Tag: Health

International day of Tropics

The serenity of the lulling ocean is a wondrous thing to behold..more precious than the gems coveted and covered in platinum or gold…

Oksana Rus

Introduction

International day of Tropics is observed every year on June 29th . This day is celebrated to highlight the different challenges and opportunities faced by the nation as well as by the people who lived in tropical areas .

Firstly , you want to know about things like :

What are tropics ?

Why we celebrate international day of Tropics ?

Or

Is it worth it to talk about these things and is it really important ?

Well hold your horses and try to calm .

What is tropic day and why we celebrate it ?

Well a tropic day is celebrated to highlight the importance of Tropics , it signifies extraordinary and astounding diversity of tropical nations .

The Tropic defined as a area /region between tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn . The day aim at promoting tropical regions and awareness to the people about the diversity of these regions .

While these regions go through little seasonal changes on day to day basis because of some factors like tomography , climatic variation that causes changes in temperature and make these regions warm.

This day introduced to the world when in June 29th , 2014 twelve leading tropical research institutes come together and collaborate. The inaugural state of the Tropics report was launched . The report offers some unique perspective for the increasing the importance of these regions .

United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/267 in 2016, which declared that 29 June of each year is to be observed as the International Day of the Tropics.

The International day of Tropics briefly explained the issues affecting the tropical zone’s all over the world. To raise awareness and important role the countries played to Sustainable goals .

International day of Tropics 2021

As per the state tropics report the theme of this year is “ THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN THE TROPICS ”

With the record of sustainable development goals as well as developmental scope . The biodiversity of these regions are maximum and its loss is also greater there. Tropical regions comprise 98% world’s mangrove forests, and around 99% mangrove species.

Due to the subpolar zone the Sun is directly overhead which is one of the region of extinction of flora and fauna in the Tropics. The region is subjected to myriad and need immediate attention to ensure sustainable development.

More than 50% of renewable water resource could be founded their. But the threat lies which causes eviction of lives in the Tropics.

Importance :

Due to the problems it’s our duty as a human being to spread awareness about the implications in climate changes , deforestation , urbanization , global warming effect the biodiversity and lives in Tropics.

The International day of Tropics organize many events in which people share their stories , events and lives in these areas and formulate strategies to ensure the development of such regions .

You who sacrifice fortunes to see the luxuriance of the tropics or the polar lights of the arctic, must pay more dearly to see the One for whom the luxuriance of the tropics is poverty and the polar lights are a tallow candle.

Nikolaj Velimirović, Prayers by the Lake

Link:

DIABETES MELLITUS

• Chronic health condition – a metabolic disorder –
hyperglycemia.

• High blood glucose (blood sugar) level either due to
inadequate insulin production or the body’s
cells do not respond
properly to insulin or both.
 Over time leads to serious damage to nerves, blood vessels – heart disease, vision
loss, & kidney disease etc.

Source- made by canvas

• No cure – can only be controlled.
 Treatment of diabetes:
 Diet
 Physical activity
 Lowering of blood glucose
 Lowering the levels of other known risk factors that
damage blood vessels.

• Precaution – losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active.

• WHO:
 In 2014 – 422 million people worldwide have diabetes.
 Majority living in low- and middle-income countries – India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Indonesia.
 Diabetes directly attributed to 1.6 million deaths each year.
 Deaths from diabetes increased by 70% globally between 2000 and 2019.
 80% rise in deaths among males.

My self made

• India – among the top 10 countries – second with
69.2 million people with diabetes.

• Global Non-Communicable Disease targets
 Globally agreed target to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity by 2025.

Gestational diabetes

• Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) with onset or first recognition during pregnancy.

• Pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of
diabetes develop a high blood glucose level

. • Author – pregnancy is a diabetogenic stress.

• Usually goes away after baby is born.

• Issues

 May lead to Type 2 diabetes.
 Women with it are at increased risk of complications during pregnancy and at delivery.
 Women and their children – increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in the future.
 Other health risks
 These conditions contribute to high maternal and new born morbidity
and mortality.

OPED article

• Women of Indian (South Asian) origin – considered
to be at highest risk of gestational diabetes.
 International Diabetes Federation – up to 25%
of pregnancies in South Asia may be affected by
hyperglycemia in pregnancy.
 India – 10% in rural areas and 30% in urban areas.

• Public awareness is very less.

