Heena Sharma Blog

Men who sleep less than six hours a night may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who sleep between seven and eight hours, a new study suggests. The study showed that poor quality sleep of less than six hours increases the risk of atherosclerosis by 27 per cent compared to seven to eight hours of sleep. Atherosclerosis refers to the build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls throughout the body. On the other hand, women who slept more than eight hours a night had an increased risk of atherosclerosis . "Cardiovascular disease is a major global problem and we are preventing and treating it using several approaches, including pharmaceuticals, physical activity and diet," said Jose M. Ordovas, researcher at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) in Madrid. "But the study emphasizes we have to include sleep as one of the weapons we use to fight heart ...

Eating an egg daily can have a beneficial effect on the blood metabolite profile that is related to a lower risk of Type-2 diabetes , a new study shows. The findings showed that the blood samples of men who ate more eggs included certain lipid molecules that positively correlated with the blood profile of men who remained free of Type-2 diabetes . "The study explored potential compounds that could explain this association using non-targeted metabolomics, a technique that enables a broad profiling of chemicals in a sample," said lead author Stefania Noerman from the University of Eastern Finland. Eggs remain one of the most controversial food items. High intake of eggs has traditionally been discouraged, mainly due to their high cholesterol content. However, eggs are also a rich source of many bioactive compounds that can have beneficial effects on health. This means that the health effects of consuming eggs are difficult to determine based solely on thei...

Veteran actor Anupam Kher , who has impersonated former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in "The Accidental Prime Minister", says the trailer of the film is not easily available on YouTube . "Dear YouTube, I am getting messages and calls that in parts of our country if you type, trailer of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' , it is either not appearing or at 50th position. We were trending at No. 1 yesterday. Please help," Anupam tweeted. If one searches for the trailer of "The Accidental Prime Minister" on YouTube, the user ends up getting Anupam's interviews regarding the film. However, if one types "' The Accidental Prime Minister ' official trailer", the trailer will emerge right at the top. Ever since the release of the film's trailer, the project has been dogged by controversies. Satyajeet Tambe Patil -- President of the Maharashtra State Youth Congress -- sent a letter to the producer of the film dema...

With evolving fashion taste one always wants to wear designer, artistic and luxurious looking outfits on any specific occasion. To find the perfect fashion connect and satisfy ones buying sentiments, one must be aware about the patterns, designs and colours that complement each other exceptionally well. Niharika Dubey, Stylist at Postfold lists a few secret tips for this New Year's Eve to give your fashion quotient an awesome kick-start. * Winter worthy dresses: Move over dresses that you need to layer up with. Coat dresses and sweater dresses are the new way to look great while partying in the winter chill. Pair with boots or your favorite kicks for an even more comfortable party statement. * Experimental sleeves: With the need to stay bundled up in this weather, it's a good idea to pick statement making silhouettes like exaggerated and dramatic sleeves. Think bell sleeves, tiered flares or even slit sleeves- bring back retro completely when you pair these ...

Today's lifestyle has several unhealthy facets such as lack of physical activity, poor sleep habits and consumption of unhealthy foods, including fast, processed and junk food . Hectic work schedules have increased stress levels (which, in turn, has led to disturbed sleep), unhealthy dietary habits such as eating either too much or too less, and, more often than not, not spending enough time to eat well. Smoking and alcoholism are other aspects that have led to health issues. The negative outcome of this stress-filled lifestyle is visible in the form of ill health, the most common being poor digestive health. This is worsened by the decreasing ability of the digestive system to function efficiently with age and handle digestive problems such as indigestion, bloating, flatulence and gastritis. According to Dr Rajesh Kumawat, Head - Medical Services and Clinical Development, The Himalaya Drug Company, digestive problems should not be ignored as they can cause irrev...

