Why pregnant women should have yogurt

Yogurt is not only tasty, but is also healthy, especially for pregnant women. And reinstating this fact is the results of a new study, which suggests that yogurt containing probiotic bacteria may protect children and pregnant women against heavy metal exposure. The researchers found a significant protective effect of it against mercury and arsenic in pregnant women.

According to lead researcher Gregor Reid, this is important as 'reduction in these compounds in the mothers could presumably decrease negative developmental effects in their foetus and newborns'.

The researchers created and distributed a special yogurt containing lactobacillus rhamnosus bacteria and observed the outcomes against a control group. Their lab research indicated that the bacteria had a great affinity for binding toxic heavy metals. The results obtained in the children studied showed benefits like lowering toxin levels.

Some More reasons why they must include it in their diet
Pregnant women need a whole lot of calcium reserve as the foetus in their wombs uses this calcium to grow and develop their body structure. Yogurt is extremely rich in calcium and is a great way to build bones.

Yogurt is also abundant in folic acid and proteins. Most importantly, the good bacteria in this diary product prevents stomach upset and yeast infections, thus soothing a pregnant woman's tummy.

Quick ways to enjoy your fix:
- Nothing can taste better than plain yogurt. Have it as it is to enjoy its flavour.
- You can also blend it with fruits and vegetables to make yummy smoothies.
- Yogurt can be used as a substitute for sour cream and mayo in sandwiches and salads. Not only is it healthy, but is also low in calories.
- You can also layer your cereals with yogurt and add fruits to it for a healthy snacking option.

(With inputs from IANS)

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Play up your waves

Wavy hair looks extremely chic if styled properly. Here are a few ways you can play up those waves:

Scrunch: Take a dollop of mousse and scrunch your hair. Then run through your fingers a couple of times to give it a roughed-up and bouncy look.
Hair-dryer to get a messed-up look: After you wash your hair, use a blow-dryer to add volume to the waves. Instead of a comb, use a brush to give your locks a stylish look.
Add streaks to your waves: If you want to glam up your waves, use hues of brown, honey gold and red.

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The things you should know about your makeup

Women love their makeup. Ask any woman to throw away her precious (expired) cosmetics and chances are that you'll get a dirty or indignant look. But what most women don't realise is that hoarding cosmetics and keeping them for years will do more harm than good.

Beauty experts say that it is avoidable to keep makeup for years and that it is a good habit to go through your makeup kit at least once a year so that you can chuck out things that are well past their use date. Not only will expired products use up space, they can also wreak havoc on your skin.

Your mascara, liquid eyeliners and kajals should ideally be replaced every six months because each time you use them and put the wand back in, it accumulates harmful bacteria. Just because you haven't finished a tube of mascara, doesn't mean you use it forever. Do your eyes a favour and spend a bit on your eye makeup items.

But makeup sponges and eye makeup brushes in bulk — this way you can use them just a couple of times and chuck them away. Don't keep cleaning the sponges repeatedly — they'll just collect germs, which you will end up putting on your face unknowingly.

Your bottle of liquid foundation ideally should be kept for just about over a year. Keep it in a cool place and never ever use your fingers for application — stick to a sponge or brush.

Lip glosses and lipsticks can just about last for two years before you should throw them away. Similarly, compact powder can be safely used for two months unless the powder has changed colour.

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Grooms opt for breast reduction surgeries

Cosmetic and plastic surgeon and hair transplant expert Dr Manoj Khanna tells us more about Gynecomastia.

The market for cosmetic surgery in India is swelling rapidly due to the intense urge among people to look good and feel good about their own selves. Who doesn't want that perfect body, pleasing face and a charming demeanor? The desire to look one's best escalates manifold on one's special day, that of one's wedding!

It is the day when brides and grooms wish to turn up in their most superlative avatars to make their marriage the dream event it is meant to be. The time when only brides used to fret about their looks on the wedding day is passe. Today, even a groom pulls all stops to look like a veritable 'prince charming' and make heads turn. In the hullabaloo of marriage, when to-be-brides go in for all kinds of facials and bridal treatments to add that extra glow on their faces, grooms too try to sort out their own set of problems.

