NEW DELHI (TIP): A Canadian patent protection may be blocking an Ebola vaccine even as the world is struggling to stop the spread of the deadly virus. Almost a decade ago, Canada developed probably the world’s most promising vaccine to prevent spread of Ebola virus disease. However, the Canadian government shielded the vaccine with patent rights, limiting its further development for use in other countries, it is learnt. The Canadian government licenced the vaccine in 2010 to Bioprotection Systems Corporation, a subsidiary of NewLink Genetics, allowing the firm sole rights to develop and commercialize it. The profit-driven arrangement between the Canadian government and the firm has attracted criticism worldwide. Critics said since patenting a vaccine in such circumstances is affecting public health, the Canadian government should put it out in public domain in larger interest. The vaccine which was developed by a Canadian scientist, is based on a live attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus and has several known advantages as compared to other vaccine candidates in clinical trials.
Tag: Health
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Six nurses killed in latest attack on Chinese medical workers
BEIJING (TIP): Seven people, including six nurses, were stabbed to death at a hospital dormitory in northern China on Thursday, the official Xinhua news agency reported, the latest in a string of attacks on medical workers. A hospital administrator was among those killed and another nurse was seriously injured in the attack, Xinhua said. The hospital is in Beidaihe, a seaside resort close to Beijing favored by senior members of the ruling Communist Party. A suspect has been detained, the Xinhua report said without providing further details.
A spate of attacks on doctors and nurses in the past two years has prompted the health ministry to provide better security at hospitals. While the government has ramped up health spending, hospitals are frequently overwhelmed with patients. Doctors are also badly paid, leading to corruption and a suspicion that staff are more interested in making money by prescribing unnecessary drugs and treatment than tending the sick. Many other Chinese are unable to afford health care despite government efforts to provide a basic safety net, which has also prompted attacks in the past. Ministry data shows that violent attacks directed at doctors and other health care workers in the form of beatings, threats, kidnappings, verbal abuse and murder reached 17,243 cases in 2010, the latest year for which such figures are available -
METROSEXUALS OUT, BEARD BACK IN STYLE
WARSAW: Jakub Marczewski grew a beard six years ago because he was too lazy to shave.Now he finds himself in the middle of a global trend. The 21-year-old got his hair and beard trimmed at a new shop with a hip retro vibe, the Barberian Academy & Barber Shop, which opened in Warsaw last month to serve the growing number of Polish men with facial hair. A revival in the culture of barbering in this Eastern European capital is just one sign of how popular beards have become, with actors, athletes and hipsters leading the way .
Metrosexuals be gone: Europe is agog for beards. “Worldwide, we are at the height of facial hair,” said Al lan Peterkin, a Toronto psychiatrist and author of “One Thousand Beards: A Cultural History of Facial Hair.” “It’s a delightful expression of masculinity, but not a super-macho expression.” After World War II, men were mostly clean-shaven, reflecting a military ethos that came to dominate corporate life, Peterkin said. Over the next decades facial hair was adopted by outcast groups like beatniks and hippies. Since the mid-1990s, it has been slowly spreading to the point that now the mountain man beard is all the rage across North America.
The 2008 financial crisis added to the beard momentum, with some men who lost their jobs ditching the conformist look as they reinvented themselves. “To grow a beard is to start a new life and to have more confidence in yourself. You look a little older, so people have more respect,” said Salvador Chanza, a 31-year-old master barber from Spain who trains professionals. Sporting both a handlebar moustache and a substantial beard, he said the embrace of facial hair reflected a rejection of the previous clean-shaven metrosexual ethos. Now facial hair is hugely popular across Western Europe, especially in fashion-conscious Paris. And in Britain and many other nations, it’s the month of “Movember” — when men are encouraged to grow a mustache to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues. -
SEXED UP ROMANTIC HOTSPOTS AT HOME
Not only the bedroom, but very unlikely corners can be made romantic with some kinky imagination. Tired of sticking to a set routine while making our? Well, there are ways to pep up your sex life by going a tad funky with where you two do the tango. Here’s how:
Bathroom
It can be made the jazziest and most happening place so far as sex is concerned. All you need to do is perk up the ambience to uplift the mood. Select the choicest minty or lemony perfumes, soaps, and fragrances of your choice. Fill the bathtub with bath salts of your choice and simply indulge in each other’s company.
Living space
When you have the entire home at your service, why to limit your romantic encounters to a particular spot? So, change the spot according to your mood. Set your living room with all the essentials of love making, like the right pillow for the right sex position, condoms at an accessible place near or beneath the sofa cover and so on.
Kitchen
Celebrate love while relishing some of the wonderful tastes. Well, you can lean against the refrigerator, or you can just take to the kitchen platform – any which way you choose, the kitchen area makes for a wonderful sex hotspot. All you need is some mood elevating props like cocktails, ice cubes, some delicious finger foods ready.