Film: " Zero "; Director: Anand L. Rai; Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, Abhay Deol, Sheeba Chaddha, Bijendra Kala; Rating: *** (3 stars) Here is the sad and frustrating irony of " Zero " : Told in the safest (read predictable), most conventional (read lazy, method imaginable), it is a story of a vertically challenged man enacted by a Superstar -- whose real life story is much more inspiring than his reel life. Standing four feet two inches tall, Shah Rukh Khan as Bauua Singh from Meerut, is no different from being himself -- confident, cocky and sarcastically brash. His main peeve in life is his height but that does not prevent him from aspiring to love the renowned Bollywood actress Babita Kumari (Katrina Kaif). But then, our hero has a past. Tucked into the recesses of his being, is the love of his life, the astro-scientist Aafia Yusuezai Bhinder (Anushka Sharma). How they meet, fell in love and t...

With the freezing temperature outside and our bodys reluctance to shed off those extra layers of fat, we tend to not give a thought to stay fit and healthy. But experts have a few tips on how to stay fit in this cozy yet lazy season. Soumen Das, Senior Marketing Manager, Skechers India, and Shivoham, Fitness Trainer and Brand Ambassador at Avvatar Whey Protein, Product of Parag Milk Foods , suggest how to stay fit: * During winter , we tend to consume food with more calorific value as our body needs the extra warmth. One of the easiest ways to digest that calorie pumped meal would be walking for at least 15-20 minutes after eating. You can walk outside your house for a while or stroll inside your house. It will help break down the meal in your body which further will be easy to digest. Walking one mile a day (one and a half kilometres approximately) with a proper walking gear can burn up to 100 calories. Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a hea...

Ensure your winter wardrobe has puffer jackets , trench coats and more to get you through another chilly season while looking great and staying warm, say experts. Natascha Tate, In-house Stylist, LimeRoad, has a few suggestions: * Stone wash denim jacket : It is a must-have piece in every wardrobe this winter because it suits just about everyone, making waists appear narrower and looking stylish without trying too hard. * Puffer jackets: Puffer jackets have reigned supreme for some time now, and this winter, you will want to wrap up yet again in the coziest outerwear of all. * Trench coats: Selecting a trench coat depends on the temperature, weather, the occasion, layers you are wearing and your resistance to cold. You can team it with a muffler or scarf that adds to the winter look and keeps your neck warm. Matteo Lambert, Head of Collection at Bata India, has some more tips: * Riding boots: These boots are apt for women for any casual occasions. They ...

For women, the preparations towards perfecting the bridal look starts way in advance. Give your hair the care it deserves before your D-day and afterwards too, say experts. Adhuna Bhabani, Founder and Creative Director, BBLUNT, points out possible causes of hair damage: * The thing about damage is that it is a gradual process. You may not see it at once, but over a period of time the quality of the hair will deteriorate. Damaged hair not only lacks moisture and lustre but elasticity as well and this makes it more prone to breakage, split ends and ultimately hair fall. * A lot of brides tend to be anxious with a lead up unto their big day. Pre-wedding jitters only add to their list of woes. Very often, anxiety leads to hair fall and a stressed scalp. Wedding planning can get hectic; but regular hair care is necessary for beautiful looking healthy hair. * Innumerable rounds of trousseau shopping mean continuously exposing your hair to dust and pollution. Similarl...

Privacy of patients who go for HIV testing and counselling in the national capital's government hospitals remains a prime concern as many of them don't have separate counselling rooms for males and females, a study has found. The study, titled "Integrated Counselling and HIV Testing Centres of Delhi: An Evaluation", by Dr Anita Khokhar, Director Professor, Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, along with Dr Vinoth Gnana Chellaiyan of the Department of Community Medicine at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Kelambakkam, Chennai, revealed that a majority of the Integrated Counseling and HIV Testing Centres (ICTCs) in the national capital lacked separate rooms for male-female counselling and nor was there adequate space inside the allocated room. According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), 93 medical facilities under the Centre and the state governments in Delhi have ICTCs. Eleven medical fac...

