportunities to help yours kid develop problem-solving skills, as they may have to make choices to meet budget, time or environmental constraints.


Instill confidence in your kids: When something new is accomplished, praise it, whether it is a new development at school, learning how to tie their own shoes or reading faster or with less mistakes. Small steps mean a lot at that age and kids will revel in accomplishments that may not seem all that important to you. Developing self-esteem is essential to achieving leadership skills.

How to choose toys for children

Whenever we think of buying a new toy for our young one, we fall into a dilemma, thinking what is best for him or her. Budget is another aspect we consider. These days there are thousands of verities of toys in the market and are equally expensive. We can consider a few things before shopping for toys.
Price: Toys always need not be expensive. Kids like toys that excite them and keep them busy. The most expensive toys sometimes can be boring for the kids. If a child is given a simple handmade paper ball, he or she will be more than happy to play with it. Also, toys have a short life for a child. If the toys are expensive, then the money will be wasted.
Safety: Safety is the first and the most important factor one need to consider while buying toys. The toy should be safe enough for the child to play freely. For example: Avoid stuffed toys that have buttons or marbles in place of eyes and nose. There is a risk of kids removing or pulling them off and putting them into the mouth. Make sure the stuffed toys are washable and the fabric used is of good quality.
When buying battery operated toys, see that the battery case is tightly closed or secured with a screw so that the child does not get in contact with the batteries.
Make sure the paint on the painted toys, the crayons and the play dough are non-toxic.
Avoid toys with sharp ends, rough edges and loose strings or threads. When buying toy guns, bow and arrow or darts, make sure the tips are not pointed.
Electric toys that come along with electrical plug-in devices should not be handled by the kids alone. Parent’s or elder’s supervision is a must for such toys.
Metallic toys or games which are mainly kept outdoors, should be properly painted with rust free paints.
As the baby’s ears are delicate and still developing, be careful while choosing musical and noisy toys. Sometimes rattles and squeaky toys make loud sounds that can damage the baby’s ear drum. Try to keep the baby away from the electronic toys that have loud music or sounds.
Avoid marbles, coins, balls, and games with balls that are too small in size as there is a risk of the kids putting them in the mouth. These things can prove to be chocking and hazardous.
Right toys for right age: All the standard toys have the age group mentioned for that particular toy. These age groups are decided keeping in mind the aspects like safety, physical development and mental development of the child. Hence it will be wise enough the buy age appropriate toys for the kids. For example: A toddler cannot find interest in fixing a puzzle or a doll house or a play gun. Similarly a pre-schooler will find it boring to play with squeaky toys and rattles or even brain games and video games for that matter.
Along with the safety measures, it is equally important to keep the toys clean and hygienic. Most of the toys are washable. Hence keep washing the toys with a mild detergent, rinse well and dry well before handling them back to the kids to play with it. Soft toys can be washed in the washing machine.
Along with all these things to keep in mind, it is always important for the parents, elders or teachers to keep a watchful eye on the kids when they are on the move.
And for all the kids around…….Happy childhood and happy playing.

Stay Cool During Summer

Summer is in a full swing. Which means its time for us to change our kids' diet plan to beat the summer heat and stay cool. Its extremely vital for us to keep a watch on kids health during summer. Along with summer the vacations are also on. Hence children tend to get out in hot sun to play or for their extra curricular activities like dance classes, summer camps, sports, coaching, picnics, trips, etc. Below tips can be of some help to protect the children from the side effects of summer.

