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.
Stop hoarding and panic buying

Stop panic buying, Stop hoarding today!

Everywhere in the world people are hoarding. Why? Because people are panicking about pandemic disease. People are thinking COVID-19 disease can go on for many weeks and months and we might end up starving and not having enough items to survive!

How disgusting it is to see people buying many oil cans, stocking toilet papers, hand sanitizer, soaps, grains, rice, pulses, flour… what not? Reports say store employees stock up items on the store shelves overnight and morning within two hours all shelves turn empty!! Stores are reporting, same people coming back often to buy stuffs that they already bought even after stores change the policy “one/ two item per person/family”.

With COVID-19 pandemic going on, it is difficult time for everyone. People panic about jobs, economy and food. During this difficult time, we hope everyone come together, stay calm and work together to help each other so that community and society continues to run smoothly. Unfortunately, it is not happening that way. People are hoarding… hoarding whatever they can. The result is – on eBay toilet paper price went up! Facial masks are not available and people stealing masks from hospitals! A man in Tennessee bought 17,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to sell at high price to make profit!! Many groceries hiked prices to make money (and some of them got fined too)!! People are standing in ‘Q’ well ahead of store opening time -the way they do on Black Friday sale.

Where the kindness has disappeared? In this critical situation, we must think about those who work hourly and buy day to day food. Labors cannot afford to stock up things. We must think about elders who cannot fight to get items by competing with the huge crowd and handicapped people who cannot afford to go out to get things.

Hoarding is a bad act!

Buying supplies is a responsibility but hoarding is not. Hoarding is nothing but panic buying and is a selfish act. If we are socially responsible, we will not do such thing. People hoard things because of fear or greed. Fear of not getting the items like soap, hand sanitizers, bread, grains and other foods is making people to buy things in excess. There are many who are buying stuffs in huge quantity from various stores, stock them and selling them for higher price and it is nothing but greed. Fear – we can relate to. Individuals who are afraid could be socially responsible but, are concerned that others will not. These people might share the items with others who are in need. Greed – it is bad act and making use of others weakness and will not share anything without benefit.

How can we stop hoarding?

Socially responsible attitude and putting positive thoughts could help. Perceiving fellow shoppers like ourselves leads to cooperation. Media should lower the concerns about empty shelves. Shops should –like COSTCO did- put notice saying, “List of things (names) during this period (dates) bought cannot be returned”.  This will stop shoppers to stock up things and make them think twice before buying extra stuffs.  Stores should allow small number of people or group at a time and restrict number of items per family. Stores must have specific hours dedicated to physically disabled and elders.

Sharing is caring:

The act of generosity positively influences the behavior of others. It generates a greater number of care givers.  We should not forget that there are healthcare and front-line workers who might not even getting chance to shop or to meet family and time to even prepare food. It is community’s responsibility to step in and help elders, front-line workers and those who need help.

People should know and realize that they will not be in this situation for long. Bad time will end, so also COVID-19.  The hope of seeing the light at end of the tunnel will give a great relief and we all are soon going to see end of tunnel. 

Image credit: COSTCO, Walmart.com, Giant.com

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 3, 2020
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Disinfecting grocery, phone and mail

Should we disinfect groceries, phone, mail

Do we need to disinfect groceries, phone, keyboard,  mail and take outs? Self-quarantine helps us to be safe. However, even after so much precautions taken care, still sometimes outside items can bring microbes inside home. We bring groceries, get posts or amazon/FedEx delivers online shopping items front of door. Many restaurants and grocery shops offering to deliver stuffs straight home to avoid any contact with COVID-19.

Question is do these items that we get need to be sanitized, if so how?

According to CDC coronavirus is “thought to spread mainly from person to person through close contact. When the respiratory droplets of infected person (through sneezing and coughing) falls on other individual or individuals  it could lead to COVID-19 disease” For this reason, experts around the globe recommended social distancing and hand washing.

When we come in contact with high -touch areas, we must wash our hands. Generally, microbes are present in high touch areas such as

  • Toilet seat and cover
  • Toilet flush
  • Door handles and doorknobs
  • Light switches
  • Sinks
  • Faucets
  • Hand towels
  • Handbags, recycle bags, tote bags
  • Car steering wheels
  • Furnitures
  • Reusable bags
  • Appliances – door handle
  • Shopping carts and baskets
  • Phones, desks and keyboards
  • ATM machines

These are the highest touch places that we come across daily and experts say that we must focus on disinfecting these areas. High touch places or areas pose high risk for disease transmission. We are likely to touch our face, eye, nose or hair after coming in contact with any of the above listed places/areas. The surfaces you need to be concerned about are surfaces that are touched by other people.”

