How to grow Aloevera and Uses of it

Most people know that you can use Aloevera to soothe sunburns. However, this versatile plant has several other medicinal properties, making it one of nature’s best herbal remedies. Its vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients make it an anti-inflammatory powerhouse. We can find Aloevera plant in everything from skin and hair care products to ointments, drinks.

There are 500 species of aloe vera, but Aloe barbadensis Miller, native to the Arabian peninsula, is the most widely available and most popular one. You can buy a small plant from farmers markets or small local growers, and let it grow, or buy a large plant and divide it as it gets even bigger.

Aloe vera needs a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight, so it’ll grow best in bright spots indoors (especially in the winter) or in a sheltered, sunny part of the garden. It can handle full sun, but it doesn’t need it. You can move the plant outside during summer, just make sure it receives the proper amount of light. 

Aloe vera leaves are long and slightly curved with ragged edges. Inside, you’ll find a clear gel.

Use sharp, clean kitchen scissors or a knife, and cut a bottom leaf from the base of the plant. Place the cut aloe leaf into a small cup or glass, cut end down. You’ll notice a yellow sap seeping out—allow it to drain for 10 minutes before discarding it. 

While not toxic in small quantities, this sap is bitter, has laxative properties, and can cause intestinal discomfort.

Once you get rid of the sap, it’s time to extract the aloe vera gel. Using a clean, sharp knife, trim the fleshy leaf’s top, bottom, and sides, then slice it horizontally, like filleting a fish. With a clean large spoon or a dull knife, gently scrape the mucilaginous gel into a container.

Aloe vera gel is known for its anti-inflammatory, skin protection, antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, and wound healing properties.

Aloevera gel is used to treat

Acne

Dandruff

Mosquito bites

It can be also used as moisturiser and sanitizer.

: Effectiveness of Garlic :

Bulbs of Garlic (simply it called Garlic)

Garlic is the common vegetable which is used all over the world in every type of food cuisine . The scientific name of garlic is  Allum sativum . It is flowering plant of bulbous type .It belongs from the Allium genus & a closely connected to the onion ,shallots ,chives etc. It is mostly used  for the purpose of seasoning & as a spice element .Some time it is also used as a vegetable for its health benefactor property .Its color is naturally white but black garlic are also available  .Garlic has a strong pungent smell .From ancient time it is used as a medicinal element for its containing compounds .It was used a element of preventing bugs in ancient time .Ancient Egyptian had the belief that it have reservation property that’s why it is used during mummification .

Cloves of Garlic

NUTRITION VALUE : Garlic has so many nutritious elements . USDA had provided a report of nutrition value of a regular 3 gm. Garlic clove —                                                                                                                                                         It contains 4.5 gm. Calories , has no fat , 5 gm. Of sodium (Na) ,1 gm. Of carbohydrates ,0.06 – 1 gm. Of fiber ,no sugar ,2 gm. Protein ,2% of manganese (Mn) in daily value , 2% of vitamin B6 in daily value ,1% of selenium (Sc) in daily value ,!% of vitamin C in daily value .Apart from them it also contains calcium (Ca) ,iron (Fe) ,phosphorus (P) ,various types of vitamin B ,potassium (K) etc. It also have amino acids , antioxidants ,Allison ,pro-biotic , Inulin . In simple word garlic have lots of manganese (Mn) , vitamin c ,vitamin B6 but has very low amount of carbohydrates ,fat ,proteins .

Garlic used in Salad

EFFECTS: Garlic has so many health benefactors for our body .I have collected some of them. They are enlisted below —                                                                                                                                                                                   1. It effectively works on various common illness and symptoms like common cold, flu etc. which is proved by National Institute of Health.                                                                                                                                                    2. It helps to decrease blood pressure of high blood pressure patients. In this way it also prevents diseases like cardiovascular problems or, heart problems.                                                                                                                    3. Garlic helps to lower the LDL or bad types of cholesterol in blood & prevents heart problems.                                              4. The free radical oxidation which is responsible for aging effect in our body can be prevented by the antioxidants of garlic. In that way the chances of Alzheimer’s diseases reduces & protect the brain health.                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Garlic can prevent the toxic heavy metals in our body like sulfur (S) element & prevent organ damage. 6. Studies say that garlic has the power of preventing colon cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer & some other cancers.                                                                                                                                                                                 7. It also helps to lose weight if it is taken during diet.                                                                                   8. Garlic also fights against hypertension.                                                                               9. Garlic helps to higher the power of antioxidant potential of blood by lowering the level of free oxidative radicals in blood.                                                                                                                                                        10. Garlic has pro-biotic elements which helps to grow good bacteria in our guts or digestive system & harms the bad bacteria for containing of Inulin as fiber .It increase the gut function of our body in this way.

Goodness of Garlic

But, you also have to remember that taking lots of amount garlic can also have reverse effect in body so it should be taken in a measured amount .

PANDORA EFFECT: Why curiosity usually beats the common sense.

Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.

What is pandora effect?

The relentless human desire to know – to satisfy curiosity at all costs –People are more likely to open the box if the outcome is uncertain and expectedly negative than if the outcome is certain and neutral or certain and negative can be more of a curse than a blessing,. We refer to this effect as the Pandora effect.

