Hong Kong at its Best

Hong Kong ahoy! (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

With beautiful beaches, a rich history and lots of entertainment, this Asian city beckons each and every traveller 

Hong Kong, once a crown colony of the UK, offers a lot for tourists to see and do. The dual culture of this country with its Cantonese and British influence makes it an unique experience. A trip to this place isn't complete without dipping your feet in the waters of one of the pretty beaches, relishing some fresh seafood delicacies, shopping at discounted prices and indulging in some leisurely sightseeing.

Ocean Park 
One of Asia's most popular theme parks, Ocean Park offers something for both kids and adults. Check out the thrilling rollercoaster rides or be amazed with the exotic varieties of aquatic animals. The regular shows of the sea lions, dolphins and birds are a must see. The highlight of a visit to the park is the cable car ride that links the lowland and headland offering an amazing view.

Victoria Peak 
The best way to check out this scenic viewpoint is to take the Peak Tram that climbs 1,200 feet up to the highest point. Once up there, the view is simply breathtaking. Take a look at the towering skyscrapers and the beautiful Hongkong skyline lit up at night.

Disneyland 
Whether you're on holiday with a child or simply have a love for all things to do with Disney, this amusement park is a must visit. A replica of the original one in the U.S, lose yourself in the legendary fairytale kingdom. Meet Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and the rest of the characters, take a spin in Cinderella's carousel or the Madhatter's teacups. Relive your childhood fantasy!

Stanley Market 
If it's bargain buys that you desire, than Stanley Market is for you. Get some amazing Chinese replicas of your favourite designer goodies. From Fendi bags to rolex watches, they're all available here at great prices.

Giant Buddha 
Get a slice of some culture and visit Lantau island for the giant Buddha. The bronze statue is 34 metres high and took over 10 years to complete. There may be a long flight of stairs going up to look at the statue, but it's well worth it. One of the finest examples of Hong Kong's rich culture.

National Park is a paradise for bird and animal lovers in Gujarat...

A meeting with blackbucks at Velavadar (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Velavadar Blackbuck National Park is a paradise for bird and animal lovers in Gujarat...

The Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, near the west coast of Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat isspread over 34.52 sq km area. From a conservation viewpoint, a unique feature of the park is that it is the only tropical grassland in India to be given the status of a national park.

Mammals

Velavadar has India's largest population of blackbuck, the elegant Indian antelope. India's largest antelope, the Nilgai or Blue Bull, is easily seen in this national park. People can find the endangered Indian Grey Wolf, the nocturnal Striped Hyena, Indian Fox, Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat and hare, gerbil, field mice, mongoose and hedgehog.

Birds

The park is a good place to watch grassland birds like larks, bushchats, wheatears, sandgrouse, francolins and quails. The park's specialties include Saras Crane and Stolikza's Bushchat. Magnificent eagles, falcons and endangered vultures can be seen at Velavadar. In winter, Velavadar National Park hosts the world's largest harrier roost - Montagu's Harrier, Pallid Harrier and Marsh Harrier can be seen in large numbers, while Hen Harrier is occasionally spotted. The lakes and seasonal marshes are important places to watch pelicans, cranes, storks, ducks, herons and other water birds.

Getting to Velavadar

-Nearest airport is Bhavnagar and it is at a distance of 72km/1 hr from Velavadar. Bhavnagar airport is connected with Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports with daily frequency.

-Ahmedabad airport is at a distance of around 4 hours from the Velavadar National Park. It receives international and domestic flights.

-Best time to visit: From mid October to late March, April - June are recommended for mammal sightings at water points. The park remains open from 6 am to 6 pm.

New Apache RTR 160 and 180

The new range starts at Rs 67,505 for the Apache RTR 160 going all the way up to Rs 82,780 for the Apache RTR 180 with ABS (both ex-showroom, Delhi)

New graphics and redesigned tank

TVS Motor Company has launched its new 2012 Apache Series RTR with an all-new design and styling which has been incorporated in all its Apache models namely, the TVS Apache RTR 160, the TVS Apache RTR 180 and the TVS Apache RTR 180 with Antilock Brake System (ABS).