These areas should be cleaned and sanitized daily and regularly with proper disinfecting liquid – Alcohol, Hydrogen peroxide etc. Use towelette or spray the liquid to remove virus or microbes.

How to handle groceries, mail and shipping materials?

Handling groceries: According to experts, when it comes to COVID-19, transmission of the virus via food and food packages is at low risk. The risk is, coming in close contact with a person who is positive for COVID-19 when we go for grocery shopping. Many stores are supplying disinfectants, hand sanitizers and wipes to clean the cart. Use it to clean the shopping cart and basket handles. Once you back home wash hands thoroughly.

Says Don Schaffner, Professor of Food Microbiology (Rutgers University) “I am not recommending disinfecting your groceries. This seems like being overly cautious. We don’t know of any cases of Covid-19 transmitted by food, nor of any cases transmitted by food packaging”

Just for precaution -If you have purchased items that are in plastic bags, wipe the outside of the plastic bags and store them. Milk packets -rinse in water before cutting it open to pour milk. Canned items – rinse cans under running water.  Vegetables and fruits – it is always a good practice to wash produces as you do always!

To ensure disinfecting microbes from your reusable bags, wash and clean your reusable bags which are also considered as high touch items. Wash bags in hot water the way you wash your clothes. Those bags that cannot be washed can be wiped using disinfectant wipes.

Take out from restaurants:

  • Maintain social distance with restaurant personnel and other customers. The chance of getting viral transmission through payment method is very less. If you are afraid, instead of using card or pay by cash, use contactless payment or touch-free payment method.
  • Most restaurant workers and food handlers will wear gloves and masks. The chance of getting sick through paper bag, food containers or pizza boxes is very low.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly before eating food at home.
  • Transfer the food from takeout containers to your plates.
  • Discard all delivery box appropriately – recycle or trash -where they belong.
  • Wash your hands again and store left over food in proper containers.

How about sanitizing mail and packages?

You don’t need to sanitize the packages or envelops or mails that you receive.  According to WHO there is no evidence of COVID-19 transmitting through postal mails. These materials pose a low risk of transmitting the virus. Avoid contact with delivery person, keep distance while receiving or signing the package. Clean your postal mailbox like the way your clean your email inbox but with soap water. Once your open the mail, recycle envelops and wash your hands says experts.

Phones, desks and keyboards:

  • These three items are frequently touched surfaces (CDC). You can wipe the desk using disinfectant wipes. You should not use a dripping wipe to wipe the phone or keyboard because all gadgets cannot handle the moisture or solvents.
  • Unplug your phone or tablet before cleaning them.
  • Do not spray disinfectant on the phones or other gadgets.  Use a soft cloth to wipe the debris or dust.
  • Contact the manufacturer to understand how to clean the phones or the device? For example, Apple iPhone support page says, you can clean your phone using 70% isopropyl alcohol or Clorox disinfectant wipes.
  • If you are in doubt, then best is buying a phone case and screen protector and wipe it down with soft cloth and rubbing alcohol. This protects the device.
  • To clean keyboard or computer screen like Apple products use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes. Clean laptop bags with proper method or as recommended by manufacturer.

References:

Image credit: Photo by Matilda Wormwood from Pexels
(Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: March 30, 2020
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Fenugreek seeds khashaya

Healthy Fenugreek- Methi Khashaya

Methi or Fenugreek seeds  have many medicinal properties. Seeds are good for lowering blood cholesterol, friendly for heart, recommended for diabetes condition, aids in digestion, promotes weight losss, good solution for women problems and it also known to reduce hair fall. As the summer is approaching, we feel uncomfortable in hot weather. Fenugreek is also known for its cooling effect. It acts as a coolant. This is another reason methi seeds are added with herbal shampoo preparation. There is another way to reduce impact of hot weather -to keep body cool drink methi khashaya once or twice a day.

Recipe for Methi or Fenugreek khashaya

Ingredients

  1. Methi powder – 1 tsp
  2. Jaggery- 1 Tbsp
  3. Pepper powder – ¼ tsp
  4. Water – 1 cup
  5. Milk- ½ cup

Preparation:

  1. Dry roast fenugreek seeds on low to medium heat. Once the seeds start changing color and sputters, turn off the heat. Do not allow seeds to burn. Transfer the seeds to a plate. Spread hot seeds and allow to cool down.
  2. Transfer cooled methi seeds to a dry grinder and grind seeds to powder.
  3. Store methi powder in a clean, dry bottle.

