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.
Meaningful relationship

What is a meaningful relationship?

When I asked my grandma how was grandpa – did he love you?

Was he good to you? What special item he got for you that you treasure?

Grandma’s answers were very soothing. Of course, grandpa always loved grandma. He was not perfect neither was grandma, but they lived happily together for many years, by being flexible. They both new each other’s weaknesses and never made a big issue out of it. There used to be small fights but it never dragged out. He bought her a saree (Indian attire) with his daily earnings (he was a priest back then), she wore it many times, and it ended up as a pillow cover and bed sheet for herself.

Grandma always comes across calm and happy, which she is.. and she is very composed. She always believed in simple life and high thinking.

When we talked about Valentine’s day in front of Grandma and asked her what she thinks about love and relationship, long lasting marriage, Grandma spoke with so much wisdom.

Listen what  grandma has to say about love and meaningful relationship…

  • A relationship always needs two factors: Being mutually loving and supportive.
  • Doing things together you both enjoy, which make you feel more alive and connected.
  • Sharing simple moments of togetherness, and enjoying the things you have in common.
  • Learning from each other, embracing your differences, seeing how they may be complementary.
  • External beauty is temporary. Go beyond external beauty, understand what the real soul is and how good the person is.
  • Accepting each other as you are in the present moment and sharing what is ‘real’ for you.
  • When you start dating (getting to know) someone, always try to have a good relationship with that person’s family. Marriage does not only happen between two individual, it also happens between two families.
  • Keep helping each other to meet each other’s needs.
  • There should be always a balance of giving and receiving between two.
  • Being willing to be flexible and compromise sometimes. Stubbornness makes matters worst. Listen to partner and then give suggestion.
  • Communicate with each other. Whatever may be the reason, never stop communicating with each other. Communication is the expression and receiving of the thoughts, ideas and feelings of another person.
  • While connecting to new family, do not neglect your own family as family is forever. Keep your relationship with your siblings and parents and other relations. They know you better.
  • The best traits that your parents possess are the ones that bring you comfort and peace and the feeling of security. Remember the qualities that you admire in your parents and look for that in a partner.
  • Understand what your spouse job is like. You may need to make adjustments and small sacrifices in your daily habits.
  • Learn some essential skills – when you get married, you will not live with your parents. You will have your own house. Learn how to cook simple foods, cleaning, washing, and driving, managing money and how to be a good host etc. It is for both not just for one of you – husband or wife.
  • Discuss and talk to each other significantly. Understanding each other is very important. Try to sort out the difference and plan for things in life together.
  • Your past is different. Do not bring your previous life instances in front of your partner and vice versa. You may not end up with the person you thought you were going to spend your whole life with and that is okay.
  • Once you are in someone’s life, do not hide anything from your partner. If something, you did wrong or forgot to do something, admit it. Trust is a main factor.
  • Do not show your frustration totally on your partner. He/she is not a punching bag. Always be open for a discussion. Do not blame your partner for no reasons.
  • Feel free to speak your mind -about your lives, plans, money matters etc.
  • Talk about health issues. When your spouse visits doctor accompany with him/her and listen to doctor.
  • Appreciate and encourage small gestures. Never neglect your spouse in public and at home.
  • If you have too many problems when you are seeing someone then the chances are it will get worse if you get married. The problem that looks very small may appear big after marriage. Understand what it is.
  • Money matters – if you do not know learn and discuss. Never encourage for over spending.
  • When you become a parent, always be conscious of how your kids will be affected by both parents’ behaviors. Don’t trash talk someone in front of children especially not if that someone is family. In addition, Harmony in relationship is important to make your children good humans.
  • A foundation of faith is important for every relationship.
  • If you are fond of volunteering, care giving, charity etc. discuss with your partner. Encouragement and support is critical for extra activities you chose after you marry. If you both like to participate in such work then go for it. Having something bigger to believe in is helpful in life.
  • If you are happy with what you have then, it does not matter at all what people have to say about you.
  • Do not spend time criticizing each other or anybody for that matter. Treat your significant other the way you would want someone to treat your future son or daughter.

