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.
Gurdwaras implemented Food safety in LangarGurdwaras implemented Food safety in Langar

Gurdwaras implemented Food safety in Langar

Recently 10 community kitchens Langar of New Delhi Gurdwaras implemented the Food Safety and Hygiene Standards set by FSSAI of India.

This decision of implementation of standards was made to guarantee supply of healthy food to all individuals who seed meals from Langars.

Langars are famous and popular community kitchens in a Gurdwara that serve free meals to public. They serve free food like rice, lentils, potato curry, vegetable curry, Indian breads, pudding to entire community.

This free kitchen was started by First Sikh Guru Guru Nanak Dev in 1481 ! Langar was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion.

In Delhi Gurdwaras operate on above principals and bring people together to provide nutritious food. According to President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) their organization has cleared the stringent targets set by the Health Ministry under FSSAI’s project BHOG (Blissful and Hygienic Offering to God).

This ensures that devotees were served safe, hygienic and nutritious langar at all 10 historic Gurudwaras in the Capital of India too.

All together around one lakh devotees attend langar to take meal during week days in Delhi. More than 5 lakh on weekends and during festival times – Holi, Baishaki, Gurpurb. They provide nutritious diet to devotes and food consists of chapatis, dal sabzi (curry), kheer which is considered as prasaad – food offered to God first.  Committee also tests Desi ghee (clarified butter) and edible oils that are used for langar food preparation in Government laboratories. In addition, they supply clean, safe water from reverse osmosis plant. This water is used for cooking too and prevents contamination of food. Langar area is cleaned twice a day as directed by the Food safety standard.

All staffs who work in the kitchen are also under supervision and they must wear yellow aprons, gloves and head should be covered with turban. Training session and workshop on food safety and meal security were organized for those who distribute and handle prasad with help of a nonprofit group.

Project BHOG was launched by FSSAI in late 2016 to ensure good quality food for devotes who visit Indian temples. Project was launched to ensure all places of worship in India to serve quality prasaad while maintaining hygiene of food for safe consumption.

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 19, 2018
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List of things you must have in utility drawer

List of things you must have in utility drawer

Tool box, tool kit or utility drawer at home must have several things that are helpful and comes handy.

It makes life easy and better.

  1. Flashlight: Small or big one should always have a flashlight.  If you don’t have space, go for small LED flashlight and it comes in handy. It might be small but gives powerful bright light.
  2. Tape measure: You will need it if you are into building something or bringing new furniture to home or for putting up pictures.
  3. Extra batteries: Have few sizes assorted batteries for flashlight, remotes, garage door opener, home security system, alarm, clocks etc.
  4. Lighter: You might need it to light lamps, gas stove, candles or for outdoor barbecue or a picnic. Don’t forget fire place needs one too if you have wood burning fire place.
  5. Match box: Keep one or two match boxes always at home. If power goes off to light candles, lamps or to light fire place etc it is helpful.
  6. Candles: Few candles should be stored in tool drawer. Keep candles in a Ziploc bag and during emergency, when there is no power or for dinner you might need it.
  7. Sewing kit: You need it always. When you lose a button or repair jeans, blouse – you definitely need one.
  8. Safety pins: Well, safety pins can save you from embarrassment from wardrobe malfunction. Keep few assorted sizes of safety pins always. It helps to drag cloth string too!
  9. Hammer: Keep two different size hammers. To hang pictures and sometimes to break things and nuts.
  10. String /twine: You might need string to close bag, to tie plants, or to keep things together.
  11. Cutting pliers: Toolboxes will have one, but have couple of different size pliers. They always come in handy – in emergencies. To fix fixtures, to tighten or loosen nuts etc.
  12. Screw driver: Need for fixing many things at home. To loosen or to tighten the bolts, to remove tin cover, for furniture assembly etc.
  13. Scotch tape: Keep extra scotch tapes. Once the scotch tape dispenser is empty, you know where to find them.
  14. Duct tape: Very useful for many things – to keep things in place, for boxes, to bind materials, remove pet hair to hold things etc.
  15. Box cutter: Having a box cutter is good, you don’t need to touch kitchen knives for opening boxes or to cut paper or plastic.
  16. Rubber bands: Always useful for many purposes.  If you open a vegetable bag, to close use rubber band. Rubber band can be used to keep things tidy.
  17.  Clips: Different types of clips – for chips bag, for papers you need them. Binder clips are helpful for paper organization.
  18. Glue: Super glue, paper glue, art glue – all you need for different purposes.
  19. Pens and pencils – Both should be in drawer as you need them always.
  20. Pins – Push pins, simple pins are essential too. If you have habit of painting, into art, using display board then you will need push pins and thumbtacks both.
  21. Scissor: Keep a pair of scissors for everyday use.

Reference: www.Healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/tesa-tape-dispenser-punch-adhesive-1242030/ (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 14, 2018
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Obesity linked to 12 types of cancers study says

Obesity linked to 12 types of cancers study says

Obesity rates skyrocketing and there is a growing number of obese people in the world.