• Low awareness and capacity within the health
systems for testing and providing care – despite
the availability of national guidelines and diagnosis
and management of gestational diabetes by MoHFW.
• Suggestion – implement the
recommendation of Diabetes Study Group of India, the Federation of Obstetric and
Gynaecological Societies of India and the South Asia Initiative for Diabetes In
Pregnancy.
 Observe a National Gestational Diabetes
Awareness Day on March 10 – birthday of Dr. V. Seshiah, service and contributed to the field of diabetes and
pregnancy for more than 40 years.

How dangerous the Coronavirus is?

He has killed more than 4,000 people in a short period of time. This is the worst epidemic in years. The whole world was destroyed. The new type of coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough but no runny nose. This is the easiest way to identify the death of Wuhan virus (COVID-19) at 30-35 degrees, so please drink plenty of hot water. You can let your friends and family drink plenty of hot water to prevent it. Please spend a long time in the sun. Recently it was a cold period of the year, and I drank hot wine. Getting into the water is also very convenient. Drinking warm water is effective for most viruses.

1 This virus is quite large (cell diameter is about 400-500 nm), so any ordinary mask (not just the N95 function) should be able to filter it out. The infected person sneezes in front of you, walks 3 meters (approximately 10 feet), and then touches the ground and stops flying 659872 If the virus falls on a metal surface, it will survive for at least 12 hours, please wash your hands thoroughly with soap and leave you with water. No disinfectant 3 Virus can remain active on tissues for 612 hours Ordinary washing powder should kill the virus. Winter clothes that do not need to be washed every day can be exposed to the sun for 4 hours to kill the virus.

2 Then the virus mixed with nasal fluid and dripped into the lungs along the trachea, causing pneumonia. This process takes 5 to 6 days.

3 Pneumonia causes high fever and shortness of breath. Stuffy nose is not the norm. I feel like I am drowning in the water If you feel this way, it is important to see a doctor immediately. Prevention: The most common route of infection is by contact with objects in public places, so you need to wash your hands frequently. The virus can only survive on your hands for 510 minutes. But during these 510 minutes, you may cause a lot of harm (you may rub your eyes or pick your nose unknowingly)

4 In addition to washing your hands frequently, you can also rinse your mouth with Betadine to kill or reduce the bacteria still in your throat (Before) it drips into the lungs)

5 Follow the traditional Indian way of life and live according to moral principles and values. India’s traditional values ​​and lifestyle are the best way to combat these deadly diseases.This virus is just a warning. Nature may have more such diseases in the future. This is nature’s response to human overuse of nature. Do not eat after sunset. You are a vegetarian and always drink boiled water. You eat freshly prepared food. You are very scientific about what to eat and what not to eat. They use muh-batti (a kind of mask). For thousands of years, you are now in the news

The Healthcare Systems

Only healthy citizens can contribute to a healthy economy. The government of a country provides the necessary funds for the health plan in its budget. In addition, during an epidemic or pandemic, the government ensures the health of its citizens through large-scale tests. And treatment The government is also taking various measures to educate the public about epidemics. In addition, the government is raising public awareness of the causes and preventive measures of various diseases. A large-scale immunization program has also been carried out to prevent the occurrence of many bacterial and viral diseases. The health system of one country is different from that of another country. In India, health services are provided by the public and private sectors. The health system includes hospitals, telemedicine, insurance doctors, etc. In India, the health structure consists of three, two, and three levels. Primary includes sub-centers and primary health care centers. The second level includes community health centers, while the third level includes hospitals and medical schools.

Sub-center:

This is the main point of contact between the health system and patients. It is composed of male and female health professionals and a volunteer.

Primary Medical and Health Center:

This is the main point of contact between villagers and doctors. Medical professionals and nursing staff are part of APS. The main functions of APS are vaccination plan, contraceptive plan, pregnancy care, etc.

Community Health Center:

Including doctors, pediatricians, gynecologists, surgeons, and equipped with operating rooms, X-ray machines, etc.

The private sector

The private sector has also contributed to providing health services to the majority of the population. Through telemedicine, many private medical hospitals and new medical companies are also providing high-quality medical services to rural residents.

Conclusion

The health information system is the future of the medical center. Even so, many hospitals are skeptical about the introduction of this new technology. There are two reasons for this: high cost and implementation process. Changing the initial process This may sound daunting, but we guarantee that the results are worthwhile.