“We have taken the Apache RTR to the next level with obsessive engineering and menacing design,” says H S Goindi, President-Marketing, TVS Motor Company. “The priority in every step of the Apache brand’s development has been race-bred performance. Every system, detail and component has been tuned to maximise performance. Apache as a brand has been very well received.”

The new breed of TVS Apache RTRs adorn a very beastly and good looking daytime running LED lights which are placed side by side just above the headlight, a first for an Indian bike. The bike sports a digital console with new styling and race-inspired carbon fibre bits. The new nocturnal blue backlit display adds to the design element of the vehicle.

Daytime running LED pilot lights

Power figures remain unchanged with the TVS Apache RTR 160 dishing out 15.2PS of power and the RTR 180 churning out 17.03PS. The new RTR 160 is available in four dual-tone colours namely green, red, yellow and grey with black as the base colour. The refreshed RTR 180, too, is available in four colours – white, yellow, grey and black. The ABS version, though, is available only in white and black.

The new TVS Apache Series RTR is available in TVS dealerships across the country as of now. The TVS Apache RTR 160 will cost Rs 67,505 ex-showroom, Delhi, TVS Apache RTR 180 is Rs 72,090 ex-showroom, Delhi and the TVS Apache RTR 180 with ABS will cost Rs 82,780 ex-showroom, Delhi.

Love Is The Only Religion

God is inscrutable. He cannot be realised in the outer objective world; He is in the heart of every being. Seek God in the depths of your Self. 

Who can affirm that God is not of this form or with this attribute? Each one can acquire from the vast expanse of the ocean only as much as can be contained in the vessel he carries to its shore. From that quantity, they can grasp but little of that immensity.

Each religion defines God within the limits it demarcates and then claims to have grasped Him, forgetting that God is all forms and all names, all attributes and all assertions. The religion of humanity is the sum and substance of all these partial faiths; for there is only one religion and that is the religion of Love. Various religions and faiths that feel separate and distinct are all fostered by a single stream of love.

There are many who observe my actions and start declaring that my nature is such and such. They are unable to gauge the power of Sai which is limitless; It manifests forever. All forms of 'power' are resident in this Sai palm.

But those who profess to have understood me, the scholars, the yogis, the pundits, the jnanis, all of them are aware only of the least important, the casual external manifestation of an infinitesimal part of that power, namely, the “miracles”! They have not desired to contact the source of all power and all wisdom that is available here at Brindavan. They are satisfied when they secure a chance to exhibit their book-learning and parade their scholarship in Vedic lore, not realising that the person from whom the Vedas emanated is in the midst, for their sake. They even ask, in their pride, for a few more chances!

This has been the case in all ages. Therefore, when you speak about these ‘miracles,” I laugh to myself out of pity that you allow yourself so easily to lose the precious awareness of my reality.

My power is immeasurable; my truth is inexplicable, unfathomable. I am announcing this about me, for the need has arisen. But what I am doing now is only the gift of a ‘visiting card!’

My grace is ever available to devotees who have steady love and faith. Since I move freely among them, talking and singing, even intellectuals are unable to grasp my truth, power, glory, or my real task as Avatar. I can solve any problem, however knotty. Do not attempt to know me through external eyes. When you go to a temple and stand before the image of God, you pray with closed eyes, don't you? Why? Because you feel that the inner eye of wisdom alone can reveal Him to you. Therefore, do not crave from me trivial material objects; but, crave for me, and you will be rewarded. Not that you should not receive whatever objects I give as sign of grace out of the fullness of Love.

I shall tell you why I give these rings, talismans and rosaries. It is to signal the bond between me and those to whom they are given. When calamity befalls them, the article comes to me in a flash and returns in a flash taking from me the remedial grace of protection. That Grace is available to all who call on me in any name or form, not merely to those who wear these gifts. Love is the bond that wins grace.

I am the embodiment of divine love; love is my instrument.

Is it worth having an extra-marital affair?

