A recent research has found that people pack their bookshelves with close to 80 books they have never

read just to 'look' intelligent. The survey showed that four out of ten Britons confessed that the books kept in the their shelves are purely for show purpose to keep up their appearances, with fifty seven per cent of these unopened books being literary classics. The Lindeman's Wine research also found that 'Pride and Prejudice' is the book that tops the list of the books people generally lie about reading followed by the 'Lord of the Rings'. It further revealed that forty seven percent of people prefer trashy novels written by 'guilty pleasure' authors when it comes to their choice of reading, but keep them away from displaying on their shelves, the Daily Mail reported. Works we want to be seen reading as per the survey 1. Pride & Prejudice 2. Sense & Sensibility 3. Jane Eyre 4. To Kill a Mockingbird 5. Wuthering Heights 'Guilty pleasure' authors as per the survey 1. Sophie Kinsella 2. Jodi Picoult 3. Jackie Collins 4. Helen Fielding 5. Danielle Steele

Most people gain weight gradually, but once a person decides to lose weight, each day on a dietmight seem like a long time. Losing weight can be an unappealing project, and some give up before ever really starting on a program. Simplifying the science behind weight loss helps demystify the process. There are no quick fixes or miracle foods that burn off fat. The good news is that everyone can lose weight if they stick to a few basic principles and have a little patience. What is healthy weight? BMI stands for body mass index, and it uses a comparison between height and weight to determine a healthy weight range. Generally, a BMI between 18.5 and 25 falls within the healthy range. A high BMI index might label extremely athletic people with large muscles and very little body fat as overweight or obese when their weight and height put them over the normal BMI range. But this is a rare exception and occurs only for individuals with very high muscle mass. By and large your BMI will tell you if your weight is within the ideal range or not. What does losing weight mean? In order to lose weight, a person must ingest fewer calories than she burns. A calorie is a measure of energy provided by food. Calculating the number of calories you need versus how many you eat is a first step to losing weight. Online calculators make it easy for dieters to calculate caloric needs. 3,500 calories equals 1 lb. of weight, so in order to lose 1 lb. per week a dieter must subtract 500 calories from the number of calories needed to maintain a particular weight. Importance of gradual weight loss Gradual weight loss is best for long lasting results. The metabolism must be kept at normal levels to keep burning off fat. Metabolism is the process a body uses to convert food or fat stores into fuel. The higher a person's metabolic needs, the more calories burned off and pounds dropped. When a dieter cuts back radically on calories, the body interprets the sudden drop in available food as a potential threat. Sensing possible famine, it responds by lowering the metabolic rate. When the metabolic rate drops, the dieter actually needs fewer calories per day than before he started on a diet. Extreme reduction in calories ingested also has adverse effects of energy and personal health. Menu and diet Healthy balanced diets work best for sustained weight loss. In general, eating a diet high in whole grains, such as brown rice, and rich in fresh vegetables and fruits is healthy. Supplementing the foods with some lean protein rounds out a sensible weight-loss diet. Portion control also plays a role in weight loss. Role of exercise Exercise keeps a you healthy and happier while losing weight. In addition, burning extra

calories helps burn fat. Exercise alone does not always lead to weight loss, because exercise increases appetite and builds heavier muscles. Some people that exercise strenuously while dieting actually gain weight in the first weeks of the diet due to increase in muscle mass. Exercise is the best way to assure lasting weight-loss results. Boosted cardiovascular health, along with improved body image and self-esteem plays a role in maintaining healthy lifestyles that keep the excess pounds from returning.

Eggs are deemed as a healthy breakfast choice almost everywhere. But it turns out, their health value varies according to the hens that hatched them, suggests a new research. Dr. Niva Shapira of Tel Aviv University''s School of Health Professions says that all eggs are not created equal. Her research indicates that when hens are fed with a diet low in omega-6 fatty acids from a young age - feed high in wheat, barley, and milo and lower in soy, maize and sunflower, safflower, and maize oils - they produce eggs that may cause less oxidative damage to human health. That's a major part of what determines the physiological impact of the end product on your table. Eggs high in omega-6 fatty acids heighten cholesterol's tendency to oxidize, which forms dangerous plaque in our arteries. Dr. Shapira's research shows that eggs laid by hens with healthier feed can lessen oxidation of LDL (low density lipoprotein), the body's "bad cholesterol." In her study, consumption of two industry-standard eggs, high in omega-6, caused a 40 per cent increase in LDL oxidizability in participants. After eating two per day of the speciallycomposed eggs, with both high anti-oxidant and low omega-6 levels, however, LDL oxidation levels were similar to the control group eating only two to four eggs a week. Surprisingly, with the "healthier" eggs, we might be able to eat more than twice today's generally recommended egg intake and still maintain a healthy level of LDL oxidation, Dr. Shapira concludes.