Life offers many things – positive and negative. What we want may not be available or we may not get in our lives. Some contentment – with what we have and living with loving people around us should give us enormous strength to look forward for a happy life. We have one life to live and we should make the best out of this life by keeping a positive relationship with life partner and lead a meaningful life.

Source: Listen to grandma, www.werindia.com

Image credit: Image by 5688709 from Pixabay

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: February 9, 2022
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Walnut-fig halwa recipe

Valentine’s Day Dessert Walnut Fig Halwa

On this Valentine’s day if you are planning to prepare dessert at home, try walnut fig halwa recipe. You can use either sugar or jaggery in the recipe.

Walnut is source of antioxidant, rich in omega-3- fatty acid. It promotes metabolism, reduces body inflammation, good for heart health. Fig is natural laxative contains good amount of digestive fiber, potassium, calcium and rich in antioxidant. Combination of walnut and fig gives delicious taste to halwa.

Walnut Fig Halwa Recipe

Ingredients:

  1. Walnut – 1.5 cup (crushed)
  2. Fig -1/2 cup (finely cut)
  3. Sugar – ½ cup (or jaggery)
  4. Milk -1/3 cup
  5. Semolina – 1 Tbsp
  6. Clarified butter (ghee) – 2-3 Tbsp
  7. Cardamom – ¼ tsp

Procedure:

  1. Crush walnut to small pieces. Keep 2 Tbsp crushed walnut separate.
  2. On medium heat in a vessel mix water and sugar (or jaggery). Prepare syrup by mixing continuously till you get one string when you hold syrup between index and thumb fingers
  3. Heat ghee in a pan, add semolina and fry under low heat for few seconds. It will release fragrance.
  4. Add one cup of crushed walnut, fig pieces and continue stirring till walnut turns golden brown.
  5. To walnut and semolina mix add sugar syrup ( or jaggery syrup) slowly and cook under low heat.
  6. Add milk, mix well, and continue cooking under low heat for 10-15 mins (If you don’t want to use milk, replace it with little water)
  7. Add cardamom powder to walnut halwa, mix well.
  8. Once the consistency of halwa appears to be good, turn off the heat.
  9. Garnish hot halwa with two Tbsp crushed walnut on top and serve.

PS: Do not use high or medium heat to cook walnut as walnut can burn releasing not so pleasant odor.

Image credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3307399716075404/

Walnut: Image by Th G from Pixabay (CC by 0)

Fig: Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay  (CC by 0)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Drugs and drunk driving not good

Study Shows Driving Both High and Drunk More Dangerous Than Either Alone

We all know that drunken driving is dangerous and like wise consumption of pot or illicit drugs also dangerous for life. A new research study shows that mixing alcohol to pot and driving after the consumption of the mix makes matter worse.

Use of alcohol with marijuana makes drivers more impaired, causing even more lane weaving.

Alcohol consumption alone typically makes driver lose sense and end up in losing track or might crash. If the person has higher level of blood alcohol, one could expect worse in driving. Use of such illicit drugs and/ or misuse of prescription drugs make driving a vehicle unsafe. Drugged driving puts not just driver, also passengers, other vehicles on road and others who share roads at risk too.  

It is also known fact that consumption of marijuana before or while driving will make driver slow down. Slowing does not mean that it is safety. It means person is under influence “high” and will have tough time to focus on lane and just like alcohol drinking and driving, makes it worst for the driver.

What effect drugs will have on brain? Marijuana can slow reaction time, impair judgment of time and distance, and decrease coordination. Drivers who have used cocaine or methamphetamine can be aggressive and reckless when driving. Certain kinds of prescription medicines, including benzodiazepines and opioids, can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impair cognitive functioning (thinking and judgment). All of these effects can lead to vehicle crashes.

A recent study conducted at University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada revealed that the combination of alcohol and marijuana diminishes driving skill even more than the drug or alcohol alone.

