Drink coconut water for good health

One of the best things about a beach holiday – other than the sun, surf and hammocks, that is – is the chance to drink quantities of coconut water. We’ve always known this natural refresher is good for us, but now, even Hollywood’s brightest have got in on the act, with Matthew McConaughey and Demi
Moore recently joining pop star Madonna in buying shares in a US-based coconut water brand.


Right now, in fact, coconut water is receiving very good press, being touted as almost a ‘miracle’ drink. Here too, more and more people are opting for this natural refresher. “If we do not prescribe it, people ask for it. Drinking coconut water has become a fancy thing to do,” says Delhi-based dietician Indu Jain.

CoconutWeight loss star
Coconut water features in most diet plans because it’s the ideal drink for weight loss. It is lower in calories than any other beverage, excluding water and salted nimboo pani. That makes it a perfect thirst quencher too. “Coconut water is not calorie free but has negligible calories – 100 ml has 17 kcal,” explains Jyoti Arora, team leader, nutrition and dietetics, Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon. “In comparison, bottled nimboo pani has 40 to 50 kcal in 100 ml, while orange aerated drinks have 100 kcal in 150 ml.”

Says Honey Khanna, dietician, Max Healthcare, “Coconut water is high in potassium. People with weight problems suffer from water retention, which happens because sodium in the body stores water. Potassium flushes out excess water.” Apart from this, some doctors believe that coconut water’s ability to maintain a balance in the body helps it to speed up metabolism.

The clear choice
Coconut water is also a balm for the stomach. “It is natural and easy to digest. So before we put patients on solid foods after surgery, we give them coconut water,” says Jyoti Arora. “It also has a good amount of electrolytes, vitamins, minerals and chlorides.”

It is also suitable for people suffering from acidity and heartburn. Says Arora, “The pH acidic level in the body turns alkaline when you drink coconut water and that’s why it’s good for acidity.” Coconut water is also recommended for people who have lost body fluids post vomiting or diarrhoea, and is a panacea against constipation, says Dr Shilpa Thakur, chief dietician at Asian Institute Of Medical Sciences. “It contains lauric acid, and is cholesterol- and fat-free, so it also helps heal the liver, especially in cases of jaundice,” she says.

Aside from this, coconut water is antibacterial and antiviral, and can help flush out toxins from the body, explains Jyoti Arora. Studies have also shown that coconut water can help break down small kidney stones and flush them out of the body. “It is also good for kidney function. The electrolytes in it help stabilise blood pressure and since it is 99 per cent fat free, it is good for the heart,” says Dr Thakur.

But you don’t have to suffer from any ailment to enjoy this fresh drink. It’s a great refresher, says Honey Khanna. “Though it’s not very high in calories and hence does not give you much energy, it rehydrates the body and is a natural isotonic beverage.” Which makes it an excellent summer drink, she adds. “It contains small amounts of micronutrients. These help boost immunity in the body to a small extent and help detoxify the body.”

Not suitable for...

If you have some kind of kidney dysfunction, you should not drink coconut water unless your doctor specifically prescribes it.

According to experts, this is because potassium levels in the body go up when the kidneys do not function properly. Since coconut water is already high in potassium, it is not recommended.

Keep in mind that though coconut water is low in calories, it is not entirely calorie-free. Therefore, if you suffer from diabetes, be sure to drink it only in moderation.
(http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/wellness/Drink-coconut-water-for-good-health/Article1-576587.aspx)

Return the Kohinoor Diamond and other artifacts-India demands of UK

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has joined an international network for the return of priceless artifacts taken away during British rule, including the Kohinoor diamond and the Sultanganj Buddha.  (PS: The Kohinoor belonged to the last and the most Majesty of Majesties- the Maharaja of the Sikhs....Maharaja Ranjit Singh Of Punjab).

ASI Director-General Gautam Sengupta said the list of India's treasures held abroad was "too long to handle" and there was a need for a "diplomatic and legal campaign" for their restitution from institutions, including the British Museum, the Royal Collection and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. 

Speaking to The Independent, Sengupta said that after decades of unsuccessful unilateral lobbying, India was looking to join a campaign with the support of UNESCO, and other countries with longstanding complaints about the foreign ownership of their artistic riches, including Egypt and Greece. 

"As efforts so far to reclaim stolen treasures have proved futile, UNESCO support is required for launching an international campaign to achieve this end. 

"Not only India, various other countries like Mexico, Peru, China, Bolivia, Cyprus and Guatemala also the voiced the same concern to get back their stolen and looted antiquities and to join the international campaign," Sengupta said. 