Extra-marital affairs are oh so common (Corbis Images)

Extra-marital affairs work for those who want that extra spice, says Rupali Dean.
Infidelity is perhaps as old as marriage. And, along with the growing tribe of cheating spouses, there are some partners who remain blissfully unaware of any damage to their marriage.
Interestingly, the Infidelity Facts website states that up to 41 per cent of spouses who cheat actually admit to their affair. "It's nothing new, but more in the open now," says Sarika Pilot Chaudhry.
Many, who are prone to experimenting, do it guilt-free as long as they're meeting "responsibilities" in the domestic space. Mrs and Mr Shah were the most perfect couple; they made the most brilliant hosts at parties and seemed inseparable. Later, the husband was seen romancing Nirali in another city. He reasoned, "I love my wife, but since we have been married for so long, I am a bit bored and need that excitement. Nirali is also married, so it's 'safe'! I love it when she accompanies me on an official trip as we can spend time exclusively. I am enjoying it while it lasts."
Expert speak
Psychiatrist Dr Himanshu Saxena believes males by nature are polygamous. He agrees that Indians are more open about expressing their sexuality now. "Often, it's marital disharmony that leads to extra-marital affairs. In arranged marriages, the spouses may not click, and look for options elsewhere. A liberal media and generally more openness with the opposite sex, such as colleagues, bring people closer emotionally and sexually." He adds, "The seven-year itch persists and if marital relations stale, a fresh person appears more interesting."
No guilt!
For some, an affair provides something lacking in their own marriage, which could be sex or mental stimulation. Rajesh Goyal, married for 12 years and recently blessed with a son says, "I don't feel guilty. My wife has no reason to complain; I give her all that a loving husband would, but my girlfriend is my ideal companion and lover. And, one can't marry everyone they love, right?"
For Maya, it's just about sex, "I love my husband deeply and can't dream of any other man in my life. Unfortunately, he has a low libido and I don't want to lead the life of a nun; I am young and have my desires, so if it's a man that excites me, I simply have to go ahead."
Then there are the serial cheaters or the sex addicts! 'Sex is wilder and more exciting with a stranger," shares Krishna.
Is it worth it?
Says socialite Sonu Wassan, "To bring back the spark in the marriage, an affair can act as a catalyst." Adds Arjun Sawhney, who runs a PR firm, "Humans are not monogamous, so if you feel it's fine and your partner is okay with it, go for it. Variety is the spice of life."
Comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi warns, "I think one gets into this purely for sex and it's not worth risking your marriage."
In 'open marriages', individuals have to learn the art of backing off before things become too hot to handle. Ultimately, whether it's an affair of the mind or for sexual pleasure, it's the families they want to go home to!

TCS becomes India's second most valued co

TCS became the country's second most-valued firm with a market capitalisation of Rs 2.43 lakh crore

MUMBAI: For the second time within a week,Tata Group software services company TCS became the country's second most-valued firm with a market capitalisation of Rs 2.43 lakh crore, surpassing oil and gas major ONGC.

At the end of trade, Tata Consultancy Services(TCS) commanded a market value of Rs 2.43 lakh crore -- the second highest for any listed company in India. This is nearly Rs 13,000 crore more than state-run ONGC's market value of around Rs 2.30 lakh crore.

A sharp gain of 3.49 per cent in TCS' share prices pushed the company to the second position. In comparison, ONGC shares posted a gain of 2.22 per cent.

On April 24, TCS had dethroned ONGC from the slot after the IT company's shares jumped 13 per cent jump in a single session with investors cheering robust 2011-12 earnings and an upbeat FY13 outlook.

The market capitalisation of a listed company corresponds to the cumulative market price of all its shares. This figure changes daily with the change in the stock price.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) remains the most valued company with a market capitalisation of Rs 2.44 lakh crore. On January 5, TCS had toppled RIL as the country's most-valued firm as shares of the billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led corporate giant plunged sharply. Besides, TCS had replaced RIL from the top position for the first time on December 30, 2011 -- the last trading session of that year.

The internet’s 10 best-loved animals

The internet gives everybody his or her 15 minutes of fame, never mind if you're a bathroom singer, Lana del Rey, a South Indian movie star or even a fluffy cat. Don't believe us about the last bit? Then take a look at these animals, two of them animated , who've found stardom on the web 

Sockamillion: 

You read the million in his name? That's how many followers the cat has on Twitter. The precise number, as of April 26, was 1,436,434. Why do people want to know what Sockamillion has to say? Nobody has a clue. Not even tech historian Jason Scott, who tweets on behalf of his pet cat. What does he talk about? Here's a recent example: "OK TIME FOR THE HUNGER GAMES oh man I am so hungry meow meow TOTALLY STARVING HERE oh you remember you fed me an hour ago HUNGER GAME LOST." 

