All posts by Sumana Rao

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16 potato hacks

16 Potato hacks

Did you know, apart from eating, potatoes can come in handy for varieties of works at home? Potatoes are popular foods and one can eat them in different forms. Potatoes are major ingredients of many dishes. Potatoes can also be used for various different purposes. Here are few ways to make use of potatoes at home.

  1. To get rid of cheese from the grater, use potato. Just grate the potatoes before washing grater. It will take away cheese residue
  2. Worried about too much salt in soup? Cut one or two potato into big pieces and add into soup. Slowly boil, as potatoes pieces will absorb extra salt. Remove potato pieces using a fork before serving soup.
  3. Cut potatoes into thin slices and place slices onto affected area. This reduces itching & redness
  4. To remove rust from surfaces and cutlery – cut potato and dip the cut end in baking soda and then rub the cut end with baking soda onto the rusted area.
  5. To remove fog from car windshield, rub sliced potato all over the windshield. Fogginess goes away.
  6. Potatoes are good for glass window cleaning. Cut a raw potato and rub it all over windows and clean using a cloth. You can use potatoes to clean clear plastics like goggles.
  7. To remove a broken light bulb from socket, insert the reminder of broken bulb inside a cut potato. Hold and unscrew the rest of the socket.
  8. Potatoes are good for tarnish removal. Soak tarnished silverware in water with few cut potatoes for an hour and wash the vessel.
  9. Wash and slice potatoes. Keep slices on eyes to remove dark circles and redness
  10. Slice potatoes into half and using a knife prepare an emblem art – flower, flag, star etc – paint it and use it as stamps. Kids will like this idea!
  11. If you are into stitching dresses, then you will be familiar with pincushion. If you don’t find pincushion don’t worry. Use a potato to keep pins in place! (keep potato pincushion out of reach from others)
  12. For floral arrangements – cut a large potato into half and place flat side on bottom of the flower vase. Poke few holes on the opposite side and arrange floral stems the way you want!
  13. Do you know? Potatoes can be good hot and cold compressor. Potatoes hold temperature for longtime. If you need ice pack then, freeze few potatoes and use them. If you need hot bag, boil potatoes and use them.
  14. Potatoes are great for plants growth. Cut small holes in a potato and plant the stem of the flowering plant like geranium or rose inside the potato. Place in the soil. Once the plant sprouts transfer it to soil. You can also put potato skin shavings as manure to growing plant to boost flowering.
  15. To remove stains from your hands use potatoes. Some vegetables like berries and beets or ink stain and grass stain can leave color in hands. To remove these stains, cut a potato and rub it over palm and fingers. Wash hands.
  16. Use potato halves to remove broken glass pieces from the floor. This protects your hands.

Image credit: Pinterest boards, Pixabay

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Moth bean chaat recipe

Quick And Delicious Moth Bean Chat

Moth bean or matki seeds are rich source of fiber, potassium and magnesium. just like green gram moth bean also provides several health benefits. Matki is hindi name for moth bean. These are small cylindrical seeds rich in protein too. It has nutty taste and is perfect item for chaat preparation. Adding few vegetables and spices to sprouted moth bean makes it a perfect evening healthy snack.

One can also use moth bean in pulao, khichadi, curry preparations.

Moth bean chat recipe

Ingredients:

  1. Sprouted Moth bean – 1.5 cup
  2. Tomatoes-finely chopped -1/4 cup
  3. Carrot-finely chopped -1/4 cup
  4. Onions-finely chopped -1/4 cup
  5. Cucumber-finely chopped -1/4 cup
  6. Coriander Leaves-finely chopped- 2 Tbsp
  7. Pomegranate – 2 Tbsp
  8. Lemon Juice -2 tsp
  9.  Green Chili-finely chopped- one or two
  10. Chaat Masala -1 tsp
  11. Salt
  12. Nylon Sev or boondi – for sprinkling on top of chat

Healthy Matki chaat
Healthy Matki chaat

Preparation:

  1. Sprout moth bean using muslin cloth or seed sprouter.
  2. Pressure cook sprouted moth bean by adding salt and enough water. Just one whistle should be enough for sprouted seeds to cook. Remove cooked sprouted seeds and allow it to cool. Remove excess water.
  3. Finely chop carrot, onion, tomato, cucumber, green chili and add to sprouted moth bean.
  4. To the above mix add chaat masala, lemon juice, chopped coriander and pomegranate.
  5. Mix well and before serving matki chaat sprinkle sev or boondi on top.   

