Here is another interesting guest post from US, from my friend Esmiralda who had already added many valuable articles to my guest post section. This time she will be throwing light on Celiac Disease,a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.
Celiac disease is a very interesting disorder that is becoming more frequently diagnosed because there are blood tests that detect specific antibodies that mark the disease. It is a auto immune disease (meaning: the body makes antibodies=natural body defenders- that damage it's own tissues) where the reaction is triggered by a substance called gluten.
Most vegetarians know gluten as the rubbery meat substitute made from gluten flour.
Gluten is a protein complex found mostly in wheat, but also in barley and rye. Now there is a component in gluten that is soluble in alcohol called gliadin; this is not easily broken down and small portion of it may be absorbed.
When someone has this condition, food and nutrients may be poorly absorbed, and iron deficiency may show itself.
There can be a wide range of severity in this condition. Some children can have serious problems with symptoms as diarrhea, swollen ankles, irritability, unabsorbed fat in stool which smells extra unpleasant. The children do not grow properly. Adults too may have a sudden onset of symptoms, after an infection of the stomach. We have seen well nourished man and women become wasted shadows of their former selves.
But the cure is the same for all: stay away from wheat, barely and rye products.
This sounds easy, but it is not. You will need to study to find out what you can and cannot eat.Today the condition is well recognized, and there are gluten-free products on the market.
The diagnosis is completed by taking a duodenal biopsy (not painful).
There is a genetic component in the disease, any person with the above symptoms should consider to be checked out.
In the meantime, lets stay healthy.
Its been more than 2 years now since we visited the merlion city, but even today Singapore brings back nostalgic memories.Right from the world class Changi airport, neat and clean, beautifully constructed and managed with plenty of shopping and eating options and many other forms of entertainment, the airport is one of the most convenient places to get from one terminal to another.After reaching the Copthorne Orchid Hotel where we were booked by our travel agent,we set out to explore the much talked about Mustafa mall in little India by a cab.
Though the hotel is not centrally located but cabs are easily available and staffs were extremely courteous.The rooms were spacious and well maintained. Though not much entertainment options are available but they have excellent restaurants serving lavish buffet spreads. There was also a service every two hours taking you to orchid road and back but we decided to board a cab and explore the city our own. And the first option was undoubtedly the much heard about mustafa mall in little India. A great place to get your currency exchanged as they offer good prices but not the right place to buy jewellery though its sure to enthrall you. The mall is a grand shopping place where you can find almost anything under one roof. Getting into a cab is easy from a spot near the hotel where you have to stand in a Que and metered taxis keep on coming one by one. The mall remains open all night. Hence this is the best place to shop till you drop as everything is very reasonably priced.
Other places on our itinerary were the Jurong bird park,considered world's largest, where you can see thousands of birds from different parts of the globe singing and performing different acts. The next best option is the National Orchid Garden, a tropical botanical garden of international renown which is a delight to your eyes. However the best was yet to come, the Sentosa island tour and the much famed Singapore night safari.
A dream world where you can explore the underwater world, pink dolphin shows, images of Singapore which gives you an insight into Singapore's history,cable car ride,aerial view of the island,animal and bird encounters, butterfly park and innumerable options.
After going for a local sightseeing of the vibrant and bustling city of Singapore,where we saw Chinese temples,china town,little India with indian temples and varied and endless shopping options, the merlion, a bumboat ride along the Singapore river where you can and admire the old architecture building of yesterday years to the robust skyline and cityscrapers , the arab street,etc.Our last destination was the singapore night safari where we saw around 1000 nocturnal animals in their natural habitat, tribal dance forms by dancers from Borneo,fire acts, adventures one cannot forget.
A multinational country where one can find people from all across the globe, Singapore is also considered one the most safest places in the world. A must place for every family,especially with kids, which can give you a vacation to last a lifetime and still want to come back for more over and over again. Till I come back to share some more travel experiences enjoy some pictures I had taken during my trip.
