5 reasons men should groom their privates

Men spend hours obsessing about grooming the hair on their head but tend to ignore their pubic hair.

It is only when they are going to have sex that they begin to groom their privates. The fact remains that ungroomed privates are not only a complete turn off, but are also unhygienic. Here are five reasons why men should groom their privates.

Cleanliness
Heat, sweat and bacteria form around the crotch and remain there for a long time if it gets entangled in the pubic hair. Trimming or shaving it off will help keep that area clean and free from any unwanted infections.

Makes the erection look bigger
Ungroomed pubic hair tends to hide your penis, which makes it appear smaller. Shaving away all the extra hair will make it appear at least an inch longer.

Looks healthier
A well groomed crotch looks healthy and clean. The cleanliness will ensure that you don't have any infections or outbreaks and it will also keep your penis healthy. Besides, it will enable you to keep an eye on unwanted warts or rash.

Appears more inviting
A clean well groomed penis appears more inviting to your partner. Pubic hair can be a complete turn off for most women while performing oral sex. If you want her to go down on you, you need to groom your privates.

Can increase sensitivity during sex
The skin around the crotch is sensitive to touch. Shabby ungroomed pubic hair restricts direct contact to this sensitive skin. Shaving or waxing it off, will give your partner better access to this area, thereby making it a much more intense experience.

Things your guy doesn’t want you to know

You may be proud of the fact that you've finally got your man to open up and share his secrets with you but don't be so sure about it.

There could still be things he would never want you to know. We reveal a few of them...

He may be your childhood friend or someone you've been with since more than a decade. But this doesn't make it mandatory for your man to tell you every little thing about his life, especially his past. There is certain valuable information he would love to keep to himself and never tell you about it. Moreover, men even feel trapped if they are pushed to open up or communicate. Here are a few facts your man may try to cover up..

How does it feel listening to stories about how your guy bagged a lot of hot chicks during his college days and the kind of physical equation he shared with each of them? It certainly isn't a great feeling. Your guy knows this and so he may hide it from you. You need not force your guy to divulge numbers as it might upset him and put you at the risk of spending the night alone.

His strip club experiences
Most guys take pleasure in watching the ladies dance around erotically. For your guy, going to a strip club with his gang of guys might be an open option for an evening's entertainment but he would make sure you don't even get a hint about it. "Your guy will never even say that he was a regular earlier with the fear that you'd interrogate him on the same," says Dr Montel, consulting psychotherapist and relationship counsellor. "You would want to know why he likes it, and how much he spends when he goes to a strip club and a lot more," she adds.

He is emotional
Being caught crying by a woman is nothing less than a nightmare for some guys. That's one of the reasons guys never express themselves. They love to portray themselves as strong and attempt to create a macho-man like image of themselves. Some even believe that shedding tears or expressing one's feelings is something that just women do. Guys never want you to know that even they think a lot about certain things and that those little matters tend to affect them too.

His porn store location
His hard disk is full of porn and sleazy content but when you may ask him about it, he might react saying, "What?" Guys like porn but they might not be very open to accepting the same. Guys tend to mix up their fantasy world with the real one which is wrong but you need not compare yourself to Jenna Jameson every time you're in bed with him. If you know that your guy is trying to keep his porn collection under wraps, let him. Do not stress him into unveiling it by poking him all the time.

He is still a mama's boy
Many men are pampered and spoilt for choice by their moms. So when they get
married or get into a relationship, they end up constantly comparing their partners to their moms which in turn leads to the extremely popular saas-bahu rivalry. They may know it but definitely wouldn't like you to know that they are overgrown mama's boys and still depend on their mommy for their every little need.

His bizarre fantasies
Certain fantasies can be shared and enjoyed together. But he may be into real freaky stuff that may involve weird tools, and you may not quite appreciate them. So, it's absolutely normal for him to not divulge some daydreams and thoughts as you may just head to the door once you get to know of them.

Love Things you didn’t know: Science

Valentine's Day fever is in the air, and love is all around. But there are certain things about love that even the most seasoned couples are unaware of

Latest research offers new lenses through which to see love.

1. Love is not a private emotion
Change the notion that love is confined to a single person's mind. Research shows that when you connect with someone else, there is a moment of synchrony between the two of you. Gestures, biochemistries, even neural firings of the two people mirror each other. So, love is a biologically mutual wave that can flow through two or more bodies and brains at the same time.

2. Love secures the connection between the brain and heart
It is often said that people who are social and have a strong sense of community live longer. But why this is the case was considered a mystery until now. New research shows that when a random group of people are asked to learn ways to create small moments of love in their daily lives, it improves the function of the vagus nerve in the longer run. The vagus nerve is a key channel that connects the brain to the heart.