Contrary to what many believe, people can frequently go out to eat and still shed those extra kilos, researchers say. Investigators from The University of Texas at Austin enrolled 35 healthy, perimenopausalwomen aged 40 to 59 years who eat out frequently. Participants took part in a 6-week program called Mindful Restaurant Eating, a weight-gain prevention intervention that helps develop the skills needed to reduce caloric and fat intake when eating out. The focus of the programme was on preventingweight gain in this population, not weight loss. It is important to prevent weight gain in this population as increasing abdominal waist circumference from weight gain is greater during the perimenopausal years, which in turn increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Even though the focus was on weight maintenance, the researchers found that participants in the intervention group lost significantly more weight, had lower average daily caloric and fat intake, had increased diet related self-efficacy, and had fewer barriers to weight management when eating out. "Although the intention of the intervention was weight maintenance and the majority of participants were not dieting with the intent to lose weight at the start of the study (69 per cent), on average the intervention group lost 1.7 kg during 6 weeks," said Dr. Gayle M. Timmerman, PhD, RN, the principal investigator of this study." "The number of times that participants ate out, as captured in the 3-day 24-hour recalls, did not significantly decrease from time 1 to time 2, indicating that participants were able to successfully manage their weight while continuing their usual, frequent eating-out patterns." "Overall, the participants in the intervention group reduced their daily caloric intake by about 297 calories after completing the intervention, which would explain their weight loss. Only part of the calorie reduction (about 124 calories) can be accounted for during eating out, indicating that fewer calories were also consumed at home," Dr. Timmerman added.

A new study has found that long-term coffeeconsumption may help reduce risk for endometrial cancer. Coffee is emerging as a protective agent in cancers that are linked to obesity, estrogen and insulin, said Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Coffee has already been shown to be protective against diabetes due to its effect on insulin," said Giovannucci, a senior researcher on the study. "So we hypothesized that we'd see a reduction in some cancers as well," he stated. Giovannucci, along with Youjin Je, a doctoral candidate in his lab, and colleagues observed cumulative coffee intake in relation to endometrial cancer in 67,470 women who enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study. During the course of 26 years of follow-up, researchers documented 672 cases of endometrial cancer. Drinking more than four cups of coffee per day was linked with a 25 per cent reduced risk for endometrial cancer. Drinking between two and three cups per day was linked with a 7 per cent reduced risk. A similar link was seen in decaffeinated coffee, where drinking more than two cups per day was linked with a 22 per cent reduced risk for endometrial cancer.

To lead a quality life you need to be energetic and happy. There are magic foods that can help you when clubed in a trio 3. Foods to boost energy Whether you are heading out for an exercise session or suffering from a mid-afternoon slump, there are times when we all need energyboost. Here are three instant pick-me-up foods. Oats If you're feeling worn out, weak or unable to concentrate, you could be deficient in certain B vitamins. These vitamins not only help to keep the brain functioning properly, they also help the body to break down carbohydrates into glucose to fuel the body. For a good source of B vitamins, try incorporating oats into your diet; a morning bowl of porridge should do the trick. Chocolate Amongst the many reported health benefits of dark chocolate (including its ability to lower heart disease risk, prevent wrinkles and boost the mood), the popular treat is also a great pick-me-up snack, which is great news for chocoholics. Chocolate is high in energy-boosting chemicals including theobromine (a stimulant found in many popular energy drinks) and caffeine. Beetroot Beetroot not only provides a multitude of health benefits, the vibrant vegetable is also a great source of longlasting energy. First of all, beetroot has a high sugar content which helps to provide an instant energy boost. It is also high in many energy-boosting nutrients including magnesium, iron, vitamin C and nitrate. 2. Foods to beat the blues We all go through periods of feeling anxious, irritable or depressed. The foods you eat can directly influence the way you feel, so check out these top three foods to cheer you up. Marmite If you're feeling anxious, stressed or depressed, a dose of Marmite, rich in B vitamins, could help to lift your mood. B vitamins are important for normal brain function and producing moodboosting serotonin, with vitamins B12 and B6 being particularly beneficial for regulating your mood. Oily fish Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish are well known for being good for the heart. However, they are equally beneficial for our brain health and mood. A recent study found that participants who had lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood were more likely to be moderately depressed and have a negative outlook.