Why should you avoid using perfumes?

Writing this article isn’t easy for me because there was a phase in my life where I was obsessed with perfumes. I would use different scents every day depending on my mood.

But, there were a few times, where I would get a headache or a sneeze when I would come in contact with a strong perfume. I would excuse myself thinking I am sensitive to a few scents.

But, I got to know that a lot of people are allergic to perfumes in general. Some are more severely allergic than others and can even get asthma attacks. Here are some things that I found which made me stop using perfumes:

  • Trade secret: did you know that perfume companies are not required to list their ingredients? Even if they do list the ingredients, it’s only a few out of 3000 chemicals. Fragrance formulation is considered a trade secret that is also protected from the manufacturer.
  • No authority to regulate the formation of perfumes: when I told it is a trade secret I meant there is no state, federal or global authority that regulates the safety of the chemicals used in fragrances.
  • Health problems: inhaling the 3000 chemicals will come at a cost. They cause health problems like asthma, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, coughing, burning of the skin, and many more. The chemicals also mess with our hormones. You might be someone who does not suffer from these but, do you really want to inhale a product with harmful chemicals that cause health issues.
  • Second-hand smoking: using perfumes in the long term can affect our health just as negatively as second-hand smoking does. The toxins used in fragrances are as harmful as that of second-hand smoking.

This article mainly focuses on how perfumes are harmful. But, it’s the entire fragrance industry that is harmful. We buy scented products on a daily basis. Our shampoos, body washes, hair sprays, detergents all have fragrance added to it. Even products for female hygiene sometimes contain fragrance. We don’t know the number of chemicals the word “fragrance” holds in  products. So, it is best to avoid scented products in general.

If you are devastated knowing how bad fragrance is. There are some alternatives you can use:

  • Using essence oils: these oils are extracted from plants and are completely natural. You can add them to your products or use them separately in the form of a roll-on. But, make sure to get 100% pure essence oils.
  • DIY: you can DIY soaps and perfumes by using natural homemade products that won’t harm your body. You can easily get these ingredients in your nearby store. You can also DIY your essence oils.
  • Fragrance-free products: Buying products that are free of fragrance or chemicals are a great alternative.
  • Non-toxic perfumes: Some brands make sustainable or eco-friendly perfumes so you can try using them. These perfumes are made of essential oils or organic ingredients. But, don’t forget to make sure they only natural ingredients.

 These alternatives may seem like a lot of work. But it is way better than exposing yourself to chemicals and toxins daily. The chemicals used by the fragrance industry not just harm us but are also bad for the environment.

What you should know about IVF-Technology

IVF or In Vitro Fertilization is one of the famous fertility treatment where eggs from a woman’s ovaries are is retrieved and fertilized in vitro that is in laboratories with the sperm to produce embryo. This embryo can be stored by freezing or can be transferred to woman’s uterus. This technique became a boon to couples who were facing infertilely or pregnancy related issues.

SOME OF THE INFERTILITY ISSUES:
  • Chances of fertility is reduced in woman over 40 years of age.
  • There may be damages in the fallopian tube of the female which may be causing infertility.
  • Reduction in the function of the ovaries due to various reasons.
  • Endometriosis– Where the tissue that normally grows inside the uterus, lining it, will grow outside it.
  • Uterine fibroids – Non cancerous growths in the uterus
  • In males, low sperm count
  • Abnormalities in sperm shape
WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES BEFORE IVF

Before IVF women undergoes ovarian reserve testing which involves tests for the level of follicle stimulating hormone in blood. Examination of the uterus usually by doing ultrasound to know the health of the uterus. Men will have sperm testing which is done by taking semen sample and analyzing for the sperm size, number and shape. If the sperms are weak or damaged, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is performed where sperm is directly injected to the egg by the technician. Otherwise sperms are left to fertilize the egg in incubation.