While underlining the need to be "realistic" about the chances of large numbers of items being returned, Sengupta told the newspaper that a list of "unique items" that should be returned to their home countries was being drawn up by each of the participating countries. 

"Once this list is ready, these countries will jointly initiate a series of steps, including a diplomatic and legal campaign to get back the lost treasures," he added. 

Rita McLean, head of the Birmingham Museum, said: "We have not received any official request for the return of the Sultanganj Buddha. Any requests for restitution will be treated on a case-by-case basis." 

According to the newspaper report, the British Museum said it was satisfied that the objects highlighted by the Indian authorities had been acquired legitimately. 

Click HERE to see WHAT THE DIAMOND LOOKS LIKE:

http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/File:Insight_Jun04_Mailbox_Kohinoor_large.jpg

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India-wants-UK-to-return-Kohinoor-other-artifacts/articleshow/5999070.cms)

Inhaler to cure impotency in 10 minutes

A new inhaler might one day end impotency in 10 minutes, reveals a new study.

It contains a powdered form of a drug called apomorphine, which works by stimulating chemical receptors in the brain.

Apomorphine was developed to treat Parkinson's disease, however researchers noticed it had an ability to boost a man's desire.

Although it is still undergoing trials, the new device - which resembles an asthma inhaler - could prove popular with men affected by erectile dysfunction if tests prove successful, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Drugs such as Viagra and similar medications, including Cialis and Levitra, have transformed treatment of impotence in the past 10 years.

However, nearly 30 percent of men who take them see little or no improvement in their condition. The alternate option is to inject drugs straight into the penis, or use a pump that manually increases blood supply to the organ.

Moreover, among men who respond to Viagra and other impotence drugs, it can take at least 40 minutes before they are ready to make love.

The study involving 600 men showed majority of men using an inhaler of the powdered drug, developed by Vectura Ltd, the Wiltshire-based firm, could get an erection within 10 minutes. 

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Life/Health-Fitness/Health/Inhaler-to-cure-impotency-in-10-minutes/articleshow/5947723.cms)

Microsoft's Windows 7 has '8' big problems

8 'problems' with Windows 7 

 
Microsoft's latest operating system Windows 7 opened to rave reviews last week. After the dismal performance of its earlier operating system Vista, Microsoft seems to be heaving a sigh of relief at the grand reception that its new OS has received.

PC makers are scrambling to offer Windows 7-based systems, including Netbooks, as they hope the operating system to spur PC sales. After skidding for six months, computer shipments have shown some improvements recently. Seems Microsoft is all set to further strengthen its grasp over computer desktops.

Not really! As many skeptics beg to differ. According to them, Vista too got high marks before its release as well, with writers praising the new visual design and glossing over quirks that later became common gripes.

Here's looking into what may dampen Microsoft's Windows 7 party.
One of the biggest complain that most analysts have is the lack of direct upgrade from XP, the operating system which still continues to run on almost 80% of the world's computers. Windows 7 fails to offer a smooth transition from XP as there is no upgrade option. Users will have to go for a fresh install.

Writes Tony Bradley of PC World, "After the issues with Windows Vista, and knowing that the vast majority of users-both consumer and enterprise-are still relying on Windows XP, it seems like a direct upgrade path is a necessity. Many users may be frustrated by the lack of upgrade path and having to do a fresh install, reinstall all of the other software and migrate user settings. Microsoft has provided tools to ease the pain, but this is still the biggest opportunity for negative PR or backlash related to Windows 7."

According to Microsoft, the upgrade option is not available in Windows 7 Setup when installing Windows 7 on a computer running Windows XP. However, users can use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from Windows XP to Windows 7 on the same computer. 
The basic requirements of a PC to run on Windows 7 are 1 GHz processor, minimum 1GB of RAM and 16GB hard drive space. This in simple words means any hardware that worked with Vista will work for Windows 7 too.

However, one of the most crucial reasons for Vista not succeeding was that the operating system almost forced a hardware upgrade on users. Hope the almost similar requirement does not hamper the prospects of Windows 7. It's is also to be noted here that that the basic PC configuration has seen a jump since Vista days.
According to Bradley, Windows Vista stumbled due to the lack of hardware and device driver support. He writes, "The vendors just weren't ready when Vista was launched and Vista never really recovered from the damaged reputation even after most of those issues were resolved."

