Young, lively, tech savvy and 'just in the frame' mums, is how these women in their forties feel

If late marriages are becoming a norm, the latest fad is to raise babies in 40s. Reasons might be varied but not bothering about the world, the new mums are enjoying that to the fullest. Four of these wonderful women share with us their experiences.

Proud to be mum at 40, Monica Issar Mittal says it's the best time to have a baby. "Having Sumayah (2) when my son Sanyam was 12 was the most beautiful experience of my life. It was like my black and white life suddenly got filled with colours. At 40, you are settled, done pretty much you wanted to and know how to go about stuff. It's time that you can devote wholly solely towards motherhood," she says.

Though it was not a conscious decision to have a baby, things turned out well. "I always wanted to have a daughter. When one fine day, I realised I was carrying, I was in two minds. One was my dream of having a daughter coming true another was the health concern for the baby. The pregnancy, though smooth, was filled with apprehensions till all tests gave a go ahead," she says. Monica was also conscious about reactions from people. "My daughter started play way school recently and I was dead scared being in the company of young moms. But then it is great. I feel lively in their company. Many a times I have a good laugh the way they panic about kids. I, at this age, can sit and relax and take things calmly."

Esha Gupta, 40, is mum to Pavani, 12 and Armaan, 1. "We wanted another child for the sake of our daughter Pavani who was turning out to be a loner. But, when I conceived I was too anxious at the repercussions of having a baby at this age. My doctor convinced me that it's going to be fine." She still had her share of anxieties before Armaan made an appearance. "I was conscious of having a little baby when I had started have grey hair but the world changed the moment I held him in my lap." Ever since it's been a beautiful journey for Esha. "I feel more creative, energetic, spirited. Though people tell us this is too big a gap but I say it's a beautiful gap."

With two kids from almost two generations, Esha has to move amongst two worlds to be there for her kids. "My daughter will be a teenager coming November. Her needs are so different than little Armaan's but I manage somehow to strike a balance," she says.

Looking back, Esha considers that she has matured over the years. "I got Pavani when I was young, just married and always on guard. Armaan now has smarter and a wiser mom," she says.

For Monica Singal, 40, life was complete with a daughter Radhika, 18 and son Raghav 16. "I was through with child rearing, was assisting my husband in business," she shares. "Then as luck would have it, Keshav (now 7) made an appearance in our life," she says, "And, how blissful it has been. My elder children welcomed the little bundle of joy with both arms open," she adds.

Monica enjoyed motherhood all over again in an entirely different way. "I was too immature, and inexperienced with Radhika and Raghav. Since I was not prepared jo jisne kah diya maine kar diya," she says. "First time, even my husband Rajiv was too busy establishing his business. With Keshav, we were settled, could devote time to the baby." Suddenly the world became young once again for Singals. "I feel as if we are growing younger by the day. We go to places that Keshav enjoys. Move in the company of his friends' parents who are a much younger lot. I go sometimes running with other mums, have become tech savvy and certainly much more aware," she says.

Renee Singh has her kids at the interval of 15 years. "Azalea Liberty Singh, 27 is a fashion designer and Azan Brar, 12, goes to grade seven," she says. Having a school- going kid has distanced Renee from her age group. "Many of my friends who have grandchildren of my sons age often find me crazy to do this. Now, I hang out with younger mums not out of choice but since we have similar issues. I do feel young. But on the downside I did not had as energy as my kid would demand when a toddler."

Whosoever thought that hi-end fashion shows can provide inspiration to these designers, well, you were mistaken. The man in black kurta, done up in intricate design pattern, wants to share his source of inspiration when it comes to designing.

"Nature, art form, museums housing heritage work be inspiring for a designer," shares Anuwant Pahwa. Did he mention cool breeze hitting him with ideas. Smiles, "Yes, this is how and where I got the name for the fashion label Vedic belle. My designer friend, Praveen were sitting with cool breeze blowing. Suddenly, it struck that we can create a label that will have a right mix of contemporary and tradition. This is how Vedic belle came into being," puts in Anuwant, director of the fashion label that arrived in Chandigarh on Sunday at Samsaara, Taj as an independent brand.

