Walk Forward...Walk Backward?

Walk Backward To Boost Brainpower

Exercise not only keeps you physically fit, it also improves your brain fitness, that's because when you engage in physical activity, oxygen-rich blood boosts the production of brain chemicals that improve memory, attention and problem-solving.

To give your gray matter the ultimate workout, try walking backwards. No kidding! Also called retro-walking, going in reverse keeps your mind alert, focuses your thinking, and improves your sense of balance.

A study showed that people performed difficult tasks faster after walking backward than they did after walking forward or even sideways.

The downside of retro-walking, of course, is a lack of hindsight, which makes it more difficult to avoid potholes, signs and other hazards. To be safe, practise backward walking on a track or treadmill. Remember, it's much harder to walk in reverse, so slow down your pace by at least 50 percent.

So, try walking in reverse today to give your mind and body the ultimate workout...... Can you? :)

OMG, it "Beats" You !!!

Dr Dre headphones

Designed on the believe that ‘People aren’t hearing all the music’, Beats by Dr Dre let the people hear what the artists hear in their studios, and listen to the music the way they should. Dr Dre headphones not only delivers the sound output as close to reality a technology permits, but it also boasts ultra-portability and luxury factor. The headphones are quite popular among the DJs and music lovers, and one can easily find someone rocking a pair of Beats by Dre. Further, to make these technically advance headphones more elegant and luxurious, Dr Dre some time or the other teams up with famous design companies and designers including Oscar de la Renta, Crystal Rocked, ColorWare and CrystalRoc. For people looking for a blend of luxury and high quality audio, here is the list of Dr Dre bling headphones that stands apart as the examples.



1.  Lil Wayne $1 Million Beats by Dre Headphones

Price: $1 Million

Recently, American rapper Lil Wayne was spotted wearing a $1 million diamond studded Beats by Dr Dre headphones at the NBA All Star basketball game. Created in collaboration by Beats by Dr Dre and Graff Diamonds, the headphone was covered in 114 carats of diamonds, and it is said to be the most expensive headphone till date. Beats by Dr Dre are the high definition powered isolation headphones, and they are so comfortable that you actually feel the music not the headphones. The plush cushions covered with ultra-soft breathable materials keep you cool, under all listening conditions.



2.  Gold Studio headphones

Price: $2,500

For the people looking for a blend of luxury and high quality audio, Crystal Rocked has crafted the famous Dr. Dre Beats Studio headphones plated with 24 carat gold in its “Collectors Series”. The latest in stylish design and pioneering technology, the headphones took six months to be created. These headphones are packed in a custom made walnut box, and are engraved with serial numbers. On purchase of each headphone, the buyer would get a certificate of authenticity relating to the individual purchase. The headphones also carry warranty and individual customer numbers, so that the item remains unique, and is never repeated. Apart from being a luxury product, this audio gadget is technologically advanced too. The gadget is featured with Beats Studio high definition powered isolation and is equipped with the monster cable, which is 1.3 meters long and can be easily fit in any phone like iPhone, Blackberry and other music phones. The headphones are limited to only 50 in numbers, out of which, 10 are reserved for Harrods Department store, London. And, the headphones come with two years of warranty for a price of $2,500. Although, they are gold plated headphones but are not the most expensive ones.



3.  Dr Dre Beats – Pro 24ct Gold plated

Price: $1,588

Crystal Rocked has earlier crafted the famous Dr. Dre Beats Studio headphones plated with 24 carat gold in its ‘Collector Series’, and now, it has expanded its range of Dr Dre headphones by creating the 24 carat Gold plated Pro headphones. Dr Dre Beats Pro is the reference headphone designed by audio professionals for audio professionals, and particularly for those who prefer a clean yet power sound. The Pro’s are the most in demand headphones, and are built from strong yet lightweight aluminum for rugged on-the-go use. The flip up ear cups let the listener to monitor the room without taking Beats Pro off the heads. Further, the Pro’s have dual input/output cable ports that enable you to share mixes by daisy-chaining headphones. Quality music listeners can get this Crystal Rocked 24 carat gold plated Pro headphones at price of $1588 along with 2 years warranty.