Cozy corner in the bed room
Move over the comfy mattress as you can very well set the mood right at a cozy corner. Set the ambience of your bedroom right with a very nice combination of lamps. An LED that just let both of you feel and sense the romantic mood in the corner is enough. You can even drag the cushy bed cover and make the corner a very special love destination for some nights. -
EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF MASSAGE
One of the oldest techniques of holistic rejuvenation, oil massage, has been prevalent in our country for centuries. Reams have been written about its benefits. Ritu Singh Tanwar, an aesthetician who also specialises in massages, says, “The best thing about them is that not just physically, massages also benefit you emotionally.” Oil massages are part of purification, prevention and rejuvenation processes, The famous Indian tel maalish is now popular globally.
Physical benefits
Oil massage improves overall health, increases longevity, perks up skin tone and hair, and works well for anti-ageing. A full body massage hydrates skin, aids blood circulation, muscle relaxation, calms the nervous system, and improves lymphatic circulation, which helps in flushing out the toxins from the body.
Emotional benefits
Dr Sonal Shah, trichologist, who has also developed many natural detox therapies says, “One of the best emotional benefits that a massage can give is the sense of touch — it is a direct transfer of energy.” This helps you de-stress. Dr Sonal adds, “A massage also gives you time to unwind. Those one or two hours of ‘me time’ have a huge emotional benefit.” She explains that negative thought processes, worries and anxiety are all released after a massage session and toxins are flushed out.
“There are certain hormones that are secreted after a massage that rejuvenate and repair one emotionally,” she adds. When you get a massage by a professional, it leads to a lingering sense of calm and gives a definite relief from mental stress/tension. Moses adds, “A massage is known to improve your sense of well-being. It is a great aid to deal with any form of stress, which is the root cause for most sicknesses.”
Go for the quickie!
A head massage is a brilliant go-to, if you are time-strapped. This relieves you off your daily stress and anxiety and helps you focus better. It also lends a ‘feel good’ aura. -
SPROUTS ARE STOREHOUSE OF VITALITY
Sprouts are the ‘shooting’ stars of the gastrosphere, with health specialists sprouting everything from grains and seeds to pulses! Here’s why it makes sense to include them in your diet:
SUPER GRUB
Sprouts are effectively living foods and one of the richest forms of nutrients known.”People sprout their food to boost its nutritional content. Generally, sprouts are rich sources of vitamin C, B, fibre and protein, which are great for boosting the immune system,” says nutritionist and food consultant Jia Singh. Sprouts are the perfect plant-based food, which can help us reduce our blood cholesterol levels, which in turn reduce heart strokes and other heart issues. “Sprouts make perfect sense for those watching the waistline, since they are high in insoluble fibre that is crucial for weight loss. Controlled weight will also keep beasts like diabetes, depression and high BP at bay,” says health expert Dr Anjali Hooda.
SO MUCH TO SPROUT!
You’ve probably heard of bean sprouts or the latest Brussels sprouts but there’s so much more that can be sprouted – grains, such as barley and wheat, radish and broccoli seeds, kidney beans, soybean, amaranth and even brown rice. Sprouted seeds, pulses and beans are collectively known as `sprouts’ and they’re big globally right now. Organic food markets across the globe are selling sprouted grain bread, quinoa, as well as sprouted grain flour. But why sprout grains, you might think.Well, sprouted grains aren’t allowed to reach their full-grown stage and are picked before the seeds use the starch to grow. So what you get is less starch and more vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and protein! They also contain less gluten and hence, are ideal for people with gluten sensitivity.
BREAK THE MONOTONY
The next time, instead of scowling at sprouts, break the boredom of it all by trying different approaches. You could mix and match various sprouts (lobhia, kidney bean, soybean) and take a break while consuming them. Your body needs to work extra hard to process this raw food, so opt for sprouts once a week or twice maximum. Also, wherever you would use a grain, nut or bean in your cooking, replace it with a sprouted one. -
Indians yet to catch up with adult vaccination
Prevention is better than cure. This saying does not seem to hold good for Indians as far as health care is concerned with only around 10 percent of adults opting for vaccines to reduce the threat of common diseases. Even as people become more health conscious only a minuscule population is opting for vaccines to prevent illnesses like flu and meningitis, health experts said. Some of the vaccines available for adults are against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Meningitis and the Human Papalloma Virus that causes cervical cancer.
“Prevention is always better than cure. But still preventive healthcare is lacking in India. People do not go to doctors until and unless it reaches a critical point,” Ravindra Gupta of the Internal Medicine department of Columbia Asia Hospital- Gurgaon told us. According to the WHO, around two billion people worldwide are infected with the Hepatitis B virus and 600,000 die each year due to its consequences. In India, approximately 80 million people harbour the Hepatitis B virus, which results in around 240,000 deaths annually. India reports one-fourth of the world’s cervical cancer cases. Gupta said: “In fact only less than 10 percent of people opt for vaccinations.