Images: https://www.happyshappy.com/idea/5859601740452646 &

https://www.happyshappy.com/idea/5674650711718164

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Cancer tumors vanished

Cancer Tumors Vanished! A major breakthrough; A clinical trial eliminates cancer in every patient!

A small study published in The New England Journal of Medicine involving rectal cancer patients very recently witnessed a miracle when their tumors causing cancer disappeared, totally eradicated. In this trial advanced rectal cancer patients were treated and all 12 patients took a medicine called Dostalimab and in just six months their tumors shrunk and eradicated successfully.

According to Dr. Cereck study author and oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York – “What’s so remarkable here is that it eliminated the cancer. The tumors just vanished”

The trial set out to follow the study of drug Dostarlimab  with standard chemoradiotherapy and surgery in participants who did not have a clinical complete response. All 12 participants were tumor – free under MRI even after 6 months follow up.

Cancer tumor vanished research group
 Research Group MSKCC, NY

Dostalimab drug under the product name Jemperli was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in February 2022 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced or recurrent mismatch repair – deficient endometrial cancer.

The standard treatment for advanced rectal cancer is chemotherapy, radiation followed by surgical resection of the rectum. This procedure is quite toxic. Therefore present breakthrough is important. It is an immunotherapy drug, and it works by unlocking the body’s natural system to fight cancer.  Patients in the experiment were given Dostarlimab  drug every three weeks for six months. They were all in all most same stages of cancer; it was locally progressing in the rectum but had not spread to other organs.

This treatment is an immunotherapy, and it works by unlocking the body’s natural immune system to fight cancer.  Normally when immunotherapy is used in patients with advanced disease 10 percent of patients will have shrunken tumor but here it is 100 per cent which is really the most striking part of the treatment. This kind of therapy works in specific cancer cells in colorectal that are mismatch repair-deficient, so they lack a gene that enables them to repair their DNA. Mismatch repair deficient cells have usually a series of mutations that can lead to cancer and that the immune system should try to recognize as foreign.

Some tumors express an inhibitory receptor known as the “programmed cell death protein (PD-1)“, which causes down regulation of the immune system and stops white blood cells from doing their job. The drug being tested, dostarlimab, is an anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody – which means it blocks the PD-1 receptor so an immune response can be activated. It was administered in participants with mismatch repair–deficient stage II or III rectal adenocarcinoma every three weeks over the six-month trial phase period.

“When we give immunotherapy like dostarlimab, it really just revs up the immune system so that it sees the cancer and gets rid of it.

It’s really what cancer doctors dream are made of to see response like this -Dr. Cereck

After treatment with drug Dostarlimab, all 12 rectal cancer patients were examined using MRI, PET scan, endoscopy and scans showed no tumors.  This is the first time this has happened in the history of cancer according to Dr. Luis A. Diaz J. of New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Researchers who conducted studied the medicine told media that treatment is promising but large scale experiment is needed to determine whether it will work on larger number of patients and will it work on people if the malignancies are actually in remission.

What is next ? The future of immunotherapy.

Dr. Cercek in an interview with CNN explained that their goal is to expand the new technology as a treatment for advanced disease and also to include early stage disease as well and other forms of solid tumors and cancers that are mismatch repair deficient.

“Our goal is to replicate this in other solid tumours such as stomach cancer, pancreas cancer and bladder cancer, that are mismatch repair-deficient where they have this potential sensitivity to immunotherapy.”

“We may be able to achieve that as well in patients with stomach cancer where surgery may not be needed if they have the same type of really remarkable response.”

References:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 9, 2022
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WHAT IS F.A.S.T? LEARN ABOUT STROKE

Stroke is a “brain attack”. It can happen to anyone at any time. When you have a stroke, your brain isn’t getting the blood it needs. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost. The sooner you get help, the less likely you’ll have serious, lasting problems. And the better your chance of recovery.

Types of stroke:

  1. MORRHAGIC STROKE: A brain aneurysm burst or a weakened blood vessel leak (hemorrhagic) is one of two types of stroke. While the least common of the two types of stroke it most often results in death.
  2. ISCHEMIC STROKE: A blood vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot (ischemic) is one type of stroke.
  3. WHAT IS TIA? : When blood flow to part of the brain stops for a short period of time, also called transient ischemic attack (TIA), it can mimic stroke-like symptoms. These appear and last less than 24 hours before disappearing. Learn more about the signs, your risk, and TIA management.

Factors involved in stroke:

UNHEALTHY DIET AND NUTRITION: Bad eating habits increases risk of stroke. A healthy diet can help in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improve your overall health, and help you reach or maintain a healthy weight.

  • Eat more foods from plants, such as vegetables and beans, whole grains, and nuts.
  • Eat more seafood in place of red meat, poultry, and eggs.
  • Limit the intake of sodium, solid fats, added sugars, and refined grains.
  • Reduce calories you eat and drink and increase calorie you burn through physical activity.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: No physical activity increases stroke chance. A recent study showed that people who exercise five or more times per week have a reduced stroke risk. The latest recommendations from the CDC on Physical Activity Guidelines for adults include the following:

  • Moderate Activity: 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (brisk walking, water aerobics, bicycling) and 2 or more days a week of weight training exercises.
  • Vigorous Activity:  75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week (jogging, running, swimming laps) and 2 or more days a week of weight training exercises.
  • Break it up: If you can’t fit a 30-minute activity in one time, break it up into 10-minute segments. Remember that all physical activity counts.
  • Make physical activity fun: Walk or bike with a friend, take a dance class, and try different times of the day.
  • Regular physical activity will improve your overall health and fitness, and reduce your risk for chronic diseases.

TOBACCO USE AND SMOKING: Smoking doubles the risk of stroke when compared to a nonsmoker. Smoking increases clot formation, thickens blood, and increases the amount of plaque buildup in the arteries.

ALCOHOL USE: Alcohol use has been linked to stroke in many studies. Aim to drink in moderation – no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.

Medical factors:

  1. BLOOD PRESSURE
  2. ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AFIB)
  3. HIGH CHOLESTEROL
  4. DIABETES
  5. CIRCULATION PROBLEMS
  6. CAROTID ARTERY DISEASE

Uncontrollable Risk Factors

Some risk factors for stroke are simply not controllable. But knowing what they are is still important in determining your overall risk for stroke.

  1. AGE: After the age of 55, stroke risk doubles for every decade a person is alive.
  2. GENDER: Women experience more strokes each year than men, mainly because women live longer than men and stroke occurs more often at older ages.
  3. RACE AND ETHNICITY: African Americans have twice the risk of stroke, partially because they are more susceptible to high blood pressure and diabetes. Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islanders also have higher risk of stroke than Caucasians.
  4. FAMILY HISTORY: Your stroke risk increases if a family member (parent, grandparent, or sibling) has had a stroke or a heart attack at an early age.
  5. PREVIOUS STROKE: If someone experienced a stroke earlier they need to be extra careful with proper precautions.
  6. FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA (FMD): FM D is a medical disorder where some of the arteries that carry blood throughout the body do not develop as they should.
  7. PATENT FORAMEN OVALE (PFO): Strokes and TIAs can occur without any obvious risk factors because they are caused by a “hole” in the heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO).
  8. TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA): TIAs are brief episodes of stroke-like symptoms that can last from a few minutes to 24 hours, but usually cause no permanent damage or disability.