When you want to prepare methi khashaya,

  • To one glass boiling water- add jaggery, pepper powder, methi powder. After a minute add milk and continue boiling for another one or two minutes on low heat. Turn off the heat.
  • Drink hot khashaya (morning or evening) to get its benefits.
Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: March 26, 2020
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Coronavirus & pollution

Decline in Air and water pollution due to COVID-19 threat

Recent satellite images showing less air pollution in coronavirus affected countries. Coronavirus pandemic has shut down the countries across world, causing significant decline in not only air pollution also water pollution. The efforts to control coronavirus pandemic resulted in reduced market activity but has positive impact on environment. In Italy it is reported that swans, fishes, ducks and dolphins return to local waters! People uploaded photos of dolphins spotted in the Port of Cagliari and ducks in fountains of Rome!!

A tiny organism has shown its power on humans by causing havoc in day to day life. As of today, globally virus has infected more than 353 759 people, 100,623 people recovered, and 15,419 people died due to infection. To control and flatten the spread, entire world has acted by shutting down social life of the public. Barring hospitals, pharmacy and grocery stores rest of the public access areas are closed for 2 to 3 weeks. People are self-quarantined willingly and cooperating to help government efforts.

After China, Italy is the center of the outbreak. Italy has undergone obvious visual environmental changes without tourism. Major cities around the globe are showing improvement in air quality as well as water quality. In Venice murky waterways are turned clear due to sediments settle down without boat traffic. Otherwise boats constant stirring the water in canals was causing muddy waterways. It means the environmental benefits that we are seeing tells us that humans have been interfering with environment and nature causing all kind of issues.

Satellite images are now showing decline in air pollution in many cities. The stringent restrictions on travel and closure of non-essential activities has bought nitrogen oxide concentration down in India. Nitrogen oxide is a pollutant produced due to combustion of fuel all over India.  In Mumbai and Pune nitrogen oxide level has fallen by approximately 45%, in Ahmedabad to 50%. In New Delhi, capital of India some level of decline in air pollution is noted.

According to climate scientist and founder of Pacific Institute in Berkeley – Peter Gleick “ In the midst of this rapidly moving global pandemic, it’s natural that we also think about the other massive threat facing us – global climate change- and what we might learn now to help us prepare for tomorrow. As for the environmental benefits we see from the slowdown of day to day life and economic activity in terms of improving air quality and other slight benefits, it’s a good sign that our ecosystems are somewhat resilient if we don’t completely destroy them”

Human made blunders for time being has come to a stop. According to scientists the unintended air pollution declines from COVID-19 is temporary. The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change will depend on how all countries and world corporations respond to current economic crisis. Professor of Earth system Science Rob Jackson (of Sandford University) says “the companies that hurting financially will likely to delay or cancel climate friendly projects that require investment up front” 

In next few weeks it is critical to see how the world recovers from the pandemic as it is vital in the fight against pollution and climate change.

References:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: March 23, 2020
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Best children books

Best Ten Children Books for kids who Love Reading

If your child is one who does not want to watch TV and play video games, she or he might be interested in reading good and interesting books. Reading is a good habit and it helps children to stretch their mind by increasing the curiosity. It makes them  think and helps to take part in thoughtful discussion. There are thousands of children books available in local libraries. If you don’t have access to library at present, then try getting some books online or order from publishers. We have made a list of good books that your child might want to read. Look and share with your child.

Unlocking the Universe by Lucy Hawking & Stephen Hawking The book is collection of articles by many scientists including Science Guru late Stephen Hawking! It explains and answers many questions about the secrets hidden in the universe. It answers questions like what it takes to reach moon or mars, how big is the universe? How universe has began? Etc. Recommended reading age: 9-12-years-old

The Case of the Drowned Pearl: Robin Stevens – If your child is into solving mystery and it interests him then this is a good read. -Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are on holiday at seaside when they discover a body on the beach. The is that of famous Olympic swimmer who appears to have drowned accidentally. But how a famous swimmer has struggled to swim and can drown? Recommended reading age: 9-12-years-old

Always Inventing – Alexander Graham Bell This is a National Geographic Children’s Book publication. Book represents the award-winning photobiography of Scientists Alexander Graham Bell, uses direct quotes of the great personality. Book has a foreword by Bell’s great grandson Gilbert M. Grosvenor. Famous book has 70 period photographs and drawings taken from Bell’s notebooks. Recommended reading age : Ages 10 and up

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Lewis Carroll. The book was banned in few countries because of the animal characters in this beautiful book talk! It is all time favorite book of many. It tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with children and adults! Recommended reading age: 9-12