It is not a great experience for users working on a new operating system to find out that their existing printer, wireless router, webcam, and other peripheral hardware devices don't work with the new OS. This means either they stop working on that hardware or look for new hardware that is compatible.
The most controversial and much maligned feature of Vista, UAC or User Account Control is a part of Windows 7 too. The UAC was designed to prevent unauthorised execution of code by displaying a pop-up warning every time a change is being made to the system, whether by the operating system or a third-party application.

Many Vista users complained of being bombarded with the warnings. It proved a huge annoyance for users installing new applications frequently. Windows 7 now allows you to set the level of information that a user desires.

However, writes Bradley, "... still after much debate with the security community during the Beta testing, the default setting is still set to what users experienced with Windows Vista. Frankly, UAC serves a purpose and it is better to leave it alone. But, those who dislike UAC are going to have to go into the control panel and modify the configuration to their liking or be faced with the same pop-ups that annoyed the world with Vista."
The failure of Vista continues to cast a deep shadow on the Microsoft's fresh launch, especially among the business users. Most enterprise customers skipped Windows Vista reportedly due to the numerous technical glitches that the OS had. According to reviewers, the operating system suffered from frequent hangs and crashes, and incompatibility with certain software and hardware.

A section of analysts believes that `Vista's reputation' may hamper Microsoft's efforts to convince enterprises about the Windows 7 improved features.

Ahead of the launch, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said that the company's reputation never recovered from the poor performance of Vista. Ballmer said Microsoft's reputation took a beating after the release of Vista in 2007, an operating system which caused computers to hang indefinitely, among many other technical glitches.
Price is seen as one of biggest issue that may dampen the Windows 7 release. Microsoft is charging $199.99 for the Home Premium version of Windows 7, or $119.99 for users seeking to upgrade from older versions of the operating system. However, India pricing seems to be comparatively low.

In India, the Home Basic package will cost about Rs 5,899, while the Windows 7 Ultimate (high-end version) will be available for Rs 11,799. In the US, the high-end version costs $320 (Rs 15,000).

Microsoft Vista Home basic costs around Rs 3,500, Home Premium version is priced at Rs 4,800. Microsoft Vista Business costs around Rs 6,400 while Microsoft Vista Ultimate is priced at Rs 9,500.
PC makers HCL Infosystems, Acer and Hewlett Packard have already started shipping Windows pre-loaded PCs and notebook computers. HP India will retail Windows 7-preloaded PCs between Rs 27,990 and Rs 90,000. HP's preloaded Windows 7 notebooks will be priced at Rs 39,990 onwards.

Acer PCs with Windows 7 OS will be priced between Rs 15,000 and Rs 35,000, while the notebooks will be priced at Rs 21,000-Rs 70,000. HCL Infosystems' Executive Vice President George Paul informed that HCL will price it between Rs 16,000 and Rs 55,000, whereas the notebooks would cost Rs 22,000-Rs 80,000.
Microsoft’s big release coincides with one of the worst phases in the global economy. The past few months have witnessed a downfall in the spending as cost-cutting became the mantra for businesses around the world.

Though most companies see a recovery on the horizon, they still see no big jump in corporate budgets. The companies globally continue to remain cautious and are tightly guarding their purses.

Certain analysts believe that the tough economic climate may impact the sales of Windows 7. At the same time, PC makers like Lenovo are betting on the new operating system to revive the falling computer sales.
Another big challenge for Microsoft is to deal with piracy. Even before the official release of Windows 7, authentic looking pirate copies of the OS were available in China for a mere $3.

According to Reuters, Windows 7 has been openly available in China's grey market for over a month now. Shopkeepers in Shanghai’s Xinyang market are said to be offering all versions of Windows 7, in both Chinese and English for just 20 yuan ($2.93). This compares with the list price of up to $320.

(http://infotech.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/5163132.cms)

Video Review of Nano iPod

Video: The new iPod Nano reviewed – Gadget Inspectors

Harry Wallop and Claudine Beaumont take a closer look at Apple's latest mp3 player that was unveiled by Steve Jobs last week, now complete with video camera and voice recorder.

Key features of the new Apple iPod player:

• New built in video camera and mic
• Comes in nine colours with an aluminium finish
• Screen is slightly larger than previous model at 2.2 inches
• The FM radio has a live pause for up to 15 minutes
• A percentage of the profits from the sale of the red coloured phone will go to the Global Fund to help Aids in Africa
• Price: £115 for 8GB version – 2000 songs and 8 hours of video; £135 ($210) for 16GB version – 4000 songs and 16 hours of video 

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/gadget-inspectors/6194897/Video-The-new-iPod-Nano-reviewed-Gadget-Inspectors.html)

Wow, Mr.Buffet's cell phone may have responsible for the world wide financial mess!