As the name suggests, Vedic belle is a fusion on Indian art in contemporary designs, a perfect blend of different moods and colours of various places, countries and cultures.

Conceptuliased clothing is what it provides through garments, done up intricately and tastefully without going overboard with any detail.

As Anuwant likes to put it, "Authenticity can be boring. Our idea is to create garments that have everything in proportion." Like the designs on display wherein every designer piece speaks of fusion in style. Designer-duo Praveen Verma and Navin Singh, brains behind the indo western garments, show us their creations fused with futuristic, contemporary and abstract forms. Fabric used in active sports wear is used perfectly in a kameez that can be worn as a churidaar as well, as per occasion. On the other hand dyed Bhaagalpuri silk patches are placed beautifully on a silk base to create a traditional, yet contemporary sari. Same holds for the Vedic belle's evening dresses in white, lemon, yellow, peach, grey and other shades created without an overdo of work on them.

One more thing where label scores is men's fashion wear. Shirts, Jhodpuris and simple kurtas in cotton silk depicting Indian signage provide for simple and wearable summer options for men.

"Men are always comfortable in the regular trousers and shirts. Vedic belle wants them to be futurist in their dressing. They shouldn't come out from their ancient dressing once a while. This is why I say, live in style and eat in fashion," chips in Anuwant.

Talking about designer garments in length, we often wonder what's with the dresses that are showcased at fashion weeks. Weird designs, overdose of designing, overspill of creativity leading to a bizarre and absolutely non-wearable garment? "Those are designs meant for the international buyers. We design dresses as per the taste of the people. Chandigarh has a good fusion wear market, and we understand the kind of spring summer wear that will go down with the city that likes to maintain a fine balance between the customary and the conventional," adds Anuwant.

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Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who runs an acting school called Actor Prepares, believes those who can lie can make good actors. "Every human being has the capability to act. Anyone who can lie, can be an actor," Anupam told. "But the journey between lying at home and lying in front of public and in front of camera can be taught," he added.

Prior to the live audition and screen test of the Femina Miss India 2010 Bollywood Diva finalists, Anupam gave them short training and is quite impressed with some of them.

He along with director Madhur Bhandarkar and filmmaker Vipul Shah judged the acting and dancing skills of 18 finalists of the pageant.

"I don't know who will win the crown, but there are few participants who have the capability of being an actor," said Anupam who would like to make a film with some of the participants.

"I would love to produce and direct a film with these participants. I didn't judge them only for Madhur's or Vipul's film, if I need someone… there are lots of people among the contestants who are capable of appearing in the kind of cinema I make," he said.

One of the eligible contestants will win scholarship to get free training in acting.

"We have kept a scholarship, which will be awarded to one of the contestants. We will give her three months of free training in acting," said the actor who runs acting schools in Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and London.

He is looking forward to direct and act with his son Sikander but waiting for the right script.

"I want to work with him (Sikander). I would like to find a script which I would love to make a film on and look forward to acting with him as well," he said. — IANS

Let's start at the beginning. Why does acne occur? Actually, acne usually occurs on an oily skin. It is common during the adolescence, when the body is going through hormonal change, which activates the oil glands too. Although acne can occur when one is older.

Stress can trigger off an acne condition too, as stress has an effect on the adrenal glands, which in turn, leads to excessive secretion of sebum, the skin's natural oil. What many people may not know is that acne starts with a blackhead. An oily skin is prone to blackheads. Neglected blackheads irritate the surrounding tissues of the skin, resulting in inflammation. This sets the stage for pimples and acne. A single pimple does not mean an acne condition. Also pimples occur on the surface. A pimple may just mean inflammation, but in acne, there is bacterial activity. In other words, there is infection. An acne condition comprises of many kinds of eruptions, like blackheads, whiteheads, cysts (lumps), eruptions with pus, etc.

