Towards a Healthy Life...

"To be fit as a fiddle," is the new mantra nowadays. But in the race to become healthy ,we are ignoring some basic health needs.
The so called 'health gurus' advocate strange things.
"Avoid rice completely," says one.
"Don't use oil," says another.

Has anyone given a thought to what our ancestors ate? They were never crazy about eating raw food, but always ate variety of dishes, including pulses and oil. They were healthy and definitely lived longer. They also did a lot of physical activity which helped them maintain good health.

So they key to healthy living is simple- Choose different kinds of food that provides you with a variety of nutrients, consume it in moderation and exercise daily!

You just need to remember the healthy eating pyramid and choose foods accordingly- 

 

Tip: Remember to use healthy cooking oil like rice bran oil in your dishes.

My personal favourite is Fortune Rice Bran Health. It is the healthiest oil on the planet! It contains valuable nutrients like Tocotrienol (a very powerful Vitamin-E), skin-friendly compound Squalene and above all the amazingly heart-friendly Oryzanol. Rice Bran Oil also has the highest cholesterol lowering property amongst all the common edible vegetable oils.

  

On this note, I would like to share my signature healthy recipe made using Fortune Rice Bran Health- 

a South Indian dish 'Sattunavu' which literally translates to 'strength food'.

Book Review: The Bankster

Title: The Bankster
Author: Ravi Subramanian
Genre: Crime Fiction

Ravi Subramanian is the author of four successful books about the banking industry and the recipient of the Golden Quill Book award. Being called 'the John Grisham of Banking' by The Wall Street Journal is no mean feat and that raised my expectations about the book.

The Plot

A CIA agent exchanges weapons for diamonds - in Angola, South Africa. 
An old man protests against the commissioning of a nuclear plant - in Devikulam, Kerala
A series of employee deaths shatter the peace in an international bank - in Mumbai

What is the link between these three seemingly unrelated events? That is what 'The Bankster' is all about.  

The Road to Healthy Hair

The monsoon and winter seasons can wreak havoc on your hair. In these cold months, dry and lifeless hair is a common complaint cited by many.

Dry hair can result from external factors, such as exposure to harsh chemicals, or from internal causes, such as an illness.

How to care for your hair

Follow these simple tips to have soft and shiny hair:

Cover your hair

Always wear a scarf, hat or cap when you step out, to protect your hair from the cold. Make sure that it's not so tight that it will restrict circulation in your scalp.

Treat your hair

Opt for an oil massage thrice a week, to nourish your hair. Massaging warm oil on to the scalp will help avoid dryness in the scalp. Similarly, a hair spa can also do wonders to your hair- it has the dual benefit of pampering your hair and making you stress free!

The Worm in the Chicken: The KFC issue

A KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) outlet near Pulimood junction in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala was temporarily shut down on Monday (8th October 2012) after a family reportedly found worms in their fried chicken pieces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTDIo6k_i7I 

Shiju Abdul Basheer had gone to the restaurant to dine with his family. When his wife cut a piece of fiery chicken to feed their daughter, she found live worms wriggling in it. The restaurant staff apologized and offered to replace the dish. But when Basheer refused, they tried to take it away forcibly. The other customers came to his aid and alerted the police as well as the Food Safety Authority. 

 

On inspection, the Food Safety Authority found that the outlet did not maintain adequate sanitation guidelines and some seized chicken pieces were allegedly as much as five months old. 

Veshti - A Unique Garment

Nothing can match the elegance of a man in a spotless white veshti and angavastram. He may wear it ironed, let it rumple or fold it above his knees, but a man always takes pride in his veshti. This unstitched traditional garment is something men still love to wear. 

“It is the traditional attire of South Indians, especially Tamilians and Keralites. Care and effort have to be taken to preserve the traditional garment, but equal efforts have to be made to keep the veshti from falling from the hips,” said Muralidharan (53), a marketing manager. He added that he continued to wear the veshti because he found it airy and convenient.