1. Keeping the kids hydrated is the most important step to be taken. Make sure the child carries a bottle of plain water every where he or she goes.
2. While playing in the sun, serve them with  good amount of fluids like fresh fruit juice, nimbu pani, butter milk, tender coconut water, etc at regular intervals.
3. Cover their skin with good amount of sunscreen lotion before stepping out in the sun. This will protect the skin from extreme exposure to direct sun and avoids sun burns.
4. Serve them good amount of fresh fruits and vegetables as between the meal snacks. This will help in keeping their body hydrated and cool. Fruits like apples, watermelon, melon, grapes, etc and veggies like cucumber, radish, etc can be served as they contain lot of fluids in them.
5. Avoid heavy, oily, spicy, junk food and aerated drinks as they are not easily digested and can make the kids irritable.
6. See to it that you child wears light coloured, light weighed,loose fitting, cotton clothes during this season. This will help to keep their bodies cool and comfortable.
7. Give them a nice warm water bath soon after they come back from their outdoor activities. A few drops of dettol can be added to the water as this will wash away the germs and sweat and gives a fresh feeling.

Hope these tips will be useful. And for all the kids there, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!

-Deepa Burli

Heart Touching Story - The Father & son

Sharing a beautiful touching story :
An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son.
Suddenly a crow perched on their window.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"

The Son replied "It is a crow".

After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"

The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time, What is this?"

At this time some ex-pression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow"
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT
IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"

A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the
following words were written in the diary :-

"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and
I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

Lesson to learn from This Story:
If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.
From today say this aloud,
"I want to see my parents Happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.

They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today".

Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no matter how they behave.
Some of the Inspiring Quotes which tell not to give up in life so you can learn something from these Quotes
1) Never expect things to happen..
struggle and make them happen.
never expect yourself to be given a good valuecreate a value of your own
2) If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity.But if it falls on a leaf of lotus it shine like a pearl. So choose the best place where you would shine..
3) Falling down is not defeat...defeat is when your refuse to get up...
4) Ship is always safe at shore... but it is not built for it
5) When you are successful your well wishers know who you are and when you are unsuccessful you know who your well wishers are
6) "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world
7) "Even the word 'IMPOSSIBLE' says 'I M POSSIBLE' "
8) Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.
God Bless You All,
Thanks,
Deepa

Mother

AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!


I am a Mother

The officer at the Driving License counter asked the lady "What is your occupation?" The woman seeking renewal of her license seemed to be puzzled. So the officer said "Ma'am, are you employed, have your own business or........
The woman replied "Oh, yes!! I have a full time occupation. I am a mother"
Officer: "We don't have 'mother' as an option for occupation. I will write it down as 'Housewife'. That takes care of all questions."

This had happened long ago, and was forgotten. Years later when I went to get my license, the Public Relations Officer was a somewhat pompous.woman.
"Your occupation?" she asked in a rather authoritative tone. I just had an inspiration and replied "I am a researcher in the field of Child Development, Nutrition and Inter-personal Relationships" The lady officer stared at me in amazement. I calmly repeated my statement and she wrote it down verbatim. Then, unable to conceal her curiosity, she politely asked "What exactly do you do in your profession, Ma'am?"

 I was feeling good about having described my occupation so calmly and confidently. So I replied "My research projects have been going on for a number of years (Mothers never retire!!). My research is conducted in the laboratory as well as in the field. I have two bosses. (One is God and the other is my entire family). I have received two honours in this field.(A son and a daughter) My topic is considered to be the most difficult part of sociology.(All moms will agree!!). I have to work more than 14 hours every day. Sometimes even 24 hours are not enough and the challenges are tougher than many other professions. My compensation is in terms of mental satisfaction rather than money.
   
I could see that the officer was thoroughly impressed. After completing the licensing formalities, she came to the door to see me off.
This new viewpoint about my occupation made me feel much better on my way back home. I was welcomed by my 5 year old research assistant at the door. My new project(my 6 month old baby) was energetically practicing her 'music'.
I had earned a small victory over the Governmental red tape today. I was no longer 'merely a mother', instead I was now a highly placed functionary in a service vital for mankind -Motherhood!!

'Mother' - Isn't it a great title. Fit to be added to the nameplate on the door!! By this standard, grandmothers deserve to be called Senior Research Officers, and Great Grandmothers qualify as 'Research Directors'. Aunts and other ladies of that age group can be called 'Research Facilitators'. Please share this with all mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, all ladies currently holding posts like didi-tai-chachi-mami-mausi-bua ...... They will all shower you with blessings and life will be happier.