EMBRYO
HOW IVF IS PERFORMED
  1. Stimulation: IVF requires multiple eggs to make sure that viable embryos are produced. A woman produces only one egg during one menstrual cycle. So drugs are injected into female body to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. The doctor will perform multiple blood tests to monitor the production of eggs and to decide when to retrieve them.
  2. Egg retrieval: It is a surgical process. Doctor uses an ultrasound wand to direct a needle into the ovaries through vagina to an egg containing follicle. This needle takes out the eggs through suction.
  3. Insemination: Semen sample is taken by the male partner. Technician will mix the sperm with the eggs in a petri dish. If it did not work they may go for ICSI.
  4. Transfer: Normally after 3-5 days after insemination, when embryos become big enough, they are implanted into the uterus. A catheter is introduced into vagina past the cervix into uterus. Embryo is released. Then embryo implants itself to the uterine wall. A blood test will determine if the female is pregnant or not.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

SOME OF THE MYTHS ABOUT IVF

  • IVF can be done at any age: This is not true. As the age of women increases she may not be able to produce many eggs and that time IVF can not be done.
  • Fertility drugs cause cancer: The drugs used to stimulate egg production are safe. No studies have shown increased risk of cancer.
  • IVF babies have risk of birth defects and malformations: Not true. Even though there is slight increase in the malformation as compared to normal births, but the risk remains low as studies say.
  • IVF is dangerous: IVF is not dangerous. Only 1-2% patients become unwell.
  • IVF is for rich people: This is little bit costly but less expensive compared to other surgical treatments.
LEGAL ASPECT OF IVF

IVF is legal in India. But there is no specific law regarding the aspect. But IVF has gained public attention and needs a good law to monitor.

Media, Disability & COVID-19

According to United Nations, about 1 billion people all over the world come under the category of “disabled” and that is 15% of the global population. Now, the question is, shall we as a society neglect 15% people in the world just because they happen to be in minority?

Media being one of the crucial facets of society has a major role to play when it comes to disseminating information and making people aware about significant and ignored issues. Now, let us go through what media has done to represent people with disabilities and their issue since the beginning of the pandemic.

1) Disability and Broadcast Media


A Look: Public Broadcasters of various countries

In 2020, the World Federation of the Deaf noted that 80 governments in the world have been providing sign language interpretations while Covid-19 press briefings.

For example, in order to curb Covid-19 pandemic, South Korean government aimed to strengthen the ways disabled people could be informed during the pandemic and other related disasters. The country’s public broadcaster KBS during the pandemic announced that it would work to expand the reach of information in its disaster countries. During the pandemic, the public radio in the country had continued to provide programmes dedicated to disabled community with daily news and health updates and general life advice.

When it comes to India’s public television broadcaster Doordarshan and public radio-All India Radio, very minimal representation of disabled community took place during the pandemic. Even though the objective of the these broadcasters is social welfare, disabled community was one of the most ignored ones as “no special programmes” were held for this community, nor was their issue highlighted specifically anywhere. News Bulletins with sign language were held for the disabled community though. More has to be done to ensure social inclusion of all communities including the disabled ones.

Private Broadcasters: nothing matters, but profits!

Media all over the world, including the Indian ones either portray disabled people as “nothing” or “everything” and both of them are dangerous. In 2019, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India directed the private channels to include special schemes for disabled community. Although some channels have started news bulletins for disable people but there was almost equal to zero representation of the disabled community during the pandemic.

There should be open space for the disabled community such as they should be invited for panel discussions and debates relating to different happenings in the world from politics to entertainment and like.

Digital Media: A hope in every way!

This is probably the best when it comes to serving and representing the disabled community during the pandemic. Digital and online media were the perfect mediums through which disabled people got proper spaces to talk about the issues they were facing during the pandemic.

One of the online apps called “News Hook” became increasingly popular among the disabled audience which used sign language specifically for the audience with hearing impairment. It covered headlines relating to technology, politics, entertainment, business and sports during the pandemic. It should also be noted that 65% of the staff here were from the disabled community.

Moreover, web portals of Indian Newspapers like The Indian Express and The Business Standards and many more gave enough of space to the disabled people so that they can talk freely about the issues they faced during the lockdowns.

The same above mentioned media channels also used platforms like YouTube to sensitise the audiences regarding the hindrances faced by the disabled community. Some reporters and even famous YouTube personalities covered the terrible times disabled people in India went through during the pandemic.

It should also be noted that online media was comfortable for disabled people as well as the medium is now more easily accessible with good quality content and also because of its low price rates.

Media, especially the mainstream media should be more responsible and sensitive in dealing with issues relating to the disabled community. More representation about the disabled community should take place in the mainstream media. Disabled people “aren’t incapable” and therefore they should be given proper employment in the media. They should be engaged and involved in live discussions and debates. Together, as society which includes the media we should create an environment which is inclusive, anti- discriminatory and diverse.