4.  Dr Dre Detox Pro

Price: $1,388

For those looking for a perfect gift for the high-end audio lover on their list, Dr Dre is one of the most trusted brand in styling and the material used. So, keep aside the struggle of figuring out the gift options, and gift a pair of Dr Dre DETOX Pro black crystallized headphones, which they are surely going to cherish forever. We have earlier also told you about Dr Dre Beats Studio headphones that with light rose Swarovski crystals makeover. Only 20 of these Beats Pro Detox are available through Crystal Rocked, who are expert in crystallized makeovers of the tech products for more than a decade now. Besides, the blinged looks, the high definition headphones are created for a surround sound experience with distortion free clarity. Each headphone will be encrusted with 3000 clear pieces of black Swarovski crystals. The headphones retail at $1,388 and will come with one year warranty.



5.  Beats by Dr. Dre in ColorWare look

Price: $1,000

The good folks at ColorWare have now given an exclusive treatment to the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, which are already quite popular among the music lovers and DJs. To my surprise, they haven’t colored the headphones red or blue this time. Instead, they have gone with the sexy chrome finish, and have chosen the name "Beats Chrome" for the limited edition version. Only 50 units will be produced with a brilliantly reflective chrome finish. Moreover, each official set will be uniquely engraved to make you stand out from the crowd. ColorWare is asking a cool $1,000 for the uber-stylish Beats Chrome headphones.



6.  Dr Dre Beats Studio Headphones Swarovski Light Rose

Price: $891

With the tech world flying higher each day, it seems it’s catching up with luxury too. After the 24 Carat Gold headphones by Crystal rocked, Dr. Dre has now created the Light Rose Swarovski studded headphones, that will surely ‘bling’ up your sound listening experience more than anything else. With high quality sound output and external noise cancellation, these headphones are equally capable of catering to your professional audio needs. Many a times, artists don’t get the actual sound output from their recordings with which they judge the quality. With these Dr. Dre Studio headphones, that issue is well taken care of, and the sound output is as close to reality as technology permits. This means, the studios are now completely at ease about what they need to have in their kitty in the future. Next in line is the ultra-portability and luxury factor. Despite the 4,300 individual rose Swarovski crystals over the headset, the weight is fairly light which means one wouldn’t feel a load while listening to long hours of audio. The 1.3 meter chord lets you connect to any device, including your iPod, iPhone, and also a whole of music gadgets, which lends variety to its integration capabilities. Accompanying the headset will be a special fiber cleaning cloth, meant for precious surfaces such as these. With advanced Aegis Microbe Shield Technology, you can hope for a perfectly clean and hygienic set of headphones. These shall set you back by $891 a set.



7.  Oscar De La Renta with Dr Dre for limited edition

Price: $695

The magic of rapsters and their somewhat auras seems to have a charming effect on everything they associate themselves with, specially limited edition electronics. After creating some really ‘blinged’ headphones such as the Detox Pro and the Beats Rose crystal, Dr. Dre as a brand has once again joined hands with Oscar de La Renta for the Beats limited edition headphones. What first appeared like a pair of ear mufflers, actually turned out to be a pair of designer headphones, truly ‘different’ though they may be. Once you figure out the lifestyle of the folks from the hip-hop world, it makes no real sense to stick to something that’s just about ending at sophistication. Instead, hope for something truly outlandish and sometimes a bit tacky too, which we guess would be the fair assessment of these headphones. Made with plum tinted faux fur, these Beats headphone come as a real surprise taking into consideration, that the one of the most noted Dominican designers have been a part of the project. Luckily, the hip-hop geeks will have the good luck of listening to some high quality sound, kind-of weird though it may look to the others. Since the technology within the device is the same as before, the output of sound will never really take a seat back in terms of customer satisfaction. So, if you are looking to stand out by the virtue of your choice of style for electronics aesthetics, the Dr Dre headphones are for you, but with a $695 price tag. Also, do hurry in as we hear that there won’t be too many apparently!



8.  Dr. Dre Beats with CrystalRoc makeover

Price: NA

After festooning the Shure, Sennheiser and Audio Technica headphones with sparkling crystals, CrystalRoc has done the Dr. Dre Beats headphones too. Beats by Dr. Dre from Monster are high definition headphones engineered and designed to reveal the full sound of digital music and reveal every note with distortion-free clarity. CrystalRoc has adorned each Beats headphone with more than 4,320 Swarovski crystal Elements in crystal and black hematite. They will also make the headphones available with chrome or gold plating. No word on pricing for now.