Bananas Bananas are high in natural sugars, making them a great remedy for low energy levels which can leave you feeling down. On top of this they are a great source of tryptophan, an essential amino acid which boosts serotonin levels, helping to regulate your mood. 1. Foods to help you sleep Whether it's a one-off occurrence before a big event or a nightly struggle, most of us suffer frominsomnia at one time or another. Fortunately, there are foods that can help you sleep a little easier. Dairy products If you're struggling to get a good night's sleep, foods containing tryptophan should be a first port of call. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, helps to raise serotonin and melatonin levels in the body, both of which can help induce sleep. Bedtime-friendly sources include dairy products such as yoghurt and milk. Oats While many of us associate oats with breakfast time, they are also the perfect evening snack. Oats are a good natural source of melatonin, which is often taken as a sleep aid due to its ability to help regulate the body's internal clock. They are also another good source of tryptophan, especially when combined with milk. Flax seeds Flax seeds are great for increasing levels of sleepregulating substance serotonin in the body due to their high levels of both tryptophan and omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, the omega3 fatty acids they contain have been proven to help reduce the anxiety, depression and stress which are leading causes of insomnia.

More than how much you eat, what you eat determines the satisfaction level of a meal. Nutritionist Sneha Jain lists 10 foods that make you feel full, without making you fat.

Fatty Fish Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and sardines contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids which, besides lowering cholesterol, also hasten the metabolism rate. Omega-3 fatty acids alter the level of leptin - a hormone that directly influences metabolism and determines whether you burn calories or store them as fat. Fish also provides ample protein and the best way to eat it is grilled, with steamed vegetables on the side. Citrus Fruits Fruits such as grapefruit, lemon, sweet lime, papaya, guava and tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C and fibre. Vitamin C helps the body process fat faster and also stimulates the amino acid known as carnitine - carnitine speeds up the body's fat-burning capacity. Citrus fruits also have high water content and provide around 50 to 75 kcal, leaving us satiated for a longer period of time. Green Vegetables Spinach, asparagus and broccoli have a high thermic effect on the body and a low calorie density. This means that it's almost impossible for them to be stored as fat because most of their calories are burned off in the digestion process. Apart from that, the fibre in these foods provides roughage and contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that help you feel full. Popcorn Popcorn is rich in fibre and low on calories. Also, since eating it keeps our mouth busy for a longer time, the satiety levels are high. However stay away from the overly buttered, caramel and cheese cousins. Oatmeal Oatmeal is a complex carbohydrate which takes longer to digest - hence it releases energy slowly, keeping you feeling full for longer. It also keeps blood sugar and insulin levels stable, which helps prevent fat storage. Oatmeal is the most satisfying breakfast cereal, providing more protein per serving than any other grain. Mix it with yoghurt or skimmed milk and it'll keep you full all morning. Almond and Walnuts Raw, unsalted nuts, especially almonds and walnuts, provide essential roughage, protein, fat, minerals and micronutrients. Munching on handfuls of these nuts keeps you full and energetic for longer without adding to your waistline. Low-Fat Dairy Products Skimmed milk, low fat cheese and yoghurt are a good source of calcium, which helps break down fat cells. Some studies indicate that not getting enough calcium may trigger the release of calcitrol, a hormone that causes fat storage.

Beans Beans are high in fibre and a good source of protein. They also take longer to digest, making you feel full for a longer time. Also, protein has the highest satiety index (which determines how long will you feel full) than any other element. Whole grains Jowar, bajra and ragi contain complex carbohydrates, which release glucose slowly when broken down during digestion. The glucose helps in maintaining your blood sugars levels and combats sugar craving. They are also a rich source of fibre and Vitamin B complex that play an important role in metabolic control. Apples High water content and ample fibre is the reason why you feel full after eating an apple. An apple's skin contains pectin soluble fibre that is a natural appetite suppressant. Seems like an apple a day keeps the weight away.