Religion / Spirituality : The Difference

Religion is spiritual and spirituality can also be considered religious. One tends to be more personal and private while the other tends to incorporate public rituals and organized doctrines. The lines between one and the other may often not be clear or distinct depending on the interpretation.

Religion is an institution established by man for various reasons. Exert control, instill morality, stroke egos, or whatever it does. Organized, structured religions all but remove god from the equation. You confess your sins to a clergy member, go to elaborate churches to worship, told what to pray and when to pray it. All those factors remove you from god. Spirituality is born in a person and develops in the person. It may be kick started by a religion, or it may be kick started by a revelation. Spirituality extends to all facets of a person’s life. Spirituality is chosen while religion is often times forced. Being spiritual to me is more important and better than being religious.

True spirituality is something that is found deep within oneself. It is your way of loving, accepting and relating to the world and people around you. It cannot be found in a church or by believing in a certain way.

In favour of the spiritual path:

* There is not one religion, but hundreds.
* There is only one type of spirituality.


* Religion is for those who want to continue rituals and the formality.
* Spirituality is for those who want to reach the Spiritual Ascent without dogmas.


* Religion is for those who are asleep.
* Spirituality is for those who are awake.

* Religion is for those that require guidance from others.
* Spirituality is for those that lend ears to their inner voice.

* Religion has a dogmatic and unquestionable assembly of rules that need to be followed without question.
* Spirituality invites you to reason it all, to question it all and to decide your actions and assume the consequences.

* Religion threatens and terrifies.
* Spirituality gives you inner peace.

* Religion speaks of sin and of fault.
* Spirituality encourages "living in the present" and not to feel remorse for which has already passed. Lift your spirit and learn from errors.

* Religion represses humanity, and returns us to a false paradigm.
* Spirituality transcends it all and makes you true to yourself.

* Religion is instilled from childhood, like the soup you do not you want to take.
* Spirituality is the food that you you seek, that satisfies you and is pleasant to the senses.

* Religion is not God.
* Spirituality is infinite consciousness and all that is. It is God.

* Religion invents.
* Spirituality discovers.

* Religion does not investigate and does not question.
* Spirituality questions everything.

* Religion is based on humanity, an organization with rules.
* Spirituality is DIVINE, WITHOUT rules.

* Religion is cause for division.
* Spirituality is cause for union.

* Religion seeks you so that you create.
* Spirituality causes you to seek.

* Religion continues the teachings of a sacred book.
* Spirituality seeks the sacredness in all the books.

* Religion is fed fear.
* Spirituality is fed confidence.

* Religion lives you in your thoughts.
* Spirituality lives in your conscience.

* Religion is in charge of the "to do"
* Spirituality is in charge of the "to BE."

* Religion is a dialectic.
* Spirituality is logic.

* Religion feeds the ego.
* Spirituality makes you transcend.

* Religion makes you renounce yourself to the world
* Spirituality makes you live with God, not to renounce Him.

* Religion is adoration
* Spirituality is meditation.

* Religion is to continue adapting to the psychology of a template.
* Spirituality is individuality.

* Religion dreams of glory and paradise.
* Spirituality makes you live it here and now.

* Religion lives in the past and in the future.
* Spirituality lives in the present, in the here and now.

* Religion lives in the confinement of your memory
* Spirituality is LIBERTY in AWARENESS.

* Religion believes in the eternal life.
* Spirituality makes you conscious of all that is.

* Religion gives you promises for the after-life.
* Spirituality gives you the light to find God in your inner self, in this life, in the present, in the here and the now…

May peace, happiness and universal love continue growing in your heart. You are all that is.

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Important Money Management Formulas

Managing money can involve calculations to understand the worth of an investment. To arrive at a result, calculations can be done in a different way or by using a different formula.

Even the same formula can be used differently to arrive at a certain result. Here are a few commonly used money management formulas.