All husbands, fathers, please note. This is a must read for all

Skin care regimen for teens

Skin care regimen should be started from teen age. This helps in a long run to prevent formation of wrinkles and helps to retain the glow of skin as age advances. Here are few tips for teen skin care
• Use sun screen lotion when you go outdoors. Protecting skin from UV radiations helps to prevent skin cancer and formation of wrinkles. UV radiations cause early aging of skin. Sunscreen lotion protects your skin from all these.
• Do not use soap to wash your facial skin. Use mild face wash which is suitable for your skin type. Besan flour (yellow gram flour) or Green gram flour can be used to clean your facial skin.
• Remove your make up before going to bed.
• Apply moisturizer daily to face and also to your body skin.
• Do not forget to apply face pack once in a week (Don’t go for facials). A mixture of cucumber juice and besan flour make an excellent face mask for teen skin.
• Eat well balanced nutritious food
• Add green vegetables and fruits to your diet.
• Say no to junk food.
• Drink plenty of fresh clean water. This helps in moisturizing your skin from inside.
• Practice yoga and meditation daily. These reduce stress and increase glow of skin, memory power and helps you to achieve your goal. Do not forget beauty and brains are wonderful combo.

Always do Good

 This is worth reading.....Do Good & it will SURELY come back to you .....

A woman baked bread for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby.

She kept the extra bread on the Window-sill, for whosoever would take it away.

Every day, a hunch-back came and took away the bread. Instead of expressing gratitude,

he muttered the following words as he went his way:

"The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"

This went on, day after day. Every day, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and uttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"

The woman felt irritated. "Not a word of gratitude," she said to herself...

"Everyday this hunch-back utters this jingle! What does he mean?

"One day, out of desperation, she decided to do away with him. "I shall get rid of this hunch-back," she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the bread she prepared for him! As she was about to place it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said.

Immediately she threw the bread into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window-sill.

As usual, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and muttered the words:

"The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"

The hunch-back proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman. Everyday, as the woman placed the bread on the window-sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him.. She prayed for his safe return.

That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway.. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so hungry that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunch-back passed by. I begged of him for a small part of his food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole bread. "As he gave it to me, he said, "This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!"

"As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale and red. She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned bread that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life!

It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"

Do good and don't ever stop doing good, even if it's not appreciated at that time.

Philosophy of Life

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.
A tourist complimented the local fishermen
on the quality of their fish and asked
how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long." they answered in unison.
"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"
The fishermen explained that their small catches were
sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families.

"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children,
and take siestas with our wives.
In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs.

We have a full life."
The tourist interrupted,

"I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day.
You can then sell the extra fish you catch.
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?"
"With the extra money the larger boat will bring,
you can buy a second one and a third one
and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man,
you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants
and maybe even open your own plant.

You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City !!!
[
From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?"
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting, "answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen.

"After that you'll be able to retire,
live in a tiny village near the coast,
sleep late, play with your children,
catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife
and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
"With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what we are doing now. So what's the point wasting twenty-five years?" asked the Mexicans.
And the moral of this story is:

Know where you're going in life ...you may already be thereJ

Eat Right and Stay Healthy During Exams

Exam season is on and every parent will want to help their children stay physically and mentally healthy throughout this time. The diet plays an important role in their well-being. Hence it is very important to give the right foods to protect child's body and mind. They also improve marks by boosting academic performance on the exam day. A healthy balanced diet should consist of whole grain cereals, legumes, sprouted pulses, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Non vegetarians can include eggs and fish.

The best diet food during exams is lots of fresh foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, sprouted pulses, fish and egg. They help to activate memory. Please avoid processed foods like, soft drinks, cookies, cakes and junk foods. They inhibit brain function.