9.  ColorWare Collection Illusion Beats by Dr Dre

Price: $1000

ColorWare, the customization specialists has just introduced its new ColorWare Collection Illusion Beats Studios that features the heart pounding close-to-reality sound output along with chameleon-like, iridescent paint. Delivering stunning and dramatic color shifting effects, the headphones have been painted with a chameleon-like, iridescent paint with incredible precision and care. The chameleon-like effect is visible when the blue to red-color shifts from blue to warm red, purple and copper, the red to gold-color shifts from red to orange, gold and slight hints of maroon, and the gold to silver-color shifts from gold to a radiant, yet icy, silver blue and green. Available on ColorWare online store at the price tag of $1000, each of the headphone pair has been uniquely engraved and comes with ColorWare Collection Classic Ultrasuede carrying case.

via : http://www.bornrich.com/expensive-dr-dre-headphones.html#prettyPhoto

Drinks these to help lose weight.....can try oh!! :)

The secret to losing weight isn’t just watching what’s on your plate; it’s also about watching what’s in your glass. Popular soft drinks, fruit juices, and energy drinks can be loaded with added sugars and carbohydrates that can sabotage your weight-loss strategy. Here are five tasty ways to drink up without packing on the pounds, why not give yourself a try, maybe you'll get a better results for your weight loosing programme.




1. Water
We all know this one, but it’s important to remember that water is the single best choice for effective weight loss. Whether it’s still or sparkling, aim to make water your go-to beverage choice. Think water is boring? Try adding fresh lemon slices, lime, cucumber, and even a slice of tomato to add flavor without adding many calories.






2. Vegetable juice
Whether in a can, bottled, or homemade, vegetable juice is an excellent way to get the fiber and nutrients your body needs to fuel your weight loss. If you can find a low-sodium variety, even better. The veggies will keep you fuller longer and the tangy flavor will keep your taste buds happy.






3. Unsweetened tea
Green tea has been proven to help boost metabolism and speed up weight loss. Try it hot or iced with a bit of honey for a low-sugar sweet drink. Don’t forget black and oolong teas, too! Both are filled with antioxidants, which can help rid your body of toxins.





4. Black coffee
A morning cup of joe or an afternoon iced coffee can help spur your weight loss by providing a boost of caffeine that suppresses hunger. Also, coffee has been shown to stimulate thermogenesis, which heats up the body and boosts metabolism. Just be careful about what you add to your coffee — stick to skim milk and very little sugar. (it is advisable NOT to take black coffee if you're having high-blood pressure)





5. Skim milk
Milk is an excellent source of lean protein, vitamin D, and calcium that can help build your muscles and keep your bones strong. Opt for low-fat or skim milk for all of the vitamins without the added fat. If you are feeling indulgent, add a little chocolate — low-fat chocolate milk is a great option for post-workout muscle recovery.





But of course the perfect results for "losing weight" must combine with diet and exercise...... :)

The Best Time for You?

 

The best time to study
when you wake up after you wash your face, you mind is most clear. Study at this time, it is easy to memorize what you studied.







The best time to eat fruits
Eating fruit one hour before meals is most beneficial because fruits are raw. It is more appropriate to eat raw then cooked food so that the body need not to elevate white blood cells to protect the body's immune system. This in turn enhances the anti-cancer mechanism. (Exceptions: Pineapples, oranges, bananas, should be taken after a meal)




The best time to exercise
Evening is the best time to exercise because human activities are subject to the "biological clock". On the contrary morning is not suitable for exercise and can be harmful. Exercise in the morning, blood pressure and heart beat are moving higher than the evening.






The best time to take a bath
Before bedtime, a warm water bath allows the body to relax the muscles and joints. It also helps sleep peacefully.





The best time to lose weight
45 minutes after meals. A twenty minute walking (or 1600 meters), is most conducive to weight loss. If the walk is repeated two hours later, it would be even better.






The best time to sleep
the best napping time is one hour passed noon. This time is the easiest in falling asleep. 10:00 pm to 11:00 p.m. is the best time to go to bed, because deep-sleep normally from one half of an hour to one hour after you fell asleep.






The best time to brush your teeth
Within three minutes after each meal. After eating one-third of bacteria in the mouth begin to decompose acid residue in food which can cause corrosion of enamel.





The best time for skin care
Skin metabolism is most vigorous between midnight and 6 a.m. So before going to bed, skin care can promote the skin metabolism and lead to proper functioning.