Beast The Dog: 

He's Facebook's resident dog. When a photo of him was posted , presumably by Mark Zuckerberg to whom the dog belongs, it got over 24,000 likes. 

The internet gives everybody his or her 15 minutes of fame, never mind if you're a bathroom singer, Lana del Rey, a South Indian movie star or even a fluffy cat. 

Yoshka is owned by Urs Holzle, Google's senior vice president for technical infrastructure. An official post on the Google blog, in 2004, says there were times when, after Holzle was done asking questions, prospective employees were sniffed - aka interviewed - by Yoshka. 

Maru The Cat: 

Have a box? Maru will jump into it. The Jap kitty has featured in commercials and two books have been written about its love affair with boxes. 

The Bronx zoo cobra: 

What's a snake to do after it escapes from its enclosure? Why, tweet of course! The Twitter handle for the Bronx zoo cobra, created after the snake went missing last year, has over 2 lakh followers . Here's a recent tweet: "Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day! People should really appreciate squirrels more than just one day a year. They're delicious!" 

Nyan cat (virtual): 

Nyan is the centre of the universe. He is omnipotent, omnipresent . He makes the world livable, tolerable ... Ok, here are the facts: Nyan cat is a phenomenon . His videos have been watched over a 100 million times. Why? Nobody knows. 

Mishka: 

When Mishka howls, it sounds like 'I Love You' . Need we say more? 

Boo the Dog: 

Dubbed the 'cutest dog alive' , Boo has four million likes on Facebook. Facebook, therefore, only naturally has made him a 'public figure' . After that, obviously, came the celebrity TV appearances and the (two) book deals. 

Faith: 

Faith was born minus her forelegs. So she's proof that disability does not have to be crippling. Faith often tours the US and there have been books written about her. 

Tillman: 

The bulldog found fame with an iPhone advertisement in 2007 in which he did what he does best - skate. 

Fail Whale (virtual): 

Hated and loved in equal measure , the grumpy, sad looking Fail Whale appears on computer screens whenever Twitter servers fail. The whale has online fan clubs and songs - praising him, damning him. That's the paradox of Fail Whale - nobody wants to see him, but everybody loves him.

H1N1 influenza Returns

H1N1 influenza has once again raised its head. After reports of people testing positive for the deadly virus in various parts of the country, the Delhi government has put all hospitals on alert and directed them to follow the H1N1 protocol.

Got a headache? Blame it on your diet

Got a headache? Blame it on your diet

Dietary changes and certain foods can trigger off that throbbing feeling.
Suffering from headaches or migraines every now then? Well, you're not alone as many people complain of such problems. Leaving aside obvious reasons like sinusitis, stress and mental tension, little do people know that their diet could be a culprit too. Surprised? CT tells why you should be more watchful of what you eat to avoid that throbbing pain in your head.
A headache is a discomfort or a pressure-like sensation in the head. A migraine is a common type of headache that usually occurs on one side of the head. Dietician Dr Sunita Dube agrees that one's diet can affect headaches and says, "A family history of migraine, apart from stress, food and beverages may be responsible for up to 30 per cent of migraines. If you consider some other triggers such as hormonal changes, stress, sleeping habits, and depression, it's possible that the percentage is actually higher."
One of the most common reasons for headaches due to dietary changes is suddenly switching to a very low calorie diet, in other words, crash dieting. Agrees consultant nutritionist Niti Desai, "This can lead to headaches, especially if these diets cut down or eliminate carbohydrates completely. The brain can only use carbohydrates as fuel. Headaches can also set in due to low blood sugar levels. Also, if you start skipping meals or have long intervals between your meals, headache sets in. Even a very low water intake can trigger headaches."
Tyramine is an amino acid that has been thought to trigger headaches by reducing serotonin levels in the brain and affecting the dilation of blood vessels. Because of their connection to migraines, tyramine containing foods are important triggers. These include red wine, cheeses, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, and certain processed meats.
Dr Dube says that red wine contains tyramine, phytochemicals called phenols, which may be the real triggers. For some people, drinking any kind of alcohol can bring on a migraine. Other compounds in beer, whiskey, and wine that deplete levels of serotonin (the happy hormone) in the brain could also be triggering migraines.

