All posts by Sumana Rao

Don't worry about the people in your past; There's a reason they didn't make it to your future.
Health quiz for kids

Health quiz for kids

Kids must understand be aware that it is important to keep up good health through out their lives. Parents often must talk and discuss about various health issues and topics with their children. This will help children to be cautious about what they eat, how to take care of their body. Parents can engage children by asking questions related to health and have children answer. Here are some basic questions for kids that parents can consider quizzing.

1.       What sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers?

2.       True or false? Your ears are important when it comes to staying balanced.

3.       What is another name for human voice box?

4.       Which is human body’s biggest organ?

5.       What base food is needed for guacamole?

6.       Which nutrient is present in pasta and bread?

7.       Is trans fat is good for health?

8.       What is another name for corn?

9.       True or false? Vegan people eat meat

10.   How much calorie fat provides per gram? 4,6,9 ?

11.   How much calories carbohydrate provides per gram? 4 or 9?

12.   Does recooking of cooked food often alters its chemical nature? Yes or no?

13.   Eating leafy vegetables provides which important nutrients for the body?

14.   Which vitamin is present in the Sun rays?

15.   Eating chips, drinking soda is good for the body – Yes or no?

16.   Where does quadriceps muscles are present in the body?

17.   What is the role of kidneys?

18.   Where does hemoglobin present?

19.   To fight disease, which cells of the body helps?

20.    From which plant sugar is extracted? Lettuce, sugarcane, potato?

21.   Why we should wash hands before eating food?

22.   Why we should not stare at smart phone screen for long hours?

23.   Why drinking  water is important for the body?

24.   Is junk food is good for our body? Yes or no?

25.   Why we should eat colorful fruits?

26.   Why plants have green color?

27.   Why should we drink milk?

28.   How many heart human body has?

29.   What is the function of eye lashes?

30.   Why should we brush teeth twice a day?

31.   What is WHO stands for? 

32.  Why should we take flu shots?

Answers: 1.   Honey , 2. True, 3. Larynx, 4. The skin, 5. Avocado, 6.       Carbohydrates, 7.  No, 8. Maize, 9. False, 10. 9, 11.  4 , 12.  Yes, 13. Iron, 14.   Vitamin D, 15.  No, 16. Front of thighs, 17. Removal of toxins, 18. In red blood cells, 19. White blood cells, 20. Sugarcane, 21.  To remove germs and dirt, 22. Because it spoils vision 23.   It keeps body hydrated, 24.  No, 25.   Fruits contain antioxidants and helps body to fight against disease, 26.   Pigment chlorophyll gives green color to plants, 27.   Milk provides calcium and protein, 28.  One, 29.   Protecting eyes from dust and other particles, 30. To avoid cavity and infection, 31. World Health Organization 32. To avoid flu virus that makes us sick

 

Image by Jaime Lopes from Pixabay (Free for commercial use) 

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: July 5, 2022
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Grandma’s wise tips to granddaughter

Grandma’s wise tips to granddaughter

For a happy, healthy life one need proper guidance from childhood.

Our grandparent’s wisdom can guide us to lead a good and meaningful life.

Grandma’s wise tips especially to granddaughter can help her to reach places.

