Author: Shruti Kulkarni

Time to Work on your Eyes while at Work!!!

March is an important month for vision or eye health because it is designated as National Save Your Vision Month. During this month, eye health organizations, healthcare providers, eye specialists, researchers come together to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of your eyes and maintaining good vision.
There are several reasons why March was chosen as the month to focus on vision and eye health. For one, it falls at the beginning of spring, which is a time of renewal and growth. This makes it a natural time to think about renewing your commitment to taking care of your eyes and making sure that you are seeing your best. This is also called “Workplace Eye Awareness Month” typically observed with a purpose to raise awareness about the importance of eye safety in the workplace. Eye injuries can be extremely serious and can lead to long-term damage or even blindness. The month aims to encourage both employers and employees to take steps to prevent eye injuries and to promote eye safety in the workplace.

During Workplace Eye Awareness Month, employers are encouraged to provide eye safety training to their employees, to make sure that they have access to appropriate eye protection, and to ensure that their work environments are free from hazards that could cause eye injuries. Employees are encouraged to take responsibility for their own eye safety by wearing appropriate eye protection when required, reporting any hazards or safety concerns to their employer, and getting regular eye exams to monitor their eye health. This is mostly seen in an industrial setting and workplace related eye injuries are also a concern mostly in those settings.

Since the pandemic and the work from home or distance working model the most strained was the eyesight. Studies have shown that there was typically a high rise in the Eye or Visual issues due to constant use of gadgets, technology, smart phones, internet etc during the pandemic days. The usage of internet, social media, online portals was on the rise especially during the lock-down period. Now we all are so used to the new set-up that we feel working from home is the best solution. 

But the toll it is taking on our eyesight is high. We need to include usage of the internet, screen time, technology also as a part of “Workforce eye awareness month”. Employers and employees need to devise a 20-20-20 rule to help with “Screen time detox” in a day.

Adapting a no screen time day or a screen time off day should be a must when it comes to helping the Employees. This could lead to a major economic loss to the company, employer and in turn to the employee but this could just be one step closer to adapting and adopting a new way of Visual or Screen detox for a day, to help create a new way of working in the office. One can promote preparing for spring and summer activities that may require good vision, such as sports, gardening, and outdoor recreation. By emphasizing the importance of eye health during this month, people are encouraged to take steps to protect their eyes and make sure that they are seeing their best for these activities.
Overall, March is an important month for vision and eye health because it provides a focused time to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of your eyes and maintaining good vision, and it helps to remind people that their eye health is equally important part of their overall health and wellbeing. So, it’s the month of spreading awareness and adapting a new regimen to detox your eyesight for better eye lifespan. Time to work on your eye-sight vision while working!!

Author -

Mrs. Shruti Prashant Kulkarni

Research & Product Domain Expert

(Atreya Innovations Pvt. Ltd.)

Chief Nutrition Counseller (Germany)

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World Sleep Day: Take the “New Mantra” to Good Health!!

Awareness of Health & Sleep-related Issues

Happiness is waking up, looking at the clock & finding that you still have the last 10 more minutes to snooze off to sleep. Yes, I know that feeling. What would be the best day to talk about our favorite hobby ‘Sleeping to dream’ rather than World Sleep Day?

World Sleep Day is an annual event celebrated on Friday, yes, it is Friday as it comes close to a weekend, how better it could be? Jokes apart, it falls before the Spring Equinox each year. The motive of celebrating ‘World Sleep Day’ is to raise awareness of the importance of sleep and to promote better sleep habits and practices. The event was first organized in 2008 by the World Sleep Society, a non-profit organization that aims to advance sleep health worldwide. I think it could have been such a great thing to do. With so many people talking about wanting to sleep well but not being able to do so, this day has come out like a winner for all. Sleep issues have been a global problem now, earlier, it was an issue of old age and is now a problem for small children to even adolescent kids. Though all have reasons for not being able to fall asleep, still the problem needs to be assessed and emphasized to promote good sleep habits which can be sustainable & relatable. 

