Kitchen utensils

• Kitchen utensils are tools used for kitchen activities like preparing food, which involves cutting, slicing, cooking and eating food. Kitchen utensils are very helpful, as they provide mechanical advantages to accomplish different tasks that may be difficult when done only with the use of hands.
• There are a number of kitchen utensils that help us finish important tasks. Kitchen utensils include knives, forks, spoons, spatulas, ladles, scissors, can openers, graters, colanders, cutters, scoops, rolling pins and peelers, among many others. Kitchen utensils are sometimes called kitchenware.
• Usually, these kitchen utensils are made from stainless steel. Stainless steel allows the utensils to be cleaned with water, as it has a high resistance to oxidation or rusting. Once washed, the utensils can be dried and then stored again for reuse.
• Traditionally, basic kitchen utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons were made from silver. This was very common in many European countries where royalties and other wealthy individuals used silver-made utensils. Silver-made utensils were often engraved with the emblem or arms of the owners. Sometimes, the owner\'s name was even engraved on these tools.
• Steel and pewter were also used to make utensils, as they were cheaper items. These metals were mostly used for knives and spoons. By the 19th century, Electroplated Nickel Silver or EPNS was used since it was a cheaper substitute.
• Today, there are also plastic utensils that can be disposed after use. These are very common at fast food restaurants and are also used in airline meals.
• There are also utensils which are combined to add functionality. A perfect example of this is the spork, which is a combination of spoon and fork. A knork, meanwhile, is a combination of knife and fork.
• Different types of kitchen utensils can be purchased in kitchen specialty stores, department stores and in many other locations, depending on their quality and the materials used to make them.

Nutrient Guide

NUTRIENTS THEIR FUNCTIONS

• Carbohydrates are the most important nutrients used by your working muscles.
  Protei contains amino acids - the building blocks - that your body uses to build and maintain muscles, bone, skin, blood and other organs.
  Fat is the chief storage system of energy.
  Vitamins help promote and regulate bodily processes and chemical reactions.
  Minerals enable enzymes to function.
  Water enables chemical reactions to take place.

