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Raging
floods affect millions in north-east
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Millions
of people were forced to flee their
homes in northeast India as the death
toll rose from raging floods triggered
by heavy monsoon rains, a minister
said yesterday. "The situation has
turned devastating overnight, drowning
five more people in separate incidents
and displacing another 3mn in 15 districts,"
Bhumidhar Barman, relief and rehabilitation
minister of Assam state said. The
floods have now stranded a total of
more than fourmn people and claimed
20 lives in the past week. Air force
helicopters were on stand-by to airdrop
essentials as the Brahmaputra River
which runs through the state swelled
further.
The
2,906km river - one of the longest
in Asia - is usually in full flood
in the summer from monsoon rains and
melting glaciers as it traverses Tibet,
India and Bangladesh before emptying
into the Bay of Bengal. Soldiers used
rubber boats and rafts in many places
to evacuate people, as communication
and transport links were badly disrupted.
A Central Water Commission bulletin
Monday said all major rivers and their
tributaries in Assam were flowing
well above the danger mark. The worst
hit was the eastern Dhemaji district
where an estimated 250,000 affected
people had taken refuge in makeshift
shelters on raised embankments, in
government schools and offices. A
team of doctors and paramedics was
sent to the flood-hit areas by boat
and raft to treat people with water-borne
diseases. "We have also sent veterinarians
along with adequate cattle and poultry
feed in several areas," the minister
said. The Regional Meteorological
Centre here warned of more rain in
the next 24 hours. Every year the
floods leave a trail of destruction,
washing away villages, submerging
paddy fields, drowning livestock,
besides causing loss of human life
and property, in the remote state
of 26mn. In 2004, at least 200 people
were killed and more than 12mn displaced
in the floods. As the rain-swollen
Brahmaputra river flooded Assam, 26-year-old
Swarnalata Pegu yesterday scampered
up and down a mud embankment looking
for medicines for her baby boy. "My
son is down with fever and loose motions
since the last two days and I am at
a total loss. I was told the nearest
primary health centre has been submerged
in floodwaters," she said in between
sobs. Pegu was nearing a breakdown
when a team of doctors arrived at
village Budhwar in Dhemaji district,
over 500km east of Guwahati, on a
rubber raft, bringing a faint smile
on her face. Like Pegu, there are
hundreds of mothers whose children
are down with fever and waterborne
diseases in Dhemaji, the worst hit
by the raging floods. "As you can
see the ground is slushy and we all
are virtually sleeping on mud and
filth with rains lashing down heavily.
This is like a curse on us," rued
Kuntal Deka, a villager. "We were
sleeping when we suddenly heard the
gurgling sound of water inside our
home. We just had time to escape leaving
behind everything," Nayantara Bora,
an elderly woman, said. "All our belongings,
including rice, poultry and cattle
have been washed away." Thousands
of flood-hit villagers here are struggling
to survive in makeshift tents on mud
embankments and other raised bamboo
platforms. The Dhemaji district has
remained cut off from the rest of
Assam with the highway breached in
about five points. "This is just the
beginning of a long and miserable
flood season. Nature has always been
very unkind to us," said Milan Das,
an elderly farmer, at one of the relief
camps. - Agencies
Courtesy:
www.gulf-times.com, July 31, 2007
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2
million affected by Bihar floods
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Nearly
two million people, spread over eleven
districts in Bihar, grimly endure
a spell of floods with many major
rivers, including the Ganga, Punpun,
Bagmati, Gandak and Kosi, in spate.
The army is on standby as the flood
situation in Bihar is likely to worsen.
The water levels of the rivers, already
above the danger level, may rise further
with heavy rain in their catchment
areas and the Gangetic plains. Around
25 people have lost their lives in
the state. An ex-gratia of Rs 50,000
has been announced for the families
of each victim. The Bihar government
has cancelled the leave of its employees
in the flood-hit districts. The Danapur
military cantonment near Patna has
kept boats and helicopters ready to
intensify relief and rescue operations.
Two army helicopters in Lucknow are
ready to fly to the affected areas
within 20 minutes of receiving an
alert from the state government headquarters
in Patna. 570 boats have already been
pressed into service to evacuate the
marooned people to safer places. Several
relief and medical camps are functional
in the affected districts. Darbhanga,
Muzaffarpur and Madhubani districts
are the worst hit in this year's floods.