3. Love doesn't require suppressing negativity
Think about love as little moments of shared positivity, and you realise that you can experience love even if you — or the person with whom you are connected — is suffering. Love doesn't mean ignorance of negativity. In fact, it is similar to compassion in essence; some level of empathy and kindness are part of the melting pot called love.

4. Love is not exclusive
Love is not restricted to your inner circle of friends and family members. If they are the only entities that come to mind when you think of love, you are constraining opportunities for growth and well-being. Science says that you can experience real moments of connectedness with anyone, a soulmate or even a stranger, as long as you feel safe and secure while establishing it.

5. Changing your views on love changes your capacity for it
You can use minute moments of connection to make incredible turnarounds in your personal and professional life. When you take just a minute or two every day to think about whether you felt attuned to another person (or people), you start the process for a slew of benefits and the release of happy hormones. Now that you know more about how love works, why not start this practice today?

For orgasm, try CAT or go doggie style

A few of the lovemaking positions that practically guarantee an orgasm.

This one's for the ladies as much as it is for the guys. Learn the art of making love and with tips from Fit for Love author Billy Sunday Mars.

CAT

It stands for Coital Alignment Technique (CAT) and can up your chances of an orgasm. To follow this technique in the missionary position, the man shifts forward to bring his chest closer to the woman's shoulders. This allows the clitoris to rub against his pubic region while his member rubs the G-Spot and other erogenous zones.

Spooning and doggie style

According to Mars, spooning and doggie style positions can also bring about an orgasm — often more than one — since he can manually stimulate your clit during intercourse. Writes Mars, "This decreases the time it takes to reach orgasm and extends your orgasms."

Put your hips up, women

Women can increase their chances of an orgasm if they lift up their legs. This trick works even if the man is not as well endowed as the average male. Tilt your hips and pelvis upwards. Your man will be able to reach areas he otherwise never could; it's also one of the most pleasurable positions, according to Mars.

Tips: To get more comfortable, cushion your lower back with a pillow underneath. Place it in such a way that your lower back creates an angle for the hips to be above your head and shoulders while lying down. According to Mars, women need to realise that the cervical area is a hot spot for earth-shattering orgasms.

Compliment your man to have a good sex life

Here's a list of things you can say to your man, to let him know that you appreciate him and that he's special

Like the ones from the opposite sex, women are accustomed to receiving compliments - from the random guy at the pub to the street whistler! On the other hand, men rarely get a compliment. So fire off a meaningful compliment to your man and make way for a steaming night ahead.

Boy, you can work it!
Tell your man how awesome he is in the bedroom - this one definitely ranks at the top of his list! A guy dies to hear how good he is at the skills he works so hard to perfect.

What would I do without you?
Guys love to feel needed. Whether it is to help you understand bank work or simply open a jam jar — it is one of the greatest feelings for a man that you can't live without them. Cuddle him and tell him it would have been impossible for you to do anything without him.

Crave to spend more time with you
Sometimes you need to connect with his inner being as well. No matter how much you compliment on his looks or his skills - your efforts will go waste if you don't let him know how much you love him and want to be with him. Tell him that it is his innate characteristics that draw you closer to him.

You are excellent at your job!
Praising your guy's brain power is a must! Every guy wants to know that he is awesome at his task. Go that extra mile and tell him how much you admire him for the way he shows his dedication and loyalty towards his work. This one will touch him....really!

You're so freaking hot!
This is one compliment that will instantly lift his spirits. Complimenting a guy on his good looks is okay, but it is a different thing altogether to tell him what makes him so desirable - serve up his accolade, gently touch his body parts to add an extra sizzle to it.

Lose Belly Fat- Fast and Easy

Here's your quick guide to a flat, toned stomach

Losing weight on your midriff can seem very challenging, but if you push yourself a little further, you can easily shed those extra kilos from your abs and flaunt an envious one.

Side plank
This abs exercising is known to be the most difficult one than a traditional plank one because you are supporting your entire body on two points of contact instead of four. Thus you must work your core harder to stay stabilised.

How to do it: Lie on your left side with your elbow directly under your shoulder and legs stacked. Place your right hand on your left shoulder or on your right hip.

Next brace your abs and lift your hips off the floor until you are balancing on your forearm and feet so that your body forms a diagonal line. Hold position for 30 to 45 seconds. Switch sides and repeat.

Walkout from push up position
This exercise needs a full body movement such as using your arms and legs while incorporating resistance to strengthen your entire core too.

How to do it: Start in a push up position with your hands two inches wider than your shoulders. Now walk hands out as far as possible then walk back. Repeat this for 12-14 times.

The alligator drag 
This exercise uses your entire core to keep your body stabilised and burns additional calories by adding movement. It mixes stability, cardio and strength training to get you the fast results.

How to do it: Look for a stretch of floor where you can move 10 to 20 yards forwards and grab anything that will slide over the surface with minimal friction. Now start in push up position with your feet on slides or towels behind. Walk yourself forward with your hands to the end of the runway and repeat the alligator back walk from where you started.

