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.
FRUIT FLIES

FRUIT FLIES

The two most visible signs of fruit fly activity would be the adult flies and the pupae.  Adult flies often are seen flying around in kitchens or trash cans near the decaying fruit or vegetables. They also are attracted to liquor and liquor/beer bottles. The mature larvae of fruit flies crawl out of the breeding material to pupate in a dry nearby spot. There are over several  known fruit fly species across the globe. Like other fly species, fruit flies experience a four-stage life cycle: beginning as eggs, they undergo larval and pupal stages before emerging as adults. The early life stages span approximately a few days and fruit flies can complete their development in as little as week in ideal temperature conditions. Adult fruit flies can live up to 30 days!

The common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is known for its ability to reproduce rapidly. The common fruit fly is a useful specimen in scientific research. The rapid life cycle allows researchers to study the effects of an experiment over a number of generations.

How to get rid of fruit flies? It is extremely difficult to rid a home of the common fruit fly. As their name suggests, they are commonly found infesting fruit. However, fruit flies are also capable of breeding in decaying meat, trash bins and large spills of soda or alcohol. Any fruit brought home following that should be stored in the refrigerator if appropriate. Regularly wipe counters, clean spills and empty your trash cans to help prevent fruit fly infestations. Do not keep cut banana, apple or any other fruits open on the counter tops. Cover them. Discard garbage on regular basis. Dispose all damaged fruits.

After isolating the fly breeding ground, control methods may be utilized. Although eradication may require several treatments, the lack of food available to fly populations will eventually cause them to die out. Use insect sticky cards (traps) and stick them in kitchen!

Image credit: www.funnyjunk.com

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: October 6, 2015
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BED BUGS

BED BUGS

Bed bugs are found in cracks and crevices, including mattress seams, sheets, furniture, behind baseboards, electrical outlet plates and picture frames. Often found in hotels, where they can travel from room to room and in visitors’ luggage or other personal belongings such as purses and briefcases.

  • How to find them? Adult bed bugs are about the shape and size of an apple seed. As the juvenile bugs grow, they shed their skins, discovery of which can indicate their presence. After feeding, bed bugs return to their harborage to hide where they defecate black to brown stains on porous surfaces or black to brown mounds on nonporous surfaces. Bites also may indicate bed bug activity, but further signs will need to be found, since other sources can cause red welts on the skin.
  • How to control? Remove all clutter from your home, which makes finding bed bugs easier. Wash and dry your bed linens on the hottest temperature permitted. Closely inspect any second-hand furniture before bringing it in your home. Inspect your home after moving, trips, service calls or overnight guests. When traveling, think of the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to remember the following action steps to help avoid bringing bed bugs home with you. Survey surfaces for signs of an infestation, such as tiny rust-colored spots on bed sheets, mattress tags and seams, and bed skirts. Lift and look for all bed bug hiding spots, including underneath the mattress, bed frame, headboard and furniture. Typically, they come out at night to feed, but during the day they are most likely found within a 1.5 meter radius of the bed. Elevate your luggage on a luggage rack away from the bed and wall, since bed bugs can often hide behind headboards, artwork, picture frames and electrical outlet panels. Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and when you return home. Always keep luggage off the bed and store it in a closet or other area, far away from your bedroom.
  • Image credit: Entomologytoday.com
Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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HOUSE FLIES

HOUSE FLIES

They are everywhere except the polar ice caps!. One pair of flies can produce more than 1 million offspring through their offspring’s’ offspring in a matter of weeks. More than 100 pathogens are associated with the house fly, including Salmonella, Staphylococcus, E. coli and Shigella. These pathogens can cause disease in humans and animals, including typhoid fever, cholera, bacillary dysentery and hepatitis.

