Body Shaming and its Impact

Over hundreds of years human beings have formed very stereotypical rules about how an attractive human being is supposed to appear and deviance from those rules are unattractive. Currently television, social network, advertisements give us a feedback of what is more acceptable and desired. The models appear very similar in terms of their appearance. Flawless, perfect shape, hair and also fair. What happens when we are born to look different? What will happen if we do not seem to look like the model on the billboard? Will the society accept us?

Society burdens us with the pressure to appear in a certain way. Along with the billboards, there are parents, friends, siblings, cousins, partner and other relatives. If we look anything beyond the rules we have to endure various funny name callings, jokes and casual remarks.

We start believing that indeed there is something wrong with us; it makes us sad, angry and restless. A lot of time is spent looking through the internet to find out if there is any solution for the problem, “how to look thinner in 14 days?”, “how to make my skin look fairer”, “can I make my pimple disappear in a day?” Such distressing thoughts affect our self-confidence, ability to concentrate and decision making skills.

Since this problem has been there in our society for decades, is there any hope for change? We can begin by bending the “rules”, we have to define attractiveness and beauty in our own way. Someone said “Kindness is beautiful”. Appreciate people when they do something courageous, act responsibly, are honest, own up to mistakes or feed a stray.

We must stop (with compassion) others if we see them name calling, bullying or joking others. If you cannot, make sure you address the victim and have a chat about how courageous and beautiful you found him/her, when he/she faced the bully so bravely.

We can help the world to bend these rules for all of us, as we have all undergone shaming in one way or the other. A positive body image makes us confident and happy.

If you are a victim of body shaming and low morale seek help from a professional psychologist.

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Natural remedy by "clove" from your kitchen

Though Indonesia is the largest producer of cloves, Zanzibar and Madagascar are the major exporters of the spice. Clove trees cover a vast area of these two islands. Madagascar cloves are considered the most superior quality. Clove is actually the dried, unopened, flower bud of a tree called Syzygium aromaticum.

A main ingredient in garam masala, it has emerged an integral part of the aromatic spice blends of Sri Lanka and India. In the US, cloves are used in meats, salads dressings and even in cookies and desserts. And did you know that it adds its rich flavour to ketchups and Worchestershire sauce, being one of the main ingredients? Chinese and German seasoning also depend heavily on cloves. Clove derives its name from the French clou, meaning nail. In Asian literature, it found its first mention during the Han period in China and it was referred to as the 'chicken-tongue spice,' perhaps because of its unusual appearance. From the 8th century onwards, it became one of the major spices in European commerce.


Clove forests were first discovered in Moluccas, Indonesia. Legend has it that whenever a child was born, parents planted a clove tree. Enchanted by its fragrance and beauty, the natives even fought wars to secure exclusive rights to these lands! Today, it is widely used in Aromatherapy treatments. In India, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the largest producers of this spice.

Therapeutic benefits of clove
Clove, with eugenol as its main ingredient, is a natural analgesic (painkiller) with antiseptic properties, used by dentists all over the world. Available at all pharmacies over the counter, it is a quick home remedy for toothache. A whole clove or a cotton swab dipped in clove oil can give instant relief from toothache, creating a numb feeling in the affected area. A variety of today's toothpastes use clove oil, which helps prevent tooth decay.

Clove oil can be obtained from its flower buds, leaves and stem. All three kinds have eugenol as its main ingredient, along with eugenyl acetate in smaller proportions.


Clove Lowers blood glucose levels

A study presented at Experimental Biology, New Orleans, provides evidence that consuming a clove or two a day can definitely have a positive impact on your health. Research studies have proved that clove improves insulin function, lowers glucose levels in blood, and reduces cholesterol, especially in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Due to its anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties, clove oil is also an ideal remedy for acne, warts and scars. It is said to control the spread of Proprionibacterium acnes, the skin bacteria that is the primary cause of acne.

Clove oil is also used in medications as a remedy for bronchitis, common cold, sore throat, cough and fever.
There's no denying that clove is the melting pot of flavours - strong, pungent, slightly sweet and spicy too!

The most penetrating of all spices, powdered or wholesome, it finds extensive use in Indian cuisine -biryanis, sweets, pickles, ketchups, beverages, medicines, cosmetics and perfumes. It can be a wonderful mouth freshener when chewed after a meal.

Peanut butter – A wholesome food

What is Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter has been invented and reinvented many times over the course of history. As an inexpensive source of protein that is simply brimming with nutrition, today, peanut butter remains a favourite with school-going children in the US. It's quick and convenient to prepare (just spread it thick with jam on slices of quick and convenient to prepare (just spread it thick with jam on slices of soft bread) and as long as you don't suffer from nut allergies, it's a healthy, filling choice. Though it isn't popular or widespread in India, there are many reasons why this wholesome and versatile food could be good for us.


Peanut butter is packed with valuable nutrition:

Peanuts, the essential ingredient in peanut butter, are a rich source of Vitamin E. Studies have shown that peanut butter may provide more nutrients that are important and beneficial for elderly people, such as plant protein and fibre, which are essential, especially in a vegetarian diet.