The best time to drink tea
Drink tea immediately after a meal is not scientific. This is because tea tannin has iron-binding properties making it iron salts insoluble, and preventing iron absorption. Day after day, it is likely to cause anemia. It is more preferable to drink tea one hour after when iron in food has been absorbed.




Hope you guys can choose the right time to keep a healthy body and be happy always !!

Bubble Tea

THE HEALTH RISKS OF BUBBLE TEA

 Bubble tea brings a lot of sweet excitement to our taste buds but it is also very harmful to health. Milk essence (dairy creamer) is the main ingredient in bubble tea. Ten cups of fresh milk cannot match the taste of a teaspoon of milk essence. The main ingredient of milk essence is hydrogenated vegetable oil, a type of trans fats. Experts says that a glass of 500ml of bubble tea a day far exceed the allowable limit of trans fats for any person. It will lead to heart and blood vessel diseases. Milk essence gives the bubble tea the fragrance and makes it tasty. The fragrance and tastiness derived from a type of chemical. This chemical has a trace of arsenic, lead, copper and many harmful minerals. Long term consumption can lead to heart and blood vessel diseases, cancer, asthma and other health complications. It reduces the IQ of children.

Consuming the black bubbles is equivalent to consuming plastic. Normally these bubbles were made from cassava (tapioca) powder. This alone does not give the rubbery texture. To make it more rubbery, millet protein is added. Some "black hearted" businessmen felt that this is still not rubbery enough so, an artificial plastic powder is added. This type of artificial plastic material will never be digested and absorbed into the body. It will remain in the body and cause havoc to our health. You can imagine what will happen to your health after prolonged consumption of trans fats and plastic!!!!

2013 Arrinera Supercar

2013 Arrinera Supercar is the new batmobile

The iconic superhero Batman has two primary modes of transportation; one is swinging from the gothic clock towers on his Batline and second is cruising around Gotham in the Batmobile, which is described to be a seriously tricked out car used by Batman in his crime-fighting activities. This gadget-laden super vehicle has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Over the times, we have seen some of the most outrageous Batmobiles, including the BatLimo and the world’s only turbine powered Batmobile. Now, it’s the time to see the striking new Lamborghini-esque styled Arrinera, a Polish supercar that is the closest thing a Batman fan will drive to the Batmobile.

Poland based company Arrinera Automotive partnered with Lee Noble, a famous British car designer, engineer and entrepreneur, to develop its first supercar dubbed Arrinera. Though, with its initial computer generated images released last year, some speculated the Arrinera’s first supercar will be nothing more than just a designers dream. But, the idea to develop a car with design inspiration from radar-evading stealth fighter-jet became a reality, and now we witness the official launch of the supercar which can be technically called as Arrinera Arrinera.

Available as both roadster and coupe, Arrinera is powered by ZR1’s 6.2 -liter 8-cylinder engine tuned to generate staggering 650 hp and 820 Nm of torque. Through a Graziano gearbox, the mid-mounted engine will power the rear wheels. To keep the car’s weight less than 3,000 pounds, the body of the vehicle has been constructed entirely from Kevlar composites and carbon fiber, ensuring extreme performance numbers.

Initial test have revealed that the car can accelerate to 62 mph from a standstill in 3.2 seconds and reaching 124 mph only 5.7 seconds later. Further, the car’s 380 mm disk brakes with 6-piston calipers at the front and 350 mm brake discs with 4-piston calipers at the rear, supported by 19-inch wheels will drag the car to safe and quick halt at higher speeds. Zero to 124 mph then again back to zero will only take a mere 14.3 seconds, which is at par with the performance figures of Ferrrari Enzo.

The Arrinera boasts Lamborghini styling cues, including a Reventon-esque front end, vents ahead of the rear wheels that looks similar to those of the Murcielago and Gallardo-like rear intakes. Further, access to Arrinero is through its Lamborghini styled blade doors, and its interiors are adorned in the finest hand-crafted leather and carbon-fiber, highlighted with aluminum trim.

The company has now confirmed the completion of work on the prototype, and is preparing a production version. Also, instead of creating production facilities, company hopes to find sub-contractors in Poland for a targeted production date of late 2012. The Arrinera Automotive also hopes to sell 50 units in the first year at a starting selling price of $160,060.

The interiors also comes equipped with a thermal imaging camera that monitors the area in the front of the car and displays any items of a higher temperature on a central display.


Also, watch the exclusive behind the scene making of the supercar Arrinera.