Compound Interest

I want to take a loan of Rs 1 lakh to buy a used car. How much will the car cost me at an annual interest rate of 8 per cent for four years?
The compound interest formula can be used here to calculate the final cost, which would include the loan amount and the interest paid. The amount that is actually paid for Rs 1 lakh is Rs 1,36,048.90. The total amount of interest charged for borrowing Rs 1 lakh is Rs 36,048.90.

Formula: Future value = P(1 + R)^N

Type in: =100000(1+8%)^4 and hit enter. P: amount borrowed; R: rate of interest; N: time in years.

Also used for: Calculating the maturity value on lumpsum investment (bank fixed deposits and National Savings Certificate, for example) over a fixed period at a certain rate of interest.


Compound Annualised Growth Rate

I had invested Rs 1 lakh in a mutual fund five years back at an NAV of Rs 20. Now the NAV is Rs 70. How should I calculate my returns on an annual basis?

Compound annualised growth rate (CAGR) will be used here to calculate the growth over a period of time. The gain of Rs 50 over five years on the initial NAV of Rs 20 is a simple return of 250 per cent (50/20 * 100). However, it should not be construed as 50 per cent average return over five years.

Formula: CAGR = {[(M/I)^(1/N)] 1} * 100

Type in: =(((70/20)^(1/5))-1)*100 and hit enter. M: maturity value; I: initial value; N: time in years. CAGR here is 28.47%.

Also used for: Calculating the annualised returns on a lumpsum investment in shares.



Internal Rate of Return

I paid Rs 18,572 every year on a moneyback insurance policy bought 20 years back. Every fifth year, I received Rs 40,000 back and Rs 4.5 lakh on maturity. What was my rate of return?

The internal rate of return (IRR) has to be calculated here. It is the interest rate accrued on an investment that has outflows and inflows at the same regular periods.

In the excel page type Rs 18,572 as a negative figure (-18572), as it is an outflow, in the first cell. Paste the same figure till the twentieth cell.

Then, as every fifth year has an inflow of Rs 40,000, type in Rs 21,428 (40,000-18,572) in every fifth cell. In the twentieth cell, type in 18572. In the twenty first cell, type in Rs 4,50,000, which is the maturity value of the policy.

Then click on the cell below it and type: = IRR(A1:A21) and hit enter.

5.28% will show in the cell. This is your internal rate of return.

Also used for: Calculating returns on insurance endowment policies.



XIRR

I bought 500 shares on 1 January 2007 at Rs 220, 100 shares on 10 January at Rs 185 and 50 shares at Rs 165 on 18 May 2008. On 21 June 2008, I sold off all the 650 shares at Rs 655. What is the return on my investment?

XIRR is used to determine the IRR when the outflows and inflows are at different periods. Calculation is similar to IRR's. Transaction date is mentioned on the left of the transaction.

In an excel sheet type out the data from the top most cell as shown here. Outflows figures are in negative and inflows in positive. In the cell below with the figure 4,25,750, type out =XIRR (B1:B4,A1:A4)*100

Hit enter. The cell will show 122.95%, the total return on investment.

Also used for: Calculating MF returns, especially SIP, or that for unit-linked insurance plans.


Post-Tax Return

My father wants a bank FD at 10 per cent return for five years. He pays income tax. What will be the returns?

The post-tax return has to be calculated here. The idea is to know the final returns on a fully taxable income. Interest income from the bank is taxed as per your tax slab.

Formula: ROI (ROI * TR)=Post-tax return

Type in: =10 (10 * 30.9%) and hit enter. You will get 6.91%

ROI: rate of interest; TR: tax rate (depends on tax slab)

Also used for: Calculating post-tax returns of national savings certificates, post-office time deposits, and Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme.


Pre-Tax Yield

My brother says that the investment in public provident fund (PPF), which gives 8 per cent, is the best. Isn't 8 per cent a low rate of return?

An investment's pre-tax yield tells us if its return is high or low. The return on PPF (8 per cent) is tax-free. Also, this has to compared with returns of a taxable income to estimate its worth. For someone paying a tax of 30.9 per cent, the pre-tax yield in PPF is 11.57 per cent. At present, there is no fixed, safe and assured-return option that has 11.57 per cent return and a post-tax return comparable to PPF's 8 per cent.