People need to be more aware and take charge of their own safety and well-being and keep away diseases and illnesses which can be prevented with vaccination.” Gupta said in some cases, even doctors are not aware about the various vaccines available for adults. However, he added, awareness has certainly improved among the masses as the knowledge about the available vaccines is growing. “There should also be a campaign on the need for adult vaccination at a greater level so that the people are informed about the vaccines available not just for children but for adults as well,” he said.
Ashu Sawhney, senior consultant and coordinator, neonatal intensive care, Jaypee Hospital, Noida, told us: “Immunization, which was previously limited to children, is becoming more and more popular for adults and the elderly. “It stimulates and enhances the body’s immune system to protect against various infectious diseases,” he said, adding that vaccination not only saves lives but is also more cost-effective considering the cost of treatment and loss of work days. Thus, more and more people should opt for vaccines to stay healthy, Sawhney added.
A senior health ministry official said that though the government does not have any national policy for adult vaccination like the child immunization programme, there are guidelines available. “Even the United States only has guidelines for adult vaccination,” the official said. Talking about the vaccines approved by the government, Atul Gogia of Sir Gangaram Hospital said: “Out of all the vaccines available for adults, only HPV vaccine has not been approved by the government. The rest of the vaccines are approved by the government”. -
MAKE WAKING UP EARLY A HABIT
Waking up early is a great way to start a day. Find out ways on how to do it.
Go to Bed Earlier
Probably the biggest detractor from getting up early is not getting enough sleep. Do you really need to burn the midnight oil just to be on social networking sites? Or to watch mindless television soaps. That’s not really doing anything productive, substantial or beneficial.
Stick to a routine
Your body loves routine. There’s a reason why we feel hungry at certain times. Same goes for our sleep schedule. That’s why you get hungry at certain times. Same goes for your sleeping schedule. Having a routine will make it easier to get up early.
Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
Less caffeine means that you will not be an owl. Cut down on your caffeine take. And see the difference it makes to your sleeping pattern.
Keep a motivation
Getting up early requires motivation in the beginning. Give yourself a good reason to do it. You got to look forward to this ritual of getting up early. Exercise is a fabulous motivation to wake up early.Working out early in the morning will make you feel energized. So, look forward to start your day on a high note. -
Smoking ups risk of developing second cancer
Alarge study has found that cigarette smoking prior to the first diagnosis of lung (stage I), bladder, kidney or head and neck cancer increases the risk of developing a second smokingassociated cancer. “As survival improves for a number of smokingrelated cancers, patients are living longer; however, smoking may increase the risk of developing a second smoking-related cancer among these survivors,” said Meredith S. Shiels, lead study author and research fellow with the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
Researchers examined data from five cohorts which included 2,552 patients with stage I lung, 6,386 with bladder, 3,179 with kidney and 2,967 with head and neck cancer. They found that the association between smoking and developing a second primary smoking-associated cancer was similar to the association between smoking and developing a first primary smoking-associated cancer. Patients who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day had a 5.41-fold higher risk of developing cancer than individuals who have never smoked. Notably, current smoking at any level increased the risk of overall mortality across all cancer disease sites. “Our study demonstrates that health care providers should emphasise the importance of smoking cessation to all their patients, including cancer survivors,” Shiels concluded. -
An Avoidable Tragedy
It is at once sobering and shocking that the sterilization procedures (laparoscopic tubectomy) carried out on 83 women at a camp in Pendari village of Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district on November 8 ended up killing 11 women and leaving 69 others ill, some of them critically. In another such sterilization camp held in Guarella in the same district on November 10, one of the 56 women sterilized has died and 12 remain in critical condition. Even as the precise cause of the tragedies is being investigated, what is abundantly clear is that the standard operating procedures were thrown to the winds.
It is appalling that a single doctor and a health worker carried out the procedures on all the women in both the camps. According to a 2008 document dealing with standard operating procedures for sterilization services in such camps, a surgeon can carry out no more than 30 tubectomies using three laparoscopes on a given day. Even a team with additional surgeons, support staff and instruments can at the most conduct 50 procedures a day. Even if more than one laparoscope was used, the detailed procedure of decontaminating and cleaning the laparoscope prior to disinfecting it for 20 minutes would have made it impossible to conduct 83 procedures in less than five hours at Pendari and 56 procedures at Guarella in such a short time.
It is an irony that though laparoscopic tubectomy is a bloodless procedure, many women in the Pendari camp went into hemorrhagic shock due to excessive blood loss. Along with anesthesia and drugs given to women, the needle of suspicion points to sepsis arising from the use of contaminated laparoscopes. Sadly, rules will continue to be flouted and deaths will be the order of the day as long as the lethal combination of pressure to meet sterilization targets, “compensation” amounts given to women and payment to doctors on the basis of numbers, are in place. Making it worse is the undivided attention the government has been giving to sterilization as a means of achieving by 2020 the Millennium Development Goal on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.