Listen what grandma has to say to granddaughter –

  • When you must face the world, remember that everyone else faced the world same way you are now. All will have that inner fear to face people, examination, stage performance, interview – Don’t be afraid. Overcome the fear and do it.
  • Smile and the world smiles with you – Say thank you to people who helped you. Compliment them for the work they did. Admire your friends and tell them what you like about them.
  • Do not be defined by your career or partner. You have your personality, change yourself for better and not to show off.
  • Body change happens with hormonal change at certain age. If someone makes fun of you – don’t worry. Keep yourself fit and be active. Watch what you eat and understand what nutrients you should have for your age group.
  • Don’t try to reduce weight by wrong methods (like Bulimia) or don’t go for binge eating or drinking. It is not worth.
  • Don’t give excuses for your unwanted behaviors. Being bird brined, air headed – are not reasons for your behaviors. Don’t forget someone’s birthday if you know you are important for them, or getting drunk or being late to classes or a party. Wish you parents, call them and tell them you miss them.
  • Don’t take anything personally. If someone does not get back to you, it might be for a valid reason. Don’t hold grudge on your friends and families. It can be bad for your life long relationships.
  • If you are on social media then read, watch and learn how good people can be and how you can be nice to others.
  • Be good to elders and be charitable. Their views are result of their culture and experience they went through life. Their knowledge and experience can guide you in your life.
  • Don’t hesitate to say sorry, if you know that you are wrong or you are the reason for hurting someone’s feelings.
  • Always stand up for your morals and support good cause. It only helps you in your life.
  • There is nothing wrong if you are part of house hold chores. Help your mother, father and if needed attend to your younger siblings.
  • When you feel down or want to talk to someone look up to your mother. She knows the best and will listen to you. Don’t hold back and express what is bothering you.
  • Try something new always – don’t lock yourself between four walls. World is beautiful. Explore the world with your friends and families.
  • Participate in family function. This is the chance to meet your relations and to maintain relationship with your age group children within the family.
  • When you plan on something, it may not happen the way you want or it may not work out. Along with plan A consider having alternated plan B or C.
  • Talk to parents about saving and spending money. Understand your family situation and how hard your parents work. It is worth.
  • Be safe! With computer, on road, at school – if something is not right talk your parents and adults. Better be safe than sorry.

Life has lot to offer. Enjoy life. Make new friends, learn new things, visit places and focus on the quality of life.

Listen to grandma: Healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: Image by pasja1000 from Pixabay

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: July 4, 2022
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Stammering in kids

Stammering in Kids: What Parents Should Know

Stammering or stuttering is disruption of normal speech which can be seen in children. Stammering makes it difficult for a child to communicate easily. When a child stutters, you can observe prolongs of syllables, word or sounds.

If your child is stammering and it worries you, then you are not alone. Millions of children stutter and if the problem is addressed it will go away. World famous personalities Charles Darwin, Isaack Newton, Bruce Willis, Hrithik Roshan, Marilyn Monroe to name a few, were all stutters. All of them overcome the problem with proper treatment.

Do you know:

  • Stammering affects more male kids than females
  • One in 12 young children go through a phase of stammering.
  • There are no CLEAR cut reasons to explain what causes stammering.
  • Researchers only learned about factors that contribute for the development of stammering
  • Stammering prevention is possible in young children
  • Some children may stutter for about six months or more
  • People who stutter are as intelligent and well adjusted
  • Stammering becomes a formidable problem once the child reaches teenage. It causes problem especially with social interaction.
  • They will know what they want to say, there will not be a problem in understanding.
  • They will never stutter when they must sing or whispering
  • Problem with speech could be due to hereditary.
  • Stress in child can make it hard to speak the words.

When someone stammering

  • They will repeat parts of the words like Wi-wi-wi-window
  • In the beginning of sentence – they could get stuck on the sound of the first word like ssssnow
  • There will be muscle tension in jaw, neck, lips and cheek.
  • Sometimes they might blink or will struggle to get out the word
  • Nervous and out of breath while talking
  • Child will use interjections such as “like” or “um”
  • Might afraid to talk or communicate

Stammering types:

  1. Neurogenic: A stroke or brain injury can cause neurogenic stammering. Improper signaling between brain, nerves and muscles involved in speech could result in this
  2. Developmental: Most common in children in age group two to five. It might happen when child’s speech and language development last behind.
  3. Psychogenic: It is not that common. It may happen if child undergoes emotional trauma or when child has problem with thinking and reasoning for an action

How parents and teachers can help a child who stutters:

  1. Provide a relaxed environment
  2. Set chunk of time to talk to child
  3. Encourage child to talk on easy and fun topics
  4. Do not discourage, interrupt, mock or send negative thoughts to child
  5. Encourage and praise child for correct speech
  6. Speak slowly and pay attention to child
  7. Patience is key – let child say the words or sentences completely
  8. If child wants to talk about stammering – encourage the subject
  9. Make other children (siblings and friends) understand what stammering is and how they should behave with child who has stammering problem.
  10. Parents must talk to teachers about school environment and vice versa
  11. Talk to healthcare provider and seek advice from speech therapist

Treatments:Treatment for stammering depends on child’s symptoms, general health and age. Early treatment prevents stammering. Speech therapist may teach child to slow down speech and learn to take breath while speaking. Parents must give attention and be part of the therapy session.

Help your child to overcome stammering problem. If not, it could impact on social life, school performance, child may end up with low self -esteem and may withdraw from activities.

References:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: July 1, 2022
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Genetic Iron Poisoning

July -“Genetic iron poisoning” Awareness Month

Hemochromatosis is also known as genetic iron poisoning disease. July month is Hemochromatosis awareness month. Many people are not aware of the fact that they can be carrying this genetic disease where they have a tendency to accumulate more iron.

This disease is one of the most common genetic disease in united states. However, not everyone who has hemochromatosis has signs or symptoms of the disease.

Hemochromatosis (HE-mo-kro-ma-TO-sis) is a disease in which too much iron builds up in your body (iron overload). Iron is a mineral found in many foods. Too much iron is toxic to the body. It can poison organs and cause organ failure.

In hemochromatosis, iron can build up in most of body’s organs, but especially in the liver, heart, and pancreas. Too much iron in the liver can cause an enlarged liver, liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver, which causes the irregular functioning and slow death of liver.

The two types of hemochromatosis are primary and secondary.

  1. Primary hemochromatosis is caused by a defect in the genes that control how much iron one can absorb from food.
  2. Secondary hemochromatosis usually is the result of another disease or condition that causes iron overload.

Symptoms & complications:

Some people with hereditary hemochromatosis never have symptoms. Early signs and symptoms often overlap with those of other common conditions. Common symptoms include:

  • Joint pain
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness

Later signs and symptoms of the disease may include:

  • Diabetes
  • Loss of sex drive
  • Impotence
  • Heart failure
  • Liver failure

Complications:

  1. Liver damage can cause cirrhosis, which is permanent scarring of the liver.
  2. Pancreatic damage can cause changes in insulin levels, leading to diabetes.
  3. Circulation problems may lead to heart failure.
  4. Iron buildup in the heart can lead to irregular heart rhythm.
  5. Excess iron can cause skin to turn bronze or gray.

Which gene carries hemochromatosis?

A gene called HFE is most often the cause of hereditary hemochromatosis. You inherit one HFE gene from each of your parents. The HFE gene has two common mutations, C282Y and H63D. Genetic testing can reveal whether you have these mutations in your HFE gene.

  • If you inherit 2 abnormal genes, you may develop hemochromatosis. You can also pass the mutation on to your children. But, not everyone who inherits two genes develops problems linked to the iron overload of hemochromatosis.
  • If you inherit 1 abnormal gene, you won’t develop hemochromatosis. You are considered a gene mutation carrier and can pass the mutation on to your children. But, they wouldn’t develop disease unless they also inherited another abnormal gene from the other parent.

Risk Factors:

  1. Having 2 copies of a mutated HFE gene is the greatest risk factor for hereditary
  2. Family history- If you have a first-degree relative — a parent or sibling — with hemochromatosis, you’re more likely to develop the disease.
  3. Ethnicity – People of Northern European descent are more prone to hereditary hemochromatosis than are people of other ethnic backgrounds. Hemochromatosis is less common in African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans.
  4. Your sex- Men are more likely than women to develop signs and symptoms of hemochromatosis at an earlier age. Because women lose iron through menstruation and pregnancy, they tend to store less of the mineral than men do. After menopause or a hysterectomy, the risk for women increases.