Breakfast is the most important food of the day. This meal is very important since it meet the needs of the nourishment after the 10 -12 hours of gap. An ideal breakfast must provide at least 30 to 40% of total calorie requirement of a person. Eat a sustaining breakfast such as whole meal toast, whole grain cereal porridge like oats, wheat flakes, broken wheat, milk or yoghurt or eat stuffed vegetable or paneer parathas  with curd or sandwiches with egg or sprouts or idli, sambhar for a very healthy and whole some diet. Including some fresh fruits or fruit juices are also very healthy.

Protein activates neurotransmitters and stimulates memory. And the brain has to have fat, because it is 70% fat. It needs fat from the diet, especially the "good fats" - essential fatty acids because our body does not make them so we have to supply from out side. Fish contain the essential fatty acids especially the salmon, mackerel and sardines. Eggs are also good for protein and fats. But too much of fatty food will make the child drowsy and sleepy. Because of this high quality essential fatty acids is to be taken in moderation and should avoid butter, ghee, cheese, and other oily foods.

It would be good to have health drinks like bournvita, hot chocolate, horlicks or complan or soy vita instead of tea and coffee since tea and coffee are stimulants and cause sleep disturbance, muscular tension, anxiety etc. But if a person is used to take coffee or tea regularly should not avoid fully because sudden fall of caffeine level in blood will interfere with the brain function. A good liquid boost before an exam is good.

A few almonds crushed to a paste and blended milk or Fresh fruit juices like orange or grape or fresh pineapple are good. Pineapple contains an enzyme, brome lain that activates neurotransmitters involved in memory.

The best liquid to drink before and during an exam is water. Often fatigue and mild headaches is a sign that you are becoming dehydrated. If you don't consume enough water, your output of energy will drop. Carry a water bottle with you, and drink periodically throughout the day. Water speeds up brain function. Too little water slows it down and dehydrates the brain.

If you plan to stay awake throughout the night. Eat a light meal at night. Avoid oily or fried snacks as these will only make you sleepy. If you are taking coffee throughout the night then eat something light along with it for eg a biscuit or rusk.

Non strenuous exercise like gentle walking, swimming, jogging, cycling and jumping are other essentials during exam time. Be sure to take out time for some fun every day. Having a good laugh is a great way to de-stress and have fun. Have a set hour of leisure time every day to have fun. Avoid any activities which strains the eyes such as watching TV or reading other books/magazines - as your eyes too need rest. Go out and play, take a walk, go meet a friend in the neighbourhood, do some yoga, meditation or anything you like is best.

Pre-Exam Preparations

Hello Parents!!!!! Exam time is here. Lets help our children with the pre exam preparations by going through the below points:

Help them to study

Help your child to revise by making sure they have somewhere comfortable to study. Help them draw up a revision schedule or ask the school for one.

Encourage exercise

Make sure your kids are active. Exercise can help boost energy levels, clear the mind and relieve stress. Walking, cycling, swimming, football and dancing are all effective.

Discuss their nerves  

Remind your child that feeling nervous is normal. Nervousness is a natural reaction to exams.

The key is to put these nerves to positive use. Being reminded of what they do know and the time they have put into study can help them feel confident.

Be flexible

Parents need to be flexible around exam time. When your child is revising all day, don’t worry about household jobs that are left undone or untidy bedrooms.

Staying calm yourself can help. Remember, exams don’t last forever.

Ensure your child eats well

A balanced diet is vital for your child’s health, and can help them to feel well during exam periods.

Some parents find that too many high-fat, high-sugar and high-caffeine foods and drinks (such as cola, sweets, chocolate, burgers and chips) make their children hyperactive, irritable and moody.

Watch out for stress  

Look out for signs of exam stress. Children who experience stress may be irritable, not sleep well, lose interest in food, worry a lot and appear depressed or negative. Headaches and stomach pains can also be stress-related.

Having someone to talk to about their work can help. Support from a parent, tutor or study buddy can help children air their worries and keep things in perspective.

If you feel your child isn’t coping, talk to teachers at your child’s school.

