'Breakups hit women harder, men just move on'

Article Credit : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Women experience more emotional pain following a breakup, but they also recover fully as compared to men, according to a new global survey which included respondents from India.

Researchers from Binghamton University in New York and University College London asked 5,705 participants in 96 countries to rate the emotional and physical pain of a breakup on a scale of one (none) to 10 (unbearable).

The five countries with the most respondents were the US (63 per cent), India (7 per cent), Canada (5 per cent), and the UK and Germany (3 per cent) each. Researchers found that women tend to be more negatively affected by breakups, reporting higher levels of both physical and emotional pain. Women averaged 6.84 in terms of emotional anguish versus 6.58 in men. In terms of physical pain, women averaged 4.21 versus men's 3.75.

While breakups hit women the hardest emotionally and physically, they women tend to recover more fully and come out emotionally stronger. Men, on the other hand, never fully recover — they simply move on, researchers said. According to Craig Morris, research associate at Binghamton University and lead author of the study, the differences boil down to biology. Women have more to lose by dating the wrong person.

"Put simply, women are evolved to invest far more in a relationship than a man," Morris said.

"A brief romantic encounter could lead to nine months of pregnancy followed by many years of lactation for an ancestral woman, while the man may have 'left the scene' literally minutes after the encounter, with no further biological investment.

"It is this 'risk' of higher biological investment that, over evolutionary time, has made women choosier about selecting a high-quality mate. Hence, the loss of a relationship with a high-quality mate 'hurts' more for a woman," Morris said.

Conversely, as men have evolved to compete for the romantic attention of women, the loss of a high-quality mate for a man may not "hurt" as much at first, Morris said.

"The man will likely feel the loss deeply and for a very long period of time as it 'sinks in' that he must 'start competing' all over again to replace what he has lost — or worse still, come to the realisation that the loss is irreplaceable," he said.

Morris said that breakups are important because most of us will experience an average of three by age 30, with at least one affecting us strongly enough that it substantially decreases our quality of life for weeks or months.

"People lose jobs, students withdraw from classes, and individuals can initiate extremely self-destructive behaviour patterns following a breakup," he said.

"With better understanding of this emotional and physical response to a breakup — post relationship grief — we can perhaps develop a way to mitigate its effects in already high-risk individuals," he added.

The study was published in the journal Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences.

Hairstyles to make you look young and gorgeous

Article and Image Credit : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

1)      Short hair Your youth-fix doesn't have to come in a bottle or a needle, just a cut is all you need. Short haircut and styles are selling like hot samosas. From a classic bob to the trendy lob (long bob), you are spoilt for choice.

2)       Bob Classic and never out of style "a bob works with, not against, your bone structure," says Rodney Cutler, leading celebrity stylist. Curly, retro waves, chin-length or shoulder-length - a bob can styled in different ways. Which is why it is both timeless and, for the most part, ageless. As Cutler suggests, the best way to look young, edgy and confident is to angle the hair in an A-line style-shorter in back and longer in front.

3)      Wob Meaning "wavy bob", is the latest addition to the bob family. With a combination of waves and tousled finish, wob equals a highly contemporary stylish look and adds a lot of youthful appearance. Take a cue from Beyonce's waves or Ali Fedotowsky's messy short waves. And of course, Taylor Swift is always there to help you with some retro inspiration.

4)      Pixie Another classic cut, Pixie has been worn by some of the biggest and most powerful women throughout history. No wonder it is so popular. This edgy cut creates a modern vibe and exuberates an independent but feminine image. You can style it pretty as much as sexy. Sophisticated or funky. "Nothing enhances a beautiful bone structure more than a cute short haircut," accords celebrity hairstylist Sascha Breuer.

5)      Headband Girly, but headbands are the classic form of hair accessories and they add a lot of freshness to your look. You can wear them at many occasions, from work, to an evening out or to the gym. Thin headbands are an interesting thing to add to your hairstyle.

6)      Braid Be it a loose side-swept braid or a long-braided ponytail, braids bring out the damsel in you. "Braids exude the innocence of a youth, while its fun texture adds playfulness to a hairdo," says hairstylist Hannah Burdy. There are different ways to style a braid. Try a partial braid (like Blake Lively) that frames a side of the face or a loose side-swept braid that diffuses unnecessary attention to your aging features. A braided ponytail wrapped up into a messy bun like that of Jessica Alba is another way to take some years off your look.

7)    Side-Swept/Part Though a center part is considered to make a face slimmer, the fact is it can look very plain on a mature woman and draw unwanted attention to shortcomings. On the other hand if you try a side part it will add a more playful element to your overall look.

8)      Bangs Bangs are the botox of hair, but be aware of which style of bang suits your face-cut better. A side-swept bang is mostly preferred by stylist, rather than a blunt bang. A blunt bang is best avoided because it can look harsh on a mature woman, recommends Riccardo Maggiore celebrity stylist. He adds that bangs unintentionally draw attention to your eyes and conceals the wrinkles around the forehead- which are clear signs of ageing.