With this aim in mind just like each year, World Sleep Day has a different theme this year too which focuses on a specific aspect related to sleep health. The themes in previous years have included “Better Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet”, “Sleep Soundly, Nurture Life”, and “Sleep Well, Grow Healthy”. The theme for World Sleep Day 2023 is “Sleep is essential for good health”, which emphasizes how consistent sleep is essential for maintaining good & optimal health for all.  A global solution for a global problem.

So, World Sleep Day is celebrated around the world with events, seminars, and workshops conducted on sleep health and how it is the most important aspect of great health. Sleep experts and health professionals are emphasizing the benefits of sleep, the effects of sleep disorders, and tips for improving sleep quality. The goal of these events is to educate everyone about the importance of sleep and to provide the knowledge and tools to get better & harmonious sleep.

On World Sleep Day, let’s just relax and sleep like a baby if you want to have great health today, tomorrow, and forever. Sleeping well is the new mantra to good health, so just keep sleeping!!

Author -

Mrs. Shruti Prashant Kulkarni

Research & Product Domain Expert

(Atreya Innovations Pvt. Ltd.)

Chief Nutrition Counseller (Germany)

 

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The Food story of Holi

Like all festivals in India, Holi too has its traditional recipes, which are prepared on this occasion as part of the celebration. Indeed, the delicacies prepared on this special occasion add to the delight and excitement as they blend Maharashtrian, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Gujaratis, and many other cuisines.

Here are some Guilt Free Recipes to help you eat your heart out and enjoy the festival with great happiness!

  1. Guilt Free Puran Poli
    Calories: 200 per serving size
    Benefits: less acidity, light to digest, tasty cereal-based roti
    Best time to consume is at Lunch.

Puran Poli in Maharashtra is the most savoured sweet stuffed roti or paratha which is the heart of most traditional functions. Mostly made by chana dal, it is the most relished dish. But with changing time and calorie needs there is a great discomfort in relishing this traditional “Desi delicacy”. It is said that in this transition season digestive fire weakens so go for moong dal instead of chana dal. So here is a quick and lip-smacking fix to the traditional Puran Poli.

Puran Poli

Moong dal Puran Poli (Guilt free)
Ingredients
For the stuffing:

  • Moong dal (Yellow): 1 cup Moong Dal
  • 2 cup Water
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar or organic Jaggery powder
  • 1 tsp Cardamom-nutmeg, powdered.
  • 1 pinch saffron

For the Covering:

  • 1 cup Wheat flour
  • ½ cup rice flour + semolina(fine)
  • Pinch of salt, turmeric
  • ½ cup milk + water
  • ½ tablespoon oil

Recipe:
Dough- Take a large plate add the flour, semolina in the plate, add salt, turmeric. Start adding the milk plus water milk slowly to the flour mix to turn to soft pliable dough. Let it rest for 1-2 hours.
Stuffing: In a heavy bottom cooker, take 2-3 cups of water, wash the moong dal and add to it, give 2-3 whistles. Once the whistles are done and the cooker is cooled. Open the cooker and add the sugar/jaggery as per your liking and start the flame, on a low flame keep cooking the mixture until the cooked dal solidifies, keep stirring continuously. To test the Puran, take a small mixture in a spoon, let it cool and try to make a small ball of the same, if it solidifies it is done. Now remove from flame and add to a traditional sieve and try to sieve the Puran to give a soft, fine paste or stuffing.

Puran poli:
Now take the Puran divide in 10-12 medium sized balls. Take the dough and divide it in the same way. On a wooden base or marble base (Polpat-latane) put a lot of rice and wheat flour mix. Take the dough, take the puran ball and cover the dough closely to the puran ball. Make a stuffed ball just like a stuffed paratha. Apply a little more flour mix and place the dough and puran ball on the flat base and start rolling into a round shape with slow and steady movement of your latane (rolling pin). Heat a flat based pan (roti tawa) on a medium flame. When the tawa is hot enough, place the stuffed roti or poli on the tawa. Gently keep moving the Puran poli from one side to another as it gets a roasted texture and flavor. Serve warm with a cup of saffron and cardamom infused milk or home-made ghee.