Appropriate cleansing is important for acne, in order to reduce oiliness and check the spread of the condition. However, too much soap and water washing makes the skin too alkaline and leaves it further predisposed to acne. Medicated soap, cleanser or lotion should be used twice a day, morning and night. Night time cleansing is most important. A rose-based skin tonic or astringent lotion should be used after cleansing to wipe the face. It should also be used during the day to refresh the skin and reduce oiliness. Non-oily day creams or protective creams should be used during the day. For example, we advocate mixing a sandalwood cream with a day cream and using it as a daytime protective cover. Oily creams and moisturisers should not be applied. Medicated lotions and preparations must be used if there is acne, to control the condition. At night, after cleansing, an anti-acne lotion should be applied only on the eruptions. If there are marks left behind by acne, an anti-blemish preparation may be used. Night creams or moisturisers should not be used at night on oily skin, or if there is acne. Scrubs and grainy masks should be avoided when there is acne. They may be used after the acne condition has subsided, in order to deal with the scars.

We also recommend clinical treatment for acne. It involves cleansing and clean up. The skin is cleansed with medicated cleansers and blackheads are extracted. This is an important way of checking the spread of the condition. We also provide ozone treatment to create a germicidal environment on the skin. Cold compress is also given and the skin is toned. Medicated masks and protective creams are used to soothe the skin and cure the eruptions.

Acne points to a congested skin and congested system. Therefore, one should have a diet that helps to cleanse the system and keep it flushed of toxins and wastes. The diet should be high in fibre and rich in vitamins and minerals. The diet should include fresh fruits, raw salads, sprouts, wholegrains, yogurt, fresh fruit juices, clear soups, lassi. A low fat diet would help. One should drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily and add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and have it first thing in the morning. A person with acne should avoid fried foods and too many sweets and chocolates.

I am often asked if women are more prone to acne than men and whether shaving will aggravate an acne condition.

Actually, men are probably more prone to acne than women. Male skin is thicker than female skin. It is also richer in oil-producing glands. Therefore, male skin is oilier and has larger pores, which can get more easily clogged with oil, leading to pimples and acne. If the skin is oily, the effort should be to reduce oiliness. The simple way of preventing acne is to cleanse the skin morning and night with a medicated cleanser or cleanser for oily skin. Rinse with plenty of water. Then have your shave, using herbal shaving cream containing ingredients like sandalwood. After shaving, wipe the skin with an astringent lotion. After-shave lotion would also help to prevent infection. If there is any bleeding from an eruption, apply an anti-acne lotion or medicated ointment. If there is no acne, use a facial scrub two or three times a week, applying it on the face and rubbing gently with small circular movements. Wash off with water. This helps to prevent blackheads, which in turn prevents acne.

Here are some home remedies for acne:

Sandalwood paste may be applied on acne eruptions.

• Mix cinnamon (dalchini) powder with a little methi seed powder. Add lemon juice and a few drops of honey. Mix it into a sticky paste. Apply only on the acne and leave on for one or two hours.
• Boil neem leaves in enough water over a low fire. Cool and strain. Make a paste of the neem leaves and apply daily. Wash it off after 30 minutes.
• Add a little haldi to curd and apply on the face. Wash it off with plenty of water after 15 minutes.

Practicing journalism, especially with an investigative approach is a challenging and arduous job while the general stories both news oriented and on Punjabi cultural ethos are the redeeming perspectives in Canada or USA," observed Amar Singh Bhullar, editor of a Toronto-based Punjabi weekly.

In a Ru Ba Ru session organised by the Punjab Sahitya Akademi he recounted the challenges and perpetual struggle to make weekly the number one. "Many of our readers feel attached to their roots and get united in the alien land as we share their aspirations, achievements and problems through our publications. As an editor, I had the privilege of being a member of the entourage of the Canadian Prime Minister to seven foreign countries twice. It was in 1996 with Jean Christen and 2005 with Paul Martin and I attribute the honour to Punjabi journalism," says Amar Bhullar with pride.

