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As the summer rises from the ashes of winter, fashion malls are ablaze with hot stuff. Saurabh Malik gives you a sneak-peak into summer fashion after taking a round of arcades Hot summer streets and the pavements are burning — Ace of Base Hot Couture
Body-piercing winds cutting through the clothes, blowing the enthusiasm away. Sweaty days with beads of worry dotting the brow. And a rude sun-kissed complexion reflecting the face of summers. There’s no escaping the fact! No matter how much you wish otherwise, the heat’s on. But April need not be the cruelest month of all. Even if you are living in a part of the world where summer temperature is more like thermonuclear heat, there’s some cool breezy stuff on hand in arcades all over the city. Just leave the air-conditioned comfort of home, pick up the stuff and celebrate summers — merrily and gorgeously. White heat
Here’s a sneak-peak into summer fashion: White is blazing in garment houses downtown and other markets. Even international brands like Tommy Hilfiger are offering charms in whites — right from shirts to trousers and other stuff. In fact, Bollywood’s style diva Yana Gupta teamed a white shirt with denims and high-heel ankle boots on her maiden visit to the city recently. “The spring-summer collection is all set to commemorate the return of femininity. Whites, off whites and even beiges rule,” says Ginny Chawla of Just Casuals, Sector 9. “As the stuff we offer belongs to the exports surplus category, you get it at highly competitive rates.” Ginny believes though summers are all about sunny shades, the off-ramp scene was witnessing an overdose of colour for the past two years. But now it’s changing. Everyone is happily crying for neutral shades. Opt for white net and chikan tops. Light kurtis embellished with shells and lace are also a rage. Just don’t let this carry you away the Simi Grewal way. City-based fashion designer Rashmi Bindra suggests striking a combo of white and brighter shades to break the monotony and add a touch of class! Guys could go casual with the classic John Abraham look — blue jeans and half-sleeve white tees. Her overall prediction: Reinvention of the classics with layering and random prints overstating the old will give you that contemporary look of 2007. “It’s going to be a revival of the 80s. You’ll get exotic floral prints and bold horizontal bands of black and white. Stripes will also stage a comeback,” she says. Capri power
Shoppers’ guide
Just Casuals, Sector 9: Export surplus summer collection of cool shirts, tees, pajamas, and even trousers, at astoundingly reasonable rates. Nautica, Sector 17: Shirts and other stuff in nice floral prints. Allen Solly, Sector 17: Tees, tops and trousers in whites. Tommy Hilfiger, Sector 17: Summery stuff in light breezy shades from across the seas. Spykar Jeans: Ultra-low slim and low-waist boot-cut jeans for that formally-causal look. Urban Rootz, Sector 10: Spaghetti, peasant, boat neck tops. Trousers are in for that tomboyish look. But if you haven’t indulged in summer shopping yet, think twice before picking up cigarette pants and drainpipe trousers. They look good on the global ramp, but don’t flatter the Indian women’s figure, says fashioner Roop. “Classic blue jeans matched with a dressy top looks charming,” she asserts. Roop also suggests capris, a hot favourite for summer. And if still in doubt, visit the upper-cut cafes to savour a blend of piping hot cappuccino and lissome beauties, merrily displaying niftiness in capris rising up to advantage. Skirting around
Pull out those skirts again. They are steadily rising in popularity charts and are being teamed with halter necks and double-shaded spaghetti tops. Clearly, less is more when it comes to skirts! “Now that the weather has turned around, it’s time to pick up bandhani skirts. Tem them with chiffon kurtis and voila! You are dressed to kill,” says Sector 22-based dress-designer Mohammed Suhail. “Skirts with mirror, crystal and sequins with tinkling ghungroos are in vogue. Long, crushed cotton skirts are likely to fade out. Instead you’ll find layered skirts, again in chiffons.” For everything official, pick pinstripes rule. You do get them in cotton but these are slightly difficult to care for. Low maintenance, wrinkle-free and satin finish fabrics are favourites for obvious reasons. Multi-coloured designs, floral and geometrical prints comprise hot picks. Just go in for hot couture for that cool casual look.
