Sunday 31 May 2015

Successful Life - Inherent Controls

Successful in Life - Inherent Controls


Once a small boy asked his father about an illustration for a success in life.
His father took him to the river front. En route to the river, they purchased a kite and long string. The colourful kite was flown. Soon the length of the string was insufficient as the kite flew long and high.

Then the boy, asked - Papa - if we cut off the string or leave the string, the kite could fly higher? Why don't we do this?

Father agreed to this proposal and let him leave the string. The kite flew little higher and the descent started gradually. Within no time, the kite drifted away and fell at an obscure place.

Then the father went on to narrate:
Success in life is similar to this kite. It is tethered by a long string called
1) Family, Friends and Affection
2) Values
3) Morality and Ethics
4) Personal Intergrity and Honesty (to name a few).

Many a time, it seems that we could reach higher planes, if we are not restrained by this string. However, the drift will not last long. And the life would be at Jeopardy.

Hence, it is better to be tethered by the string of values rather than drift away without accountability, for temporary inducement or adhoc benefits which could ruin the future.

Sunday 17 May 2015

Vegetarian diet may help lower your BP

Tokyo, Feb 25, 2014 (PTI):

Vegetarians rejoice! Eating a vegetarian diet may lower your blood pressure (BP), a long-term research has claimed.. Reuters photo

Vegetarians rejoice! Eating a vegetarian diet may lower your blood pressure (BP), a long-term research has claimed.


Factors such as diet, body weight, physical activity and alcohol intake play a role in the risk of developing hypertension, researchers said.



Dietary modifications have been shown to be effective for preventing and managing hypertension, according to research author Yoko Yokoyama, of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan, and colleagues.

The authors analysed seven clinical trials and 32 studies published from 1900 to 2013 in which participants ate a vegetarian diet.


Net differences in BP associated with eating a vegetarian diet were measured, researchers said.



In the trials, eating a vegetarian diet was associated with a reduction in the average systolic (peak artery pressure) and diastolic (minimum artery pressure) BP compared with eating an omnivorous (plant and animal) diet.



In the 32 studies, eating a vegetarian diet was associated with lower average systolic and diastolic BP, compared with omnivorous diets.



"Further studies are required to clarify which types of vegetarian diets are most strongly associated with lower BP. Research into the implementation of such diets, either as public health initiatives aiming at prevention of hypertension or in clinical settings, would also be of great potential value," researchers said.



The research was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine..

Sindhoor - Originally it is Bixa Orellana Dye

Sindhoora

Traditional Dye of Red Shade


We, in Indian culture, have come across the word Sindhura at many places.

Sindhura is a beautiful shade of red, which is the popular context. In North India, it is mostly used by women to apply on the top of the forehead. 

(At times, Kunkuma (Vermillion) is also referred as Sindhoor in North India. However, it is made by mixing Picking Lime to the Turmeric Powder.)

While procuring large quantity of Sindhura, for a temple inauguration, we got the complete picture of Sindhura trade and Manufacturing process currently followed in the market. 
It is made from lead, which Pb3O4,
Sample of pulverised lead(II,IV) oxide

Lead Tetroxide is its chemical name. It is basically used by the Paint and Glass industry.​ Due to cheaper ingredients and commercial mass usage, this procedure is followed. In long term and regular usage/ higher quantity this can be carcenogenic. This is also called Miniun. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead(II,IV)_oxide ​
---
However, earlier days - the flower and seeds of Sindur tree were used. Even now, it is an art. Kindly refer to these two documents in the end of this article.

This is called Bixa Orellana (Tree). The natural dye is harmless. Every Hanuman Temple should be using this herbal powder instead of the harmful chemical.


Indigenous usage in many parts of the continent, including Nepal, is reflective of our customs. Check the photo from Brazil.

http://tasteofnepal.blogspot.in/2013/06/sindur-tree-of-nepal-sindure.html?m=1

https://www.academia.edu/4918901/Formulation_and_Evaluation_of_Herbal_Sindoor_Using_Different_Natural_Herbal_Ingredients

Hence, follow safe practices whether at home or temples. We should not save at the cost of health. Spread awareness.