Moms are often filled with kind words of wisdom. But when it comes to food and nutrition, is their advice always scientifically accurate? My granny always says that carrots are gud for eyes....i thought she was telling this just to make me eat coz of my shortsightedness. But later i came to know what she told was 100% true and some amazing facts for u which i read. Carrots are good for your eyes: Granny was right! Carrots contain beta-carotene, a carotenoid pigment found in bright orange fruits and vegetables that is also a precursor for vitamin A. Vitamin A plays a major role in eyesight by preventing night blindness and helping with the maintenance of a healthy, clear cornea (outer membrane of the eye). Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, mango, cantaloupe, and apricots are all rich sources of beta-carotene. Carrots also contain a compound called lutein, an antioxidant almost always paired with zeaxanthin. Studies have shown that eating foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin can increase the pigment density in the macula-and greater pigment density means better retina protection, and a lower risk of macular degeneration. Other lutein rich foods include kale, spinach, Swiss chard and other dark leafy greens

Carrot, rawNutritional value per 100 g Energy 40 kcal

Carbohydrates: 9 g

Sugars: 5 g

Dietary fiber: 3 g

Fat:0.2 g

Protein:1 g

Thiamin (Vit. B1) : 0.04 mg

Riboflavin (Vit. B2) : 0.05 mg

Niacin (Vit. B3) : 1.2 mg

Vitamin B6 : 0.1 mg

Vitamin C : 7 mg

Calcium: 33 mg

Iron : 0.66 mg

Magnesium :18 mg

Phosphorus : 35 mg

Potassium : 240 mg

Sodium : 2.4 mg

Amazing but Facts about Carrots:

In 2005, a poll of 2,000 people revealed that the carrot was Britain's third favourite culinary vegetable.

Carrots are noted in popular culture for being the favorite food of rabbits, and are also associated with fictional rabbits such as Bugs Bunny. However, rabbits finding carrots in a garden are more likely to eat the exposed greens than to dig up the root.

For the purposes of the European Union's "Council Directive 2001/113/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption" carrots can be defined as a fruit as well as a vegetable. This is because carrot jam is a Portuguese delicacy.

A common urban legend is that carrots aid a human being's night vision. It is believed that disinformation introduced in 1940 by John "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham during the Battle of Britain was an attempt to cover up the discovery and use of radar technologies . It reinforced existing German folklore and helped to encourage children to eat the vegetable.

Lack of Vitamin A can, however, cause poor vision and can be restored by adding Vitamin A back into the diet.

The world's largest carrot was grown in Palmer, Alaska, by John Evans in 1998, weighing 8.614 kg (18.99 pounds).

The world's largest carrot statue is located in Ohakune, New Zealand.[5]

Carrots are traditionally used as noses when building snowmen.

The comedian and entertainer "Carrot Top" is named after a carrot because of his bright orange hair.

Susan Dey, of Partridge Family fame, was said to have eaten so many carrots during her bout with anorexia and bulimia that her skin literally was tinged with orange - a condition called carotenosis. [6]

Holtville, California holds an annual festival devoted entirely to the carrot.

CUTE BABIES

" EDUCATION IS THE MANIFESTATION OF KNOWLEDGE WHICH LIES IN US "

Every one of the 20th century Indian leaders of note have acknowledged his influence, from Gandhi to Subash Bose. The first governor general of independent India, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, once observed that "Vivekananda saved Hinduism." According to Subhas Chandra Bose, Vivekananda "is the maker of modern India" and for Mohandas Gandhi, Vivekananda's influence increased his "love for his country a thousand fold." Gandhi, who also strived for a lot of reform in Hinduism himself, said: Swami Vivekananda's writings need no introduction from anybody. They make their own irresistible appeal. Many years after his death, Rabindranath Tagore (a prominent member of the Brahmo Samaj) had said: If you want to know India, study Vivekananda. In him everything is positive and nothing negative. National Youth Day in India is by way of commemorating him held on his birthday, January 12. Swami Vivekananda is widely considered to have inspired India's freedom struggle movement. His writings inspired a whole generation of freedom fighters including Aurobindo Ghose and Bagha Jatin. Vivekananda was the brother of the extremist revolutionary, Shri Bhupendranath Dutta. Subhash Chandra Bose one of the most prominent figures in Indian independence movement said, I cannot write about Vivekananda without going into raptures. Few indeed could comprehend or fathom him even among those who had the privilege of becoming intimate with him. His personality was rich, profound and complex... Reckless in his sacrifice, unceasing in his activity, boundless in his love, profound and versatile in his wisdom, exuberant in his emotions, merciless in his attacks but yet simple as a child, he was a rare personality in this world of ours. Aurobindo Ghosh considered Vivekananda as his spiritual mentor. While in Alipore Jail, Sri Aurobindo used to be visited by Swami Vivekananda in his meditation and be guided by him in yoga. Vivekananda was a soul of puissance if ever there was one, a very lion among men, but the definitive work he has left behind is quite incommensurate with our impression of his creative might and energy. We perceive his influence still working gigantically, we know not well how, we know not well where, in something that is not yet formed, something leonine, grand, intuitive, upheaving that has entered the soul of India and we say, "Behold, Vivekananda still lives in the soul of his Mother and in the souls of her children. --Sri Aurobindo--1915 in Vedic Magazine. Vivekananda inspired Jamshedji Tata to set up Indian Institute of Science, one of India's finest Institutions. Abroad, he had some interactions with Max Mueller. Nikola Tesla was one of those influenced by the Vedic philosophy teachings of the Swami Vivekananda.