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Potter & the mystery of his existence There’s excitement and anxiety over Rowling’s next book. Will Harry die? Everybody’s reading between the lines for the answer Sherlock Homes’ probing eyes would not have scanned the big picture so minutely for unravelling a mystery. But then, it’s different for Class IV student Vishesh Sharma. His best pal Harry Potter’s involved in some sort of sordid affair, apparently. And he’s trying to link up clues to find out what’s happened to him since the cover to his last book came out. To a discerning ear, it may sound incredible, but Vishesh has even attempted to straighten up things by drawing inferences from the necklace around Harry’s neck. “If you look closely at the cover to the seventh and final book, you will find a necklace loosely hanging,” he says. Looking glum, he adds: “I think it is the locket Harry and Ron found in Siriuse’s House. It is the last Horuxes and he just cannot get rid of it. In order to destroy it, he decides to wipe himself out. And in the process he either gets killed or hurts himself.” Phew! It sounds so confusing to the grown-up. Harry is just another fiction series to them! But then, to the little ones exposed to the immense realities of Harry’s life, it makes sense. After all, Harry’s been a part of their lives ever since his first book came out. In fact, he was the one to initiate them into books. Otherwise, the hobby of reading was dying. Agreeing in some measure with Vishesh, his 10-year-old cousin Deepti says: “Oh, yes! There is something around the neck, but don’t think it has an answer to his existence. I think it is the locket he and Dumbledore found. Harry had it in his pocket during the funeral and maybe he kept it as a reminder of what he has lost and what is still left. He is using it to stay focused.” Heaving a deep sigh she says: “If there was anything in there, J.K. would have mentioned it in one of the earlier books”. For the uninitiated, J.K. Rowling’s the author of this fantasy series. The last of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has an announced first printing of 12 million in the US alone! Optimistic about Harry’s future, little Miss Ruhi Kapoor of Sector 42 says: “I don’t agree with people who think Harry dies in an act of heroism to save one of his friends. Even though everyone knows someone in dies, I say it’s Voldemort”. Wait and watch guys, that’s all anyone can say! — S. M.
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Smokers will be smokers, but yes, warnings might make them slash the number of fags, as Priya Gill finds out
India is not the first country to introduce pictorial messages to inform people of the dangers of smoking. Other countries such as Australia, Canada and Singapore, have already implemented anti-tobacco photographic health warnings and they were found to be effective. Australia introduced gruesome graphic images of the harmful effects of smoking in March last year. The warnings were required to cover 30 percent of the front of the box and 90 percent of the back. One disturbing image printed on a Marlboro packet is of a young girl lying on a hospital bed suffering from a serious illness caused by long-term second-hand smoke exposure. Another Marlboro packet depicts rotting and decaying teeth and gums caused by mouth cancer. A close up photograph of a clogged artery covers yet another packet. The detailed message underneath reads, ‘Smoking narrows your arteries causing them to become clogged, and can lead to heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, gangrene of the feet, and impotence’. The message then goes on to reassure, that one can quit smoking and for any help they should call Quitline.