Here's how to have a healthy 40s

Here's how to have a healthy 40s (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

How healthy you will be in your 40s depends on what you eat and how you live in your 20s. Our expert charts out a survival strategy for a fitter future 

When you are diagnosed with a health disorder in your 40s, there's little that you can do to completely reverse the damage. A wiser option is to start walking the correct lifestyle course much early on and reduce the chances of disorders altogether. Fitness expert and trainer Dilip Heble gives pointers to healthier 20-something habits that will lead to a better 40-something life.

Exercise 
Make sure you get three to six hours of exercise every week. You can go for a jog, engage yourself in a sport or best, hit the gym.
Benefit 
Exercise makes you agile, muscular and boosts your stamina. Most importantly, it reduces your stress levels - a factor that is deemed the root cause for most problems in the 40s. Reduction in the stress levels also helps increase productivity and enables you to deal with environmental pressures. Also, it leads to a lower resting heart rate, which brings down the risk of cardiac disorders.

Supplement yourself 
Considering the quality of food available today, it is vital you take multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplements. You might stock up generously on carbohydrates and proteins, but minus the essential vitamins, you will be far from healthy.
Benefit 
These vitamins and minerals important for various functions of the body. For instance, three B vitamins (namely folic acid, B6, and B12) are known to reduce the homocysteine levels in the body, thereby also reducing the risk of dementia.

Read 
In this day and age of social networking, most youngsters have forgotten to exercise their brains. Indulge in an activity that challenges your grey matter. Engage in analytical tasks as much as possible. For instance, you may read a book, play chess, solve the everyday crossword and read on current issues. You could also opt to learn a musical instrument that interests you.
Benefit 
These tasks will keep your brain agile and help minimise the risk of brain disorders such as dementia in the later years.

Switch off 
Yes, you must work hard and party harder. But the problem begins when you stick to this mantra every night and end up compromising on your sleep. You may be able to pull this off without much problem in your 20s, but the inadvertent damage will trouble you in your 40s. The body's repair happens during sleep. And when you don't sleep, you are not giving the body enough time to bounce back. Hence, make sure you get the desired sleep.
Benefit 
Your biological clock will be in order giving a natural rhythm to bodily functions. Just sleep at the same time every night.

Bone supremacy 
Bone length might be established by the time you are 20. However, bone density and strength can be built all the way until you are 30. Studies have suggested that young men and women ought to build up a 'bone bank' during this stage which will help avoid osteoporosis later in life.

Follow a routine 
A study established that women who were most active between the ages of 18 to 22 stuck to their regimen even during the middle-age and after that. The article published in the journal Medicine & Science said that early intervention was important to bring down the risk of coronary heart disease later.

Shred of hope 
A series of 10 studies conducted in the US and Europe tracked the effect of fibre consumption on people. It was found that for each 10 grams of fibre consumed per day, the subjects experienced a 14 per cent reduction in instances of heart disease. Moreover, the risk of dying from a heart disease was brought down by almost 25 per cent. 

5 Foods every woman must eat

Five foods every woman must eat (Getty Images)

We bring to you five nutritional eats that everywoman should include in her diet. Happy eating! 

Leafy vegetables 
It is not possible to meet your nutritional needs without having leafy vegetables in your diet. Spinach, legumes, asparagus, lettuce, fenugreek leaves, broccoli are available in abundance and are huge sources of fibre, Vitamin C and K, folic acid. It is also a vision protector and provides four essential minerals, i.e. calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium. Try to have it daily in your diet and darker the better.

Whole grains 
Whole grains have up to 96 per cent more fibre and essential nutrients and vitamins than refined grains. Advises diet expert Honey Shah, "I advise my clients to have whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice as they are high in essential nutrients and do not contribute to weight gain. You can start your day with whole wheat cereal or a whole wheat bread toast."