This pious disciple of , made his guru's dreams come true.He taught the indian youth "Strength lies not in the body but in your souls".His quotes are familiar to everyone and whoever follows his path has success in their hands.

ARISE........AWAKE.......AND STOP NOT.......

TILL THE GOAL IS REACHED.......

JUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE.....

A man was walking down the beach at sunset. As, he walked along, hesaw another man in the distance. He noticed this man kept leaningdown, picking up something and throwing it out into the water, againand again. As, he approached even closer, he noticed that the man was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach. He wasthrowing them back into the water, one by one.

Puzzled, he approached the man and said,"Good Evening. I was wondering what you are doing."

"I'm throwing these starfish back into the ocean.

You see, it's lowtide and all these starfish have been washed up onto the shore. If, Idon't throw them back into the ocean, they'll die up here from lack ofoxygen."

"But, there must be thousands of starfish on this beach. You can'tpossible get to all of them. And, don't you realize this is probablyhappening on hundreds of beaches all up and down this coast. Can't yousee that you can't possibly make a difference?"

The man bent down and picked up yet another starfish, and threw itback into the ocean. With a smile he replied, "Made a difference tothat one !!!

"Just remember, no matter how small the deedit really does makes a difference.Make a difference today.Do something nice for someone else......may be this is familiar one to you.....dats kalam also says...DREAM UR WAY...DO WHAT U CAN....BUT NEVER STOP DOIN...WAIT FOR THE SUCCESS BUT DONT BE DROOPED BY FAILURE....lets do sumthin dat brings a smile on weary face....

pls note this:

I'm extending a personal invitation to my friends and family. To see your invitation, click the link below, or copy and paste it into your browser's address field:http://friends.unicefusa.org/r/cf4ab13a27d5102aa29c

SOUTH INDIAN CULTUIRE

South Indian culture refers to the culture of the four southern most states of India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. South Indian culture though with its visible differences forms an important part of the Indian culture. The South Indian Culture is essentially the celebration of the eternal universe through the celebration of the beauty of the body and motherhood. It is exemplified through its dance, clothing, and sculptures. Traditional clothing: South Indian women traditionally wear the sari while the men wear a type of sarong, which could be either a white dhoti or a colourful lungi with typical batik patterns. The sari, being an unstitched drape, enhances the shape of the wearer while only partially covering the midriff. In Indian philosophy, the navel of the Supreme Being is considered as the source of life and creativity.[1] Hence by tradition, the stomach and the navel is to be left unconcealed, though the philosophy behind the costume has largely been forgotten[1]. This makes the realization of sharira-mandala, where in Angikam bhuvanam yasya (the body as the world) unites with the shaarira-mandala (the whole universe), as expressed in the Natyashastra.[1] These principles of the sari, also hold for other forms of drapes, like the lungi or mundu or panchey (a white lungi with colourful silk borders in kannada) worn by men.[2].The lungi can be draped over clockwise or anticlockwise and can be tied at the back or fixed just along the waist line.It's sometimes lifted till knee and tied at the waist leisurely or just held in hand to speed up walking. In parts of north karnataka men wear kachche panchey where it is tied at back by taking it between legs.Similar pattern is seen in women. All over the peninsular coastal region men wear coloured lungis and women wear sari in a way tying it at back. Cuisine: Rice is the staple diet, with fish being an integral component of coastal South Indian meals. Coconut is an important ingredient in Kerala and costal part of Karnataka of South India, whereas the cuisine in Andhra Pradesh is characterized by the delicious pickles, spicy aromatic curries and the generous use of chilli powder. Dosa, Idli, Uttapam etc are popular throughout the region. Coastal areas like the state of Kerala and the city of Mangalore are known for their seafood. South Indian coffee is generally quite robust, and coffee is a preferred drink throughout the Malabar region.