It is important to understand why this combination of drug and alcohol has such a huge impact on driving? According to researcher Sarah Simmons, (together Traffic injury Research Foundation in Ottawa, Ontario Canada),  many people drink and use marijuana.

There is a popular notion that consuming pot makes a person better driver because people who are on influence “high” are aware of it and they try to compensate by slowing down or increasing the following distance behind other vehicles. As per data, people did tend to slow driving speed under marijuana influence. Despite slowing, these drivers had hard time with drifting side-to-side.

This study also throws water on another popular notion ‘the opposing effects of marijuana and alcohol on driving speed might ‘cancel each other out’! – The analysis by Simmons showed that there is no evidence for this theory and moreover, it further clarifies that the two substances when combined and taken, will worsen drivers ability to stay in lane and impairs judgment.

Healthy volunteers without substance abuse disorders took part in the study. Their driving skills assessed in simulators or closed courses before and after giving fixed amount of marijuana, alcohol, or both.

The questions that are still open are:

Whether different forms of cannabis – like edibles would have similar effect?

Whether results would be the same in people who use cannabis chronically and heavily?

Pat Aussem, Associate Vice President of consumer clinical content development for the nonprofit Partnership to End Addiction says, “there are many factors to consider when it comes to how cannabis can affect driving”. The active ingredient in cannabis is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). The potency of this ingredient in cannabis is one. A person’s tolerance depends on the amount of time that has passed since using the drug. And substance becomes high very quick by smoking or vaping the cannabis than consuming it as edibles.

There is a growing number of populations that may be driving with THC in system. One of the reasons could be in Canada (where this study was conducted), cannabis is legalized in 2018 and more drivers injured in crashes are testing positive for the drug since. This number is about 18% when compared to 9% previous year. Similar pattern has been seen in US states where marijuana is legalized. It is important to monitor the drivers and levels of active ingredients.

Responding to the  study, Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the US National Institute on Drub abuse said that “ It is crucial that we understand the impact of legalization on addiction and range of other health outcomes, including driving accidents.

References:

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/drugged-driving

https://www.merckmanuals.com/

www.healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/718786, https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1237909, https://pxhere.com/en/photo/118477

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: February 2, 2022
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Foods not to be refrigerated

Don’t Store These 12 Foods In Refrigerator

We have a tendency to store most foods inside refrigerator including fruits, left overs, bread etc., for freshness and to stay longer. Not all foods can remain fresh by keeping inside fridge. Some foods cannot stay longer in cold temperature, as ingredients cannot withstand cold temperatures. These foods texture, taste and flavor will change making them not consumable. Here is the list:

1.       Banana: Banana fruit has cooling effect on body. Eating cold banana causes phlegm and cold and can upset digestive system. Warm temperature helps banana to finish ripening naturally.

2.       Honey: Honey has multiple health benefits. Storing honey inside refrigerator not only solidifies causing crystallization, it also makes honey thick, dark and it will look like sludge.  Best way to store honey is in room temperature in a ceramic container and not in metal container.

3.       Oil: Not all cooking oils can be stored in fridge. Storing oil in the fridge can cause oil to turn cloudy and could solidify. It is better to store oils in cool, dark cabinet. Check label what temperature oil that you use should be stored.

4.       Garlic: Never keep garlic in refrigerator. If garlic is aged, it will release strong odor that could pass onto other foods stored inside. Storing garlic in fridge damages garlic taste.

5.       Potato: If stored in cool place potatoes sprout, keeping in fridge will make them sprout faster. Sprouted potatoes contain high levels of glycoalkaloids, eating of which could lead to stomach and nervous system problems. Same with sweet potatoes – do not store them in fridge.

6.       Coffee: Coffee looses its flavor and picks up flavor from other foods. Storing coffee in refrigerator makes it stale. Storing coffee in dry place, away from sunlight prolongs shelf life

7.       Bread: Have you ever noticed? Storing bread in cold fridge makes it stale and dry. Sandwiches does not taste good either. Store bread in pantry or in bread basket.