Nuts 
Make nuts an essential ingredient in your diet. Sprinkle it on salads or breakfast cereals or stir them into yoghurt because they are an excellent source of protein, magnesium and B & E vitamins. They are useful in fighting heart disease and cancer. Nuts are high in fat calories, but their fat is the heart-healthy kind. You can also eat them as an evening snack. But make sure you don't overdo them. About a quarter cup or about 15-20 almonds, cashews, walnuts are good enough a week.

Yoghurt 
Low fat or plain yoghurt is a great source of vitamins, protein and calcium. It also has healthy bacteria which can fight diseases. "Three to four cups a week is good enough for your diet. But make sure you don't add sugar to it. Instead choose plain yoghurt and add fruits or berries to it," suggests dietician Pinky.

Berries 
Ever wondered why most of the diet fibre products have berries in them? Reason being berries are high in fill-you-up fibre and also helps curb weight. Berries have more protective plant antioxidants than almost any other food. These antioxidants not only lower your disease risks, but also help prevent memory loss. You can have a bowl full of them thrice a week. It could be fresh or frozen, benefits stay! 

Eat mangoes to lose weight

Eat mangoes to lose weight (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

The summer might be a good time to lose some weight and the king of fruits, mango, helps in losing weight. Interested in going for the lean look? 

Head for some fresh mangoes, for the fruit is packed with nutrients and is full of fibre. Experts say that mangoes are fleshy and a snack of fresh mangoes is usually helpful in keeping one full. "Mangoes have a high content of beta carotene and rank among the top providers of beta carotene. However they are also a great source of nutrients in the concentrated form. In order to reduce the consumption of calories, mangoes are a very good choice," said an expert. Beta carotene is also known to reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer.

To get the right amount of nutrition not too many mangoes need to be consumed. A single fruit is capable of providing of almost a day's supply of Vitamin C to the body. It also helps in making bones stronger since it contains minerals, calcium and magnesium as well as B vitamins. They are also rich in a carotenoid called lycopene, which is an effective antioxidant. In order to lose weight, mangoes can form an important part of the diet however it has to be coupled with otherfruits and a complete meal, only after consultation with a nutritionist. Not only losing weight, daily consumption of mangoes make the skin complexion brighter and makes skin softer.

Food for Your Age According to your age

Image: © Thinkstock

20s and 30s - Fibre and Calcium are vital
This age group is crucial since both work and marriage bring about a change in the lifestyle of a woman. “Proper consumption of nutrients is required to stay healthy in spite of a busy routine,” says dietician Dr Rekha Gonsalves. According to the National Diet and Nutrition survey, a high percentage of women in their twenties failed to meet the recommended daily intake of key nutrients like calcium, folic acid and iron and only 4 per cent of women between the age group of 19 to 24 consumed their 5-a-day target of fruits and veggies. “At the same time, many people in their twenties and thirties are also into junk food and careless eating habits,” says Gonsalves. Hence it’s important to opt for an ideal diet, as it’s the reproductive age for women. 

Go for...
Fibre: Make sure your diet consists of fortified wholegrain cereal. Having a glass of semi-skimmed milk or fruit juice will provide fibre and several key vitamins and minerals. Do not skip breakfast.
Calcium: Ensure you are getting the desired amount of calcium every day. “Include about 3 servings of dairy product in your meal everyday. Milk, yoghurt and cheese will look after the calcium content in your diet,” says Namita Nanal, nutritionist, Evolve Medspa. (1 serving = 200 ml milk, 1 small pot yoghurt & 30 gms cheese) 
Folic acid: Include lots of dark green leafy vegetables in your diet. Oranges are also a good source of folic acid. Good sources of folate include fortified breakfast cereals. 
Omega 3 fatty acids: “Eat about three 170 gms of cold water fish per week,” suggests nutritionist Dr Meetu Mangalvedkar, Pune Strikers. Each serving of fishes like salmon, mackerel, trout, halibut and white tuna contain more than 1,000 mgs of DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids, which is good for bone formation and diseases related to the heart.
Magnesium: Mangalvedkar further adds, “Broccoli is a good source of magnesium, vitamin K and phosphorous. Make sure you include this in your diet at least once a week.”
Low salt: Check information on the back of the pack before you buy ready meals or sandwiches — for a main meal you should aim to eat no more than 2.5 gms salt (and no more than 6 gms a day). 
Iron: Dates, black raisins, almonds, lentils, spinach, and liver are rich in iron. 
Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps in the absorption of iron, especially for vegetarians. So don’t forget to add some lemon juice to your salad plate. Amla is a rich source of Vitamin C.