Are you a Smoker?

Are you among those who use cigarettes but don't consider themselves to be smokers? You then belong to the category of 'non-identifying smokers (NIS)'. 

Researchers at University of California (UC),San Diego report there is a surprisingly large number of people who say they use cigarettes but don't like them to be called smokers. 

The phenomenon has both individual and social ramifications. 

"For individuals, the behaviour puts them at many of the same health risks as identified smokers," said Wael K Al-Delaimy, professor at the UC San Diego's department of family and preventive medicine. 

"There is a risk for such smokers to continue to smoke and be adversely impacted by the tobacco they smoke. They do not seek any assistance nor do they plan to quit because they falsely believe they are not smokers," explained Al-Delaimy. 

Almost 22 percent of these smokers consumed tobacco on a daily basis. 

In their analysis, Al-Delaimy and colleagues defined NIS as people who had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, reported smoking at least one day in the past 30 days or who said they smoked at least "some days". 

In all cases, when asked if they considered themselves to be a smoker, the respondents replied 'No'. 

The younger NIS are typically college students who smoke as a means of social facilitation and who believe they can quit at any time. 

Older NIS belong to the marginalised parts of society who see little advantage in identifying themselves as smokers or providing accurate reports of their smoking behaviour, said the study that appeared in the journal Tobacco Control..

Get rid of wrinkles and ageing with these food

When it comes to beauty, Indian consumers are more conscious than ever

Ageing, dark spots, wrinkles, and fine lines... these are the last things that a person would like to see on his or her skin.

No wonder, both men and women are willing to shell out a lumpsum to look good and are going all natural in the process. According to experts, the secret lies in the plate and that's precisely why what you eat matters the most.

Food experts recommend people to opt for natural products to maintain a youthful look in a healthy way. And when it comes to these natural products, there are umpteen varieties to choose from.

We give you a list of products that one could choose from to delay the ageing process and to maintain that youthful look.

Leafy greens: Like eggs, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, turnip greens, and romaine lettuce, are great sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. Studies have shown eating foods rich in these antioxidants can significantly reduce risk of AMD (age-related macular degeneration), as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Spinach has a very high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) score. It is a measurement of a food's ability to destroy the free radicals that cause damage in your body. The higher the ORAC score, the better a food is for you.

Blueberries: These tiny berries are powerhouses of nutrition. They are loaded with antioxidants, which stops premature ageing and help prevent cancer. Wild blueberries also boost your health. A study suggests that anthocyanins in blueberries appear to combat oxidative stress, which is one of the main causes of ageing.

Yellow and orange root vegetables: Put plenty of beta-carotene on your plate. These super-antioxidants are good for your skin and eyes. Good choices include carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and squash.

Broccoli: Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that is found in broccoli, along with other foods including cranberries, onions, and apples. It is a natural anti-inflammatory agent as well, fighting the number two cause of aging. Broccoli sprouts have 30 times more isothiocyanates (yet another antioxidant) than regular broccoli.

Raw, organic eggs: A single egg contains, nine essential amino acids. It's rich in proteins and has naturally occurring Vitamin D. Consuming your eggs raw is the best thing to do as cooking destroys some of the highly perishable nutrients.

Aloe vera: Aloe vera's anti-ageing properties have been known for ages. Scientific evidence suggests that Aloe Vera juice can heal skin and reverse skin ageing. Skin ages because of UV light damage and loss of collagen in the skin. Collagen helps in keeping the skin firm and elastic. Ageing breaks down the collagen matrix in your skin which leads to wrinkles. Drinking aloe vera juice is known to reduce the wrinkle depth and improve skin elasticity due to increased collagen production.

Garlic: Allium is an antioxidant that packs a punch. Garlic, onions, and scallions are loaded with this free-radical fighter that is good for your skin and your immune system

Eat blueberries for healthy love life

Eating a cupfull of blueberries once a day may help spice up your love life, says an expert.

According to nutritionist Dora Walsh, the berries contain proanthocyanidins, a plant chemicals that is believed to keep blood vessels flexible and blood flowing around the body that could work wonders in your romantic life, reports contactmusic.com.

"Blueberries can easily be incorporated into what we eat every week. Blueberries are a great source of the nutrient manganese which helps us get energy from food - all important for Valentine's night.

"Blueberries not only make you feel great, many of my clients eat them for healthy skin and their nutrient content could hold the key to giving our skin a Valentine's glow, which makes us more attractive to the opposite sex," said Walsh.

Blueberries are also packed full of soluble fibre which many people consume to help push excess cholesterol through the digestive system before it can be broken down, and deposited along the walls of the arteries.

Clear arteries are important for a healthy heart.

One reason it’s good to be ugly

Latest research has found that being ugly makes you more memorable than attractive people. 