Rajinikanth -starrer " Kaala " had a socio-political message on the plight of Dalits, but here's another "Kaala" -- a short film by Tarun Jain -- which aims to highlight the issue of racism in India, especially against Africans . "My film 'Kaala' is my response to the troubled nights and anger which pushed me every day to tell this story. It is a socio-political film about the uncompromising issue of racism in India. Between 2016 and 2017, reports on brutal assaults on the Africans in parts of Delhi and its close by areas was covered by almost all media houses. The incidents shook me to the core," Jain told IANS of the reason he chose the subject for a film. "Delhi is my home and I have fond memories attached to it, but this city failed to offer equivalent memories to people from other inhabitants. It became a city filled with gory reminders of murders, deaths, brutal attacks, abuses and so on. With over a decade of experience in ...

While women are very particular about getting that extra care during winter , men nowadays have become equally mindful of their hair and skin. So, instead of testing and trying new hacks every now and then, start with the basics. Aparna Santhanam, consultant dermatologist, True Roots botanical hair tonic, and Aalim Hakim, chief styling officer, StudioX complete men's grooming range, list tips to help you get through the chilly weather For her: Boost your skin confidence: Hydration and moisturizing is essential for your skin, especially with the cold air making the skin severely dry. It's a lesser known fact that coconut is great for the skin and has a number of uses. Using a light-weight body lotion enriched with coconut butter will not only keep your skin feeling supple and well-protected, but also gives your skin a party-ready glow. Nourish your roots: Your hair is the next in line after your skin that bears the brunt of the chilly air. Be it frizziness...

Love to drink lassi? A new book on varieties of lassi offers recipes for a healthy living. Lassi is a staple drink that accompanies culturally diversified Indian cuisine and is full of therapeutic properties. The book -- "Lassis of India - Smoothies with a Twist" by Radha Bhatia -- attempts to span five generations of stories, wisdom and recipes. "The idea of writing a book on lassis occurred to me when I realised that in today's fast paced and hectic life, a healthy lifestyle and eating habits was a universal concern. Almost everything available for ready consumption today is processed, full of artificial flavours, colours and preservatives," Bhatia said in a statement. "And our age-old elixirs like lassi have been almost relegated into obscurity. These tasty and healthy beverages, consumed over centuries in many different avatars across various parts of the country, are natural and full of ingredients with tremendous health benefits...

Winter isn't exactly the easiest season for dressing. The endless layering and styling possibilities that comes with the winter chill is as much fun and accessorizing your outfit with boots is the most classy one. So opt for the trendiest footwears. Orhan, the shoe stylist at Steve Madden and Ambud Sharma, founder, Escaro Royale Luxury, list some trends in boots. Over-the-knee-boot: Over-the-knee winter boots have been a popular choice for the last couple of years and rightly so. But, it's how you style them that changes your entire winter look. Instead of opting for the done and dusted 'short skirts and dresses that meet the boots' look, go for velvety mid-length skirts and ankle-sweeping coats to give a layered effect. Animal print: Whether in leopard, zebra or snake form, animal prints are set to be one of the top trends for fall. Keep in mind that animal prints basically qualify as neutrals, so the styling possibilities of these shoes are endless...

Party season brings lot of jazz and fun and with that comes the struggle to look different than the crowd. How about adding some style statement with right jewelleries . Varda Goenka, Founder and Creative Director at Varda Goenka- Fine Jewels by Diagold and Sonal Sahrawat, Creative Director, Sonal's Bijoux & Adawna, list down some options in trendiest jewelleries. A cocktail ring is always a good idea: Cocktail rings have been in trend since quite a long time, it's one of those most dainty and fabulous ornaments that a woman can wear. A bling statement ring will be a perfect accessory for the party season. You can always add colors by experimenting with colorful cocktail rings. They can be teamed up with both western and ethnic looks. Studded earrings: Earrings are a must-have for women. The most and all time favorite is stud earrings. A trendy pair of oversized ear studs can turn your otherwise boring outfit into an ultra-chic look. Ear studs fused with...

