Sunday, 6 March 2016

10 Greatly Helpful Uses for Mustard



Mustard has a large number of alternative uses, mostly related to health. Herbal medicine is known to stimulate and accelerate blood circulation in the body. This can prevent and alleviate a great host of diseases and symptoms, Beside therapeutic use, it also has useful cosmetic properties: softens hair, treats dry skin and removes odors. So without further a-do, here are 10 surprising uses for mustard!

1. Mustard relieves a sore throat
Mustard can be used as a natural solution to relieve a sore throat. To prepare the solution, mix mustard, lemon juice, a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of honey and half a cup of boiling water. Let the solution stand for 10 minutes then gargle it. The effect is supposed to last for a few days, but if the pain returns, prepare another solution.

2. Mustard fights bad odors
Many products are packaged in attractive bottles, jars and boxes, the problem is that in most cases, it is very difficult to remove the odor of the materials previously stored in those containers. In this regard, mustard is a great solution. Pour a little mustard in the dish, add hot water and shake vigorously. Wash the contents of mustard and water, the smell should completely disappear.

3. Mustard relieves chest congestion
Mustard can help prevent the accumulation of mucus in the body. Prepare a compress made of mustard and flour in a 1:3 ratio, add water until you get a mixture, apply it to a cloth and place on the chest for 20 minutes. Another option is to apply the mustard to the rib-cage area and lay over it a cloth dipped in hot water. Within a few minutes you will feel better. If you suffer from sinusitis, apply this method to the forehead.

* Please note, mustard may cause allergic reactions in the skin, so you should first make sure you are not sensitive to it.

4. Use mustard to treat fever and flu
Prepare an infusion of mustard seeds. On low heat, bring a pot of water to a boil, add a teaspoon of mustard seeds and let simmer for 5 minutes. Let the brew cool and then drink it all.

5. Mustard as a cosmetic mask
Besides improving the taste of food, mustard can highlight the beauty of the skin, especially facial skin. Apply a thin layer of mustard to the skin, let it sit a few minutes then rinse well. After washing, your face will feel smooth and fresh. As mentioned, check first that you are not allergic to mustard.

6. Use mustard to calm muscles
Athletes and the elderly tend to suffer often from tense and aching muscles. An effective way to relieve pain is by sprinkling mustard and Epsom salt (magnesium- sulfate salt) in a tub. Mustard enhances the therapeutic effects of Epsom salt, which will help relieve muscle pain.

7. Mustard to relieve tired feet
Usually, after a busy day of running around, we suffer from swollen and painful soles. For relief, make a calming solution in the following way: Mix 2 tablespoons of mustard with warm water in a pot or in a bowl, immerse your feet in the bowl for half an hour, and it should calm the pain and swelling.

8. Mustard treatment for painful knees
For people who suffer from chronic knee pain or seasonal pain, or during physical effort, it is recommended to perform a warm massage with a mixture of olive oil and mustard oil.

9. Mustard to treat back pain
Back pain often limits the movement of the body, but the long ordeal can be reduced with a hot mustard bath. This is good and effective for back pain, muscle aches, arthritis, and sprains. Fill the tub with warm water, add 220 mg of mustard, stir until they mix and then dip in the solution for 20 minutes. The pain will be reduced considerably.

10. Mustard to prevent the growth of weeds in your garden
According to scientists, the materials secreted by white mustard seeds can prevent the growth of weeds on the same ground. Plant a handful of mustard seeds near the plants, or sprinkle the seeds around the garden. The amount of weeds will be significantly reduced, so you can move them easily with bare hands. Please note before you plant: the seeds may harm other plants, so make sure to check first.

Mahesh Bhatt

Sunday, 14 February 2016

10 English words used only by Indians



1. Mother Promise
For ages, you have always used this word without even knowing if it was a legit word, haven't you? So we decided to burst your bubble! While the word 'promise' features in the Oxford Dictionary, there's no mention of 'mother promise'. Surprised? Wondering how 'mother promise' came into being. It's the literal English translation of 'ma kasam' or 'aai shapath'. The next time you want to stand by something you really mean, try using just 'promise'. You don't really need to drag your mother into everything, do you?

2. Cousin sister and cousin brother
According to the Oxford Dictionary a 'cousin' is a child of one's uncle or aunt. And Grammar Nazis would insist that the word 'cousin' does not need to be followed with words like 'sister' or 'brother'. Did you know that 'cousin sister or cousin brother' are words used only in India. The right way is just to say 'cousin'. Wondering how you'd get to know their gender. Well, that's what names are for, aren't they?

3. Good name
When Indians meet strangers, why do they ask the question, 'What's you GOOD NAME?' Every parent or grandparent who has named the child, does it with a GOOD intention. So there's nothing bad about a name. The next time you meet a stranger, you could say 'What's your name?'

4. Revert back
Now this one's tricky! Because that's what you have been writing in e-mails, haven't you? Well according to The Free Dictionary 'revert' means 'to reply to someone'. Why use 'revert back' when you can just say 'revert'?

5. Rubber
In India the 'eraser' is also called 'rubber'! But in the rest of the world, 'rubber' is a slang for 'condom'. Now it makes sense why your relatives and friends in foreign countries complain that people there burst out laughing when they ask for a 'rubber' instead of an 'eraser'.

6. Picture
When was the last time you mentioned that you were going to 'watch a 'picture'?' No one really knows when 'picture' became synonymous with 'films' or 'movies' in India. According to the Oxford Dictionary, 'picture' means a drawing or painting. You could say 'I am going out to watch a movie or film'.

7. Mention not
Isn't it funny that every time someone thanks an Indian, they quickly turn around and say 'mention not'. We are still scratching our heads wondering how the word originated and what it means. There are plenty of ways you can accept someone's thanks. You can use any of the following:
You're welcome.
It's my pleasure.
That's alright.
No problem.

8. Pass out
How is it that every Indian graduating from college is passing out? Confused? Let's tell you the difference. When you are really drunk and become unconscious, you 'pass out'. But when you refer to a successful completion of a course or training, you use the word 'graduate'.

9. Cheatercock
We all have used this word in our childhood. Once, twice, thrice…we have lost count of the number of times we called someone a 'cheatercock'! But ever wondered what does the word mean? We are still wondering! According to the Oxford Dictionary, cheater is a person who acts dishonestly in order to gain advantage. Won't it be sufficient if we just said 'cheater'?

10. Would be
How would you introduce your fiance?
Amit: Hello uncle.
Uncle: Hello Amit.
Amit: Uncle, I would like to introduce you to my 'would be'.
Unfortunately Amit doesn't know that 'would be' means nothing. If you want to introduce your to-be bride then simply use 'fiance'. How easy is that

Mahesh Bhatt

Monday, 8 February 2016

10 Painfully Obvious Truths that Everyone Forgets Too Soon!



You know how you can hear something a hundred times in a hundred different ways before it finally gets through to you? The ten truths listed below fall firmly into that category – life lessons that many of us likely learned years ago, and have been reminded of ever since, but for whatever reason, haven’t fully grasped.

1. THE AVERAGE HUMAN LIFE IS RELATIVELY SHORT
We know deep down that life is short, and that death will happen to all of us eventually, and yet we are infinitely surprised when it happens to someone we know.
LIVE your life TODAY! Don’t ignore death, but don’t be afraid of it either. Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take action. Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive. Be bold. Be courageous. Be scared to death, and then take the next step anyway.

2. YOU LIVE THE LIFE YOU CREATE FOR YOURSELF
Your life is yours alone. Others can try to persuade you, but they can’t decide for you. They can walk with you, but not in your shoes. So make sure the path you decide to walk aligns with your own intuition and desires, and don’t be scared to switch paths or pave a new one when it makes sense.
Even if you have no idea where you’re going to land, be brave enough to step up to the edge of the unknown, and listen to your heart.

3. BEING BUSY DOES NOT MEAN BEING PRODUCTIVE
Though being busy can make us feel more alive than anything else for a moment, the sensation is not sustainable long term. We will inevitably, whether tomorrow or on our deathbed, come to wish that we spent less time in the buzz of busyness and more time actually living a purposeful life.

4. SOME KIND OF FAILURE ALWAYS OCCURS BEFORE SUCCESS
Most mistakes are unavoidable. Learn to forgive yourself. It’s not a problem to make them. It’s only a problem if you never learn from them.
Just because it’s not happening now, doesn’t mean it never will. Sometimes things have to go very wrong before they can be right.

5. THINKING AND DOING ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS
Success never comes to look for you while you wait around thinking about it. Ask yourself what’s really important and then have the courage to build your life around your answer.
And remember, if you wait until you feel 100% ready to begin, you’ll likely be waiting the rest of your life.

6. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN APOLOGY TO FORGIVE
Life gets much easier when you learn to accept all the apologies you never got. The key is to be thankful for every experience – positive or negative. Forgiveness is a promise – one you want to keep. When you forgive someone you are making a promise not to hold the unchangeable past against your present self.

7. SOME PEOPLE ARE SIMPLY THE WRONG MATCH FOR YOU
You will only ever be as great as the people you surround yourself with, so be brave enough to let go of those who keep bringing you down. There are so many “right people” for you, who energize you and inspire you to be your best self. It makes no sense to force it with people who are the wrong match for you.

8. IT’S NOT OTHER PEOPLE’S JOB TO LOVE YOU; IT’S YOURS
It’s important to be nice to others, but it’s even more important to be nice to yourself. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world. Yes, let someone love you and let that someone be YOU.

9. WHAT YOU OWN IS NOT WHO YOU ARE
You have to create your own culture. Find the strength to fill your time with meaningful experiences. The space and time you are occupying at this very moment is LIFE. Too often we’re told that we’re not important, we’re just peripheral to what is. And it’s sad, because someday you’ll wake up and realize you’ve been tricked.

10. EVERYTHING CHANGES, EVERY SECOND
Embrace change and realize it happens for a reason. It won’t always be obvious at first, but in the end it will be worth it.

Life doesn’t stop for anybody. It moves rapidly and rushes from calm to chaos in a matter of seconds, and happens like this to people every day. It’s likely happening to someone nearby right now.

However good or bad a situation is now, it will change. That’s the one thing you can count on. So when life is good, enjoy it. Don’t go looking for something better every second. Happiness never comes to those who don’t appreciate what they have while they have it.

Mahesh Bhatt

Friday, 4 December 2015

40 Amazing Facts about the Human Body:



How long does a human hair live for? What's the strongest muscle in the body? These questions and many other bizarre quandaries will be answered in this extra fascinating list of 40 amazing facts about the body you call your home!

1. The brain is more active at night than during the day. Scientists don't yet know
why this is.

2. The higher your IQ, the more you supposedly dream.

3. Facial hair grows faster than any other hair on the body.

4. The nail on the middle finger grows faster than all other fingernails.

5. Fingernails grow nearly four times faster than toenails.

6. The lifespan of a human hair is three to seven years on average.

7. The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve zinc. It doesn't destroy the stomach because the stomach wall constantly renews itself.

8. Women's hearts beat faster than men's.
 
9. Women blink twice as many times as men do.

10. Women are born better smellers than men and remain better smellers over life.

11. Men burn fat faster than women by a rate of about 50 calories a day.

12. Men get hiccups more often than women.

13. A man has approximately 6.8 liters of blood in the body while women have approximately 5 liters.
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14. The largest cell in the body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.

15. During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools.

16. Babies are born with blue eyes more than any other color. The melanin in their eyes needs time to be fully deposited or to be darkened by ultraviolet light to reveal the baby's true eye color.

17. Men become aroused every hour to hour and a half during sleep. This is because the combination of blood circulation and testosterone production can cause arousal during sleep and are a necessary part of REM sleep.

18. After eating too much, your hearing is less sharp.

19. If your saliva cannot dissolve or mix with food, you will not be able to taste that food (try tasting something after drying off your tongue)

20. Noise causes the pupils to dilate. Even very small noises can do this.

21. Everyone has a unique smell, unique fingerprint and unique tongue print.

22. By age 60, most people will have lost half their taste buds.

23. Your eyes remain the same size after birth but your nose and ears never stop growing.

24. Getting even moderately severe sunburn causes extensive damage to the body's blood vessels.

25. We are about 1cm taller in the mornings than in the evenings.

26. The strongest muscle in the body is the human tongue.

27. The hardest bone in the human body is the jawbone.

28. The hands and feet contain almost half of all the bones in the human body.

29. About 32 million bacteria are present on every inch of human skin. Most are harmless and some of them are even helpful.

30. Humans shed and regrow outer skin every 27 days.

31. 300 million cells die in the human body every minute. Every day an adult produces 300 billion new cells.

32. The colder the room you sleep in is, the higher the chance of you having a nightmare.

33. Humans are the only species that produce emotional tears.

34. All babies are color blind at birth - they see only black and white.

35. The only part of your body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It gets its oxygen directly from air.

36. The average human being can survive 20 days without eating but can survive only two days without drinking.

37. It's impossible to kill yourself by choking yourself with your hands.

38. Everybody has a stronger eye and a weaker eye.

39. Your skeleton renews itself every 10 years, meaning it's brand-new again once every decade.

40. Human feet have 500,000 sweat glands and can produce more than a pint of sweat each day.

Mahesh Bhatt