The food that you consume provides essential chemical compounds called nutrients . Nutrients are the things in foods that our body needs to stay healthy and grow. Various nutrients are required by human body to carry out its vital activities and to sustain life. Of these nutrients, micronutrients include protein, fat and carbohydrates. Good nutrition is a term synonymous with maintenance of healthy body. It is necessary to strike a balance between the quantity and quality of the diet so as to sustain adequate nourishment. As per the diet - no food is fattening, it is either too much or too little. So always eat a "Healthy balanced diet" which should have proper proportions of "Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat, Vitamins and Minerals". Never go for complete fat-free-diet because Vitamin ADEK are fat soluble vitamins which are very important for bony growth of the body and development of body. • Importance of Proteins• Importance of Carbohydrates• Importance of Fats• Importance of Fiber• Importance of Vitamins• Importance of MineralsImportance Of ProteinsMuch of the body's structure is made up of proteins. The typical 80 Kg. man is composed of about 50 Kg. of water, 15 Kgs.of protein, 12 Kgs. of fat, 2.5 Kgs. of minerals, 500 gms.of carbohydrates and less than 30 gms. of vitamins. Since the muscles, heart, brain, lungs etc. are made up largely of proteins which are in constant need of replacement, protein power and the importance of protein foods are obvious. Protein is the basic chemical unit of the living cell, essential for their nutrition, growth and repair, and to provide heat and energy.
1 gram of protein yields 4 kcal. It is the body building material and as antibodies it helps the body to defend against infection. It is an essential component of the diet, especially during the growing years of infant and children, for fetal development during pregnancy and for lactating mothers. Protein foods contain all of the necessary amino acids required for proper nourishment.
Use the following chart to help select foods that are good sources of protein:
Food
Grams of Protein
6 oz. canned tuna
40
4 oz. chicken breast
35
3 oz. beef *
26
3 oz. turkey
25
3 oz. salmon
23
8 oz. (1 cup) garbanzo beans
15
8 oz. (1 cup) milk
8
8 oz. (1 cup) yogurt
10
4 oz. (1/2 cup) tofu
10
4 oz. (1/2 cup) cottage cheese
14
1 egg
6
1 oz. cheddar cheese
87
8 oz.(1 cup) pasta
5
* A 3 ounce serving of beef (or chicken) is about the size of a deck of cards.Top
Importance of CarbohydratesCarbohydrates contain the important vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are essential to our health and that help prevent heart disease and cancer. Unrefined carbohydrates are good one found in whole, natural foods, such as whole grains, legumes, rice, and starchy vegetables. They're also called complex carbohydrates, so named for their molecular structure. Besides being packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, good carbs take longer to digest.
Refined carbohydrates, on the other hand, are found in packaged processed foods, such as store-bought baked goods, crackers, pasta, and white bread. Refined carbohydrates are made with white flour and contain little or no fiber. In fact, many products made with white flour are advertised as fortified with vitamins and minerals. But current evidence reveals that fortification with vitamins does not recreate the benefits of the natural vitamins that have been removed.
Foods rich in Carbohydrates:
Food
Serving Size
Carbohydrates(grams) per serving
Bread, cereal, grains:
Bagel
1 whole
38
Barley, pearled & uncooked
1 cup
158
Bread
1 slice
12-18
Breakfast cereal, hot
1 cup
18-31
Breakfast cereal, cold
1 ounce
18-24
Muffins
1 whole
27
Rice, uncooked
1 cup
41-50
Spaghetti, cooked firm
1 cup
39
Fruits:
Apricot, nectar
1 cup
36
Banana, sliced
1 cup
35
Blueberries, raw
1 cup
20
Dates, whole & pitted
10
61
Figs, dried
10
122
Grapefruit juice
1 cup
72
Vegetables:
Beans, dry & cooked
1 cup
31-49
Refined beans, canned
1 cup
51
Carrots, cooked
1 cup
16
Corn, kernels
1 cup
34
Jerusalem Artichoke, raw & sliced
1 cup
26
Dairy products:
Milk, dried nonfat
1 cup
35
Yogurt, lowfat plain
1 cup
16
Yogurt, nonfat
1 cup
17
Others:
Nuts
1 cup
45
Cashews
1 cup
9
Chestnuts
1 cup
76Top
Importance of FatsFat is an important part of a healthy diet. It is the most concentrated source of energy of all the food compounds. There's more and more evidence that many fats are good for us and actually reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. They also help our sugar and insulin metabolism and therefore contribute to our goals of long-term weight loss and weight maintenance. Within our body fats are vital as they are carriers of vitamin A,D,E and K and act as lubricant to help in bowel movement. And because good fats make foods taste better, they help us enjoy the journey to a healthier lifestyle. But not all fats are created equal--there are good fats and bad fats."Good" fats include monounsaturated fats, found in olive and canola oils, peanuts and other nuts, peanut butter, and avocados. Monounsaturated fats lower total and "bad" LDL cholesterol--which accumulates in and clogs artery walls--while maintaining levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, which carries cholesterol from artery walls and delivers it to the liver for disposal.
Omega-3 fatty acids--polyunsaturated fats found in coldwater fish, canola oil, flaxseeds, walnuts, almonds, and macadamia nuts--also count as good fat. There is evidence that omega-3 oils help prevent or treat depression, arthritis, asthma, and colitis and help prevent cardiovascular deaths.If you're not eating fish, it is important that you eat foods with alpha-linolenic acid, a type of fat that can be converted into omega-3 fats in your body. The richest sources of alpha-linolenic acid are flaxseed oil, English walnuts, canola oil and soy oil."Bad" fats include saturated fats--the heart-clogging kind found in butter, fatty red meats, and full-fat dairy products. "Very bad" fats are the manmade trans fats. Trans fats, which are created when hydrogen gas reacts with oil, are found in many packaged foods, including margarine, cookies, cakes, cake icings, doughnuts, and potato chips. Trans fats are worse than saturated fats; they are bad for our blood vessels, nervous systems, and waistline.High fat foods:
Food
% of Fat
Bread, Cereals, Grains:
Breads
2-4
Cereals
trace-2
Pasta, plain
1-2
Fruit
trace
Avocado
17
Vegetables
trace
Olives
20
Meat:
Beef, stewed & lean only
15
Beef, stewed & lean; fat
29
Ground beef
19
Roast, rib & lean only
15
Roast, rib & lean; fat
31
Pork sausages
31
Poultry:
Chicken breast, roasted without skin
3
Turkey
5-20
Turkey, light & dark, no skin
5
Fish:
Clams, crabmeat, oysters,shrimps
1-2
Salmon, baked
6
Salmon, canned
9
Sardines
10
Tuna, oil pack
8
Tuna, water pack
2
Cheese:
American
32
Blue
28
Cheddar
32
Cottage, creamed
4
Cottage, lowfat
2
Mozzarella
21
Swiss
28
Milk:
Whole
3.2
Lowfat
2
Non-fat, skim
than 0
Other dairy products:
Butter
81
Others:
Vegetable oils
100
Margarines
80
Mayonnaise
79
Nuts
50-70
Soyabeans, dry
30
Egg yolk
33
Fatty acids in oils or fats:
Fat or Oil...
Saturated Fattyacids(%)
Monoun-saturatedfatty acids(%)
Polyun- saturated fatty acids(%)
Kinds of fats & oils
Canola oil
7
53
22
Monounsaturated
Corn oil
13
24
59
Polyunsaturated
Olive oil
14
74
9
Monounsaturated
Palm oil
52
38
10
Saturated
Peanut oil
17
46
32
Monounsaturated
Safflower oil
9
12
74
Poluunsaturated
Soyabean
15
23
51
Polyunsaturated
Soyabean - cotton seed oil
18
29
48
Polyunsaturated
Butter
62
30
5
Saturated
Lard
39
45
11
Saturated *
Quantity of cholesterol you consume per plate:
Food
Serving
Cholesterol (milligrams)
Meat:
Beef, stewed, lean & fat
3 ounces
87
Beef, stewed & lean
2.2 ounces
66
Beef, ground & lean
3 ounces
74
Beef, ground & regular
3 ounces
76
Beef steak, sirloin
3 ounces
77
Bacon
3 stips
16
Pork chop, lean
2.5 ounces
71
Poultry:
Chicken breast, roast
3 ounces
73
Chicken leg, roast
1.6 ounce
3 ounces
Turkey breast, roast
3 ounces
59
Fish:
Calims
3 ounces
43
Flounder
3 ounces
59
Oysters, raw
1 cup
120
Salmon, canned
3 ounces
34
Salmon, baked
3 ounces
60
Tuna
3 ounces
48
Tuna oil, canned
3 ounces
55
Cheese:
American
1 ounce
27
Cheddar
1 ounce
30
Cream
1 ounce
31
Mozzarella, whole milk
1 ounce
22
Mozzarella, part skim
1 ounce
15
Swiss
1 ounce
26
Milk:
Whole
8 ounces
33
2%
8 ounces
18
1%
8 ounces
18
Skim
8 ounces
10
Other dairy products:
Butter
pat
11
Eggs, large
1
213
Others:
Lard
tblsp.
12Top
Importance of fiberFiber is very good for health, it can help prevent certain types of cancer such as colon and stomach cancer and can also lower your cholesterol level. It helps a lot to digestive system and stops the harmful toxins hanging around the body. People who eat more fiber are less likely to become overweight. It satisfies the appetite because of its capacity to make you "feel full."so choose fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains and oats and low fat nuts and seeds as snacks instead of high caloried snacks. Make fibre a main part of your meals. Try to have soups without straining, it may take some time for taste development. When you cut fat out of your diet, try replacing it with fiber. Fiber adds bulk to food, so you chew longer, eat more slowly, and feel full sooner.
Sources of fiber:
Food
Amount of fiber (in gms) in a100g (3.5 ounce) serving
Bread:
Bagel
2.1
Bran bread
8.5
Pita bread, white
1.6
Pita bread, whole white
7.4
White bread
1.9
Cereals:
Bran cereal
35.3
Bran flakes
18.8
Cornflakes
2.0
Oatmeal
10.6
Wheat flakes
9.0
Grains:
Barley, pearled
15.6
Cornmeal, whole grain
11.0
De-germed
5.2
Oatbran, raw
6.6
Rice, raw & brown
3.5
Rice, raw & white
1.0-2.8
Rice, raw & wild
5.2
Wheat bran
15.0
Fruits:
Apple, with skin
2.8
Apricots, dried
7.8
Figs, dried
9.3
Kiwifruit
3.4
Pears, raw
2.6
Prunes, dried
7.2
Prunes, stewed
6.6
Raisins
5.3
Vegetables:
Beans:
- Baked, vegetarian
7.7
- Chickpeas, canned
5.4
- Lima, cooked
7.2
Broccoli, raw
7.7
Brussel sprouts, cooked
2.6
Cabbage, white & raw
2.4
Cauliflower, raw
2.4
Corn, sweet & cooked
3.7
Peas with edible pods, raw
2.6
Potatoes, white & baked, with skin
5.5
Sweet potato, cooked
3.0
Tomatoes, raw
1.3
Others:
Corn chips, toasted
4.4
Nuts:
- Almonds, oil-roasted
11.2
- Coconut, raw
9.0
- Hazelnuts, oil-roasted
6.4
- Peanuts, dry-roasted
8.0
- Pistachios
10.8
Tahini
9.3
Tofu
1.2Top
Importance of VitaminsThey are the micronutrients since they are required in small quantities, but nonetheless availability in our diet is vital.VitaminsVitamins are organic substances present in small amounts in many foods. They are required for carrying out vital functions of the body and many of them are involved in the utilization of major nutrients like proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Although they are needed in small amounts, they are essential for the health and well being of the body.
Fat soluble Vitamins: • Vitamin A • Vitamin D • Vitamin E • Vitamin K Water soluble Vitamins:• Vitamin B • Vitamin C
Importance of MineralsA large number of minerals are present in the body. Some of these form part of body structural components and some others act as catalytic agents in many body reactions.