9)  Layers "You can actually accent someone's best facial features with layers," says Philip Pelusi acclaimed stylist. He further adds, depending on where the length of the layer falls, the pieces will point to the youthful attributes, like high cheekbones, a beautiful jawline or a nice eyebrow arch. A layerless long hair tends to drag your face downwards creating an illusion of sagginess. Hence the solution is to add some life to your hair with layers.

World's Finest Opal

News and Image Credit : http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Google Virgin Rainbow and search results throw up all kinds of things, including, "A person who has never had sexual intercourse with somebody of the same gender."

But now Virgin Rainbow of a different kind is garnering interest in both the online and real world.

It all started after an Australian museum on Monday said it would exhibit what it believes is the best opal stone ever found -- a 6.0-centimetre (2.4 inch) multi-coloured gem unearthed in the Outback named the Virgin Rainbow.

The South Australian Museum said the stone, valued at more than Aus$1.0 million (US$730,000), would go on public display for the first time in September to mark the centenary of opal mining in the country. 

"It's of unequalled quality, it's a fully crystal opal," museum director Brian Oldman told AFP.

"It's almost as if there's a fire in there; you see all different colours. As the light changes, the opal itself changes. It's quite an amazing trick of nature."

Dug up in the South Australia desert town of Coober Pedy in 2003 by local miners, the Virgin Rainbow came into the museum's possession about 18 months ago and will be part of an exhibition opening in Adelaide next month.

Some 90% of the world's opals come from South Australia, once covered by an inland sea which over millions of years provided an ideal environment for the formation of the stone.

"I think this exhibition will have the finest collection of precious opals that we believe have been brought to one place in the world," Oldman added.

Opals were first discovered at Coober Pedy -- widely-known as the opal capital of the world --  in 1914 by a boy named Willie Hutchison who was on a gold mining expedition with his father.

Breast Cancer Therapy

Image Credit : http://www.mid-day.com/

A diet that starves cancer cells of an essential nutrient may help improve outcomes of difficult to treat type of breast cancer, says a study. "Our results suggest that a dietary intervention can increase the effectiveness of a targeted cancer therapy," said the study's senior author Vincent Cryns, professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in the US.

Methionine is an essential amino acid abundant in meat, fish, some legumes and nuts, but low in fruits and vegetables. Patients with triple-negative breast cancer have limited treatment options because their tumour cells lack the three receptors -- estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) -- commonly targeted in hormone or chemotherapy. The study was detailed in the journal Clinical Cancer Research. Scientists knew that methionine deficiency can block the growth of many types of cancer, but the underlying mechanisms have puzzled researchers. "We have shown that removing methionine can have a specific effect on a molecular pathway that regulates cell death to increase the vulnerability of cancer cells to treatments that target this pathway," Cryns said. Specifically, the researchers showed that when triple-negative breast cancer cells were deprived of methionine, the stressed cancer cells responded by increasing the amount of a receptor on the cell's surface called TRAIL-R2. This resulted in the breast cancer cells becoming very sensitive to an antibody that binds to TRAIL-R2 on the surface of the cancer cells and triggers them to die. The study lays the foundation for a clinical trial to see if a low-methionine diet will help improve outcomes in women with "triple-negative" breast cancer. 

Article Credit : http://www.mid-day.com/

Gold or property: Where to invest?

Article Credit : Neeti Jayachander / http://femina.in/

Image Credit : http://femina.in/

Want to invest some of your hard-earned money, and are unable to choose between some gold jewellery and a piece of land? Here are six points to keep in mind before you make that investment.

- Gold is more easily disposed, if you’re looking at a short-term investment. With real estate, the process is a little more long-drawn, and ideal if you’re looking at long-term appreciation.

- While gold jewellery can be used, you also lose money in resale and exchange. The best way to purchase gold as an investment is in bullion or gold coins.

- When it comes to real estate, apartments are easy to maintain, and rental income/savings on rent are a major pro when opposed to a piece of land which doesn’t serve much purpose, unless you’re willing to spend more on building! However, the appreciation value of land is much more than that of an apartment.

- There are no tax saving advantages while buying jewellery, as opposed to tremendous benefits with investing in property.

- Jewellery is a low-risk investment, as it has steadily increased over the years, and any depreciation in the market value has been negligible. It is lesser volatile and easy to trade in the market. Real Estate is a bit more challenging as an investment to trade.

- When investing in property, study the rules and regulations, make sure the paperwork is in order and compare multiple properties before finalizing on one. Also avail professional help, especially in the case of your legal affairs. Lastly, make sure you can afford the down payment and EMIs before you seal the deal!

Sheets

Article Credit :  Carolyn Forte / http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/

Image Credit : http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/

You spend a lot of time with your sheets (a third of your life, when you think about it!), so you certainly want to treat them well — and make them last as long as possible. Avoid these common missteps to ensure they stay soft, strong, and stain-free.

1. You stuff too many sets into the washer and dryer.

Large items, like flat and fitted sheets, should be loosely placed into the washer and dryer, without cramming. This way, they cam tumble or agitate freely for better cleaning and less tangling. Extra large machines can likely accommodate two sets, but if you find you're jamming them in, wash one set at a time instead.

If your washer has a center agitator, don't wrap your sheets around it. This stresses the fabric and can cause "roping" — when the sheets get tightly twisted, like a rope. In the dryer, check them mid-cycle and separate them if they ball up. This helps them dry more evenly.

2. You wash them on the heavy-duty cycle.

Some new washers have dedicated cycles just for washing sheets. But if yours doesn't, select the "normal" or "casual" cycle instead of "heavy-duty." Sheets don't need excessive agitation to get clean, and the heavy-duty cycle can cause tangling and wrinkling. To boost cleaning (which is helpful if you suffer from allergies), increase the water temperature to hot instead of warm.

3. You dry them too long and too hot.

To keep wrinkling and shrinkage to a minimum, select a low heat setting and your dryer's automatic cycle (so it stops when it senses the sheets are dry, not just when a certain amount of time has elapsed). Over-drying can damage the fibers, which can cause them to wear out and tear more easily.

4. You don't change them often enough.

It's best swap out your sheets weekly, or least every two weeks. If you use them for too long, the fabric might not be able to recover its shape in the washer and dryer, and stretched fabric is more likely to tear.

5. You wear makeup to bed.

Not only is this cardinal beauty sin bad for your skin, but languishing makeup can also stain your pillowcases. Plus, lotions can leave oily stains, and some skin products (like those with benzoyl peroxide) can bleach colors. Consider what's on your face before you hit the pillow, and change and wash your sheets regularly to combat buildup and permanent discoloration

6. You don't know how to fold a fitted sheet.

It's not just an impressive party trick. If you ball your sheets up in the closet, you could stress the fabric and cause creases. So master this folding technique to avoid damage.

7. You skip pillow liners and mattress covers.

These extra layers not only keep your pillow and mattress cleaner, but add cushioning under sheets and pillowcases to minimize the friction that can cause pilling.

face Scrub

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If you are looking for a healthy and younger looking skin, you must take care of your skin regularly and pamper it whenever necessary. One such important regimen you should follow to enhance your skin's appearance is to use a facial scrub. Compared to any other part of the body, facial skin is very sensitive and is prone to number of problems like acne, dark spots, dryness etc. It is also the most exposed part which definitely requires special attention. Scrub removes the dead skin off your face and reveals a supple and fresh looking skin. Most people are under the assumption that using scrub is harmful for the skin which is not true. If you use the right scrub with proper ingredients, it always benefits your skin and is a major advantage for people who are looking for beautiful flawless skin. Let's check out the amazing benefits of using a facial scrub which contributes towards a wonderful skin.

• Scrub will help you get rid of toxins and dead skin cells, thus stimulating the growth of new skin cells which leads to fresh and younger skin tone.
• Using a facial scrub stimulates the skin which results in improved blood circulation. This leads to firm and healthy looking skin.
• If you are facing blemishes and dark spots problem, it is ideal to use the scrub regularly. This will remove the dirt on the face which reduces the skin imperfections and contributes towards flawless skin.
• For dry skin people who have flakes around nose and chin area, a scrub will help remove the crumbly layer of the skin and makes it easy for you to moisturize.
• If you are tired and exhausted after a long day's work, even your face would look weary. Facial scrub helps remove dirt, dust and grime making your skin look fresh, relaxed and beaming.

Exfoliating your face in moderation can make skin brighter and softer. Buffing away dry, dead cells on your face will reveal the fresh cells underneath, but exfoliates are definitely not for everyone. People with skin issues such as hives or sensitive skin should check with their dermatologist before considering using these types of products. Exfoliating to help maintain the youthful glow to your face. "Exfoliating helps fights against aging because it stimulates blood and lymph flow and cell turnover. As we age, cell turn over slows down and your skin can start to look dull.

There are a range of different types of exfoliators so it's sometimes overwhelming knowing which type is most suitable for yourself.

Physical cream exfoliators Cream scrubs contain micro-beads in a moisturizing cream or lotion base, and are great for people with dry skin. Just be wary when choosing with the type of beads in the creams. Some contain sharped-edged beads that can leave micro-scratches on your skin, so look for creamy exfoliators that have rounded beads instead.

Physical gel exfoliators Gel scrubs give the same results as cream scrubs but are in gel form so they are better for oily and combination skin types.

Chemical exfoliators These exfoliators use glycolic, lactic, citric, or salicylic acid to chemically remove dead cells on the surface of the skin, which is also good for people with oily skin. If you have never used a chemical exfoliator before, start using it only once or twice a week, at night—once your skin adjusts, you can increase the number of times used per week.

Cloth or pad exfoliators These gentle manual exfoliators are meant to cater to all skin types, except for people with skin issues. They can also help with acne problems, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Like any manual scrub, always follow product instructions and be careful not to go overboard. 

Article Credit : http://www.beautylish.com/

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