Court rules photographing under a woman's skirt legal

BOSTON: Ladies, beware of what you wear — if you are in Massachusetts! 

The top court in Massachusetts has ruled that 'upskirting' — the practice of secretly photographing under a woman's skirt — is not prohibited by state law. 

The shocking decision by the Massachusetts's high court said that a state law intended to prohibit 'Peeping Tom' voyeurism of completely or partially undressed people did not apply to those who take pictures of people who are fully clothed. 

The ruling on Wednesday exonerated a man previously charged with taking unauthorized pictures of women on a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority trolly.

Twitter has been abuzz with discussions on the issue:

Michael Robertson was charged in December 2011 with the act before successfully appealing the ruling to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 'Boston.com' reported. 

The court focused on the language of the law, which prohibits secret photography of "a person ... who is partially nude." 

"A female passenger on a MBTA trolley who is wearing a skirt, dress, or the like covering [private] parts of her body is not a person who is 'partially nude', no matter what is or is not underneath the skirt by way of underwear or other clothing," the court said in its ruling. 

Massachusetts speaker of the house Robert DeLeo described the court's ruling as obeying a legal loophole that he intends to change. 

"The ruling of the Supreme Judicial Court is contrary to the spirit of the current law. The House will begin work on updating our statutes to conform with today's technology immediately," DeLeo said. 

According to 'New York Daily News', several Twitter users also immediately voiced criticism, with one woman writing: "Not all assault is physical. 'Upskirting' is a disgusting violation. And it's just been given the green light by a court."

Your breast too needs to stay young

Your face is not your only fortune. Here's how to keep your assets as young and healthy as the rest of you

Women have long complained about sagging frames and crinkly cleavages, but it is far from a storm in a D-cup. According to Steve Horvath, a geneticist at UCLA's medical school in the US, different parts of the body age at different rates. "Healthy breast tissue," he says, "is about two to three years older than the rest of a woman's body." Which makes it even more important to prevent your torso from ageing. Here's a list of factors to keep in mind.

The wrong bra size 
With around 80 per cent of women believed to be wearing ill-fitting lingerie, we could be inadvertently contributing to sagging breasts, bad posture, back pain or even abrasions and rashes. Several factors including weight loss or gain, medication, contraceptive pills, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause can affect breast size. It's important to buy new bras every year to make sure you have the correct size. Get an in-store fitter to measure you. And don't forget to wear a sports bra when you exercise.

Lack of nutritious food 
Our bodies are made from the nutrients we consume, meaning a diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals may show in the condition and look of our skin. Sweet potato, spinach, kale and butternut squash are rich in vitamin A, and can help nourish the delicate skin in the breast area and other parts of the body. Vitamin C is good for collagen production and vitamin E is great for skin production.

Alcohol overdose 
It's not just food you should be thinking about — that wine habit could also affect your breast health. Alcohol can triple the oestrogen levels in a woman's body. A lot of breast cancers are hormone-sensitive and having higher oestrogen levels could cause cancer cells to multiply. By minding oestrogen levels, you reduce your potential risk of oestrogen-related cancers. Cut down your alcohol intake and eat broccoli, cabbage,brussels sprouts and greens since they contain indoles that are believed to aid the body in reducing oestrogen levels and helping fight cancer.

Neglect moisturising 
A wrinkly decolletage can really age you. The bust is an area we often neglect as we focus on our face. But breast are exposed to friction from clothes and underwear which can end up chaffing the delicate skin. It is worth investing in products to help combat that. Any cream that has almond oil, cocoa butter or evening primrose oil will help keep the bust area soft. Skin on the neck and chest gets almost as much sun as the face and, being much thinner than skin elsewhere, it is more prone to showing the tell-tale signs of ageing. So, use a sunscreen that's suitable to your skin.

For questions specific to your health conditions, please write down in the comments section and we will answer it as soon as possible. Thanks

Banana: Health benefits

Rich in nutrients including vitamins A, B, C and E along with minerals like potassium, zinc, iron, etc, banana is a strong source of energy. Here are some other health benefits of this versatile fruit.

Controls blood pressure: According to research, the potassium in this fruit keeps the blood pressure levels in check and it can also help decrease its levels.

Improves brain power: A good source of vitamin B, banana helps perk up nerve function and boosts learning abilities.

Decreases the risk of stroke: According to studies, regular consumption of a banana helps reduce the occurrence of stroke. Rich in antioxidants and dietary fibre, consumption of bananas is also said to reduce the risk of cancer.

Maintains bones: Probiotic bacteria present in bananas is known to absorb calcium in the body. Hence, it helps in building better bones.

Enhances digestion: The priobotics in banana help produce enzymes that enable absorption of nutrients, thus enhancing the digestive ability and preventing unfriendly bacteria from harming the body. Astringent in nature, raw bananas are effective in treatment for diarrhoea.

Relieves constipation: Pectin found in bananas helps to alleviate constipation and improves bowel function.

For questions specific to your health conditions, please write down in the comments section and we will answer it as soon as possible. Thanks

Balsamic vinegar: Health Benefits

Though originating from Italy, balsamic vinegar is popular throughout the world and is regularly used in salad dressings. Here are some of its health benefits.

For weight loss: According to studies, balsamic vinegar is a source of calcium, iron, manganese and potassium, which improve the body's functioning and weight loss abilities. Low in calories, it also helps to curb the body's appetite and prevents overeating, increasing the amount of time it takes for the stomach to empty.

Helps blood circulation: The antioxidants presents in balsamic vinegar can help repair damage caused by free radicals, produced by the oxygen used in our body. Balsamic vinegar contains polyphenols, antioxidants that can protect the body from heart disease and cancer.

Improves immunity: The grapes that are used to make balsamic vinegar contain antioxidants that fight against cell damage, improve the body's immune system and make blood platelets more flexible.

Regulates blood sugar: Balsamic vinegar can improve insulin sensitivity for diabetics, allowing for an easier regulation of blood sugar and reducing unpleasant side effects from diabetes.

Helps digestion: This vinegar is great for body's digestion. It boosts the activity of pepsin, an enzyme that breaks protein down into smaller amino acids that can be more easily absorbed by the body. Pepsin also helps to improve the body's metabolism.

Eat Carrots to stay young and healthy

Your granny wasn't kidding when she nagged you to eat carrots for healthy eyes.

While carrots are good for your eyes, they also promote healthy skin, delay ageing and even prevent cancer. Initially used as medicine, carrots are commonly found in orange colour. But they are also available in yellow, red, white and purple hues.

-Several studies show that certain properties in carrots help reduce the risk of lung, breast and colon cancer.

-The beta-carotene in carrots is converted to vitamin A in the liver, which is then transformed in your retina, to rhodopsin — a pigment that improves night vision. Beta-carotene is also known to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts.

-Carrots help slow down the ageing of cells and also work as an antioxidant.

-Want to improve the quality of your skin? The vitamin A present in carrots protects your skin from sun damage and even prevents premature pigmentation, wrinkling, dry skin, acne and uneven skin tone.

-You can also use boiled or mashed carrots on cuts and bruises to prevent infection.