Whether it’s surreptitiously checking your partner’s phone for signs of infidelity, avidly reading celebrity gossip mags, or hunting people down on social media, too much curiosity can be like opening Pandora’s Box: the urge to do it can outweigh any benefits you might get from knowing, and it can seriously affect your happiness and wellbeing.

Opening the box

Curiosity is a spark behind the ……..

The researchers provided volunteers with a box containing prank pens that gave anyone clicking the button at the top a painful but harmless electric shock. The participants were randomly allocated a box containing either pens with a certain outcome or pens with an uncertain outcome. One group were given five pens with red stickers telling them the pens would give an electric shock and five pens with green stickers indicating the pens wouldn’t give an electric shock. The participants in the uncertain outcome group were given 10 pens all marked with yellow stickers indicating that they might or might not give a shock.

It turned out that the volunteers were far more likely to click the uncertain pens than either of the other sets of pens, and even more than both of the certain groups combined.

Curiosity leading to unpleasant experience

The cure for boredom is curiosity but there is no cure for curiosity.

Results like this show we have an innate desire to resolve uncertainty even if we know that doing so will have no positive effect and may even be unpleasant. The researchers suggest that we might make better decisions in life if we first stop and consider whether our choices will have positive or negative outcomes.

Perhaps, for example, if we consider the harmful effects of rubbernecking before we see a motorway accident we can help protect ourselves from being overcome by curiosity and end up in an accident ourselves. But if the researchers’ hunch is correct, even if we know about the unpleasant consequence of curiosity, we are still likely to open that box.

Curiosity brings excitement in our life and makes it more interesting doesn’t mean that we should make choices that can hurt us just for fulfilling our desire of curiosity .

Sometimes it’s better to leave the things the way they are .

Insomnia

Insomnia is sleep sickness ,which doesn’t allow the person to sleep.It might be because of poor health, unhealthy eating habits, depression , anxiety,stress or any other medical problem.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms for this diesease is sleep sickness , can’t feel relaxed,staying asleep.

Natural medication

Some natural medicine and herbal plants that helps you get some sleep:

*Glycine

Glycine consists of amino acids allows to lower the body temperature and feel relaxed and get some sleep.

You can have Glycine rich food to maintain the Glycine intake in the body .Some food rich in nutrients are:

Bean,Spinch , cabbage,and some fruits like bananas and kiwis.

*Valerian roots

Valerian is a herbal plant that help you to get proper sleep .

Some other ways

*Exercise

Regular exercise and meditation can gelp you to get proper sleep and helps you to maintain good health.

*Balanced diet

A nutritious and health diet which include all the vitamins and minerals is really very important to have a good sleep.

*Drink Water

Drinking enough water can help you to have proper and healthy sleep routine .One should drink 7-8 glasses of water everyday.It help you to stay healthy and make your skin glow.

Hope this will help to shut your eyes and get a good sleep .

Stay Healthy ,Stay Safe.

YOGA

WHAT IS YOGA ?

Yoga is an ancient practice that involves posture, concentration, and deep breathing.

Practicing regular yoga can encourage endurance of a reliable source, strength, calmness, flexibility, and well-being.

Yoga is now a world-class exercise. According to a 2017 national survey, 1 in 7 people in the United States has used yoga in the last 12 months.

HISTORY


The first word for “yoga” comes from Rig Veda, a collection of ancient texts. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” meaning “union” or “joining.”

Yoga can be traced back to northern India more than 5,000 years ago.

Indian monks spread their knowledge of yoga in the West in the 1890s. The teachings of modern yoga have become quite popular in Western lands in the 1970’s.

PHILOSPHY

The overall philosophy of yoga is that of connecting the mind, body, and spirit.

There are six branches of yoga. Each branch represents a different focus and set of symbols.

TYPES OF YOGA

1)Hatha yoga: This is a branch of body and mind that aims to make the body and mind the foremost.
2)Raja yoga: This branch incorporates meditation and adherence to a series of disciplinary measures known as the eight limbs of yoga.
3)Karma yoga: This is a practice that aims to create a future free of indifference and selfishness.
4)Bhakti yoga: This aims to establish a way of devotion, a positive way of conveying emotions and cultivating acceptance and tolerance.
5)Jnana yoga: This branch of yoga is about wisdom, expertise, and the development of understanding through study.
6)Tantra yoga: This is the practice of rituals, ceremonies, or relationships.

Chakras

The word “chakra” means “spinning wheel.”

Yoga ends by calling the chakras the centers of energy, thoughts, feelings, and physical body. According to yogic teachers, chakras determine how people actually experience it through emotional reactions, desires or arguments, levels of confidence or fear, and even physical symptoms and consequences.

When energy is restricted to the chakra, it causes physical, mental, or emotional imbalance resulting from symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, or poor digestion.

Asanas are the most visible form of Hatha yoga. Yoga practitioners use asanas to release energy and promote uneven chakra.

There are seven major chakras, each focusing on:

1)Sahasrara: The chakra of the crown, which is the crown on the head, symbolizes spiritual communication.
2)Ajna: Located between the eyebrows, the third chakra of the eye is related to intuition.
3)Vishuddha: The chakra of the throat is associated with self-defense and verbal communication.
4)Anahata: The heart chakra, located in the middle of the chest, contributes to a professional and personal relationship. Any imbalance in this chakra will affect oxygen, hormones, tissues and organ control.
5)Manipura: The solar plexus chakra is located in the abdomen. It is similar with confidence, wisdom, and self-control.
6)Svadhishthana: The sacral chakra, under the belly button, connects pleasure, well-being, and energy.
7)Muladhara: The root chakra, located at the base of the spine, connects the mind and body to the earth to keep a person focused. It controls the sciatic nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system.