Men who eat leafy greens, dark orange and red vegetables , berries and drink orange juice may be at a lower risk of developing memory loss in older age, according to a study The findings showed that men who ate larger amounts of fruits and vegetables 20 years earlier were less likely to develop thinking and memory problems, whether or not they kept eating larger amounts of fruits and vegetables later. Men who consumed the most vegetables were 34 per cent less likely to develop poor thinking skills than the men who consumed the least amount of vegetables. Men who drank orange juice every day were 47 per cent less likely to develop poor thinking skills than the men who drank less than one serving per month. This association was mainly observed for regular consumption of orange juice among the oldest men, the researchers found. "One of the most important factors in this study is that we were able to research and track such a large group of men over a 20-year pe...

Brunch is usually a casual affair and often we meet friends and family to catch up with them over brunch. Thus, what you wear should be something thats comfortable and also makes you feel good about yourself. Often, men end up either being too formal or casual at brunches but not anymore. Manjula Gandhi, Chief Product Officer at Numero Uno and Aashray Thatai, Co-Founder at PostFold, suggest some looks that are just too perfect for the kind of brunch you're going to attend. A little funk: Well, if you're attending a brunch with your friends or relatives, then atmosphere being super casual will let you experiment with different styles . Here, you can sport your cargo pants paired with a white crew neck T-Shirt and sneakers. The other look is to fold the hem of your pants and pair it up with a colour block T-shirt in blue, maroons or a conversational printed Tee with espadrilles; the combination is a thumbs up. Semi-formal combo: For the formal brunch outing,...

Finding engaging ways to spend fun time with your family could be a task during the winters . Exploring newer activity based things like go karting, bowling, playing cricket to laser blasts and trampoline, experts suggest some fun things to do with your family this winter time. Abhishek Agarwal, Head Of Marketing at Smaaash and Tarandeep Singh Sekhon, Marketing Director, KidZania, India, list some ways to spend time with your family this winter. Wage a war: Ever dreamt of a zone where you could wage a laser war with your family? Challenge your family members to play this UV lit flashy 14 people laser shooting game and have fun with them reliving your childhood! Time capsule: What's better than delving into the past with your family and refreshing some old memories? With vintage favourites like Pac Man, Fruit Ninja, Connect 4 and Simpson's Soccer, the time capsule will surely give you a glimpse of the conventional times with your family! Ice skating: Ice ...

Actress Alia Bhatt has made it clear that her well-wishers have to wait to see her marriage happening whenever it does. There were reports that Alia is going to tie knot with actor Ranbir Kapoor in 2019 but the actress says that people have to wait. "If people are waiting for my wedding then, they have to wait for it. I think climax should be good and there should be a happy ending to it," she said while interacting with media at Lux Golden Rose Awards 2018 on Sunday, here. Alia and Ranbir sort of made their relationship official when both of them walked together hand-in-hand at Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding reception earlier this year. They are also going to be seen together for the first time in " Brahmastra ". Reacting on Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas's impending wedding which is going to take place in Jodhpur, Alia said, "I am really happy and excited that PC (Priyanka Chopra) is getting married. I am very excited to ...

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have company. Older women in love with younger guys seems to be a trend taking hold of the entertainment industry . There is a lot in common between the two newly "outed" couples in the entertainment industry, Arjun Kapoor-Malaika Arora and Harshvardhan Rane-Kim Sharma . Both the men are at least 10 years junior to the woman with whom they have chosen to spend the rest of their lives. And let's not beat around the bush: Arjun-Malaika, Harshvardhan-Kim intend to stay together and are planning a matrimonial togetherness in the near future. Can't say exactly when, since both need to sort out the clutter caused by earlier relationships. There is one more trait in common between the two couples. They have both decided to throw all caution to the winds. On more than one occasion recently both couples were seen indulging in PDA without a care in the world. But hang on.They won't make any formal announcement on thei...