Those who suffering from knee pain; they will benefit doing some special exercises. These exercises can be practiced within the work day besides your daily common exercises. It does not take much time. These exercises have to do at any time of the day and 5 to 10 times in each case.

The new generations of young women face a lot of stress and psychological pressure to deal with family and professional life outside the home. Having more responsibilities they forget their sought-found and bad or good. Ultimately the disease nests in their body.

Sleep is an essential part of our life. Have a sound sleep is beneficial for a good health. Healthy foods and sound sleep makes a man hale and hearty.

Many of you do exercise regularly or intend to start the exercise. And it helps to live a healthy life and ensure the fitness of body. Regular exercise changes ones own life nicely. But there are absolutely different rules and regulations of common exercises.

Guava is a very nutritious and healthy food which helps to boost the immune system and improves resistance to disease. But now it leaves are used for hair fall treatment.

a women with a jumping rope

Some of the exercises are very beneficial according to the needs of the body to maintain the flow of oxygen in the blood. Swimming is at the top in the list of

Want to get rid of a nagging thought or the pesky lyrics you heard a week ago? Well, chew gum, advises a new study.

The phenomenon where you just cannot get out of your head a catchy song for days or even weeks is known as an ear-worm or brain-worm. 

The effect has been studied before, but its cause, and how to get rid of it, is not known.

Now researchers say they have an answer - chewing gum after hearing a catchy song will help you think about it less often.

"Interfering with our own 'inner speech' through a more sophisticated version of the gum-chewing approach may work more widely," said lead researcher Phil Beaman from University of Reading.

In the study, 98 volunteers were played the 'catchy tunes' Play Hard by David Guetta and Payphone by Maroon 5.

Over the next three minutes, they were then asked to hit a key every time they thought of the songs - while chewing gum, not chewing gum or tapping their finger, the Daily Mail reported.

While chewing gum, volunteers reported thinking of the song less often than when they were not chewing gum, or when they were told to tap their finger instead.

And chewing gum also reduced the amount they 'heard' the song in their minds by a third.

The study is the first to examine the effects of chewing gum on ear-worms, and it suggests it could also be used to stop other unwanted or intrusive thoughts.

"However more research is needed to see whether this will help counter symptoms of obsessive-compulsive and similar disorders," Beaman said.

In a previous study by University of Reading in 2009, it was found that almost any song can become an ear-worm.

 

More than one-third of babies are tapping on smartphones and tablets even before they learn to walk or talk, a US-based survey shows.

 

By the age of one, one in every seven toddlers is using devices for at least an hour a day, the findings showed. "We did not expect children were using the devices from the age of six months," said lead author Hilda Kabali from Einstein Healthcare Network in the US.

"Some children were on the screen for as long as 30 minutes," Kabali noted.

The researchers developed a 20-item survey to find out, when young children are first exposed to mobile media and how they use devices.

Parents of children ages six months to four years old, who were at a hospital-based paediatric clinic that serves a low-income, minority community were recruited to fill out the survey.

Results from 370 parents showed that children younger than one year of age were exposed to media devices in surprisingly large numbers: 52 percent had watched TV shows, 36 percent had touched or scrolled a screen, 24 percent had called someone, 15 percent used apps and 12 percent played video games.

They found that by the age of two, most children were using mobile devices. The findings were presented today at the Paediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in San Diego.

How would you feel if your cellphone rings at the table or there's a long pause when the cheque comes during your Valentine's Day date — make sure you try avoiding certain situations when you take your loved one out.

Good etiquette commands one's undivided attention to another person while on a date, says Sheena Agarwaal, director of Urbanista Image Consultancy. She has shared tips on how men and women should make the day a memorable one.

Rules for men

* Never wait till the last minute to ask the lady out. Popular or not, most women are most likely to be asked out by more than one man on this night. So make sure you get this one right. Having said that, don’t make yourself seem too over the top. Ideally, a week before the day is a good enough time frame.

* Make sure you choose a good florist. Ideally once you choose your florist, you should stay with them as this will ensure a relationship is built up and they will learn what suits you best.

* Special and meaningful doesn't have to mean expensive. If on a tight budget, cook at home. There is nothing like a home-cooked meal. It also lets you get creative with the menu and dish out some of the lady’s favourite flavours and dishes.

* Usher the lady out the car, hold the door for her and seat her at the table.

* If eating out, make sure you make your reservation well in time. Also, manage your expenses well before the big date. Nothing can ruin the night more than a credit card that just got declined.