Health Education

A sound mind lives in a sound body’.

Introduction

Health education is a profession of educating people about health. Areas within this profession encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health, as well as sexual and reproductive health education.

Health education teaches about physical, mental, emotional and social health. It motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and reduce risky behaviours. It also focuses on emotional, mental and social health too. Educating students on the importance of health builds their motivation.

Health education is one strategy for implementing health promotion and disease prevention programs. Health education provides learning experiences on health topics. Health education strategies are tailored for their target population. Health education presents information to target populations on particular health topics, including the health benefits/threats they face, and provides tools to build capacity and support behavior change in an appropriate setting.

History

From the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, the aim of public health was controlling the harm from infectious diseases, which were largely under control by the 1950s. By the mid 1970s it was clear that reducing illness, death, and rising health care costs could best be achieved through a focus on health promotion and disease prevention. At the heart of the new approach was the role of a health educator.

Code of ethics

The Health Education Code of Ethics has been a work in progress since approximately 1976, begun by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE).

“The Code of Ethics that has evolved from this long and arduous process is not seen as a completed project. Rather, it is envisioned as a living document that will continue to evolve as the practice of Health Education changes to meet the challenges of the new millennium.”

Importance of Health Education .

Health education builds student’s knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes about health. Health education teaches about physical, mental, emotional and social health. It motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and reduce risky behaviours.

Health education curricula and instruction help students to learn skills so that they will use to make healthy choices throughout their lifetime.

Health education teaches people of all ages about how diet and exercise contribute to a healthy lifestyle. It also encourages positive changes in behaviour and lowers the risk of addiction to drugs, alcohol and unsafe sexual practices. The majority of schools around the country have courses aimed at teaching health education to students. These courses often revolve around the body, healthy eating, sex and exercising. Some students are taught basic health and physical fitness early on. More in-depth courses are designed for middle and high school students.

Health education encourages a person to make healthy choices. They are instructed to avoid unhealthy habits. ‘A sound mind lives in a sound body’. Rabindranath Tagore and C.V. Raman, if they were confined to sick bed, could not have won the Nobel Prize. In fact, a sickly student with all his talents and abilities lags behind in the race of life.

Health education also teaches about the emotional and mental health of the student. A healthy person is the happiest person in the world.

Link

Deserts

In the world we find varied geographical regions which includes mountains, plains, deserts, plateaus all with their own physical features. Desert is basically a piece of barren land which is filled with sand and lacks water bodies and have dry weather all along. In day time deserts are extremely heated up and at night it becomes chilling cold at the same place. In the Indian subcontinent we find desert in the western part of the subcontinent in the state of Rajasthan.

The animals and plants in the deserts have their own adaptations, among plants we find a variety of cactus, cactus plants have special adaptations to survive in the desert, they have fleshy stem which holds water in them which turns out to be useful when there is scarcity of water also they have very long roots which can penetrate deep inside the soil in search of water also they don’t have leaves and have thorns in place of them in cactus the food is prepared in the step as it contains chlorophyll and is green in color. Also, we find camel in desert their feet have adaptation to walk on the sand also they can survive with less water and they have long eyelashes to protect their eyes from dust storms.

Types of Deserts :

1. Coastal Deserts :

Coastal deserts occur in cool to warm areas along the coast. They have cool winters and long, warm summers. Coastal deserts are located on the west coasts of continents between 20° to 30° lattitude. Winds off the coast blows in an easterly pattern and prevents the moisture from moving onto the land. The Namib desert in Africa and the Atacama desert in chile are coastal deserts.

2. Subtropical Deserts :

Subtropical deserts the hottest deserts. They are found in Asia, Australia, Africa and North and south America. In the united states, the chilhuahuan, sonoran and Mojave are all subtropical deserts. Subtropical deserts are very hot and dry in the summner and cooler but still dry in the winter. Rainfall happens in short bursts. The air is so hot and dry in these deserts that sometimes rain evaportaes before it even has a chance to hit the ground. The soil in subtropical deserts is usually either sandy or coarse and rocky.

Plants and animals in subtropical deserts must be able to withstand the hot temperatures and lack of moisture. Shrubs and small trees in the subtropical desert usually have leaves adapted to retain moisture. Animals in sbtropical deserts are usually active at night, when it is cooler.

3. Cold wintet Deserts :

Cold winter deserts are also known as semiarid deserts . They have long, dry summers and cold winters with low rain or snowfall. In the united states the Great basin, the colorado plateau and the Red Desert are all cold winter deserts. Other cold winter deserts include the Gobi desert in china and Mongolia and the patagonian desert in Argentina. The lack of rainfall in cloud winter deserts is often caused by the rainshadow effect. The rainshadow effect happens when a high mountain range stops moisture from reaching an area. The Himalayan Mountain prevent rainfall from reaching the Gobi desert.

4. Ploar Deserts :

Polar deserts are found in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Like warmer deserts, they also get very little precipitation.polar deserts are cold year- round.

