Author: Rishav Bhattacherjee

Copa America Final : Argentina wins major International trophy after 19 years

Argentina’s  victory was sealed courtesy a goal by Angel Di Maria in the 22nd minute of the match. The PSG forward beat the off side trap to receive a long floater from the mid-field on the right flank and then chipped the ball into the net to perfection over the Brazilian goal-keeper Ederson.

Lionel Messi and the whole of Argentina can breathe a sigh of relief as their long wait for a major football trophy is over. La Albiceleste, the Argentine national football team, on Sunday beat arch rivals Brazil by a solitary goal in the final of Copa America 2021 to win the continental title for the first time since 1993.
The victory was sealed courtesy a goal by Angel Di Maria in the 22nd minute of the match. The PSG forward beat the off side trap to receive a long floater from the mid-field on the right flank from De Paul and then chipped the ball into the net over the Brazilian goal-keeper Ederson. From that moment onwards, Brazil kept chasing the match but the much needed equaliser never came. It was a match which was tipped to be a battle between Brazil’s Neymar and Argentina’s Mess but both men failed to have a major impact on the game. Messi showed glimpses of brilliance and came very close to scoring in the later stages of the second half, but failed to get on to the score sheet.
Neymar  tried his best but he was constantly fouled and tackled by the Argentine midfielders and defenders. It was a tough physical battle in the midfield.
Brazil tried hard to secure the equaliser in the second half and Richarlison put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out as the Everton star was caught off side.
Roberto Firmino’s introduction in the second half gave depth to Brazil’s attack and they created a lot of chances. Gabi had a couple of shots saved as Argentine goal-keeper Martinez was in fine form.
Messi and De Paul, both, had a chance to seal the match late in the second half but Brazil survived and kept fighting.
The final whistle saw Messi fall down on his knees with tears in his eyes as his teammates rushed to him to celebrate a much awaited win.
The match started with an intense battle in the mid-field with both teams looking to dominate possession. Brazil played a high line and looked to press from the start while Argentina were looking counter attack with the speed of Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi.
The win gave Argentina their 15th Copa America title and they are now joint record holders along with Uruguay for the most number of titles won.
Lionel Messi had lost three Copa America finals before this along with the 2014 FIFA World Cup final and the victory finally gives the talismanic footballer his first major trophy with the senior team.
Messi, arguably the best footballer of this generation alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, now has a continental title under his belt just like the Portuguese, who had lifted the Euro 2016 trophy.
 

Zika outbreak in Kerala made the state high alert

When COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly, Kerala has been put on high alert after the Zika virus outbreak

Grappling with a heavy caseload of Covid-19, Kerala has been put on high alert after the Zika virus outbreak. The Union government has rushed a team of experts to the state. At least 14 cases have been confirmed, said the state health ministry.
A 24-year-old pregnant woman from Parasala in Thiruvananthapuram district was the first to test positive for Zika on Thursday, apart from her later 13 others were added to the list. Of the 19 samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, 14 were found to be positive. Health minister Veena George later called an emergency meeting and an action plan was formulated.
“We have started a vigorous vector control programme and the whole state was alerted. We are monitoring the situation closely and more testing labs will be opened,” said the minister, adding that there is no need for panic. The woman has no travel history and it is suspected that she was infected locally.
Health officials said samples were sent to the NIV last week and the mother gave birth normally on July 7, both mother and child are stable. At least 60 other samples were sent to Pune and health authorities are busy making arrangements to test samples at the NIV regional center in Alappuzha.
A surveillance team, vector control experts and entomology units visited the area where the woman lived and took precautions to prevent further spread.
The health authorities hoped that further spread could be contained with an utmost vigil as all the patients lived not far from the house of the initial patient. Some of the affected are health workers. “They were all working at a private hospital. We will check their travel history and take immediate action,” the minister said.
In Delhi, health joint secretary Lav Agarwal said a 6-member expert team has been rushed to help the state. “The six-member team includes vector-borne disease experts and doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences,” he said.
The virus is mostly spread by mosquitoes, though it can also be sexually transmitted, said experts. However, few people die from Zika and only one in five develops symptoms. The symptoms of the disease, first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947 and the first human reported from Nigeria in 1954, include joint pain, fever and headache. In May 2015, it was reported in Brazil and spread rapidly. It leads to shrunken brain in children and a rare auto-immune disease called Guillain-Barre syndrome, experts said, adding it was first reported in the country in Gujarat in 2017.
Meanwhile, the state’s Covid-19 cases remain quite high. On Friday, Kerala reported 13,563 new cases of Covid-19 with a high test positivity rate of 10.4 per cent. For almost a month the state has been reporting the highest number of cases in the country. It also reported 130 deaths taking the toll to 14,380.
 