Encourage sleep 

Good sleep will improve thinking and concentration. Most teenagers need between eight and ten hours' sleep a night.

Allow half an hour or so for kids to wind down between studying, watching TV or using a computer and going to bed to help them get a good night's sleep.

Cramming all night before an exam is usually a bad idea. Sleep will benefit your child far more than hours of panicky last-minute study. 

Don’t add to the pressure

It is said that many of the children who contact them feel that the greatest pressure at exam time comes from their family.

"Keep things in perspective," says Rosanne Pearce, a senior supervisor. "Listen to them, give support and avoid criticism."

Before they go in for a test or exam, be reassuring and positive. Make sure they know that failing isn’t the end of the world, and that if things don’t go well they may be able to take the exam again.

After each exam, encourage your child to talk it through with you. Then move on and focus on the next test, rather than dwelling on things that can’t be changed.

Make time for treats  

When the exams are over, help celebrate with a treat. These can be a real encouragement for the next time they have a test.

Don’t use rewards as bribes. Instead, encourage them to work for their own satisfaction, offering small, frequent treats.

Three lessons from Three stories

The Frogs:

A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, "There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs millions of  them. They all croak  all night long and they are about to make me crazy !" So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next several weeks. The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, "Well... where are all the frogs?" The farmer said, "I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of  noise!"

Moral:
Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

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The Turtles:

A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. Turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place for their outing. During the second year of their journey they found a place ideal for them at last! For about six months they cleaned up the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left. Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years... six years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, "SEE ! I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt."

Moral:
Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that we don't do anything ourselves.

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The Pretty Lady:

Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were traveling together. They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged. They had to wade across the river. There was a pretty lady who was stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river. The big monk offered to carry the pretty lady across the river on his back. The lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move of the big monk. "How can big disciple brother carry a lady when we are supposed to avoid all intimacy with females?" thought the little monk. But he kept quiet. The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small monk followed unhappily. When they crossed the river, the big monk let the lady down and they parted ways with her. All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about the big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet. And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation. Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk. "How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite." The big monk looked surprised and said, "I had put down the pretty lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?"

Moral:
This very old Chinese zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away. We keep on carrying the baggage of the "pretty lady" with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony. Why? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the "pretty lady". We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river, immediately after the unpleasant event is over. This will immediately remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over. It is just that simple...

Prerana - by Infosys foundation

 Help the poor students

If you have come across any bright students coming from poor financial background who are completing their 10th standard this year and scored more than 80%, please ask them to contact the NGO - Prerana (supported by Infosys foundation). The NGO is conducting a written test and those who
clear the test will be eligible for financial help for their further studies. Please ask the students to contact... the people mentioned below to get the form:

580, Shubhakar, 44th cross, 1st A main road, Jayanagar, 7th block, Bangalore.

Contact numbers:
1. Ms. Saraswati - 99009 06338
2. Mr.Shivkumar - 99866 30301
3. Ms. Bindu - 99645 34667

Even if you don't know anyone, please pass on this information so someone might be in need of this help.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each other.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel well and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come
from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you
cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and
wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking."


I AM SENDING THIS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS,
BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT .


Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by sending this to someone else, you will probably make them at least think about their influence on others. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Cultivating good manners in Kids

Manners are nothing but behavior in a proper and right way.  Good manners in kids are very important. If our kids misbehave in public or during formal occasions, we parents are the one who are badly embarrassed. To save ourselves from such situations, we need to prepare our kids accordingly.

Manners are taught as soon as our child understands what we are saying. Also, children will need coaching and reminders on manners throughout their childhood. It's best to give positive reinforcement, that is, when your child does something right, let them know. When your child does something wrong, do not be negative about it, but gently tell them how it is best done and why.

These below points can be taught to the kids:

1.    Wait for their turn and not interrupting elders when they are speaking. Gently tell them to wait until someone is done speaking, and then ask their question.

2.    Never call names to others as name calling hurts.

3.    Always greet someone when they come over to your house. You can teach your child to shake hands with adults who come over and say, "Hello" or "hi.