Dr Vikas Bhutani from Fortis, Mohali, thinks that visual images will help in reaching a wider population. “Not all Indians can read the written warnings, so pictures can inform more individuals of the harms of smoking.” However, he feels, that the images won’t be very effective as people who smoke will not pay heed to these warnings. A better way to cut down cigarette consumption is by prohibiting smoking in public places. Local smokers have mixed feelings regarding the graphic messages and the effects they will have on them. Shazleen, 22, a student from MCM says the images would make her feel scared and concerned about her health. “I already feel guilty for smoking and seeing the images would increase the guilt; they will make me think twice.” Another MCM student, Sagarika, 22, says the thought of the images makes her feel disgusted and thinks they will have an impact. “Indians are quite moralistic, I think many people would give smoking a second thought after seeing the visuals”. Dell employee Amrita, 25, has already planned a method to avoid seeing the upsetting images daily. “I will take out the cigarettes and put them into my own cigarette case. I don’t think it is a good idea to introduce these warnings, as they won’t make any difference to people who already smoke. I have been smoking for nearly eight years and have no desire to stop.” Puneet Ahuja, 26, into marketing, agrees. He does not think this effort will have a major effect on public and personally it will not stop him from smoking. “The packet hardly matters as the product is the same.” Ria, 30, also from Dell, is unsure how the pictorial messages will affect her decision to smoke. “I think it is an amazing idea, but I don’t think it will work for me. There is no shame in what we do. But, seeing the pictures daily may make me cut down to a few cigarettes a day.” Panjab University student Harjinder Singh, 21, has been smoking for three years and feels the visual warnings will inspire the new generation not to take up smoking. “I think it will have a big impact on youth. I may even try to quit after seeing such gruesome images daily.” Local dentist Aman Sachdeva, 26, says though he smokes rarely, the images could put him off cigarettes altogether. “If the image is disturbing, it can make a difference to a 16 year old or 60 year old. Everyone wants to live.” In addition, he feels cigarette prices should be raised dramatically so that it gets difficult for the youngsters to access. Amanraj Kanwar, 25, a businessman who has been smoking for 10 years, says, “Introducing visuals is a very good idea, seeing an image daily would leave an impression on the brain”. “After all, nobody would like to end up as the person in the image,” he adds.
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Scaling new heights
An amiable and pleasing person, Neha Dhupia found a place in the tinsel world with her performances in Julie, Qayamat, Siskiyan, Kya Kool Hain Hum, Garam Masala, Chup Chup Ke and Sheesha. With her new flick Delhi Heights, Dhupia is now looking ahead for a different genre of roles. The model turned actress from Delhi, talks to Lifestyle about her new release. With Delhi Heights are you trying to break away from your glamorous image? In this industry, images are difficult to shed or shake. But yes, I would like the audience to accept me in various roles and ‘Delhi Heights’ is different from what I have done so far. Tell us about your character in Delhi Heights? I play the character of Suhana, opposite Jimmy Shergill. It is a sweet love story and I have a lot of expectations from the film. What have you learnt in the company of your co-star Jimmy Shergill? Initially, I was a little apprehensive about working with an experienced star, but my fear and doubts vanished soon. Jimmy is a very helpful, friendly and down-to-earth person. I respect him a lot. How was it working with debutant director Anand Kumar? It is always good to work with new people. Anand is full of ideas, I enjoyed working with him. Incidentally, he is also from Delhi. What are your forthcoming films? I have many exciting films coming up. Dus Kahanian, Shoot at Lokhandwala, Kuch Love Kutch Drama, Utthaan, Kabhi Pyar Na Karna, 1.40 ki Last Local, Cellphone, Hot and Mithia are some of them. — Dharam Pal
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The Aishwarya Rai-starrer, Provoked, based on the true life story of a battered Punjabi wife who is sentenced to life for murdering her alcoholic abusive husband but is later pardoned by the English courts, releases in theatres across the country next week. Provoked, directed by NRI filmmaker of Indian origin Jag Mundhra, is based on the true life story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia — played by Aishwarya Rai — the Asian woman who overturned the British judicial system and transformed the meaning of “provocation” in the case of physically abused women. — IANS