Is third dose required for Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ?

The ongoing trial, conducted into the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, has shown that a third dose can push antibody levels five to 10 times higher against the said variants of the coronavirus compared to the first two doses alone



The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, sold under the brand name ‘Comirnaty’, may require a third dose to work more effectively against the original strain of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), news agencies reported on Friday morning, citing a statement from the companies from a day ago. The third Covid-19 shot is also expected to provide better protection against the Beta variant, first identified in South Africa, and the Delta variant, found in India, as per interim data from an ongoing trial into the vaccine. Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Thursday that they would seek regulatory approval for the third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine, in view of the interim trial data which showed that a third dose can push antibody levels five to 10 times higher against the said variants of the coronavirus compared to the first two doses alone. This will, in effect, provide better protection than the current practice of administering two shots, the statement read.
The development comes after the vaccine was found to less effective against the Delta variant  of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A study, published in the journal ‘Nature’, showed that a single shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, or even the AstraZeneca shot for that matter, “barely” induces any neutralising antibodies against the Delta Covid-19 strain.
The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine was reportedly dropping in efficacy after six months, the Israeli government said earlier this week. According to Bloomberg, data from Israel’s health ministry showed the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine protected 64% of the country’s people against the virus between June 6 and early July, down from the earlier 94%.
This decline has been observed amid the emergence and rise in cases of Delta variant in the country, the data revealed. Commenting on the matter, Pfizer-BioNTech said that the third dose may be needed within six to 12 months after full vaccination for complete protection.
In light of these findings, Pfizer-BioNTech announced that the companies are working on a Delta-specific vaccine, the first batch of which has already been manufactured at BioNTech’s facility in Mainz, Germany. However, more studies are needed in this area and the companies anticipate the clinical trials to begin in August, subject to regulatory approvals.
“The companies expect to publish more definitive data soon as well as in a peer-reviewed journal and plan to submit the data to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), EMA (European Medicines Agency) and other regulatory authorities in the coming weeks,” the statement said.
 

Argentina Vs Brazil : Just a game away from the silverware

Argentina won its semifinal against Colombia 3-2 on penalties after three saves by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Regular time ended 1-1 at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Tuesday

It will be Lionel Messi’s Argentina against Neymar’s Brazil in the Copa America final on Saturday at the historic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina won its semifinal against Colombia 3-2 on penalties after three saves by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Regular time ended 1-1 at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Tuesday.

Argentina hasn’t captured a major title since 1993 when it won Copa America. On that occasion, the team eliminated Colombia on penalties 6-5 in the semifinal after a goalless draw.

Brazil beat Peru 1-0 on Monday to advance to the final. The Selecao has never lost a Copa America final at home and has won five out of six matches so far.

It took Argentina only seven minutes to open the scoring. Rodrigo de Paul found Messi in the penalty box with a through pass. The star earned his fifth assist in the tournament with a pass to Lautaro Martinez, who put the ball in the right corner past Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.

A more aggressive Colombia, led by Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, hit the bar and the post in the second half before it leveled in the 61st minute with Luis Diaz, who received the ball on the left of Argentina’s box shot almost with no angle to beat Martinez.

Argentina reacted after 67 minutes when Angel di Maria came into the match, replacing Nico Gonzalez. The winger created several opportunities including one in the 80th minute that ended with Davinson Sanchez saving a finish by Lautaro Martinez on the goal line.

The last big opportunity in regular time came with Messi hitting Ospina’s right post in 81st minute from short range.
Martinez saved the shots taken by Sanchez, Yerry Mina and Edwin Cardona in the shootout. Messi converted his opportunity from the spot and was one of the most joyous players in the celebrations. He seeks his first major title with Argentina against favorites Brazil.

Colombia will play on Friday in the third-place playoff against Peru.

When – 11 th July 2021, Sunday

Where to watch – Sony Liv in India

Timings – 5:30 IST

Venue – Marcana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Lambda variant of Corona virus (COVID) is deadlier than delta variant

The lambda variant has been detected in 30 countries so far. In the UK, there are six cases of lambda, which has been designated as ‘variant of interest’ by the World Health Organization.

Lambda variant and its history –

The Lambda variant is not a new emergence. It has been around at least since last year, possibly as early as August 2020. In Peru, where it is believed to have originated, it accounts for almost 80% of the infections. It is the dominant strain in neighboring Chile as well. But until recently, it was largely concentrated in a handful of South American countries, including Ecuador and Argentina.