Worldwide an estimated 1.97 billion adults and 338 million children including teenagers are either overweight or obese, reveals a report from 2016.

Obesity is one of the main problem that results in various types of conditions. Being active, healthy diet, reducing and limiting consumption of red meats and saying know to processed and fast foods are highly recommended by World Cancer Research Fund organization. The reason is research studies show that obesity is linked to 12 types of cancers.

According to Dr. Kate Allen Executive Director of Science and public affairs at WCRF, “it is unlikely that there are magic bullet specific foods or nutrients that in themselves cause or protect against cancer”. Different combination of patterns and types of diet with physical activity will create a metabolic state that makes us more or less susceptible to cancer.

Excess weight gain and obesity have been linked to many diseases. It includes diabetes, heart conditions, body inflammation and metabolic disorders. Excess body fat also causes number of chronic conditions and reduces life expectancy. Cancer is similarly linked to obesity, poor diet and poor activities.

The other factors that is reason for cancer is binge drinking or consuming more than 2 drinks per day daily increases risk for liver and esophageal cancer. Obesity is the reason for rise in colon and rectal cancer in younger and middle-aged people.

Following cancers are cited to link to obesity, poor diet and weight gain:

  1. Mouth, pharynx and larynx cancers
  2. Oseophageal cancer
  3. Stomach cancer
  4. Pancreatic cancer
  5. Gallbladder cancer
  6. Liver cancer
  7. Colorectal cancer
  8. Breast cancer (postmenopausal)
  9. Ovarian cancer
  10. Endometrial cancer
  11. Prostate cancer
  12. Kidney cancer

The more weight gain in adults means higher the risk of certain cancer. More weight gain in adults means higher the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Maintaining healthy weight throughout all stages of life is critical to avoid cancer.

How body weight and body fat linked to cancer? See the image below

bodyfatcancer-healthylife-werindia

Image credit: “Figure 5” by Libertas Academica is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 8, 2018
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Reduce water weight

10 simple tips to reduce water weight

Losing water weight is tough and people use water pills.

Here are some natural tips to reduce water weight.

.

  1. Limit your salt intake. Don’t add additional salt to food and reduce eating pickle.
  2. Eat one or two bananas everyday. Potassium in banana helps to reduce water retention. Same with pomegranate fruit.
  3. Drink cranberry juice to shed water.
  4. Drink good amount of water and let your body know that you are supplying water and there is not need to store water in cells.
  5. Consume Vitamin C and A – both supplements will help reduce water retention.
  6. Do not sit for prolonged time. Allow blood to circulate. Stretch legs and avoid edema.
  7. Keep ice packs on body parts – thighs, tummy, calves, to reduce water retention.
  8. Exercise regularly to keep circulatory system in good condition. Blood circulation helps in shedding water weight.
  9. Keep body cool, avoid sauna and excess Sun light exposure. Sweating is good for body up to some extent. Once the body dehydrates, signals send message to retain water.
  10. Do not wear tight clothing. Tight clothes tend to regulate blood circulation

Grandma’s tips: www.healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Lupus symptoms and treatment

Lupus symptoms and treatment

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake and damage many parts of the body.

Lupus often diagnosed in young women (ages 15 to 44).

About 9 out of 10 adults who suffer from lupus are women.

And is a serious auto immune disease can affect anyone.

Symptoms:

  • Muscle and joint pain: Stiffness, swelling. Swelling in neck, thighs, shoulders and upper arms
  • Fever: Higher than 100 F, caused by inflammation and infection.
  • Rashes: On any part of the body that is exposed to sun – face, arms and hands
  • Chest pain: Inflammation of lining of the lungs causes chest pain
  • Hair loss: Bald and patchy spots
  • Sun or light sensitivity: Exposure to sun light can cause fever, fatigue, joint pain, rashes in some people
  • Kidney problem: Half of the people with lupus develop kidney problem “Lupus nephritis” and the will gain weight, swollen ankles, high BP and decreased kidney function
  • Mouth sores: Ulcers, sores on roof of the mouth, sometimes in gums, cheeks and on lips
  • Extreme fatigue: Feeling exhausted even after enough sleep
  • Memory problems: Forgetfulness or confusion
  • Blood clotting: Higher risk of blood clotting, in legs, lungs, stroke, heart attack or repeated miscarriages in women
  • Eye disease: Dry eyes, eye inflammation and rashes in eyelids

Lupus in women:

In women lupus can raise the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, kidney disease. Genes play important role in getting lupus. However, researchers are studying possible causes of lupus in women – Environment, stress, sunlight, smoking, viruses, hormones such as estrogen and of course the problem with immune system.

Lupus is more common in women during childbearing years when the estrogen levels are highest. All women with lupus who get pregnant are at high risk pregnancy and might may face problem during pregnancy. If someone has lupus, it should be under control or in remission for 6 months before getting pregnant. If not, it might result in miscarriage, still birth or can affect baby’s health. Some who has lupus might even develop high blood pressure, lung disease, heart failure, chronic kidney failure in pregnancy.

https://healthylife.werindia.com/health-alerts/selena-gomezs-kidney-transplant-due-kidney-lupus

Lupus diagnosis and treatment:

Lupus diagnosis is based on medical history, family history, physical exam, blood and urine test, skin or kidney biopsy. Analysis of list of above mentioned symptoms will help to diagnose the condition.

