Update to Health Issues

After further testing, I received my blood results today. I have PCOS that is confirmed. My blood sugar levels were higher than normal and so my doctor has recommend I take every precaution to prevent diabetes; especially since diabetes runs in my family. As for the drastic hair-loss, I have extremely low iron levels and the B12 in my body can be increased as well.

I asked my doc to refer me to a dermatologist for further testing on my scalp. But he denied my request. He stated that the dermatologist won’t even see me considering my low iron levels. The healthy iron in a woman’s body should be 80 and above; mine is 27. A women’s B12 level should 200+ and mine is 159.

My doc was extremely concerned with the lack of iron in my blood and has put me on an iron pill. I’ve also been asked to continue taking Metformin and the water pill I have been taking over the past month or so. I’m also going to be taking a B12 supplement, One a day women’s daily vitamin, along with Materna. For those of you whom aren’t familiar with Materna, it’s a pre-natal vitamin pill taken by women trying to conceive. Don’t worry I’m not trying to get pregnant, however the beneficial factors of Materna are many. There is a high level of folic acid and many other vitamins. The folic acid will help with hair growth too.

Anyway, the doc also suggested I begin using Rogaine to help reverse and prevent any further hair-loss. He said it’ll be at least 3 months before I should notice results. But once the deficiencies and hair fall are corrected I’ll probably see my hair grow healthy again.

I’m going to begin this new routine tomorrow. I just wonder how my body will react to the sudden influx of vitamins and chemicals. I guess, it’s worth a try. I mean at this point what do I have to lose?

I’ve also booked an appointment with a hair salon that specializes in women’s hair-loss for next Thursday. The receptionist mentioned that a consultation would determine if I needed a treatment or just replacement hair. I was hoping for the treatment; however now with the routine of meds and vitamins starting tomorrow, I think I might just seek replacement solutions. I was reading the website of the salon and they mentioned on it that their hair replacement systems can last 2-3 years if it is maintained well. I know it’s probably going to be quite costly but I guess, I’ll just have to wait and see.

I’ll keep you all posted on what happens next. Wish me luck. I’m an emotional wreck and scared to the gut.

~Tamana

Photos: IIFA Awards Green Carpet

For everyone who missed the IIFA Awards in Toronto this past weekend, here is a gallery of the stars!

Photos: IIFA Awards Green Carpet.

Photos: Bollywood stars at the International Indian Film Academy Awards.

Recipe of the Week: Piloaf – Mixed Veggie Rice

A quick, aroma filled delicacy of India is our various styles of making rice. The mixed vegetable rice or miloaf as we call it, can either be eaten alone or enjoyed with a dabble of yogurt. The below recipe is quick and delicious.

Ingredients:
2-3 cinnamon sticks
Whole black pepper
2-3 black/big cardamom
Salt to taste
Red pepper to taste
2 Tbs oil
1 onion
Cup of frozen mixed vegetables
Cup of rice

Directions:
1. Heat oil in large pot and put teaspoon of jeera.
2. Once the jeera begins sizzling, add the finely chopped onions.
3. Fry onions just until they are golden brown. If you are impatient while frying onions like I am, then a quick trick to speed up the process is to add salt to them as the fry.
4. Next, add the frozen vegetables and cook until slightly done.
5. Add the cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper and red pepper powder.
6. Mix everything well and add the rice. Now add water and cover.
7. The rice should take roughly 20 mins to cook.

Voila! You’ve just made miloaf. Fancy it up with a couple of leafs of fresh coriander and serve.

A Beautiful Cloudy Day

Enjoying the sun peaking through the millions of clouds. Lazy Sunday in the Tdot!

Summer Hair Remedies

The below remedies were emailed to me through one of the newsletters I get weekly. Ladies, you should really subscribe! Here’s the link! This website’s awesome for remedies, fitness and health tips and just overall information.

Here are the remedies:

If You Have a Burnt Scalp
Mash a cucumber with sour cream and apply paste to scalp. There are anti-inflammatory agents in the cucumber which will help cool the scalp, while the sour cream balances pH levels.

Cooling Shampoo
Adding a few drops of peppermint oil to your shampoo will give you a nice tingly, spa-like shower at home. Plus, the minty extract will also increase circulation in your scalp, and will help hair grow.