Via: Arrinera / DupontRegistry

Big TV? It's Sharp's 90-inch AQUOS LED HDTV

The World's Largest LED HDTV

Beating its last year’s own 80-inch Aquos LC-80LE632U, the acclaimed Japanese consumer electronics company, Sharp has now proudly announced the commercial availability of its new behemoth 90-inch Aquos LED LCD HDTV, tagged as world’s largest LED HDTV. Announced at an event held in New York City, the 1080p Sharp Aquos LC-90LE745U is a pricey HDTV that notably uses less than 150 watts of power, costing an average of just $28 per year to operate. Apparently, it has been observed like expanding both the size and price of the largest HDTV in the Aquos line, and putting on largest HDTV in the market each year is the latest in the trend of Sharp.

Costing $10,999, the Aquos LC-90LE745U is a 90-inch diagonal LED TV, measuring nearly 4 feet tall and 6 feet and 8 inches wide. Delivering a picture quality as stunning as its size, the enormous Sharp 90-inch Aquos displays crisp and crystal clear content at HD 1080p resolution. The TV is thin and lightweight, weighing just 141 lbs without the stand and is less than 5-inches deep, making it pretty easy to mount on a wall.

Featuring Sharp’s proprietary SmartCentral, the new TV offers direct access to the most popular apps and video on demand from popular services like Netflix, CinemaNow, Youtube and Hulu Plus, to name a few. Notably, it also serves web browsing and Skype capabilities, along with built-in Wi-Fi support. Also, a full HD active 3DTV, it comes packed with two 3D glasses and is equipped with AquoMotion 240 that helps avoid blurring images during fast-paced action-packed movie scenes or live sporting events.

And, like the entire new Wi-Fi enable Sharp TVs, this one also features Aquos Advantage LIVESM, a free service for owners that actually connects them with the trained customer support representative, over the internet. It will be only available at high-end electric retailers.


Via: PCMag / UberGizmo

Meditation for " U "

The reason why busy people should try meditating; Here, there's tips on how to start......anywhere.

Feeling overstressed and overworked? It's a situation that is fast becoming the norm in the frantic pace of life today. Instead of being frazzled and stressed out all of the time, try taking a breather by meditating. You’ll learn to slow down and take the time to sit still, breathe easy and live in the moment.

While this centuries-old practice is a cornerstone of many major religions, it has gradually evolved into various secular forms, as more and more people realise its significant benefits.

Sharing today is the health benefits to meditation and tips on how you can incorporate meditation into your daily life.

 
1. IT REDUCES BLOOD PRESSURE
Participants who meditated for a few weeks will significant to drop in their blood pressure, from a borderline high range to a normal range. The release of stress causes your muscles – including the muscular walls of your blood vessels – to relax. Less resistance to blood flow means lower blood pressure.



2. IT INCREASES BLOOD CIRCULATION
Relaxed blood vessels translate to an overall increase in blood flow, which helps prevent strokes. Increased blood flow to the brain improves mental alertness, while increased blood flow to the digestive system helps you to digest your food better.



3. IT IMPROVES YOUR SLEEP
With regular meditation, you tend to fall asleep faster and experience deeper sleep. Quality sleep helps you to feel more energetic and calm throughout the day.



4. IT BALANCES YOUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS
Studies have shown that meditation has a harmonising effect on both hemispheres of the brain. Many of us operate from our logical left hemisphere. We think too much and over-analyse situations at the expense of our feelings. Meditation helps to balance our rational thoughts with our emotional feelings.



5. IT OPTIMISES BRAIN FUNCTION
Among other mental benefits, meditation helps boost your creativity as well as increase your efficiency in learning new concepts.




GETTING INTO THE ZONE
Meditation can be practised anywhere – your home, office, or even in a taxi while stuck in traffic. Two categories of meditation are most popular: mindfulness meditation and concentration mediation.

• Mindfulness meditation: you focus on the present – aware of what’s around you – without engaging, judging or analysing your thoughts or feelings. You allow stray thoughts to pass freely through your mind, while anchoring yourself by focusing on your breathing or by chanting mantras.

• Concentration meditation: you focus on a specific action – like breathing through your nose – or a mental image – like a flower or a flame – while emptying your mind of all other thoughts.

If you are religious, you can chant a prayer or mantra to still your mind. Or you could focus on ideas and thoughts like peace, forgiveness or love.


How to get started:

• Designate a quiet place at home – like your bedroom – for meditating. Ask your family to respect your space by not disturbing you while you meditate.