The International Yoga day

Since 2015 the international yoga day has been celebrated on 21 June every year. Following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. It was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 27, 2014. It is celebrated to spread awareness about the importance and effects of yoga on the health of the people.

‘Yoga’ word is derived from Sanskrit which means to join or to unite

* Benifits of doing Yoga everyday:

1. Doing yoga regularly helps in de-stressing and in calming the mind and body. 2. Yoga helps in breathing problems. 3. Helpful in eradicating toxins and impurity from the body, makes your skin glow naturally as you become healthy from inside. 4. Practicing Bhujangasana helps in many ways, like stress or fatigue. Also helps in making the skin glowing. 5. Regular yoga also helps in weight loss and also contributes to anti-aging. * But be consistent with your routine if not then it will not help, regularly practicing yoga is necessary for getting the benefits.

Yoga makes you fit physically as well as mentally

According to the United Nations, yoga can also help with COVID-19 anxiety. Yoga is also playing a significant role in the psycho-social care and rehabilitation of COVID patients in quarantine and isolation. It is particularly helpful in allaying their fears and anxiety.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several other prominent dignitaries used to organise massive events in order to promote and encourage people towards yoga every year, but since the world witnessed the deadly Corona viruse in 2020, PM Modi urged people to observe the day from their homes itself due to the Corona virus outbreak.

PM Modi in a yoga event before Corona outbreak in 2019

“Yoga is not just about exercise, it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition” said PM Modi on the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly.

World Health Organization has also urged its member states to help their citizens reduce physical inactivity, which is among the top ten leading causes of death worldwide, and a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

Yoga is divided into six branches namely Hatha yoga, Raj yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga, Tantra yoga. Also there are 7 chakras of yoga styles these are Sahasram chakra, Ajna chakra, Vishuddha chakra, Anahata chakra, Manipura, Svadhishthana and muladhara chakra.

Men who teach yoga are called Yogis and if women teach teach they are called Yoginis . Yog sutra is a 2000 year old book, this is the only book where written evidence of yoga has been found. Yogic philosophy is described in this book.

Surya namaskar

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.

GENDER? No, we aren’t supposed to impose it at birth.

The above statement may appear intriguing to some, but that’s what we need to do, at least in 2021. Even today, majority of the world population is not aware about the distinction between ‘sex’ and ‘gender’.

Gender is something that is most often thrown and forced upon us according to the sex we received at birth. We are told to act, dress and behave in a certain way. In more simple words, ‘sex’ is what nature has given us at birth, for example, ‘female’ and ‘gender’ is something that we identify ourselves with as we grow up, for example, ‘woman’.

In this way, we can say that gender is a social construct, that is, gender is a human made concept while sex is a naturally grown system we have on our respective bodies since our birth.

It is also important to note that gender is variant and we would be doing injustice to the gender minorities like agender, non- binary and gender fluid people if we overlook them.

Moreover, we should also keep in mind that, lack of awareness regarding the difference between ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ is one of the main reasons of patriarchy. As mentioned above, since our birth we are expected to behave in a certain way. For example, when a male child is born, we expect them to be tough and physically strong and compare them with wild tigers and lions while when a female child is born we expect them to be soft and pleasant like an angel.

Another example could be, male toddlers are gifted guns and cars whereas female toddlers are gifted doll houses and ‘kitchen sets’, because from the beginning only we have this sexist notion ingrained in us that the male child will grow up and ‘earn’ the bread while the female child will ‘bake’ the bread.

‘Sex’ and ‘gender’ are most often used interchangeably and this also contributes to patriarchy, in fact it shows how patriarchy is deeply ingrained in us. Some of us indulge in patriarchy without even knowing it.

Patriarchy may favour males but it is beneficial to no genders in the world. In global context, gender expressions like ‘feminine’ stereotypically means one needs to be loving and
caring and ‘masculine’ stereotypically means one needs to be daring and challenging. Now here comes the problem- for example- a male who has ‘loving’ and ‘caring’ characteristics and identifies himself as a ‘man’ suffers due to these socially constructed ideas of being ‘masculine’. Similarly, a female who has ‘daring’ and ‘challenging’ characteristics and identifies herself as a ‘woman’ has to suffer due to the culturally made concepts of being ‘feminine’.

