​Anil Kapoor on parenting independent children. (Source: Instagram/@anilkapoor). At first glance, it might seem like Anil Kapoor’s admission echoes every Indian father’s sentiment. But on closer inspection, the Animal actor’s statement hints at pride. Despite achieving fame and success in Bollywood, his children chose to carve out their own path and not rely on his stardom. At home, too, they don’t treat him any differently or bend over backwards for his approval. During a recent conversation, Kapoor opened up about raising confident children.. “Mera bada clear hai, apne bachhon ke saath (I have it very clear with my kids). All my children are very idealistic, very independent, and they are worse than me. Koi mera fan nahi hai ghar mein, koi bhi nahi hai, ratti bhar (No one in my family is my fan, not a single soul),” he told NDTV.. Decoding his parenting philosophy. Rima Bhandekar, Mpower Helpline, at Aditya Birla Education Trust, said that Kapoor’s parenting style focuses on letting children be independent and grow into their own.. “This style of parenting focuses on providing children ample independence and distance to develop, and at the same time support when required, and is very different from helicopter parenting, where parents are around all the time. Such parents let their children know that their assistance is available when wanted by the children,” she explained.. View this post on Instagram. According to her, the aim of such parenting is to encourage children to explore on their own and learn alongside, thereby naturally boosting their internal confidence to solve issues and make independent decisions. “A parent may encourage their children to try new activities and face challenges without the parent promptly helping them. The central concept is to let children navigate their own understanding of their world and develop competencies, while parents are there to guide as necessary,” said Bhandekar.. Such independent-focused parenting comes with its own set of challenges and pitfalls:. Children start handling challenges on their own without expecting their parents to step in.. Their confidence develops gradually through trial-and-error learning, and they know they can succeed after initial failure.. Children develop an understanding of various situations, how they feel in them, and how to face others with confidence.. Children face less pressure from their parents to conform, and develop at their own pace. However, some children may not be able to cope with too much independence as it may leave them feeling disorganized or overpowered, or may not know when to call for help, said Bhandekar, adding that few may also need help with controlling their impulsive behaviour with clear-cut instructions, parental expectations and discipline, without which there could be issues in social or academic settings.. ALSO READ | ‘Gentle parenting left me drained’: Why more Indian parents are embracing ‘FAFO parenting’ to let  

 ​Celebrity nutritionist Pooja Makhija says cravings are not always about hunger. Often, they’re about dopamine prediction. “When you eat something sweet, your brain doesn’t just respond to sugar. It responds to anticipation. First, there’s a cue, followed by routine action and a reward loop,” she wrote on Instagram.. So what helps? According to her, “brushing” disrupts the cue. “Menthol activates TRPM8 receptors — cold-sensitive channels in the mouth — altering taste perception and temporarily reducing the reward value of sweet foods. This sensory interference reduces the expected dopamine payoff,” she added.. Explaining the science behind it, Makhija quoted neurobiological research showing that dopamine levels spike more in anticipation than in consumption. “If you interrupt anticipation, you blunt the craving cycle,” she noted.. We reached out to a health expert to verify her claim, and here’s what we found out.. Decoding the science. Dr Sakshi Hinduja, BDS, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, agreed with Makhija, stating that brushing your teeth when a sugar craving hits is effective because cravings are not always about true physical hunger, but often about the brain expecting a dopamine reward.. “The brain learns to associate sweets with pleasure, comfort, or stress relief, and over time it starts predicting that reward at certain times of the day, such as after meals, during stress, or when feeling bored, which creates a strong urge to eat something sweet. This happens even when the body does not need energy, and this is called dopamine prediction, where the brain releases feel-good signals in anticipation of sugar rather than from real nutritional need,” she explained in detail.. View this post on Instagram. So, brushing your teeth, especially with a minty toothpaste, can help break this pattern because the fresh taste changes the sensory experience in the mouth and makes sugary foods taste less appealing, said Dr Hinduja, while also sending