40s - Exercise and iron are important 
After the age of 40, it’s time to take a closer look at your health. Stop taking your health for granted and start investing for a healthy lifestyle in the future. Make healthy eating and regular exercising your priority. A diet rich in antioxidants will help protect against problems like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cataracts and certain types of cancer.
With women, perimenopause and menopause begin in the late 40s due to diminishing production of estrogen. “Low levels of estrogen are also associated with bone mass decrease, osteoporosis and blood lipid levels, resulting in an increase in total cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels,” says Nanal. One in four women in their 40s have low iron stores which lead to restlessness, lethargy and ‘tired all the time’ syndrome. Hence iron-rich diet is a must.  
This is also the age bracket, when men develop cardiovascular diseases at younger age and more frequently than females and the main reason behind it is the lack of exercise. Avoid piling on excess kilos as it will only increase the risk of health problems like heart disease, diabetes and osteoarthritis. The good news for the ones in their 40s is that alcohol (in moderation) can help to keep the heart healthy, but don’t exceed safe guidelines, particularly with home-poured measures.

Go for...
Antioxidants: Fruits, vegetables and beans are the best sources of antioxidants. It helps the body deal with free radicals and skin-damaging molecules caused by sun exposure and pollution. These antioxidants are known as skin’s fountain of youth. Make sure you eat at least 5 servings a day and a good variety of different produce. Keep hummus on hand as a sandwich spread and carrot dip, toss black beans into soups or lentils into pasta sauce, or serve canned beans as a convenient side dish.
Nuts: Peanuts, hazelnuts, and walnuts are loaded with vitamin E, vitamin B and are also a source of arginine. They help boost the immune system. 
Iron: Liver and lean red meat are the best and most easily absorbed form of iron, so try to eat red meat at least twice a week (portion: 100 gms). If you’re a vegetarian, choose a fortified breakfast cereal and eat plenty of green leafy veggies. 
Alcohol: Stick to safe guidelines as advised by your nutritionist and have at least one alcohol-free day a week.

50s - Watch your fat levelAs the age progresses, your metabolism slows down. “Be very careful of your diet and make a conscious effort to maintain your ideal body weight,” says Namita. Health problems such as raised cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are more common in this age group. The best way to treat all the problems is to adopt a low-fat, low-GI (Glycemic Index) diet, which includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. 
Among women, the decline in oestrogen levels that accompanies menopause accelerates the loss of calcium from bone, which increases the risk of osteoporosis or brittle bones. Moreover, your joints may also start to become a bit stiff and sore. To counteract this, eat at least three serving of low-fat, calcium-rich foods each day. Also, make it a point to keep weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, a part of your routine to keep your bones strong.
Eat at least one serving of oil-rich fish each week to help thin the blood and reduce the risk of a heart attack and stroke. If you don’t eat fish, try taking an omega-3 supplement.

Go for...
Cholesterol-lowering foods: If you have high cholesterol, switch to a cholesterol-lowering spread or one of the mini drinks or yoghurts. Also, antioxidants in red grape skins lower LDL cholesterol which in turn lowers the risk of clogged arteries. A glass of red wine or a handful grapes can do the trick. 
Functional foods: Functional foods like ginger, fresh turmeric and garlic. Fresh turmeric is rich source of antioxidants. Ginger can help suppress inflammatory body chemicals that trigger arthritis pain. Add these ingredients to your diet or consume them in the juiced form 
(1 tsp in 1 glass of water).
Soya: Eat 25 gms of soya protein to help reduce blood cholesterol levels. Phytochemicals in soya beans also reduce many unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause. Use tofu instead of chicken in stir fry and pour calcium-enriched soya milk on your cereal.
Omega-3 fats: To keep bones and heart healthy, opt for salmon rather than tuna as salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and calcium.
Gas forming foods: Reduce the intake of gas forming foods like rajma and chole.