• Calcium

• Phosphorus

• Iron

• Sodium

• Potassium

Calcium

Calcium is an element found in bones, shells and limestone, among other materials.

Calcium:

• helps lower blood pressure and control heartbeat
• helps regulate muscle contractions
• lays a role in blood clotting

prevents fatal bleeding from breaks in the walls of blood vessels

maintains cell membranes

aids in the absorption of vitamin B12

activates enzymes such as lipase, the fat-splitting enzyme

Your bones furnish reserves of calcium to keep plasma constant at all times.

100 milligrams of calcium:

• Cottage cheese -- 3/4 cup low-fat or creamed
• Broccoli -- 1 cup cooked, frozen
• Navy or pinto beans -- 1 cup cooked
• Taco -- one small
• English muffin -- 1
• Almonds -- 1/3 cup
• Figs, dried -- 4
• Frozen yogurt -- 1/2 cup

A calcium intake of up to 2,500 milligrams is safe for healthy people.

Phosphorous

Phosphorus is a mineral. It is a major component of bones and teeth and makes up part of DNA and RNA.

Phosphorus serves as the main regulator of energy metabolism in cells, helps the body absorb glucose and transport fatty acids, and is part of the buffer system that helps control the acid-base balance of the body.

Good Sources of Phosphorus:Food - Amount - Phosphorus (milligrams)
All-bran cereal - 8 oz. (1 cup) - 792
Pancakes - 3 pancakes - 430
Chili with beans - 8 oz. (1 cup) - 393
Chocolate pudding (instant) - 4 oz. (1/2 cup) - 379
Pinto beans - 8 oz. (1 cup) - 273
1 % milk - 8 oz. (1 cup) - 245
Cinnamon raisin rolls - 2 Hungry Jack rolls - 234
American cheese - 1 oz. - 211
Rib-eye beef - 3.5 oz. (less than 1/4 lb.) - 208
Fried shrimp - 3.5 oz. (less than 1/4 lb.) - 191
Macaroni and cheese - 8 oz. (1 cup) - 182
Bran flakes - 8 oz. (1 cup) - 174
White cake from a mix - 1 slice (1/12 of a cake) - 170
Almonds - 1 oz. - 150
Oatmeal (regular, quick) - 1 oz. (dry) - 132
Egg - 1 large egg - 90
Cola - 12 oz.- 63
Deficiencies of phosphorus are rare. Most men get at least 1,500 milligrams and women get more than 1,000 milligrams a day.

Iron

Iron is part of haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of the blood. Iron-deficient people get tired easily because their bodies are starved for oxygen. Iron is also part of myoglobin, which helps muscle cells store oxygen. Without enough iron, ATP (the fuel the body runs on) cannot be properly synthesized. As a result, some iron-deficient people become fatigued even when their hemoglobin levels are normal. Although iron is part of the antioxidant enzyme catalase, iron is not generally considered an antioxidant, because too much iron can cause oxidative damage.

The most absorbable form of iron, called "haeme" iron, is found in oysters, meat, poultry, and fish. Non-haeme iron is also found in these foods, as well as in dried fruit, molasses, leafy green vegetables, wine, and most iron supplements. Acidic foods (such as tomato sauce) cooked in an iron pan can also be a source of dietary iron.

A common adult dose is 100 mg per day. When iron deficiency is diagnosed, the doctor must also determine the cause. Usually it's not serious (such as normal menstrual blood loss or blood donation). Occasionally, however, iron deficiency signals ulcers or even colon cancer. Many premenopausal women become marginally iron deficient unless they supplement with iron. Even so, the 18 mg of iron present in most multiple-vitamin/mineral supplements is often adequate.

Sodium

Healthy American adults should eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. This is about 1 teaspoon of sodium chloride (salt).

To illustrate, the following are sources of sodium in the diet.

• 1/4 teaspoon salt = 575 mg sodium
• 1/2 teaspoon salt = 1,150 mg sodium
• 3/4 teaspoon salt = 1,725 mg sodium
• 1 teaspoon salt = 2,300 mg sodium
• 1 teaspoon baking soda = 1000 mg sodium

Common sources of sodium

When you must reduce the amount of sodium (salt) you eat, be aware of both natural and added sodium content. Table salt is sodium chloride. It's 40 percent sodium by weight. When you buy prepared and packaged foods, read the labels. Watch for the words "soda" (referring to sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda) and "sodium" and the symbol "Na." These products contain sodium compounds.

Some drugs have high amounts of sodium. Carefully read the labels on all over-the-counter drugs. Look at the ingredient list and warning statement to see if the product has sodium. A statement of sodium content must be on labels of antacids that have 5 mg or more per dosage unit (tablet, teaspoon, etc.). Some companies are now producing low-sodium over-the-counter products. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist if the drug is OK for you.

Most spices naturally contain very small amounts of sodium.

How to reduce the sodium in diet?

• Choose fresh, frozen or canned food items without added salts.
• Select unsalted nuts or seeds, dried beans, peas and lentils.
• Limit the amount of salty snacks you eat, like chips and pretzels.
• Avoid adding salt and canned vegetables to homemade dishes.
• Select unsalted, fat-free broths, bouillons or soups.
• Select fat-free or low-fat milk, low-sodium, low-fat cheeses, as well as low-fat yogurt.
• Specify what you want and how you want it prepared when dining out. Ask for your dish to be prepared without salt.
• Use spices and herbs to enhance the taste of your food.