Diagnosis: Through Blood testing, DNA testing and biopsy of the liver.

Treatment: Phlebotomy is the simplest and cheapest form of therapy for hemochromatosis. The process involves – the removal of blood from the hemochromatosis patient’s body. One may need phlebotomy on a regular basis to remove excess iron. Normally initial stages one has to have them up to twice a week. After the initial treatments, four to six times per year phlebotomy will be done.

For more information about Hemochromatosis please visit:

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Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 30, 2022
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Instant Upma mix and upma recipe

Instant Upma mix and upma recipe

Upma is an easy breakfast, evening snack item. It is generally prepared using cracked wheat.

Variation is replacing cracked wheat with coarse rice.

Here we are giving instant upma mix recipe along with upma recipe.

This is nutritious as well as easy to prepare. Get ready with instant upma mix and prepare upma whenever you want.

 Ingredients for instant Upma mix:

  1. Coarse sooji (cracked wheat)- 2 cups
  2. Cooking oil – 5 to 6 Tbsp
  3. Urad dal – 4 tsp
  4. Channa dal – 4 tsp
  5. Curry leaves – Few
  6. Chopped cilantro – ¼ cup
  7. Mustard seeds – 2 tsp
  8. Salt – as per your taste
  9. Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp (optional)
  10. Cashew – optional – few
  11. Green chillis – 8

 Method:

  1. Heat a pan on medium heat and dry orast coarse sooji till it turns golden brown color and gives roasted aroma.
  2. Turn off heat and transfer roasted sooji to a plate to cool
  3. In a pan add oil and heat on medium heat. To heated oil add mustard seeds and let it pop. Add channa and urad daal and cashew (optional). Fry until the daal turns golden brown.
  4. Add chopped chilli and fry it to become crispy and add curry leaves and chopped cilantro. Let the water evaporate from curry and cilantro.
  5. Now add roasted sooji and continue frying for 3 to 4 minutes. Sooji will become crunchy. If not continue frying another few minutes. Make sure it does content does not burn. Add salt and mix.
  6. Allow mix to cool. Store content in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for long term use.

 How to prepare upma using instant mix?

  • Take one cup instant mix in wide mouth vessel.
  • Boil 3 cups of water. 1 cup instant mix
  • Add boiled water to instant mix on medium heat. Mix well and cook for 5 minutes by closing lid. Add little oil or ghee while cooking upma. Turn off heat.
  • One can add mixed vegetables like beans, onion, carrot for upma – for this cut vegetable small and fry in little oil. Add boiled water and let vegetables cook. Add instant upma mix and cook.
  • Add little fresh grated coconut and mix.
  • If you prefer before serving add little lemon juice, mix and serve.

Recipe: Healthylife.werindia.com

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Belching symptoms and cure

Belching symptoms and cure

Belching is nothing but passing gas which is common in humans. If one has excessive belching with bloating, distention and pain then it can be due to serious problem of health.

If interferes with your daily activities and if you see blooded stool, severe pain that means you need to see your doctor and need medical attention.

Belching or burping is phenomenon of expelling excess air from upper digestive tract. It is caused by swallowing excess air. Air accumulates in esophagus.

 Causes for excessive belching and burping

1. Eating or drinking too quickly can cause one to swallow too much  air. This excess air need to be released and belching and burping is one solution for the body to release excess air.

  1. It can also be a sign of digestive conditions that need physician attention. It also can be due to dlayed gastric emptying and due to peptic ulcer.
  2. In some cases gallstones and gallblaer problem can cause burping, belching.

Flatulence is the accumulation or buildup of gas in the intestine. It is typically caused by digestion or fermentation of undigested food – especially high fiber and certain sugars by bacteria that is found in colon. Digestive disorder, constipation, poor absorption of carbohydrates, change in bacteria in small intestine, food residue in the color are all the reasons for flatulence and burping.