Largest Desert in the world :

The antarctic polar Desert, which makes up the vast majority of Antarctica, is the largest desert in the world. In fact this single desert is larger than the combined size of the Gobi Desert, the Arabian Desert, and the sahara Desert.

* The driest desert of the world Atacama is surely the most dangerous desert of all.

The strongest animal in the Desert :

Based on strength to weight ratio, the dung beetle of the scarab is the strongest creature on earth. They can lift 1141 times their own body weight. It helps them a lot in finding the mate and food. The dung beetles also constitute a large percentage of scarab family.

The 7 hardest Animals to Hunt :

* Leopards

* Mountain Goats.

* Elk

* Eland.

* cape Buffalo

* Roan and sable

* Bears.

what can kill you in the Desert?

Aside from the oppressive heat and lack of water, the desert is also full of critters that can bite and sting. Some of these guys can even kill you if you aren’t able to find medical help. Spiders, scorpions, centipedes, and snakes are all found in dark places , abandoned builidings and under rocks.

Most Famous Deserts :

* Namib Desert – Africa

* Atacama Desert – South Americs.

* sahara Desert – Africa

* Gobi Desert – china

* Mojave Desert – Nevada

* Antarctic Desert – Antarctica

* Sonoran Desert – USA

* Thar Desert – India

* Rub’al khali – saudi Arabia

* Tabernas Desert – spain

* Taklamakan Desert – central Asia

* pinnacles Desert – Australia

* Salar de uyuni Desert – Bolivia

* Dasht- e kavir – Iran

* Chihuahuan Desert –New Mexico

* White Desert, Farafra – Egypt

Saving Biodiversity

We have lost 7% of intact forests since 2000 globally. Climate change along with pandemic exerts an additional stress on ecosystem. Focusing on maintaining a healthy ecosystem concept of “ONE HEALTH” for all organisms should needed to be in cooperated everywhere. In 2018 India, PM’s science and tech and innovation advisory council in consultation with MO environment, forest, climate change, approved a National mission on biodiversity and human well being. Banglore based biodiversity working in prepare road maps on same. This will strengthen science of restoring, conserving, and sustainably utilizing India’s natural heritage and target. India will emerge as a leader linking conservation of natural assets and socialist well-being.

Important framework: Mission offers a holistic framework, integrated approaches, and widespread societal participation and empower India to restore, our natural assets by millions of crores of rupees, mitigation programs, biodiversity-based agriculture while also creating millions of green jobs in restoration of degraded lands (1/3 of total land) and nature tourism, helps to meet convention on biological diversity, generate a strong national community committed to sustaining biodiversity, Scientific inputs, especially related to geospatial informatics and policy, can guide the development of strategies for conservation and ecosystem management.

Need for a cadre:

  • We need a strong and extensive cadre of human resources required to meet the enormous and complex environmental challenges of the 21st century.
  •  It needs training professionals of the in sustainability and biodiversity science, along with an investment in civil society outreach.
  • Public engagement, whether it is in the policymaking arena, or in exploration, restoration and conservation of biodiversity, is a critical component of the planned Mission.

" SUGAR HAS A VERY BAD REPUTAION", IS IT SO ?

Sugar has a very bad reputation when it comes to creating a nutritious & balanced diet . Too much sugar can cause a range of serious health problems, including diabetes, dementia, and obesity. BUT DO YOU KNOW?

Sugar is the form of carbohydrate. The body breaks down this carbohydrates into sugar. The body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which enters the bloodstream and acts as a source of energy . Some sugars, such as glucose, fructose, and lactose, occur naturally in foods and drinks. Added sugars refer to any sugars in foods that are not naturally occurring, such as sugar in baked goods. Foods or drinks may also contain highly processed sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup.

Naturally occurring sugars come with a variety of Naturally occurring sugars come with a variety of nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy. For example, alongside fructose, fruit contains fiber and various vitamins and minerals. Most foods and drinks that contain added sugars, such as chocolate and soda, lack these nutrients. Nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy. For example, alongside fructose, fruit contains fiber and various vitamins and minerals. Most foods and drinks that contain added sugars, such as chocolate and soda, lack these nutrients.

HEALTHIER SUGAR

You think sugar is not healthy ? It is ! Fruits contain natural sugar , which is a healthy source of sugar for our body . Eating a serving of fruit, such as a banana, apple, peach, plum or handful of grapes, is a nutritious and low-calorie snack that can boost the sugars in your body before exercise or help replenish them after exercise. Fructose is a simple sugar, so it can give you a quick burst of energy. Sugars in dairy foods, such as milk and yogurt, are healthy choices, too, because the foods provide other nutrients, such as protein and calcium, in your diet. Complex carbs contain beneficial sugars, as well, so include whole grains and starchy vegetables in your diet.

UNHEALTHIER SUGAR

Added sugar is the sugar which is unhealthy & it leads to storage of fats in you body which leads to health problems. Added sugar is generally present in cold drinks , soda , backed food , etc. This type of sugar may give you quick energy but doesn’t provide you with healthy nutrients , which leads to storage of it in our body .

All in all we can say that it depends on us , which is our preference , added sugar or natural sugar , & our preference will decide our health .

Why mental health is important?