Potassium (K):

Potassium is a trace mineral essential for growth and good health.

Potassium in the human body helps to:

• Keep normal water balance between the cells and body fluids
• Maintain normal blood pressure
• Transmit nerve impulses
• Enable the contraction of muscles
• Ensure proper functioning of cellular enzymes Potassium

Content of Foods:

Very Good Sources About 400 milligrams or more

• Banana - 1 medium banana
• Cantaloupe - 8 oz. (1 cup)
• Orange juice - 8 oz. (1 cup)
• Baked potato - 1 medium potato
• Tomato juice - 8 oz. (1 cup)
• Honeydew melon - 8 oz. (1 cup)
• Nectarine - 1 large nectarine
• Dates - 4 oz. (1/2 cup)
• Dried beans - 8 oz. (1 cup) cooked
• Winter squash - 4 oz. (1/2 cup) cooked

Good Sources - Approximately 200-400 milligrams

• Collard greens - 4 oz. (1/2 cup)
• Milk - 8 oz. (1 cup)
• Spinach - 4 oz. (1/2 cup), frozen or boiled
• Broccoli - 4 oz. (1/2 cup)
• Raw tomato - 1 medium tomato
• Cooked tomatoes - 4 oz. (1/2 cup)
• Avocado - 1/2 avocado
• Prunes - 4 prunes

Daily consumption of 2,000 to 6,000 milligrams of potassium is a safe range for the general population.

Kitchen Tips

Kitchen Tips :

Maintaining the kitchen clean and in working order needs some planning.Even keeping all ingredients insect-free and all equipment in order requires some forethought.

The following will help achieve the objective:

• Don't store cooked/fried vegetables in your refrigerator for more than 8 hours.These are dangerous for our health.
• To keep banana fresh for a long time,keep them in such a place where temperature is normal.Hot temperature keeps banana fresh for more time.
• To avoid spoilage of dry vegetables,rice,pulses,wheat,grams,dry fruits,keep them in the sunlight for 1 or 2 days during every fortnight.
• Don't throw away stale slices of bread.They can be utilised as summer pudding or bread and butter pudding.
• A pinch of black pepper may keep a minor cut or a bruise from turning nasty.Black pepper has mild anti-bacterial properties.So wash the wound well,sprinkle some on it.It will sting for a second or two like all antiseptics,but it wont harm the tissues or offset the healing process.
• To remove stains from utensils,dip them in a mixture of bleaching powder and water for some time and then wash them with soap and clean water.
• Add a piece of jaggery in oil or ghee to prevent it from turning rancid.
• Whenever food gets burnt,keep the vessel immersed in cold water for 10-15minutes.Gently scoop out the uncharred portion and serve it without any hesitation or fear of any burnt smell from the food.
• To test the freshness of tinned foods,put a drop of water on top of the can and puncture at that very spot.If the water is sucked in,it means that there is nothing wrong with the tin and the food is safe for consumption.
• For smoother slices of cakes,pastries and ice-creams use a knife dipped in hot water.

Vegetarian Croquettes

Ingredients :

• Potato(boiled and mashed) : 500gm
• Milk : 4 tb sp
• Flour : 3 tb sp
• Baking powder : 1/2 tb sp
• Green chillies : 2-3
• Coriander : Finely chopped
• Oil for frying the croquettes
• Salt to taste

Preparation Process:

• Mix all the ingredients together.
• Oil your palms and divide the mixture into small portions.
• Shape each portion into elongated rolls and deep-fry in oil till they are golden brown.
• Serve with ketchup or salad.
  

Are you a Right-Brain or Left-Brain Thinker?

Study of the relationship between the brain’s right and left hemispheres.

• The left half of the brain tends to function by processing information in an analytical, rational, logical, sequential way.The right half of the brain tends to function by recognizing relationships,integrating and synthesizing information, and arriving at intuitive insights.
• In other words, the left side of your brain deals with a problem or situation by collecting data, making analyses, and using a rational thinking process to reach a logical conclusion. The right side of your brain approaches the same problem or situation by making intuitive leaps to answers based on insights and perceptions.
• The left brain tends to break information apart for analysis, while the right brain tends to put information together to synthesize a whole picture.
• If you use the left hand or leg most then your right brain get activated and if you use the right hand or leg most then your left brain get activated.So you can balance this by using your both hands especially left hand or left leg for small small works unknowingly can increase your memory and also visualization.Try this for atleast 2weeks then you will notice the change accordingly.
• In India 90% of the children write or use right hand more than the left hand.So i wanna tell u that encourage children who are left handers because they can be more intelligent than right handers.
• Try to draw any picture using your both hands at a time for example, a picture of a person.Left eye with left hand and right eye with right hand simultaniously and complete it accordingly, by doing this you can balance your brain.

I linked to an intriguing visual of a spinning dancer. It is intriguing because some people see her spinning clockwise, whereas others see her spinning counter-clockwise. Moreover, some people are able to make the direction of her spin switch. The article asserts that the direction she spins is an indicator of whether your thinking is dominated by the right side of your brain (clockwise) or the left side of your brain (counter-clockwise).

According to funderstanding.com, left-brain people are supposed to be logical, sequential, rational, analytical, objective, and look at parts. These folks should see her spinning counter-clockwise. Right-brain people, meanwhile, are supposed to be random, intuitive, holistic, synthesizing, subjective, and look at wholes. She should spin clockwise in this case.

People in various professions tend to be either leftbrain or right-brain oriented. Managers, for instance, tend to be left-brain dominant,focusing on organizing, structuring, and controlling situations. Social workers tend to be right-brain dominant, drawing on their ability to relate to emotions to achieve insights about situations.

http://bama.ua.edu/~st497/pdf/rightorleftbrain.pdf

Power Your Learning

Learning is a natural skill we all have. Yet some people never seem to learn – of course that’s not really true but what is undoubtedly true is that some people learn more quickly than others.

We’re talking about more than learning facts; more than study skills. We’re talking about an ability to do better in every area of life – especially in those areas where you need to improve.

You can become a more effective learner, starting today.
Improving your performance can happen when you learn from your experiences. If you know HOW to learn then you will be able to do better at whatever you undertake.