4.    Say, "Please" whenever he or she asks for something and "Thank you" whenever he or she receives something. It shows respect and appreciation. In addition, if they are thanked, then say, "You're welcome".

5.    Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.

6.     Clean up after yourself. Whether at home or at a friend's house, always pick up after yourself. It's their mess, so they need to clean it up. If children leave a mess, then remind them that they need to clean up before the next activity can begin, and stick to it.

7.    When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

8.    Take compliments courteously. If someone praises your children, teach them to be gracious and say, "thank you" and avoid putting themselves down or pointing out flaws.

9.    Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.

10. When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

11.  When going into buildings, allow elders to go first and open the door for them.

12. When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

13.  When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.

14.  When people do things differently from your family because of diversity in culture, race, or religion, then teach your child respect the differences.

Pocket money for kids

              Pocket money is a very important phrase in a kids life these days. They know that money is very important in today's world. Kids have so many thing to do and buy with the pocket money they get.It’s a great feeling of having some money always with us which we would dream of buying the things we love or save for the birthdays or festivals. Its given to the kids by their parents or guardians. But we as guardians or parents have to make sure that the given money is spent wisely and properly. We need to see to it that the kids value the money that they get from us. Here are few things we can do for our kids to make them understand the value of money:

Fix the amount of the pocket money to be given every month on a particular date. Never give it on demand or whenever they ask for it.

Tell them to keep an account of their expenses and show it to you at the end of the month.

Encourage them to save money by giving them double the money saved, the next month.

Take them to the bank once in a while to get them acquainted with the transactions done there. If possible credit some amount in your savings account to show them a way to save money.

If they demand for a new toy or a book, ask them to buy it with their pocket money. If they fall short of money ask them to start saving for it and buy it whenever they have enough money.Tell them that a penny saved is a penny earned, through a story.

Take them shopping so that they can understand how to tally the prices and the buy the best product with the least price.

        By doing so, we can build a habbit in our kids to value money and make their life financially stable in the future.

Tips to keep your kid's heart in good condition

Tips to keep your kid's heart in good condition

          These days children are under too much stress. Hence it is our duty to keep an eye on our kid's health, eating habits, and physical exercises. The kids also need to know enough about maintaining good heart health. Below are few tips which can help children keep up with their good health:


When eating out......

• We all know that children love pizza. Its OK to have it once in while, but order one with vegetables or chicken instead of a cheese burst or with extra cheese.
• If the child is a non-vegetarian, order something in chicken or fish instead of meat or pork
• Sandwich can be grilled and burger can go without extra cheese.
• Fresh fruit juice can replace an aerated drink
• Baked potatoes can replace fried
• Order some attractive looking salad with low fat dressing

                                                                             
                                                           


When organising your child's birthday bash.....

• Go for low-fat potato wafers which are baked or fried in less oil
• If preparing noodles, make sure it includes a lot of fresh vegetables
• The milk products like milkshake, smoothie or cheese for the sandwich shall be made with low fat milk
• Include attractive fruit salad

                                                             

• Prepare steamed food like idlis by cutting them in different shapes and present them attractively
• Order for an egg-less cake as the cholesterol content of the egg yolk can be harmful.

Activity for children:
                 Children should be encouraged to go out and play in the park or in the neighbourhood. They can also join some activity class like sports, swimming or dance which includes physical movements. Let the kids know that exercise will help them burn their extra weight and keep them fit.

                                                       
Drinking loads of water:
                  Explain to your children the importance of water. Let them know that water is the blood's main constituent and that it helps in ensuring smooth circulation. They will understand that water is superior to aerated drinks.


Deep Breathing: 
                 Encourage your child to breathe deeply early in the morning. Activities like yogic practice of pranayam can be made a part of your child's daily regime.


Make sure you keep your child away from highly polluted areas.


Hope these tips create an awareness in children to keep themselves as fit as possible.


Deepa