Five million people in Bihar were
affected by floods in 2004. More than
675 people died in that catastrophe.
Courtesy:
www.rediff.com, July 31, 2007
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Trio
held in India 'insect theft'
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Sikkim
is renowned for its natural beauty
Three French nationals have been detained
in India after they were allegedly
caught collecting butterflies, moths
and beetles. Forestry officials in
the northern state of Sikkim detained
the trio on Friday in a Himalayan
forest. They were allegedly in possession
of 41 insects, contravening the Wildlife
Act. The two men and a woman deny
theft. They have not been arrested
but have been asked to stay in west
Sikkim until investigations are over,
officials say.
Ecology
students
The three, who are all thought to
be in their early 20s, were detained
in Budang reserve forest near Soreng.
They say they were collecting the
insects only for research purposes
and were not involved in wholesale
theft. The additional principal chief
conservator of forests of Sikkim,
ST Lachungpa, said that the three
had violated wildlife rules, because
they did not have the necessary permission
from the state forest, wildlife and
environment department. Equipment,
including nets and gadgets to attract
butterflies, were also seized from
them, Mr Lachungpa said. The three
accused say that they are students
of ecology and were collecting the
samples for study. Forestry officials
say that have now forwarded the case
to the chief wildlife warden at the
forest secretariat in Sikkim's capital,
Gangtok, for further investigation.
Seven years ago two Russians were
arrested under similar charges, and
subsequent investigations found that
they had been collecting rare species
of butterflies. They served a short
prison sentence.
Courtesy:
http://news.bbc.co.uk, July 25, 2007
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Bihar's
mountain man battles jaundice at AIIMS
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Dashrath
Manjhi, who single-handedly carved
out a road by cutting through a Bihar
mountain for 21 years, has been admitted
to the All India Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi in a
critical condition. Official sources
said Manjhi was shifted from the Patna
Medical College and Hospital (PNMCH)
to AIIMS Monday after doctors attending
on him said he needed better treatment.
Manjhi, popularly known as Bihar's
mountain man, was admitted to the
Patna hospital's ICU Saturday night
after he was diagnosed with severe
jaundice. Two days ago Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar visited PNMCH to inquire
about ailing Manjhi. He announced
that the state government would bear
the entire cost of his treatment.
Manjhi, who is in his late 70s, had
earned fame by single-handedly carving
out a 360-feet-long, 25-feet-high
and 30-feet-wide passage through a
mountain near Gehlore village in Gaya
district, about 100 km from here.
He started the extraordinary task
in 1967 when his wife was injured
and he had to go around the mountain
to reach the nearest hospital. After
he finished the epic project in 1988,
he met several ministers and bureaucrats
with a request to construct a metalled
road through the mountain. But his
dream remains unfulfilled. In June,
Nitish Kumar gave a green light to
the project to construct a road through
the mountain, but the work is yet
to start.
Courtesy:
www.indiaenews.com, July 24, 2007
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The
perfect justice of Sharia strikes
again
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Sharia
law has led an unfortunate woman in
India to suicide. The Telegraph of
India brings us the story. Tarzina
Khatun was a woman in the village
of Malda, who was unable to conceive
a child by her husband Motiur, even
after more than five years of marriage.
So of course he gave her a pink slip
via the talaq option. Just say "Talq,
talaq, talaq" (I divorce you, I divorce
you, I divorce you"), and you are
free. Sorry ladies, this only works
for males. But it is perfect justice
among the Sunnis.After a few days,
Motiur changed his mind, though, and
wanted Tarzina back. Unfortunately,
the Quran does not allow re-marriage
so easily. So, as told by her brother,
here is what happened: "We sat together
and decided after conferring with
the clerics that Tarzina would have
to stay all by herself for three months
and then marry a different person
and spend at least one night with
him. According to the shariat, she
could then divorce the new husband
and remarry Motiur. But she refused,"
Bablu said. Tarzina
had also approached the Chanchol police
and in a written complaint said she
was not willing to marry anyone else
except her former husband. Police
sources said they had gone to the
village and sat with the couple's
families, asking them to sort out
the matter amicably. Both families
then decided that the shariat had
to be followed. "No Muslim can shun
the religious law and Tarzina had
to abide by it," said Farizuddin Ahmed,
a resident of Imampur. Bablu said
his family had even convinced a youth
from the village to marry Tarzina
for a day. "All she had to do was
spend one night with him and divorce
him the next day. But my sister refused
to consider the proposal and killed
herself," an inconsolable Bablu said.