This comes out clearly in a letter sent out on October 20, 2014 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to the Chief Ministers of 11 “high focus States.” The “compensation” and payment made to all the parties have been increased for these States. Already, the number of sterilization procedures carried out in India is disproportionately high compared with other family planning measures such as the use of intrauterine devices. If the accredited social health activists (ASHA) are under pressure to mobilize women for sterilization, the increased focus on the 11 States would mean that women in these States are even less likely to be counseled and informed of safer contraceptive methods to choose from.
(The Hindu) -
US nurses hold strikes, protests over Ebola measures
SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (TIP): Tens of thousands of nurses across the United States staged protest rallies and strikes on Wednesday over what they say is insufficient protection for health workers dealing with patients possibly stricken with the deadly Ebola virus. California-based National Nurses United had expected about 100,000 nurses nationwide to participate in the protest, and a spokesman for the union said he expected about that many people to take part before the end of the day.
The union is embroiled in contract talks with the operators of nearly 90 California hospitals and clinics, and one hospital in Washington, DC. About 19,000 nurses who on Tuesday began a two-day strike against those California facilities were part of the Ebola measures protest, which in other parts of the country did not involve nurses walking off the job. Healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente, which operates most of the California facilities where the nurses were striking, has accused the union of using Ebola as a pretext for labor action.
The nurses are pressing hospitals to buy hazardous materials suits which leave no skin exposed, as well as powered air-purifying respirators, to properly protect them from exposure, and they are seeking more training to handle patients suspected of having Ebola. “The best way to protect our community is to protect our nurses,” said Evan Brost, a nurse who joined more than 30 people in a protest outside the White House over Ebola measures. Elsewhere, protests took place in Chicago, Oakland, and outside the offices of some state governors, said National Nurses United Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it has ordered $2.7 million worth of personal protective equipment to help hospitals care for Ebola patients, but union officials contend that is insufficient. -
THINGS THAT RUIN A RELATIONSHIP
From obsessing over your career to being the self-appointed changemaker in his life, you might be driving him to call it quits There are dos and don’ts in a relationship. If you are finding the latter list of conventions more common in your behaviour, then you are most likely to meet a dead-end with your happilyeverafter dream soon. Don’t ruin your perfectly fine relationship with these repugnant ways.
Stop nitpicking
This is the first relationship red flag. If you pick holes about everything from what he wears to how he speaks, bear in mind nobody wants to be around a nag, and not if she is a girlfriend, for sure. You will give him the impression that he winds you up more than soothes your nerves. You may argue that he is nice, but doesn’t meet the criterion of the perfect guy you always dreamt of being with. That surely doesn’t give you the licence to be the change maker in his life.
Preventing him from hanging out with his crazy friends, or stopping his videogame sessions in an attempt to stabilise him will one day get the better of your relationship.We suggest, give him some space and enjoy yours. Get a life So, your job is important to you. Good for you. However, don’t let your business become the centre of all the conversation that you have with your man, unless you’re facing a crisis at work and you want him to hear you out. Calling off dinner dates, being on a work call and attending to your mails while you are with your partner is extremely disrespectful. It shows that you probably are having a relationship with your job than with your guy. Relax, once you are through with the day’s work, switch off. Enjoy your time with your man and maintain the sanity of your relationship.
Hold your horses
It has been a while since the two of you are dating, and you have been waiting for him to propose marriage since the day you met him. Then, you would probably be waiting for the rest of your life. Hold your horses. Learn to go with the flow. Don’t go about introducing him to your parents after the second date, and invite him for family dinners after the third. That said, don’t be ambiguous too. If you are serious then let him know, or else let him go. Men can gauge the difference easily when the woman is playing hard to get, or when she is playing mean games.
Don’t be silly
It is okay to speak to yourself, or tell yourself that you are pretty in front of the mirror every day. But don’t expose your eccentricities in front of the potential ‘to-be’ when you are only just six months into the relationship. You may scare him off for good. Give him the awkward gaze, but save those crazy eyes when you know him a lot better.
Learn to trust
The basis of any healthy relationship, besides love, is trust. Don’t be insecure. If you are constantly wondering whom he is with or speaking to, then you, perhaps, need a reality check. Walking on thin ice is unhealthy, and not when there are feelings involved. At that rate, you will reach the shrink before you make it to the marriage registrar’s office. -
Ways to make your hair grow faster
If you’ve been experiencing hair fall and want your hair to grow faster, here’s what you need to do Trim your hair every month: The ideal way to ensure that your hair grows faster is by trimming your hair every four to eight weeks. Since your hair grows from the roots, by the time it grows out, the end of your gets split ends because of which your hair gets damaged and rough. Trimming your hair will ensure that your hair breathes oxygen and is healthy and grows long. Hot oil massage: A hot oil massage if done every alternate week works wonders for your hair.