* When getting the cheque, offer to pay unless the lady offers to ‘go Dutch’. Refusing once is a good practice but not at the cost of getting into a tug of war.

* Remember to always maintain eye contact, but not in a creepy way, while on the date. This day is about the couple expressing the love and affection they share.

* No one wants to be courted by someone with bad breath or dirty nails as your image and persona is vital for success. You don’t have to be dressed from top to toe in Savile Row, but cleanliness and style will pay dividends. When dressing yourself, remember there are sartorial rules for a reason. Break them at your peril!

Rules for women

* The most important thing to remember is that men are different from women. Give men some space so they can reflect on what a catch you are.

* Dress to respect all the effort put in by the man to make this day extra special for you.

* Remember to keep in mind what your dress says about your intentions —people can dress to reflect their mood subconsciously. For instance, a black low-cut neck means you’re interested; a black nun’s habit means anything but.

* Nothing sparkles more than your eye under the candlelight. Hence you should dazzle them all the way. Keep your make-up simple yet elegant for a sit-down dinner.

* Even though you have known your date for the longest time, please reserve your everyday gossip for another day. This day is about both of you.

* Leave your baggage behind and literally so. There is nothing worse than a woman scuffle through her bag to find that lip gloss. Invest into a classy clutch to carry the necessary.

>>  IANS

Walking may never become as trendy as CrossFit, as sexy as mud runs or as ego-boosting as Ironman races but for fitness experts who stress daily movement over workouts and an active lifestyle over weekends of warrior games, walking is a super star.

For author and scientist Katy Bowman, walking is a biological imperative like eating. In her book, “Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement," she suggests there are movement nutrients, just like dietary nutrients, that the body needs.

“Walking is a superfood. It’s the defining movement of a human,” said Bowman, a biomechanist based in Ventura, California. “It’s a lot easier to get movement than it is to get exercise.”

Researchers say emerging evidence suggests that combined physical activity and inactivity may be more important for chronic disease risk than physical activity alone.

“Actively sedentary is a new category of people who are fit for one hour but sitting around the rest of the day," Bowman said. “You can’t offset 10 hours of stillness with one hour of exercise.”

Last year researchers at the University of Texas School of Public Health asked 218 marathoners and half marathoners to report their training and sitting times. Median training time was 6.5 hours per week. Median total sitting time was eight to 10.75 hours per day, suggesting that recreational distance runners are simultaneously highly sedentary and highly active.

Leslie Sansone, creator of the “Walk at Home: Mix & Match Walk Blasters” DVD, said too many people believe that spending gruelling hours at the gym is the only way to fitness.

“There’s this “Biggest Loser” idea out there that if you’re not throwing up and crying you’re not getting fit,” she said, referring to the popular television weight-loss show.

She added that a small study of non-obese men published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise by scientists at Indiana University suggests that three five-minute walks done throughout three hours of prolonged sitting reverses the harmful effects of prolonged sitting on arteries in the legs.

Three miles (5 kilometres) per hour is a good beginning, gradually working to 4 miles per hour, she said about walking.

Dr Carol Ewing Garber, president of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), notes that fitness-walking guidelines of 10,000 steps per day may be too much for many.

“About 7,500 steps may be more accurate,” she said, adding that current ACSM recommendations call for at least 150 minutes of activity each week.

Garber, a professor of movement sciences at Columbia University in New York, said research suggests that even one bout of exercise causes beneficial physiological effects.

But she concedes that walking does not do everything. It is less beneficial for bones than running, and for strength, it is better to lift weights.

“Still,” she said, “If you’re going to pick one thing, research says it should be walking.”

While popular psychology typically focuses on the role of mothers in child rearing, fathers are also immensely important in bringing up balanced, well-adjusted and happy children. Both have complementary parenting styles and strengths to give children the love, support and guidance they need for healthy development. Fathers in particular, influence a child's emotional, social and intellectual grounding.

Behavior Regulation

Playtime with Dad usually involves playful "rough-housing" and more one-on-one interaction than playtime with Mom. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that this type of play helps your child to regulate emotions and behavior and control aggression. A 2008 review in "Acta Paediatrica" showed that boys who are raised with regularly engaged fathers have fewer behavioral problems. Another study published in "Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey" in 2005, found that babies with fathers who suffered from depression were at higher risk of behavioral and emotional problems by the age of 3.5 years.