Another interesting thing is to note that if a man identifying male has some stereotypically feminine characteristics like caring, being soft and submissive, they are trolled and if a woman identifying female has some stereotypically masculine characteristics like daring, being loud and dominant, they are praised. This proves that the patriarchal world we live in hates femininity and just loves masculinity.

If a man celebrates his masculinity, he is praised but if a woman celebrates her femininity, then she becomes inauspicious for the society. It is important for us to note that femininity and masculinity is subjective and depends on person to person.

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.

LIFE LESSONS FROM COVID-19

Everybody was stuck in shock when we all heard about CORONAVIRUS. But we didn’t think that it would have such a worst impact on our lives. In fact, we didn’t realize its seriousness at first. When the coronavirus slowly started to spread all over our country, we started to realize the seriousness. As we all know, due to the pandemic, the whole of India was kept shut for many days. Every company went through its worst phase. Gradually, we accepted the scenario and started doing the unthinkable. Schools started taking classes online, IT and other companies functioned through work from home and many others remained pathetic not knowing what to do. Many families couldn’t get enough money for daily necessities. Moreover, they had to spend more than normal for the pandemic made us spend more on medicines and sanitation. With all these, on one hand, we got to learn a lot of new things.

First, we learned to spend time with our family. Before the pandemic, we would live in our own way. We don’t spend time without family. We had our own reasons like returning home after tight schedules either from school, college, or work, and even after that, we had certain tasks to be accomplished. We would spend most of our time in the outside world and only had time to freshen up and relax ourselves to start off the next day. Due to this lockdown, we were not allowed to step out of our houses which made us spend quality time with our family. Also, by this, we realized the value of family and relationships. Not only this, we learned to value life. We realized that life is the biggest gift one has been bestowed with. After losing our loved ones, and seeing our near and dear losing their loved ones, we started being grateful for being alive at least. These were the biggest lessons life taught us through this pandemic.

Lockdown restricted us from using vehicles and this paved the way to reduce air pollution. Now, we see and hear that our EARTH is healing. Holes in the Ozone layer are disappearing. As a result, the environment changed in a good way. We are now released from breathing the poisoned air and the quality of the air has increased. 

Another one, we started believing in our natural Indian medicine. Although we have many allopathy medicines for boosting immunity, we all made decoctions using Tulsi leaves, turmeric, pepper, ginger, lemon, honey, and so on. These were the traditional medicines prescribed by our ancestors to prevent our bodies from a virus attack. Literally, every good thing which was ignored before was given place and priorities. As time went by, we started to know how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and good hygiene. We started eating healthy food to sustain this pandemic. We all realized the importance of regular exercises and yoga. They create such a beautiful impact on our bodies. We learned one main lifesaving thing which is very much essential no matter whatever the situation may be, positivity. Positivity plays a crucial role in our life behind the scenes. Researches show that positivity helps in increasing the chances of recovery from any disease. It makes us feel good, boosts our energy and confidence. It is said to enhance mental productivity and inner strength.

We explored the new side of ours. We got to know more about ourselves and self-love and care. Last but not the least, we all understood the pain and struggles of spending our whole life inside the house as faced by all the housewives and mothers only when we were forced to confine ourselves inside the four walls of the house. We started sharing household chores and other work equally with our family. This definitely gave our mothers some relaxation for which they earned for many days. 

Going by the quote, “Every evil has its good and every ill an antidote”, we also had many good things that happened in this pandemic. All I would say is be happy with all the goodness around us and stop complaining about the problems.

MENTAL PEACE

We are human, and we look at happiness and peace everywhere around us , and also in another human being. But the Self Mental Peace come from the inner side.

Mental peace refers to the deliberate state of spiritual calm and the potential of stressors such as the burden arising from pretending to perform at an optional level with a positive mind (inner peace). Peace of mind is generally associated with joy, happiness, calmness, prayer, yoga, meditation etc. many spiritual practices refer to this peace as an experience of knowing oneself. But we all know that inner peace is important to mental health. The human beings who are mentally strong are confident that they can handle whatever life throws their way.

The people you surround yourself with affect the way you think, feel and behave. Mentally strong people don’t waste their time or energy trying to change toxic people. They established healthy emotional and physical boundaries.