This morning Tarzina's body was found
in a room in her parents' house. She
had consumed pesticide meant for eggplants.
Sharia law is resurgent in many parts
of the world not traditionally governed
by it (northern Nigeria) and is demanded
by Muslims (Malaysia). Sharia was
even proposed to be applied in family
courts in Ontario (though this was
rejected by the province's premier
after widespread criticism and demonstrations).
Courtesy:
www.americanthinker.com, July 26,
2007
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Bird
flu scare, Results likely to arrive
today
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Even
as the results of the samples sent
to the High Security Animal Diseases
Laboratory at Bhopal and the National
Institute of Virology at Pune are
being awaited to ascertain whether
the virus that causes bird flu has
landed in Manipur or not, the State
Level Committee headed by the Chief
Secretary discussed the steps being
taken up by the Government to tackle
any eventualities today. The samples
were sent after 132 fowls being reared
at a farm within the Imphal Municipality
area expired suddenly one after the
other. Speaking to The Sangai Express
today, Doctor Th Dorendro of the Veterinary
and Animal Husbandry Department said
that the results from Bhopal and Pune
may arrive tomorrow. The samples were
sent to Bhopal and Pune in three batches
and all the dead fowls have been buried.
To a question, Dorendro said that
the samples were sent to both Pune
and Bhopal to cross check the results.
If the result is positive, then it
has to be announced to the public,
he explained. The doctor further informed
that if the meat is cooked at 70 degree
Celsius the virus cannot survive.
He also advised the people to wash
their hands properly with soap after
feeding their fowls and not to let
children play near the livestock.
Use of disinfectant after coming into
contact with the affected bird also
helps in warding off the virus. Meanwhile
a meeting of the State Level Committee
headed by the Chief Secretary was
held at his office chamber today.
Among others, Joint Commissioner in
the Union Agriculture Ministry, AB
Negi who has been stationed at Imphal
for the last couple of days to supervise
the measures taken up, was present
at the meeting. The other officials
present at the meeting included the
Principal Secretary (Revenue), Health
Secretary, Finance Commissioner, Chief
Conservator of Forest, Veterinary
Secretary, Health Director, Veterinary
Director and the DCs of Imphal East
and West. The meeting discussed at
length all the possible measures that
may be taken up, if the results from
Bhopal and Pune turn out to be positive,
said a source. During the meeting
it was decided to keep at ready, sprayers
that may be used to spray medicines
to kill the virus in both Imphal East
and West. The two DCs have also been
asked to ensure that JCBs and other
equipments that may be needed to dig
up the earth and bury the dead fowls
are kept ready. In case the result
which is expected by tomorrow turns
out to be positive then all fowls,
ducks and other domesticated birds
kept within a radius of 5 kms where
the death of the fowls was reported,
will be culled, said the source.
Safety
Tips
Courtesy:
www.e-pao.net, July 25, 2007
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One
lakh village FMC involved in regeneration
of forests
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There
are 1 lakh village level Forest Management
Committees (FMC) are involved in regeneration
of 22 million hectares forests which
is almost 29 per cent of the country's
total forest area. This is the result
of National Forest Policy which encourages
people's formal involvement in protection,
regeneration, development and management
of India's degraded forests. Addressing
the 11th meeting of the Consultative
Committee of the Ministry of Environment
and Forests, Thiru S. Regupathy, Minister
of State for Environment and Forests
further said that Joint Forest Management
Committee(JFMC) has not only emerged
as one of the most important programmes
in the country, but also a role model
for forest regeneration in many parts
of the world. said though JFM mainly
lies within the domain of the States
and Union Territories, centre continuously
provides catalytic assistance through
policy and funding support. JFMCs
now enter into Memorandum of Understanding
with respective States and ensure
gender and social equity in this whole
process. He added that during 10th
Plan, the National afforestation plan
has helped institutionalize JFM in
more than 24,000 forest fringe villages.