Formula: Pre-tax yield = ROI / (100-TR)*100

Type in: =8/(100-30.9)*100 and hit enter. You will get 11.57%. ROI: rate of interest, TR: tax rate, (depends on tax slab)

Also used for: Calculating the yield on an Employees' Provident Fund or any other tax-free instrument.


 Inflation

My family's monthly expense is Rs 50,000. At an inflation rate of 5 per cent, how much will I need 20 years hence with the same expenses?

The required amount can be calculated using the standard future value formula. Inflation means that over a period of time, you need more money to fund the same expense.

Formula: Required amt.=Present amt. *(1+inflation) ^no. of years

Type in: =50000*(1+5% or .05)^20 and hit enter. You will get Rs 1,32,664 as the answer, which is the required amount.

Also used for: Calculating maturity value on an investment.


Purchasing Power

My family's monthly expense is Rs 50,000. At an inflation rate of 5 per cent, how much will be the purchasing value of that amount after 20 years?

Inflation increases the amount you need to spend to fetch the same article and in a way reduces the purchasing power of the rupee. Here, Rs 50,000 after 20 years at an inflation of 5 per cent will be able to buy goods worth Rs 18,844 only.

Formula: Reduced amt.= Present amt. / (1 + inflation) ^no. of yrs

Type in: =50000/(1+5%)^20 and hit enter. You will get Rs 18,844, which is the reduced amount.


 Real Rate of Return

My father wants to make a one-year bank FD at 9 per cent. On maturity, he says, the capital will be preserved and he would get assured return on it.

It is true that fixed deposit is safe and gives assured returns. However, after adjusting for inflation, the real rate of return can be negative.

Formula: Real rate of return=[(1+ROR)/(1+i)-1]*100

Type in: =((1+9%)/(1+11%)-1)*100 and hit enter. -1.8% is the real rate of return. ROR: Rate of return per annum; i: rate of inflation (11 per cent here).



Doubling, Tripling of Money

I can get 12 per cent return on my equity investments. In how many years can I double or even triple my money?

Formula: No. of years to double = 72/expected return

Type in: =72/12 and hit enter. You will get 6 years. For tripling, type in: =114/12 and hit enter. You will get 9.5 years. For quadrupling, type in: =144/12 and hit enter to get 12 years.

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50 Common Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself.
What do you want to do with your life?
Do you have any actual work experience?How would you describe your ideal job?Why did you choose this career?
When did you decide on this career?
What goals do you have in your career?How do you plan to achieve these goals?How do you evaluate success?
Describe a situation in which you were successful.
What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction in your life?
If you had to live your life over again, what would you change?
Would your rather work with information or with people?
Are you a team player?
What motivates you?
Why should I hire you?
Are you a goal-oriented person?
Tell me about some of your recent goals and what you did to achieve them.
What are your short-term goals?
What is your long-range objective?
What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
Where do you want to be ten years from now?
Do you handle conflict well?
Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How did you resolve it?
What major problem have you had to deal with recently?
Do you handle pressure well?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
If I were to ask one of your professors to describe you, what would he or she say?
Why did you choose to attend your college?What changes would you make at your college?
How has your education prepared you for your career?
What were your favorite classes? Why?
Do you enjoy doing independent research?Who were your favorite professors? Why? Why is your GPA not higher?
Do you have any plans for further education?
How much training do you think you'll need to become a productive employee?
What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
Why do you want to work in the _____ industry?
What do you know about our company?
Why are you interested in our company?
Do you have any location preferences?
How familiar are you with the community that we're located in?
Will you relocate? In the future?
Are you willing to travel? How much?
Is money important to you?
How much money do you need to make to be happy?
What kind of salary are you looking for?

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15 Caffeine Facts

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Artificial Dimples could turn into Disasters

Cosmetic surgeons have warned women against 'designer dimple' surgery following a surge in requests for the controversial procedure.