Not only do they ensure that your hair grows faster, but it also makes your hair healthy and reduces hair fall. Oils like jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil and lavender oil brings shine and volume to your hair. Vitamin and proteins for your hair: Just a massage of vitamin E or the application of egg yolk on your hair will bring volume and make your hair healthy. They are also known to heal damaged hair and makes your hair stronger from the roots. Brush your hair at least 50 times before bedtime: Make sure that you are combing your hair for at least 50 times before you retire for the night. Brushing the hair makes your roots stronger and also reduces hair fall manifold. -
VITAMIN-DEFICIENCY WARNING SIGNS
Vitamin symptoms may be subtle at first, but they increase as the deficiency worsens. A diet rich in processed food is one of the main culprits, aside of the consumption of lack of food. But the main concern remains that all the chips and biscuits that you so love strips you off all the essential nutri ents. Junk fare is mostly `dead food’ and seldom has any nutrients to contribute to your health and wellbeing. Besides, it doesn’t help absorb them properly as it messes with your digestive tissues.
So although you may not suffer from a disease, there’s a chance that you may end up with impaired functioning, because vitamins are co-factors for all the bio-chemical reactions in the body. That impaired functioning can sometimes manifest in strange ways. It’s your body trying to tell you something. So listen to it. While fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, pale skin, irregular heartbeats and weight lass are apparent, there are unusual vitamin-deficiency warning signs.
SIGNAL:
Red or white acne like bumps, on the cheeks, arms, thighs and butt
DEFICIENT IN
Essential fatty acids and vitamins A and D.
FIX IT
Tank up on the sunshine.Long hours in air-conditioned spaces and pollution make it hard. Even sunscreen lotion prevents absorption. Consuming fish, sardine, tuna, egg, and green leafy vegetables also helps. Increase healthy fats like dairy products in your meal. Add salmon and walnuts and almonds, and seeds like ground flax, and chia in your diet. For vitamin A, eat plenty of leafy greens, papaya and colourful veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, and capsicum. This provides beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which your body will use to make the vital nutrient.
SIGNAL
Tingling, prickling, and numbness in hands, feet or elsewhere.
DEFICIENT IN
B vitamins like folate (B9), B6, and B12. It’s a problem directly related to the peripheral nerves and where they end in the skin. These symptoms can be combined with anxiety, depression, anaemia, fatigue, and hormone imbalances.
FIX IT
You can fix the vitamin B group largely with your diet. Opt for brown rice, millet, wheat germ, nuts, wheat bran sprouted grains. Egg, chicken, mutton, salmon, banana, broccoli, red kidney beans, asparagus, cauliflower, cabbage and all green leafy vegetables.
SIGNAL
Cracks at the corners of your mouth
DEFICIENT IN
Iron, zinc, and B vitamins like niacin (B3), riboflavin (B2), and B12. It’s common if you’re a vegetarian to not get enough iron, zinc, and B12. Likewise, if you’re skimping on essential immunitybuilding protein because of excess dieting.
FIX IT
Eat more poultry, salmon, tuna, eggs, chicken, tomatoes, peanuts, and lentils. Iron absorption is enhanced by vitamin C, which helps fight infection. Combine these foods with broccoli, and cauliflower. Ensure that you also eat dairy products like yoghurt, paneer and ghee.
SIGNAL
Muscle cramps in the form of throbbing pain in toes, calves, arches of feet, and backs of legs
DEFICIENT IN
Magnesium, calcium, and potassium. If it’s happening frequently, it’s a sign that you’re lacking in these. And if you’re training hard, you can lose more minerals (and water-soluble B vitamins) through heavy sweating.
FIX IT
To fix potassium, have oranges, bananas, peanuts, beans, coconut water. For magnesium, go for dark green leafy vegetable, nuts and soybean.Almonds, figs, carrots, raisins, brown rice, cashew are rich sources of calcium. -
INCLUDE YOGHURT IN YOUR DIET
Yoghurt is one of the most beneficial food items and must be made a part of everyone’s daily diet. It is not just rich in calcium -which is good for the bones -but protein as well, which helps build muscles. Yoghurt is also good for the skin and hair. Here are some other benefits…
It aids digestion. Eating yoghurt after a meal stimulates digestion, as it helps absorb nutrients from the other food that you have consumed.
It is an anti-oxidant that not only keeps the body cool, but also cleanses it.
The bacteria present in yoghurt boosts immunity by fighting different microorganisms in the body.
Yoghurt contains several vitamins that ensure your nervous system functions well.
Apply yoghurt on your scalp to keep dandruff at bay . The lactic acid and anti-fungal properties make it a good home remedy.