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Swirls of fabric, sparkling wedge heels, thumping music, flashing lights and gleaming crystals cascading down the glamorously glittering dresses…. You couldn’t have asked for more from the students of Sector 10 Government Home Science College. As they organised a party this Friday afternoon to give a warm send-off to the passing out graduate and post-graduate students, waves of cheerful colours on the ramp sent ripples of excitement through the crowd. Gala was the word to describe the dynamic show as the full of spunk students in lush fabrics with unique fits and royal cuts showcased exclusive designs and smart styles. The ensembles involved the reinvention of the classics with layering and random prints overstating the old. This was not the end of it. As the seniors enjoyed the last free moments of togetherness on the college grounds, the show went on with the juniors organising games, songs and dance items for the passing out crowd. College Principal Dr Sukhvarsha Narula joined the celebrations by ‘decorating’ the students with titles. Excitement broke lose as Vanshikha was adjudged Miss Post-Graduate and Kanika was declared Miss Graduate. Miss Graduate first runner up and Miss Popular title went to Manmeet, while Aditi Arora became Miss Cat Walk. Miss Well-dressed title went to Gunjan, while Shweta was adjudged Miss Charming. Mehak Kapoor became Miss Personality, while Miss Elegant’s title was bagged by Rishaya. Miss Best Answer’s award went to Nupur Bhatnagar. — Saurabh Malik
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A patron of films
“This region has enormous talent and budding artists. But they need a platform to showcase their creativity. So we though of establishing this forum,” says Amarjeet. This Chandigarh-based film producer has made many documentaries, tele films, and short films. His latest English documentary on the last emperor of Punjab, Maharaja Dullep Singh, was showcased at the Rajasthan Film Festival in February this year. It won him many accolades and popularity worldwide. A member of many film societies in India and abroad, he recently attended the 9th Internationl MAMI Film Festival held in Mumbai this year. There he tied up with some big names of Indian cinema to join the forum as patrons and members of the advisory board. “Attempts were made earlier to create such a platform to facilitate those who are interested in film-making and related activities, but did not have much luck. We are hoping to make it a successful forum as creative people from the film fraternity have been roped in,” says Singh. Kiran Shantaram, noted filmmaker and son of V. Shantaram has been designated as the chief patron along with Shashi Kapoor and G.L. Bhardwaj as patrons. “Talks are on and we are hopeful of getting Shabana Azmi’s consent for the same.” With names like Kabir Bedi, Prof P. S. Nirola, Mahinder Kapoor, Subash Sehgal, Manmohan Singh, Kanwaljit, Neelam Maan Singh Chaudhary, Rama Vij, Jaspinder Narula, Ramesh Tekwani, Gaurav Trehan on the advisory board, it all sounds quite impressive! Giving details about the forum, Amarjeet says, “The forum will organise functions in the city and nearby areas to screen documentary films, apart from arranging face to face with cine stars, holding workshops on script writing and seminars and one international film fest every year.” A special function in the memory of late Raj Kapoor is also on the cards. “Apart from his works there are some of the rarest inspiring documentaries on the life of Raj Kapoor. We intend to invite some of his family members to interact with us on the occasion. In fact, we are expecting Shashi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor to be amongst us.” Well, that’s the way to go! smritisharma@tribunemail.com
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Style is the mantra this summer
Tata Teleservices Ltd., has introduced Motorola’s ultra slim MOTOFONE F3c on the CDMA platform. The first device in India based on the QUALCOMM single-chip, the phone is packed with extensive core features. With voice prompts in six local languages—English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, the device has been specially designed to suit the needs of Indian consumers. A metallic finish, the sturdy phone with high contrast screen is easily priced at Rs.1699.Combined with benefits of Tata Indicom’s Go Xtra Pack, it will enable the customers to avail double talk time for the first six months with bonus talk time valid for 1 year from the date of activation. The scheme also offers free incoming calls for the first six months without recharge. Slimmest mobile
A must tool for every professional on the move, the i-mate JAQ3 is packed with GPRS, EDGE and Wi-Fi connectivity for excellent data download rates. In line, with the strategy of offering more mid-range Windows Mobile devices that appeal to a wider audience, the JAQ3 is a dedicated messaging device with a full QWERTY keyboard and 2.4 inch QVGA touch screen display. Other features of this slimmest windows mobile, is the i-mate configurator which detects the SIM card, search application to search for files, messages, calendar entries, notes etc and a voice commander which recognizes voice prompts without storing voice tags in the device. Available for Rs.25, 500. Rexona’s roll-on
Rexona, the active deodorant and antiperspirant brand, is now available as a Roll On in two variants - Free spirit for women and Ice cool for men. Preity Zinta, who stands for confidence, passion and an active lifestyle, will endorse the brand. The roll on controls underarm sweat effectively and gives true all-day body odor protection. More effective than the aerosol sprays currently available, Rexona’s alcohol free roll on is skin friendly.