Paratha, one of the most popular north Indian flat bread is a favourite among all ages. Check out wiki for more info:- (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratha).
The ingredients required for this pea-cheese stuffed paratha are:-
2 cups wheat flour
salt to taste
4 tbsp refined oil
250 gms fresh green peas
200 gms cottage cheese grated
1 tsp cumin seeds
handful of coriander leaves
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1 green chili chopped
Enough clarified butter(ghee).
The method is as follows:-
Prepare a soft dough with the wheat flour,salt and refined oil. Heat a wok and saute some cumin seeds in oil. Add coarsely ground fresh green peas paste, cottage cheese (paneer), salt to taste, cumin and coriander powder and some chopped chillies and coriander leaves and cook the mixture leaves the sides of the pan. Let it cool.
Make lemon sized balls of the dough and flatten on your palm. Put a little of the prepared stuffing inside and roll from all sides carefully so that the mixture doesn't fall out. Now flatten it with the help of a rolling pin into a round shape or just fold it into triangular shapes.
Heat a girdle and place the paratha on it. Add enough ghee on all sides and turn from time to time until it turns golden brown. Relish your fresh hot paratha with coriander or tomato dips,yogurt or some Indian pickles.
This is a continuation of my earlier post,Life Saving Techniques.This time I would like to throw light on Poisoning and Bleeding.
Poisons are substances that can cause injury to the body and can also prove to be fatal at times. Hence,it is necessary that every layman should be aware of its consequences and treatments during an emergency.
Generally,if poison is consumed,the symptoms that one should look for are abdominal pain,nausea or vomiting,diarrhoea,burns.odours or stains in mouth,drowsiness or unconsciousness and poison containers nearby.
We should also be aware of the type of poison consumed. If any kind of corrosive material was consumed ,then the lips and tongue will be burnt immediately.In such a case,dilute with water or milk.
Forcefully vomit as 50% of the poison must be removed from the stomach within 30 mins. However,remember not to induce vomiting during seizures,drowsy,petroleum products,strychnine and rat poison.
Checking airway,breathing,consciousness is a must. The patient must be kept on the left side as this side delays stomach emptying into the small intestine. as more poison absorption takes place after it passes into the small intestine from the stomach. Activated charcoal blended with water can be given under instructions.
In case of severe bleeding,the first step one should take is to remove any clothing from the injured area and expose the wound. Then cover the wound with a clean cloth and apply direct pressure over the wound with your fingers or palm and make sure the injured area is raised above the level of the casualty's heart.
Apply a firm bandage over the sterile cloth and another pad if blood seeps through it.Remember to keep checking the circulation.Loosen it if necessary.Monitor the casualty's breathing,pulse and level of response and report to the doctor all details when you dial an ambulance.
Everyone should be aware of these simple steps so that i case of any emergency you can follow these steps and save someones life. Keep following my forthcoming posts to know some more vital life saving techniques.
Generally,if poison is consumed,the symptoms that one should look for are abdominal pain,nausea or vomiting,diarrhoea,burns.odours or stains in mouth,drowsiness or unconsciousness and poison containers nearby.
We should also be aware of the type of poison consumed. If any kind of corrosive material was consumed ,then the lips and tongue will be burnt immediately.In such a case,dilute with water or milk.
Forcefully vomit as 50% of the posion must be removed from the stomach wothin 30 mins. However,remember not to induce vomiting during seizures,drowsy,petroleum products,strychnine and rat poison.
Checking airway,breathing,consciuosness is a must. The patient must be kept on the left side as this side delays stomach emptying into the small intestine. as more poison absorption takes place after it passes into the small intestine from the stomach. Activated charcoal blended with water can be given under instructions.
In case of severe bleeding,The first step one should take is to remove any clothing from the injured area and expose the wound. Then cover the wound with a clean cloth and apply direct pressure over the wound with your fingers or palm and make sure the injured area is raised above the level of the casualty's heart.