It is also good for the skin as it contains vitamin E, zinc and phosphorous. Add yoghurt to homemade facial packs for better results. -
HOME REMEDIES TO CURB COLD AND COUGH
With the change in weather, viral cough and cold are common ailments that kids suffer from. Try some of these remedies to treat the ailment and boost your kid’s immunity:
1. Steam: If your little one suffers from cold and has trouble breathing, get him/her to take steam. Make the kid stand in the bathroom with hot water running or simply heat water in a wide bowl and make the kid inhale the hot fumes for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Adding eucalyptus oil can also help soothe your child’s system.
2. Honey: Known for its soothing effect, dip your finger in honey and let your baby lick it two three times in a day. If your child is older than five years, mix a spoonful with cinnamon powder and ask him/her to have it.
3. Carom Seeds: Boiling water along with carom seeds (ajwain) and tulsi leaves can help to keep the cough in check. It also helps in relieving chest congestion.
4. Massage: Massages work best for children who are below two years of age. Mix mustard oil with garlic and massage your baby’s chest, back and neck area. Also cover the baby’s palm and feet with the oil for a quick relief.
5. Keep your kid hydrated: When your kid is going through a bout of sneezing and coughing, it is very important to keep him/her hydrated. Drinking water at regular intervals will help fight the common cold and reduce the inflammation in the throat along with washing out the infection. Other fluids in form of warm soup or a fresh juice are also beneficial for replenishing the body’s lost energy.
6. Salt gargling: A glass of hot water with a teaspoon of salt can be useful to ease a sore throat. Ask your kid to gargle with salt water twice a day. The saline water helps soothe the pain.
7. Turmeric milk: Due to its antiseptic properties, turmeric is known to treat viral infections such as cough and cold. Add turmeric powder to a glass of warm milk and make your kid have it every night. It provides instant relief for an aching throat and runny nose. Since it is a rich source of calcium, milk also provides energy to your kid. -
Food habits to age gracefully
Nobody can reverse one’s age and ageing is an inevitable part of one’s life. But here are some food habits to keep in mind that will help you age gracefully Control your fat intake: Fat is high on calories which is bad for the skin and body. Avoid foods that high on fat content. Pile up on fresh fruits and vegetables: Avoid packed food items and food that is not very fresh. Instead, eat lots of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables which will give you a fresh look. Control your medicine intake: Substitute your calcium and iron tablets with food items which are natural supplements of these. Add more fish, fruits, leafy greens and nuts to your diet. Not too much oil: Avoid eating very greasy food and using too much oil to cook your food in. Substitute unhealthy oil with olive oil, but only if you are not going to fry your food in it.
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US NURSE WHO CAUGHT EBOLA: ‘I’M NOT CARELESS’
ATLANTA (TIP): The Dallas nurse who flew on a commercial jet before being diagnosed with Ebola says she wasn’t careless or reckless. In an interview Thursday on NBC’s “Today” show, Amber Vinson also said she didn’t get enough training to feel comfortable treating Ebola patients. She said the first time she donned special protective gear was when she was heading in to take care of an infected patient at her Dallas hospital. Vinson said she checked with health officials before flying Oct 10 from Dallas to Cleveland and returning three days later. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged that Vinson wasn’t stopped from flying, something the agency later said was a mistake on its part. Vinson has recovered from Ebola. She said Thursday she feels good, but still gets tired sometimes.
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Apex court asks Centre for list of allottees of govt bungalows
NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on November 7 asked the Centre to furnish the list of allottees of government bungalows in the national capital, including those who occupied the accommodation under the five per cent discretionary quota. A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice A K Sikri also told solicitor general Ranjit Kumar, representing the Centre, to submit a list of people who over-stayed in the government bungalows, particularly in type VI, VII and VIII categories. The court’s order to the Government came after amicus curiae and senior advocate Meenakshi Arora submitted that a large number of bungalows were occupied by former ministers. The squatters continued occupation on the ground that they were re-elected to Parliament, she claimed. She gave the example of former Union minister Arjun Singh, whose wife continued to squat in the allotted bungalow due to health reasons.
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WAYS TO GET RID OF DANDRUFF
Dandruff, also known as seborrhea, is a common noncontagious condition of skin areas rich in oil glands (the face, scalp, and upper trunk) they are marked by flaking and sometimes redness and itching of the scalp, varying in severity from mild flaking of the scalp to scaly, red patches. While there are an array of hair products that promise dandruff treatment here are a few home remedies to treat dandruff. Heat a small amount of olive oil and rub into the scalp, leave for an hour and wash off with warm water.
Later wash your hair with shampoo. Stop use of any hairstyling products. Neem treatment: Soak some neem leaves in water and boil it. Use it neem water to wash your hair. Neem leaf has antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it effective in treating dandruff. Amla power: Take amla powder and grind it with tulsi leaves and apply it to the scalp for an hour. And then thoroughly wash it off. Oil your skin with vitamin E (found in avocados) and zinc (found in seafood, nuts and seeds).