Music: The sophisticated Indian Classical Music of South India is known as Carnatic music (after Carnatic, the name by which south India was known in the earlier colonial days. Sarang Dev coined south indian classical music as karnatic Music). It includes sensuous rhythmic and structured music by composers such as Purandara Dasa, Tyagaraja, Dikshathar, Shyama Sasthri, and Swati Tirunal.The contemporary singer Dr. K. J. Yesudas is a cultural ambassador of Carnatic music. Dance: The South Indian culture is celebrated in the elaborate dance forms of South India - Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Theyyam, Ottamthullal, Oppana, Kerala Natanam, Mohiniaattam and Yakshagana. The Bharatanatyam expresses the celebration of beauty and the universe, through its tenets of having a perfectly erect posture, a straight and pout curving stomach, a well rounded and proportionate body mass- to the body structure, very long hair and curvaceous hips.[3] These tenets bring to life the philosophy of Natyashastra (the treatise on Dance by the sage Bharata), ‘Angikam bhuvanam yasya’ ((whose) body is the world).[1] This is elaborated in the araimandi posture, wherein the performer assumes a half sitting position with the knees turned sideways, with a very erect posture. In this fundamental posture of the Bharatanatyam dance, the distance between the head and the navel becomes equal to that between the earth and the navel. In a similar way the distance between the outstretched right arm to the outstretched left arm becomes equal to the distance between the head and the feet, thus representing the "Natyapurusha", the embodiment of life and creation.[1] Architecture and paintings: South India boasts of having two enchanting styles of rock architecture, the pure dravida style of Tamil Nadu and the Vesara style (also called Karnata dravida style) present in Karnataka. The inspirational temple sculptures of Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole, Belur, Halebidu, Lakkundi, Shravanabelagola, Mahabalipuram, Tanjore, Madhuri and the mural paintings of Travancore and Lepakshi temples, also stand as a testament to South Indian culture. The paintings of Raja Ravi Varma are considered classic renditions of many a scenes of South Indian life and mythology. There are several examples of Dravidian mural paintings in the Mattancherry palace and the Shiva kshetram in Ettamanoor. South India is home, as of April 2006, to 5 of the 26 World Heritage listed sites in India.[4]. Sculptures and figurine: Sculptures became one of the finest medium of South Indian expression after the human form of dance. In this medium it was possible to etch the three dimensional form in time. The traditional South Indian sculptor starts his sculpture of the divinities from the navel which is always represented unclothed by the sari. A koshta or grid of the sculpture would show the navel to be right at the centre of the sculpture, representing the source of the union of the finite body and the infinite universe. Sculptures adorn many of the temples around the complexes and also inside them. They are also depiction of dance steps of various stylizations and have served to preserve dance forms and revive it.[5] Literature and philosophy: South India has a literary tradition reaching back over two thousand years. The first known literature of South India are the poetic Sangams, which were written in Tamil around two to one and a half thousand years ago. The Kannada classic Kavirajamarga, written in 850 CE by King Amoghavarsha I, makes references to Kannada literature of King Durvinita in early sixth century CE. Tamil Buddhist commentators of the tenth century CE, Nemrinatham makes references to Kannada literature of fourth century CE Distinct Malayalam and Telugu literary traditions developed in the following centuries. The artistic expressions of the South Indian people shows their admiration of the magnificence of nature and its rhythms. Some of the works include Silappadhikaram by Ilango Adigal, Tholkappiam written by Tholkappiar, Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukural and Kumaravyasa's Karnata Bharata Katamanjari and Pampa's Vikramarjuna Vijaya.. In South Indian literature and philosophy, women are considered very powerful. A married woman is regarded as auspicious, her shakti or mother-feminine power, protects and empowers her husband and their children. Contemporary Kannada writers have received seven Jnanapith awards which is the highest for any Indian language. Some of the big names in the contemporary South Indian literature includes Kuvempu, Shivarama Karanth, S.L. Bhyrappa, D.R. Bendre, U.R. Ananthamurthy and Girish Karnad. Motion pictures: Movie making has emerged as an important platform in South India. Over the years movies have served to portray the cultural changes, trends, aspirations and developments experienced by the people. Some motion picture classics like Nammukku paarkkaan munthiri thoppukal (1986) by Padmarajan, Adi Shankara (1984) by director G V Iyer, and Perumthachan (1990) by Ajayan have gained worldwide acclaim for their masterful depiction of the worldview of the South Indian people