These people take appropriate accountability. They recognize the responsibility for their choice, but they acknowledge factors beyond their control like the state of the economy, the weather and other people’s choice.

Mentally strong people are willing to put in the hard work it takes to gain contentment. They refuse to give in to instant gratification or temporary attachment. They look for ways to build a brighter future by creating long term goals. People face their fear, venture into unknown areas and test their limits. They know that being uncomfortable is tolerable and allowing themselves to experience discomfort is the key to living a better life.

Finally, further reflection on the nature of basic human needs in relationship to self and identity can provide the means to address the most deep rooted of inner conflicts. Just find inner peace and unwrap your best self.

How to get mental peace:-

Connect with something larger than yourself. There are several theories that emphasize the need for balance to produce wellness in our lives. An aspect of that theory includes spiritual wellness. Spiritual wellness promotes tranquility and harmony within yourself and within your life and is essential for mental wellness. This does not mean that you have to become religious if you aren’t; it means you must find something bigger than just yourself with which to connect. Try connecting to the awe of nature or outer-space, or in the bonds people form with each other. Finding something outside of yourself to connect with will help bring peace to your mind.

 Find meaning in your everyday life. Spiritual wellness can also help you build on your understanding of your purpose in the world. This will help you find meaning in your everyday life  If you feel fulfilled with your contribution to the world, your mind will be more at peace. Actions that could help you build your understanding include connecting with others through volunteerism or finding other ways to help and serve others. You may also find meaning in other activities, such as taking care of your family or loved ones, or doing the best job you can at your place of employment.

Is there really a new variant of COVID-19 out there?

From the past couple of days, reports have been surfacing that a new variant of corona virus i.e. a delta variant can be found in a few patients. So how is this variant different and what we need to do to be cautious?

Just when we thought we were going back to normal now, Indian scientists detected a new delta plus variant in 22 samples from all over the country. First found in Jammu and Kashmir, this variant is now also seen in patients of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala. 6 of those 22 sample are from Maharashtra and the remaining are divided between Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. 2 patients of this variant were reported in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh and death on one of them, a woman was reported on wednesday.

We are still not very clear about how and in what ways is this variant different from the others and does the vaccine we are provided with is effective on this virus. But yes this variant is yet not classifed as ‘variant of concern’ but we need to be concerned and take all the necessary precautions.

According to Dr. Mike Ryan who is the executive director of WHO, delta variant has a possibility “to be more fatal because it’s more efficient in the way it transmits between humans”. This variant is likely to affect the vulnerable people i.e. people with less immunity according to World Health Organization officials.

So, it is not over yet. Even if we are fully vaccinated let’s not be reckless and wear a mask and maintaing social distancing whenever we are out. Things will get better.

Is coffee healthy ?

According to a report published last year at the Harvard School of Public Health it stated that drinking coffee in moderation “can be part of a healthy lifestyle”.

Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages due to its high levels of antioxidants and beneficial nutrients, it also seems to be quite healthy.
Studies show that coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of several serious diseases.

Benefits of drinking coffee –

1. Boosts energy –
Coffee can help people feel less tired and increase energy levels since it contains a stimulant called caffeine. The caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream from there, it travels to the brain where it blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine. This is instrumental in improving energy levels and lifting up the mood.

2. Aids in burning fat –
Caffeine boosts metabolism significantly by 3 to 11%. This in turn helps in burning the excess fat in the body.

3. Contains essential nutrients –
Many of the nutrients in coffee beans make their way into the finished brewed coffee.

A single cup of coffee contains –
Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 11% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): 6% of the RDI.
Manganese and potassium: 3% of the RDI.
Magnesium and niacin (vitamin B3): 2% of the RDI.

4. Lowers the risk of Diabetes-
Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem, currently affecting millions of people worldwide.
It’s characterized by elevated blood sugar levels caused by insulin resistance or a reduced ability to secrete insulin.
For some reason, coffee drinkers have a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Studies observe that people who drink the most coffee have a 23–50% lower risk of getting this disease. One study showed a reduction as high as 67%

5. Reduces the chances of dementia –
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of dementia worldwide.
This condition usually affects people over 65, and there is no known cure. However, there are several things you can do to prevent the disease from occurring in the first place. This includes the usual suspects like eating healthy and exercising, but drinking coffee may be incredibly effective as well. Several studies show that coffee drinkers have up to a 65% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease