Jennifer Aniston’s secret to looking youthful and fit at the age of fifty
Jennifer Aniston has remained a star in the TV and film world for years. Popularly known for her character Rachel Green from the hit series Friends, Rachel still looks great twenty-five years later. The secret to her fitness and youthful appearance is her strict diet.
Curious about what she eats? Here is what Jennifer eats to retain her youthfulness.
Breakfast – Shuffle your breakfast menu
Jennifer Aniston does not normally start her day with the same breakfast, alternating between several meals to keep things interesting. For example, she often chooses from a protein shake, avocado and eggs, gluten-free muesli with a banana or oatmeal with proteins. Yes, really! She adds protein to her oatmeal to feel fuller longer in the morning. She boils the egg and then stirs the egg whites into her oatmeal. According to Jen, it gives the oats a creamy texture.
Lunch – Monotonous lunch menu
Jennifer’s lunch is a bit more monotonous than her breakfast. The actress almost always opts for a salad with lots of vegetables and protein. Although she tries to vary her lunchtime meal with different vegetables and protein sources, this meal seems like it can get a bit boring over time. Yet Jennifer swears by this and rarely deviates from this lunch.
Dinner – A lot like lunch
If you were expecting her dinner to have a little more excitement, apologies for letting you down. Her dinner actually looks similar to her lunch. Jennifer ensures she continues to get enough vegetables and protein in the evenings. She eats lots of raw vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, butter lettuce and pulled chicken. According to Jennifer, it also helps to prepare her meals in advance.
Snacks – A handful of nuts
As you probably expect, Jen’s snacks are also healthy. They mainly consist of apples and nuts or peanut butter. These create the perfect combination of carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein and are also easy to carry.
Cheat meal – Pasta it is!
Jennifer almost never commits a food sin, but if she does, she prefers to eat a large plate of pasta. Her favourite pasta meal is a healthier variant of pasta carbonara. The actress makes it with a turkey fillet sauce, egg, Parmesan cheese and water. She also omits oil, butter or cream. We prefer a different cheat meal but to each his own!
Do share with us how you would plan your meals for that youthful appearance.
If you are generous enough, get your house help tested before they resume work, writes Dr Noor Gill. Some hospitals provide free Covid-19 testing.
We are all confined to our homes, clinging onto whatever flicker of hope that we have left, that maybe this time, they will not come to us with the news of yet another extension.Praying that the authorities will show some leniency and give us a chance to prove that we can be good citizens by restoring partial, if not full commencement and distribution of services. In a hope that maybe, by the end of May, things will go back to ‘normal’. Bargaining with the Supreme Power to not let it go any further than mid-June. But what is this normal that we will be going back to? What parts of our previous practices should we take with us to the future. What things should we learn form our ‘current normal’ and carry them forward with us, once this is all over.
The lockdown has been extended for the second time by the government and the home ministry has demarcated the country into three zones:
Green zone: Zero or no confirmed cases in the past 21 days
Red zone: Districts and areas with a significant risk of transmission of infection
Orange zone: Anything between the red and the green zone lies in the orange zone.
If you think about it, and try to introspect: you have already started washing your hands less now, than you used to in the beginning. Earlier, you used to go out once every two weeks for grocery shopping but now you go out twice every week. You are less scared if someone’s not wearing a mask, less hesitant while shaking hands.
In the beginning of this crisis, our brain processed this information as “high risk” which made us over-estimate the danger (this is no way implies that the situation is not serious). But as we start to get used to living in this “new normal” our perception of the risk decreases as time passes. This is also knows as “Behavioral fatigue”.
Everything about everything is changing but we still make out coffee, first thing in the morning just as we used to and solve the daily crossword as we sip into it, in defiance of that.
We are all struggling together to find the new definition, another angle, a fresh perspective to the “new normal”. While we hesitantly let go of our “regular routines” and placidly try to find our way through this “new normal”. Here are a few things that could help you and get you started.
When your house help comes back, let’s be kind to them, because these past few weeks have made us realise that we depend on them more than we would like to admit. They are an integral part of our system, and we need to start respecting and treating them like they are.
Ask them if they or any members of their family has had any symptoms or been sick in the past two weeks. Be polite when you ask them, because if they feel threatened and have the fear of losing their job at the back of their mind, they might lie, and we don’t want that.
If you are generous enough, get them tested before they resume work. Some hospitals provide free Covid-19 testing.
Make sure that both you and them wash your hands before and after entering the kitchen, before and after cleaning, moping, dusting, eating etc. Let’s keep washing our hands and keeping our surroundings cleans and sanitized even after it is not an order.
Let us not stigmatise and be prejudiced against those who have fought the virus but are now all better and back. The virus is contagious, yes. But once the person has tested negative and has been discharged, he does not pose a threat to you or your family. So let’s try to make them feel welcome and included and not banish them.
When we do start going back to work instead of working from the comforts of our sofas, and using public transport for commuting- please keep in mind that you still need to wear your superhero suit which is your mask and gloves. Surgical masks are 85% effective in keeping the microorganisms away, and N-95 masks, 95%.
When taking a cab or sharing one, avoid touching any surface or another passenger. Keep your face, eyes and hands covered. Sanitize your bag once you’ve reached your destination.
Use disposable gloves and masks. But if you think that that is wasteful and not environment-friendly and wish to use a washcloth instead of a mask, make absolutely sure that you wash it separately as soon as you get back home, in warm detergent water. And put it out for drying in direct sunlight for 3-4 hours before you use it again.
When you are on your way back and are about to reach home, call and ask someone to keep the doors and gate open and a bucket of warm detergent water ready for you to use.
Put your personal belongings like keys, bag, water bottle, etc out in a separate poly bag and sanitize them separately before bringing them inside your home and using them. Go straight to the bathroom- don’t touch any surface or door knobs, and in case you do, clean it with a disinfectant immediately. Strip, wash your clothes and take a shower. And only then meet and greet all the other members of your family. I know all of this sounds tedious and a lot of work, but survival is hard. And these are some hard, crazy and trying times.
Avoid cash payments as much as you can, whenever you can. Go cashless and try making card transactions as much as you can- this lessens the risk of transmission during the handling of money.
Avoid having too many guests over for parties and get together. Or sending and receiving dishes- as kind as the gesture is, it is better to avoid having things over from outside, because you don’t know where they’ve been and how they have been handled.
If you have to travel internationally, keep your protective gear on, even during the flight. Home quarantine yourself for 14 days once you’ve reached your destination and keep a look out for any symptoms.
Keep eating better and healthy and keeping yourselves hydrated, we still need a strong immune system. Try not stressing yourself out worrying about the future, because there lies a lot of uncertainty and an array of scenarios that may or may not come true. These are stressful times, but stress ironically is not good for your immune system and that, I know instills more worry, so try some chamomile tea, and hope that it helps.
Once this is all over, let’s not take handshakes and hugs for granted. Let’s cherish every lingering moment of contact with another fellow human. Let’s start valuing human contact and life, and be thankful to the medical community and those providing us with the essential services. Let’s never, after we are done fighting this, even for a slash of a second think that we are the “superior species” because nature has its own way of humbling us.
Deepa Gahlot pays a tribute to the just departed actor with whom she interacted frequently over the years
Plain-speaking was part of his nature, as his frequent scraps on Twitter over his politically incorrect posts proved. That, and the inability to humble brag like so many stars– Rishi Kapoor knew he was a fantastic actor, and an instinctive one at that–none of the Method techniques for him. Which is why he was immensely proud of his performance as a cash-strapped, middle-class teacher in Do Dooni Chaar. “I have never lived that life, yet I played him convincingly,” he said. He was disappointed that he didn’t get a National Award for that film, or for Kapoor & Sons and Mulk. He got one as a child actor for Mera Naam Joker, in which he played a young Raj Kapoor, but never as an adult, though he did win innumerable popular awards over the years.
“The media keeps calling me an underrated actor,” he grumbled, “yeh underrated kya hota hai? Either I am a good actor or I am not.” There was never any doubt about his great talent, nor about his post-Bobby stardom. He said, with characteristic candour, that he was the only star who withstood Amitabh Bachchan’s Angry Young Man phase, and continued to play the romantic hero successfully, while other stars adapted to action or fell by the wayside. Later, he went on to do many films in parallel roles with Bachchan.
His performances were effortless– he could play cute (Bobby, Khel Khal Mein), intense (Doorsa Aadmi, Prem Rog), self-mocking (Luck By Chance, Chintuji), and, in that phase when his career got second wind, pure evil (Agneepath, D-Day).
The Kapoor family was studded with stars, and it was difficult to live up to that legacy; his brothers Randhir and Rajiv gave up after a few tries. But Rishi ‘Chintu’ Kapoor was a winner. After a career studded with memorable films, including several hits with wife Neetu Singh, he enjoyed being star dad to Ranbir Kapoor.
A look at our favourite songs from the superstar’s films – By A Staff Writer
His death is a huge blow for lovers of Indian cinema. Actor, director and producer Rishi Kapoor played the romantic lead in 92 films of which 36 were superhits.
Kapoor had his first lead role as an adult opposite Dimple Kapadia in 1973 for which he also received the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1974. It had some amazing songs – from Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Bandh Ho which has assumed an all-new meaning given the ongoing National Lockdown.
Here’s a look at our favourite songs from the superstar’s films:
You don’t always need to entertain your kids/grandkids. Boredom causes temporary uncomfortable feelings; it can be good for us in many ways – from stimulating creativity to helping train our concentration.
“I am bored” you may be hearing this from your kid/grandkid a lot more than before. The outbreak certainly has forced us to push our boundaries to find ways to socialise, work, exercise and entertain ourselves as well as our kids.
While in general people hate being bored. So much so that a study revealed, one-quarter of participants said they would rather give themselves a painful shock than be in a room with no external stimulus (music, books, and phones) for 15 minutes. This shows how much people want to escape the feeling of boredom.
A bored person has unpleasant feelings, lacks interest in completing tasks and has problems paying attention. It is an emotional state that is temporary. A bored person has things they can do, they just can’t (or won’t) engage with activities.
What causes boredom?
Boredom can come from lack of rest and nutrition, lack of mental stimulation or too much repetition (lack of novelty). People with a high sensitivity to reward, meaning those who need constant stimulation to feel satisfied, are more at risk of being bored.
A person can get bored if a task isn’t stimulating enough, if the work is too hard or too easy and if activities lack meaning and challenge.
Lack of control can also contribute to boredom. In one study, students showed more boredom when an adult picked their leisure activity than when they were allowed to generate their own.
The current situation may lead to sleepless nights, not enough novelty and a lack of control. While it is easy to turn to electronic devices to entertain and distract when we are bored. However, this shallow engagement with our devices decreases our ability to concentrate, attend to task and find flow.
Why being bored is a good thing?
Boredom can lead to creativity. Boredom causes more divergent thinking (finding multiple uses for items, making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas and generating multiple creative ideas) after doing a boring task. Creativity emerges because when one is bored, people actively seek something stimulating. Creativity is a challenge that meets this need.
Being bored also helps train our concentration and attention. Sitting with boredom and solving it is an effective way to train ourselves to concentrate and persevere through hard or monotonous tasks.
It teaches us to go to different places in our minds when we don’t have external stimulation. In other words, our mind gets a workout. Boredom is good for us and it’s good for your kid/grandkid.
How to kill boredom?
For starters do not feel guilty about keeping everybody entertained. Instead, try the following
Check the energy level. Hunger and low energy can make everything feel boring. So, fuel up some energy because it isn’t boredom, just lack of energy to engage in an activity
Right now, a lot may feel out of control so see how you can provide a new day-to-day choice – deciding menu for the day, tweaking the routine with something unusual, basically push your creativity into doing the mundane things differently.
It’s ok to have a “terrible experience” by trying things the unusual way. This will help develop internal resources (attention, self-regulation, creativity) by having to solve the boredom problem themselves.
Boredom is a friend and not a foe. Boredom is a signal that indicates change is needed. It helps generate ideas to engage in. Let them be responsible for the choice. Get them to create a boredom box with ideas they can choose from.
Boredom is just getting over the hard part of getting started. Your kid may not be bored, just not knowing where to start. Help them break a task down and get started.
Try setting a timer with your family, turn off your devices, and all engage in something meaningful for 20 minutes. Creativity emerges in space. You’ll never know what you could achieve if you keep distracting them.
Boredom is an important part of life and it is inevitable. A bout of boredom is good, it is an opportunity to unplug, daydream and let your creative juices flow. A healthy dose of boredom is highly beneficial. It is good to be bored sometimes.
People from all over the world are taking centre stage on social media and video sharing platforms – providing an antidote to Covid-19 anxiety.
No matter what country we’re from, viewers are all laughing in the same language at TikTok videos. Laughter may not necessarily solve a problem but it definitely does helps dissolve it.
Cultivating a laughter mindset is an important tool to build connection and gain some mastery over things we can’t control. Not all play or humour results in laughter, but it primes the mind’s internal landscape towards positivity.
Humour, laughter and playfulness help foster resilience and provide a coping strategy to better manage and reduce stress.Learning to laugh at yourself develops personal resilience, and that’s what children are perhaps seeing in their parents for the very first time. Self-enhancing humour – maintaining a humorous outlook in stressful or adverse situations –is linked to positive psychological well-being signs such as happiness, satisfaction with life, and an optimistic outlook.
Dads and Mums as Humours Superstars
When dads (and mums) draw on humour, laughter and play, it teaches children there’s another way to respond to conflict and crisis. It helps provide a new perspective on challenging situations and, when initiated and modelled by adults, can be particularly effective in quelling anxiety.
Parents dancing around the living room, having fun, even being silly invoke a sense of ease. When we’re laughing and smiling the mind is anchored in a moment of positivity. Negativity in the shape of fear, depression or anxiety has no footing.
With dads spending more time at home, the lines between their work life and home life are blurring, making way for daggy dad jokes and fish-out-of-water dad dance routines. Many families have taken on the challenge of learning a short Blinding Lights dance sequence set to a 2019 song by The Weeknd.
Quarantined dads have showcased their skills at kitchen cupboard percussion to match Phil Collins’ famous drum solo, looked for things to fix, pretended to break the rules to order coffee at their local cafe, performed surgery on soft toys and mastered family TikTok dances. Especially the dances.
So, if we can laugh at Covid-19 by making jokes about toilet paper or home-schooling it lessens the sting, making us feel more in control.
Celebrities are being shown onscreen in their role as fathers and mothers, highlighting the humour and absurdity that can come with working from home.
In family lockdown, how can we protect our children from the global and domestic anguish in the face of coronavirus infection and death?
Laughing as a family creates stronger bonds and makes us feel part of the same team.While physical distancing measures apply outside home, social isolation can also be occurring within them, with family members turning their attention to separate screens and potentially harbouring private fears and anxieties.
While experiencing stress with others helps us bond by cuing an oxytocin release in our brains, laughing provides an instant salve for anxious feelings by signalling the release of “feel good” neurotransmitters: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins.
Laughter doesn’t just lighten your load mentally – it induces a range of physiological, psychological, social, spiritual, and quality-of-life benefits for heart health, blood pressure in aged care settings, and pain tolerance. Laughter has a similar effect on the brain as meditation, anchoring our minds to a present moment of joy.
The apparent increase in entertaining content online shows families are reframing a stressful situation with a humour mindset. The more we train our humour muscle, the stronger our neural pathways towards positivity and humour. So, in the future, we’ll have expanded our resources to respond to a stressful situation with more levity.
Remember Covid-19 is curable & can be prevented. Please do not step out of home and do not believe rumors. For authentic updates & info, visit – bit.ly/2Qr2yZ0
It is essential to make sure you’re accurately measuring and optimally managing your blood pressure at home, writes Dr Suresh Agrawal
Blood Pressure is the pressure at which blood flows in our body and all our organs receive blood as per their need and at desired pressure.
Blood Pressure is dependent on Cardiac Output, ie, blood pumped out by our heart during each cycle of its beat and resistance offered by different blood vessels in our body.
Blood Pressure levels, the rate of age-related changes, and prevalence of High BP vary among countries and its sub-populations within a country.
High BP is prevalent in all societies except a few primitive tribes, due to their lifestyle and negligible consumption of salt. Maintaining healthy blood pressure is important during (and after) the coronavirus pandemic. Blood pressure measurements taken at home are a better indication of your true blood pressure. They’re also a better indication of your risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.
Unfortunately, a large number of people are not aware of that their BP is higher than desired levels and High BP is detected in them incidentally when they visit a medical practitioner for some other reasons say like toothache or inability to sleep.
Also, the blood pressure of for almost one-thirds of people who take medication for high BPis never at desired levels due to various reasons.Hence it is advisable to check BP at regular intervals as advised by your doctor.
Now with the pandemic of Covid-19, when most doctors have closed their clinics or curtailed their practice hours, not able to check BP should not be excuse, and it is advisable to check BP at home and send the readings to your doctors for interpretation rather than self-interpretation.
The ideal method while in isolation is to measure your blood pressure using your own device. Here are some guidelines recommended to confirm blood pressure using methods outside the clinic.
Measuring blood pressure at home
Your blood pressure can vary depending on whether you’re talking, exercising or under stress, or if there is a change in the temperature. It can also vary depending on your posture, whether you’ve just eaten, taken medication, drunk a coffee or smoked and time of the day.
During sleep, BP falls considerably.
Hence it is important to measure your blood pressure at home the correct way each time, otherwise your readings might be incorrect or misleading:
Use a validated device
One that has been rigorously tested for accuracy. Most devices available in the market have not been validated. You can check if yours is by reading the back cover of the box.
Use an upper arm device
Not a wrist cuff or one you wear on a wristband with a correct cuff size. If you don’t want to buy a device, you can hire or borrow one from some pharmacies and medical clinics – in the given circumstances, you should opt for a device of your own.
With Home BP measuring device, always take three to four readings at an interval of two to three minutes. The first measurement should be discarded, and take average of other three readings. Additionally, in seniors, BP should be checked not only lying but also in standing position, as BP on standing will be low.
Take measures at around the same time
Morning and evening, over seven days (five days, minimum). Measure before taking medication, food or exercise, and as advised by your doctor (for instance, before visiting the doctor or after a medication change),
If BP has been measured at different times of the day, please mention the time.
Don’t smoke or drink caffeine
Refrain from coffee or smoking 30 minutes before as it will affect your measurements.
Don’t measure when stressed
If you’re uncomfortable, stressed or in pain, do not measure as that will only result in misleading measurements. Still, if you have to take BP, inform your doctor about the situation.
Sit quietly for five minutes
Before measuring sit quietly for five minutes, without talking or any distractions from other people or television.
Sit correctly
With feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed, upper arm bare, arm supported with cuff at heart level, and back supported.
Maintain a record
Take two measures, one minute apart. Record each measurein a diary or on the spreadsheet. Provide your doctor with your readings, by email or via telehealth – such as video calling.
Hypertension Readings
What else can you can do to manage your blood pressure in lockdown?
While high blood pressure is mainly caused by unhealthy environment, lifestyle and behavior, you can modify some of these at home to lower your blood pressure, thus lowering the risk of heart disease.
About 30% of high blood pressure relates to eating too much salt, which can be hidden in many foods.
A balanced diet low in salt, high in fruit, vegetables and wholegrain, as well as healthy proteins, can help control blood pressure and improve your overall heart health.
Being at home means you can prepare food from the basic ingredients, avoiding the high salt, fats and sugars found in processed foods.
Maintaining a healthy weight and having an active life with regular physical activity and decreased sitting time is good for your blood pressure and overall health.
People who regularly walk for as little as 15 minutes a day are more likely to live longer than people who are inactive. That’s irrespective of age, sex or risk of heart disease.
To maintain ideal BP, sleep hygiene has to be maintained with good sleep for at least 8 hours.
Still check in with your doctor
If your doctor starts you on medication to lower your blood pressure, this will lower your risk of a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and eyes. So, it’s important to stick with your treatment while in isolation, unless instructed to stop.
Don’t avoid a telehealth consultation. In fact it’s a great time to embrace it.
By maintaining a good lifestyle, one can be off anti-hypertension medicines or numbers of pills can be reduced significantly.
Anxiety and stress affect a person’s ability to work or perform their daily tasks and other activities but consuming these foods can help make you feel better.
The stress of the pandemic has gotten to many people. Being stuck locked down at home can affect the ability to function on daily basis, but what you eat can make you feel better about things.
Some of the management options for anxiety and stress can include exercise, relaxation and correct breathing techniques.Another way to overcome these feelings of anxiety and stress is through a dietary adjustment.
There are foods that help ease anxiety and stress while there that food that help induce stress. It is essential to know what helps and what doesn’t. Nicotine, caffeine triggers your adrenal glands to release adrenaline – one of the main stress chemicals, or food that include salt and artificial additives induce stress and are best avoided. Inadequate intake of vitamin B and calcium can also exacerbate anxiety symptoms.
Whereas there are many foods you can add to your diet that will help overcome feelings of anxiety. Food with mineral magnesium helps muscle tissue to relax, and a magnesium deficiency can contribute to anxiety, depression and insomnia.
Here are foods that will help ease your stress when times get tough
Wholegrain cereals – Whole grains contain a type of amino acid that makes your body produce ‘serotonin’ – also known as the ‘happy chemical’. Serotonin helps calm the mind, improve your mood, and keep your sleep cycle on track – all of which is helpful for maintaining a good head space. They are high in fibre and really good for you. These include corn, brown rice, quinoa, oats, rye and barley.If you’re feeling down or low on energy, eating some brown rice, corn, or quinoa can help release more of the happy chemical into your body. You could even start your day off with a healthy bowl of oats for a wholegrain booster.
Dark Chocolate – Chocolate improves your mood, this is because it reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked to anxiety. The high flavonoid content in dark chocolate also stimulates blood flow to the brain, which may improve cognition and mood.
Asparagus –Asparagus reduces anxiety and is rich in potassium, fibre and Vitamins A, C, and E. It is high in folate – a mineral that enhances mood making it a great stress buster.
Green leafy vegetables – Say yes to greens! They are packed with magnesium that help your body to relax. They can help regulate cortisol – stress hormone and blood pressure levels. So make sure you don’t skip out eating greens such as – spinach, fenugreek greens, kale and the like.
Milk – A warm glass of milk before bed with help you sleep better. If you aren’t lactose intolerant then you can opt for plant-based milk such as soy or almond which you can make at home.
Eating right will definitely help you fight the pandemic better, mentally as well as physically.
Do write to us about how you are spending time at home.
Coffee lowers the risk of several diseases, boosts physical and mental health if consumed in low-to-moderate amount. However, too much coffee will have adverse effects.
In the times of unprecedent lockdown, it is essential we take better care of ourselves. Coffee is found in every kitchen and did you know it is packed with nutrients and antioxidants? Consuming low-to-moderate amount of coffee in a day will lower the risk of several serious heart diseases. It will help your mood and rise your energy levels. But do keep in mind that too much of it will reverse all the positive effects.
Here are five benefits of coffee that will help your mind ease a little while you are home
Improves energy levels and brain function – Coffee will make you feel energetic. The caffeine is absorbed by the bloodstreams and reaches your brain improving its functions – memory, mood, vigilance, reaction time and mental health.
Improves physical health – A cup of coffee half an hour before you exercise will boost your energy levels. It increases adrenaline levels in your blood and makes free down fatty acids available as fuel which prepares your body for physical exertion.
May lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes – A major health problem worldwide. Studies observe that people who drink the most coffee have a 23–50% lower risk of getting this disease. One study showed a reduction as high as 67%. According to a large review of 18 studies in a total of 457,922 people, each daily cup of coffee was associated with a 7% reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.
May prevent Alzhemir’s disease and dementia – A condition that affects seniors and there is no known cure. However, there are several things one can do to prevent the disease from occurring in the first place – eating healthy, exercising and drinking coffee. Drinking coffee may be incredibly effective in preventing Alzhemir’s.
Help you live longer – While coffee lowers the risk of several diseases, it makes sense that coffee could help you live longer. In two very large studies, drinking coffee was associated with a 20% reduced risk of death in men and a 26% decreased risk of death in women. This effect appears particularly strong in people with type 2 diabetes. In one 20-year study, individuals with diabetes who drank coffee had a 30% lower risk of death.
A cup of coffee will help you feel better about the current situation. Here are five coffee ideas that you must try at home.
#1 Dalgona coffee
In South Korea, whipped coffee is called as Dalgona Coffee. Frothy layer of coffee topped over chilled milk.
Dalgona coffee
Ingredients
1 tbsp instant coffee
1 tbsp sugar
1 cup chilled milk
Preparation
Add instant coffee powder and sugar in a cup
Add 2 tbsp water
Beat the coffee and sugar vigorously until it is light and fluffy
Fill a glass with crushed ice
Pour milk on top
Top the glass with whipped coffee
Mix well and serve chilled
You can sprinkle your dalgona coffee with some Instant coffee powder, cocoa nibs or crumbled chocolate cookies.
#2 Instant Cold Cocoa Coffee
Especially as the summer approaches. A quick and easy recipe for instant coffee-flavoured cold cocoa. This could be your instant fix between meals.
Cold Cocoa Coffee
Ingredients
1 cup chilled milk
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp Instant coffee
½ tsp cinnamon powder
Preparation
In a mug add instant coffee, cocoa powder and cinnamon powder
Add 2 tbsp of milk, use a fork to form a paste
Gradually add the rest of the milk and keep mixing
You can sprinkle some cinnamon or cocoa powder as a topping. A little cinnamon give cocoa a nice gourmet zing. You can also use a cinnamon stick to stir.
#3 Cold brew coffee
It is not the same as iced coffee instead it is a bold flavoured concentrated coffee. While the recipe produces a great tasting cup of coffee, it takes about 12 hours, so you need to plan ahead.
Cold Brew Coffee
Ingredients
1 cup coffee – coarsely grounded
4 cups water
Preparation
Grind 1 cup of coffee beans coarsely
In a large jar pour 4 cups water over the coarsely grounded coffee and stir thoroughly until the coffee is saturated
Cover it with a lid and place it in the in the refrigerator
Let it steep for 12 hours
Filter the beans – this can be stored in the fridge for a week
Serve with a couple of ice cubes and some milk if you like – this coffee as a lot of caffeine, diluting it with some milk and water would be a good idea
If you are in the mood for a hot cup of coffee just add hot water to it. Do not microwave or hit the brewed coffee.
#4 Spicy Coffee Latte
A cup of coffee with a spicy twist.
Spicy Coffee Latte
Ingredients
2 tsp instant expresso powder or instant coffee powder
2 tsp cocoa powder
1 ½ tsp sugar
½ tbsp ground cinnamon
A pinch of ground nutmeg
A pinch of ground clove
1 cup milk
Preparation
In a mug stir together coffee powder, cocoa, sugar and spices
Add 2 tbsp of milk to form a paste
Heat the milk until its very hot
Pour the milk into the mug and stir to blend with the paste
Serve immediately
It tastes best while its hot.
#5 Starbucks Dolce Cinnamon Latte
Being locked down shouldn’t stop you from enjoying Starbucks. Its time to take the matter into your own hands!
Starbucks Dolce Cinnamon Latte
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 tbsp instant espresso powder
4 tbsp espresso
½ cup milk
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
½ brown sugar
½ vanilla extract
1 pinch nutmeg
Whipped cream
Preparation
Stir espresso powder in hot water and set aside
In a glass combine milk, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla and nutmeg and stir until combined
Place in microwave and cook for 1 minute and 30 seconds – until the milk begins to froth up.
Slowly pour the milk mixture into of espresso – set aside earlier
When inside a living body, viruses replicate and can take over the immune system, writes Dr. Noor Gill
Amidst all the humdrum of a virus spreading like wild fire and medical practitioners and public figures urging us to stay indoors, wash our hands and asking us not to touch our faces, they forgot to explain to us what is it that we are doing and how will it help. They gave us a long and descriptive list of instructions with legions of dos and don’ts on what to do to not fall sick. But they forgot to entail the details of what to do if we do.
In the thick of grounding us and asking us to go sit in a corner, no one thought of other illnesses. The world got so busy (ironically), so quick. And the definition of sick went from “affected by physical and mental illness” to “contracted with the coronavirus” so suddenly, making all the other indispositionsfeel like the second-string. So let’s get down to it and clarify all your doubts, shall we?
Why should I avoid touching my face?
Our hands help us navigate through things, objects, surfaces, people even. And all of these surfaces, objects and people- as clean as they may appear on the covering- are a host to a gazillion micro-organisms, viruses included. Since viruses are much smaller and cannot he seen through the naked eye, they don’t always come disguised as dusty surfaces. So when you touch a contaminated top, you come in contact with the virus. Now when you touch your nose, face, eyes- you are giving the virus a free access into your body.
Viruses, when present on inanimate objects are ‘inactive’. But when inside a living body, the host, they start to replicate and slowly take over the immune system. Much like an alien invasion in a sci-fi movie.
Why do I need to wash my hands frequently?
After unknowingly coming in contact with the virus, when you wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds (as instructed by the WHO) you are breaking the chain. Stopping the spread and containing the infection by not passing it on to another person- while shaking hands, or another object- when you hold the door for someone as a kind gesture.
Why do I have to cover my nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing?
The chief mode of transmission for the corona virus is through droplets- produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or nasal discharge from the nose.
Others become infected by inhaling these droplets or coming in contact with them and then touching their faces, eyes and nose.
This is also why wearing a mask is important. If you are sick, it’s always better to make sure you don’t infect another person- you would not only being taking care of yourself but of others around you as well. Wearing a mask if you are sick is more effective than wearing a mask to avoid getting sick.
What to do if I do fall sick?
The lockdown has been extended to May 3, 2020, good.
You might have some difficulty gaining access to some substantial resources and services, not good.
Here’s what you can do if you do find yourself feeling unwell:
Isolate yourself from others in the family. It might be nothing, but it is always better to take all the necessary precautions, as advised.
Call your general physician. Explain your symptoms and chief complaints to him, in detail. When it started, has your condition been the same or if it has aggravated. Any relieving or exacerbating factors. Associated symptoms, pain- if any.
Ask someone from your family to get you the prescribed medication. If you stay alone, ask a friendly neighbour to do you the favour and leave it at your doorstep.
Take the medication as prescribed, for as long as it is prescribed. Do not stop the medication when you think you’ve gotten better or encounter the slightest relief in your symptoms. Finish the complete course.
Eat healthier and try taking better care of yourself.
Make a note of if your symptoms are getting better or worse after taking the medication. If you feel you’re getting better, continue the medication. If you don’t see much change- call your physician, he could try a different medication.
If you still don’t experience much change or think you are getting worse, go to a hospital to seek the medical help you might be in need of.
Senior citizens are vulnerable to Covid-19 and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) along with Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Department of Geriatric Medicine, AIIMS Delhi has prepared an advisory to be followed by all the senior citizens and their caregivers
As coronavirus scare rises globally it is essential that seniors and their caregivers take extra caution. The Government of India’s Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Department released an advisory for the protection of senior citizens and their caregivers in the country.
This circular is designed especially keeping in mind seniors with medical conditions such as:
Chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, post tuberculous sequelae, interstitial lung disease
Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver disease, such as alcoholic, and viral hepatitis
Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease,stroke
Diabetes
Hypertension
Cancer
Based on the Census 2011 age-cohort data, it is projected that there would be approximately 16 Crore Senior citizens (aged above 60 yrs.) in the Country.
Sr Citizens between age group 60-69 yrs.
8.8cr
Sr Citizens between age group 70-79 yrs.
6.4cr
Assisted elders (above 80 years or people who require medical assistance)
2.8cr
Indigent elders (destitute who are homeless or deserted by the families)
0.18 cr
Advisory for Mobile Seniors
Do’s
Don’ts
· Stay within the house all the time
· Avoid having visitors at home
· If meeting is essential, maintain a distance of 1 meter
· If living alone, one can consider depending on healthy neighbors for acquiring essentials for home
· Avoid small and large gatherings at all cost
· Remain actively mobile within the house
· consider doing light exercise and yoga at home
· Maintain hygiene by washing hands. Especially before having meals and after using the washroom. This can be done by washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
· Clean frequently touched objects such asspectacles
· Sneeze and cough into tissue paper/handkerchief. After coughing or sneezing dispose of the tissue paper in a closed bin/wash your handkerchief and hands
· Ensure proper nutrition through home cooked fresh hot meals, hydrate frequently and take fresh juices to boost immunity
· Take your daily prescribed medicines regularly
· Monitor your health. If you develop fever, cough and/or breathing difficulty or any other health issue, immediately contact nearest health care facility and follow the medical advice
· Talk to your family members (not staying with you), relatives, friends via call or video conferencing, take help from family members if needed
· Come in close contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus disease(fever/ cough/ breathing difficulty)
· Shake hands or hug your friends and near ones
· Go to crowded places like parks, markets and religious places
· Cough or sneeze into your bare hands
· Touch your eyes, face and nose
· self-medicate
· Go to hospital for routine checkup or follow up. As far as possible make tele- consultation with your health care provider
· Invite family members and friends at home
Due to Summer, avoid dehydration. Consume an adequate amount of water. (Caution for individuals with pre-existing Heart and Kidney disease)
Advisory for Caregivers of Dependent Seniors
Do’s
Don’ts
· Wash your hands before helping the older individual
· Cover nose and mouth adequately using a tissue or cloth while attending on the senior citizen
· Clean the surfaces which are frequently used. These include a walking cane, walker, wheel-chair, bedpan etc
· Assist the older individual and help her/him in washing hands
· Ensure proper food and water intake by senior citizens
· Monitor his/her health
· Go near senior citizens if suffering from fever/cough/breathing difficulty
· Keep senior citizens completely bed-bound
· Touch the Senior Citizen without washing hands
Contact helpline if the older adult has the following symptoms:
Fever, with or without body ache
New-onset, continuous cough, shortness of breath
Unusually poor appetite, inability to feed
Advisory for Seniors on Mental well-being
Do’s
Don’ts
· Communicate with relatives at home
· Communicate with neighbors, provided social distancing is followed, and gathering of people is avoided
· Provide a peaceful environment
· Rediscover old hobbies like painting, listening to music,reading
· Make sure to access and believe only the most reliable sources of information
· Avoid tobacco, alcohol and other drugs to avoid loneliness or boredom
· If you have an already existing mental illness, call helpline(08046110007)
· Isolate yourself
· Confine oneself in a room
· Follow any sensational news or social media posts.
· Spread or share any unverified news or information further
Contact helpline in case of;
Change in mental status,such as excessively drowsy during the day,not responding, speaking inappropriately
New onset of inability to recognize relative which he/she could do before
As the lockdown has been extended please take care of yourself and your loved ones. Keep in mind to follow the advisory.
In the name of development, we have invaded nature for our needs. By Vickram Sethi
For men may come and men may go / But I go on forever.
– Alfred Lord Tennyson in the poem ‘The Brook’
We consider ourselves the “superior beings” – we know it all, we have all the solutions – but the question is, at the hour of crisis when we have barely seen the tip of the iceberg, why do we find ourselves helpless and fragile? Why is it that all of a sudden, the “superior beings” are vulnerable to a speck of germ? Is this our doing, that has led to such a pandemic crisis?
In the name of development, we have invaded nature for our needs – from the tropical forests to the wild landscapes to the oceans. While we are aware that nature harbours many species of animals and plants that are disrupted by our invasion, still we cut the trees; we kill the animals; we cage them and send them to markets to feed on them. Overlooking the fact that within those creatures thrive many unknown viruses and we shake these viruses loose from their natural hosts. When that happens, they need a new host and often, we are it.
Why are the outbreaks of animal-borne and other infectious diseases such as Ebola, Sars, bird flu and now Covid-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, on the rise?
Destruction of biodiversity
Only a decade or two ago it was widely thought that tropical forests and intact natural environments teeming with exotic wildlife threatened humans by harbouring the viruses and pathogens that lead to new diseases in humans such as Ebola, HIV and dengue. But today it is actually humanity’s destruction of biodiversity, that creates the conditions for new viruses and diseases such as Covid-19.
Pathogens are spreading from animals to humans and many are able to spread quickly to new places. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that three-quarters of new or emerging diseases that infect humans originate in animals.
In 2008, a team of researchers identified 335 diseases that emerged between 1960 and 2004, at least 60% of which came from animals. These zoonotic diseases are linked to environmental change and human behaviour. The disruption of pristine forests driven by logging, mining, road building through remote places, rapid urbanisation and population growth is bringing people into closer contact with animal species they may never have been near before.
The resulting transmission of disease from wildlife to humans is a hidden cost of human economic development. There are just so many more of us, in every environment. We are going into largely undisturbed places and being exposed more and more. We are creating habitats where viruses are transmitted more easily, and then we are surprised that we have new ones.
Simpler systems get an amplification effect – we tear down landscapes and the species in degraded habitats are likely to carry more viruses which infect humans. There are countless pathogens out there continuing to evolve, which at some point could pose a threat to humans. While the risk of pathogens jumping from animals to humans has always been there, some, like rabies and plague, crossed from animals centuries ago.
Landscape changes
The difference between now and a few decades ago, is that diseases are likely to spring up in both urban and natural environments. But we have created densely packed populations where alongside us are bats and rodents and birds, pets and other living things. This creates intense interaction and opportunities for pathogens to move from species to species.
For all we know the coronavirus outbreak is only the tip of the iceberg. There could be zillions of pathogens that are yet to be discovered. By reducing the natural barriers between human and host animals – in which the virus is naturally circulating – we are creating the conditions for the spread of diseases ourselves. Wildlife everywhere is being put under more stress. Major landscape changes cause animals to lose habitats, which means species become crowded together and also come into greater contact with humans.
Altering the ecosystem affects the complex cycle of the pathogen. Nature poses threats, it is true, but it’s human activities that do the real damage. The health risks in a natural environment is much worse when we interfere with it. If we aren’t careful now, there will be more new pathogens with other impacts that could be bigger than large-scale human mortalities.
Rodents and some bats thrive when we disrupt natural habitats. They are the most likely to promote transmissions of pathogens. The more we disturb the forests and habitats, the more danger we are in. Environmental changes influence the probability that humans will be exposed to infectious diseases.
The more we disturb the forests and habitats, the more danger we are in
Disease ecologists argue that viruses and other pathogens are also likely to move from animals to humans in the many informal markets that have sprung up to provide fresh meat to fast-growing urban populations around the world. Here, animals are slaughtered, cut up and sold on the spot. The “wet market” (one that sells fresh produce and meat) in Wuhan, thought by the Chinese government to be the starting point of the current Covid-19 pandemic, was known to sell numerous wild animals, including live wolf pups, salamanders, crocodiles, scorpions, rats, squirrels, foxes, civets and turtles.
Equally, urban markets in west and central Africa sell monkeys, bats, rats, and dozens of species of bird, mammal, insect and rodent slaughtered and sold close to open refuse dumps and with no drainage. Wet markets make a perfect storm for cross-species transmission of pathogens. When species interact with a range of other species in one place, whether that is in a natural environment like a forest or a wet market, there is bound to be a spillover at a point, because they aren’t supposed to interact closely.
What can we do?
The risks are greater now. They were always present and have been there for generations. It is our interactions with that risk which must be changed.
We need to treat our mother earth with distinction or surely face extinction
We need to change our behavior towards biodiversity. And the change must come from both rich and poor societies. Demand for wood, minerals and resources from the global north leads to the degraded landscapes and ecological disruption that drives diseases. We must think about global biosecurity, find the weak points and bolster. Otherwise we can expect more of the same.
We are in an era now of chronic emergency; diseases are more likely to travel further and faster than before, which means we must be faster in our responses. It needs investment, change in human behaviour, and it means we must listen to people at community levels.
Now the big task is how to get the message about pathogens and diseases to hunters, loggers, market traders and consumers. Awareness around the globe is essential. The spread of pathogens starts with one or two people and the solution is education and awareness. The leaders of the world must make humanity aware that things have to be done differently from now on. We need to treat our mother earth with distinction or surely face extinction. Now is the time we need to be prepared. We can’t predict where the next pandemic will come from. The only certain thing is that the next one will surely come.
Turns out the “superior beings” are super fragile to mother nature’s tiny speck. Imagine what would happen if nature retaliates against what we have been doing to her. Mankind can be so arrogant and careless; this time reminds us to care for our earth, or pay the price.
Covid-19 is worrying because of its unknown aspects. But that does not mean you turn to dubious “sources” for information, writes Dr. Noor Gill
We had a 58-year-old lady, looking as fit as a fiddle, walk into our OPD in the ENT department with her daughter-in-law walking by her side. They came and sat as instructed, and so began the montage. She received a WhatsApp forward from a dear friend of hers who believes in some ‘guru ji’ and he said, in fact guaranteed, that if they blocked their ears with a clove of garlic, it will protect them from contracting the coronavirus. Needless to say, she thought it was a great idea and that WhatsApp was a reliable source of medical advice about a disease even the medical professionals know little about.
With the internet full of data and knowledge about anything and everything under the sun, in fact even about the sun itself, acting as the ‘jack of all trades but the master of none’, it has the masters feeling like fools.
If you have a cough, don’t panic – it could be a cold, or allergies. Call your doctor, and explain all your symptoms
Now when we have a headache, we don’t go see a doctor who has a degree; instead we look for an internet connection and a reason to worry. The pain in our temples accelerates from a simple tension headache to a brain tumour quicker than you can pronounce astrocytoma. Don’t you dare Google what that is – you don’t have it!!
Inviting trouble
When you go to WebMD for a solution instead of somebody who actually has an MD as a qualification, a testament to his authenticity and hard work for a rather substantial fix in the form of a prescription, you’re inviting more predicament and inconvenience than explanation and solutions.
With the ongoing pandemic, everyone confined to their homes and the door shut closed and the doctors fighting for PPE, the only source you think you have to turn to is the world wide web – and it throws your way symptoms as vague as cough, nasal discharge, fever and death. All of which could be because of a flu, or your summer allergies kicking in, or something to do with the fact that you’ve been watching Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with all this time on your hands.
In medical school, by the time we reach our final year, we start diagnosing each other with all sorts of illnesses and disorders as a game, calling each other funny names and characterising each other based on one or two common physical features like height or being too lanky. It is a fun trick to help us remember and associate a particular feature and symptoms with someone we know – makes it easier to recall and memorise. But some people tend to take it a little too seriously; and with a profession like ours and the world that we are currently living in- where we are seeing more sickness than health. We look for a plain sheet waiting to be filled with medicine that we can’t spell right. Much like that, living in a world where every third person you know has cancer, and every other relative is either diabetic or has a sub-optimally active thyroid, it is easy to fall down the rabbit hole under the false pretence of ‘preparing yourself for the worst’ or ‘being aware and well versed with my disease’ even when you might not even have a disease to start with.
Get it straight
So let’s clarify a few things here, common cold ≠ corona. We tend to confuse these two because both of them involve our respiratory systems. They are not the same disease or caused by the same organism, but there are only so many symptoms a pathogen attacking our airways can present with. Here are some very clear differences to help you understand better. (Source: WHO, CDC, NIH)
Difficulty in breathing – without any exertion or heavy activity/exercise as a contributing factor
All of this can be associated with
Generalized body aches
Fatigue
Lesser common symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sore or scratchy throat, diarrhoea.
And here is how it is different from the COMMON COLD OR THE FLU:
Fever is sudden
Cough – productive, which means some amount of phlegm, sputum is present
Headache
Muscle and joint pains due to weakness
Runny or stuffy nose
Now let’s put allergies in the mix and see how they are different from the other two.
ALLERGIES:
Sneezing
Redness of eyes, watery and itchy eyes
Irritation of throat (leading to cough)
Runny or stuffy nose
If after this too, you are not sure which one it is and are worried about your health and the safety of your family, go see a doctor, one with a degree he studied hard for, instead of relying on hearsay from WhatsApp and Facebook.
Earth has suddenly come to a grinding halt, mid-spin. Thrown off its revolving axis by something so infinitesimal, it cannot be seen. But it can be felt. And how!!! This, our gigantic planet, brought to its knees by something more than a trillion times smaller, and invisible.
Let me correct myself. It is not Planet Earth that has been brought to its knees. It is
mankind. And rightly so. Our two-legged race, in its self-destructive hurtle to outdo itself, has lost all rationale and perspective. Our unquenchable greed for bigger, better, more and yet more has blinded us completely to what we already possess – the abundant wealth that Nature has bestowed on us. We have ravaged and raped our forests, our oceans. We joyously kill other living beings – small, humble, huge or magnificent, either directly or by destroying their natural habitat.
For the last two decades, slowly but surely, Mother Nature has been trying to warn mankind. She has turned up her thermostat to sizzling, unbearable heat – turned it down to numbing freeze. Caused hailstorms in the deserts, to unprecedented floods and earthquakes, to flattening hurricanes to obliterating tsunamis that annihilate everything in their paths as the oceans rush in to reclaim what was once theirs. She has thundered her anger at mankind through massive glacial meltdowns, demonstrated her fury thru lava spewing volcanoes.
And what has been the impact of all above on man?
None whatsoever. We continue our unstoppable frenzy, our mindless destruction of all the bounty this gracious planet has blessed us with.
So now, here we are, teetering on the edge of nowhere –
Nowhere to run.
Nowhere to hide.
Imprisoned in our own homes.
Enslaved by our overpowering greed.
Brought to our knees by our desire to reach the stars.
And so, today –“Of the people, for the people, by the people “, holds a whole new meaning.
Our society looks set to change forever with the experience of the novel coronavirus, writes Prabhakar Mundkur
Sometimes a natural event can be so tumultuous that it can change a society forever. So great is the shock that it could change habits and attitudes forever.
It is my hypothesis that Indian society might have changed forever with the experience of Covid-19. I have always seen Indians as being a little privileged when it comes doing housework. And I counted myself in that lot once upon a time.
I grew up as an only Indian child, petted and spoilt by my mother. Like most Indian boys I hadn’t done an ounce of household work in my entire life. When I turned thirty, I had maids, nannies, a car and driver, a joint family, and of course my dear wife who would manage everything. If I was spoilt as a child I was even more spoilt as a young adult. This is not untypical for most Indian children and typically Indian men.
Shedding old habits
In traditional families, the woman ends up doing all the work while the man relaxes in his armchair
I had many life-changing experiences that helped me to shed my old shameful habits. But perhaps the most significant and most permanent was actually living overseas. Where drivers are hard to find and certainly quickly going into extinction. Maids, cooks, and almost all of domestic help is either way too expensive or almost doesn’t exist in most countries in the West. This forces you to be self-sufficient, however spoilt you might have been in your earlier life.
Covid-19 might have caught a number of Indians off-guard. It may have suddenly dawned on them that they lack some essential life skills. When I was growing up, some career women boasted in party conversations that they couldn’t cook and they were proud to show off their disability. In the 70s that drew some awe, I remember, but I think no more. Whether it is a man or a woman, a statement like that might draw disgust rather than awe in today’s society. It might show that the person making those confessions is lacking in basic life skills.
So how has life changed?
As I observe life from my solitary confinement inside my flat, I notice some men with a broom and a mop. Today I heard some loud 80s music blaring out in my society, and I couldn’t help asking my neighbour why he was playing his audio system so loudly today. He said he likes to hear music, when he is mopping the floor. Surprisingly I also enjoy listening to music, whether I am mopping the floor or cooking in the kitchen.
But in some traditional families I only see the woman working more than ever. And the man relaxing in his armchair, reading his newspaper which is online. I can’t help feeling sorry for the wife in these families. Obviously Ariel’s #sharetheload commercials are a huge waste of time, money and effort. Nothing is likely to change those families. When I worked in South Africa I realised that some deeply entrenched habits are very difficult to change. I worked on Kellogg’s and discovered that it was easier to change local populations to cornflakes than some others who insisted on their ham, eggs and bacon.
The CEO of a well-known Indian company in his message to employees recently said, “During the present lock-down having to WFH, with the added pressure of absence of domestic help, our women are in an even more challenging situation. They are now required to balance work and domestic chores, childcare, home schooling; when all the family members are at home, including spouse, children, and elders in some cases.” It gives me the impression that Indian society has not moved at all. That really is a deeply androcentric statement for an androcentric society and reinforces societal stereotypes that hold women back.
India ranks 129 on the Gender Inequality Index in the Human Development reports brought out by the United Nations. It even ignores the WHO guidelines on Covid-19 above. And if the front-runners in our society display this kind of bias, brought to us over millennia, I sometimes wonder when India will change.
Covid-19 in many ways has been a great time for the average Indian to get unspoilt. And trigger some profound changes in Indian society for the future.
When we discover ourselves, we are never desolate, writes Nagesh Alai
The other day, amid all the social distancing and isolation imposed by the pathogen, I had called up a septuagenarian lady living with her husband (a Parkinson’s patient) in our society, to enquire about her and asking her if she needed any help in getting vegetables, food, etc.
I had also called up a well-known retired cricketer neighbour in his seventies to enquire about him, and offering to get his vegetables and medicines since he was worried about stepping out. It was a simple neighbourly gesture and responsibility, but one could make out the immense happiness and gratitude they felt that someone would remember them, call up and offer help.
Similar was the reaction when a family member called up a nonagenarian widow (mercifully, in good health) living alone mid-town. Recently, a lawyer friend sought some references of an ayah (caretaker) to look after an elderly relative.
The common thread across is the acknowledgement of their existence, need for conversations and assurance of support in times of need.
Significant percentage
At the end of the day, you have had your place under the sun in your prime
Anecdotes these are, but it is representative of a significant percentage of the approximately 130 million senior citizens of India – a split of about 70% rural and 30% urban. With the advances in medical sciences and increasing longevity, the seniors’ numbers is expected to more than double to 300 million in the not-too-distant future. Currently about 30% of the urban senior citizens continue to work for sustenance whereas in the rural areas, as much as 70% continue to work to sustain themselves. It can be safely assumed that overall 60%-plus of the elders are dependent on their children in one way or the other while the rest pull along or barely manage on their own in the sunset phase.
The breakdown of the joint family, particularly in urban areas, is an aggravation for the elders while the rural elders still have some solace from it. Several cases have been reported of elders’ abandonment, ill-treatment, destitution, etc. The few outlier exceptions of elder independence, monetary or otherwise, are a matter of good fortune.
Waking up to reality
As a society, the government and civil society are waking up to the reality of elder care. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is doing its bit, albeit a pittance of Rs 200 to Rs 500 monthly doles to BPL elders, based on advanced age. Lower tax rates, higher exemption levels and special high-interest deposit interest rates (elders also get 0.50% extra interest from all banks) are some important reprieves for the elders sustaining themselves on meagre pensions (save for government and PSU retirees and of course sinecured politicians who live a comfortable sunset life) and interest income.
Several NGOs focusing on geriatric and elders, across the length and breadth, are doing their bit for elder care, albeit penetration and impact is very low. Concessions in travel costs, elder friendly public infrastructure, Varishta Mediclaim Policy for elders in the age group of 60 to 80, LIC Varishta Bima Yojana guaranteeing a return of 8% for 10 years, senior citizen housing colonies, registration of all elders at local police stations, enactment of laws making ill treatment of parents a cognizable offence and mandating of state governments to establish at least one old age home in each district and similar conducive developments have all provided some mental, physical and psychological succour to the senior citizens.
Several on-line portals and start-ups offering home care to elders also help the elders in leading an assured stress-free life and more importantly a psychological booster of feeling cared for. The country is dotted with old-age homes, run by charities and missions, which take care of elders who have been abandoned or are in their terminal stage. Digital connectivity and social media help the outstation family stay in touch with their elders, adding to a degree of comfort.
Altering Perspectives
While our government is gradually and proactively taking steps and building capacities in that direction and the civil society and NGOs are doing their best, there is a need for the senior citizens as well to alter their own world view and perspectives. Let us address it from four different angles.
Being older is not an excuse to stay inert. Find out what you can do, and what you like, and enjoy life
1) Psychological – Preparing ourselves for our retirement phase is a crucial aspect. All of us have been relating our importance in the grihastashram phase (family/working life) to our job, position, chair and earnings. Without these appendages of power and identity, we find it difficult to accept our situation and subconsciously devalue ourselves. Retirement from active life (it is a matter of detail if it is 60 or 65 or 75) is an inevitability and we have no option but to accept that.
Vanaprastha stage (or the retirement phase when people of yore used to move away to jungles to contemplate) is when you start sharing your wisdom and experiences and mentor others. You will find your former juniors earning more than you, reaching higher positions than you, leading a company, etc. Similarly, you may find your own children surpassing what you had achieved. You ought to be celebrating such successes and feel good at your own contributions to their achievement. Retirement calls for a lot of forbearance or what one would call as titiksa. At the end of the day, you have had your place under the sun in your prime and now you need to make space to let others enjoy their place under the sun. Without this positivity of mind and self-confidence, we may go down an abyss of depression. After all, life is a journey to be cherished from start to end regardless of our relative position.
2) Physiological – One of the greatest joys of life is to have good health and an active life. There could be only three possibilities – we are in good health, in average health or in poor health – all of which are a result of our past discipline (or indiscipline) in ingestion of food, regimen of exercises and lifestyle. While little can be done about our past indulgences or infractions, we can proactively look at how best to handle our current health situation and control and improve it. If you have diabetes or cholesterol, review and control food consumption, exercise and jog and keep your mental faculties active and alert. If you are a heart patient, be proactive in following the doctor’s advice and abide by it. If you have any joint or muscle pains, do exercises to alleviate it. If you have flexibility problems, do the stretching exercises.
Whatever be the case or the severity, be active as necessary and advised. Play games that you can handle – try being a child all over; you will be rejuvenated. Enjoy the hugs with your partner. Spend time with your family and friends. Travel, go an adventure trip, discover new places. Learn to dance, learn to sing. Whatever it may be, stay active. Old age is no excuse to stay inert.
I know of a runners group (aptly called the Zippers Club, denoting the surgical scar running down their chest; I was briefly a part of it till my right knee gave me a warning) consisting mostly of bypass patients in their late 60s and mid 70s practicing running regularly and participating in half marathons. That’s zest for life. That’s joie de vivre! Do you live life or let life just pass – it is up to you.
3) Financial – This is simply about the most complex part of our life – our finances – and how well one is equipped to handle it. Financial independence is obviously a good thing, but how many of us are lucky enough to have pension or sufficient savings. Are you managing whatever you have to ensure that it gets you some tax efficient returns to cover your inflation covered living costs. Do you consult an investment advisor? Do you do some research and homework yourselves? Do you review and revise your investments periodically? Have your spread your fixed deposits over several banks? How many of them are with PSU banks (for relatively better safety since they are majority owned by the government)? Do you spend too much on your credit card? Are you insured for medical and hospitalisation expenses? Investment decisions are not easy to make and there are no guarantees of safety of capital or returns. Cases like collapse of PMC bank, M S Coop Bank, etc., are dime a dozen, where people have lost their life time savings and left high and dry. The point is that we actively need to keep a close watch on our investments, the income that they generate, what are our expenses and what are the superficial ones that we can cut out, reducing life style expenses and saving for the future. Never hesitate to reach out to someone whom you trust. Yes, you heard me right – saving is necessary at every stage in life, given the longer life spans of people. Those who have the inclination can look at second careers too – many startups and portals offer full time or part time jobs to retired people. Most will have an average of 20 to 25 years of post-retirement existence and they need to make their finances stretch and work over that long phase. If it is any solace, you will be surprised to know that most of us can do with very little to survive, if health is good.
4) Spiritual – This is a long and a complex subject. We all had a beginning and we all will have an end. We all come into the world alone and will exit the world alone. Whether we are atheists, agnostics or theists, we all subconsciously know the law of nature. To encapsulate it briefly, it is about letting go, avoid coveting, having equanimity of mind, being detached and dispassionate, discovering our Inner Self and being prepared for the final passage. Meditation, yoga, spiritual discourses, satsangs, chanting – all of these help in achieving some inner peace of mind and confidence to face each day with renewed vim and vigour.
Life is a boon and it is up to each of us to make the most of it. A belief followed by practice is what will get us there. Since turning a senior citizen, the writer, for the first time in his life has done high altitude and physically challenging treks like Kailash Manasarover and Everest Base Camp, 4 Half Marathons and one 25 KMs Ultra run, learnt Vedanta and Sanskrit, tried dancing, has taught at alma mater, gives motivational talks and mentors start-ups. If the writer can do these, so can you! As they say, we are limited only by our mind.
When we discover ourselves, we are never desolate. Live life, Senior size!
Dr. Arun Dravid remembers Gana-Tapaswini Mogubai Kurdikar, with whom he was closely associated
I fondly and respectfully remember my long years of association with Gana-Tapaswini late Smt Mogubai Kurdikar (Maai), and I am pleased to write about my memories and narrate a few anecdotes about her disciplined and exemplary life.
Mogubai and daughter Kishori
My very first introduction to Maai was when I was about 12 years old. I had been taking lessons from my first Guru, late Ustaad Majid Khan Saheb. Although at that stage I did not know the intricacies of Jaipur gayaki, Maai’s gramophone records had mesmerized me. I had nurtured an irresistible urge to meet the legendary Gana Tapaswini and seek her blessings. By my good fortune, my brother’s friend Mr. Ankolekar, who was a friend of Maai’s son Ulhas (Babu), organized to take my brother and me to meet Maai at her residence at Gowalia Tank. It was about 4 p.m. When Maai entered the inside room where we had been waiting, I was stunned by the simplicity of her attire and her demeanor. She graciously sat amongst us, and after some pleasantries, I was introduced to her as a boy currently taking lessons from Majid Khan Saheb. She became curious, and asked me to sing something that I had learnt. I gathered courage, tuned her Tanpura (at that time my voice had not yet matured, and my pitch was the same as hers!), and started singing Bhimpalas. After I presented it for ten minutes, I stopped. Maai smiled at me, and asked me if what I sang was really taught by Majid Khan Saheb. I sheepishly said yes. She gave a nod of disapproval, and said that she didn’t think so. She said that he would never teach me the sequence Ma-Dha-Pa which I had used repeatedly. Then I nervously admitted that it was my own indiscretion. She laughed, and told me never to sing that phrase again in Bhimpalas! She furthermore said that Ustaad Majid Khan had put good voice culture into my voice, and had given me a solid foundation of Jaipur gayaki, and that I should never let it lapse. She rose further in my heart, from the already high pedestal. Little did I know then, that I was some day to become very heavily influenced by her gayaki, and to become closely associated with her in my future life almost as a family member!
Simply delighted
The next time destiny was to bring me towards Maai was when I had just recovered from the two years of agony when my child’s voice matured into a man’s voice. By this time Ustaad Majid Khan was getting on in his age, and I had to look for another Guru. I had the dream of learning from Maai. My father was a friend of late Shri Wamanrao Deshpande, a disciple of Maai. So my father requested Wamanrao to put in a word to Maai. Wamanrao did this, but reported that Maai was reluctant to take under her tutelage a young boy, as she was herself getting on in age, and already had a number of advanced disciples. However, amazingly, Maai remembered that childhood encounter of mine with her, and had some kind of interest in, and sympathy for, me. So she sent a counter-proposal to my father through Wamanrao, as to whether I would be willing to learn from her daughter, Smt Kishori Amonkar, who then was just coming out of Maai’s wings, although she had been performing for some years already. I was simply delighted, and could not believe my good fortune! So began my second phase of training under Smt Kishoritai, and I had the proud privilege of being her first ever disciple! As Kishoritai was living at Maai’s home then, those years of training did not escape the watchful eye and ear of Maai.
Unassuming nature
The quality in Maai that always struck me was her humility and unassuming nature. Her simple and humble lifestyle
The young Mogubai Kurdikar
was a sharp contrast with her Himalayan achievements in moulding the Jaipur gayaki into a poetic, feminine, and heart-touching architecture. She always shunned publicity, and stayed completely aloof from the politics of music that existed in her days, however they minimal they were compared with today’s musical scene. She harboured no malice towards anyone, even towards those who might have been her adversaries (by their choice, not hers!). She was respectful of all gharanas, all singers, including her illustrious senior Gurubhagini Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar. I remember a letter she once wrote upon being invited to Delhi to perform at some important national function, as the senior Jaipur gharana artist. In this letter she took the authorities to task, asking them how they could forget Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar who, she asserted, was her senior and the most accomplished contemporary artist of the Jaipur gharana. (Please see this letter in the book “Vishrabdhasharada”.) This clearly reflects the magnificently large heart that Maai had. How truly did she practice Abraham Lincoln’s famous words… “With Malice Towards None, and Charity Towards All…….”!!
Legendary punctuality
Maai was extremely disciplined with regard to commitments made to other people. Her punctuality was legendary. She would always be ready before the prescribed time at her concerts. Her conscientious attention to time management was not just limited to her commitments outside her home, but also equally at home. She was always ready on time for her disciples. When the tabla player was late, she would herself play the Baaya. There were occasions when I used to travel from Powai on weekends for my lessons from my Guru Smt Kishoritai. Sometimes due to difficulty of phone connections Kishori tai could not communicate her out-station travel in time. Maai would then herself sit and teach me, just so that my long trip should not go waste. How many Gurus have this sense of commitment, and show the care and consideration for other people’s time?
Unlimited Patience
Mogubai Kurdikar was a perfectionist, and it showed in her flawless singing
Maai had almost unlimited patience while teaching her disciples. When a phrase being taught was not coming out just right, she would endlessly repeat it for the student, without losing temper or patience. She never discouraged other students from sitting at her lessons, even though they were not her primary students. I took full advantage of this, because after my lesson with Kishoritai was done during early evening, Maai would normally sit with her disciples, late Kamal Tambe and Smt Kausalya Manjeshwar, and occasionally, late Wamanrao Deshpande. She would say to me “Are, tu pan manatlya manat paath karun ghe astai ani chalan”. Apart from being present at numerous such sessions, I would often sit outside the music room, and hear Maai’s treatment of singing the alaap, bol-alaap, bol-taan, and her superbly architectured taans. I must admit that these direct and indirect hours of hearing her at practice time made a lasting impact on my own style of singing, apart from all that I have inherited from my primary Gurus Ustaad Majid Khan and Smt Kishoritai. Many of the rare Raagas of our gharana I have learnt indirectly from Maai in this fashion. This has considerably complemented the wealth of music I have inherited from Smt Kishoritai.
All those years of minutely studying Maai’s gayaki ideally complemented my direct training at the hands of Smt. Kishoritai. I began to see the characteristic of Maai’s gayaki in some detail. Some of the unique characteristics were: (1) Very minute attention to the care and loving treatment of the swar, particularly the shrutis that were just right for a given Raag and its mood. (2) High importance to the aesthetics of presentation, particularly, the femininity of the treatment of any Raag that a female singer must always reflect. (3) The well thought-out and graceful way of singing “bol-alaap” and “bol taan”, particularly the meticulous observance of simple rules that add much grace, such as, the pronouncing of words softly and with a slightly descending leading touch, without breaking the meaning of the lyric, and shortening the short vowels and lengthening the long ones, etc. (4) the grace and forces (“balas”) in singing gamak taans, particularly, the way the force behind each note arises from the lower note. (5) The symmetrical architecture of each alaap or taan that gracefully leads to the mukhda every single time. (6) Exceptionally high breath-capacity and control (“damsaas”) that lends the requisite support to long, uninterrupted taans. (7) Complete mastery over the taal and laya that she sang her bandishes to. She could sing with equal mastery bandishes in difficult taals like Ada Chautaal, Jhoomra, Tilwada, Yog-Taal, and Pancham Sawari, etc., including off-beat bol-taans, with uncanny ease. Her mastery over the intricate weaving of words, notes and rhythm (laykaari) has remained her hallmark, and in this skill, she has stood head and shoulders above most other musicians. Per the general tradition of Jaipur gayaki, she never sang any bandish in very slow (“ati-vilambit”) pace. One special contribution Maai made to Jaipur gayaki, was to fill the void of drut bandishes and taranas in many Raagas. Maai composed scores of these. Some she never sang in public herself, but taught them to her disciples. I realise that I am only scratching the surface of what Maai’s musical genius was. There are many senior personalities who can talk about it far more authoritatively than I can. On September 4, 2004 a full programme on the subject of Maai’s musical genius was presented by Smt Kishori Amonkar and her colleagues in Mumbai, in great depth. I will therefore not venture into this subject any more here.
Temple project
I am reminded of a project that was dear to Maai’s heart that we, her younger well-wishers and devotees
Mogubai Kurdikar – later years
participated in completing. Maai was a devotee of the original Rawalnath temple at Kurdi in Goa. Under some Government project to build a dam, this temple was doomed to go under water, so the Government offered a paltry compensation to her. The project was to construct a new temple at Walkinim. I helped in my own small way, organising a music conference at Rang Bhavan in Mumbai as a fund-raiser, collecting advertisements from a large number of my business associates, etc. I even made several trips to Goa to discuss the construction plans, contracts and supervise the progress. But it was a collective effort of all, and Kishoritai assumed the lion’s share in it while all of us assisted her. When the temple was completed, we had the inaugural ceremony at which Maai and all her clan assembled. After the Pooja, and other religious ceremonies, per usual custom, all disciples sang short pieces in the service of Lord Rawalnath. I sang Savani Kalyan, one of Maai’s favorite Raagas. To my astonishment, she liked it so much, that she came towards me and said, “I heard my own singing from your voice today.” This was the biggest honour and blessing I have ever received from anyone to this date. I have cherished fond memories of this event.
Exemplary fortitude
Maai had an exceptionally high threshold for physical as well as emotional pain. Her entire life is a story of adversities and painful events through which she brought up her three children. She was mother and father to all of them, and also Guru to Sm. Kishoritai. It is not appropriate to write about the family events in her life that often were excruciatingly painful to her, but she bore them all with exemplary fortitude and courage, not letting up even a tiny bit on her duties to her children and disciples, as well as concert and recording commitments. Her ascetic, highly devotional, and disciplined character gave her saintly strength to withstand all adversities with courage.
In Maai’s later days, she stayed for some years at her younger daughter Smt Lalita Kurdikar’s home at Worli. Since Maai had affection for me almost like her son, I used to visit her once a week on my way home from office. She was often depressed due to one reason or another, and I used to try to cheer her up, taking her mind to her own learning days from her Gurus, or talking about subtleties of Ragas or bandishes of Jaipur gharana, or just asking questions that had often intrigued me about some anomalies in our music. These were topics always dear to her heart. This way, she was distracted from her depressing thoughts. She was most happy reminiscing about the early days of her career, and her Riyaaz under her Gurus. I remember her kindness in being ever ready to teach something, if I asked. My first Guru Ustaad Majid Khan Saheb had taught me the astai of Raag Nat-Kamod (Nevar Bajo Re), but not the antara. I asked Maai if she knew it, although to my knowledge she had rarely sung it. She asked me to come another time and promised to look it up from her notebook. Amazingly, she kept her promise, and at my next visit she dictated and taught me the words and tune of the antara. This just reflects her kindness and love for people of all walks of life. I wasn’t ever going to be a performing star artist in my life, because I was in an engineering career. Yet, she took this trouble for me. She has, on numerous occasions, said to me “Je shiklas te kadhi visru nakos, vadhvat raha. Aplya gharanyache gane gaat raha. Dev tuze bare karo….”
Mogubai had kindness and love for people from all walks of life
Sheer providence
One other incident that has vividly stayed in my memory was during one such weekly visit to see Maai at Worli. My father was born in 1908, and Maai was born in 1904. My father grew up in Sangli, and was in high school during 1918-20. He told me that every day while walking back from school, his path went by a house from where during that time each evening, he regularly heard a male voice giving lessons to a female singer. My father said that he was incredibly spellbound by the articulation of the phrases, and their immediate and faithful reproduction by the female singer. He would stand there for several minutes, enjoy the beautiful Riyaaz, and then proceed home. So he asked me to check with Maai whether she ever lived in Sangli and took lessons from any Guru there. Sure enough, Maai confirmed to me that she did stay in Sangli during those years, and it was indeed late Ustaad Alladiya Khan that used to give her lessons. By sheer providence, my father regularly heard their Riyaaz every day for some minutes!
During the years when Maai began to decline in health perceptibly, she came back to live with Smt Kishoritai, who bore the brunt of the care and service that Maai needed day and night. She spared no amount of devotion, and provided, almost single-handedly, the highest medical care, including prolonged bouts of hospitalisation. Maai’s devotees like me did our own little bit in Maai’s service, but that would pale in front of what Smt Kishoritai did for Maai during those difficult years.
Sad meeting
I was in the USA during early 2001, and, by a miraculous coincidence, had come to Mumbai for a brief visit during the first week of February. To my shock, Maai was in the hospital then. On that fateful evening of February 10, I had the sad privilege of meeting her in the intensive care room. She recognised me, asked when I had returned, and held my hand weakly. I responded, saying we were all waiting for her to recover and return home, knowing fully well that this pep-talk was really not called for, as she was sinking. One last time she said “Dev Bare Karo”. I went out, waited, and in just a few minutes, word came that she had left for her heavenly abode. Providence had it that I was to receive her blessings for the last time before she bid farewell to all of us!
Complete mastery over taal and laya was one of her characteristics
I have reminisced about Maai as a person, and about how special she has always been in my heart. She was truly a Saint! As to her superhuman tapashcharya in perfecting her gayaki that she inherited from her Gurus, with single-minded dedication and discipline, and as to the intricacies of her music in its multiple facets, I have already said that there are many others who are far greater in musical stature than I, having been long-time disciples of Maai, who can speak far more authoritatively than I can. My own Guru and Maai’s illustrious daughter and disciple Gaan-Saraswati Smt Kishoritai towers highest among all of them. I would be a dwarf among them all in speaking about Maai’s musical genius. Nevertheless, these are my own humble tributes to the revered memory of Maai that I will always cherish in my heart.
Nutritionist Manisha Mehta writes about foods that help build a stronger immune system to fight infections lurking around
Strong immunity is a result of a healthy lifestyle; plenty of sleep, well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and by washing your hands regularly. Leading a healthy lifestyle can strengthen your immunity quickly as far as you make the effort and stick to your routine.
Immune system is a group of cells that protect the body against infections. There are two types – innate and adaptive immunity present in our body. Innate immunity is something we are born with. When our body is invaded by a virus, innate immunity immediately acts on it by producing extra mucus and by rising the body temperature – fever. Adaptive immunity on the other hand is gained as we grow and combat infections/diseases, vaccination. Adaptive immunity identifies the virus and produces specific antibodies to fight and eliminate from the body.
Revive your immunity by incorporating these foods to your daily diet.
Quarantine or isolation can lead to deteriorating mental as well as physical health. Psychiatrist Dr. Manish Bajpayee explains how exercising can help you stay upbeat
When people refrain from going outside, to prevent the spread and getting infected by the novel coronavirus, for the elderly it could lead directly to a deterioration of their mental and physical health. Seniors or the elderly citizens spend their days watching extensive television during such restrictive times. With the telecast of Ramayana and other serials of their era, I foresee this more so!
This may result in them being preoccupied with a medium which paralyses and restricts movement for long periods of time. Meals are eaten in a quick fashion, there is no talking to others and resultant their physical and intellectual activities drop, making them frail physically and mentally.
In such a state, their ability to recover from an illness, as well as their immune systems, are compromised. It has been said that the amount of muscle an elderly person loses when bedridden for two weeks is equivalent to a few years’ worth of muscle loss.
Exercise improves Mental Health
In numerous studies it has been found that inactive elderly vis-à-vis the active were found to have more emotional problems, depression and problems with sleep. Sleep disorders and an earlier onset of cognitive deterioration accompanied the inactive groups studied. A study on the elderly with depression found that after being prescribed medication and exercise in comparison to only medication, the former improved rapidly. In fact, the authors noted that the exercise group was able to sustain the gains and had fewer relapses and they lived longer.
The state of the present society is movement driven, but a large percentage of the population doesn’t exercise adequately. In addition, the present spread of COVID-19, the prescription of social isolation and to be indoors, the panic due to the rising cases and the rumors circulating paralyses the most robust and active members of society. For the elderly, it results in a fear of movement and a restriction of life.
It’s never too late to get active, whether indoors or outdoors
Do small workouts at home
Over time this results in physical, emotional and cognitive deterioration. To prevent this, they require to increase the time that they move around and make sure that they do small workouts at home. For example, they can stand up and march on the spot when the TV is on a commercial break. When the isolation or quarantine period are over they should go outside or somewhere in an open space and do physical activities. While you should avoid crowds, even then, walking is recommended.
Increase Happy Hormones
Staying active will keep the community but more so this age group both mentally and physically healthy. Exercise can help reduce elevated cortisol levels, as well as trigger the release of endorphins, boosting your overall mood and happiness. If you are feeling well enough and don’t have active symptoms, doing a prescribed workout at home to avoid physical contact with others is the best. However, walking up a few flights of stairs is sufficient. Ten steps up and down in one set, with two sets a day, is enough.
There are many reasons why we tend to slow down and become more sedentary with age. It may be due to health problems, weight or pain issues, or worries about falling. Or perhaps one assumes that exercising simply isn’t for you. But as you grow older, an active lifestyle becomes more important than ever to your health. Getting active is not just about adding years to your life, it’s about adding life to your years. People who regularly exercise are cognitively and emotionally more resilient. Life asks us to move, to push and pull. One should do it at all stages of life.
Regular exercise can help combat cognitive deterioration in the elderly
Walking
Walking is one of the best exercises, given the circumstances. Just walking in the corridor, or up and down the steps or in the balcony or the terrace or from one room to the next or in front of the TV is good enough. It should be done with intention, recorded mentally or in a note, and it should be relatively brisk.
No matter what your age or physical condition, it’s never too late to get your body moving, boost your health and outlook, and improve how you age. Start slow and build up steadily. If you haven’t been active in a while, build up little by little. Try spacing workouts in ten-minute increments twice a day.
Physical and social distancing does not mean that people have to be immobile. On the contrary exercise should become an even more essential part of staying fit and psychologically alert. We feel mentally better when we are physically active.
B12 deficiency is common, especially in the elderly, as with age it becomes difficult for the body to absorb this vitamin, explains Dr. Suresh Agrawal
Vitamin B12 also known as Methylcobalamin. An essential vitamin for brain, nerves and production of red blood cells. Methylcobalamin is solely synthesised by microorganisms present in human as well as animal gut. Most people will get enough of this vitamin naturally through their food if they eat a well-balanced diet.
People with higher risk of B12 deficiency include seniors, strict vegans, diabetics, or people who have had surgery to remove parts of their bowel. It is observed that those who are too fastidious about hygiene, or prolonged users of acid-reducing medicines such as Ranitidine, Omeprazole, Rabeprazole and Pantaprazole, or heavy consumers of alcohol, are more likely to get Vitamin B12 deficiency. B12 deficiency can also be caused by not eating enough of these foods or if your body is unable to absorb it from the food you eat.
Symptoms such as shortness of breath, or low mood, may indicate B12 deficiency, so ensure that you ask about this on your next doctor’s visit
Vitamin B12 is naturally found in liver, yeast, fermented foods, spinach, green vegetables and nuts, but most of it is destroyed by heating. However, it can also be found in meat, dairy and eggs, and in some breads and plant-based milk that have been fortified with B12.
Signs you are low on B12:
Pale skin – Your body requires B12 to produce red blood cells. Without B12 red blood cells become fragile – they cannot leave the bone marrow where they are produced to circulate the blood. This lack of red blood cells make the skin to appear pale.
Feeling weak and fatigued – When your body can’t produce enough healthy blood cells to carry oxygen around your body, you feel weak and fatigued.
Pins-and-needles sensation – Myelin is a fatty substance that surrounds your nerves, protecting and insulating them. Vitamin B12 is essential for its production, so without it the nerves and nervous system struggle to function properly. This may result in the feeling of pins and needles – though it is rarely associated with B12 deficiency alone.
Vitamin B12 is essential for brain, nerves and production of red blood cells
Decline in balance and mobility – If damage to the nervous system is allowed to progress, you may experience changes in your coordination, balance and movement.
Shortness of Breath – This occurs when the body is unable to transport enough oxygen to all its cells.
Smooth tongue – Glossitis, the inflammation of the tongue, can cause it to change colour, feel painful and swell, stretching out your taste buds and making them feel smooth. This can be an early symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Change in vision – If vitamin B12 deficiency causes damage to the optic nerve, it may result in blurry or impaired vision. This is known as optic neuropathy.
Depression – Low levels of vitamin B12 have been linked to mood changes, including depression and a decline in brain function. Fortunately, the use of supplements may help reverse damage in some patients.
At a time when China, epidemics and the selflessness of doctors is under constant discussion due to the coronavirus, Deepa Gahlot takes a look at a film that combined all these elements in a different way at a different time…
Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946)
The story of Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis is tragic yet uplifting, and it came out in fiction and film form quite soon after his death in 1942—fitting tribute to the man who went beyond the call of duty.
Khwaja Ahmed Abbas wrote a novel, And One Did Not Come Back, based on which V. Shantaram made a biopic, Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani, starring himself as the eponymous hero. (He happened to bear a striking resemblance to the real doctor.)
The real Dr. Kotnis
The film opens with a young Dwarka coming back to his hometown of Sholapur, where his father (Keshavrao Date), mother (Pratima Devi) and siblings eagerly await his return. While was away getting his medical degree, his father prepared a fully equipped clinic for him, but Dwarka had other plans. Inspired by the speech of a great leader (either Netaji Bose or Jawaharlal Nehru — not named), he decided to go to China with a medical mission, to help the Chinese during their war with Japan, that started in 1937. Chinese General Jhu De had requested India for medical help and a five-doctor team embarked on the long sea voyage to China.
Dr. Kotnis’s father gifts him a ring with a map of undivided India engraved on it, and tells him to make his country proud. (This was in the pre-Independence era, patriotism was legitimately major!)
The Indian medical team must have had a tough time in an alien land during a war, but a large chunk of the film looks more or less like a picnic. The costumes were vaguely Chinese and everybody spoke Hindi; in a particularly tense period, while the Japanese were pursuing a ragged Chinese army through the hills and forests, they found time to dance in coordinated clothes. Some of the lead actors were given a rushed Chinese get-up—mainly raised eyebrows—but the extras were left loose with their Indian appearance. Authenticity was not a big concern, technology was primitive, but there was a great story to tell and it was given the full Bollywood treatment with songs (Vasant Desai) and dances,
Promise fulfilled
Over time, the other four doctors leave to go back home, but Dr. Kotnis, fulfilling the promise made to his father, does not abandon his duty even when he gets a letter informing him of the older man’s death.
He befriends an old Chinese man, ‘Kaka’ Wong (Dewan Sharar), and a Chinese General Fong (Baburao Pendharkar), falls in love with a Chinese nurse, Guo Qinglan (played by Shantaram’s first wife, Jayashree) and marries her. While on the move, with the Japanese in pursuit, Qinglan gives birth to a son (the infant played by Shantaram and Jayashree’s daughter Rajshree). When faced with a terrible plague epidemic, Dr Kotnis injects infected discharge from lesions into his own body to study the progression of the disease, finds a cure and saves hundreds of lives. He also operates with rudimentary facilities and saves wounded soldiers. He dies just a few years later, at the age of 32, of epilepsy, but possibly because of exhaustion and his experiment during the plague epidemic.
Recording heroism
Seen today, the film seems excessively theatrical, but Shantaram gave a commendable performance, and made sure that at least Hindi cinema recorded the heroism of an Indian doctor, and the reverence of the Chinese for Dr Kotnis (called Ke Dihua by them). The Chinese built a statue, published books about him, and released postage stamps. A Chinese biopic titled Ke Di Hua Dai Fu was also made in 1982, though it does not seem to be available online. The Shantaram film is online in a shorter two-hour version. There was also an English version, The Journey of Dr Kotnis, for the foreign market, which is also inaccessible.
In real life, Qinglan remarried and lived to the ripe old age of 96 (she died in 2012); their son, named Yinhua (meaning India and China), however, died tragically young. She wrote a book, My Life with Kotnis, which could actually be the beginning of a fresh biopic should any filmmaker be so inclined.
Perhaps more legendary than Agent 007 is the steady stream of Bond Girls, writes YR Anand
Underneath the mango tree
Me honey and me can watch for the moon
Underneath the mango tree
Me honey and me make boolooloop soon
With this song playing in the background, we get introduced to Honey Ryder in Dr No, the first James Bond film. It was an unforgettable sight to see Ursula Andress rise out of the sea in a skimpy white bikini, a knife tucked in at her side.
The Swiss-born Ursula Andress, a stunning young blonde, was restless for new adventures. She was heading nowhere with her career, when she landed in Hollywood after some minor roles in Italian movies. Then in 1962, she turned up in Dr No. The role was not particularly long in the movie. Her Swiss German accent was so strong that her voice had to be dubbed over. But screen presence and smouldering looks left an indelible impression on movie goers worldwide. Her role of Honey Ryder comes up among the top contenders for the best Bond girl in many polls. She set the tone for all future Bond girls.
She appeared again in a small role in the Bond spoof film Casino Royale. The second time Casino Royale was made, it was another matter altogether. Daniel Craig appeared for the first time as Bond.
She was not the only beauty in this film. In the early opening scenes, Sylvia Trench introduces herself as “Trench, Sylvia Trench”. This of course led to the well-known, “Bond, James Bond” in all the Bond movies. Trench was Bond’s girlfriend for the first two films. The role was played by the British actress Eunice Gayson.
As the first female to be seen in Dr No together with James Bond (Sean Connery), she is officially the very first actress to play a Bond girl. She appeared as Sylvia Trench in the next Bond film, From Russia with love also. But again, the part was short-lived.
Gayson was to be cast as Miss Moneypenny the secretary to M, but that part went to Lois Maxwell instead. She appears in 14 of the Bond films as Miss Moneypenny. This Canadian born actress had an excellent career in writing and acting, apart from the Bond films.
The other beauty in Dr No was Miss Taro. She was played by the dark-haired beauty Zena Marshall who was of French and English/Irish origin.
The movies of James Bond did not follow the order in which the original Ian Fleming novels were published. So, the next movie to come along was From Russia With Love.
This introduces us to Tatiana Romanova who worked for the Soviet Embassy in Istanbul. She gets coerced into a mission to seduce James Bond and (unknowingly) lead him to his death. Needless to say, she helps Bond escape his hurdles. The role was essayed by the Italian beauty Daniela Bianchi.
Daniela Bianchi was an Italian beauty queen who was the first runner up in a Miss Universe Beauty pageant. She had a successful career in Italian and French movies after the Bond movie role.
From Russia With Love also had the characters Gora and Vida played by Martine Beswick of British origin and the Israeli actress Aliza Gur respectively.
This movie also had the unglamorous but menacing Rosa Klebb, played by the Austrian actress Lotte Lenya, who had a stellar career in films and stage.
The next Bond movie was Goldfinger. And with it came the evocatively named Pussy Galore. The original novel does name the female protagonist as Pussy Galore. But there were some doubts in using this name for the film. She was played by the sultry-eyed blonde Honor Blackman of England.
She was already well known in British TV and films. She was a regular as the female lead in the very popular The Avengers. She held her own against Sean Connery in their screen chemistry. She is also voted as the best Bond girl by some polls. These polls are of course very subjective.
The movie also featured the Masterson sisters Jill and Tllly. These roles were played by the English actresses Shirley Eaton and Tania Mallet. The iconic scene of the girl getting killed by the villain Oddjob by getting painted in gold paint was Jill Masterson. A minor role of Bonita was played by Nadja Regin of Serbia.
Thunderball was the next Bond Movie featuring Domino Derval who starts off as the mistress of the villain Emilio Largo. Bond of course finds ways to convert her to his side. The role was essayed by the French beauty Claudine Auger.
The French actress was Miss France in 1958. She had played some roles in TV and films. Her role in Thunderball greatly accelerated her career in films.
This film of course had other beauties around Bond. The character of Paula Caplan was essayed by Martine Beswick of British parentage, based in Jamaica then. She had appeared in From Russia with Love also as another character.
The Italian beauty Luciana Paluzzi, The British actress Molly Peters and Maryse Guy Mitsouko from France all had some significant presence in Thunderball.
The movie also has the title song by the husky voiced Shirley Bassey, which went on to achieve some fame on its own.
You Only Live Twice saw the introduction of Asian actresses in leading roles. Mie Hama from Tokyo played Kissy Suzuki in the film.
Akiko Wakabayashi of Japan playing the role of Aki and Tsai Chin from China playing Ling were the other two Asian ladies in this film. In addition, the German actress Karin Dor played the negative role of Helga Brandt in the film.
The extremely successful and beautiful American actress Jill St John was a well-established actress in many light-hearted romances and comedies, when she appeared as Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever. The title song was again by Shirley Bassey.
The movie also featured the Americans Lana Wood as Plenty O’Toole, Lola Larson as Bambi, Trina Parks as Thumper and the French actress Denise Perrier in significant roles in the film.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service saw the introduction of George Lazenby as James Bond. The leading lady was Teresa “Tracy” di Vicenzo played by the British beauty Diana Rigg. She is also nominated as the leading Bond girl in some polls. Her character marries James Bond and finally gets killed in the movie.
Diana Rigg was already a very well-established actress of British films and theatre, with a great career, before appearing as a Bond girl. For instance, she was the leading lady of The Avengers, the highly popular TV series
The other two women in the film were the English actress Angela Scoular playing Ruby Bartlett and the role of Nancy played by the Hungarian actress Catherine Schell.
The British beauty Jane Seymour played the role of Solitaire in Live and Let Die. This movie saw Roger Moore essaying the role of Bond.
She was born as Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg of Polish and Dutch descent, but changed her name to make it easier in Britain.
As usual, there are other beauties in this Bond film also like the American Gloria Hendry playing Rosie Carver and British actress Madeline Smith playing Caruso.
Then came The Man With the Golden Gun and Britt Ekland from Sweden. She was a poster girl for beautiful, big-eyed Scandinavian blondes and played the role of Mary Goodnight.
She was playing several roles in Italian films, when she met and married the British actor Peter Sellers. After a few forgettable films, she had two successful English films before appearing as a Bond girl.
Maud Adams playing Andrea Anders had also a significant role in the film. She played the role of Octopussy in the film by the same name at a later date.
The English actress Carmen du Sautoy playing Saida and the French actress Francoise Therry playing Chew Mee were the other two beauties in this film.
The Spy Who Loved Me saw the American beauty Barbara Bach playing the role of the Russian secret agent Anya Amasova.
She started her career in Italian films and then moved to Hollywood. In 1981 she met Ringo Starr and has been married to him since then.
The English actresses Sue Vanner playing a log cabin girl and Caroline Munro playing Naomi and finally the Bosnian actress Olga Bisera playing Felicaa were the other Bond women in this film.
Moonraker was actually the second novel written by Ian Fleming. The film got released much later than the early Bond films. This feature the American beauty Lois Chiles in the role of Holly Goodhead. It also features the French actress Corinne Cléry as Corinne Dufour, Emily Bolton from Aruba as Manuela and the Moroccan actress Leila Shenna as an air hostess.
Lois Chiles had a very successful career in Hollywood already, when she landed the role in Moonraker.
For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy and The Living Daylights were the other original Ian Fleming novels, which got made into movies. All the other Bond films were made into films form other authors.
All Bond stories and films have several female characters in leading, supporting or villainous roles. While Fleming’s Bond girls have individual traits, they also have some things in common. The typical Bond girl is in her early to mid-twenties. Bond, on the other hand seems to be perennially in his mid-thirties. Bond girls possess splendid figures and tend to dress in a slightly masculine, assertive fashion, wearing little jewellery. Of course, in the films there were wide variations to the standard theme.
The films were never meant to be arty or for great critical reviews, But, for a whole generation of filmgoers, Bond films were fantastic to watch and the beautiful ladies left an indelible impression.
The pandemic is not only challenging our health, work, family, food and fun but also disturbing our peace of mind. Adapting Buddha’s thinking at the hour of crisis will help us function better.
We have reached a point of questioning our existence: When would everything go back to normal? Why did this happen? Will everything be alright anytime soon?
While scientists are working hard to find medical solutions, concepts from Buddhism can provide us with some solace for our overburdened minds. The Buddha’s answer would be to focus solely on the existential facts, aiming first for understanding and then to adopt a pragmatic meditation practice.
The story of Mālunkyaputta
Consider the case of Mālunkyaputta, a disciple who kept troubling the Buddha some 2,500 years ago in ancient India. Mālunkyaputta prompted him to answer a series of complex questions.
One particular day, he walked up to the Buddha and insisted he needed to be given the answers.
The Buddha responded with an anecdote of a man wounded with a poisonous arrow coming to see a physician for medication. The man insisted that he would not let the arrow be taken out until he knew who shot him and how. The Buddha said by the time all the answers had been given the man would be dead.
The Buddha defined this teaching as eschewing answers to philosophical questions and dealing only with the existential facts:“there is birth…ageing…dying…grief, sorrow, suffering, lamentation, and despair” and their suppression.
What this means for us is that although it is natural to have such questions, worrying about the answers may only bring more suffering. We would be wiser to work to reduce our own suffering and that of others.
Soul-searching
The core of Buddhism is pure existentialism of dispassionate and detachment from the space-time world that results in nirvana. This state is defined simply as the absence of greed, hatred, and delusion.
Buddhism teaches us the coronavirus is causing us to experience some heightened forms of the three marks of existence – Tilakkhaṇa.
Impermanence – Aniccā
Suffering –Duhkha
Non-self – Anatta
The pandemic’s sudden encroachment on our society, causing death and misery, reminds us of that impermanence. It shows us the inevitable nature of our own death and the associated suffering, leading us to do some soul-searching.
Mindfulness
Buddhism teaches meditation practices with deep introspection. These are designed to make us mindful of nature and help relieve us from sufferings, as described in several Buddhist suttas – the records that hold the Buddha’s original utterings.
The process involves loosening our grasp – those things we cling to that are governed by our desires – on both tangible and intangible things in life by realizing their true nature – relating them back to three tilakkhaṇa. Meditation invites us to be happy with the simplest and most basic things in life.
The meditation can guide our mind, calm our body and help our senses find peace and delight. It is hoped that meditation bring about our inherent yet dormant happiness without relying on our body or our dispositions, which are impermanent.
Benefits of Mindfulness
While these deliberations, because of their psychological effect, can bring in peace, happiness and even health benefits to the individual, there are other benefits.
Such mindful practice can help us get on with our day-to-day life in a more disciplined and safer manner, which as we can see is extremely valuable in a crisis situation such as today.
Meditation might help us not to panic (or panic buy) – to be conscious of our own behavior. We will be careful even with what we touch, or not touch (including our face). It would help us to be conscious of washing our hands regularly and mindful of others around us so that we are careful about any chances of passing on germs.
Meditation works because of the thoughtfulness it creates. The pandemic can affect rich and poor (although there are also concerns it may increase inequity). Our meditation practices can help us evaluate the impermanence, decay and inevitable death of our existence; against any privileges we may have.
Meditation can direct us to consider the possibility of living a happy life by meeting basic needs alone. For some, this can make us re-evaluate what we see as our misfortunes.
Buddhism may be seen as yet another of the world’s religions, with its own rituals around praying to deities and sending away demons. But the Buddha can also be seen as simply an insightful thinker and teacher. He proposed a natural outlook, providing solutions that do not appeal to any supernatural force.
Remember Covid-19 is curable and can be prevented. Please do not step out of home and do not believe rumors. For authentic updates & info, visit Seniors Today at http://bit.ly/2Qr2yZ0
Being locked down may get you to put on your lazy pyjamas and not shave. Beware that your hairy face can be a host to germs. However, maintaining proper beard hygiene will help prevent your beard being a host to Covid-19.
The stay home movement has got most men to grow their beard. While growing a beard amid Covid-19 chaos may come across as being lazy or it can be interpreted as having control over something (one’s own face) while staying home helplessly. On the other hand, the internet has caught attention of celebs who are growing their beard in isolation – #letsgrowtogether.
Keeping aside the trend, it is of utmost importance to keep the growing facial hair clean.Coronavirus infects people through eyes, nose and mouth; growing a beard is the closest thing to your mouth making it more susceptible to contract the infection. For instance, when you sneeze or cough the debris get stuck to your beard turning it into a harbour of bacteria, wearing a mask can be ineffective due to the dense fuzz.
Here is what you can do to let them grow and prevent bacterial accumulation
Take hygiene seriously – If you are on your way to growing out your facial hair you better up your beard hygiene game. It is essential to take care of your skin and keep your stubble germ free – that requires effort and time (that you have since you are in isolation).
Have a beard routine – You love them, now you make sure you clean them daily. Just like the hair on your head, your facial hair needs to be regularly washed. Wash, scrub and moisturize your stubble/moustache/beard with soap or a face wash or a good exfoliator and a gentle hydrating moisture.This practice will eliminate the germs and promote healthy growth.
The mask friendly beard – It is good to have an idea about keeping the beard stylish yet efficient at the same time. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s have shared a chart of beards that is mask friendly. If you have a long, dense beard it will be a good idea to trim them as a measure of safety.
The mask friendly beard – CDC
Keep it Clean, and Safe.
Remember Covid-19 is curable and can be prevented. Please do not step out of home and do not believe rumors. For authentic updates & info, visit Seniors Today at http://bit.ly/2Qr2yZ0
While you are home minimise food wastage and refrain from hoarding supplies
Staying home is the perfect opportunity to practise healthy eating habits. During this unprecedented lockdown it is more important than ever to eat well for your heart, and one of the best ways to stay healthy and support your immunity is eating the right mix of foods over the days, weeks and months ahead.
While many people are tempted to neglect healthy eating habits,here are 5 hearty ways to be mindful about food.
Plan ahead – Eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at home through the lockdown requires a bit of meal planning to minimise food wastage and help reduce cost. It’s also a great time to audit your provisions for foods you already have before they go out of date.
Avoid hoarding – Stocking up few extra essentials is sensible but there is no need to hoard as supply of essential will remain open. Make a list and ensure you are getting the right ingredients for a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner meals to minimise food wastage and cost.
Store smartly – To minimise home deliveries or trips to the stores, ensure your provision and fresh produce is stored smartly. When packing your fridge, be sure produce is dry and allow for adequate space between items to promote better air circulation.
Shop Smartly –The good thing is most stores are stocked well and you can have them delivered to your doorstep so there is no need to panic shop.Buy foods that can be stored for longer. For seasonal produce patiently wait until it arrives to the stores near you.Avoid buying imported fruits or vegetables.
Set routine mealtimes – Maintaining a routine while you are home is essential especially when it comes to eating. The couch and the fridge are accessible all the time, hence it is important to set some rules. Although you may enjoy unhealthy snacks – chips, chocolates, cookies… as an occasional treat.
There is no need to panic as there is abundant food is in the market. All you need to do is plan smartly and minimise food wastage. A little will go a long way, so make the best with what you have.
Remember Covid-19 is curable and can be prevented. Please do not step out of home and do not believe in rumors. For authentic updates & info, visit Seniors Today at – http://bit.ly/2Qr2yZ0
If you are wearing a mask it is important that you wear it correctly. Even a cloth mask can help lower the chances of contracting Covid-19 if worn correctly.
Wearing a face mask often helps people feel protected and reassured. However, the best way to protect against Covid-19 is social distancing, washing your hands often, and only leaving your home for essential errands.
Although a surgical mask helps trap larger respiratory droplets, it can’t protect you from contracting – as it does not filter out smaller airborne particles or fits snugly on your face. So, airborne particles can leak in through the sides of the mask. The CDC does advise the general public to wear cloth face coverings to prevent the spread of the disease.
Why is it essential to wear a mask?
It is essential to understand that a mask works best at keeping your germs in, rather than keeping others germs out.
Your mask should be made of a fabric with a high thread count for durability.
After you put your mask on, do not touch it.Use the string of the mask to adjust, do not touch the fabric. If you touch the fabric of the mask consider your self-contaminated and immediately wash your hands.
Your mask should cover your nose and mouth. It should be snug but not so tight that it touches your lips, touching your lips will allow droplets to directly enter your mouth.