8.       Melons:  Fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe should be kept in a fruit basket. Storing these fruits inside fridge without cutting will lead to “chill injury” that alters the taste as well as color.

9.       Mangoes: Should not be kept in fridge without cutting. Cut mangoes can be kept inside but not full ripened mango. Cold slows down ripening and spoil mangoes.

10.   Avocado: Sometimes it is hard make out whether avocado is ripened or not. Keeping unripen avocados will give hard time for the fruit to complete ripening process. Store them in a basket.

11.   Herbs: Kitchen herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, mint should be cut at base and dip the end in jar containing room temperature. If there is any change in fridge temperature, leave of fresh herbs will lose flavor and crystallize.

12.   Onion: Use old method to store onions, a onion basket in cool, dark place. Onions will become damp and soggy, and ultimately spoil if left in the fridge.  Transfer left over cut onions to a air tight container or a Ziploc and store in refrigerator- away from milk, yogurt, butter and cheese.

Image credit: Photo by Ello on Unsplash  (CC by 0) & Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash (CC by 0)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: January 27, 2022
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Guduchi kashaya

Immune Booster Guduchi Amruthaballi Khashaya

Boosting immunity is critical to stop falling sick. Strong immunity means, your body will fight back against all those germs. There are many ways to boost the immunity. One herb that is great for fighting several types of sickness and for a stronger immunity is Guduchi also known as Amruthaballi (Botanical name: Tinospora cardifolia).

According to Ayurveda, this  astrigent, bitter and pungent herb along with removing accumulated Pitta, has immense potential to balance all the three Doshas in the body.

Amruthaballi concoction or khashaya is a traditional Ayurveda and home remedy. To this wonderful herb add few other medicinal herbs and drink daily or occasionally. It will support your body to fight outside germs.

What you need for preparing this concoction?

  1. Guduchi -Amruthaballi – Fresh or dry leaves (tender stem can be included) – about 7-8 leaves
  2. Grated ginger- ½ tsp
  3. Cumin – 1 tsp
  4. Black pepper – ¼ tsp
  5. Tulsi leaves – 5
  6. Ajwain leaves or seeds – 2 leaves or 1/2 tsp seeds
  7. Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
  8. Jaggery powder – ¼ tsp (optional)
  9. Crushed garlic – 1 clove (optional, you can replace ginger with garlic clove)

All ingredients in Guduchi khashaya have healing properties.

Guduchi – Amruthaballi (Amtriavalli ) plant has many medicinal properties. It is used extensively in Ayurveda to treat multiple conditions. In can be grown and used in home remedies.  How guduchi benefits our health?

  • is immune booster
  • detoxifies body,
  • is known to reduce fever,
  • balances blood sugar,
  • good for arthritis,
  • reduces inflammation,
  • reduces allergy symptoms,
  • it is effective against respiratory infections,
  • reduces stress and anxiety, boosts liver function,
  • has anti-inflammatory property,
  • helps improving vision
  • rejuvenates body
  • reduces stress, helps in relaxation

Cumin – Good for digestion, increases appetite, controls blood sugar level

Ginger- reduces cough, cold and inflammation

Turmeric- reduces allergy, reduces inflammation, it exhibits antibacterial property

Black pepper – reduces sore throat, cough, allergy, fever symptoms

Ajwain – both leaves and seeds good for throat irritation, reduces bloating, increases appetite, improves breathing

Tulsi – Holy Tulsi reduces fever, cough and cold symptoms, promotes breathing

Jaggery – improves digestion, good for cough and cold symptoms

Garlic – with its antibacterial property garlic makes it good remedy for cold, cough and fever.

To prepare Guduchi Kashaya

  1. Add jaggery to two cups water and heat water on medium heat.
  2. Crush cumin and pepper and add to water.
  3. Cut Guduchi leaves, ajwain leaves (if you are using seeds crush the seeds), tulsi leaves to boiling water
  4. Add grated ginger (or crushed garlic clove), turmeric.
  5. Bring the contents to boil, lower the heat and let it simmer for five minutes.
  6. Strain Kashaya and drink half to one cup everyday till the symptoms reduces.