Emotional Health

An actively involved and reliable father helps to instill emotional security and confidence in his child. This has a significant impact on her psychological well-being and mental health. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that children who have good relationships with their fathers are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and emotional problems. They also show stronger self-esteem and a healthy body image, and are better able to avoid drugs and other negative influences in the teenage years.

Social Development

Fathers help to promote independence and a healthy view of the outside world, and their children are more likely to be sociable, friendly and popular with their peers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises that this is important from birth. Babies with fathers who respond quickly to them are more comfortable exploring their environment and adapt faster after a brief separation from their parent. Active fathering also sets the bar for good gender relations. Psychologist Ditta M. Oliker says on the website of Psychology Today, that adolescent girls with involved fathers will grow up to have a healthier, more positive opinion of -- and relationship with -- men.

Learning Abilities

Research published in "Child Maltreatment" in 2001, suggests that fathers' involvement in child-rearing enhances brain development and learning. Toddlers and young children with caring and nurturing dads have advanced language development and begin school more academically ready. They are also better able to cope with stress and frustration during learning and studying. The U.S. Department of Education notes that fathers influence academic achievement; children who have very involved fathers are more likely to have better verbal skills and earn higher grades.

To all the husbands out there: the key to a quality marital life is to keep your wife happy no matter what.

When it comes to a happy marriage, says an interesting study, the more content the wife is with the long-term union, the happier the husband is with his life no matter how he feels about their nuptials.

"I think it comes down to the fact that when a wife is satisfied with the marriage she tends to do a lot more for her husband, which has a positive effect on his life," explained Deborah Carr, a professor at the school of arts and science, Rutgers University.

"Men tend to be less vocal about their relationships and their level of marital unhappiness might not be translated to their wives," Carr added.

Along with Vicki Freedman, a research professor at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, Carr examined the personal feelings of both spouses to determine how these marital appraisals influence their psychological well-being.

They analysed data of 394 couples who were part of a national study of income, health and disability in 2009 on older adults.

In order to assess marital quality, participants were asked several questions such as whether their spouse appreciates them, argues with them, understands their feelings or gets on their nerves.

Most of the participants rated their general life satisfaction high - with husbands rating their marriage slightly more positive than their wives.

"For both spouses being in a better-rated marriage was linked to greater life satisfaction and happiness," Carr noted.

Researchers also found that while wives became less happy if their spouses became ill, the husbands' happiness level did not change or reflect the same outcome if their wives got sick.

"We know that when a partner is sick it is the wife that often does the care giving which can be a stressful experience. But often when a women gets sick it is not her husband she relies on but her daughter," Carr stated.

"The quality of a marriage is important because it helps couples manage difficult decisions regarding health and medical decision making," researchers concluded.

The paper was published in the Journal of Marriage and Family.

Pomegranate has many health benefits, and it can do wonders for one's skin too.

From playing the role of powerful antioxidant to a product of anti-ageing, the fruit can help in many ways, suggests Wren Holmes, brand manager of natural ayurvedic skincare Urban Veda, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Here's how you can use the fruit for skin nourishment:

* Powerful antioxidant: Skin nutrition is vital at tackling one of the biggest causes of aging: free radical damage and pomegranates are rightly known as superfoods for their antioxidant content.

* Cellular regeneration: Not only is pomegranate anti-inflammatory and high in essential fatty acids, it has also been shown to stimulate Keratinocyte skin cells which help with cellular regeneration, making it a fantastic anti-aging ingredient.

* Anti-ageing: The outer layer of the skin, the dermis, is made up of collagen and elastic fibres. Wrinkles arise in the dermis as collagen and elating degrade and Vitamin C is an integral part of collagen formation enabling proteins to become stronger. Just one pomegranate possesses 48 percent of the daily value of Vitamin C.

* Organic pomegranate juice: Organic pomegranate juice is highly beneficial for skin. Its small molecular structure helps to penetrate more deeply into the skin to deliver hydration rich in micronutrients and phytochemicals.

* The crushed seeds of pomegranate are also perfect for exfoliation.

If your job leads to spending most of the time outdoors, do not forget to wear sunglasses as it can save you from developing a common eye disease.

According to a study, residential geography, time spent in the sun and whether or not sunglasses are worn may help explain why some people develop exfoliation syndrome (XFS), an eye condition that is a leading cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma and can lead to an increased risk of cataract.