Animals in the Sky : Sara Gillingham If your kid like to look at moon, stars and sky then, this book is a good read. It gives a beautiful introduction to astronomy for children. It helps children to explore the stars. Children are asked to guess the animal shape of a set of stars before turning the page to see if they were right, and to learn a basic fact about the constellation or different group of stars. Recommended reading age: 7 above

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! : Dr. Seuss In his book Dr. Seuss addresses the great balancing act – life, ups and downs of life. He encourages children to find the success that is hidden within. The brief graduation speech from Dr. Seuss is presented wonderfully, with humorous verse and pictures. Recommended reading age: Children all age group

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss Another famous book by Dr. Seuss.  Theodor Geisel wrote and illustrated the book under the name Dr. Seuss. It is one of the bestselling book of all time. It is adapted into animation and film. The story revolves around an anthropomorphic cat who shows up in Sally’s house, makes a mess while entertaining Sally and her brother and cleans up the house with help of Thing 1 and Thing 2 before Sally’s mother’s comes home. Recommended reading age:  3-8 years

Charlotte’s Web : E. B. White E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web is a classic children’s book and one of the bestselling book of all time. The story is about a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. When the farmer about to slaughter Wilbur the pig, Charlotte uses her web-making skills to create praise worthy words to save Wilbur from slaughtering. Recommended reading age: 8-11

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe :C.S. Lewis This is the first of a seven part series by C.S Lewis. Narnia a fictional land with talking animals and mythical creatures and their ruler, the White Witch. It is story of  the four children of which the youngest of whom can visit Narnia through his wardrobe closet. The book ranks 9 on BBC’s The Big Read and included in the ‘All-Time 100 Novels’ by TIME magazine. Recommended reading age: 8-12

Goodnight Moon: Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd A beloved story book of many parents and recommended for young children and toddlers. The book takes children through a ritual saying good night to everything in  the great green room. The sweet and sleepy classic book is an inspiration of many stories that came later. But no book can be compared to original book. Recommended reading age: 1-4

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Home remedies for phlegm

Home remedies for phlegm

In another few days spring is setting in. It means for many it is pollen allergy, cold and phlegm formation. This inhibits us going out and enjoying the pleasant weather. When phlegm or mucus sits inside the system, it can create havoc. A sort of uneasiness, sleepiness, lethargy, irritation, body ache all these types of symptoms one will experience.

It is important to blow nose properly when we know we have lot of mucus.

If not, it can lead to flu, fever. Allergies and cold produce excess mucus and results in infection of upper respiratory tract and lungs.

To control and reduce phlegm, one can try some herbal and home remedies for phlegm..

1. Licorice root: Licorice root teas eases congestion by loosening and thinning mucus in airways. It helps to expel mucus from the body. To intensify licorice effect one can combine licorice root tea with ginger. Steep or boil licorice root with grated ginger in water and consume twice a day.

2. Ginger and jaggery: Both ginger and jaggery are good combination to reduce mucus and to get rid of phlegm. Boil a cup of water and add grated one tsp ginger and one lemon size jaggery. Strain and drink without milk.

3. Ginger, jaggery and honey: Crush ginger and add honey and powdered jaggery. Mix and prepare small balls. Chew one or two of these “churan” twice or thrice a day. This helps to reduce phlegm amount and cough.

4. Peppermint tea: Steep few peppermint leaves in hot boiled water. Add half tsp of honey, mix and drink. Menthol in peppermint helps to remove phlegm and steam helps to clear the nasal passage.

5. Turmeric milk: Before going to bed, boil 1.5 cups of milk with 2 tsp of turmeric. Bring the volume of milk to 1 cup by boiling. Drink with or without sugar. Turmeric milk reduces inflammation and mucus. Helps to get sound sleep by easing nasal passage.

6. Salt water gargling: For one cup of warm water add 1.5 tsp of salt. Dissolve and gargle thoroughly. While gargling you will remove phlegm from throat and you also will notice watery nose giving clear way for breathing.

7. Onion: Bake or slightly burn one red onion and add little jaggery or sugar candy. Have this before or after dinner. Both onion and jaggery can remove phlegm overnight.

8. Eucalyptus oil: Inhaling eucalyptus essential oil is helpful to reduce mucus and cough. Add few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to boiling water. Transfer this water to bowl and inhale the vapors for few minutes. While inhaling cover your head with a towel and don’t allow steam to escape. If you have a diffuser or humidifier add few drops of eucalyptus oil to clear nose.