  • Flies spread diseases readily because they move quickly from rotting, disease-laden garbage to exposed human foods and utensils. Because they only have two wings, flies land often and therefore can deposit thousands of bacteria each time they land. when flies feed on waste, they collect pathogens on their legs and mouths. These pathogens are then transferred to food on tables or counters when a fly lands again. Flies regurgitate on solid food then they eat the liquid. They are capable of transmitting disease when they vomit, groom themselves or just walk on surfaces.
  • The best way to repel flies is through simple, preventive measures. Flies prefer warm temperatures and are most active from late spring to early autumn. In order to best repel flies during this time, limit access to your home as much as possible, keeping doors and windows closed. You may also choose to screen windows, doors and vents. Keep garbage cans clean and securely closed. Keeping surfaces clean will make your home less appealing to flies. For best results, contact a pest control professional to discuss extermination options.
  • Image credit: Pexels.com (Free for commercial use)
Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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COCKROACHES

COCKROACHES

Cockroaches can wreak havoc on your home. Cockroaches can enter your home in many different ways, from the outside through cracks and crevices, vents, sewer and drain pipes. We even bring them in on products like grocery bags, boxes, purses and empty old boxes, sinks, between wooden cracks and especially in kitchen. With plenty of food, warmth, water and nesting sites, they can remain active all year round. They reproduce very quick. For every one you see there can be many, many more hiding and multiplying behind your walls. Because cockroaches typically are nocturnal, if you have seen one, you probably have not seen them all. The few cockroaches you see by day could mean they were likely forced out by overcrowding; a possible sign of severe infestation.

What effect they can have? Apart from carrying bacteria that can cause food poisoning, recent studies had shown that they are 2nd important allergy source. The debris created by cast-off cockroach skins, dead bodies and droppings can aggravate allergies and asthma especially in children and sensitive individuals.

How to control? Cockroaches are better at hiding than you are at finding them, and their eggs are naturally protected from many over-the-counter insecticides. Boric acid is one of the most effective cockroach control agents ever developed provided that it is used correctly. It is better to contact pest control department to get rid of this pest.

Image credit: Indiamart.com

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Super Brain Yoga (Tappu Karnam)

Super Brain Yoga (Tappu Karnam)

Super Brain Yoga is an ancient yogic exercise. It is a simple yet powerful technique used to fuel and sustain a healthy brain in order to enhance the capability of the brain to retain and process information.

Originally the great Rishis (saints) of India developed this technique to increase the intelligence of the public using the principle of ear acupuncture points. Thoppu Karanam is the common name for this posture (Tamil launguage). It means to hold the ears. From ancient times, this practice has been evident in the Indian Culture, where people practice this in front of the image of the Lord Ganapathy (a symbolic representation of supreme energy in the form of an elephant which actually signifies wisdom). This posture is connected with the brain. “Ga” representing Intelligence, “Na” representing Wisdom and “Pathy” representing – Master, so ideally meaning of Ganapathy means Master of Wisdom and Intelligence. It is said that this practice is a request to stimulate the wisdom and intelligence. It is also said that the practice has been evident in the ancient Gurukula Systems, where the teachers or Gurus asked their pupils to practice this technique in order to stimulate and energize the brain and its functions. In fact, the practice of ear piercing too has its real reasons being the stimulation of the pituitary and pineal glands, due to the effect of the pressure in the ear lobes.

Today this practice has been re invented by some enthusiasts and is promoted in many parts of the world as “Super Brain Yoga” and more and more people are taking to it. Dr. Eric Robins, a medical doctor in Los Angeles, calls it “a fast, simple, drug-free method of increasing mental energy” and prescribes it for his patients. He speaks of one student who raised ­­­his grades from C’s to A’s in the space of one semester.

Some of the benefits of Super brain Yoga are:

  • Better Memory and Concentration.
  • Improved IQ, EQ and SQ.
  • Increased Creativity and Mental Clarity.
  • Increased Self-motivation.
  • Greater Psychological Stability and Peace.
  • Improved Social and Communication Skills.
  • Brighter Aura and Energy Centers

Helps children in various ways:

  • The children are more focused and ready to work.
  • The children are displaying improved emotional states.
  • The child displaying bizarre behaviours appears to have a normal behaviour.
  • The memory and retention of new information appears to have improved.
  • The entire dynamic of the class has improved dramatically.