Guduchi is a wonderful immune booster herb. The only side effect one can expect is, sometimes consuming guduchi can cause some constipation. Eating fruits, vegetables or fibrous foods will reduce constipation.

Images credit:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: January 24, 2022
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Simple Home Remedies For Cold & Cough During Omicron Pandemic

Simple Home Remedies For Cold & Cough During Omicron Pandemic

Image credits:

·        Image by Дарья Яковлева from Pixabay 

·        Image by emeraldwiz from Pixabay 

·        Image by Bruno /Germany from Pixabay 

·        https://www.pinterest.com/pin/54465476735587954/

·         Mokkie, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

·         https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ClovesDried.jpg#/media/File:ClovesDried.jpg

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: January 17, 2022
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Eye Health - Protect your Vision

Eye Health

Vision is very critical for all of us. It is easy to get your eyes checked once a year or once in two years. Getting eye dilated for examining eyes is painless and helps to protect and prevent from eye conditions. To protect our vision we must take care of our eyes like any other body parts. If you are overweight, obese, have family history of eye conditions or suffering from diabetes then consider scheduling for yearly eye examination.

To keep good vision and to protect health of eyes there are several recommended steps one should follow:

  • Always use eye protection to avoid injuries.
  • People over 40 should have their eyes checked every two years and people over 60 should have their eyes checked every year.
  • Know your family’s eye history
  • Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
  • Eat right to protect your sight.
  • Be cool and wear your shades. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays.
  • Clean your hands and your contact lenses properly.
  • Quit smoking or never start.

It is important to go through eye checkups once a year or as your doctor recommends and get your eyes checked for some of the eye conditions described in next few slides.

Glaucoma – Silent Thief of Sight: Click here to read more

Glaucoma - Silent Thief of Sight

Cataracts: Click here to read more

Cataract

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): Click here to read more

Age Related Macular Degenration

Retinal Detachment: Click here to read more

Retinal Detachment

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Click here to read more

Conjunctivitis

Uveitis: Click here to read more

Uveitis

Sty: Click here to read more

Stye - Eyelid Cyst

Blepharitis: Click here to read more

Blepharitis - Color Blindness

Sources:

  • https://nei.nih.gov/health/color_blindness/facts_about
  • http://www.medicinenet.com/
  • http://byebyedoctor.com/
  • image credit:https://ophtalmica.ch/ (Cataracts),  https://www.willseye.org/ (Color blindness), AARP.org (pink eye), www.aao.org (retina detachment), https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/ (Uveitis), aao.org (eyelid cyst), https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/ (macular degeneration), glaucoma (cdc.gov)
  • Featured image: StockSnap from Pixabay (cc by0)
Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: January 13, 2022
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Glaucoma - Silent Thief of Sight

Glaucoma – Silent Thief of Sight

Glaucoma is an eye disorder that causes damage to the optic nerve that carries information from the eye to the brain. The increased pressure affects the optic nerve and may cause vision loss.

Two types of classification of glaucoma are open-angle (usually painless) and angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma (often associated with pain and redness of the eye). The “angle” in both cases refers to the drainage angle inside the eye that controls the outflow of the watery fluid that is continually being produced inside the eye.

Treatment: Glaucoma usually has few or no initial symptoms.  By the time vision is affected, the damage is permanent. The early diagnosis is key for glaucoma. Progression of glaucoma can be slowed or halted with eye drops, laser treatments or surgery. Researchers has found out that, higher level of exercise appear to provide a long-term benefit of reducing the incidence of low ocular perfusion pressure which is a main factor of glaucoma. Glaucoma development can be reduced by not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a varied and healthy diet.

Reference: http://www.allaboutvision.com/

Image credit: https://www.myupchar.com/en, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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