Inspired by singer Cheryl Cole's dimples, an increasing number of women are opting for Dimpleplasty. There has been an 11 percent increase in interest in the past month.

Dimpleplasty involves making a cut in skin around the mouth and stitching the underside of the skin to a deeper layer to create a small depression.

The suture holding the skin in place dissolves to leave the patient with a permanent scar to maintain the dimple.

However, the doctors have advised not to undergo the procedure.

'As the skin ages and loses elasticity, there is no telling how the scars will look as the face begins to droop - designer dimples could become designer disasters within a matter of years,' heraldsun.com.au quoted a spokesman for plastic surgeons SurgiCare, as saying.

Another disadvantage to the procedure is that natural dimples appear only when a person is smiling, while 'designer dimples' are present on the face permanently.

While most inquiries into the procedure came from women, the firm said 10 percent of requests came from men who wanted to create a chin cleft and two percent from women who wanted to re-create dimples on their lower back that were lost following weight gain.

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Smart Ways to Go Green while Shopping

Everything you buy affects the environment, but some choices are better than others. If you believe in the “Change begins with me” motto, here are some cool ways of going green when you go shopping.

1.Make a list

Even before you are actually doing your weekly shopping you can start being eco-friendly. Make a list of everything you need to buy so that you can save on making any unnecessary trips in your car again, just because you forgot buying the potatoes. Just a bit of pre-shopping preparation can save fuel, money and effort.

 2. Buy local

 Much of the food we buy in the grocery store that usually could be bought locally is shipped in from other parts of the country. Why not just buy from local farmers to get fresher produce that will taste better? What's more, you reduce your carbon footprint by not buying products that needed to be transported from far away.

3. Avoid excess packaging

Look for products that have less packaging, or buy in bulk -- you'll have less to throw away. You can also buy items with packaging that can be reused or recycled.
Also, if you can, put all your products in one bag, even if it is from different shops.

4. Check the energy star label

Look for the BEE Star Energy Efficiency Labels when buying new kitchen appliances or electronic items. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) Star Energy Efficiency Labels have been created to standardize the energy efficiency ratings of different electrical appliances and indicate energy consumption under standard test conditions.
You not only save energy consumption but also money on your electricity bills.

5.  Buy Used

Items like books, CDs, furniture and even cars in good conditions can be easily brought at a used goods store.

6. Buy Recycled 

When buying items like tissue rolls or bags, get stuff that is made from recycled materials. Buying items made with recycled-content materials means that fewer natural resources, such as trees, were used to produce the products.
Products made from recycled paper, plastic, and other materials are usually easy to recognize in the store -- just read the labels. Try starting with school supplies. Many stores carry recycled notebooks, pens, and other products.

7.  Buy Durable Items  

Instead of buying disposable products, which are wasteful, buy things that will last a long time, such as rechargeable batteries and reusable ceramic mugs for drinks. Junk the paper towels and buy cloth napkins instead for your kitchen and table that can be washed and reused over and over.

8. Share and Swap  

Another way to save resources and energy is to swap with friends and family instead of buying brand-new products. Maybe you and your friends like the same video games. Why not share your games instead of each of you owning the same game? Or maybe you can rent the game first to see if you really want to own it.

9. Buy in Bulk  

Small sizes use more packaging for each ounce of product than larger sizes. So, if you buy large sizes, you save money, reduce waste, and help the environment.
Items with longer shelf life can easily be brought in larger quantities like rice, flour, pulses and cereal.

10. Carry your own bags

The most basic way you can contribute to going green is to carry your own bags, preferably cloth or jute and avoid using plastic bags. When out shopping, if it's just for one or two items, don't accept a plastic bag. And reuse the ones that you do have.

Don't just throw away the plastic bag you get from stores, stash it and carry it for the next time you go shopping.  

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Fun Food Facts

FUN FOOD FACTS

Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries
The onion is named after a Latin word meaning large pearl
Half of the world's population live on a staple diet of rice
The remains of fast-food shops have been found in ancient ruins! Even ancient Greeks enjoyed take-out. The only thing that is new is the mass production, standard menus and recipes of fast-food "chains." Wow!
Potato crisps were invented by a North American Indian called George Crum
During a lifetime the average person eats about 35 tonnes of food
Ice Cream Is Chinese Food! - When the famous explorer Marco Polo returned to his homeland of Italy, from China in 1295, he brought back a recipe (among other things). The recipe, was a Chinese recipe for a desert called "Milk Ice." However, Europeans substituted cream for the milk, and voila..."Ice Cream." Ice cream has been a hit ever since!
The founder of McDonald's has a Bachelor degree in Hamburgerology
In France, people eat approximately 500,000,000 snails per year
There are about 100,000 bacteria in one litre of drinking water
Over 1,000 litres of beer are drunk in the House of Commons each week
You're More Likely To Be Hungry If You're Cold!
A portion of the water you drink has already been drunk by someone else, maybe several times over
It Takes 3500 Calories To Make A Pound Of Fat!
Peanuts are used in the manufacture of dynamite

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Tips for living to 100

How would you fancy living to 100? Research has found that by controlling factors in your life, living to 100 is actually much more possible than previously thought.

In total, the US has the most centenarians with current estimates as high as 72,000, leading website The Centenarian states. In fact, if the population of centenarians continues to increase at its current rate of expansion, there could be close to one million people of 100 years of age or more by 2050 residing in the US.

Meanwhile, in the UK, while the overall numbers of centenarians are much smaller, the trend is the same. The Office of National Statistics reports around 9000 centenarians today in The UK and Wales, a 90-fold increase since 1911, and a seven percent increase from just half a decade ago in 2005. Estimates show that at the current rate of expansion, the UK's centenarian population could reach over 40,000 by 2031. And, just as in other parts of the industrialized world, people aged over 90 are the fastest growing segment of the population in the UK.

In Japan, the number of centenarians are also extremely high, making Japan only second to the US with a current population of about 30,000 centenarians. At its current rate of expansion, Japan's population of centenarians may rival that of the United States in sheer numbers in the years ahead. Certainly, by 2050, Japan proportionally will have the most centenarians in the world.

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Some PC Security Tips

 

  

  

  

 

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Excessive Internet use is linked to Depression

 

Excessive Internet use is linked to depression

People who spend a lot of time browsing the net are more likely to show depressive symptoms, according to the first large-scale study of its kind in the West by University of Leeds psychologists.

Researchers found striking evidence that some users have developed a compulsive internet habit, whereby they replace real-life social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites. The results suggest that this type of addictive surfing can have a serious impact on mental health.

Lead author Dr Catriona Morrison, from the University of Leeds, said: "The internet now plays a huge part in modern life, but its benefits are accompanied by a darker side.

"While many of us use the internet to pay bills, shop and send emails, there is a small subset of the population who find it hard to control how much time they spend online, to the point where it interferes with their daily activities."

 

These 'internet addicts' spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities. They also had a higher incidence of moderate to severe depression than non-addicted users.

"Our research indicates that excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don't know is which comes first - are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression?

"What is clear, is that for a small subset of people, excessive use of the internet could be a warning signal for depressive tendencies."

Incidents such as the spate of suicides among teenagers in the Welsh town of Bridgend in 2008 led many to question the extent to which social networking sites can contribute to depressive thoughts in vulnerable teenagers. In the Leeds study, young people were more likely to be internet addicted than middle-aged users, with the average age of the addicted group standing at 21 years.

"This study reinforces the public speculation that over-engaging in websites that serve to replace normal social function might be linked to psychological disorders like depression and addiction," added Dr Morrison. "We now need to consider the wider societal implications of this relationship and establish clearly the effects of excessive internet use on mental health."

This was the first large-scale study of Western young people to consider the relationship between internet addiction and depression. The internet use and depression levels of 1,319 people aged 16-51 were evaluated for the study, and of these, 1.2% were classed as being internet addicted. While small, this figure is larger than the incidence of gambling in the UK, which stands at 0.6%. The research will be published in the journal Psychopathology on 10th February.