• Before you meditate, freshen up: Wash your face or have a shower so you feel more awake and energetic.

• Sit in the cross-legged lotus position, spine straight. Begin by taking a few deep breaths and releasing tension from your body and mind.

• Consciously relax your entire body, especially your chest and facial muscles. Focus your mind on your breathing. Don’t be concerned about distracting thoughts or emotions – neither welcome nor repress them. Eventually, your inner world will become calm.

• After you meditate, reinforce the positive aspects of your session. For example, tell yourself you feel fresher or did well by sitting still for 10 minutes.

Meditation is good for busy life people, it helps to release our stress and "recharging" our body & soul, try to practice everyday......

Earphone "hurts"!!

Have you ever noticed that your ears start to hurt after listening to your iPod for hours on end?

It might have something to do with that nonstop hair-metal playlist you made, but it’s more likely due to “listener fatigue”.


Here’s what happens: Listening to music through small headphones seals your ear canals. Volume levels are significantly louder in sealed ear canals than they are in open canals, so your eardrums have to work extra hard to manage the volume. But ironically, that defense mechanism makes loud volumes seem softer than they really are, so you turn the volume up even more. That puts an even bigger strain on your eardrums, which is when you start feeling the fatigue.

The potential solution: A lens that looks like a tiny ear-sealing balloon. It latches on to the tip of an earbud, where the “sacrificial membrane” disrupts the high sound-pressure waves from the headphone speaker, protecting your eardrums in the process.


As a result, lower volumes sound much louder because you’re not triggering the ear’s protection and wearing out those muscles. Also, you’re protecting your hearing because when those muscles are fully engaged, they don’t do as good a job at catching the high volumes that they’re supposed to protect you from.



A study found that: listening to music at full volume through an iPod for more than five minutes a day using Apple’s earbuds can increase your risk of hearing loss. To cut your risk, just lower the volume: The same study says you can safely listen to an iPod for 4.6 hours per day at 70 percent volume using Apple’s earbuds.







But you won't listen in "full" volume right? My advise is 50 percent volume should be sound good. Or else, change your earphone to headphone instead. Headphone only covered your outer ear, not sealing your ear canals.




Enjoy listening......but don't forget to protect your ear too.


Finally sharing some MV with you guys... enjoy !!

Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (Live at The Royal Albert Hall)

 

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

Lil Wayne - Mirror ft. Bruno Mars

To sleep better when travelling

Avoid jet lag and make the most of your trip
Ever go on a trip and have the first couple of days ruined because you couldn't get to sleep, or couldn't wake up? It's very likely you suffered from a circadian rhythm disorder, and international vacation bummer: jet lag. 

Also called time zone syndrome, jet lag is a mismatch between our internal clock, and the clock of the place you're traveling. Those traveling the farthest distances are usually hit the hardest, especially those headed east. 

Jet lag symptoms (fatigue, insomnia, headache, anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and digestive problems like nausea, diarrhea, and constipation) can last anywhere from 2 days to a week, depending on distance traveled. The general rule is it takes 1 day to recover from 1 time zone. 

Though jet lag is worst when traveling across three time zones or more in the eastern direction, it can easily ruin any vacation if you're not prepared. Here are 10 tips for well-rested travel.

1. Leave stress at home.
In any situation where you may be sleep-deprived, it pays to try to be stress-free. Stress seems to play a role in how our body reacts to changing time zones.

2. Drink up.
Dry air at high altitudes can be dehydrating and contribute to fatigue, so make sure you drink plenty of clear liquids. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, since both are dehydrating and can affect your sleeping pattern.

3. Reset your clock.
Two or three days before your flight, change the time on your clocks and your computer a few hours forward or backward. You don't have to completely acclimate yourself to a different clock, but the idea is to get your sleep cycle closer to the time zone that you're headed towards.

4. Regulate your light.
Melatonin, the chemical that helps us sleep, is suppressed by bright lights. If you're traveling to a time zone 6 hours earlier or later and it's dark on the plane but light at your destination, try a light visor, which shines two lights into your eyes simulating daylight. This can help your body adjust to your new time zone before you even get there. If it's dark at your destination but light up in the air, shield your eyes with a sleep mask on the plane and try to get some sleep.

5. And if you're not getting enough melatonin, take a supplement.
This over-the-counter herb has been proven helpful for jet lag. Take 3 to 5 milligrams at your destination when you're ready for bedtime.  