When to see doctor?

If the burping is persistent and accompanied by nausea, bloody stools, weight loss, fever and pain one should consult doctor to act.

How to prevent belching and burping?

  1. Eat and drink slowly
  2. While chewing food, avoid talking
  3. Avoid hard candies.
  4. Cut down on carbonated drinks and also beer – these drinks release carbond dioxide that worsens sytmptioms of belching
  5. Stop smoking, as smoking results in excessive air inside the body
  6. Dentures should be well fitted – check them
  7. While drinking avoid straw, instead directly drink from glass
  8. Avoid chewing gum
  9. Keep moving – short walk or 30 minutes’ walk after eating helps to reduce burping.

To avoid flatulence :

  • Eliminate certain food in your daily diet – beans, lentils, cabbage, broccoli, mushroom, beer and carbonated drinks to name a few. Try removing one food at a time and see changes in health.
  • Eat few fatty food and eat slowly
  • Temporarily cut back on high fiber food as they are great source of gas.
  • Read labels when you buy packed food. Certain indigestible carbohydrate in sugar free foods like sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol may increase gas production.

Symptoms of belching and burping can be embarrassing. But, embarrassment should not keep you away from taking precautions and acting on it. If you need help see your doctor.

Image courtesy: Photo by Jarritos Mexican Soda on Unsplash

www.werindia.com

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 27, 2022
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Blue tea benefits

Butterfly Pea Flower Blue Tea Benefits

There are hundreds of varieties of caffeine free herbal teas are available in the market and people also grow herbs to prepare tea at home. There are many herbs whose flowers are used for making tea like hibiscus, lavender, chamomile teas. The blue tea is also made of steeping dried flowers of a plant that belongs to the bean family.

Blue tea is not new, it has been around for centuries. Blue tea made of Butterfly Pea Plant flowers. The blue color in Clitoria ternatea steeps into the water to impart a very pleasant blue color. The popularity of these beautiful flowers increasing because the natural color can be introduced even to juice and extracted dye can be used for other culinary purposes.

Butterfly pea plant belongs to Fabaceae and grows in tropical countries. Growing butterfly flower plant is also easy, it produces beautiful and very attractive blue flowers. It is a climber and needs some support. One can grow the plant in a pot as well as directly in the soil.

What is in blue flowers that make it healthy to consume? It contains catechin EGCG- epigallocatechin gallate, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins – all these compounds are anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting components for the human body.

Blue tea has many health benefits:

  1. Blue tea is helpful for digestion.
  2. It is recommended for weight loss particularly water weight. It is a diuretic drink that has natural ingredients. It contains catechins that increase metabolism and burns fat.
  3. It contains antioxidants and helps in the detoxifying process.
  4. It is a mood enhancer and reduces anxiety and sadness
  5. Helps to refresh the brain and keeps it energized
  6. This tea is good for diabetic conditions as it helps to regulate blood sugar levels. It means it is good for the liver.
  7. Blue tea reduces triglyceride and lowers LDL cholesterol while raising good, HDL cholesterol. It is good for cardiovascular health.
  8. Some people drink blue tea to improve vision- the presence of proanthocyanins complexes in blue tea makes it a nutritive food for enhancing clear vision.
  9. Blue tea is known to promote hair and skin health.
  10. It provides anti-aging benefits and helps to rejuvenate cells.
  11. The tea contains flavonoids that stimulate collagen production in the body and takes care of skin health.
  12. Blue tea contains anthocyanin pigment that helps the scalp and strengthens hair follicles.

How to prepare Blue tea and Blue juice?

Butterfly pea flower juice
Butterfly pea flower juice

Blue tea preparation:

The process is very simple.