Online shopping
Godrej Lifespace now makes shopping faster and easier with their launch of e-Mall, a unique online retail shopping mall. The facility allows you to purchase Godrej home & office furniture, appliances and security products from anywhere via net. A fully detailed online product catalogue gives you the finer and complete details of all the models, color and combinations that are available in each category of product. A product selector software addresses preliminary questions that customers want answered, when they visit any store. All purchases made from Godrej Lifespace eMall will be delivered to the doorsteps, free of cost. It may be visited at
www.godrejlifespace.com.
Aqua’ collection from Bombay Dyeing
Bombay Dyeing introduced a new range of bed sheets under the ‘Urban living’ collection. Inspired by life in the oceans, the ‘Aqua’ collection intends to give a serene and pristine look to the bedroom. Use of surreal & exotic colours of the sea lends a refreshing and soothing feel to the home. Available in six cool designs for Rs.2495. Go arty
Luxor launched a new range of pens- Art Collection in ‘Louis Charron’. The new collection will bring alive the spirit of fashion and the attitude that goes with it. The products depict creativity, elegance and style; all at very affordable price range of Rs.100 onwards. The range includes sub-brands such as Garnet, Glitterati, Globus, Trinity, Opus, Jasper, Belmonte and Magnum. Multiple usage boxes with art motifs have been specially designed to give the pens added appeal. Taaza Mango
Maaza unveiled their “Taaza Mango Maaza Mango” campaign for the summers. Designed to connect with Maaza loyalists by bringing out the goodness and the quality of mangoes used in the juice drink’s formulation, the campaign will capture the emotions of a Maaza loyalist in an entertaining and engaging manner. Friday night fever
Lux Body Wash is releasing special edition Lux Body Wash packs and a new dance track, ‘Lux Friday Night fever’ as a part of their Friday night concept. An ultimate swinging companion for the gen-next, the body wash promises to keep the skin radiant and youthful. White glamour, Uplifting firm, Soft Luxury and Silk Nourishment are all packed with exotic ingredients that treat the skin luxuriously. The track and the product invite the confident women of today to flaunt their attitude and X appeal on a Friday night.
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Kalyani comes calling
Standing tall as an eminent classical vocalist of international repute the Nagpur based maestro, Dr. Kalyani Deshmukh is an artist with myriad traits. Holding a doctorate in psychology, Kalyani is an academician, author and a versatile theatre artist too. Her musical repertoire encompasses light classical realms like Thumri, light devotional, and marathi natya sangeet.
In the city, for a classical music recital for the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademy, Kalyani says she was initiated into music by her guru and father, Manohar Barve. And, soon she graduated as a classical vocal performer with her maiden national AIR concert in 1977. Three years later, she was a part of ‘Aarohi’ on Bombay’s Doordarshan under the music direction of
Jaidev. Kalyani has performed extensively at music festivals in India, USA, Germany and many other countries. At Government Polytechnic for Women, Sector 10,
Saturday, 6.30 p.m.