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Eat Banana to stay healthy - Banana Facts

Professor at CCNY for a physiological class told his class about bananas.
He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator…!!!

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber.

A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the
number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.
It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number
of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of
Hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure..
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration have just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school
( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas
at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals help to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin.
Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight (and at work?): Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.
It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance
When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our Potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, Eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

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Keep Your Teeth White Naturally

There are many effective methods of teeth whitening available, but some come with heavy price tags. Here are some steps you can take at home to whiten teeth naturally without breaking the bank.


Things You’ll Need:

Straw
Toothbrush
Lemon Juice
Salt
Baking soda
Hydrogen peroxide
Strawberries

Step 1:
Limit your consumption of drinks that stain tooth enamel. A few of these include coffee, tea and red wine. If you simply can't cut back on these beverages, consider drinking them though a straw to limit the amount of liquid that actually comes in contact with teeth.


Step 2:
Brush your teeth immediately after eating, especially if eating foods that stain easily, such as berries.


Step 3:
Rub raw strawberries on your teeth, preferably pureed. There is an enzyme in strawberries that acts as a whitening agent. You'll want to brush and rinse after applying the strawberries to remove the natural sugars and acids they may leave behind.


Step 4:
Eat crunchy foods that require a lot of chewing such as carrots, celery, broccoli and apples. These foods are abrasive and will remove built up plaque, which dulls the appearance of teeth.


Step 5:
Dip your toothbrush directly into baking soda and brush. The results are worth the lousy taste.


Step 6:
Combine lemon juice and one teaspoon of salt to make a paste-like substance. Brush your teeth and rinse. Again, not so pleasant on the palate, but your teeth will thank you.


Step 7:
Use hydrogen peroxide to brush your teeth. Dip your toothbrush into a small capful of the peroxide and brush as you would with regular toothpaste, being careful not to swallow. Rinse with water.

Alternative-

Consider using one of the several whitening toothpastes on the market that have all-natural ingredients.
Brushing after every meal and flossing regularly are the first steps in maintaining a healthy smile.

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Get Rid of Toxins - Food for Detoxification

 

 WATERCRESS

Packed full of toxin-fighting vitamin C, this peppery leaf is a detox dream.

Watercress packs a double-detox punch by not only stimulating cleansing enzymes in the liver, its diuretic properties help the body flush out festive detritus.

Use it in: watercress soup is a delicious lunch - simply add onion, garlic and stock. Even simpler, adding just a small handful in a sandwich is enough to work its magic.

  

 
 

 LEMON

Lemons feature frequently in detox plans and for good reason. They work by breaking down stored toxins in the liver and gallbladder and aren't just a powerful cleanser: their hefty vitamin C content boosts the immune system and supports the body's ability to purge accumulated toxins.

Use it in: a slice of lemon in hot water first thing helps to flush out toxins at a time when the body is most receptive to a good cleanse. Lemon also makes a great salt substitute when squeezed on curries and salads.

   

GARLIC

Garlic is as good at fending off toxins as it is vampires. This small but mighty bulb increases phagocytosis, a process in the body that destroys foreign cells.

The sulphur compounds that cause that distinct garlic whiff stimulate the production of white blood cells which, wipe out any unwanted foreign bodies in the blood stream.

Use it in: garlic adds flavour and punch to just about any dish. We suggest you roast it whole with your favourite vegetables or cut it up finely and add it to a tomato sauce for a delicious pasta supper. 

   

 TURMERIC

 A member of the ginger family, this spice is hugely popular in Asian dishes, where its healing properties have long been known.

This mild but mighty spice is a powerful antioxidant that also increases anti-inflammatory enzymes in the liver.

Use it in: add a teaspoon to curries or to rice to add flavour, colour and detox powers.

  

 GINGER

 Not only can ginger heal a body battered by mince pies and turkey it can build up resistance for future binges.