Earlier, recalling his childhood and school days at his native village Banbhaura, near Sangrur, he made a special mention of close relationship with Bollywood stalwart Dharminder and the entire Deol family. He shred with pride that Parkash Kaur, wife of the matinee idol was his next-door neighbour and after their marriage in 1954 or 1955 Dharminder was a regular visitor to the village.

"Since his maternal uncle too was married in the same family the hero, a very nice person indeed, was best known to all in the village, claims

Amar Bhullar. We all meet in Canada with the same spirit and talking of good old days," signs off Bhullar.

City restaurants and cafes whip up summer special menus to beat the heat

A variety of lettuce mixed with exotic fruits, topped with dressings of honey and lemon, served with a chilled glass of lassi flavoured with mango. A blue berry cheese cake served with strawberry jelly and espresso shot ice cream. That's about it! Till the time, the scorching and sweltering summers are not replaced by a pleasant weather (which of course will never happen), food is what can divert our attention and give us some solace. Helping in the cause are the city restaurants. They have come up with summer specific menus, dishes and drinks to keep us healthy, "The idea is to assure that the basic calorie need for the body is fulfilled by serving light and digestible food," says Vipul Dua, owner, Purple Rice, sector-35. So, available here is a Steamed and Stir Fry menu designed for the season that has 15 dishes comprising of appetizers, main course, dessert and mocktails.

To make it convenient for people to choose, also mentioned on the menu is the calorie count of each dish, "People become more conscious of what they eat in summers. The metabolic rate slows down as the physical activity is less," adds Vipul. As the name of the menu suggests, the dishes are either steamed or shallow fried. Steamed chicken in oyster sauce or hot bean sauce and stir fried lamb with seasonal greens and fresh chilles are the light yet filling dishes. Another healthier option of carbohydrates has been introduced recently at Oven Fresh sector-26. "The whole wheat breads, rich in fibre can be used for sandwiches," informs Priya Garg, owner Oven Fresh.

About Shivalik View, as Vineet Chopra, chef says, the restaurant rather concentrates on salads, "It is the most nutritious replacement of a proper meal." Everyday the salad menu is changed, using various exotic fruits and vegetables along with the ones readily available in the market. Also, the change in salads is brought with different dressings, "In total, we have seven different dressings, the favourite being, honey, lemon and mayonnaise." Under the heading of Summer Bonanza, there are ice teas, honey -based drinks, mocktails, milk shakes and in absolute contrast Punjabi drinks, aam panna and butter milk (lassi). "Lassi is still preferred over the rest. We have experimented with it by introducing flavours like mango, strawberry, cardamom, rose…"

Butter milk, as Priya Jagat, owner, Backpackers Café, sector-9 also claims is the most sought after drink at the café. The other summer friendly drinks on the menu are yogurt-based smoothies. The lighter desserts have replaced the heavier ones here, "Because people like to have summer friendly desserts, which are flavoured cheese cakes and home made fresh ice creams." Just as at Purple Rice, there is an option of fresh fruits in desserts just in summers.

Another addition to the menu comes at Oven Fresh in the form of probiotic smoothies. The drinks rich in probiotic bacteria help in faster digestion of food and protects against stomach infection, "The drinks are available in seven different flavours," says Priya Garg. Health on mind indeed!

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Yoghurt or curd as it is commonly referred to derives its name from Turkish origin 'Yoghurmek' which means 'to thicken'. The earliest records available of yoghurt date back to the Middle-East during the times of Genghis Khan in the 13th century, whose armies were sustained on this healthy food. It has been in use as a staple in the diets of cultures in the Middle East, Asia, Russia and eastern European countries like Bulgaria. However, it was only around the 20th century that the health benefits of yoghurt were discovered by Dr Elie Metchnikoffe whose intensive research documented the health benefits of lactic acid producing bacteria and postulated that the longevity of certain cultures like those of Bulgarians was related to their high consumption of yoghurt and fermented dairy products.