60s and above - Vitamins are good 
As you grow older, your senses like taste, smell, sight, hearing and touch start diminishing. Also, changes happen in digestion, cardiovascular and renal function making it less efficient. This is the age, when you start taking pills for various ailments, which reduce the absorption of certain nutrients.  
Moreover, your appetite is likely to decrease as you age. But the requirement of vitamins and minerals still remains the same making it essential for you to eat healthy and nutritious food. Ensure that you include plenty of foods rich in B12. If you’ve suffered a heart attack, increase your intake of oil-rich fish so that you’re having at least two servings a week, and consult your general practitioner about taking a fish oil supplement.

Go for...
Fibre: Digestive problems, like constipation and piles are more common in this age group. A high-fibre diet and plenty of water can help. Choose a wholegrain breakfast cereal, like porridge and wholemeal bread and eat plenty of fruits and veggies. A small glass of prune juice in the morning or probiotic yoghurt can also help prevent constipation 
Vitamins: Meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and fortified breakfast cereals all contain vitamin B12. Small amounts of vitamin D (great for good bone health) are found in margarine, eggs and oil-rich fish. Also, try and expose your arms and face to the sun for at least 20 minutes a day for vitamin D. 
Salt and spices: Do not add extra salt to your food — use herbs, spices and other flavourings such as garlic, lemon juice, flavoured vinegars or mustard.

Facebook claims to have 901m users

Facebook has said it has 901 million users and is likely that it’ll pass the one billion user mark well before the end of this year.

Facebook has said it has 901 million users and is likely that it'll pass the one billion user mark well before the end of this year. The company, which displayed the statistics in its amended S-1 filing , also said that its network receives 3.2 billion comments per day and 300 million new photos daily.

The site also claims 125 billion friendships are forged daily. Of the 901 million users, 526 million were described as daily active users in March. Some 488 million people also used Facebook mobile products that month, according to the filing.

Facebook, meanwhile, said its first-quarter profit fell 12% as operating costs almost doubled. Net income fell to $205 million in the three months through March this year, the Menlo Park, California-based Facebook said in a regulatory filing. Sales climbed 45%to $1.06 billion, a slowdown from 55% in the December period.

Expenses surged to $677 million, reflecting higher costs of helping marketers reach Facebook's growing user base. The company may struggle to reach EMarketer's projection for 2012 sales of $6.1 billion as it awaits the full impact of new tools aimed at wringing more money from advertisers, said Debra Aho Williamson, who helped construct the researcher's estimate.

"Facebook has a pretty steep hill to climb to meet the expectations that we set out," Williamson sa

Chandra 72, declared world's shortest man

 Home to Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, the scenic country of Nepal added another height-related superlative - of having the world's shortest man.

A Guinness World Records team measured Chandra Bahadur Dangi at 54.60 centimetres (21.5 inches), declaring the 72-year-old even shorter the previous title holder, Junrey Balawing, from the Philippines, who stood at 23.5 inches at the age of 18 last year.

"The good news is that Chandra Bahadur Dangi is the world's shortest living man," Guiness Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday told reporters after measurements were taken.

"If he is really 72 years old he is the oldest person to be awarded the shortest-man record," Glenday said, adding Dangi was also the shortest person ever measured by the Guinness World Records.

From a poor and uneducated family in a remote part of Nepal, Dangi said he had never heard of Mount Everest and was unaware of the world record title before a timber merchant visited his remote village last month and decided to measure him. His diminutive size has since made him a celebrity in the impoverished nation of 26.6 million people and he took a plane for the first time last week to travel from his village, Rimkholi, 267 km (167 miles) west of Kathmandu, to meet the Guiness World Records officials in the capital.

"I am good. I feel happy," Dangi said holding two framed certificates, "I want to travel around the world and spread the name of my country."

Dangi, whose parents died when he was still in his teens, lives with his brother with, he said, no desire tomarry.

His family has no idea when he stopped growing as many Nepali villages still lack basic health care. Dangi has never seen a doctor in his life. Five of his brothers and two sisters are of normal size.

Dangi mostly stays at home, needing assistance to move around and preparing head straps used by villagers to carry loads.

Before Balawing, who was declared the shortest man in the world in June last year, another Nepali man, Khagnedra Thapa Magar, who stood 26.4 inches (67 centimetres) tall, held the title.