Steps to perform super brain yoga posture:

  • Take your left hand and grab hold of your right earlobe with thumb in front.
  • Now take your right hand and grab of your left earlobe. Again, make sure that the thumb is in front. At this point you’re pressing both earlobes simultaneously.
  • Inhale through your nose and slowly squat down to the ground.
  • Hold your breath and do not exhale until you start making your way back up to a standing position.
  • Repeat this squatting action 10, 12, or 21 times.

Image courtesy: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/

References:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: September 29, 2015
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Tale of Laddus

Tale of Laddus

Round sweet dish namely Laddu from India, which is Elephant God Lord Ganesha’s favorite, has interesting tales about its origin and nutrition values. There are so many types of laddus- Besan, coconut, rava, boondi, peanut, sesame, shahi (dry fruits), moong daal laddu etc. Each type of laddus has various types of nutritional values. The Oxford dictionary defines the laddu as an Indian confection, typically made from flour, sugar and shortening, that is shaped into a ball.

In the year 1893 when British chef William Harold left India, he carried a brass tin full of laddus. He presented it to other fellow Britishers saying “the globe of sweet deliciousness made from little globes of sweet deliciousness”. He carried these laddus with lots of curiosity and fondness.

Curiosity is because of variation in types of laddus. There are about 300 varities of laddus in India and each is unique to its region of origin. In Indian Ayurvedic texts, laddus are considered as medicinal-laddus. It is said that the surgeon Sushruta of the 4th century BC used a mix of sesame seeds, peanuts, jaggery or honey to treat his surgical patients. During Chola dynasty the same laddus became offerings for Gods.

In ancient ledger of King Harshavardhana there is a mention about how laddus became breakfast for students. In ancient Nalanda university 75 grams of laddus used to be served as part of everyday breakfast for each student to keep their mental, physical and spiritual health in good shape! Here are few varieties of laddus.

Thirupathi boondi laddu

Thirupathi boondi laddu

Thirupathi boondi laddu – The world famous Thirupathi boondi laddu is made from besan (dry chickpea powder). Recently this laddu completed 300 years service to Lord Venkateshwara. A mind-blowing 150,000 laddus are made and distributed every day. If that sounds like an insanely high number, it is only because 50,000 people faithfully visit the temple every day, and the temple dutifully provides one free laddu to each devotee. Each laddu weighs 175 grams! This sweet laddu is more than just besan and sugar. In addition, a single laddu contains cashew nuts, cardamom, ghee, oil, sugar candy, raisins and almonds. In addition, all these ingredients are bought only at the Commodities and Spices exchange in Kochi. In 2009 Thirupathi temple acquired patent for its laddu ! The taste and look of boondi laddu varies in various parts of India.

Foxtail laddu

Foxtail laddu

Foxtail laddu –  Are offered in many Lord Subramanya temples. This variety was also known as vitamin pills for soldiers as it helped in boosting the immune system of soldiers. Under severe weather conditions soldires and travelers used to consume these laddus to keep their immune system active!

Image Courtesy: https://cuisineindia.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/pict0037.jpg

Makhane laddu

Makhane laddu

Makhane laddu – A specialty of Uttar Pradesh state served to pregnant woman as a nutitional diet addition. Makhane has good medicinal properties like It is digestive for all age groups.  Due to its astringent property, it is relieves one from diarrhea and helps improve appetite.

Coconut laddu

Coconut laddu

Coconut laddu : Specialty of festival of lights ! (Deepavali) is made of coconut. It has all those nutrition values of coconut in it. Raisins, cashew, cardamom are other ingredients that make this laddu variety more tasty and nutrition rich.