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Mental health is very interesting and underrated topic. People always care and think about their physical illness and usually cares about physical health. but mental health is as important as any other health issue. because without a good mental health, no one can be happy in their life.

According to WHO,” Mental health is state of well being in which the indivisual realizes his/her abilities”.it includes our emotional and social well being . it affects our thinking and how we react to a particular situation. but if these health issues are not taken seriously they can led to many serious diseases, such as depression. Any other person cannot predict or realize about your mental health because he cannot know what is going on in our mind, and the best way to overcome this problem is to share that problems with others. We can share it with our parents, brother ,sister or even friends ,if we are not comfortable with family members .

Factors that cause mental health problems

There can be many factors that are responsible for our mental health problem such as:-

1.Loneliness -it can be a factor of mental illness. neglecting a particular person , feeling him lonely everywhere can be a cause of mental illness.

2.Trauma or any bad experience of childhood: if a person has suffered a huge loss or have experienced any abuse or something else, it is very difficult for him to forgot it and move on. some move on with it but some are not able to forget it which led to mental illness.

3.genetics: mental illness can also be passed through genes. If a family member like father , grandfather or any other member has already experienced mental health problem, it can be passed into others.

4. Due to poverty or employment: mental problems can be also due to poverty in ones’ house or unemployment like if a young man has responsibility to feed his family members but he is not able to find a descent job, it can led to mental illness of that man.

5. a person having a long term physical health problem since many years can be affected by mental illness.

There are many other reasons of people having mental illness , one more reason nowadays is experienced by students due to studies and exam pressure. they are not able to cop up with that stress.

Different ways to overcome mental health issue:-

there are several ways to fight against mental illness some of the mare:-

1. Meditation : it is considered as a very powerful weapon against mental illness.

2.We should learn how to response to particular situation:- we should make our mind ready for any situation without panicking much. it will make our mind strong.

3. We should act wisely wherever our patience is tested and we should always avoid self criticism because it will have a adverse effect in our process to overcome mental health issue.

4. We should always surround ourselves with good people who understands us to whom we ca share our life problems and other things.

5. But if we are not able to cop up with it, we should immediately talk to family members and consult a doctor.

WHAT MAKES FINLAND THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY

Irrespective of experiencing 200 days of winter with complete absence of sun, Finland has maintained it’s position to be the Happiest Country in the World for the last four years. It has been named the most stable, freest and the safest country by various international bodies because of the socio-economic and welfare policies of the nation.
Finland is a natural beauty with forests, crystal clear lakes and wildlife. It has low pollution levels which makes the air clean and encourages more citizens to be amidst the nature. Hence, a large number of outdoor activities like kayaking, canoe, horse back riding and others can be experienced. Nature in itself is known to have immense healing power that can cheer people and lift their spirits.

Finland offers free Forest Therapy to it’s citizens where the general public is allowed to roam freely in natural areas like forests, lakes, and rivers without any permission from the landowners (if the areas fall under a private land). This traditional legal concept is called ‘’Everyman’s Right ‘’. However, the only condition applied is that no damage or disturbance should be faced by the landowner.

Finns have a warm culture and enjoy a relaxed way of living. Unlike other Western countries they believe in cooperation over competition. The follow minimalistic approach to life and prefer well-made, sustainable, functional items that will stand the test of time. Finns are not considered to be happy bubbly people with cheerful smiley faces. In fact, they are the least expressive people who take life as it comes.

Coming to the most important topic, what makes them the happiest country in the world?
Well, there cannot be a single factor to happiness. However, the main cause of it is self-satisfaction and inner peace, which in term is an outcome of various factors.

Finns follow a relaxed way of living and are at peace with themselves. Finland may not be the most powerful or wealthy economy but what makes them happy is the fact that they are at peace with their present situation. They are not too ambitious about what life should offer them and this helps them to feel satisfied with what they currently have.

The national pass time for Finns is enjoying sauna baths. The fact that they have over 2 million saunas explains their love for the tradition. Saunas are places that purifies one’s body and soul. Sauna creates a sense of community and equality for the citizens as people from all backgrounds come together to enjoy the experience. Finns are used to being naked in the sauna with their family and friends, which can help create a comfort with and acceptance of their bodies, too.

Fins follow the philosophy of ‘Sisu’ that is focused on persevering when the odds are against us and viewing challenges as an opportunity. “Instead of waiting for a warm sunny day, many Finns practice daily sisu by heading out in any kind of weather for a brisk walk or cycle, or to spend time in nature.” They believe that happiness does not come from searching for it, but by living.

Finns value time over money. They choose a healthy work – life balance over wealth. A good personal life gives them the chance to pursue their personal interests and feed their creativity. This further contributes to the low inequality levels in Finland. The society majorly consists of middle-class households with very less poverty and more social security. They have few rich families but since the people are satisfied with themselves, they don’t believe in excessive show off of their wealth. This promotes the feeling of content and satisfaction amongst the low-income groups as well.

One of the main reasons why Finns are satisfied and happy with their lives is social equality. The government provides each new born a equal and healthy start to life. They distribute packages of clothing and other useful items to all new mothers. This was initially started to reduce the declining birth rate and high infant mortality but on a broader picture it reduces the difference and provides an equal start to all the new citizens. Equal opportunities are given to every citizen in terms of best education in schools and universities without any cost. This helps each child shape their own future without any form of economic hindrances. (A happy childhood breeds happy adults) The presence of best of health care opportunities to all the citizens at no cost reduces further disparity and makes them more secure and stress-free.