a psychological signal that eating time is over. Similar to how we brush after finishing a meal, this small action creates a pause between impulse and behavior, giving the craving time to settle.. Since most cravings are short-lived and usually pass within minutes if not acted upon, Dr Hinduja said that the “clean-mouth feeling increases awareness and self-control, making a person less likely to immediately reach for sweets”.. Story continues below this ad. Thus, brushing teeth works both physically by altering taste and psychologically by interrupting the brain’s reward expectation, helping reduce unnecessary sugar intake in a simple and practical way.. ALSO READ | Before or after breakfast: The right time to brush your teeth is…. Points to note. Dr Hinduja also added that brushing properly is very important because it removes food particles, plaque, and bacteria that cause cavities and gum problems. In fact, brushing for two-three minutes is a good idea because many  

 ​On her granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda’s podcast, veteran actor Jaya Bachchan reflected on companionship in marriage. Responding to a question about whether romance should come between friendship, she said, “Mere sabse ache dost mere ghar ke andar hein…My husband is my best friend. I don’t hide anything from him.”. Her statement shifts the focus from grand gestures of romance to emotional transparency and friendship within marriage. To understand what this kind of bond means psychologically, we spoke to Dr Pavitra Shankar, Associate Consultant–Psychiatry at Aakash Healthcare, who explained that friendship within marriage creates a foundation of emotional safety. “When spouses share a close friendship, it strengthens trust and open communication. Emotional safety allows individuals to process stress, disappointments and life transitions more effectively.”. She adds that the ability to feel understood reduces internal strain. “Feeling heard and accepted by a partner decreases loneliness and anxiety. Over time, this contributes to greater emotional resilience.”. Studies suggest that couples who describe each other as close friends often report lower perceived stress and greater life satisfaction. Emotional support within marriage can even reduce levels of stress hormones, Dr Shankar elaborates.. View this post on Instagram. Aren’t personal boundaries equally important?. While closeness is beneficial, Dr Shankar emphasises that healthy marriages also require boundaries. “Personal boundaries are essential, even in deeply connected relationships. They allow each partner to maintain their identity and emotional balance.”. Without boundaries, closeness can turn into over-dependence. “Healthy boundaries prevent emotional exhaustion, resentment and excessive reliance on one another. Respecting personal space strengthens mutual respect.”. She adds that independence and intimacy are not opposites. “A psychologically healthy marriage balances connection with individuality. When both partners feel secure in themselves, the relationship becomes more stable.”. ALSO READ | When Jaya Bachchan said addressing someone as ‘tu, tum’ are ‘big red flags’. How does emotional safety in marriage influence physical health?. 1) The psychological impact of a marriage often affects physical health more than people realise. “Emotional safety reduces chronic low-level stress, which directly impacts physical health outcomes,” says Dr Shankar.. Story continues below this ad. 2) When a person feels secure in their relationship, the body responds accordingly. “Lower stress hormone levels can improve sleep quality, help regulate blood pressure and support immune functioning.”. 3) Conversely, ongoing emotional tension can have measurable consequences. “Persistent relational stress may impair sleep, increase inflammation and raise cardiovascular risk over time. The state of a marriage can significantly influence long-term physical we  

 ​Vidya Malavade puts her legs up the wall to relax. (Source: Instagram/@vidyamalavade). A proper cool-down routine, which is often underrated, can significantly improve the effectiveness of your workout. Vidya Malavade knows this, and thus swears by a 15 min Viparita Karani to regulate her nervous system, detox her body, and boost her digestive system. Taking to social media, the Mismatched actor shared a video of herself putting her legs up against the wall or the back of the sofa to unwind.. “Legs up the wall.. in this case, sofa..Perfect for lymphatic drainage. I practice this every single day, for at least 15 minutes. Most of my asana practices end like this. Helps my heart/circulation too,” she mentioned the benefits in the caption of her Instagram post.. What are the benefits of this pose?. Indianexpress.com spoke to health experts and found out that Viprit Karni is a restorative asana that focuses on gentle inversion. Jiggyasa Gupta, nutrition and fitness coach, Fittr shared that when