Consider these questions:

• Curiosity – do you like to find out ‘why?’
• Learning Relationships – can you strike the balance between learning alone and from others?
• Making Meaning – can you make sense of new things, fitting new information with what you already know?
• Creativity – how free are you to try a different way?
• Resilience – not everything is successful first time around, but do you tend to feel bad or find the belief to ‘believe in yourself’?
• Changing and Learning – how flexible are you, how open are you to change, to new things?
• Strategic Awareness – are you aware of your preferences, your feelings about challenges, your strengths and weaknesses when faced with new situations?
  When you complete ‘Power Your Learning’ you will have a valuable insight into your current ability to learn effectively. ‘Power Your Learning’ will show you how you score on the seven key dimensions of ‘learning power’ above.
  
  Most important of all you will find out how you can improve in each of these critical learning abilities and so become a more effective learner.
  
  The Power Your Learning online questionnaire gives you an immediate REPORT on your current learning power.
  
  You can try a FREE sample of Power Your Learning. Click here for details.
  

Bisibele Bath

Ingredients :

• Rice : 500gm
• Toor dal : 250gm
  
• Potato : 100gm
• Carrot : 100gm
• Beans : 100gm
• Green Peas: 100gm
  
• Red chili : 10
• Bengal gram, dal(Chana dal) : 4-5 tbsp.
• Black gram, dal(Urad dal) : 4-5 tbsp.
• Dried coconut grated : 4-5 tbsp.
• Cloves(lavanga) : 6-8
• Cinnamon(dalchini) : medium sticks 4-5
• Cumin powder/seeds (jeera powder) : 1 tbsp.
• Coriander powder/seeds (dhaniya powder) : 1 tbsp.
• Pepper powder : 1/2 tbsp.
• Tamarind thick paste : 5 tbsp
  
• Mustard : 1 tbsp.
• Cumin(jeera) : 1 tbsp.
• Curry leaves
• Oil/ghee as required
• Salt for taste

Preparation Process :

• Take a pan and fry the dals saperately with out oil into golden brown.
• Heat a spoon of oil in the same pan and fry red chilies, dry coconut, cloves, cinnamon saperately and let them cool.
• Now make a fine powder of all the above fried ingredients along with cumin and coriander powders.
• Pressure cook toor dal and all the vegetables which are cut into medium sized cubes with some salt.
• Take water thrice the quantity of rice and get into boil and put the washed rice into it and cook it 3/4th and then add dal and vegetables to it, cook for a minute.
• Now add tamarind water or paste, salt and masala powder(make sure of no lumps of the masala powder), stir well with out getting burnt at the bottom of the vessile.
• Cook till the rice gets with the masala, check by tasting once and take off the flame.
• In a small frying pan heat oil/ghee 4-5 tbsp and add red chili, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves and garnish on the rice and mix it later while serving.
• Serve hot with papad and curds.
  

Note : If u use pepper, coriander and cumin seeds roast them dry and add while makeing the powder orelse u can directly add the ready made powder.
We can store the masala powder in an air tight container and can be used when required.This makes ur preperation time less n easy too.
This can be even used for Vangibath.

Raw Tomato Chutney

Ingredients :

• Raw tomatos(green coloured) : 250 gm
• Groundnut : 50 gm
• Sesamum seeds : 50 gm
• Green chili : 8-10
• Cloves(lavanga) : 6-8
• Cinnamon(dalchini chakka) : 6-8 sized of cloves
• Red chili : 2-3
• Mustard seeds : 1 tb sp
• Cumin seeds: 1 tb sp
• Curry leaves : Finely chopped
• Coriander leaves : Finely chopped
• Oil as required
• Salt for taste

Preparation Process :

• Take a pan and fry groundnuts and sesamum seeds with out oil saperately and put a spoon of oil in it and fry green chili, cloves, cinamon saperately.
• Now in the same pan put 5-6 tb sp of oil n fry the raw tomatos which have cut into four pieces each till its peel comes out.
• Now blend all the fried ingredients into a paste with little water and required salt.
• Add coriander leaves and cooked tomatos to this masala paste and just once click the blender to just mix it with masala(not into a paste, tomatos should not get mashed).
• Put 4-5 tb sp of oil into tomatos fried pan n heat it and add red chili, mustard, cumin and curry leaves and fry for a while.
• Take tomato chutney into the serving bowl n garnish with the above tampering. 
• Serve it with chapathi, rice, idli, dosa. 

Vangibath / Brinjal Rice

Ingredients :

• Brinjals : 6-8 medium sized
• Cooked rice : 500gm
• Red chili : 10
• Bengal gram, dal(Chana dal) : 4-5 tbsp.
• Black gram, dal(Urad dal) : 4-5 tbsp.
• Dried coconut grated : 4-5 tbsp.
• Cloves(lavanga) : 6-8
• Cinnamon(dalchini) : medium sticks 4-5
• Cumin powder/seeds (jeera powder) : 1 tbsp.
• Coriander powder/seeds (dhaniya powder) : 1 tbsp.
• Pepper powder : 1/2 tbsp.
• Mustard : 1 tbsp.
• Cumin(jeera) : 1 tbsp.
• Curry leaves
• Oil as required
• Salt for taste

Preparation Process :

• Take a pan and fry the dals saperately with out oil into golden brown.
• Heat a spoon of oil in the same pan and fry red chilies, dry coconut, cloves, cinnamon saperately and let them cool.
• Now make a fine powder of all the above fried ingredients along with cumin and coriander powders.
• Heat 6-8 spoons of oil in the deep bottemed pan and add 3-4 red chili, 1 tb sp of green gram dal and 1 tb sp of bengal gram dal, let them trun into golden brown and now add mustard, cumin, curry leaves, brinjals each cut into four pieces and let them fry till the brinjals get cooked soft and now add the above prepared masala powder with required salt in a very low flame because we are adding coconut to it, it may get burnt into black soon.
• After the masala get mixed with brinjals properly put the cooked rice to it and mix it well for 2-3min.
• Place a lid on the pan for 5min and serve hot with curds.

Note : If u use coriander and cumin seeds roast them dry and add while makeing the powder orelse u can directly add the ready made powder.
We can store the masala powder in an air tight container and can be used when required.This makes ur preperation time less n easy too.
This can be even used for Bisibele bath.

Beautiful Skin

Beautiful Skin :

In today's world with competition and perfection being the most essential thing, it is imperative to look good. Make-up will help you to some extent but what is most important is natural beauty and a glowing skin. The major culprits that ruin and play havoc on our skin are ultraviolet rays, pollution and stress to some extent. However the most important thing for a glowing and a fresh look and skin is regular exercise and a balanced diet. However at the same time you also need to give your skin a little time for its care and here are a few tips for your skin care regime.

Cleansing

Your skin requires proper cleansing to keep it properly toned and clean. Cleansing removes the dust and stress from your face by cleaning the pores and circulating the blood supply. Use a gentle cleansing agent. Face washes are specially prepared to be effective at cleansing your skin gently and tenderly. For your body use a good mild and moisturizing soap.

Moisturizing

It is essential to use good moisturizers since the UV rays and pollution dries your skin thoroughly and makes it lifeless. There is a range of moisturizers available in the market to suit your skin type but what is important here is to pick the right one with the right components in it. Choose moisturizers, which have anti-aging ingredients and vitamins, added to it and use it regularly. Vitamin A or Retinol and Alphahydroxy Acids are the best anti-aging agents. There are several salts of vitamin A and isotretenioin is found to have definite anti-aging properties and is very effective. It is also an effective care for acne but it dries the skin and also can give mild irritation and hence has to be used under the supervision of dermatologist. Vitamin C is found to have antioxidants and thus has a protective effect on the skin. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant and works by quenching oxygen radicals. Oxygen radicals are formed which causes damage to the skin because of pollution and ultraviolet rays. Collagen, Elastin and Hyaluronic Acid are all good moisturizers as they have a good water binding capacity. Ceramides work effectively on the skin barrier function as well as in the metabolism of the skin. However all these components have to be present in a proper concentration and then only can they be effective.

Sunscreens

With the rise in pollution level and the intensity of the ultraviolet rays it is very essential to use sunscreens during daytime to protect your skin form any kind of damage and premature wrinkles even if you are at home because these rays come in through the windows and there is no running away from it. The UVA ultraviolet rays penetrate deep down in the skin and damage not only the top layer of the skin called epidermis but also the collagen and elastin tissues thereby causing wrinkles and sagging skin. These rays tan your skin and also harms the skin immune system thereby making the skin vulnerable to allergies. Another type of UV-rays is UVB. The sunscreen you use should denote the sun protection factor (SPF) and the approximate measure for protection against UVB is 30 or higher is always better and also check out the protection measures against UVA.

Facials

Facial is also a vital step towards beautiful skin.Facial thoroughly cleanse your face and remove the top dead layers of the skin resulting into having a beautiful and glowing skin. Facial moisturizers your face effectively and help in faster cell reneval and relaxes the muscle of the face. Facial can also treat problems like dark patches, treating acne, restoring skin colour and toning the skin. Facial must be done at least once a month and by a professional beautician.

For Sparkling Teeth

Teeth Care


A good smile catches the attention of everyone and increases your face value. However your smile looks more beautiful if you have sparkling white teeth. Therefore, it is important that you take care of those tiny pearls that make your smile so special.
If you want to get the glitter in your smile then you have to learn to take care of your teeth. It is very important to take care of your teeth since it helps prevent formation of plague around the gums of teeth causing tooth decay and inflammation of the gums.

Following are a few tips that help keep your teeth sparkling clean and prevent tooth decay.

• Learn to brush properly: Brush your teeth properly in order to keep your teeth scrupulously clean. It is important to learn how to brush properly. Move the brush from the gum to the biting edge, working the bristles between the teeth to dislodge food particles. Besides the teeth, the gum should also be cleaned. Massage them in the same stroke as brushing your teeth and give them an occasional extra massage, rubbing them gently in circular movement with a little toothpaste on your finger. Brush teeth systematically around the front and then the inside followed by a sawing movement across the tops of the teeth.
• A good toothbrush is as important as the toothpaste. Hence it is important to choose shape and brand of toothbrush. A good one should have small angled head and soft to medium rounded bristles. This is important as it helps clean all those hidden areas of your teeth.
• Always change your toothbrush after every 3 months.
• Floss regularly to remove the plaque and food debris stuck between the teeth.
• Use a mouthwash to make sure that your breath is fresh. Put a few drops in warm water and rinse your mouth after you clean your teeth in the morning.
• Brush your teeth twice daily or after every meal if possible.
• Visit the dentist regularly and this will help keep your teeth healthy.

Some home-made beauty tips that will keep your teeth sparkling clean

• For sparkling teeth, rub them once or twice a week with a dried bay leaf (tej patta) or with table salt.
• For bringing glitter in your teeth rub them with cotton wool dipped (and then squeezed out) in hydrogen peroxide. This has a slight bleaching effect. You can also make a liquid of these products by mixing two teaspoons of table salt and two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in a large glass of warm water. Then wash your mouth. ·
• If your teeth have stains, you can remove them by rubbing strawberries or putting three tablespoons of soda bicarbonate with two tablespoons of salt.
• To use as mouthwash take ¼ cup of vinegar, ½ cup wine, ½ cup honey, and 1 teaspoon of powdered cloves and boil them. This works as an effective mouthwash.
  

For Beautiful Lips

Lip Care

A beautiful smile lights up a day. It makes your face more beautiful and lively. Your lips are the most important and exquisitely sensitive part of your body. And therefore you have to take special care of your lips.

The common lips problems are:

• Dark Lips
• Cracked lips

Dark Lips

You will be surprised to know that our lips unlike most part of our body do not have any melanin pigment to protect them. Lips are covered on the outside by a thin layer of skin and on the inside by virtually transparent mucous membranes. Therefore it is necessary to take care of our lips and to eat well-balanced food and lots of fruits.

If you have dark lips you have to do the following………

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Stop smoking.
• Avoid lipstick.
• Apply a layer of oil and leave it on for several hours. Best apply before going to bed.
• Mix coconut oil and almond oil in equal quantity. Apply a coat of this on the lips and leave on overnight. This has to be done daily for at least two weeks for best results.
• Massage lips: Every night with a mixture of 1/2 tsp. Glycerine and 1/2 tsp. Castor oil with 1/2 tsp. Lemon juice and leave overnight.
• Apply cream from curds with saffron on your lips.

Cracked Lips

Lips do not produce oil like our skin, because they have no oil producing glands. The skin on our lips is actually mucous membrane, so for them to remain smooth and chap free is a bit of a challenge. The most common cause of cracked lips are allergic reaction to cosmetics, skin infections, extreme weather conditions like excess sun and wind exposure, biting of the lips or a vitamin B deficiency.

If you have cracked lips you have to do the following………

• Protect the lips from weather by applying heavy plain cream.
• Avoid licking your lips.
• To cure dry chapped lips apply peanut butter or coco butter to your lips before going to bed.
• Grind rose petals with cream on the top of milk and apply on lips to cure the cracked lips.
• Take vitamin B, C foods in diet.
• Mix 2 drops of glycerine with 1 tsp of cream on the top of milk and apply to lips to cure the chapped lips and keep overnight to get smooth and shiny lips.
• Mix equal quantities of nutmeg, turmeric, and fresh butter and apply to lips.
• Hot water fomentation, followed by a mixture of Vaseline and honey applied on the lips at least thrice a week will prevent lips from chapping.
• Lips should be moisturized and exfoliated. Exfoliate lips with your gentle facial scrub using a toothbrush or just the tips of your fingers.You can make a paste using baking soda and water to exfoliate lips as well.Work it for a minute and then rinse with lukewarm water.

General Care for lips

• Apply cold cream or moisturizer or lip balm before applying lipstick.
• To get natural pink lips apply beetroot juice before bed.
• Grind rose petals and apply on lips to get smooth pink lips.
• Apply menthol based lip balm and take an old brush and brush gently on lips (don't rub too hard, because lip are very sensitive) to get rid off chapped lips.

Face exercise

Face Exercise :

If you have those circles under your eyes, frowning and squinting left tracks on your face then here are a few face exercises that will help you look great and beautiful. By following these few exercises religiously you will have a young and dazzling look without going for surgery or face-lift. Let us begin with forehead. This exercise should be done 10 times daily to the count of six at a time.

Forehead :

• Join your fingers together with your thumbs folded in and place your fingers near your temples i.e., where your scalp meets your head. Push straight up and hold and then, raise your eyebrows, hold for six counts and release.

Benefits: This face exercise removes the lines above the brow. It targets the muscles of the forehead and the muscles at the back of your head.

• First, place the middle fingertip of each hand in the centre of each eyebrow. Pull the eyebrows apart or outwards, and at the same time try to frown. Hold for six counts. The next step is totally the reverse exercise. Place the middle fingertip of each hand in the centre of each eyebrow; push brows together or inward and at the same time raise eyebrows and hold.

Benefits: This face exercise helps remove the mark on your forehead and the area between the eyebrows. This face exercise targets the muscles right above the brow area.

Eyes :

• Place the three centre fingers of each hand underneath the eye, pull down, and try to close your eyes. Hold for six counts and release.

Benefits: This face exercise eliminates puffiness as it targets the muscles under the eyes.

• Place the ring and middle fingers of each hand at the outer corners of eyes. Pull the corner of the eyes toward the hairline and hold. At the same time, squeeze eyes shut; hold for six counts and then release.

Benefits: This face exercise helps remove the wrinkles around the eyes.

Cheeks :

• Put your head back. Take your three centre fingers, place them on the apples of the cheeks and push down. At the same time, raise your cheeks as hard as you can by smiling.

Benefits: This exercise targets the muscles of the cheeks.

• Put your thumb in your mouth right in the centre of the cheek and push. At the same time, bring the cheek back towards the teeth against your thumb. Hold for six counts and then repeat on the other side.

Benefits: This face exercise will fill out the cheek hollows, firm the face and lift.

Mouth :

• Take your middle fingers and pull down on either side of your lower lip thus exposing your teeth. At the same time try to mope.

Benefits: This exercise tones the muscles around the lip area.

Chin :

• Take your three centre fingers, pull the chin down and at the same time curl the lower lip over the bottom teeth.

Benefits: : This face exercise tones the muscles of the chin.

Tips to prevent hair loss

Hair loss

A single strand of your hair grows half an inch a month and survives for an average of 4½ years.. Once the hair falls off a new hair replaces it within six months. Although it is quite normal to lose 100 strands of hair each day, some people may experience excessive hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children and can be a warning sign of certain disorders in the body. For some individuals, hair loss can be quite stressful, especially for those who are extremely concerned about their appearance.

Tips to prevent hair loss

• Proper washing, brushing and frequent trimming of hair is important.
• Have a balanced diet with adequate protein, vitamins and minerals.
• Relieve yourself of stress.
• Quit smoking, avoid caffeine and carbonated sodas.
• Do not brush or comb hair frequently.
• Do not use very hot water to wash your hair.
• Message scalp gently and regularly.
• Have adequate rest and sleep.
• Protect hair from sun, chlorine and salt water.
• Do not sleep with your hair in a ponytail or done in a braid.
• Try using wide toothed combs.
• When you try to loosen the tangles of hair, start from the tips of the hair towards the roots.
• Use of silk pillowcases will prevent your hair from being caught and broken.

So, how can you prevent hair loss?

As there are various reasons for hair loss, the preventive methods also differ. Here are a few measures that will help in preventing or minimizing hair loss.

• Handle your hair gently and avoid blow drying hair. Whenever possible air dry your hair.
• A healthy balanced diet is very essential for hair health.
• Avoid hair styles that pull hair, like braids and high ponytails.
• Avoid twisting, rubbing and pulling hair.
• Talk to an expert about hair products and hair styles that may minimize hair loss.
• Consult your doctor immediately in case of severe hair loss.

Key points

• It is quite normal to lose 100 strands of hair each day.
• Certain health conditions like diabetes, lupus and cancer can affect the normal functioning of the body, which may lead to hair loss.
• Deficiency of protein and iron can also lead to hair loss.
• Inadequate sleep leads to health problems which may indirectly result in hair thinning and hair loss.
• Handle your hair gently and avoid blow drying hair.

Natural Tips for Healthy Skin

For Glowing skin

• A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.
• Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this in your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.
• Cucumber is a natural cleanser. Mix cucumber juice with milk and use it instead of a cleanser.
• Take 1/3-cup cocoa, three teaspoons of heavy cream, 1/3-cup ripe papaya, 1/4-cup honey and three teaspoons of oatmeal powder. Mix it all together. Apply on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water. This is best for oily skin
• For oily skin, apply a mixture of grapes, lemon and egg white. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. While lemon acts as a natural cleanser, grapes will soften your skin and egg whites will tighten it. Don’t be alarmed if your skin tingles.
• Cut the lemon and rub the wedge all over your face. Leave it for about 20 minutes, then rinse off with cold water. This will refresh your face. Avoid doing this if you have dry skin.
• Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil .This mixture is a good moisturiser for dry skin. Apply this mask for 10 minutes.
• Apply the mixture of honey and milk on the face . This will make your skin glow.
• Prepare a mask by mixing a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.
• Mix half-a-cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.
• For a soothing body pack, prepare a paste of mint leaves and almonds. Mix it with warm water and apply all over your body. Leave it till it dries and rinse with warm water.
• Buttermilk dabbed on skin for 15 minutes will soak up oil from your skin without drying it.
• Carrot juice applied daily fades blemishes.
• For dark underarms and neck apply lemon juice mixed with cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric daily. Leave this on for 20 minutes.
• For removing facial hair.. Apply a sticky paste of egg white blended with sugar and corn flour. When it dries, gently peel it off. Repeat this three to four times a week.
• Thin apple slices rubbed onto oily skin will help in controlling oily shine.
• For supple skin, apply a ripe smashed banana on your face for 20 minutes daily.
• Cauliflower juice applied on warts regularly will make them fall.
• For a fair skin, try this natural bleach. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk. Apply this paste for 25 minutes and wash off.
• Mix half teaspoon dried curry leaf powder with multani mitti (fullers earth) and apply on the face. Wash it after it gets dry.
• Apply the mixture of tomato juice and honey on the face and neck , wash it after 15 minutes.
• Apply the mixture of carrot juice and basin. Leave it till it dries and wash the face.
• Add two teaspoon of tomato juice with 4 teaspoon of curd and apply on the face.
• Add a pinch of yeast with 2 teaspoon of cabbage juice and apply.
• Mix 1 table spoon of barley powder with half teaspoon of lime juice and 1 teaspoon of honey. Apply it on the face and wash after 20 minutes.
• Mix pineapple juice and carrot juice together and apply it on the face and wash it after 15 minutes.
• Mix vinegar and rose water in equal quantities and apply.
• Mix curd and cucumber juice and apply it on the face.
• Apply the mixture of coconut water and thick pineapple juice.
• Make a paste with 1/2 teaspoon of milk powder, 1/4 teaspoon of egg white and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice and apply on the face.
• For dry skin, Make a paste with egg yolk, olive oil and lemon juice. Apply it on the neck and face, wash it out after 10 minutes.
• For oily skin, take a mixture of oatmeal and egg white and apply it on the neck and face
• For glowing skin, use basin or green gram powder mixed with milk instead of soap.
• Apply the mixture of raw turmeric and cream of milk on the face and wash it after 20 minutes. It will make your skin fair.
• Apply the mixture of honey, basin, cream of milk and olive oil as a face pack.
• Apply the paste of fenugreek with milk on the face and let it dry. Wash off with luke warm water.
• Make a paste of red sandal wood and apply it on the face every day for glowing skin.
• Make a paste with red sandal powder and coconut milk and apply on the face for soft skin.

For Black Spots

• Make a paste with mehndi and oil and apply on the face
• Make a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice and glycerin and apply it on the spots
• Apply the paste of turmeric and curry leaves on the face and wash it after 15 minutes.
• Apply a mixture of mehndi and turmeric. For a piece of turmeric, 2-3 leaves of mehndi are used
• Grind dried basil leaf, neem and mint (100 gm each). Add some turmeric powder and rose water to make it in a paste form and apply it on the spots.
• Grind betel leaf and add a little coconut oil and apply it on the spots
• Soak a chappathi in milk overnight . Make it into a paste and apply it on black heads. Repeat for several days
• Make a paste of saffron and add some honey , apply it on the face to remove black spots.
• To remove black spots... apply a paste of turmeric and basil.
• To remove wrinkles on the face, apply a mixture of sandalwood powder, rosewater and glycerin. Wash with cold water after some time

For pimples

• Apply a mixture of turmeric and neem on the face .
• A mixture of crushed mint leaves and oats will reduce pimples. Leave this for 20 minutes and wash it with warm water.
• Mix thick curd, turmeric and two drops of oil. Apply on the face.
• Crush garlic and take the juice and apply it on the face daily to reduce pimples
• Make a paste with sandal wood and turmeric and apply it on the face.

Natural Tips for Healthy hair

For Dandruff

• Massage the Scalp with pure coconut oil. This will also help for growth of hair.
• Apply coconut oil which has been boiled with small onions. Wash it off with a mixture of green gram powder and water drained from cooked (boiled) rice.
• Apply a mixture of almond oil and gooseberry juice with finger tips on the scalp.
• Apply the warm mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and coconut oil. Do a steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes and wash the hair with a shampoo.
• Apply a paste of fenugreek and mustard to the scalp.
• Mix Shikakai powder with the water drained from the cooked rice and wash the hair with it.
• Crush the leaves of five petal hibiscus flower and take the juice. Wash the hair with this juice.
• Heat the oil with a little camphor. Apply the oil in the scalp and massage for 10 minutes. After 30 minutes wash the hair with a herbal shampoo. Do the steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes.

For Healthy and Shiny hair

• It is better to apply castor oil for a healthy growth of hair.
  Wash hair with tea once in a week.
• Apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.
  Soak a handful of gooseberry in a cup of milk for two hours. Make it as a paste and apply in the hair.
• Apply the mixture of an egg white, 2 spoon of castor oil, 1 spoon glycerin, in the scalp and hair. Wash it after some time.
• Massage hair with warm coconut oil an hour before washing. Let it soak. Cover your head with a hot towel and wash your hair after an hour or so.
• Boil a few hibiscus flowers in coconut oil. Filter and use this hair oil to control hair loss and thinning.
• Do a 'steam-towel-wrap' once in a while, if your cuticles are damaged, as this steaming opens out the pores and absorbs the oil.
• Deep condition with curd, beer and egg.
• Mix a little vinegar in warm water and rinse your hair with this solution. This will add bounce to dull and lifeless hair.
• Soak 1 teaspoon fenugreek in curd and keep it for a night. Have it in the next morning.
• Boil coconut oil with the juices of curry leaves, basil, hibiscus flower and gooseberry. Apply on hair, keep it for sometime and rinse.
• Egg white and curd is a good conditioner for hair.
• Take a cup of coconut and mustard oils. Soak half a cup of curry leaves in the oil mixture and keep it for a night. Next morning, heat on a slow fire till the curry leaves turn crisp. Remove from heat and add two to three camphor balls. Allow oil to cool and then strain. Apply oil to hair roots using cotton wool along the parting and massage in circular movements. Leave the oil overnight and shampoo the next morning. Repeat twice a week. Add a lemon peel to a 'shikakai' and 'amla' mixture while washing your hair.

For Graying

• Take a little Mehandi , an egg, juice of half a lemon, one table spoon of instant coffee powder. Mix it together and apply on the hair. Wash it after 45 minutes.
• Boil one cup of dried gooseberry with 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of sugar in it. Keep boiling till the quantity of the liquid reduces to one cup. Mix 2 cups of Mehendi, an egg, juice of a lemon and the gooseberry solution and apply on hair. Wash the hair after two hours.