Under the ‘Housing first’ principle, it is ensured that even the rough sleepers are given the right support and a roof above them. The presence of equal opportunities for all makes people more satisfied with their lives, hence there is no need for people to adapt criminal offences. Low crime rates, in turn makes people more safe, secure and happy.

Finland strongly emphasises on closing gender equality as a means to promote the feeling of satisfaction and oneness amongst all citizens. Some of the measures includes providing new fathers with nine weeks of paternity leave at 70 percent of their salary and closing the gender pay gap. (Hence proving that a rising tide lifts all boats). Finland is one amongst the few Nordic countries where fathers spend more time with school-aged children compared to their mothers.

The extent of equality and freedom amongst the nation is such that they follow Flat Working Model in commercial world. For those who don’t know, a flat working model is one where there are few or no hierarchal levels between management and staff. This leads to less supervision and increased involvement with organizational decision-making, enabling open communication between all departments. Hence, increasing workplace productivity and team-cohesion. This worker-centric approach to business has served Finland well for more than a decade. Moreover, Finland is the only country that provides 25 paid workdays off in addition to the paid national holidays.

Finns are least active on social-media platforms that indulge in putting forward a polished view of their lives. They don’t brag about their success and wealth or show an outwardly exuberant zest for life. Rather, they believe in being reserved and accepting both the good and the bad as it comes. They believe that if they are truly happy, they don’t need to shove it in anyone’s faces.

Even after being the happiest country in the world, Finns have an emotionless exterior and prefer melancholic songs to express themselves. This is because they accept negative emotions as part of life. Trying to suppress one’s negative emotions is considered bad for one’s well-being. They are taught to embrace such emotions and learn to accept one’s life for what it is. This in turn has a positive impact on their life and help them feel more satisfied. They believe in expressing their negative emotions to such an extent that they celebrate a national event called “The International Day of Failure” (celebrated annually on 13 October), that carries an important message that without the possibility of failure there is no success, and occasional failure is therefore acceptable.

They follow the culture of Kalsarikännit or Pantsdrunk which is the practice of binge drinking alone in your home in your underpants. To a large extent, it is still considered a way of life in Finland, probably because of the stereotyped lack of social contacts among Finns.

Another reason why nordic countries are most at peace with themselves may be the not mentioned, but always present, “Law of Jante” that is silently enforced by everybody in unison. Law of Jante explain the egalitarian nature of Nordic countries where they support a harmonious and happy society.

Finns are socialized to believe that what they have is as good as it gets—or close enough. Finns believe in the Norwegian term Lagom, which can be translated as “just the right amount,” i.e., neither too much nor too little. They believe that what they have is as good as it gets—or close enough. This mindset makes them the happiest people in the world despite living in small apartments, earning modest incomes, with even more limited purchasing power because of the high prices and taxation.

Hence, one thing that the world could learn from them is their willingness to embrace the less-sunny aspects of living i.e., to accept negative feelings as a normal part of life.

Global warming

Global warming is the slow increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere because an increased amount of the energy (heat) striking the earth from the sun is being trapped in the atmosphere and not radiated out into space.

The earth’s atmosphere has always acted like a greenhouse to capture the sun’s heat, ensuring that the earth has enjoyed temperatures that permitted the emergence of life forms as we know them, including humans.

Without our atmospheric greenhouse the earth would be very cold. Global warming, however, is the equivalent of a greenhouse with high efficiency reflective glass installed the wrong way around.Ionically, the best evidence of this may come from a terrible cooling event that took place some 1,500 years ago. Two massive volcanic eruptions, one year after another placed so much black dust into the upper atmosphere that little sunlight could penetrate. Temperatures plummeted. Crops failed. People died of starvation and the Black Death started its march. As the dust slowly fell to earth, the sun was again able to warn the world and life returned to normal.Today, we have the opposite problem. Today, the problem is not that too little sun warmth is reaching the earth, but that too much is being trapped in our atmosphere.

So much heat is being kept inside greenhouse earth that the temperature of the earth is going up faster than at any previous time in history. NASA provides an excellent course module on the science of global warming.

What Causes Global Warming?

There are three positions on global warming: (1) that global warming is not occurring and so neither is climate change; (2) that global warming and climate change are occurring, but these are natural, cyclic events unrelated to human activity; and (3) that global warming is occurring as a result primarily of human activity and so climate change is also the result of human activity.The claim that nothing is happening is very hard to defend in the face or masses of visual, land-based and satellite data that clearly shows rising average sea and land temperatures and shrinking ice masses.The claim that the observed global warming is natural or at least not the result of human carbon emissions (see Climate Skeptics below) focuses on data that shows that world temperatures and atmospheric CO2 levels have been equally high or higher in the past. They also point to the well understood effects of solar activity on the amount of radiation striking the earth and the fact that in recent times the sun has been particularly active.

  • Greenhouse Gases Are the Main Reasons for Global Warming. …
  • Cause #1: Variations in the Sun’s Intensity. …
  • Cause #2: Industrial Activity. …
  • Cause #3: Agricultural Activity. …
  • Cause #4: Deforestation. …
  • Cause #5: Earth’s Own Feedback Loop.