Since the end of March, this variant has been detected in more than 25 countries, although the numbers are still very small. The UK, for example, said it had found this variant in six infected people, all international travelers. Recently, it has also been found in Australia.

Mutations of lambda variant –

According to the WHO, the Lambda variant has at least seven significant mutations in the spike protein (the Delta variant has three) which could have a range of implications, including the possibility of increased transmissibility or enhanced resistance to antibodies, created either through natural infection or vaccination.

A recent study by researchers at the Chile reported that the Lambda variant had greater infectivity than the Alpha and Gamma variants (known to have originated in the UK and Brazil respectively). The study also reported decreased effectiveness of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine (Coronavac) against the Lambda variant.

However, the behavior of the Lambda variant is not very well understood right now.

“There is currently limited evidence on the full extent of the impact associated with these genomic changes, and further robust studies into the phenotype impacts are needed to better understand the impact on countermeasures, and to control the spread,” the WHO said in a statement. “Further studies are also required to validate the continued effectiveness of vaccines.”

But, the designation as a “variant of interest” means that the genetic changes involved are predicted or known to affect transmissibility, disease severity, or immune escape. It is also an acknowledgement of the fact that the variant has caused significant community transmission in multiple countries and population groups.

There are currently seven variants, including the Lambda, that the WHO classifies as “variants of interest”. Another four – Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta – have been designated as “variants of concern”, and are considered a bigger threat. These were all recently named after letters of the Greek alphabet to avoid linkage with the country of their origin that had been happening until then.

Should India worry about the Lambda variant?

The Lambda variant has so far not been found in India or neighboring countries. In Asia, only Israel has reported this variant until now. But several countries in Europe from where travel to India is frequent, including France, Germany, UK, and Italy have reported this variant.

The potential of emerging variants to bypass the immunity gained through vaccination means that there could be fresh waves of infections even in populations that were being considered close to reaching community-level protection. That is what is happening in many countries in Europe right now, particularly in the UK. There has been a sharp rise in cases in several countries in the last few weeks.

That means that a country like India, which is still recovering from the debilitating second wave, would need to proactively watch out for, and prevent the spread of any new variant that could trigger a fresh wave.

Avascular necrosis seen in patients recovered from COVID-19 after black fungus

Three cases of avascular necrosis in COVID- recovered patients were found in a Mumbai hospital


After the outbreak of black fungus or mucormycosis among patients who recovered from coronavirus (Covid-19), avascular necrosis (AVN) – also known as death of bone tissues – has reportedly been detected in three patients in Mumbai.
These patients – all aged under 40 – were treated at Mumbai’s PD Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, after they developed avascular necrosis(AVN) two months since their Covid-19 treatment. It is been reported that both avascular necrosis and mucormycosis have been associated with the usage of steroids.
 Recently, Dr Sanjay R Agarwala of Hinduja Hospital published a paper named ‘Avascular necrosis as part of Covid-19’ in the medical journal ‘BMJ Case Studies’ wherein along with doctors Mayank Vijayvargiya, and Prashant Pandey, he detailed the course of AVN diagnosis in the three patients.
He stated that one patient – aged 36 was found with AVN 67 days since the diagnosis of Covid-19, while the other two – aged 39 and 37, were diagnosed with the condition 57 and 55 days later. All the patients were administered intravenous steroids as part of their Covid-19 treatment. Besides, the patients aged 36 and 37 didn’t have any history of hip pain.
“At present, avascular necrosis (AVN) as a sequalae of ’long COVID-19’ has yet not been documented. By large-scale use of life-saving corticosteroids in COVID-19 cases, we anticipate that there will be a resurgence of AVN cases,” the paper by Dr Agarwala stated.
This development comes after it was recently reported that Delhi hospitals are still treating more than 800 cases of black fungus which rose after the fourth wave of coronavirus in the national capital from April to May, data by Delhi government revealed.
Notably, cases of black fungus increased significantly during the surge of infections between April to May in India, with as many as 18 states reporting over 5,000 cases.
 
What is Avascular necrosis ?
Avascular necrosis is a disease that results from the temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the bone. When blood supply is cut off, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses. If avascular necrosis happens near a joint, the joint surface may collapse.
This condition may happen in any bone. It most commonly happens in the ends of a long bone. It may affect one bone, several bones at one time, or different bones at different times.

What are the symptoms of Bone Death or Avascular Necrosis?
 
In the early stages, people feel no pain of AVN but as it progresses, it can affect your joint if and when you put weight on it. After a while, you will feel the pain even if you are lying down. AVN affects hips, groin, neck, shoulder, and knee.
 
Why More COVID Patients Are Succumbing to Bone Death?
 
AVN or bone death is associated with the usage of steroids. People who were hospitalized due to COVID and were put on steroid treatment are contracting AVN. Doctors are suggesting that COVID-19 recovered should get an MRI done if they feel any pain near the hip or thigh area.
 
What is the treatment for Avascular Necrosis (AVN)?
 
As per Times of India, a typical treatment plan for Avascular Necrosis or bone death is physiotherapy, blood thinners, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain, exercises, and therapies.
 
 

Why reading is important

It isn’t just children that benefit from reading. Reading is one of the best forms of self-education for adults too. While it can be easy to watch a YouTube video or listen to a podcast, reading still takes the cake when it comes to comprehension and increasing your education. As you’ll see when you read on, there are plenty of benefits that you can get from reading.

So, what are the benefits of reading books ?

1. Increases intelligence –

Reading plays an important part in shaping the intelligence of an individual.

Exposure to vocabulary through reading newspapers or novels not only leads to higher score on reading tests, but also higher scores on general tests of intelligence. It helps to dive into a different dimension and helps to think from the character’s perspective. Plus, stronger  reading skills may mean higher intelligence later in life.

2. Increase vocabulary –

If you don’t know the specific word for something, then you will have fewer nuances of it’s meaning. When reading, you’ll expose yourself to more words which allows for understanding on different level. Reading an hour a day will expose you to four million words per year. These words when you learn while reading, can incorporate in your daily life as well.

3.  Improve concentration –

If you are looking for ways to improve your memory and concentration and also relieve stress, reading will help. The brain-stimulating activities from reading have shown to slow down cognitive decline in old age with people who participated in more mentally stimulating activities over their lifetimes. Reading helps to build patience and concentration.

4. Reading helps to cure depression –

According to a study in University of Liverpool, reading helped patients suffering from depression with their social well-being.

Reading helped build self-confidence, lessening cultural isolation, building a sense of community and fostering increased communication skills.

5. It helps us to understand people better –

Reading fiction has often been claimed to broaden the mind. Now scientists have found that enjoying a novel really does help us to understand other people’s points of view. It seems that the age-old tradition of story-telling has an important role in helping us to develop empathy.

6.  Improves communication skills –

Reading definitely helps in improving communication skills . It increases the vocabulary and gives you confidence while speaking as you have more knowledge.  Reading increases your exposure to world and expands your horizon which in turn makes you a better communicator.

7. Reading increases your general knowledge –

The more your read, the more exposed you are to new facts and ideas. This exposure helps you to understand, reconnect and come up with your own ideas.

8.  It sharpens the memory –

As you read, you take several pauses, create the scenes in your head and let your imagination flow as the book progresses. In a way, you are working out on the brain which could have been idle otherwise. You are rightly exercising the huge part of the human cerebrum which in turn keeps different parts active at the same time. As you read, you a picture, run videos of the scenes in your head. In this respect, many cells are exercised and this help to sharpen the memory.

Best detox drinks for a healthy living

The lemon and ginger detox drink and cucumber and mint combo are very effective for weight loss because they help aid in the digestive process




Exercises and weight training are of paramount importance for a healthy lifestyle along with detox liquids.  Though a good diet is imperative for weight loss, it is essential you include detox drinks to make it more effective. Detox drinks are excellent for digestion. If the drinks are aiding in digestion that means they are also helping in the weight loss journey. Detox as the name suggests, it helps in flushing out the toxins from the body thereby promoting metabolism and makes the body toxin-free.
Here is the list of such drinks which one can prepare at ease

1. Lemon and ginger detox drink –
This is a wonder drink for people who want to lose their weight. Squeeze half a lemon in a glass of lukewarm water and add an inch of grated ginger. Drink this every morning and check your weight after 1-2 months. Ginger contains gingerol which is known to prevent stomach problems and aid digestion. Lemons are not only rich in Vitamin C but also antioxidants which prevent the production of free radicals in the body. When this drink is combined with exercises it can work wonder.
2. Cinnamon and honey –
This is made by mixing a spoonful of honey and half a tablespoon of cinnamon in a glass of warm water. A dash of fresh lime can help in the fat burning process. Cinnamon is known to curb cravings while honey aids metabolism. Consuming honey and cinnamon on a regular basis can boost your immune system and protect you from foreign bacteria and viruses. Both the ingredients are a rich source of antioxidants and have anti-bacterial properties. It can help to improve the digestive system and fight various stomach related ailments
3. Cucumber and mint –
This mixture not only helps in flushing out toxins from the body, but is also good to taste. Cucumber and mint when added to water are a good combination for digestion. Take a large pitcher and add a few cucumber slices along with fresh mint leaves. Let it infuse for some time and keep drinking from it the entire day.
Cucumber contains antioxidants which help fight free radicals and due to its hydrating effect it aids in the removal of toxins from the body.
 4. Green tea –
This is a calorie-free drink and enriched with  catechins and anti- oxidants that suppresses the production of free radicals in the body.
5. Cranberry juice –
It is known to be a natural diuretic and can help in flushing out excess water. It also contains anthocyanin a powerful antioxidant which helps combating certain infections, diseases and helps in managing cholesterol levels. It is known for helping in avoiding urinary tract infections.