Ginger helps build up powerful antioxidants in the blood and liver to fight future invasions of foreign bodies, while also destroying any free radicals that are already lurking in the body.

Use it in: a few slices added to hot water make a delicious, therapeutic tea. Adding grated or chopped ginger adds zest to Thai and Indian curries.

   

PARSLEY

 Parsley is usually left forgotten at the side of the plate, but its detox powers are far too good to use it only as a garnish.

This unassuming vegetable is a powerful diuretic and helps rev up the kidneys, one of your body's most important waste eliminating organs, so they are at full toxin-purging throttle.

Use it in: parsley works well in tomato sauce and soups, as well as salads. It also pairs up nicely with vegetables or you can mix it with garlic and lemon and mix it into chicken, lamb or beef.

   

ARTICHOKES

Artichoke's ability to heal an overworked liver is no secret in the Mediterranean, where it's long been used as a blood purifier. Artichokes work in two ways: they are another diuretic, but they also contain ingredients that stimulate bile and fat in the liver, which serve as the oil in its engine.

Use it in: Artichokes are delicious in salads with a squeeze of lemon juice (a double detox bonus!) or add to pasta with some low-fat crème fraiche. 

 

 

PINEAPPLE

 Detoxing is easy if it means eating succulent pineapple. Not only does it taste divine, but this tropical fruit contains bromelain, an enzyme that kills toxins in your colon and digestive system.

Use it in: it makes a great dessert that can satisfy the sweetest of teeth but it also works well in salads with grated carrots, papaya and mixed leaves.

   

 SESAME SEEDS

These little golden seeds of detox magic are proven to protect liver cells from the damaging effects of alcohol and other toxins.

Their secret lies in amino acids called methionine and tryptophan, which encourage the liver and kidney to function at the top of their games, ensuring they banish harmful toxins quickly and effectively.

Use them in: sesame seeds add crunch and flavour to salads. Tahini paste - ground sesame seeds - is a key ingredient in hummus along with garlic and lemon juice: just add chick peas and you've got yourself possibly the best detox food of them all. 

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Things to try on Valentines Day

 

Reenact your first date

One of the most romantic things you can do is to get nostalgic with your girlfriend. Women go gaga for guys who remember the details of the past, such as the restaurant you went to on your first date, what you ate and what you did afterward. It will be like celebrating your anniversary and you can combine gifts with cards that mention how happy you are that you met her.

 

Go for a massage

Either you give her a full-body massage or, better yet, reserve a double massage for him and her. You should both take some time off and enjoy some relaxation together. It is Valentine's Day day after all, not just your girlfriend's day. Any kind of spa getaway is perfect for Valentine's Day.

 

Make a path of rose petals

Girls flip over temptation, flirting and teasing, so buy a lot of rose petals or even potpourri, and leave a trail from the entrance of the house to your bedroom. Leave her a little gift on the bed and she'll feel like it's a romantic treasure hunt and the rewards will be spectacular.

 

Rent a hotel room & pretend you're tourists

There is something exciting about not having to clean up the bedroom afterward, so rent a hotel room, grab some bubbly, and use all of your senses as you pretend to be out-of-town tourists on a love journey.

 

 Don't forget to do your homework

Nothing spices up a mundane relationship as much as staying at home, renting an erotic movie and "getting to know one another" better all over again. This is obviously not suitable for a first date if you catch our drift, but perfect for couples who have been together for some time

  

Get away

If your work, time and budget allow it, plan a two- or three-day vacation getaway, specifically at a ski or spa resort. This is guaranteed wild action.

 

Dress up

Dress up as if you are going to the opera, and go to a restaurant or just have dinner at home. Girls love an excuse to get all dolled up, and the fact that you'll be getting dressed up will make anything you decide to do seem like a special occasion. This will be telling her you think she is special, and she'll love it.

 

 Pop the question

If you think that the time is right and you have that look in your eyes... If you are sick of the single life, and if you are, well... When the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed, then maybe, just maybe, there is no better time to propose to her.

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