6. Avoid spicy foods.
High-protein or spicy foods seem to be more stimulating and can keep you up. Eat more carbohydrates, and if you really want to sleep, try a bowl of pasta on the plane, or a turkey sandwich.

7. Block out noise.
Try noise-canceling headphones and listen to music if you're trying to sleep, or go without the music if the plane is loud.

8. Eat when you're hungry.
Hunger can be a stimulant. You don't want to eat a large meal that will make you uncomfortable, and at the same time you don't want to try to go to bed hungry. Though the experts recommend synching your sleeping schedule to your destination, they say you shouldn't worry about making your meal times match. Stick with small meals and eat when you're hungry. It's too complicated to schedule your meals.

9. Shun sleeping pills.
You want your body to adjust to the sleeping pattern of the destination you're going to be in. A sedative can cause you to sleep too long on the plane, keeping you awake later that night and increasing your risk of developing blood clots on the plane.

10. Never take a red eye.
When you're considering what time to fly, avoid night flights. Red eyes might be efficient since you spend your night traveling but it usually doesn't pan out because people typically crash later. If you're flying east, aim to take a flight that lands mid-day at your destination, and for westbound travel try to land in the morning to get your clock on the right track. 

                      Happy Travelling & Arrive Well-Rested ...

Your Baby, Your Honey...

Why Babies Should Not Eat Honey?
When is Honey Safe for your Baby?


A commonly asked question when it comes to foods for infants is about giving babies honey. Honey should never be given to a child under the age of 12 months old.
In fact,  it is advises that honey should not be added to food, water, or formula that is fed to infants younger than 12 months of age. This technically, applies even to honey in baked or processed food goods.

There are many who feel that honey is really not a danger to babies because in one form or another, honey has been given to babies well under the age of 12 months old. There are many cultures that continue to give babies honey almost from birth and incorporate it early into baby's diet. We have outlined a few facts about Honey and the possible risk to babies. While we may be overly conservative and caution against giving a baby under 12 months of age honey, we recommend that you thoroughly discuss this with your pediatrician.

            

Does Honey Contain Botulism?

Honey may contain botulism spores which can lead to botulism poisoning. There are some areas of the country (United States) where the possible contamination of honey with botulism spores is higher due to the soil. Soil contains botulism spores/bacteria and the flora that bees use to feed on grows in that soil. Also, disturbed soil containing the spores may directly settle upon hives for example - and thus the spores themselves could contaminate the honey as well. Honey is mostly consumed in raw form and is typically not pasteurized, sterilized or radiated. Even pasteurized honey can contain botulism spores and should be not be given to children under the age of 12 months. 

Adults can handle a small amount of botulinium spores easier than babies.

In adults, the amount of botulism spores ingested (if any) from honey is really quite negligible because we have mature intestines. The intestines of an adult contain enough acids to counteract the production of toxins the botulism bacteria produce. Once an infant reaches the age of 1 year or older, their intestines have a balance of acids that help destroy and fight off any toxins that the botulism bacteria produce.

Can My Baby Eat Baked Goods With Honey?

The botulism spores can only be killed by the high heat which can be obtained in a pressure canner. The toxin (that is produced in anaerobic conditions) can only be destroyed by boiling. So technically, honey is not safe for infants even in cooked form such as in baked foods like breads. Botulism spores will NOT be destroyed during and under household cooking methods and temperatures.

Are Corn Syrup and Molasses Safe for Baby Under age 12 months?

Corn syrup, and even molasses, may also contain these spores; these items are typically NOT processed and pasteurized either. If someone recommends corn syrup to alleviate constipation, try another method. While the incidence of botulism poisoning in infants via contaminated honey is very very rare, you should use your own judgment and comfort level when making the decision to introduce honey to your baby's diet.

Is Maple Syrup Safe for Baby Under age 12 months?

Maple syrup comes directly from inside the maple tree. It is the sap of the maple tree that creates maple syrup and contamination with botulinium is almost impossible. The method of making syrup from the maple sap involves intense boiling, for prolonged periods of time. The spores are not known to thrive under these boiling conditions. In fact, boiling is one of the ways that botulism spores are killed. The risk of botulism from maple syrup is virtually non-existent and maple syrup is considered safe. However, there are some pediatricians who will say that maple syrup is not good for those under 1 year of age; please be sure to ask your pediatrician about offering your baby maple syrup!