It’s best to use the lemon juice in squeeze bottles since it’s easier to control. Stand over either your kitchen or bathroom sink and squirt the lemon juice all over your head and massage. Leave on for about fifteen minutes, then wash your hair. It usually takes no more than two treatments for the dandruff itch to disappear. Olive oil and almond oil– Mix the two together and apply to scalp and leave on for five minutes. Once it starts to tingle rinse and shampoo. Olive oil is an excellent natural conditioner that seeps into the scalp. Apply olive oil into scalp and leave it overnight covered with a cotton cloth Take multi-vitamins full of Vitamin B, B6, B12 and E. These vitamins help to produce scalp oil and protect from dandruff. Aloe Vera is one of the best herbs to cure all kinds of hair problem.
To add natural moisturizer into your scalp use Aloe Vera gel. Increase intake of fresh fruits as much possible. Add zinc, omega3 fatty acids, and vitamin B complex food into your diet. Cut down intake of sugar base food. Minimize caffeine containing drinks and foods. Baby oil works well for dandruff. Baby oil can be massaged on the scalp. A towel can be wound around the head after the application of oil. It should then be left overnight. The next day, the oil could be washed using a herbal shampoo.
Warm oil is massaged on the scalp, then a warm moist towel is wrapped around the head. After a few minutes, the hair can be washed. Yoghurt treatment: In bowl add a tsp of lime juice, one tsp mustard oil to one cup yoghurt. Apply this mixture to the scalp and let it rest for one hour. Then thoroughly wash the head and hair. Fenugreek treatment: Soak 2 tbsp. of fenugreek seeds (meethi) in water overnight and crush them into a fine paste next morning.Apply this paste to your hair and scalp for at least 30 minutes.Wash your hair thoroughly after 30 minutes. Follow this treatment for continuous four weeks, for best results.
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Keep your house is germ free
Your house can be a breeding area for germs if you don’t take enough care. Start by ensuring that you don’t keep dirty clothes lying around for long. Make sure they’re washed everyday or at least once in two days. And make it a habit to clean your washing machine as well. An effective way to do this is to add a fistful of bleach in it and let it run for a few minutes. This will kill all the accumulated viruses and bacteria in the machine. Another problem areas can be dirty towels — change them every few days and wash them in warm water with disinfectant to remove germs. Keep different towels for each member of the family. Change the linen on your bed every weekend. And don’t allow food on the bed. It will only attract ants and mold. Use a sanitiser to clean glass and plastic surfaces and don’t forget to clean cupboard and door knobs and handles. Use a mini vacuum cleaner to clean your computer keyboard. You’ll be amazed at the number of germs it can collect. Your kitchen sink can also be a breeding ground for germs so ensure that it is clean. The same goes for your kitchen platform.
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HEALTHY BREAKFAST FOR EVERYDAY NUTRITION
Healthy breakfast ideas help you save time and effort and get straight to the point of optimal everyday nutrition. Healthy breakfasts fire up your metabolism for the day besides keeping your hormone and blood sugar levels stable. Apart from this, one of the biggest advantages of healthy breakfasts is that they help you keep potential overeating and bingeing at bay. Still not convinced? How about the fact that healthy breakfasts keep your mind sharp and active so that you can perform better at work and play! Here are our top 5 brain-boosting healthy breakfast ideas for everyday nutrition…
Egg muffin sandwich
Cook eggs along with brain-boosting foods, such as tomatoes, raw cabbage and olives and your healthy breakfast is ready in a jiffy. Make sure you add an apple or two on the side, which will provide you with important antioxidants. Make your egg sandwich with 1 whole wheat English muffin, 1 slice of low-fat cheese, 2 pieces of sliced tomatoes and 3 raw cabbage leaves. In this, add one fried egg, tossed in half a teaspoon of olive oil. Your healthy breakfast is ready!
Mango-banana smoothie with honey
Smoothies are simple to make. Just whip a handful of healthy ingredients and your healthy smoothie is ready. Try a mango or banana smoothie. It is a great idea as it is rich in antioxidants, fibers, and omega-3 fatty acids. Make this smoothie by taking half a cup of mangoes, 1/4th banana, 1 tabelspoon of ground flaxseed, and 1/3rd cup of skimmed yogurt. Add 1 cup of skimmed milk, along with a dash of cinnamon. Pair it with two slices of honey oatmeal bread topped with low-calorie butter, and two slices of carrots or tomatoes, and your smoothie breakfast is ready.
Protein oatmeal pancakes
Jazz up your morning pancakes by adding dry fruits, such as chopped apricots, dates, raisins or cherries. Top it with chopped or freshly sliced fruits, such as bananas, mangoes or apples and add a pinch of cinnamon or sugar to it, along with a generous sprinkling of ground flaxseed. Mash in a processor – 1 big ripe banana mashed with some reduced apples in a pan or 1tbs of olive oil, 1 and a 1/2 cup low-fat cheese, 1 cup powdered or crushed oatmeal, 1/4 cup flax seeds, 1/2 cup low fat milk, 2 scoops whey protein and 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder together. Then add a little oil (1tsp) to a non-stick pan and pour out batter, 1 cup at a time. Flip when bubbles start forming on the up side. Done when slightly brown.