The 729 projects approved under the
programme generated about 8 crore
labour days. A presentation was made
on Joint Forest Management before
the Members of the Consultative Committee.
It was stated that a big support of
fund for this programme has come from
National Afforestation Programme of
the Ministry. There is a system of
unique fund flow mechanism under which
funds are directly available to the
JFMCs through Forest Development Agency
from the centre. At the Divisional
level FDA is a federation of all JFMCs
under Societies Registration Act under
which the village level institution
is represented by JFMC. At present
there are 729 FDAs covering 24215
JFMCs managing an area of 9.2 lakh
hectares. JFMCs also have power to
work outside forest area. With the
earnings they get from forest produce
and other activities along with the
funds from center, they indulge in
essential requirements like construction
of school, hospital, panchayat ghars,
community centers, tube-well etc.
They have started Self Help Groups
which help in micro finance. JFMC
members take activities like cere-culture,
cocoon gathering from forest for tusser
silk, basket weaving, tendu leaves
plates. NIFT- Calcutta and Ahmedabad
helped some JFMCs to learn weaving.
JFMCs has helped to increase productivity
of marginal agricultural funds, improved
and durable local water sources for
irrigation and drinking water, poverty
alleviation etc. JFM reservations
of the States vary but they are mostly
liberal. Income from non-timber goes
to the local village community. They
also get free brazing and firewood.
All the Members appreciated the success
of the JFM activities. They made constructive
suggestions to have linkage with other
Ministries like Textile, Rural Development,
Village Industry, Tribal Affairs etc.
who have funds for villages and tribal
areas. They asked about basic, sufficient
help being given to the community
to collect forest produce, setting
up of Co-operatives and removal of
middleman, education to rural people
to run their societies/JFM, plantation
of trees of local species in their
area, implementation of Rozgar Guarantee
Yojana and providing security and
insurance to JFM Members in disturbed
areas. Mr. Namo Narayan Meena, Minister
of State for Environment and Forests
informed that Rs. 1200 crore fund
has been made available against requirement
of Rs. 8000 crore for this programme.
Under the 10th Five Year Plan 1.7
lakh forests fringe villages will
be brought under JFM to provide livelihood,
security and employment generation.
Under 11th Plan 33% of area will be
brought under forest cover against
24 per cent area of today. Secretary
Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Ms. Meena Gupta informed the Members
that steps would be taken to encourage
by giving incentive to the JFMs who
perform very well. She informed about
Indira Priyadarshini Award given to
different institutes for planting
activities. She also gave assurance
that only useful trees will be planted
in respective areas and post-care
will be taken for long period.
Courtesy:
www.jansamachar.net, July 23, 2007
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Father
of the Afghan Nation died:India conveyed
condolences
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The
President, the Prime Minister and
the External Affairs Minister have
conveyed their condolences to the
Government of Afghanistan at the demise
of His Majesty Zahir Shah, Baba-e-Millat.
In their messages, His Majesty Zahir
Shah's commitment to friendly relations
between Afghanistan and India was
recalled. Shri Saifuddin Soz, Minister
of Water Resources and Shri A Rehman
Khan, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha
will represent the Government of India
at the funeral tomorrow. As a special
mark of respect, the National Flag
will fly at half mast at all Government
buildings in the capital and in our
Missions and Posts abroad during day
light hours tomorrow. Former King
and Father of the Afghan Nation Mohammad
Zaheer Shah, 99 popularly known as
Baba-E-Millat died in Kabul today.
The news of the death of Afghanistan's
last monarch, who returned to the
war-torn country in 2002 after nearly
three decades of exile to see it move
towards democracy, was announced by
President Hamid Karzai at a nationally-televised
press conference.