One such problem that is prevalent among men is 'Gynecomastia' which is an endocrine disorder that leads to enhancement of the breast tissue in males. Men usually overlook this problem by wearing loose clothes, trying to trick their own selves in the process. But the only way to solve a problem is to deal with it. And the time when most men gain the guts to go in for a bit of cosmetic treatment is when they are about to become grooms. This is when cosmetic procedures like 'Liposuction' and 'Male Breast Reduction' take the lead.

Gynaecomastia is a medical term that is taken from the Greek word for 'lady-like breasts'. It implies an expansion of the male breast as a consequence of an irregularity in the glandular tissue. This disorder can be seen in 40-60% of men in different degrees.

Male Breast Reduction

Cosmetic procedures like 'Male Breast Reduction' are the best option to deal with this absurd disorder. Broadened male breasts can be lessened by liposuction or by removing overabundance of the glandular tissue.

The procedure for male breast reduction normally takes two hours, ordinarily on an outpatient premise, utilizing general or local anesthesia. During the procedure, the exorbitant glandular tissue is uprooted which is why it might take some more time to complete the process. The outcome is much better when everything that is not required is taken out.

Liposuction

Liposuction is the most widely performed cosmetic procedure in the world. The procedure is carried out to remove the fattening tissue under a general soporific. Modest cuts are then made around the areola and at different places in the midsection so that a minor metal tube (cannula) could be inserted in the zone for the suction of the greasy tissue.

Provided that it is essential, a percentage of the glandular tissue is evacuated through cuts at the fringe of the areola. The entry points are then sutured to give a better shape to the midsection. The fastens will be of dissolving nature hence they don't need to be uprooted by the patient and they also won't leave any visible scars.

Lipoplasty

Male breast reduction surgery may be performed separately or in combination with Lipoplasty (also called Liposuction), where the suction apparatus is regularly embedded through the existing cuts. For the removal of abundant greasy tissue, doing liposuction alone would serve the purpose. In this case, there are minute scars which disappear in due course of time.

This procedure may take between 1-3 hours after which the patient can go home or contingent upon the single patient. Generally patients can go home or be under medical supervision for a few days, depending on the condition of the patient.

A lot of grooms are now taking up these safe and expedient procedures to remove the awkward element from their lives and to begin their conjugal lives with a renewed freshness. If a single procedure can metamorphose the entire appearance and confidence of a person on their big day, then it's definitely worth a try!

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Diwali jewels that will have you sparkling

Celebrate this Diwali with the usual aplomb, and heighten the extravagance and opulence associated with this season in jewellery that's attuned to the latest in fashion.

What better time to flaunt your dazzling gold and diamonds than this festival of lights? From the card party to Laxmi Puja, there are plenty of occasions to deck up to the nines in jewels complimenting traditional as well as fusion attire. Shop for these styles and you'll be the diva of Diwali this year.

Temple jewellery: Designs from long gone depicting gods, goddesses, sacred motifs, ornate flowers, leaves and birds are enjoying a revival in the market. "Indians are going back to their ancient roots and temple jewellery is a perfect fit for those looking for a slice of history," says a jeweller in Mumbai, whose clients are turning up with photographs of temple-designed ornaments for him to replicate. Although it might seem cumbersome for wearers with delicate shoulders, the beauty of temple jewellery is that it's so ornate that even the plainest attire gets a dose of glamour with it. Temple jewellery looks great on Indian as well as fusion clothing that makes use of Indian textiles or motifs.

Polki: The rise in the price of diamonds has led to a surge in the demand for polki (uncut diamonds) combined with diamonds. The reason behind this is that a polki-and-diamond necklace set would cost a lot less than a necklace made entirely of diamonds. Whether you buy something set in exquisite patterns or opt for a pair of simple polki strands, it's a hot buy for the season. Look for designs embellished with rubies, diamonds or pearls. Trending this season are elaborate rings, bracelets and earrings in polki set in traditional patterns.

Oversized stones: Things are getting bigger (and better) this Diwali, when it comes to precious and semi-precious stones at least. Big-sized diamonds are in demand. So, instead of many small diamonds in a pave setting, hunt down a solitaire diamond in a prong setting. Solitaires are classics, so they won't ever look outdated. Experiment with the shapes of diamonds and semi-precious stones.

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