Whole wheat breakfast delight
This healthy whole wheat sandwich is full of healthy fats from olive oil, antioxidants from salsa sauce and fiber and protein from the yogurt and vegetables – all the properties that make it a great breakfast to kickstart the day. Simply buy a readymade 12 inch-long whole wheat bread and fill it up with 1 egg yolk and 2 egg whites tossed in a bit of olive oil. Add a generous sprinkling of low-fat cheese. Add some lettuce and tomatoes to this filling. Grill the sandwich. Top this will 2 tabelspoon of thick yogurt (this can be prepared by hanging the curd in a muslin cloth overnight) and salsa sauce. Serve this 350 calories breakfast with sliced apples or any other fresh seasonal fruit available and your breakfast is ready.
Thick yogurt french toast
This is especially healthy in hot summer months when the sun is out with a vengeance and the mercury is rising. Yogurt is a great way to substitute sour cream and readymade mayo-based fattening sauces. Full of probiotics, yogurt helps fight bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.
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POOR EATING HABITS AFFECT YOUR HEART
Poor eating habits can affect your heart for a long time and the effects can persist long after dietary habits are improved, shows a research. Poor eating habits alter the way genes express themselves, including genes related to immunity, the findings showed. This change in gene expression (epigenetics) ultimately keeps the risk of cardiovascular disorders higher than it would be had there been no exposure to unhealthy foods in the first place, the researchers noted.
“I hope that this study demonstrates the importance of diet-induced changes in the epigenome and encourages further research into the interaction between dietary patterns, DNA methylation and disease,” said Erik van Kampen, a researcher involved in the work from Leiden University at Leiden in the Netherlands. The effects of an unhealthy lifestyle could affect the way the immune system functions even after successful treatment of atherosclerosis – plaque builds up inside the arteries that could limit the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body. To make their discovery, scientists used two groups of mice that had an altered gene making them more susceptible to developing high blood cholesterol and atherosclerosis. These mice were either fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (western-type diet) or a normal diet.
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EAT TO LOSE WEIGHT
Having the right kind of breakfast can also help you losing weight in the simplest way. Weight loss might be one of the most frequent things on your mind, and if you are not one of those who like to hit the gym, then having the right breakfast can come to your rescue. Here are few things you can do to lose weight. Have lots of fiber in your breakfast. It not only makes you feel full, but also is good for bowel movements. Eat your breakfast soon after you wake up. It has been proved that having an early breakfast helps in regulating your metabolism which helps in weight loss. It will also help you to have proper time gap between breakfast and lunch and will kick start your morning. Keep a tab on your sugar intake. Things like cupcakes, pancakes, jams etc are delicious options, but they increase sugar levels and gain weight. Instead, have fruits, whole grain breads etc to avoid extra sugar. While a hot cup of coffee or tea is what we look at during breakfast, if you want to lose weight then replace these tastier options with more healthier drinks like green tea or jasmine tea. And finally, never skip your breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day for more reasons that one. Skipping breakfast would lead to overeating during lunch or dinner or make wrong choices of food.
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EXERCISE REDUCES RISK OF BREAST CANCER
Everybody is aware of the fact that exercise is good for your health, but very few know that it can help in preventing breast cancer too, says an expert. Middle aged women, who regularly partake in some form of exercise each day, are significantly reducing their chances of getting cancer. And it is said that just 30 minutes of exercise a day, such as a game of squash or a spinning class reduces the risk of cancer by a fifth, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Scientists have found that obese women are 50 percent more likely to get cancer than those who have a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). Also those women who did three hours of exercise per week were 21 percent less likely to get breast cancer. Currently 1 in 8 women get breast cancer, which equates to 50,500 a year, however this new evidence is positive in showing that a healthy lifestyle can reduce the probability of a woman being affected. Researchers at Oxford University have spent three years monitoring 126,000 women going through menopause and noted if they got the disease or not. They filled in questionnaires about their exercise levels, weight, diet, drinking and smoking.
Scientists believe that being obese increases the risk of cancer, most likely due to the fat cells containing oestrogen which encourage the growth of tumours. “What’s really interesting about this study is that (reduction in breast cancer risk) does not appear to be solely due to the most active women being slimmer, suggesting that there may be some more direct benefits of exercise for women of all sizes,” said Tim Key, a Cancer Research UK scientist from the cancer epidemiology unit at Oxford University.
“We don’t yet know exactly how physical activity reduces risk … but some small studies suggest that it could be linked to the impact on hormone levels in the body,” he added. Tim Key also says that more research is still required to find the link between women’s hormone levels and the prevention of cancer.