"I
want to inform all my compatriots
that His Majesty, the Father of the
Nation, Mohammed Zahir Shah, passed
away today at 5:45 am" after a long
illness, he said. "We announce three
days of national mourning over the
death of the Father of the Nation,
and the Afghan flag will be at half
mast for three days," Karzai said.The
late King was always fondly referred
to by all Afghans, cutting across
ethnic boundaries, as "Baba-e-Millat"
or 'Father of the Nation', a position
given to him in the country's Constitution
passed in January 2004, about two
years after the collapse of Taliban
rule. The senior United Nations envoy
to Afghanistan today mourned the passing
of His Majesty Mohammad Zahir Shah,
considered the father of the nation,
at the age of 92. In a statement released
in Kabul, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's
Special Representative, Tom Koenigs,
called the late monarch "truly a King
of Peace." Mohammad Zahir Shah not
only presided over the most tranquil
and prosperous periods in Afghanistan's
modern history - he also "exerted
a unifying influence, including during
the difficult decades of conflict,"
Mr. Koenigs said, paying particular
tribute to the King's participation
in the Bonn Process which lay the
groundwork for establishing democracy
in the country after the fall of the
Taliban. The return of Mohammad Zahir
Shah to Kabul in 2002 was a touchstone
for Afghan hopes for peace and the
revival of their institutions and
traditions," Mr. Koenigs said, calling
the King's role at the Emergency and
Constitutional Loya Jirgas - which
paved the way for a political transition
- "a singular contribution to national
reconciliation." In December 2005,
Mohammad Zahir Shah's presence at
the opening of a new National Assembly
"was a guarantee that a renewed constitutional
order would safeguard the lives and
rights of all Afghans," Mr. Koenigs
added. The UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed solidarity
with the Afghan people in their national
mourning, flying its flags at half-mast.
"Our prayers are with His Majesty's
family and with all those who were
touched in so many ways by this great
man," Mr. Koenigs said.
Courtesy:
www.jansamachar.net, July 23, 2007
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RAW
refuses to answer Interpol queries
on spy
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India's
request for an Interpol Red Corner
notice to be issued against absconding
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official
Rabindra Singh is set to hit a roadblock
after the intelligence agency refused
to entertain clarifications sought
by the world police organisation.
After obtaining a non-bailable arrest
warrant in February against Mr. Singh,
a RAW Joint Secretary who defected
to the U.S. in 2004, the agency approached
the CBI to make a case against the
official with Interpol and to secure
a Red Corner notice. The CBI sent
the non-bailable warrant issued against
Mr. Singh to Interpol's headquarters
in Lyons, France, in March. Interpol
then sent several questionnaires to
the CBI.These questionnaires raised
several issues, including why a non-bailable
warrant was issued nearly two-and-half
years after Mr. Singh fled the country
despite facing serious charges like
spying. They also sought information
on the sensitive department handled
by Mr. Singh and the national secrets
allegedly leaked by him, official
sources said. The CBI approached the
RAW headquarters for clarifications.
But the RAW did not want to disclose
anything and was pressing the CBI
to secure a Red Corner notice only
on the basis of documents available
with the court of the chief metropolitan
magistrate, the sources said. Since
such replies could not be forwarded
to Interpol, the CBI now believes
there is little or no chance of a
Red Corner notice being issued against
Mr. Singh.
Courtesy:
www.hindu.com, July 23, 2007
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Eat
For a Beautiful Smile
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Surprise!
A few simple changes to your diet
help keep your teeth healthy for life.
You brush, you floss, you see your
dentist, but do you eat with your
oral health in mind? "We all know
excellent nutrition helps build an
excellent body," says Paula Shannon
Jones, DDS, spokesperson for the Academy
of General Dentistry. "So it follows
that whatever you eat affects your
teeth and gums, too." And it's not
just the usual suspects like sugar
that may be harmful. Some surprising
even healthy foods can cause cavities,
while others can help protect you
from decay, gum disease, and even
bad breath. Here, how to tailor your
diet for optimal dental health.
Eat
your carbs at mealtimes
A
handful of potato chips or even a
whole wheat roll can be just as damaging
to your teeth and gums as a chocolate
chip cookie. All carbohydrates break
down into simple sugars, which are
ultimately converted by bacteria in
the mouth into plaque, a sticky residue
that is the primary cause of gum disease
and cavities. Carb-based foods such
as breads and crackers tend to have
"a chewy, adhesive texture," making
it easier for them to get caught between
teeth or under the gum line, where
bacteria can then accumulate, says
Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a spokesperson
for the American Dietetic Association.
Have carbs at mealtimes rather than
as a snack: When you eat a larger
amount of food, you produce more saliva,
which helps wash food particles away.
Drink
tea
Black
and green teas contain polyphenols,
antioxidant plant compounds that prevent
plaque from adhering to your teeth
and help reduce your chances of developing
cavities and gum disease. "Tea also
has potential for reducing bad breath
because it inhibits the growth of
the bacteria that cause the odor,"
explains Christine D. Wu, PhD, associate
dean for research at the University
of Illinois at Chicago College of
Dentistry, who has conducted several
studies on tea and oral health. Many
teas also contain fluoride (from the
leaves and the water it's steeped
in), which helps protect tooth enamel
from decay.
Sip
with a straw
Most
sodas, sports drinks, and juices contain
acids, such as citric and phosphoric,
that can erode dental enamel even
if they're diet or sugar-free versions.
Sipping acidic drinks through a straw
positioned toward the back of your
mouth limits their contact with your
teeth and helps preserve the enamel,
says a study in the British Dental
Journal.
Increase
your C intake
"Vitamin
C is the cement that holds all of
your cells together, so just as it's
vital for your skin, it's important
for the health of your gum tissue,"
says Jones. People who consumed less
than 60 mg per day of C (8 ounces
of orange juice or one orange contains
more than 80 mg) were 25% more likely
to have gum disease than people who
took in 180 mg or more, according
to a study of over 12,000 US adults
conducted at the State University
of New York University at Buffalo.
Eat
800 mg of calcium a day
People
who do are less likely to develop
severe gum disease, says a recent
study by the Buffalo researchers.
The reason: About 99% of the calcium
in your body is in your bones and
teeth. Dietary calcium available in
foods like cheese, milk, and yogurt
strengthens the alveolar bone in the
jaw, which helps hold your teeth in
place. The recommended amount is 1,000
mg per day for women younger than
50 and 1,200 mg for those older.
Bad
Breath: Five Causes and Five Cures
Wondering
why your loved ones are giving you
more personal space than you've asked
for? Suspicious about the Altoids
left on your desk with dental floss
bows? If you're one of 90 million
Americans suffering from chronic bad
breath, here are some of the possible
causes, as well as remedies to restore
your fresh breath-and relationships.
Top
Five Causes of Bad Breath
-
A dirty mouth. "Ninety percent of
mouth odors come from mouth itself-either
from the food you eat or bacteria
that's already there," says Dr.
Richard H. Price spokesman for American
Dental Association. "Mouth odor
is like any other body odor-the
result of microbes living in the
body giving off byproducts." In
the mouth, this means bacteria that
normally live in the mouth interact
with food particles, blood, tissue,
etc., to create volatile (i.e.,
stinky) sulfur compounds. If you
don't clean properly, the bacteria
build up, and next thing you know-that's
not toothpaste on your tongue.
-
A mouth out of balance. Certain
mouth conditions can exacerbate
bacterial growth and odor, such
as gum disease and dry mouth. Gum
disease causes bloody gums, creating
more elements for those pesky bacteria
to putrefy. But it is a dry mouth
that is the more common cause of
bad breath. Saliva helps flush out
the mouth, keeping bacteria moving
so they don't settle down and multiply,
while drier mouth is a breeding
ground for bacteria. In spring and
summer, allergy medications can
dry you out; in winter, dry heat
tends to be the culprit.
- Stinky
foods. If it stinks going in, chances
are it's going to stink coming out.
The obvious offenders are onions,
garlic, alcohol and tobacco. And
foods don't only create a stench
in the mouth. "Plant oils are absorbed
and the byproducts enter your bloodstream
so you are actually breathing the
odors out via your lungs three to
four hours later," says Jeannie
Moloo, a registered dietitian and
spokeswoman for the American Dietetic
Association. [Full disclosure: Moloo
is the author's cousin.]
-
Not enough carbs. You look great
after four weeks on Atkins, so how
come you still can't get a date?
High-protein, low-carb diets cause
your body to burn stored fats for
fuel instead of carbs and can lead
to a condition called ketosis. "As
fat burns, ketones build up in the
body, and some are released through
breath,"explains Moloo. "Unfortunately
ketones don't smell particularly
good." And bad breath trumps six-pack
abs.
-
Illness. Occasionally, bad breath
can be a sign of a more serious
illness. The most common systemic
causes of bad breath are diabetes
or GERD (or gastro esophageal reflux
disease). Diabetes can also cause
ketosis, and the resulting bad breath
is sometimes one of first symptoms
that lead to diagnosis. GERD is
a backflow of acid from the stomach
to the esophagus. Less common but
possible are liver or kidney disease-when
toxins from these organs are excreted
through the lungs, causing bad breath.
Top
Five Cures
-
Keep it clean. Gum, breath mints,
mouthwash … these are all helpful
stopgaps, but they won't cure bad
breath. The way to get rid of bad
breath for most of us is to brush,
floss and tongue scrape twice a
day. Yes, for fresh breath, the
key is tongue scraping. "You can
brush and floss till the cows come
home, but it won't help unless you
get way back," says Price of the
American Dental Association. A tongue
scraper is available at most drugstores.
Price swears it helped him when
he was suffering from bad breath
(not something you want in your
dentist, he points out). "Now I
smell like a petunia," he says.
"For most of us, brushing, flossing
and tongue scraping twice a day
will control bad breath."
-
Keep it moist. The best way to keep
the right saliva balance is to drink
plenty of water or liquids. To prevent
dry mouth in winter, use a humidifier.
If you snore or suffer from postnasal
drip, try saline nasal spray to
keep nasal passages moist.
-
Watch what you eat. Avoiding the
main offenders (onion, garlic, tobacco,
coffee, etc.) is the best way to
avoid food-related bad breath. Dietitian
Moloo also cites research that suggests
certain foods can help: "Two cups
of tea a day can prevent bad breath
for some. The polyphenols, a plant
chemical in tea, may prevent growth
of bacteria responsible for bad
breath." You can also chew parsley,
which seems to curb offending smells
from other foods and bacteria. And
cranberries may eliminate offensive
smells and make the bacteria less
sticky, which makes plaque less
likely to form. Price says sugarless
gums that contain xylotol may kill
some bacteria and help reduce plaque.
-
Eat some carbs. Apparently the only
way to help the ketosis caused by
low-carb diets is … to eat some
carbs. Moloo recommends fruits,
vegetables and whole grains over
frosted doughnuts.
-
See your doctor. If tongue scraping
and carbo-loading doesn't do the
trick, check with your doctor to
see if he or she suspects a more
serious cause. Diabetes, GERD or
other diseases require specific
diagnoses and treatments.
20
tips for permanent weight loss
Permanent
weight loss - These 20 ideas can help
you keep the pounds off for good.
Weight maintenance is much like weight
loss. The principles are essentially
the same: Eat healthy foods, control
your portion sizes and exercise regularly.
And to keep the pounds off permanently,
you need to incorporate the new, healthy
behaviors into your routine so that
they become a natural part of your
daily life. Here are 20 ideas to reinforce
your healthy lifestyle and to keep
you committed to permanent weight
loss. Exercise 30 to 60 minutes each
day. If time is limited, exercise
for several brief periods throughout
the day - for example, three 10-minute
sessions rather than one 30-minute
session. Eat three healthy meals during
the day, including a good breakfast.
Skipping meals causes increased hunger
and may lead to excessive snacking.
Focus on fruits and vegetables. Top
off your morning cereal with sliced
strawberries or bananas. Stir berries
or peaches in yogurt or cottage cheese.
Liven up your sandwiches with vegetables,
such as tomato, lettuce, onion, peppers
and cucumber. Weigh yourself regularly.
Monitoring your weight can tell you
whether your efforts are working and
can help you detect small weight gains
before they become even larger.
Don't
keep comfort foods in the house. If
you tend to eat high-fat, high-calorie
foods when you're upset or depressed
or bored, don't keep them around.
Availability of food is one of the
strongest factors in determining how
much a person eats. Plan a family
activity. Get the family together
to go for a bike ride, play disc golf
or kick the ball around in the yard.
Eat healthy foods first. Eat foods
that are healthy and low in calories
first so that when it comes time to
enjoy your favorites - sweets or junk
food, for example - you won't be so
hungry. Pay attention to portions.
Serve meals already dished onto plates
instead of placing serving bowls on
the table. Take slightly less than
what you think you'll eat. You can
always have seconds, if really necessary.
Create opportunities to be active.
Wash your car at home instead of going
to the car wash. Bike or walk to the
store. Participate in your kid's activities
at the playground or park. Sit down
together for family meals. Avoid eating
in front of the television. TV viewing
strongly affects how much and what
people eat. See what you eat. Eating
directly from a container gives you
no sense of how much you're eating.
Seeing food on a plate or in a bowl
keeps you aware of how much you're
eating. Vary your activities. Regularly
change your activity routine to avoid
exercise burnout. Walk a couple of
days, swim another and go for a bike
ride on the weekend. Seek out new
activities - karate, ballroom dancing,
cross-country skiing, tennis or Pilates.
De-stress your day. Stress can cause
you to eat more. Develop strategies
that can help you relax when you find
yourself becoming stressed. Exercise,
deep breathing, muscle relaxation
techniques and even a good laugh can
ease stress. Eat at home. People eat
more food in restaurants than at home.
Limit how often you eat at restaurants.
If you do eat out, decide what and
how much you're going to eat before
you start and have the rest boxed
to go. Plan healthy snacks. The best
snacks include fruits, vegetables,
whole grains and low-fat dairy products.
Fruit smoothies, sliced fresh fruit
and yogurt, whole-grain crackers,
and carrot and celery sticks with
peanut butter are all good choices.
Start your day with a high-fiber breakfast
cereal, such as bran flakes, shredded
wheat or oatmeal. Opt for cereals
with "bran" or "fiber" in the name.
Or add a few tablespoons of unprocessed
wheat bran to your favorite cereal.
Walk for 10 minutes over your lunch
hour or get up a few minutes earlier
in the morning and go for a short
walk. Plan a week's worth of meals
at a time. Make a detailed grocery
list to eliminate last-minute trips
to the grocery store and impulse buys.
Look for a distraction when you're
fighting a craving. Call a friend,
put on music and dance or exercise,
clean the house, pull weeds in your
garden, or run an errand. When your
mind is occupied with something else,
the cravings quickly go away. Reward
yourself. Losing weight and keeping
the pounds off is a major accomplishment.
Celebrate your success with nonfood
rewards, such as new clothes or an
outing with friends.
Lifestyle
tips for indian diabetics
- eat
less, eat on time, eat right
-
avoid fried and fast food. Fast
foods kill fast
-
avoid dry fruits and sweets
-
avoid red meats
-
walk more- lose weight
-
practise yoga
-
sleep well
-
destress, unwind and smile
-
and yes, get in charge of your sugars
-
get a glycosylated haemoglobin every
three months
Courtesy:
www.msn.com, July 19, 2007
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Research
suggests that a healthy body needs
more exposure to sunlight which is
the most abundant source of Vitamin
D. And Vitamin D not only gives you
good bones but protects your heart
and keeps away cancer. The Indian
population shows low levels of the
vitamin. You probably remember from
high school biology that Vitamin D
is good for your bones. But did you
know recent research has shown that
it can also keep cancer and heart
disease at bay? And if you thought
vitamin D deficiency was only a problem
for temperate climates, think again.
Vitamin D is the only vitamin you
can get from either your diet or by
your skin synthesizing it in the sun.
When exposed to ultraviolet light
with wavelengths less than 315 nm
(in sunlight, our natural source of
UV, this translates to UVB), a cholesterol
derivative in skin cells absorbs energy
and goes through a series of reactions
to form an active form of vitamin
D. The level of an intermediate inactive
form in the blood, 25-hydroxyvitamin
D, or 25(OH)D for short, is the most
reliable indicator of vitamin D status.
Courtesy:
www.deccanherald.com, July 17, 2007
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NE
can provide access to one fifth of
world population
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North-East
India's proximity to southeast Asian
countries can provide foreign investors
with an excellent opportunity of intra-regional
trade and an access to nearly one-fifth
of the world population, a new book
says. "The North-East has the unique
locational advantage of being a gateway
to the fast-growing ASEAN countries
and China. It has the potential to
emerge as a strategic | |