Not just older men, but even today’s youngsters like the veshti for its multifaceted nature.
Balasubramaniyan (24), a student, felt that the veshti was the most comfortable garment for men.  “It has many uses. Sometimes when I have to walk in slush, I fold it up to my knees and ensure that it doesn’t get soiled. When I feel cold at night, I use my veshti as a porvai (blanket) too,” he added.

The Veshti

A Legacy of Passion

It was the break of dawn; a time of rest and slumber for the people in the small town.  But not for the lone young woman who was in the throes of pain. Labour pains had begun more than twelve hours ago, but had yet to cease. Beads of sweat lined the forehead of the gynaecologist in charge. This was not just another delivery, for it was her daughter who lay on the operation table. She prayed for the umpteenth time and chided herself for daring to oversee her own daughter’s delivery. Her fear for her delicate daughter’s well being had made her take that decision but now she regretted it. Waiting outside the operation theatre would have been a better and rational choice.

Finally at 4:30 am, the event occurred. A bawling, red faced infant came out of the struggling mother.  All that the woman saw was a head full of hair, before she fainted. As the proud grandmother nestled the baby in her arms, she heaved a sigh of relief. And that was how I entered the world.

Borra Caves : Magnificent and Mysterious

At a distance of 100 kms from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, lie the magnificent million - year old Borra caves. They are located in the Araku valley of the Ananthagiri hills in the Eastern Ghats of India. Nestled among gentle, sloping hills, at an elevation of 2313 feet, Borra caves are a picture of mystery and beauty. Measuring up to 100 m horizontally and 75 m vertically at the entrance, these are few of the largest and deepest caves in India. The caves stretch for about 200 m into the hills.

Discovered in 1807 by a British geologist, William King, these natural caves were supposedly formed by the pressure exerted by the Gosthani river on the hills. The river now flows through the caves.

I pay a visit to the caves in the humid month of May, and am told that the ideal months for the trip are November and December. Yet, the place is swarming with tourists.

An arched entrance greets me as I make my way slowly into the colossal caves.

The Old Photograph

This post is the last in the series Fiction.  It is a descriptive piece about an old photograph.

Year : 2100

As I frantically searched for my old books in the attic, I stumbled upon a small wooden box. Strangely enough, I hadn't noticed it before. Curiosity got the better of me and I dusted the box lightly before I pried it open. It contained a single photograph placed on a velvet cloth. I picked it up to get a better look.

Yellow with age, the photograph was reminiscent of good old times. As it nestled in my palms, I couldn't help but stare at the people in it. What struck me was the happiness that radiated from within them.The family of six stood huddled in a semi circle of sorts as they posed for a picture. Misty mountains and green forests could be seen in the backdrop, which added beauty to the scene.

A Busy Street

This post is the third one in the series Fiction

The rooster crowed loudly, indicating the onset of morning. This was a cue for the residents of the neighbourhood, who were instantly up and about. The sound of suprabathams soon filled the air and beautiful kolams decorated the street. A bright, sunny day dawned.

In a short while, motorists were battling for space with pedestrians as there was no pavement. Moreover, roadside vendors occupied most of the space in the narrow street. Women in cotton sarees and flowers in their hair could be seen bargaining with the vegetable vendors. Men in formals sped away on their motorbikes. School children chatted nineteen to a dozen as they waited for the bus. Noise, chaos and commotion prevailed everywhere. The scene on the busy street was a sight to behold.

As the hours ticked away, darkness descended and street lights sprang to life.

The Train Journey

This post is the second one in the series Fiction

The train sped away towards its destination. It carried numerous passengers bound on their daily commute. The general compartment of the train was nearly full as people of different heights,shapes, and sizes filled the place.

Each person was preoccupied with something or the other. A middle aged man was leaning on the rails of the window, as he watched the sights and sounds of the city outside. A group of boys were ogling at an attractively dressed girl, who chose to ignore them. A young woman, wearing a burkha, seemed to be lost in thought. Another woman, dressed in a saree was chatting away on her mobile phone. A bespectacled young man, had earphones on as he observed everyone in the compartment. A frail old man sat in a corner with his head between his hands. All of them were strangers, yet huddled together in a single compartment as one, united in their journey.