  1. You can use fresh or dry Butterfly flowers.
  2. Collect and sundry Butterfly flowers. Store in an airtight container.
  3. When you want to prepare tea, boil water, and add a few dried flowers, turn off the heat and let it steep for five minutes.
  4. If you are using fresh flowers, wash flowers in running water, take the petals and add them to boiling water. Turn off the heat, let petals steep for few minutes. Strain and drink hot tea with honey or cinnamon- your choice.
  5. Strain steeped flowers and transfer hot tea to a teacup and drink with honey or a pinch of cinnamon.

Blue juice preparation:

You can use fresh or dry flowers.

  • Take drinking water, add dry butterfly flowers. Let it sit for some time. You will see the color releasing to water. Remove the flowers and add lemon juice to it. The color of the water turns from blue to purple-blue. Add sugar, cardamom powder, a pinch of salt, little ginger juice. Mix well and drink.
  • You can also add blue flowers in coconut water. Leave few flowers in coconut water, allow color to release. Add pieces of fresh coconut in the juice to make it taste better!
  • You can use fresh flower petals also for blue juice and follow the same procedure as mentioned above for using dry flowers to prepare blue juice.

Even though there are no known side effects, drinking blue tea or juice might cause nausea or diarrhea. Lactating or pregnant women should not drink blue tea or juice as a health precaution.

Blue tea is available in the market or one can grow the plants at home and collect the flowers to make tea. 

Image credits: Butterflly pea flowerhttps://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-iyoct (Free for commercial use)

Blue juice: Pinterest images

Blue tea: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Butterfly-pea_flower_tea_2.jpg : Attribution: Mx. Granger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Fit India movement by Yogi Narendra Modi

Fit India movement by Yogi Narendra Modi

Yoga is a Sanskrit word, which means to ‘connect or unite’. When mind and body is connected and in harmony which is possible by practicing yoga and meditation, we can achieve healthier life. India is land of Yogis and yoga. Yoga has been practiced from centuries in this land by Rishis, yogis and scholars. Now the world is united by yoga as yoga practice is adopted by all.

This year India’s PM Modi will participate in international yoga day celebrations at United Nations Head Quarters in New York.   “Yoga holds profound benefits for both body and mind, fostering strength, flexibility, and tranquility. Let us make Yoga a part of our lives and further wellness as well as peace. Sharing a set of videos depicting the various Asanas.” – PM Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a Yogi himself.  He is responsible as he convinced United Nations to celebrate International Yoga day that falls on June 21st of every year.

PM Modi while addressing Indians in his Mann Ki Baat, a radio talk show mentioned that yoga is a guarantee of both fitness and wellness and advocated for Fit India.

Group of youngsters with their skills has created series of animated videos where PM Modi himself is a model. Through their creativity PM has become a yoga instructor.

These videos shows PM Modi practicing different yoga asanas. The animation also describes the Yoga asanas – how to perform asanas as well as benefits of asanas.

While complimenting the creativity and skills of youngsters who made 3D animated videos, PM Modi introduced videos in his tweets as “Amazed at the creativity of a few youngsters, who made 3D animated videos of me practicing Yoga! Sharing one such video, of Trikonasana.  Keep practicing Yoga for a #FitIndia!

These videos were released after PM Modi’s pitch for Fit India. For now, videos are available in English and Hindi. More languages are soon to be added to videos. Important and most commonly used, important yoga asanas with instructions are covered in the videos.

“A Healthy India is the cornerstone of a developed India. In that spirit, let us make #FitIndia a full-fledged mass movement that further popularizes sports and fitness among our youth” @narendramodi on twitter

In his Mann ki baat, PM urged people to ensure that they perform yoga every day and motivate others including family and friends.  While talking about Fit India and preventive healthcare PM stressed that yoga is a form of preventive healthcare. Healthy India is a vital as clean India – he mentioned in his talk. He also urged people to start practicing yoga today and get ready to celebrate June 21st International yoga day. He strongly believes that Fit India movement will take India forward on the path of fitness and wellness.

As Modi says Preventive healthcare is after all the least costly and the easiest healthcare strategy.

Watch PM Modi as yoga instructor in this video:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 19, 2022
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