These are the drinks which can help to flush out the toxins from our body and make it toxin- free and revitalize with energy.

Can working long hour affects our heart ?

“Working long hours is a major risk factor for heart-related ailments, almost equivalent to having diabetes and hypertension together,” said a doctor




In May 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) found that long working hours have been increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke. In the pandemic, this has become a more pressing issue, as working from home has caused people to spend long hours in front of their computer screens. The report by WHO and ILO found that this work-related burden is particularly significant in men.  According to Dr Kumar Narayanan, consultant cardiac electrophysiologist at Medicover Hospitals Hyderabad, the link between mental stress and heart disease is well established. “Nowadays, not only are working hours excessively long, but stress at work has escalated exponentially. Work timings are also often unhealthy, extending into odd hours as people work across time zones in a globally-linked world. All this leads to harmful stress responses in the body, along with unhealthy diet, sedentariness, smoking and inadequate sleep.”
Weighing his thoughts on this, Dr P C Mondal, a senior consultant intervention cardiologist and HOD at Kolkata’s Apollo-Gleneagles Hospital said while patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (especially heart failure) and those with coronary risk factors (diabetes, obesity) are at an increased risk of severe disease and mortality from COVID-19(especially older patients), there may also be the development of new cardiovascular implications (including cardiomyopathy/myocarditis/Acute Coronary Syndromes) in patients without pre-existing cardiovascular diseases.
 
What are the things that one needs to know –

1. Avoiding a diet rich in fats, salt, low fiber, junk and fast foods.
2. Exercising more.
3. Lowering the consumption of tobacco, or completely stopping it.
 
“Psychosocial stress includes job-related stress due to long working hours, persistent stress, high work demands, and job insecurity,” he said, adding: “All these factors over a period of 25 years lead to the same level of risk of heart attacks as people who smoke and do not exercise.”
Summing it up, Dr Ulhas M Pandurangi, chief of division of cardiac electrophysiology and pacing at Arrhythmia-Heart Failure Academy, Chennai, noted: “Stress can tax the heart dearly. It is clear — working long hours is a major risk factor for heart-related ailments, almost equivalent to having diabetes and hypertension together.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foods which are good for a healthy heart –
 
1. Eat fish high in omega-3s such as salmon, tuna etc
2. Healthy nuts like almonds or walnuts
3. Berries containing phytonutrients such as blueberries, strawberries etc
4. Oats are the comfort food nutrient powerhouse.
5. Fruits like orange and papaya.
6.  Dark chocolates
7. Legumes
8. Vegetables like spinach, broccoli etc. 

All you need to know about Modena vaccine

Moderna will be the fourth vaccine to be used for the vaccination drive in the country. The other three vaccines that are being used in India are Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V.

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved Cipla, a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company, to import Moderna vaccine for restricted emergency use in the country, VK Paul, member of NITI Aayog announced on Tuesday. “New drug permission has been granted to Moderna, the first internationally developed vaccine. This new drug permission is for restricted use,” Paul also said in the press briefing.
The Moderna vaccine has been manufactured by the American pharmaceutical company with the same name. Here is all you need to know about the international vaccine:

How many shots are required?

The Moderna vaccine is a two-dose regimen at an interval of 28 days. In India as well, it will be administered in two doses, Paul confirmed in the briefing. However, the interval between the two doses in India is yet to be announced.

Is it WHO approved?

The Moderna vaccine is approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The world health body approved on April 30 on the basis of the recommendations of its strategic advisory group of experts (SAGE).

How effective is the vaccine?

The Moderna vaccine has been shown to have an efficacy of approximately 94.1% in protecting against Covid-19. The immunity starts to develop after 14 days of the first dose, WHO mentions on its site.

Does it work against new variants?

According to the studies done so far, the Moderna vaccine is effective against the new variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the Alpha variant and the Beta variant. However, researchers are still testing the vaccine’s efficacy against the new variants.