9. Lemon, pepper, salt: Wash and cut lemon into thin slices and add crushed pepper and salt. Mix and leave it for few hours. Take a lemon piece and keep in mouth. Chew the lemon slowly to reduce phlegm. One can dry this mixture under sun and store in air tight container. When there is phlegm chew lemon pieces.

10. Honey, pepper and dry ginger powder: Mix these three ingredients in equal amount and one or two tsp twice a day.

11. Panchakarpura or camphor: Take a small piece of camphor and rub in your palm. Inhale and exhale camphor odor while your eyes closed. Do not touch your eyes as it is strong for eyes, wash your hands afterwards.

12. Drink hot liquids: Hot soup and hot herbal tea (peppermint, lemon and ginger, chamomile, ginger tea) will help to reduce mucus and also to relax.

Sometimes, mucus can stay longer. If you are a smoker, stop smoking today. Smoking increases both cough and mucus. Avoid using household cleaners, paint, smoke, chemicals as these substances can only increase your trouble with mucus. Phlegm is a common condition. But one should be also careful if it is prolonged cough with mucus. If it persists then it can lead to some other conditions.

Grandma’s remedies @Healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit; Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Soap & water Vs. Hand sanitizer

Which one to use Hand sanitizer or soap water

In the current situation pharmacies and stores are shortage of hand sanitizers. Is hand sanitizer is better than soap water to maintain hygiene?

Clean hands protect us from falling sick. In this present COVID-19 outbreak health care specialists are asking people to keep hands clean either by washing hands often with soap water or to use hand sanitizers or both. When we step out if water is not available, we may have to carry hand sanitizers. Hand sanitizers are more portable and accessible when we have to step out and definitely will help to reduce virus transmission.

-According to CDC and experts the best way to keep germs away is hand washing with soap water as it reduces all types of germs in hands. Alcohol based hand sanitizers quickly reduce the microbes on hands. However, in some cases sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.   Hand sanitizer with minimum 60% alcohol will inactivate on certain germs and help to avoid getting sick as well as spreading germs.

-Microbiologists suggest that, soap and water are more effective in removing certain kind of germs and not hand sanitizers. It is also proven that scrubbing hands under warm water for 20-30 seconds will help to kill the germs.  For examples Cryptosporidium, Noroviurs and Clostridium difficile can be removed by using soap water. Hand sanitizers when used at right amount can inactivate microbes and quickly reduce the number of germs. However, they do not eliminate all types of microbes like the way soap and water do. People may not use sufficient amount/ volume of sanitizers or might wipe sanitizer before it dries off from the hand.

-Hand sanitizers are not effective when hands are visibly dirty or oily/greasy. In other words, hand sanitizers are not suitable for when we work in the garden- heavily soiled or cooking or automobile work – for greasy hands. People who handle foods, play sports, gardening work, camping and fishing should not relay on hand sanitizers as sanitizer does not clean hands. In such circumstances soap and water are highly recommended to maintain hygiene.

-We cannot use hand sanitizer to remove pesticide like chemicals. Hand sanitizer will not remove or inactivate harmful chemicals. In fact, alcohol-based hand sanitizer can react and retain the chemicals in the body. The best option to remove chemicals (like pesticide, herbicide and other types of chemicals like – fertilizers) is using soap or water or using solutions as directed by product label (poison control)

-When soap water is not available to wash hands, like when you step out of the house, then your best option is to use hand sanitizers with minimum 60% alcohol content. Sanitizers with 60-95% alcohol are effective in inactivating germs than the ones with lower level alcohol. FDA recommends using sanitizers with 95% ethanol or isopropanol.  Remember lower level of alcohol in hand sanitizers will not reduce growth of germs and will not work well on most germs. And, avoid alcohol free hand sanitizers as there is no data to show that they can inactivate or kill germs.

How often one should use soap and water to wash hands? Answer is, multiple times. CDC and other health agencies say washing hands multiple times a day is one way to reduce respiratory illness by 16-21%.  See hand wash tips -Click here

When and how to use hand sanitizer? If you are aware soap and water is not available where you are, then look for hand sanitizer and use it. Read the label for how much to use and apply the product to the palm of one hand. Rub your hands together and apply product all over hand surface, between fingers until your hands are dry. The entire hand sanitizing process should take 20 seconds.

Whether it is soap and water or hand sanitizer, ultimately it comes down to whether you are washing and cleaning your hands or not. Hands are the doors for germs. Maintaining hand hygiene is critical to stop falling sick and to prevent transmission of the diseases.

Image credit: Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
& Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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