The evidence is clear: the main cause of climate change is burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. When burnt, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide into the air, causing the planet to heat up.

How to stop global warming ?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to stopping or slowing global warming, and each individual, business, municipal, state, tribal, and federal entity must weigh their options in light of their own unique set of circumstances. Experts say it is likely many strategies working together will be needed. Generally speaking, here are some examples of mitigation strategies we can use to slow or stop the human-caused global warming :

  • Where possible, we can switch to renewable sources of energy (such as solar and wind energy) to power our homes and buildings, thus emitting far less heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
  • Where feasible, we can drive electric vehicles instead of those that burn fossil fuels; or we can use mass transit instead of driving our own cars.
  • Where affordable, we can conserve energy by better insulating our homes and buildings, and by replacing old, failing appliances with more energy-efficient models.
  • Where practicable, we can counterbalance our annual carbon dioxide emissions by investing in commercial services that draw down an equal amount of carbon out of the atmosphere, such as through planting trees or carbon capture and storage techniques.
  • Where practical, we can support more local businesses that use and promote sustainable, climate-smart practices such as those listed above.
  • We can consider placing an upper limit on the amount of carbon dioxide we will allow ourselves to emit into the atmosphere within a given timeframe.

Places in India that turn beautifully green during Monsoons.

Monsoons not only give new life to nature, but also drape the surroundings in lively greens. While those used to city life might be unaware of such a thing, India boasts of places that turn lush green during the rainy season. If you are also interested to visit such places, here’s a list of places that turn beautifully green during the monsoons.

Top stunning places for your monsoon wishlist.

Cherrapunji, Meghalaya

Cherrapunji, being the second wettest place on Earth, boasts of pleasant weather throughout the year. When here, you might witness rains coming in with such velocity that you will be drenched in no time. And although it receives a huge amount of rainfall, the beauty of this place is that it does not get flooded. In fact, the place turns livelier during the rainy season, with sounds of chirping and humming of birds and insects, along with the thundering sound of rivers flowing at the bottom of the valley.

Chikmagalur, Karnataka

Chikmagalur is blessed with many attractions that turn magical during the monsoons. Sitting in the lap of Western Ghats, it is one of the places that you will make you crave for more. During this time, you can enjoy a drive to Charmadi Ghat near Chikmagalur; the drive will take you through the Western Ghats, home to many gorgeous waterfalls. Further, the spot is also dotted with tall mountains, vast tropical rain forests, and green valleys, all of which turn alive during the monsoons. You need to visit this spot during this time to believe it.

Bhandardara, Maharashtra

Monsoon is a very pleasant time in Bhandardara, as the Randha Falls and streams and lakes get drenched in monsoon rains. The landscape turns fresh, dewy, and green, making it a lovely spot to visit during this time. Further, Bhandardara being situated in the Sahyadri Mountains of the Western Ghats, it also turns into a haven for hikers and trekkers in and around Maharashtra. However, be sure to avoid the trails that turn slippery during the rains.

Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

During monsoons, Mussoorie turns greener than ever, and makes rains the best time to visit. The crowd too gets thinner at this time as compared to summers and winters. If you visit the Queen of Hills during the rainy season, you get the opportunity to witness the dreamlike setting of monsoon that brings out the best of Mussoorie. The beautiful landscapes, serene ambience, make this spot a must ‘green getaway’ during the rainy season.

Banswara, Rajasthan

Also known as the City of Hundred Islands, it’s a paradise of a place to visit during the monsoons. It got its name from the bans or bamboo trees that once grew in abundance here. Lush green hillocks, scenic surroundings, the presence of youthful lakes and rivers, make this spot so gorgeous that you will forget that you are in Rajasthan. When here, visit the lake banks and Mahi river dam that turn stunning during the rains, thereby making it a dreamy monsoon destination.

: 5 Nutritious Vegetable :

Nutritious vegetables

Vegetables are the part of plants which are edible and very nutritious to our body. As we all are aware  that vegetables happen to have very good effects on our body.  Almost every vegetable has fibres, vitamins, minerals and other important healthy ingredients in them , but some of them have some exceptional qualities which make them stand out from the rest of the others .Nutritional value of vegetables is undeniable . Here I have talked about some of them which have more  nutritional value than the others .They are written below .

Various types of carrots
  1. CARROT — It is a root vegetable. It’s common colour is orange but it happens to also be yellow,white and purple . While eating them you will be able to feel the crunchiness of it . It has high nutritional value . It has lots of beta-carotene ,fiber ,vitamin K ,vitamin A ,potassium & antioxidants ,biotin carotenoids and lutein . It also has 90-95% water & almost 7% carbohydrates .

Carotenoids reduce the chances of cancer & improve the blood by lowering bad cholesterol in the blood . Vitamin A helps to improve the eye sight & eye health .Carrot is also used as a weight-loss diet vegetable .It improves our immune system .

Carrots
Kale
  1. KALE — It is a green leafy vegetable . This vegetable belongs to the Cruciferous plant family .It has a lot of calories , protein  & carbohydrates .High amount of flavonoids ,45 types of carotenoids , Vitamin K ,Vitamin A ,Vitamin C are also found in kale .