Add Protein to Your Diet
Keratin is a type of protein; which is what hair is made of. Adding more amino acids to your diet will help your hair and nails grow stronger. A handful of almonds will give you energy and help hair grow.

Keep a Dry Shampoo in Your Purse
I don’t like dry shampoos but if the humidity leaves your hair sticky and/or greasy temperatures normally leave your roots feeling greasy, spraying a little dry shampoo will refresh your locks. Just spray over oily patches and brush.

Add a Boost to Your Flat Hair Color
Rinsing hair with herbal tea will boost hair color and add different tones and shades to your hair. Chamomile and lemon teas are best for blondes, black tea for brunettes and hibiscus for red heads. They suggest boiling a large pot of water with 4-5 tea bags and then waiting for water to cool to room temperature. Remove tea bags and soak hair with tea. Cover with a shower cap and wait 10-15 minutes and then rinse.

Rinse with Cold Water
After conditioning or to rinse out conditioner, run hair under the coldest water you can tolerate for a few minutes. The cold will seal cuticles, leaving your strands super shiny. This can be done on your face as well. By rinsing face under cold water will boost circulation in the skin causing a glowing effect.

Heal Split Ends
To rejuvenate damaged hair, smooth almond oil onto the ends of your hair before you cut will bring them back to life. Olive oil can also be used if you don’t prefer the smell of almond oil.

Debate over ‘Slut Walk’ in New Delhi and My Two Cents

I’m all for women and their rights. I mean, after all, I am a woman as well. But have you noticed, many women are hypocrites? Women should have equal rights as any man, I totally agree with that. Coming from a conservative country, I am so blessed to be living in Canada where women, to some extent are given equal rights.

BUT…

Women judge women. I have so many girlfriends who’ll see a girl/women walk down the street and call her a slut for the mere reason that the women has chosen to wear exposing clothes. Then on the flip side, these same women pointing fingers, will wear something similar. Like come on! All us women need to get one thing straight, either look at yourself first before pointing a finger or don’t point at all.

Anyway, about the ‘Slut Walk’, I have mixed feelings for it. A women’s body is a gift, it is one of the most beautiful creations. However, partially I feel that “gift” should be for the person you are with and not every Tom, Dick or Harry that walks down the road. Sure, hot temperatures will trigger a woman to wear less clothes. That I’m completely fine with. But to completely expose nearly every inch is going a bit far.

Lets talk about the men that are staring at these women, that are raping, harassing and abusing these women. In countries like India, where men are dominates, the general belief is that men make the rules. I am totally against that, but that’s a totally different conversation in itself. My point is that if men are making the rules, then why can’t they make the rule that women should be treated with respect? That women should be treated the way they want their daughter’s, sister’s and mother’s treated? Why is it that a married man, with daughters and sisters, will go out for a stroll and automatically stare and droll over other men’s wives, daughters and sisters?

As for the Slut Walk itself, good for women! I don’t believe in exposing my body to anyone and everyone and that’s not just because I am overweight, I held this same belief when I was fit and had a sexy body. But if women have want to expose their bodies and not be labelled sluts, then good for them. Mind you, there are limits to everything and so, this too should have some limitations.

In Memory of Neda Agha-Soltan

June 20th marked the 2 year anniversary of Neda’s death. Two years ago, she was part of a protest that ended her life. She was shot in the chest and within an hour the raw footage of people trying to save her became public on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. She became a symbol of freedom for Iranians who wanted to end the country’s repressive state.

Neda Agha-Soltan (23 Jan 1983-20 Jun 2009)

I won’t get into full details here. However, you can read a recent post I did on her story and more about her life on Wikipedia.

I just wanted to make sure I wrote a brief post  to let the world know, we haven’t forgotten about Neda. Although, her death was tragic, it has brought a lot of hope to Iranians all over the world. It has given them courage to fight against the government and push towards their freedom. The cost of it all was a life, it was her life. However, the world has not forgotten her and they continue to try to bring justice to her.

Neda, you are in our prayers and hearts. As the Iranian public fights for their right to freedom, they carry your thoughts strong. As for us, away from the scene, we support charities and cause awareness throughout the rest of the world.