Apply a firm bandage over the sterile cloth and another pad if blood seeps through it.Remember to keep checking the circulation.Loosen it if necessary.Monitor the casualty's breathing,pulse and level of response and report to the doctor all details when you dial an ambulance.
One of my earliest memories of life is that of exam fever.That period of life when tension and fear seemed to arouse most children before their exams as a result of which they go blank and cannot recall what they studied throughout the year.
My aunt who also happened to be my teacher played a pivotal role in emboldening me so that I could fare well in my exams as she too was the victim of exam fever during her school days. Her words had a deep impact on my mind and I came out with flying colours. This is what she always said...
- The determination to succeed against all odds is the first step in this regard.
- Too much discussions with fellow mates before entering the exam hall usually confuses the student.
- Staying up late at night from days before the exam process can be stressful and the student may not be able to deliver fruitfully.
- Planning a few things beforehand like organising ones pencil box with enough stock of pencils,pens,erasers,sharpeners,etc,re - checking the exam dates,exam location well ahead in time can help reduce stress.
- Avoiding negative discussions and arguments is equally important to refrain from stress.
- Gain self confidence be preparing throughout the year and not at the last moment.
- Undertake mock tests prepared by family members.
- A time table followed religiously can never let exam fever overwhelm you.
- Learn to distribute time during the course of exam and do not start writing immediately after receiving the question paper.Settle down properly,relax,take deep breaths and read the paper once or twice.Do not panic about the results now and start writing.Do not compare your answers with others.
- And most importantly,do not study continuously,take breaks in between. A walk in the nearby park may be a relaxing break.Eat healthy too to maintain a good health not only during your exam but also otherwise.
Remember you tried your best and the rest is upto God.You may not be a genius at studies but every child is special in his or her own ways.Try to figure out what you enjoy doing, get fully engrossed in it and you will be amazed to see your life painted in rainbow hues.
If you have been following my blog, you will definitely be familiar with Esmiralda from US,one of my most popular guest blogger who have been adding valuable materials to my blog from the medical background. This time she would like to post something on Caffeine, a stimulant found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans (chocolate) and kola nuts (cola) and added to soft drinks, foods, and medicines,in medical terminology.
Here's what Esmiralda has to add to it.Let's read.......Caffeine is the world's most popular psychoactive (mood-changing) drug and is used more widely than alcohol and tobacco. It can lead to physical dependence, which by definition results in a withdrawal syndrome when habitual intake is stopped abruptly.
In other words: when someone who usually uses caffeine suddenly stops, many symptoms may be observed, including headaches, tiredness, irritability, lack of concentration, and nausea. Although death from caffeine overdose is not common, it does occur and may be intentional ( this happens more likely with the use of caffeine tablets).
With the increasing popularity of carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks, however, emergency room physicians and toxicologists are noting an increase in caffeine-related problems and symptoms, especially among young adults.
In 2006 almost $4 billion was spent on energy drinks in the USA alone, and this is indicative of a worldwide trend. In addition, 500 new brands energy drinks were introduced around the world in that same year.
So-called energy drinks have significantly higher levels of caffeine than the carbonated soft drinks. It is proven that this scenario is used to hook children and youth: kids are first exposed to sugary soft drinks; caffeine is than added, and energy drinks are introduced. The next step is the addition of alcohol to energy drinks. 1 in 3 teens are likely to use energy drinks compared to 1 in 10 adult.
We have a duty to inform our youth, set the appropriate example in our own habits, and lobby against this evil attack on our society. Caffeine is useful as a component of certain analgesics used in the treatment of migraine as well as some other pain conditions.
We do well to prayerfully and consistently apply the temperance principle: "True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful". (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p562).
Till I come back with some more useful posts that might be able to bring about some positive changes to your life,do keep reading and don't forget to post your comments.
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