Yoghurt is fermented milk produced by adding bacterial cultures to milk, which causes the conversion of milk sugar to lactic acid. The byproduct of this conversion is a rich creamy curd as we know it with a distinctive flavor. The lactic acid used in fermentation are mostly streptococcus thermophillus or lactobacillus bulgaricus.

Yoghurt serves as an alternative for people who are milk intolerant i.e. they are unable to digest milk. The nutrient content of yoghurt by and large depends upon the type of milk used to ferment it. It could be full cream, low fat or medium fat yoghurt based upon the fat content of the milk used. For the weight watchers yoghurt made from low fat milk or skimmed milk would give the same amount of fat as that in the toned or skimmed milk. In other words, yoghurt from toned milk would contain 66 per cent of calories, 1.5 per cent of fat and approximately 5 per cent carbohydrates. However, it scores over milk as it has enhanced levels of some of the B complex vitamins which are produced during the fermentation process.

Other important nutrients in yoghurt besides 88 per cent water are calcium, phosphorous, protein and zinc. But the most unique quality of yoghurt is the content of live bacteria which suppresses the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut.

Yoghurt has been used therapeutically in children and adults to control diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, urinary tract infections and vaginal thrush to name a few. The probiotics present in yogurt are known to produce immune enhancing compounds, nutrients and natural anti-biotic substances which help reduce levels of 'bad bacteria' in the gut.

The requirements of yoghurt for its beneficial effect will depend to some extent on whether it is substituted for milk or whether it is taken in addition to milk. Being a rich source of calcium too besides other nutrients, if it is to replace the milk intake, about 2-3 servings of 150 gms each should be required, but if taken in addition to milk, about 1-2 serves should be sufficient.

A host of different flavored yoghurt is available commercially which are all good. However, the best choice would be fresh homemade yoghurt, which can confer maximum benefits. It is important to keep in mind the date of manufacture label on the cup, because the longer it is refrigerated, fewer would be the level of probiotic activity it might contain.

Yoghurt is used in a variety of cuisine, which gives taste and texture to a recipe. Some healthy tips for using yoghurt in cooking are:

• Before adding yoghurt to a dish, stir in 1 tbsp of flour/corn flour into 1 cup of yoghurt. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in theit until creamy.
• Most commercial yoghurt contains lower amount of live organism as compared to fresh yoghurt. Homemade yoghurt can also be flavored by adding fruits or nuts.
• When coating chicken/fish with bread crumbs, egg can be replaced by yoghurt to moisten the meat. About 200 grams of yoghurt to 500 grams of fish/chicken would serve the purpose.
• Replace mayonnaise and salad dressings with yoghurt.
• Replace ice cream with frozen yoghurt and mixed fruit yoghurt smoothie.

A man's libido depends on the state of his health. A healthy lifestyle has the greatest impact on his sexual ability and enjoyment. Every man can develop his sexual potential to its maximum, no matter what his age!

There are various factors, which contribute to sexual dysfunctions. These are:

Stress: Long-term stress can also hopelessly interfere with a person's ability to achieve full sexual satisfaction. All central nervous system responses are impaired by stress, including those of the brain and the endocrine system, the very system, which is instrumental in regulating sexual function and reproductive processes. Learn to lower your stress level with various de-stressing techniques and regular exercise.

Poor nutrition: High fat meals suppress testosterone, depress libido, and make erection and ejaculation more difficult.

Smoking: Smoking just two cigarettes a day constricts blood vessels, impairing circulation and the ability to achieve erection. Chewing tobacco is just as bad. Smoking also interferes with your body's use of zinc. Zinc is perhaps the most important single nutrient for a man's sexuality. It is crucial for the production of sperm and seminal fluid.