“Lifetime outdoor activities may contribute to XFS so a more widespread use of UV-blocking eyewear can help prevent XFS,” said lead study author Louis Pasquale, as associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School (HMS).

Researchers conducted a clinic-based, case-control study in the US and Israel, involving XFS cases and control individuals.

They measured weighted lifetime average latitude of residence and average number of hours per week spent outdoors as determined by validated questionnaires.

They found that genetic or environmental factors also contribute to XFS.

Previous studies have shown that residential (geographic) history and extent of solar exposure may be important risk factors for XFS.

The study appeared in the journal Ophthalmology.

Sipping on a vinegar-infused drink every morning is the latest health food item endorsed by celebrities to lose weight and maintain a youthful glow.

Actress Megan Fox has said that because of her "really big sweet tooth", she'll sometimes cleanse with a combination of apple cider vinegar and water, claiming it "cleans out your system".

Supermodel Miranda Kerr drizzles it on her salad, while actress Gwyneth Paltrow and singer Madonna rely on it to keep their looks in check, reports dailymail.co.uk.

And now there is also a restaurant with a menu dedicated to fermented vinegar here.

The Raw Duck in London's Hackney is an eatery to have a menu dedicated to ferments - and apple cider vinegar with a little sugar and grated apple left to develop for three days is one of its most popular concoctions.

"These are deliciously cleansing and help aid digestion," owner Rory McCoy said.

"When we talk about probiotic, we think of those mass-produced yoghurts but these are the real thing. People should know about them. I try to drink a vinegar or eat a ferment every day for my health," added McCoy.

Katy Mason, nutritionist at The Nutri Centre, says vinegar has been used for centuries for many purposes, pickling, cleaning as a condiment and for health.

"If you look on the internet you will find claims that vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, will relieve just about any ailment you can think of," she said.

"Nutritional therapists have known about this product for years and will often recommend it to clients to help stimulate the digestion, alkalise the body and help with weight loss," she added.

>>  IANS

Has your ex-partner conveyed all personal details of your breakup to common friends on Facebook, leaving you embarrassed? Well, you are not alone.

According to new research, not just romance but breakup updates going viral among common friends are complicating relationships among teenagers.

"We tend to talk about how Facebook, Twitter and social media create relationships, but how about when you need to get rid of someone," asked study researcher Anabel Quan-Haase, a sociologist at University of Western Ontario in Canada.

To understand how social media impacts breakups, Quan-Haase and her team spoke to 107 young people who had broken up with their partners.

They found that those who initiated a breakup tended to be less troubled by social media issues than those who were dumped.

Nearly 62 percent of them said they spent a lot of time re-analysing wall posts and messages from their ex.

According to them, updating their relationship on Facebook caused a flurry of reactions from family and friends.

Such messages often reopened breakup wounds.

"Most say they do not want to go to their ex's profile, but at the end of the day, the temptation is so high that they are constantly going back," Quan-Haase noted.

Some felt that the ex was flaunting his or her newly single status whereas the observer was trying to keep a low profile.

She shared her findings at the 109th annual American Sociological Association meeting in Chicago recently.

>>  IANS

Know why you get a hangover after a night of drinking while some of your friends do not? Blame it on your genes.

According to new research from University of Missouri-Columbia, genetic factors accounted for 45 percent of the difference in hangover frequency in women and 40 percent in men.

People who are less susceptible to having a hangover might have a greater risk for alcohol addiction, the study noted.

To reach this conclusion, the team looked for links between the participants' genetic makeup and the number of hangovers the individuals reported experiencing in the past year.

Nearly 4,000 middle-aged people from the Australian Twin Registry participated in a telephonic survey, reporting their experiences with hangovers and alcohol consumption.

The findings suggest that people who frequently consume alcohol should observe the way their bodies react to it.

"There is a strong correlation between identical twins in reports of hangover frequency as well as hangover resistance, meaning that the genetic similarities of some twins played a part in their hangover susceptibility," researchers noted.

>>  IANS

Going by a research, counterfeit designer goods may be flooding internet and our wardrobes too!

Vestiairecollective.com, Europe’s social site for the resale of designer and premium fashion, has released a study that shows that 61 percent of women online marketplace shoppers have been misled into purchasing counterfeit designer goods, or knew at least one person who had accidentally bought a fake designer item through internet, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Besides, 66 percent of women admitted they don’t feel they possess the knowledge to accurately identify a counterfeit product from a genuine item.

Fanny Moizant, co-founder of vestiairecollective.com, advises on how to spot a counterfeit.