practiced before sleeping, it can be helpful on its own to relax the body and mind, resulting in good sleep.. This move can help relieve leg and foot cramps, calm the nervous system, relieve tension or fatigue in the legs, feet, and hips, improve blood circulation, and, if practised daily, may also help lower stress, improve circulation, and reduce lower back pain, Gupta said.. View this post on Instagram. How to ace the pose?. According to her, this exercise is best done in the morning and in the evening, on an empty stomach. “There is no warm-up needed for this pose. For best results, try to calm your mind with regulated breaths. Inhale and exhale deeply,” she said, adding that longer exhalations slow the heart rate and calm down the nervous system.. Here’s a step-by-step guide:. Lie down on the floor and place your hips closer to the wall.. Now, lift your legs against the wall; ensure that both legs are pointed vertically, facing the ceiling.. While keeping the legs against the wall, try to consciously relax each part of the body.. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Maintain the position for at least 20 minutes.. To come out of the pose, bend the knees first and push yourself away from the wall.. What to keep in mind. Utsav Agrawal, another advanced personal trainer at Fittr, added a few things to keep in mind while performing this move:. 1. If you have any medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, glaucoma, or any issues with your neck or spine, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider before attempting this pose.. 2. Start slowly and listen to your body. If you feel any discomfort or pain, ease out of the pose or adjust the height of your hips by placing a cushion or blanket under your lower back.. Story continues below this ad. ALSO READ | Vidya Malavade tries one-week of ‘sugar-free, grain-free’ anti-inflammatory diet, says it ‘helps with insulin resistance’. 3. Avoid this pose if you have any injuries or infla  

 ​A recent post on Quora listed “silent habits” that are supposedly slowly destroying our bodies — cracking fingers, holding in urine, using cotton swabs in the ears, drinking water while eating, consuming very hot food, and sleeping on the stomach.. While such claims often spark concern, not every common habit is as dangerous as it sounds. To understand the medical reasons, indianexpress.com spoke to Dr Honey Savla, Consultant Internal Medicine, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, who shared comprehensive details on the reasons behind each habit, that may or may not be unhealthy for our overall being:. 1) Is cracking knuckles slowly damaging joints?. The fear that cracking knuckles causes arthritis has been around for decades. According to Dr Savla, that concern is largely unfounded. “Knuckle cracking itself does not appear to cause arthritis. The popping sound comes from gas bubbles shifting inside the joint fluid.”. However, the way it is done matters. “Aggressive or forceful cracking can irritate surrounding ligaments and may lead to temporary swelling or reduced grip strength. Occasional cracking is usually harmless, but constant, forceful habits should be avoided.”. 2) How risky is frequently holding in urine?. This habit carries more medical weight, she explains. “Regularly delaying urination can stress the bladder. Over time, this may increase the risk of urinary infections, bladder overstretching and incomplete emptying.”. The bladder functions best on a natural rhythm. “The bladder is designed to empty at regular intervals. Repeatedly ignoring the urge can disrupt this normal function.”. Screengrab of the Quora query (Photo: Website/Quora.com). 3) Are cotton swabs safe for ear cleaning?. Many people use cotton swabs daily, but doctors routinely advise against it. “Cotton swabs often push wax deeper instead of removing it. This can cause blockage, irritation and sometimes injury to the ear canal or even the eardrum,” Dr Savla explains.. Story continues below this ad. Importantly, the ear is self-maintaining. “The ear is naturally self-cleaning. Cleaning only the outer ear with a cloth is sufficient. If there is a blockage or hearing difficulty, medical cleaning is the safer option.”. 4) Does eating very hot food cause harm?. Temperature matters more than most realise. “Food that is extremely hot can irritate the lining of the mouth, throat and food pipe,” says Dr Savla.. Repeated exposure may not be harmless. “Chronic thermal irritation over many years may increase the risk of tissue damage. Food should be warm, not burning hot.”. 5) Is drinking water during meals harmful?. This is one of the most common digestion myths. “Moderate sips of water during meals are completely normal and help with swallowing,” Dr Savla clarifies.. Story continues below this ad. The belief that water “shuts down digestion” is not medically accurate. “Excessive water intake may cause temporary bloating in some indi