After you wear your cloth mask in public, be careful when taking it off and immediately wash it in hot water – if it’s a cloth mask. Have several cloth masks handy, this will ensure you always have a clean one available.
When should you wear a face mask?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends using surgical masks only if you:
You have a fever, cough, or other respiratory symptoms.
You are well but caring for someone with a respiratory illness – in this case, wear a mask when you’re within 6 feet or closer to the person who is ill.
How to put on a mask?
Wash your hands for 20 seconds before putting on the mask.
Check for defects such as – tears, broken loop.
Position the colored side of the mask outward.
Make sure the metallic strip is at the top and positioned against the bridge of your nose.
Hold the mask by both ear loops and put it on.
Adjust the bendable metallic strip to the shape of your nose, by pressing it down with your fingers.
Pull the bottom of the mask over your chin.
Do not touch the mask once you have worn it.
If the mask gets damp then replace it with a new one.
What not to do when wearing a mask?
Once the mask is positioned securely, there are certain precautions to keep in mind to ensure you don’t transfer pathogens to your face or hands.
Do not
Touch the mask once worn, as your hands may not be germ free.
The mask should not dangle from one ear.
The mask should not be hanging around your neck.
Reuse the mask once worn until you have washed it in hot water.
How to remove and discard a surgical mask?
It’s important to remove the face mask correctly to ensure you don’t transfer any germs to your hands or face. You also want to make sure you discard the mask safely.
Wash your hands before taking off the mask.
Avoid touching the fabric while taking off, hold it by the strings.
Carefully take the mask off your face and discard the mask by carefully placing it in a covered bin.
Wash your hand again after disposing the mask.
Although face masks may help reduce the spread of some disease-causing organisms, evidence suggests that using face masks may not always protect you or others from exposure to certain pathogens.
We hope you are taking good care of yourself. Do read http://bit.ly/2Qr2yZ0 for a wide range of articles and advice on dealing with Coronavirus covered by Seniors Today.
When you are both stuck together locked down, spending every waking moment together would require getting used to
The pandemic crisis has got us all to a standstill and being locked down with your partner can become stressful and can even strain the best relationships. Your routines and roles may change; this could be a challenge or an opportunity. The frustrating part of being stuck together is that all your experiences are shared and there is little news to discuss with each other. So, try to make the best out the worst situation. Psychological study suggests that compromise is the key but there are things you can do to help guide you and your partner through this tricky time.
Here are some tips on making this time pleasant as much as possible.
Make a priority list – This is more to do with yourself than your partner. List three things that is important to your personal comfort. Just let your partner know what you would like to prioritise during the day and set some ground co-isolating rules. This will help keep your irritation at bay also it will provide you with the required space you need from each other.
Do things alone– As romantic it may look in the movies, couples doing everything together. It is not the same in real life. You need some time by yourself to keep things together. Video call your friends, do what you enjoy doing by yourself. Let your partner have their share of alone time.
Do things together – Once in a while do things together. It need not be planned, you can help your partner in the kitchen or play a board game, introduce each other to new things. Work on those little happy moments together.
Date night – While you can’t go out for dinner, how about you cook a lovely meal for your partner. Light some candles and create the mood let your partner feel special. Look at the brighter side, this could actually turn into a lovely routine. Make that effort because you have nowhere to be except around your partner. Rekindle romance.
Don’t let stress and fear get in between – The stress of not being able to step out and the fear of the virus getting inside the house can be heavy on your relationship. Support each other, be on the lookout to keep things light. Talk to each other and hear each other out.
Divide your chores – It is essential to chart out who is going to do what around the house. Help each other out, take turns. This will maintain harmony in the house.
Be patient – This is the time to hold things together. Be patient with each other. Getting used to the new routine will take time to settle in. There will be days when things might get out of control over silly things, let it pass. Do not play the blame game rather give each other space on those days.
It is essential to understand that you are not alone. Don’t let your emotions take control of you. What you are experiencing – stress, anxiety or frustration you better half is experiencing it too. Practice Kindness with each other and use this time to strengthen your relationship.
Remember Covid-19 is curable and can be prevented. Please do not step out of home and do not believe in rumors. For authentic updates & info, visit Seniors Today at – http://bit.ly/2Qr2yZ0
Wearing a face mask while in public transport, shops and crowded places could help protect vulnerable people from Covid-19
Researchers have found that masks have a consistent but small protective effect – particularly in shared public spaces.
While the evidence is not strong enough to recommend widespread use of masks in the general population, the researchers say that there is enough evidence to support vulnerable people deciding to use them for short periods when in temporary higher risk situations – such as on public transport, visiting shops or in healthcare settings.
Something like a sneeze or cough near you would become less likely to cause infection if you wear a mask. It’s a small reduction in risk, but might be very important to especially vulnerable people.
Wearing masks at home may also reduce the odds of well housemates becoming ill. The risk reduces, if an ill person and their well contacts wore masks.
Should you be wearing a mask?
You could wear a mask. Overall, the study found that the evidence was too uncertain and the possible protective effects too small to recommend widespread use of face masks to protect against Covid-19.
The best way to protect yourself and others is to follow the government guidelines for social distance and wash your hands regularly.
Masks are currently in very short supply and it is important that the people who are most at risk of catching the infection and possibly spreading it to others are health care workers. We are all in danger if doctors and nurses can’t wear masks because the general public bought up all available supplies.
However, there is enough evidence to endorse the use of face masks for short periods of time by vulnerable individuals when in transient higher risk situations – such as on crowded public transport or visiting busy shops.
When should face masks be worn?
Wearing a face mask while out-and-about on busy public transport, in shops and other crowded places could help protect people from respiratory infections like Covid-19.
The study conclusions are that people who wore masks, usually surgical grade, were less likely to get respiratory symptoms from casual exposure in the community. Something like a sneeze or cough near you would become less likely to cause infection.
What about at home?
The protective effect is not large within a home setting because people have lots of repeated types of contact, so there are many ways for the germs to transmit.
Also, it’s hard to wear masks correctly for many days at home. Wearing a mask correctly is difficult because masks interfere with things like sleep, eating and brushing teeth. It’s usually unrealistic to keep them on all the time. They can be uncomfortable, hot, cause skin reactions or simply feel anti-social. Masks also need to be disposed of correctly to prevent transmission. Most of the original controlled experiments reported that people who were assigned in the experiment to wear masks most of the time found this difficult.
This is why washing hands remains so important. Washing hands well only requires 20 seconds of concentration occasionally throughout the day. In contrast, it is difficult to wear masks correctly for many hours over many days.
What’s the correct way to use a face mask?
It actually depends on the design of the mask and what kinds of activities you have been doing. Each mask comes with its own instructions. A very general rule would be to assume a mask is no longer protective after wearing it for three hours. Wearers should wash their hands before they put on a mask, and importantly after they take it off and dispose of it.
What about non-disposable masks (made from cloth, and veils?)
Face veils did not prevent developing respiratory symptoms. But surgical masks aren’t that protective either. There is no evidence about whether other types of cloth face coverings have ever helped to prevent respiratory infections when worn by ordinary people doing ordinary activities. In laboratory experiments, the cloth alternatives didn’t seem to perform as well as surgical masks could to stop transmission droplets.
Are disposable respirator masks much better than surgical masks?
In lab experiments or when health professionals wear them: Yes. When people in households and the community wear inexpensive respirators, the respirators only protects as an ordinary surgical mask. Wearing a respirator correctly is harder than wearing a surgical mask correctly. There’s probably no advantage to wearing a respirator if it hasn’t been fitted correctly to your individual face.
Remember Covid-19 is curable and can be prevented. Please do not step out of home and do not believe in rumors. For authentic updates & info, visit Seniors Today at – http://bit.ly/2Qr2yZ0
Snacking affects your appetite and choosing healthy snacks that are high in protein and fibre will keep you full and may reduce the amount of food you eat at the next meal.
Being stuck at home in the lockdown can make you snack frequently even if you are not hungry. While snacking means having a morsel of food or beverage between regular meals. It is good to snack when you feel hunger but most of the time you tend to snack out of boredom. Do not give into temptations of snacking throughout the day instead savour your meals. “Snack food” such as chips and cookies are high-calorie, processed and sodium packed – stay away from them
Here is how you can make snacking healthy.
Why it is essential to be mindful about eating in the lockdown?
Being stuck at home in the lockdown can lead to boredom and overeating. Hence it is important to follow a schedule and eat your meals at the same time every day. This will help you prevent consuming more food than required.
How much should one snack?
200 calories with at least 10 g of protein will keep you full until your next meal. Opt for healthy snacking over junk, junk food will only make you feel lethargic and lower your energy levels. Whereas healthy snacks will keep your energy levels up and you day will be more productive.
How often should you snack?
Snacking depends on factors such as daily activity and the size of meal. In the given circumstance of being locked down, a snack during the day would suffice. Make sure you have a proper well-balanced meal so that you don’t feel the urge to snack frequently.
Should you keep snacks handy?
Hunger can strike anytime if you are active getting things done. So, a good practice would be to store your snacks in a small container so that you refrain from over-indulging.
What kind of snacks to avoid?
Processed, high-calorie, sodium packed munchies that may deceive you into feeling full. In fact, these snacks will make you feel hungry in short intervals resulting in overeating.
Here are 10 healthy snacks under 200 calories you must try:
A spoonful of peanut butter with half an apple – A good combination of fibre and protein that will keep you full until your next meal.
2. Popcorn! – Whole grains are a good source of fibre and hence popcorn is a good option. It has few calories and will make you feel full. The best part you can have a lot of it.
3. A quarter cup of hummus with some carrot sticks – A healthy filling snack. Hummus is a good source of protein while carrots are fibrous.
4. A Quarter cup of mixed nuts – Almonds, pistachio, cashews… Nuts are high in calories but a handful of nuts will provide you with the essentials nutrients that are good for your overall health.
5. Protein bar! –Store bought protein bars may have preservative and added sugar which may not be good for your body. Although there are some protein bars that have all the natural ingredients – opt for those. You can actually make some at home with oats, honey and some berries. Or the good ol’ chikki.
6. Two Eggs –The nutrition powerhouse, eggs. These can be made ahead of time by boiling them or you can get creative with it. Scramble them, poach them, or simply enjoy the hard-boiled ones.
7. A cup of yogurt with berries – Probiotic and antioxidant, this combination will make your gut happy and healthy. With a little sweetness from the berries and a little tartness from the yogurt, this makes a delicious desserty snack.
8. Coconut water and a quarter cup of boiled gram salad – While coconut will be refreshing and sweet on a summer day to keep yourself hydrated, boiled gram will provide you with protein.
9. Smoothies! – A thick creamy beverage made out of raw vegetables, fruits and some dairy products. Blend two bananas, ½ cup of yogurt, 2 teaspoons honey, a date and a pinch of cinnamon.Packed with calcium, iron, fibre and antioxidant. This will keep you full and satisfied the healthy way.
10. Mozzarella and tomato toast – A slice of bread with mozzarella cheese and some tomatoes. It is like enjoying a morsel of pizza. This snack will keep your energy up and you will feel satiated until your next meal.
The next time destiny was to bring me towards Maai was when I had just recovered from the two years of agony when my child’s voice matured into a man’s voice. By this time Ustaad Majid Khan was getting on in his age, and I had to look for another Guru. I had the dream of learning from Maai. My father was a friend of late Shri Wamanrao Deshpande, a disciple of Maai. So my father requested Wamanrao to put in a word to Maai. Wamanrao did this, but reported that Maai was reluctant to take under her tutelage a young boy, as she was herself getting on in age, and already had a number of advanced disciples. However, amazingly, Maai remembered that childhood encounter of mine with her, and had some kind of interest in, and sympathy for, me. So she sent a counter-proposal to my father through Wamanrao, as to whether I would be willing to learn from her daughter, Smt Kishori Amonkar, who then was just coming out of Maai’s wings, although she had been performing for some years already. I was simply delighted, and could not believe my good fortune! So began my second phase of training under Smt Kishoritai, and I had the proud privilege of being her first ever disciple! As Kishoritai was living at Maai’s home then, those years of training did not escape the watchful eye and ear of Maai.
The Swiss-born Ursula Andress, a stunning young blonde, was restless for new adventures. She was heading nowhere with her career, when she landed in Hollywood after some minor roles in Italian movies. Then in 1962, she turned up in Dr No. The role was not particularly long in the movie. Her Swiss German accent was so strong that her voice had to be dubbed over. But screen presence and smouldering looks left an indelible impression on movie goers worldwide. Her role of Honey Ryder comes up among the top contenders for the best Bond girl in many polls. She set the tone for all future Bond girls.
Daniela Bianchi was an Italian beauty queen who was the first runner up in a Miss Universe Beauty pageant. She had a successful career in Italian and French movies after the Bond movie role.
She was already well known in British TV and films. She was a regular as the female lead in the very popular The Avengers. She held her own against Sean Connery in their screen chemistry. She is also voted as the best Bond girl by some polls. These polls are of course very subjective.
the English actresses Shirley Eaton and Tania Mallet. The iconic scene of the girl getting killed by the villain Oddjob by getting painted in gold paint was Jill Masterson. A minor role of Bonita was played by Nadja Regin of Serbia.
The role was essayed by the French beauty Claudine Auger.
own.
The extremely successful and beautiful American actress Jill St John was a well-established actress in many light-hearted romances and comedies, when she appeared as Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever. The title song was again by Shirley Bassey.
The movie also featured the Americans Lana Wood as Plenty O’Toole, Lola Larson as Bambi, Trina Parks as Thumper and the French actress Denise Perrier in significant roles in the film.
appearing as a Bond girl. For instance, she was the leading lady of The Avengers, the highly popular TV series
Then came The Man With the Golden Gun and Britt Ekland from Sweden. She was a poster girl for beautiful, big-eyed Scandinavian blondes and played the role of Mary Goodnight.
were the other two beauties in this film.