In this superficial day and age, people with imperfect features get a raw deal. However, you have one reason to rejoice if you belong to the tribe - people recognise and remember you more easily. At least that's what German scientists claim, if new research is to be believed. Researchers from the University of Jena in Germany found that images of unattractive people were more memorable compared to pretty faces. Unless they had noticeable traits like Angelina Jolie's pillow-shaped lips or Colin Farrell's bushy eyebrows, beautiful faces are more easily forgotten. So, if you are considered ugly you also have the advantage of being an easily recognisable face. 

According to Dr Holger Wiese, who conducted the study along with Carolin Altmann and Stefan Schweinberger, we tend to think that we recognise a face just because it's attractive. However, this belief is far from the truth. The researchers showed subjects photos of a group of people, half of whom were considered beautiful while the other half was unattractive. They showed the test subjects these faces for a few seconds and asked them to try to memorise the pictures. They showed the snaps to them again and asked whether they recognised them. 

The results surprisingly shattered the old myth of never forgetting a pretty face. Profiles of people considered ugly got many more affirmatives; further proof comes from EEG recordings from the study that show the brain's electrical activity. As for attractive faces, there were a notable number of false positives. This means, people think they recognise a pretty face without having seen it before since we like to look at a beautiful mug.

10 essentials to have before a baby’s birth

Advice for expecting moms on the must-haves to stack up on before the newborn arrives

You've read books on what to expect when you're pregnant from cover to cover, and have decorated the baby room with flourish. But have you made a list of the most essential items you'll need when the baby comes home? Read through this list of the absolute must-haves.

1. Crib
Find a crib with a mattress and crib sheets that are fitted. Look for one that is comfortable and secure enough to hold a bonny baby.

2. Bouncy seat
A bouncy seat is required since you won't be able to put your baby in her crib every time you go over to the kitchen to cook, or the bathroom to the do laundry. Find a simple and regular sized model for the newborn. Bouncy seats are mobile so you can even bring one into the bathroom while taking a shower.

3. Formula
Irrespective of whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your baby, keep a few cans of milk-based formula handy in the kitchen cabinet for emergencies - like delays getting home from an errand. Before you stock up, though, make sure the brand suits your newborn.

4. Feeding bottles
You don't need many if you are nursing the infant yourself. Otherwise, you will need about 10 bottles a day. This number sounds bloated since you could consider washing and reusing the bottles. However, having a few extras will save you the time taken to wash them frequently. Pick full-size bottles since the baby will grow out of tiny ones pretty soon.

5. Diapers
Decide whether you want to use disposable diapers or cloth. With cloth, have a set of 24 in the beginning. As for disposable diapers, get a pack of newborn size and two packs of size one.

6. New car seat
This one's for car owners, of course. Put the baby car seat at the top of your priority list since hospital staff is usually not allowed to let you drive out without one.

7. Digital thermometer
Since babies can't mouth their unease, it is important to be able to take your newborn's temperature. If you infant's fever gets serious, it could spell trouble. Get a basic digital thermometer that you can use rectally.

8. Breast pump
Using a breast pump to fill bottles takes the pressure off you so your husband - or parents - can feed the child when you are busy. If you are nursing the child, have one ready when you get home from the hospital.

9. Diaper rash cream
Diaper rash is a common problem with most newborns. If you don't have enough time to go to the supermarket, use petroleum jelly.

10. Maxi-pads
This one's for new mothers. Pick up two packages of ultra-absorbent maxi-pads for the post-delivery period. The locia discharge slows down in two or three weeks, so get a box of panty liners too.

7 tips for men to understand women better

A new survey has helped compile seven tips on how men can rise above others in their dealings with women.

Firstly, communication should not be a problem, as for the women there is nothing as appealing as a man, who listens to them. If a man wants to tell them something they wouldn't mind knowing it but face-to-face is always preferable and if that is not possible men can contact them via texts, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Secondly, complimenting women is nice, as sometimes they do need a bit of verbal assurance.

Phrases that might help men in a crisis: "Your hair looks awesome tonight!" "Is that a new dress?" "You blitzed it in that tennis match/speech/insert other awesomeness here!"

Thirdly, a man should not be a penny pincher instead he should pay on his first date if they want to see the lady again.

Fourthly, they should organise their social life and there are two obvious problem areas there:

First, the man who never does anything off his own bat, women may find it nice if they went and did something interesting occasionally.

Second, a male who simply does too much, women would like that person to take out some time for them.

Fifthly, some thought should be put by men in the presents that they give to women.

Sixthly, men should try to get a bit stylish and should invest in a fool-proof man outfit: nice jeans, a T-shirt and unscuffed trainers and for more smart-casual occasions, substitute in a good quality shirt and some leather shoes.

Lastly, when men don't know the direction of a place they should admit it and not pretend about knowing it.