F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs and symptoms of stroke

F: Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

A: Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S:Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

T:Time to call Emergency – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call emergency and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Beyond F.A.S.T. – Other Symptoms You Should Know

  • Sudden NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • Sudden TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes
  • Sudden TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause

If someone shows any of these symptoms, immediately call emergency medical services

Get more information about stroke here:

  • http://www.stroke.org/
  • https://www.goredforwomen.org/
  • http://www.webmd.com/
  • Image credit: Image credit: www.cdc.gov
Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 8, 2022
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Stain removal from kids clothes

Easy ways to remove common stains from kids cloth

Kids often stain their clothes while eating, playing at home or at school. Sometimes they wipe hands on their dress to get rid of stains from little hands. Some stains are hard to remove using regular detergents. Some easy methods to remove different types of stain from your kids clothes are explained.

To remove chewing Gum:

  1. Use blow dryer to heat chewing gum stuck on cloth surface and scrape gum using a blunt knife that does not damage fabric
  2. Dip the gum portion of fabric in vinegar for few minutes and scrub the gum using a brush
  3. For few minutes place ice cubes on gum and scrape using blunt knife
  4. Apply little amount of toothpaste on chewing gum, leave it for couple of minutes and using brush scrub both gum and paste
  5. Place cardboard on ironing board, place chewing gum stained fabric on cardboard facing down on ironing board. Apply medium heat, once gum softens remove or peel the gum away from cardboard

To remove rust:

  1. To start with, remove excess rust using a brush. Then dilute rust stain rinsing under cold water with pressure. Soak cloth in a solution of baking soda and cold water for about 30 mins. Wash the fabric using detergent.

 To remove grease from clothes:

  1. Apply white chalk on the grease mark, leave it overnight. Next day wash clothes using detergent.
  2. Use dish soap, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide in 1:1:1 ratio and soak greased cloth in it for few hours, followed by a wash using detergent.,
  3. If the stain does not look tough, then scrub stain and wash using proper detergent and warm water.

To remove blood stain:

  1. For fresh blood, pour hydrogen peroxide on the blood stain followed by rinsing and washing in cold water
  2. For dry blood, use Pinesol or Hydrogen peroxide soaking method. Treat stain by soaking in one of these solutions for few minutes and then wash using cold water.
  3. Rinse fresh blood in cold water thoroughly and wash using detergent.

To remove ink stain:

  1. Soak cloth overnight in cold water containing detergent. Then wash the clothes
  2. For tough ink stain, dab with nail varnish remover and wash using detergent.

To remove poop stain:

  1. Wipe excess poop using baby wipe, rinse and scrub using detergent. Wash cloth and put it for drying under sun light
  2. Scrape excess poop using dish soap and scrub the stain using a soft brush followed by a wash using regular detergent

To remove grass stain:

  1. Using baking soda and few drops of hydrogen peroxide helps to remove grass stain from clothes. Soak, stained fabric portion  in this solution for half an hour and wash using cold water to scrub the stain and use detergent to wash.

To remove turmeric stain:

  1. Prepare baking soda paste using water and apply it on the turmeric stain. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes then, gently scrub in circular motion.
  2. You can try vinegar or lemon juice to remove turmeric stain. Mix vinegar or lemon juice with dishwashing liquid in a bowl. Soak stained fabric area in the mix for half an hour. Use cold water to rinse and wash using detergent.
  • For kids bleach solution is not good as it could cause allergies or sickness – do not use bleach solution to remove turmeric or any stains from clothes.

Image credit: Image by luciana_ferraz from Pixabay  (CC by 0)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 7, 2022
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Recycle Newspaper

Tips to use old newspapers

If you do not read news online and still like to hold papers in hand to get updated news you might have lots of papers at home. Instead of throwing use grandma’s following tips to use old newspapers for household work. 