Kale works as a very good antioxidant & anti-inflammatory in our body .It prevents the chances of cancer ,It fights against macular degeneration , Alzheimer ,arthritis with the help of containing antioxidants .

Kale Leaf
Garlic Bulbs

      3)GARLIC — It is one type of stem of a bulbous plant . Garlic is naturally of white colour but black garlic also exists .Garlic plant belongs from Allium ,a onion species .It is widely used as a seasoning or as a spice . It has a high amount of Vitamin B6 ,manganese ,selenium , Vitamin C and allician . It also has a good amount  of phosphorus , calcium ,potassium ,iron ,copper etc.

It is a very good vegetable for the heart & blood system . It also fights against high blood pressure or BP & lowers the bad blood cholesterol to cure the heart condition . It increases the blood oxidation power . It also works for skin infections & hypertension .

Garlic
Various edible mushrooms

     4) MUSHROOM — It belongs to a fungus group & is edible in nature . It has various sizes ,colours ,and strictures .It has a lot of protein , minerals ,antioxidants ,selenium ,Vitamin C ,choline ,and fibre . It is especially rich in vitamin B & protein .

It fights against lung & breast cancer & prevents them .It works very well on diabetes patients & helps to cure diabetes . It gives a lot of energy for containing lots of protein .It is one of the most healthy foods .

Mushrooms
Asparagus

5) ASPARAGUS — It belongs to the lily plant family . Its scientific name is Asparagus officinalis . It is usually a green colour vegetable but it also exists in purple colour & white colour .It has low calories , lots of vitamin C , Vitamin A , Vitamin K , antioxidants , phosphorus , fiber , protein . It has a high amount of Vitamin K .

Anthocyanin is responsible for the colour of the purple asparagus and it lowers the blood pressure in our body . Asparagus also helps to increase the power of our digestive system . It has a very good effect on pregnant ladies during their pregnancy period .It is a healthy & delicious vegetable .

Asparagus

A LETTER TO THE MOTHERLAND

Hello motherland, I hope you are fine, I can only hope this because your children living here are not completely loyal to you.

Since long time you have been through many things and faced a lots of challenges. You have seen people changing, their changing lifestyles and even their behaviour towards you. During ancient times people used to discover things from you, they only used natural things like branches of trees to cook food, stones to setup fire and made tools from them. People at that time were totally dependent on you for everything from eating to wearing to shelter. As the time passes, in the medieval time people were more developed and found ways to rule over you. Different communities were made and people got divided according to their power and started making policies and planning to rule over a large piece of land this way you got divided into several religion and genders. Coming to the Modern Times now no one is afraid of you, everyone is seeking their benefit and doing whatever they wish to do without taking any precautions. Use of plastic bags, burning of crackers on festivals, wastage of water, deforestation etc all are leading to the serious conditions of the health of the motherland. Today’s society is always busy on technology and this too is creating a lot of junk on land and in people’s mind. They are harming the land as well as their health conditions. Due to huge amount of pollution, Ozone Layer has got a black hole in it and still people are not aware that it can cause serious skin problem like skin cancer.

As human beings have troubled you so much, the day will come when you will trouble us and I think the day has arrived, that is why in many parts of the world people are facing floods and even drought, heavy rainfall and even areas with graphic heat. You have suffered a lot and now that one day is very close when everybody will suffer and realise that what you have gone through.

Nowadays oxygen is free of cost and is God gifted but that day is very near when people will have pay for it. Everyone on the streets would walk by carrying oxygen cylinders on their back and masks on their face due to pollution and harmful waves. The harmful rays or pollution are not only affecting the life of people but also affecting the biodiversity. India, which is famous for its Bengal tiger is now found very rarely, butterflies which were in large quantities are now decreasing rapidly. Many of the birds and animals have been extinct because of unnecessary hunting in past and present by various kings and famous personalities in order to outshine others. Due to the overuse of the resources the time will come when the rivers will dry up and nothing will be left for the future, due to the present scenario it seems that the only thing we can leave for future generations are the photographs and paintings of the wildlife resources.

Human beings are not respecting their God then how can you expect that they will give you that respect which you deserve. It can be concluded by example of Ganesh Visarjan when tons of Ganesh idols are been sank in the rivers and later these were all collected by cleaners to take them to the safer place. The idols seems half dissolved in water and some even didn’t desolved because they are usually made of Plaster of Paris (POP). Government had insisted the public to buy idols made of mud instead of POP but for the beauty of the home they are destroying the beauty of nature.

There are very few helping hands which are not enough to protect you or conserve you. But we need more human efforts to protect you from big natural calamities.

To prevent the motherland from being old and unhealthy everyone should stop using plastic and start using alternative methods like paper bags, cloth bags, bamboo bottles, etc. Use of less pollutants should be encouraged and bicycle should be used for smaller distances to prevent the atmosphere from harmful chemicals. Candles and earthen lamps should be lighten up on festivals instead of firing crackers. These little steps by everyone can bring greater changes and will improve your health. If we talk about last year then due to covid-19 when the whole world was locked and everyone stayed at their homes, the ozone layer healed itself and pollution started to decrease.

I hope that my letter to motherland will somehow influence and aware people and hope that they will gain some more respect towards our motherland and I thank you to all those citizens who are engaged directly or indirectly in conserving it and contributing their bit for the world.

This is Ifrah Javed signing off.