How many countries have approved the Moderna vaccine?

So far, the vaccine has been approved in more than 40 countries including Canada, the United States, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Japan and South Korea.

Any side effects?

The Moderna vaccine has no major side effects. However, after a person is administered with the dose there may feel slight fever, soreness in the arm, chills. The after effects include body ache, nausea and fatigue.

Age groups that it is safe for?

The WHO has approved the vaccine for all above the age of 18-years. Recently Modenra filed a request with the European Medicines Agency seeking authorisation for use in adolescents in the 12-17 age group. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also reviewing its medical trial data for emergency use authorisation of its vaccine in kids 12 and up.

What is Pitta Dosha ?

What is Pitta Dosh, What are the side-effects of Pitta Dosh and how can you stop its imbalance in your body especially during summers? Here’s all you need to know.
According to Ayurveda, Pitta is the combination of Agni and Jalam, that is fire and water. Pitta mainly possesses characters like hot, oily, and light. Pitta Dosh can be called the access of Pitta in our body leading to a Pitta imbalance in our body.

The understanding of our daily nutrients and diet strategy becomes even more significant when we are at war with the Covid-19 pandemic. While it has become the need of the hour to pick and fight our battles like low immunity, improper digestion, and poor health in general, all this might just not be enough. There’s a need to look beyond. It’s essential to choose nourishing food over tasteful junk, eating a balanced diet, and exercising but despite our best efforts at these, all of these might not be the only things we have to keep a check on. Maintaining good digestive health is also one of the prime concerns because it’s only then all these vital nutrients be absorbed by our cells, tissues and will be converted to energy so that we can carry out our daily errands without getting tired. Now, this process is also called metabolism, and this metabolism is driven by three principal directive forces, the Pitta Dosha, being the dominant in many, followed by Vata and Kapha.


What is Pitta Dosh?

According to Ayurveda, a natural state of existence is called its ‘Prakriti’, and the three doshas – Pitta, Vata, and Kapha – are the determinants of what type of personality the individual represents. Pitta is the combination of Agni and Jalam, that is fire and water. Pitta mainly possesses characters like hot, oily, and light. Pitta Dosh can be called the access of Pitta in our body leading to a Pitta imbalance in our body.

What does Pitta imbalance in a body lead to?

Pitta is responsible for the key attributes of our personality like a fit body, increased sweat, optimal sleep, rational thinking, high intelligence quotient, and good memory, Fluent speaking, etc. A Dosh is an imbalance of the Pitta, leading to anger and anxiety issues, skin with blemishes, acne, darkness, and thick hair, etc.

What are the side effects of Pitta Dosh?

Summer Season is also known as the ‘Season of Pitta Dosh’ as it can aggravate the heat in the body. A few adverse effects of Pitta in our body can be:

Augment hunger and thirst.

Acid Reflux, gas, and Indigestion related problems.

Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and other stomach issues.

Excessive hair fall

Hormonal imbalance in women, extreme pain and heavy flow of blood during menstruation.

Postural issues like Vertigo and migraine.

Hot flashesBad breath and body odor

Anxiety and stress issues, like feelings of repentance, disappointment, anger, or frustration.

Insomnia or other sleeping disorders.

How to balance Pitta Dosh through diet?

Though Yoga is a significant cure for Pitta Dosh, as it promotes calm, empathy in an individual, it is important to make changes to your food habits to balance Pitta Dosh. Any food item that is heavy for the stomach should be avoided like soy sauce, salted butter, sour cream tomatoes, wine, chocolate, etc. Avoid spices that make you experience burns and inflammations in your body.

The commercial launch of anti-COVID 2DG drug by Dr. Reddy

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories on Monday announced the commercial launch of anti-Covid drug 2DG, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

It was earlier said on June 1 that the anti-Covid drug is approved for emergency use as an adjunct therapy to the standard of care in the treatment of coronavirus patients in hospital settings.
“Ideally, 2DG should be prescribed as early as possible by doctors for moderate to severe COVID infected patients for a maximum duration of up to 10 days,” it said.

The DRDO further said that uncontrolled diabetes, severe cardiac problem, ARDS, severe hepatic and renal impairment patients have not been studied yet with 2DG, and hence caution should be exercised.

“The 2DG should not be given to pregnant and lactating women and patients below 18 years,” it added.

The first batch of DRDO’s anti-Covid-19 drug was released on May 17 by Union defence minister Rajnath Singh and health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, after the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) permitted the emergency use authorisation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), anti-viral drug as an adjunct therapy for moderate to severe coronavirus.
The 2DG drug comes in powder form in the sachet, which is taken orally by dissolving it in water. It accumulates in the virus-infected cells and prevents virus growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production. Its selective accumulation in virally infected cells makes this drug unique. The drug reportedly reduces a patient’s average recovery time by two and a half days and oxygen demand by up to 40 per cent, the Union health ministry had said.