“The material can tell you a lot about the quality of an item, if it’s leather it should feel and smell like leather. If the item you’re inspecting is a bag, make sure you take a good look at the stitching, uneven or slanted stitching is a sign of a poorly made item and, therefore, a counterfeit," she said.

"Check the logo, which is often a slip-up area for many copies, every brand includes unique details to ensure they can identify a genuine piece. Finally, look for a serial number and colour variations in the material," added Moizant.

>>  IANS

From park bench push ups and monkey bar lifts to open air runs, fitness experts say the workout possibilities of playgrounds and parks are worth the consideration of even the most diehard gym users.

During the warm, waning summer days, fresh air workouts offer a wealth of new ways to boost the mood, channel the inner child and even burn extra calories.

Chris Freytag, a personal trainer and health coach with the American Council on Exercise, loves the gym but lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a city notorious for brutal winters.

“I’m a big believer in change of venue, of getting away from the same treadmill, the same spot. And there’s something about fresh air and moving in space,” said Freytag, who leads boot camp and circuit classes in parks and parking lots during the summer months.

The changing terrain can also inspire the solitary exerciser to mix it up.

“I’m all about hills: every time you see a hill or steps or stairs, lunge at it,” said Freytag. “Step up and down on curbs and park benches.”

A child’s playground offers core-strengthening possibilities from deep plank push ups, with feet placed on swings, to training with resistance bands slung around poles, to monkey bar pull-ups, she explained.

Research suggests the outdoor boost can be mental as well as physical. In a 2014 study on indoor versus outdoor activity published in the journal Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being researchers analyzed national survey data from Finland.

They found that nature provides an added value to the known benefits of physical activity and repeated exercise in nature is, in particular, connected to better emotional well-being.

In his book “Beat the Gym,” Connecticut-based running coach and personal trainer Tom Holland said running on a treadmill is slightly easier than running on the ground.

“You don’t have to deal with changing terrain, wind resistance,” he said, adding that the zero incline on most treadmills is actually slightly downhill.

New York City-based personal trainer, JR Allen said the first benefit of the outdoor workout is balance.

“You have to be aware of your surroundings because you could step in a pothole,” Allen said. “It is a less safe, more uncontrolled environment that is more of a strain on your body.”

Allen suggests the newcomer to outdoor exercise should start with a simple walk around the neighbourhood. The seasoned exerciser should head to the park for sprints, power push ups, in which hands leave the ground, and walking planks, moving side to side and back to back on hands and feet.

Daniel Taylor, author of the book “Conditioning to the Core,” thinks outdoor training is great as long as people take some precautions.

“People who utilize children’s playground equipment ought to double check it. Make sure bars aren’t slippery", he said. “One of the reasons we go to the gym is it’s safe and dry.”

 >>  Reuters

LifeAllegro Lifestyle wishes its readers a Happy Women's Day and hopes that the cue for revisioning social perceptions will receive wider mileage.

Since 1911, governments, civil society organisations, corporate and educational institutions and media outlets around the world have been celebrating International Women's Day on 8March every year. Each year the United Nations declares an annual theme that is the central focus of events commemorating this day and in 2014 the theme is 'inspiring change', encouraging advocacy for women everywhere in every way.

In many countries, as with the rest of the world, International Women's Day is observed to celebrate the social, political and economic advancements of women. Over the last few years, many countries has performed consistently well on indicators of women's development -- achieving equality in primary school enrolment rates, increasing women's participation in the workforce and making significant progress in improving women's health. 

Despite these gains, challenges remain in achieving gender equality. Discrimination against the girl child exists from an early age and girls are taught to tie their self-worth to their physical appearances and potential husbands. Daughters are considered burdensome by many, especially if they are dark-skinned; the bias towards light complexions is one that is present in all sections of society. The issue is compounded by an influx of skin whitening products on local and regional markets and a band of popular celebrities endorsing these products as their personal determinants of success.

Recently however, the movement against the fair skin complex has found voice in exciting new initiatives such as the 'Dark is Beautiful' campaign organised by Indian NGO, Women of Worth and championed by parallel cinema actress Nandita Das.

LifeAllegro Lifestyle wishes its readers a Happy Women's Day and hopes that the cue for revisioning social perceptions will receive wider mileage. Change begins at home and if we cannot raise our children to believe that they are equal irrespective of gender or skin tone, we have failed to instill in them the sense of acceptance that they require to reach their full potentials.