Image courtesy: https://ownchef.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/coconut-ladoo-1.jpg

Dry fruit laddu

Dry fruit laddu

Dry fruit laddu – A highly nutrient laddu is Shahi laddu that generally contains following ingredients -Figs, Apricot , Black Dates , Almonds, Pista , Cucumber seeds, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Melon seeds ,Walnut , Chironji nuts, Nutmeg, Cardamom Saffron. These laddus are best suited for health when consumed every morning with a glass of warm milk, for pregnant and lactating women. In fact, granola bar is nothing but Indian version of Shahi laddu !

Image Courtesy: http://tastedeindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Dryfruit-and-Nut-Laddu.jpg

Moong daal (green gram) laddu

Moong daal (green gram) laddu

Moong daal (green gram) laddu – Of Odisha and Bihar used to be a symbol of richness and recipes treated as dynasty heirlooms. Process involved here was drying the lentils, making powder, adding rich ghee and hand blended jaggery and making smooth balls in hands. These laddus used be offered to Gods and kings. Now moong daal laddu preparation happens in many parts of India for various festivals. Moong daal is rich in protein, niacin, thiamin contents.

Image courtesy: http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01424

Sesame laddu And Peanut laddu

Sesame & Peanut laddo

Sesame laddu – Everybody knows value of sesame seed. Sesame seeds with jaggery is the base for this laddu. Sesame has lots of nutrition value and rich source of calcium. Traditionally when a teenage girl attains maturity sesame laddu had to be fed to the girl to make her bone strong! Adding cardamom, saffron, cashew enhances the taste of sesame laddu.

Peanut laddu – Groundnuts with jaggery and cashew are the main ingredients of peanut laddu. Peanut contains good amount of protein. History tells that people who cannot afford to get almonds used to replace almonds by peanuts. Similarly when sugar became costly sugar was replaced by jaggery.

Wheat flour laddu And Puffed rice laddu

Wheat flour & Puffed Rice

Wheat flour laddu – Also known as atta laddu is another specialty of Deepavali festival. Made of wheat flour, sugar, ghee, dry fruits, cardamom is again a rich source of various nutrients.

Puffed rice laddu – Made of churmuri or puffed rice, jaggery, cardamom, cashew is another deepavali special. Less in calories but very tasty, this laddu is easy to prepare. Children love this. This is also another version of traditional nutrition bar!

Rava laddu And Millet laddu

Rava laddu And Millet laddu

Rava laddu – Children are very fond of this laddu. Made of course wheat, dry coconut , sugar and ghee- this laddu is meant for all festivals and auspicious functions.

Millet laddu – This is another nutritious laddu for all! Millet laddu contains various types of grains – pearl, foxtail, finger, kodo, barnyard, barley and moong daal. Jaggery and cardamom for the taste. Millet laddu is good for growth and development of children as it is rich in good carbohydrates.

Image courtesy: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

References:
1) TTD Information
2) Air India Shubh Yatra Magazine, September 2015

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: September 28, 2015
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Rava laddu And Millet laddu

Rava laddu And Millet laddu

Rava laddu – Children are very fond of this laddu. Made of course wheat, dry coconut , sugar and ghee- this laddu is meant for all festivals and auspicious functions.
Millet laddu -This is another nutritious laddu for all! Millet laddu contains various types of grains – pearl, foxtail, finger, kodo, barnyard, barley and moong daal. Jaggery and cardamom for the taste. Millet laddu is good for growth and development of children as it is rich in good carbohydrates.

Image courtesy: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Wheat flour & Puffed Rice

Wheat flour laddu And Puffed rice laddu

Wheat flour laddu – Also known as atta laddu is another specialty of Deepavali festival. Made of wheat flour, sugar, ghee, dry fruits, cardamom is again a rich source of various nutrients.

Puffed rice laddu – Made of churmuri or puffed rice, jaggery, cardamom, cashew is another deepavali special. Less in calories but very tasty, this laddu is easy to prepare. Children love this. This is also another version of traditional nutrition bar!

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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