  1. Clean mirror, glass, and windows: Use crumpled newspaper to clean glass surfaces. Spray white vinegar on the surface and use newspaper to clean the surface. This does not leave any streaks behind
  2. Place under bottom of trash can: Trash can or garbage bins give bad odor. Before inserting garbage bags in trash can place newspaper at bottom and then insert garbage bags. Newspapers will absorb any leakage form bags.
  3. Use in refrigerator: Place newspapers in refrigerator bins where you store vegetables and fruits. Any spoiled vegetable liquid will be absorbed by newspaper and there will not be any odd odor.useoldnewspaper-healthylife-werindia
  4. Gift wrapping: Instead of spending money on gift wrappers, use old, clean newspaper to wrap gifts. Use colorful section to wrap & tie wraps using colorful hemp threads to give look.
  5. Sink cleaning: After cleaning kitchen sink, use newspaper to wipe inside the sink.
  6. For shipping: Instead of using plastic bubble wrap, use newspapers to wrap for shipping materials. Also, insert crumpled papers inside the box as shock absorber.
  7. Fruit ripening: Wrap mangoes, banana, chikkoo, papaya, pear, jackfruit, avocados types of fruits in newspaper. Fruits ripen faster with newspaper cover.newspapers-compost-healthylife-werindia
  8. Insert in shoes: Insert ball of newspaper in shoes that you do not wear often. This keeps shoes odor free and fresh to wear.
  9. Storage shelves: Spread newspapers on shelves and place storage boxes, grocery items, spice racks on it.
  10. For cloths: Cut and use clean old newspapers as insert in ironed sarees, blouses, and shirts. This keeps clothes wrinkle free
  11. Use it to clean after pets: Place old newspapers as lining in pet’s bed, under litter box, food bowls.
  12. Recycle: In many cities and towns there are people who buy and recycle newspapers. You will get small amount of pocket money by selling stack of newspapers
  13. Compost: Use clean, non-treated papers for composting. Most newspaper use plant-based inks and composting will be chemical free. If you have doubts clarify with newspaper company.
  14. Seed tape: Prepare flour sticky paste and place drops of paste on strips of newspaper. Place flower seeds and allow paste to dry. Place these seed tape in your garden for germination.
  15. Weed barrier: Spread newspapers in layers on the ground before planting. Use only toxin free papers. Place straw, mulch, grass clippings on newspaper. Weeds will not grow by this method.
  16. Origami: Use old papers for kids origami practice.
  17. Art & crafts: Recycle newspaper for arts and crafts. You can make bowls, sculptures, pinatas, paper flowers, boats etc. Paper Mache is enjoyable craft that children love to do.

Image sources and idea credit: Pinterest boards, Instagram, www.werindia.com, freeart.com,  Creative Crafts & Up-cycling , bestoutofwaste.org

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 6, 2022
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Instant poha idli recipe

Instant lip smacking soft Poha Idli with filter coffee

Preparing delicious and healthy idlis takes time. There are other ways to prepare idlis at home without taking much time or fermentation process. Instant rava idli, instant rice idli are two recipes we can use when we feel like eating idlis. There is another way to prepare tasty recipes with or without using baking soda. It is instant poha idli or beaten rice idli recipe and yes, it does not need fermentation! 

Idli is healthiest breakfast one can ask for. Because it contains balanced carbohydrate, protein and fat ingredients in it and is recommended food for all conditions as it does not cause any side effects. Poha idlis are also healthy and tasty, very easy to prepare. Try poha idlis for good breakfast with hot filter coffee!

Ingredients:

  1. Thin Poha/ Beaten rice -1 cup
  2. Rice idli rava– 1 & 1/2 cups
  3. Sour curd -1 cup
  4. Salt- as per your taste
  5. Baking soda – a pinch (optional)

Preparation:

  1. Prepare poha powder using a grinder.
  2. Wash idli rava and remove water by squeezing the rava.
  3. Mix poha powder and washed idli rava. Add yogurt and mix well. The consistency of the mix must be like regular idli batter. Add salt, mix well again. If needed add water. Let the mix sit for 15 minutes so that, rava absorbs yogurt and water.
  4. After 15 mins, add baking soda to the mix and mix the contents once again.
  5. Apply oil to idli stand or plates. Pour batter and steam cook idlis for 10 minutes.
  6. Serve hot idlis, coconut chutney with hot filter coffee!
Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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