Besides, peanuts and peanut butter are loaded in heart-healthy mono-unsaturated fat and have folate, niacin, thiamin, magnesium and zinc, all of which are thought to benefit health. Nutritionists have long since established that not all fats are bad for us, and not all fats are the same. After consuming peanut butter, it was found that there was a proportionate increase in heart healthy mono and unsaturated fats within the system and a proportionate decrease in the dreaded saturated fats that are responsible for clogging arteries and causing heart attacks.

Studies also established that peanut butter, though rich in these heart-healthy fats, actually aided weight loss, because of its unique property of controlling hunger and regulating the appetite.

In a study conducted by the Foods and Nutrition department at Purdue University, USA, researchers concluded that snacking on peanut butter reduced hunger pangs for as
much as two hours afterward. Participants of the study found peanut butter to be more filling than other more popular snacks and according to Rick Mattes, PhD, who conducted the study, these findings were significant, because they challenged the traditionally prevailing beliefs that all high fat foods necessarily lead to weight gain and are bad for us.

Peanut butter Protects us against many diseases

Another health benefit associated with peanut butter is its property to battle Alzheimer's disease, an illness that slowly robs you of your memory, personality and capability for coherent thought. According to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, eating natural foods like peanut butter that are rich in Vitamin E reduced the risk of contracting Alzheimer's by a whopping 67%.

A peanut butter sandwich (peanut butter spread thickly over one slice of whole grain bread.can be eaten plain or with jam) can give you 25% of your daily requirement of Vitamin E.

The body is easily able to dip into these reserves, much better than if you were to get this nutrition from a pill. Researchers from the University of Florida have established that peanuts are a rich source of anti¬oxidants that can even rival fruits. According to Steve Talcott, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition at UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, peanut butter has as much antioxidant content as a bowl of strawberries.

However, one of the most significant discoveries that reinforces the role of peanut butter as a complete and wholesome health food is its ability to inhibit the grown of cancer cells. Peanut and peanut products were found to contain a substance called phytosterol beta-sitosterol (SIT). SIT may offer protection from colon, prostate and breast cancer.

Always buy fresh peanut butter

Natural peanut butter, where the ingredients can be whisked at home with a honey base and ground to make a fresh spread, is much in demand in the US.
However, this may not be practical as it takes over 500 peanuts to make 12 ounces of the butter and even then, the consistency and taste can never equal the processed peanut butter stocked in supermarkets and specialty stores.

But studies have established that natural or processed, peanut butter packs a nutritional punch like no other! Consumers should be aware however of how some brands of processed peanut butter may contain artery-clogging partially hydrogenated oils, used to keep its texture creamy and soft.

If your peanut butter doesn't separate at room temperature (with a thin layer of oil floating on top, just above the buttery layer), then you can be sure that partially hydrogenated oil has been used.
Alternatively, scan the list of ingredients before you make that purchase!

Coping with Panic Attack

How to stop a panic attack?

This may surprise you, but one of the best things you can do to decrease the severity of a panic attack is to remind yourself, “I don’t have to absolutely stop this and I can stand these symptoms.” The more you insist that you not have a panic attack or that the symptoms end immediately, the more anxious you actually make yourself. So, by focusing on stopping the attack, you can end up worsening the very symptoms you’re trying to stop! Whether you are a new sufferer or an old sufferer of panic, keep in mind that panic attacks are not going to kill you, they are not going to cause you to have a heart attack, and you can ride these symptoms out. Important coping statements include:

• “This is uncomfortable, but I’ve been through this before. I’ll get through this one too.”
• “I’m not dying. I can ride this out.”
• “This is a nuisance, but not the end of the world.”


Basically, you don’t want to demand that a panic attack must not happen or must stop immediately. In fact, a very effective treatment called interoceptive exposure by teaching the sufferer to bring on panic attacks. Seek help of a Psychologist in your area.

Does Panic attacks hurt us anyway?

Assuming medical causes have been ruled out and your doctor has indicated you are having panic attacks, you can be reassured that panic symptoms are not dangerous. When you are panicking you might notice your heart racing, your arms and legs shaking, increased sweatiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea. All of these symptoms are uncomfortable and can feel really scary; however, none of them will hurt you in any way. Remember, a panic attack occurs because your “fight-or-flight” system is being activated. The fight-or flight system was designed to protect you. None of the symptoms of a panic attack are going to hurt you or kill you. If you’ve been suffering from panic for a while, another way to know you are not dying is to think back to how many panic attacks you’ve experienced. For some people, this number is in the hundreds. Obviously, if you’ve gone through hundreds of panic attacks and not died before, there is much evidence to suggest you won’t die during this attack. Further, keep in mind that a panic attack is always temporary. The chemicals that produce our emergency response will be broken down, so it is impossible for a panic attack to persist indefinitely. Whereas it is difficult to remember this in the midst of a panic attack, the understanding that panic sensations are temporary and not harmful is a huge part of coping with the problem. The more you learn to think realistically about panic symptoms and respond more helpfully to them, the better you’ll feel.