Was Buffett's cell phone responsible for the financial crisis?

He may be a financial guru. But Warren Buffett's inability to work his mobile phone might have played a role in the collapse of economic markets last year. 
Time has a story about a phone call between Buffett and Bob Diamond, president of Barclays. Diamond had just 24 hours to stop Lehman Brothers collapsing and a last-minute plan on how he might get Buffett to underwrite it.
Buffett asked Diamond to send over more details. Here's what happened next

Buffett got back to his hotel room around midnight and was surprised to find ... nothing. Lehman went under, and within days, the world was in a full-blown financial crisis.
Fast forward 10 months. Buffett, who admits he never has really learned the basics of his cell phone, asked his daughter Susan about a little indicator he had noticed on the screen: "Can you figure out what's on there?" It turned out to be the message from Diamond that he had been waiting for that night.

I caught up with Buffett afterward, and asked him whether, in retrospect, he might have gone for the deal. He pulled the simple little Samsung phone out of his pocket and pondered it for a moment. It's entirely possible, he suggested. "I don't know."

(http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2009/09/was-warren-buffetts-cell-phone-responsible-for-the-financial-crisis.html)

New and Cheaper iPods, iPod Nano-----In Pictures

Pictures of all New iPods
As speculated, Apple revamped its product line at its Wednesday event dubbed "It's only rock n roll and we like it". Though the company's product launches/revamps have always been much-talked about, this time their thunder was somewhat stolen by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Jobs stepped back into the spotlight for the first time after nearly a year, drawing a standing ovation.

After a brief update on his health, Jobs got back to business unveiling new and cheaper iPods. Here's over to Apple's new revamped iPod Nano what Jobs calls "the most popular music player in the world" and other hot launches/revamps.
 
In terms of looks the 5th generation-iPod Nano is almost identical to its predecessor barring a few cosmetic changes.

Measuring 3.6 by 1.5 by 0.2 inches, it weighs a mere 1.3 ounces. The player's screen is slightly larger than its predecessor at 2.2 inches. The 4th-generation Nano sports a 2 inch screen. It also has a 376-by-240-pixel resolution, slightly higher than 4th-generation Nano at 320-by-240 resolution. The new Nano will come in seven bright hues.

Apple's smallest iPod Nano now comes with a built-in video camera capable of capturing 640x480 standard definition video at 30 frames per second.

Users can record video in portrait or landscape. A built-in mike lets users capture audio. It comes pre-loaded with 15 fun video effects that let users add special effects.

Real-time special effects include: Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido, Motion Blur, Mirror, Light Tunnel, Dent, Stretch and Twirl.
Has a video camera
 
The new iPod Nano will now come with an FM radio. The new FM tuner lets users see the names of songs and artists. The VoiceOver feature speaks the names of songs and artists. There is also iTunes Tagging and Live Pause feature. The pause feature will let users pause it with a click. Users can even rewind as far back as 15 minutes, then fast-forward to catch up to the live broadcast.

Apple has added a new pedometer feature into the "Fitness" submenu. It counts every step one takes and calories burnt. Another new feature added to the Nano is microphone. The built-in mike lets users capture a thought, a reminder, a class lecture, or any audio recording with Voice Memos. As for the battery, it supports upto 24 hour playback for audio and 5 hours for video. 

 

The new iPod Nano will cost $149 for an 8GB version and $179 for a 16 GB model. The 8GB model of the iPod Touch -- basically an iPhone without the phone capabilities -- now costs $199, $30 less than the earlier price. The 32GB version now goes for $299 and a 64GB model for $399.
 

iPod Shuffle, Apple's buttonless player, adds a splash of three new colours in addition to the already existing black and silver. Available in pink, blue and green, iPod Shuffle doesn't sport anything new in terms of looks and features. The model has two versions $79 for 4GB and $59 for a 2GB model.

 
Apple has introduced a new version of iTunes, improving the way the software syncs with iPhones and iPods by letting users organize applications more easily. iTunes 9 gives people more control over what gets loaded on to iPods and iPhones and introduces a way to organize applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It also lets five computers on the same home network share - by streaming or copying - music, video and other content, a departure from the strict copy protection Apple insisted on in the past.

iTunes will now sell some albums packaged with digital photography, cover art, liner notes and other media reminiscent of the days of vinyl. iTunes LP can include interviews and other video, all of which can be viewed through iTunes. It's a way for recording companies to boost album sales as online stores make it easier to buy songs individually.

 

(http://infotech.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4994260.cms)