As mentioned, it is a chronic disease and there is no cure. One can manage lupus with treatment but it will not go away. Treatments will help to improve symptoms, prevents some health problems and flares.

The goals of treatment include: preventing flares, treating symptoms when it occurs, reducing organ damage. Treatment depends on the organs involved.

Lupus in kidneys or and brain is the most serious form. One should carefully plan in getting pregnant when they know they have lupus. Lupus can flare during pregnancy and the affect is more to bear.

Medicines might be prescribed for:

  • Reducing swelling and pain
  • To calm immune system to prevent attack on organs and tissue of patients body
  • Prevent damage on joints
  • Reducing and preventing organ damage.

There are different medications physicians may prescribe.

Some people try creams for rashes, ointments, fish oil or supplements. Seeing chiropractor for joint problems and homeopathy for inflammation related pain is an option.

Before proceeding with your own medication talk to your doctor or rheumatologists and understand what might be good for you.

How to live with lupus?

Initial step is to get good doctor and support from family and friends. With support one can face the chronic pain and unpredictable illness of lupus. Understand about lupus and stay active as much as possible. Do not give up. Avoid excess sun exposure and sunlight can both cause and increase rash to flare and trigger serious flare of the disease itself. Wear protective clothing – ling sleeves, wide hats and use good sunscreen.

For more information on lupus please visit:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 6, 2018
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Nutrition questions for kids

Nutrition questions for kids

 Kids needs to learn about health and fitness from young age.

It is very much important for them to learn about nutrients and the foods they eat.

Habit of eating healthy food will keep them well fit to face the challenge of the world.

Ask your kids some of the basic nutrition questions given below. Results/answers are simple and provided below.

 Nutrition questions for kids:

1. How many serves of fruit do you usually eat in a day, including fresh, canned and dried fruit?

a) none

b) one

c) two or more

Answer: C

2. Which of the following is the heart-healthiest food choice? (Circle one.)

a) Chicken nuggets

b) Beans

c) Hot dogs

d) Hamburgers

Answer: b

3. How many serves of salad and vegetables do you usually eat in a day, including raw and cooked vegetables?

a) none

b) between one and three

c) four or more

Answer: C

4. How many servings of fruits and vegetables should you eat every day?

a) 1-3

b) 2-4

c) 5-9

d) 10-15

Answer: C

5. How many snack foods – such as chips, chocolate or cake – do you usually eat in a day?

a) three or more a day

b) one to two a day

c) none

Answer: C is the best answer.  (tell your kids why C is the best answer)

6. How many sugary drinks do you usually drink in a day, including cordial, fizzy drinks and fruit juice?

a) two or more a day

b) one to two a day

c) none

 Answer: C is the best answer (tell your kids why C is the best answer)

7. Which of the following contains 100% fruit juice? 

a) Orange soda

b) Orange juice

c) Fruit punch

d) Powdered drink mix

Answer: b

8. Which of the following is lowest in fat? 

a) 2% milk

b) Whole milk

c) Skim milk

d) Low-fat milk

Answer: C

9. Which mineral helps build strong bones?

a) Iron

b) Calcium

c) Zinc

d) Potassium

Answer: b

10. What causes tooth decay? 

a) Bacteria

b) Sugar and starches

c) Acids

d) All of the above

 Answer : d

 

Image credit: Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: June 1, 2018
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Tips for stress free morning

Tips for stress free morning

Preparing for next morning by spending little time will help you to have a stress free morning.

Half an hour to 45 minutes preparation for next day helps you to save time. If you can’t handle all work alone ask your partners help.

Have a check list and get ready. This will help you to get enough sleep and your body will recharge for the day ahead.

Grandma has tips for stress free morning and how to have a relaxed day.

1. Plan your meals previous night – breakfast, school lunch, lunch, supper/dinner items.
2. Plant for your grocery shopping and have a list ready – go through your fridge – vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt, frozen foods
3. Do the dishes, load them in dish washer or finish washing – seek help if you need to. If you are home, after each meal load dish washer or rinse them off!
4. Take out trash – This gives fresh odor next day. Best it to dump trash in big trash can
5. What is your next day is like? Meeting, appointment, school, P&T meeting – select and keep your outfits and accessories ready.
6. For kids – if there is uniform next day – make sure they have it. See if there are any missing buttons – fix it well ahead!
7. Plan and get ready with school lunch boxes
8. Get your dress ready – don’t forget your socks ! Stay top on your laundry
9. Check your check list – see for any appointment that you might have marked in your calendar
10. Visualize your day like and pack your daily handbag with necessary items -wallet, key, medicine, reading glass, ear phone, money etc.
11. Set your alarm clock before going to bed and relax

Grandma’s tips: www.healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: Photo by Giftpundits.com from Pexels (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: May 31, 2018
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