Consuming alcohol: Alcohol consumption (in excess of two beers a day, two glasses of wine, or one mixed drink) can significantly increase prolactin, which leads to prostate and breast enlargement in men.

Obesity: Excess fat blocks arteries and ruins the ability to become erect. If you are overweight, work to lose that excess body fat.

Drug reactions: Various drugs can cause drowsiness, lethargy, confusion, lowered libido, depression and weight gain. A wide range of medications - like antidepressants and high blood pressure medications - disrupt neurotransmitters, interfering with a man's ability to achieve erection or reach orgasm. It is best to discuss the various sexual side effects of the drugs prescribed with your physician.

Lack of exercise: Exercise increases sexual drive. Getting fit appears to enhance sexuality through a variety of mechanisms that affect both body and mind. Physical boosts in endurance, muscle tone, body composition and blood flow can all improve sexual functioning. Psychological benefits, such as stress reduction, mood elevation, increased self-confidence and heightened self-esteem, can also enrich your love life. People who are physically fit get more enjoyment from sex and are more likely to be sexually active. Regardless of age, regular exercise results in greater sexual confidence, desire, and ability to attain orgasm. It also helps in combating stress and obesity.

This sex-exercise link is so strong that many sex therapists now prescribe exercise to patients with sexual dysfunction.

Relatively short, intense exercise is linked with an increase in testosterone levels, which may enhance sexual interest and behaviour. Too much exercise, however, may put a damper on both sex and fertility since excessive and prolonged exercise is associated with a decrease in testosterone and other male hormones.

This again highlights the essential truth about balance and harmony in health. It's clear that too much or too little exercise can disrupt this healthy harmony and depress sexual function. It's also clear that a balanced programme of regular exercise helps establish and maintain physical and mental equilibrium while boosting sexual desire, performance and satisfaction.

Exercise at a level you enjoy, moderately or vigorously, for 30 to 60 minutes, three to six times a week is what you need. Be sure that at least three of these sessions include 30 minutes of aerobic exercises and at least two include resistance exercises to strengthen muscles. Stretch after each exercise session to enhance flexibility and avoid injury. Regardless of your current lifestyle habits, it is never too late to begin an exercise programme. To maximize safety, consult with a doctor before starting any fitness regimen and always workout under trained supervision.

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Fast food is not only bad for health, it can trigger impatience and hasty behaviour in people, a new study has found. The original idea behind fast food is to increase efficiency, allowing people to quickly finish a meal so they can move on to other matters.

Now, researchers at the University of Toronto have found that the mere exposure to fast food and related symbols can make people impatient, increasing preference for time saving products and reducing willingness to save.

"Fast food represents a culture of time efficiency and instant gratification," said Chen-Bo Zhong, who co-wrote the paper with colleague Sanford DeVoe. "The problem is that the goal of saving time gets activated upon exposure to fast food regardless of whether time is a relevant factor in the context," Bo Zhong added.

In one experiment, the researchers flashed fast food symbols, such as the golden arch of McDonald's, on a computer screen for a few milliseconds, so quick that participants couldn't consciously identify what they saw.

They found that this unconscious exposure increased participants' reading speed in a subsequent task compared to those in a control condition, even when there was no advantage to finishing sooner. In another study, participants who recalled a time when they eat at a food restaurant subsequently preferred time-saving products-such as two-in-one shampoo-over regular products. A final experiment found people exposed to fast food logos exhibited greater reluctance for saving -choose a smaller immediate payment rather than opting for a much larger delayed payment.

The study is to be published in a forthcoming issue of Psychological Science. — ANI

Aarya Babbar dons Anil Kapoor's Ram Lakhan look

Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie has revealed that her favourite actor to work with is partner Brad Pitt.

The pair played husband and wife in Mr & Mrs Smith, with some saying it led to 46-year-old Brad leaving his then wife Jennifer Aniston, 41.

"I love working with him (Brad Pitt).

He is my favourite actor," said 36-year-old actor. — IANS