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Beat breakfast blues with cereals Heavy paranthas are making way for cereals on the breakfast table. Priya Gill checks out the options You are sitting at your desk at 11am, when a roaring yearning emerges from within a hollow centre. Flush-faced, you cough in an attempt to cover up the internal growling. You begin to tackle your daily tasks until your mind draws a blank and you embark on a battle with your eyelids. Your sight becomes blurry, struggle to concentrate, and your brain shuts down as you are overcome with fatigue. These symptoms show that you have neglected the most important meal of the day – breakfast. A nutritious breakfast cereal is the simple remedy to your lack of energy early in the day. People who do regularly take breakfast are also replacing their heavy paranthas with the lighter, healthier alternative. Sonia Gandhi, nutritionist with Fortis Hospital, stresses the importance of breakfast as a priority meal and vital start to the day. “Breakfast is the first meal of the day after a gap of over eight hours. We must break this fast in the right manner. If we don’t, it can be problematic and detrimental to our bodies and our metabolism rates will be affected.” The proper, nutritious way to kick-start your day should be with a whole-wheat food item, a milk product, and a fruit or vegetable, she says. An ideal morning meal should consist of a healthy cereal, such as whole-wheat cereal porridge with milk and fruit. “The cereal should always be supplemented with a fruit or vegetable. This will give you a long-term energy boost. Your hunger will be satisfied for the next two hours.” If you skip breakfast, you will end up having a heavy lunch and dinner and will also snack throughout the day, Sonia adds. “If you have a heavy dinner, it will be stored in your body as fat. It is better to have a wholesome breakfast and light lunch and dinner. Your breakfast meal calories will be burned as you are out and about working during the day.” These days, customers are spoilt for choice when it comes to healthy cereal alternatives. Supermarkets and departmental stores’ shelves are stacked with hefty boxes of oats, wheat, grains, and muesli. Baggry’s, Harvest Crunch, Kelloggs, and Aha, are some of the brands producing healthy cereal options to replace chocolate and sugar-coated flakes. They offer porridge, white oats, oat bran, and combinations of wheat flakes with honey, raisons, and almonds, or sugar-free options like crunchy muesli. Baggry’s oat bran cereal is high in fibre and also a popular seller in Sector 17’s Empire Store. Owner Jai Gulati says fibre in the diet fights against excess blood cholesterol and people are selecting cereals with no salt, sugar or preservatives. Wheat cereals contain no artificial colours, flours, or preservatives and are rich in fibre and protein, promoting good digestive health. These cereals require no cooking and can be served instantly with hot or cold milk. Nihal Chand Satish Kumar of Departmental Store in Sector 10 stocks oat bran, wheat bran, white oats, and wheat flakes. Out of the healthy options, the wheat flakes sell most consistently, but sugary cereals dipped in honey, chocolate, or strawberry are still best sellers. Rajesh Kumar, owner of Lily White Supermarket of Sector 10, has noticed greater health awareness among his customers and says some come in and specifically ask for wheat or oat cereals containing no sugar. Ankit Gupta, owner of Sector 9’s M.G. Store, says many of his customers come in to request breakfast foods containing less sugar, fat, and calories. “Those who ask most frequently are the gym-goers in their early twenties.” Ankit also admits to being more figure-conscious these days. “I prefer to eat less sugar and calories. I go to the gym, and need the right cereal to start my day.” Kewal Store, in Sector 9, also stocks a range of nutritious cereal options and manager Dharminder Kumar says 15 to 20 boxes sell a day. “Customers often request and buy porridge oatmeal because it is high in fibre.” Manav Mittal, owner of Punjab Store, says the imported wholegrain cereal Weetabix is in high demand and they sell about 24 packages of the Rs 250 cereal a week. “Parents come in to buy nourishing alternatives for their families. They keep trying different healthy substitutes with low-fat and low-calories. I have noticed a major diet trend in the city. Even I eat muesli these days as it is a good replacement to paranthas.” Not all healthy breakfast cereals are so costly and people can find numerous options around the city starting from Rs 26.
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Meet the smoothies
Kandla Nijhowne
Strawberry Sunrise
1 banana, peeled and chopped Mango Tango
1 ripe mango, peeled and chopped Orange Froth
4 oranges
Juice of 1-2 lemons 1 banana, peeled and chopped 1 cup orange juice ½ cup yoghurt
Method: Separate out the orange segments and chop into smaller pieces, carefully removing the pips. Tip the orange segments, banana pieces, yoghurt, orange juice and lemon juice into the liquidizer. Process till a smooth consistency is achieved. Sweeten if necessary. Serve cold. Tip Of The Week Balance a sour or tart fruit by using a sweet one along with it. For instance, a banana would balance strawberries, mangoes, peaches or pineapple. A twist of lemon could also give a smoothie an additional kick.