Portugal Vs Belgium: Clash of the heavyweights in Euro 2020

Defending champions Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, will take on world’s top-ranked team Belgium in their round of 16 match

Christiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku will face off each other today in the much awaited knockout game of the tournament. Ronaldo is the Euro’s leading scorer after netting five times in the group stage while Lukaku, who is in the form of his life, is lurking behind the Portugal captain with three goals. Juventus forward Ronaldo is also just one goal away from breaking Ali Daei’s all-time international goalscoring record of 109, which he equalled with a brace against France in the European champions’ final Group F game.

The pair will take on each other at the Euro after doing battle in the Serie A scoring charts last season, with 36-year-old Ronaldo being crowned ‘capocannoniere’ after scoring 29 times in a difficult season for Juventus.

However Lukaku pipped Ronaldo to the league’s player of the season award last campaign despite scoring five fewer goals as he played a key role in Inter Milan winning their first league title in over a decade.

Both teams will have their work cut out to reach the July 11 final at Wembley with Italy, who squeezed past Austria on Saturday, and either world champions France or Spain the opponents in the next two rounds if they get beyond the last 16.

However Portugal coach Fernando Santos is “firmly convinced” his side will come out on top in the clash in Seville.

Speaking about Belgium, the coach of Portugal’s football team said “Belgium has a lot of strengths, especially the knowledge they have of each other for having been together for such a long time. Everything flows naturally. They already know where everyone is without having to think about it “

Players to watch out for in today’s big game –

1. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) – There are a lot of players who have the ability to single-handedly change the outcome of games for Belgium. But the player who usually ends up finding the back of the net for the Red Devils is their striker, Lukaku. He is expected to be the dangerman Portugal need to watch out for.

2. Pepe ( Portugal) – Pepe is the bedrock of Portugal’s defense. In the ongoing Euro 2020, he has recovered more balls than any other Portugal player and has also won two tackles in three games thus far. His experience makes him one of the key players for Fernando Santos. Pepe will be given the huge task of keeping Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku when the two teams lock horns on Sunday

3. Kevin de Bruyne( Belgium)– He is a player who possesses the ability to do it all on the pitch. He is great from set-pieces, can score with either foot, create chances out of nothing and has the presence of mind to know when to shoot and when to pass.

4. Eden Hazard ( Belgium)- With the kind of experience, Belgium captain possess it will be difficult for the Portugese defenders to contain him and refrain him for providing assists to their strikers.

5. Christiano Ronaldo ( Portugal)– The Juventus star’s drive and dedication towards being the best player in the world is unparalleled. At the business end of tournaments, like the Round-of-16 clash against Belgium at Euro 2020, Ronaldo tends to up the ante, something the Red Devils will have to be wary of.

Turmeric: The golden herb

Turmeric or Haldi is a herb that is so commonly used in Indian households that it is taken for granted that no home in India lacks it. It is used as a spice in food, as a home remedy for an injury or cough cold etc in milk or for application on wounds

The active constituent of turmeric is curcumin which has several medicinal properties. According to research done in USA, it is found that turmeric has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer activities and also has a potential to reduce the risk of various malignant disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic illness including rheumatoid arthritis.

There are several benefits of the super food, turmeric –

1. PREVENTS HEART DISEASE: Curcumin improves endothelial function that covers the inside of the heart and blood vessels, protects age-related loss of function, and reduces your likelihood of developing heart disease.

2. PREVENTS DIABETES: Curcumin contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that lead to a significant decrease in blood sugar, prevent diabetic nephropathy, as well as increase plasma insulin.

3. TREATS DEPRESSION: Researchers suggest that curcumin boost levels of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and shows greater antidepressant effects and is an effective treatment for major depressive disorder.

4. SUPPORTS SKIN HEALTH: Curcumin contains antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that help to treat a variety of skin conditions like acne, atopic dermatitis, photoaging, and psoriasis.

5. PROTECTS FROM FREE RADICALS: Curcumin protects your body against damage caused by free radicals that are generated in our bodies caused by environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke, liquors, and industrial chemicals.

6. BOOSTS IMMUNITY: Turmeric is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties that protect the human body from a variety of infections and boosts immunity.

7. TREATS ARTHRITIS: Curcumin contains inflammatory properties that are an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease, which spreads to the eyes, lungs, skin, heart, and blood vessels and ultimately lead to physical disabilities.