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Health tip of the day
Prolonged immobilisation is a common treatment error in ankle
sprain. Early mobilisation is beneficial as it promotes healing and regaining range of
motion. — Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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Are Indians ready for brutally honest images of the detrimental effects of smoking on their cigarette packets? Will haunting images of a dead man’s body or a weakened baby struggling to breathe through a ventilator motivate people to if not give up smoking at least reduce the intake? The Indian Health Ministry made the decision to introduce graphic health warnings last year and it will be in effect from June 1. Currently, warnings are in small print and can be easily overlooked, but in a few months, photographic images with bold messages will cover at least 50 percent of the packet. However, will this move have an impact on the population and will it affect people’s thinking?
Orange and grapefruits contain chemicals that can keep arteries healthy and prevent a heart attack, says a study that suggests that eating at least one orange a day could keep cardiac disease away. The citrus fruits contain the compounds flavanones that reduced blood cholesterol levels by 20-25 percent during a study on rats. Researchers at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem reported that flavanones not only reduced levels of bad LDL cholesterol but also increased the ratio of good HDL cholesterol. The findings could help explain why those who live in the Mediterranean tend to live longer and have lower levels of heart disease than those in northern Europe. It is suggested that those with high cholesterol try eating a diet rich in citrus fruits as a first alternative drugs such as statins.
— IANS
Eating blueberries may help fight cancer and diabetes, US scientists believe. Researchers at Rutgers University and the US Department of Agriculture have found a compound in blueberries, a natural antioxidant that mops up highly reactive harmful molecules and may help fight bowel cancer and diabetes. The key ingredient, pterostilbene, may be good for lowering blood cholesterol, previous studies had shown. Similar antioxidants have already been identified in grapes and red wine. Pterostilbene is also found in cranberries, sparkleberries, lingonberries and grapes. Researchers gave rats a cancer-causing agent and fed them pterostilbene. They found that the rats had far fewer pre-cancers in their bowels than other rats. Researchers suggest the compound could be put into a pill although they said the best advice is to eat a healthy, balanced diet rather than rely on specific super foods.
— IANS
A study has revealed that women who eat beef regularly during pregnancy are more likely to produce sperm-deprived sons. The report, which was published in the United States, came after Copenhagen University researchers concluded that sperm counts in boys have been falling since about 10 years ago and exposure to pesticides and industrial chemicals are thought to be part of the problem. One of the most likely candidates for the low sperm count are the “gender- bender” chemicals that act like the human sex hormones and are used to stimulate growth in cattle. The study proved that the mothers who ate more than seven beef meals a week produced children with a sperm concentration of more than 24% lower than in men whose mothers ate less beef.
— UPI
With so many film units coming for shooting in and around the city, it has inspired our movie lovers to gear up have a platform of their own. ‘Creative Film Forum’ is such a body, which recently came into existence. Courtesy, Amarjeet Singh, a film producer and documentary maker of the region.
The switch-over has been abrupt. From hailstorms to hot weather, it has finally happened… Already we are more parched than puckish. It would be wiser to hydrate ourselves with fresh fruit smoothies instead of gulping own fizzy drinks with empty calories and zero nutrition. Fruit and vegetable smoothies are popping up all over the place. You can’t go to a mall, a restaurant or a multiplex without seeing them. Not only are they delicious, they also have immense health benefits. The diet gurus recommend we should have 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day. The best way of fulfilling a major part of this quota is to whiz up a smoothie. The conversion is also a nice change of pace. Remember, there are no absolute rules on how and with what to make a smoothie. Be adventurous and experiment with whatever catches your fancy.
Summer is here and there are just a few things that are as irresistible as chilled desserts when it comes to battling the scorching heat. Whether it is smoothies, youghurts, sundaes, shakes or scoops that you love to gorge on, ice cream parlours in the city have it all.