How to extract maximum benefits from turmeric –

1. Curcumin is also fat-soluble, which means it breaks down and dissolves in fat or oil. No wonder then, it was added to a meal being cooked with ghee and fats. Also, it is often used as a drink in milk at night.

2. Turmeric tea, brewed using grated turmeric root or pure powder, is considered one of the most effective ways to consume the spice.

3. Since, curcumin is poorly absorbed in bloodstream, it is when taken with pepper enhances the absorbtion of curcumin by 2000 percent while making it more effective.

4. To prepare Haldi Chai or Turmeric Tea, you can use 2 teaspoons of ground Haldi powder in about four cups of water – boiling for about 10 minutes before straining it. You can flavor it with honey and whole milk, or cream, coconut oil or ghee to dissolve curcumin and make it available for absorption by the body.

5. Now various supplements of turmeric are also available in the market but it is advisable to consult with the doctor for the same.

5 best proven lifestyle modifications which are found to be effective for the ailment of Type-2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is kind of a metabolic disorder which causes the sugar to accumulate in blood rather than getting used as a body fuel

Yes, you read me right. It is absolutely possible to cure all the health problem associated with your body with the aid of correct lifestyle modifications.

Before understanding what needs to be done we shall preface our readers about what exactly is Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is kind of a metabolic disorder which causes the sugar to accumulate in blood rather than getting used as a body fuel. When we consume any sort of carbohydrate rich foods it enters the digestive tract and gets broken down to glucose. A hormone named as Insulin is released from pancreas and facilitates the entry of glucose into the cell. In case of Type 2 diabetes, cells become resistant to insulin and ignore it’s message to absorb glucose which is also called as Insulin-resistant. Additionally pancreas fails to secrete enough insulin required to trigger these insulin sensitive cells. The major cause of this disease is unhealthy eating habits, no physical movements, hypertension etc. In these circumstances, it is highly beneficial for a person to take charge of their health.

Following are the 5 best proven lifestyle modifications which are found to be effective –

  1. Eating healthy foods – There are few things which needs to be taken care of – firstly, cutting down your carb is important. What we generally consume is simple carbohydrate . Instead we can replace simple carbohydrate foods with complex carbohydrate which includes barley, non starchy vegetables and legumes. Adding them to your diet can also give a boost to your fiber intake.
  2. Reduction in sugar intake– Sugary items, aerated drinks, packaged sugar bars, cakes, wheat bread should be strictly avoided for a better health. Instead, opting for jiggery powder, stevia can serve as a good replacement of sugar. Opting for foods which has low glycemic index and low carbs are important for the long run.
  3. Loosing weight and increase protein intake – The primary goal for a person should be to maintain a proper BMI, anything above your normal BMI is harmful. For that cutting down processed foods, excessive oil and taking protein is the key. Not necessary one needs a whey protein isolate or any nutritional supplements which is used by youngsters or gym- goers these days. Look for natural protein like eggs, fish, soya beans, pulses instead which can help to enhance your lifestyle immensely and promotes a lean body mass.

Diets which are important for diabetes patients-

  • Green leafy vegetables- Having this in your diet is essential as it is not only a good source of fiber but also have low carbs in it. They are assosciated with loads of essential phytonutrients, mineralsand vitamins. Adding salad to your diet at the beginning of the meal provides a balanced diet to your body.
  • Nuts- Nuts like almonds, pistachios and walnuts can reduce the blood sugar level as well as risk of diabetes effectively.
  • Apple cider vinegar – It is made from fermented apple juice and can effectively reduce the blood glucose levels after meals. Additionally it contains certain minerals as well as vitamins and acetic acid which becomes beneficial for them who are suffering from Type 2 diabetes.
  • Berries- Berries are powerful anti-oxidants along with vitamin C and fiber. They are also essential in regulating the blood glucose levels and are proven effective in diabetes patients.

4. Doing some physical activity– Not necessary you need to join a gym but you can try home workout or yoga. Yoga is very helpful which can strike a balance between your mind and physical strength. Doing physical activities helps to improve metabolism. While you become more active, the muscles in your body takes up all the excess blood sugar as a result it helps in weight loss.

5. Managing stress– When you start taking too much stress you blood sugar level increases which causes your health to detoriate. Each and every things mentioned above are connected to stress. If you’re stressed then you may forget to eat properly or exercise which can do no good to your body. Hence, meditation plays an important role here. Once you start meditating you’ll be able to strike a balance between your stress and personal life. It is the need of the hour to start focusing more on your health rather than paying your bills later to your physicians.