2. Healthy Katachi Amti
Calories per katori: 100 calories
Benefits: Less acidity, warm appetiser
Best time to consume: Lunch.

Katachi Amti

Amti is traditional Maharashtrian liquid-based Dal most cooked and relished with Rice and Puran Poli on the day of Holi. Simple yet tasty it is most relished.
Moong dal based puran and its Katachi amti
Ingredients:

  • Moong dal puran (as per above recipe of Puran in Puran poli)
  • Water: 2-3 cups to make liquid consistency

Home-made garam masala: Dry roasted cumin seeds, coriander seeds, 2 cloves, 1 small stock dalchini, 2 black cardamom, shahajeera seeds, 2-3 pods black pepper, fenugreek seeds. Roast them well on a non-stick and then grind them into a fine powder.

  • Kokum: 2-3, radish/drumstick (optional)
  • Fresh coconut: 2 tablespoons,
  • Hing: ½ tsp, turmeric: ½ tsp, red chilli powder: ½ tsp, sesame seeds ½ tsp
  • Fresh coriander: 2 tablespoons.

In a heavy bottom vessel. Take the remaining puran water and 1 leftover ball of puran and add water to the mixture. Put in the heavy bottom vessel and start to boil. To this add boiled drumstick or raw radish cubes, salt and kokum. In a non-stick small pan, add oil to this, add mustard and cumin seeds, let splutter, to this add turmeric, red chilli powder, home-made garam masala, sesame seeds, fresh coconut and fresh coriander. Add this tadka to the boil dal mix and let it simmer on a slow flame. Your delicious Katachi amti (Dal) is ready to serve with the Puran poli with ghee and Rice with ghee.

3. Solkadhi or Kokum saar
Calories per katori: 50 calories
Benefits: Pittashamak, cooling appetiser
Best time to consume: Lunch/Dinner/Snack time.

Solkadhi or Kokum saar are the most relished and appetising liquid-based beverages. It is the most cooling and light to digest drink. Most relished with warm pakodas, bhajiyas and snack items.
Ingredients:

  • Kokum: 10 in numbers
  • Coconut water: 1 glass
  • Coconut milk: 2 tablespoon
  • For tadka: ghee, cumin seeds, hing, ginger, garlic, fresh coriander or mint leaves, salt: black salt to taste

In a heavy bottom vessel boil 3-4 cups of water and bring it to a bubble. Switch off the gas and add the kokum pellets to the boiling water. Cover and keep aside for some time.

Solkadhi or Kokum saar

Once a light pink color starts to develop, take the mix and sieve it and remove the kokum while straining the liquid. To this cool liquid add either Coconut water or coconut milk according to your wish. In a non-stick vessel, make tadka using ghee, cumin seeds, hing, ginger and garlic. On cooling add this tadka to the Kokum mix and add salt to taste. Decorate with freshly chopped coriander and mint leaves. Serve at room temperature. Your refreshing coolant to enjoy your snacks at the Holi Party is ready.

4. Refreshing Thandai
Calories per small glass: 100 calories
Benefits: Refreshing, energising, appetising cooling drink, heavy to digest
Best time to consume: At snacks time only 1 small glass is best advised.

Thandai

Ingredients:

  • Cow Milk: 500ml
  • Water: 1 cup
  • Almonds: 6-10 soaked
  • Poppy seeds: ¼ tsp
  • Manukas: 5 soaked.
  • Subja seeds: 1 tsp soaked.
  • Rose petals (organic eatable rose petal): from 1 Rose.
  • Rose water: 1 tsp
  • Saffron: 4-5 strands
  • Cardamom and nutmeg powder: 2 tablespoons
  • Sugar: 2 tablespoons

Soak overnight almonds, poppy seeds, and manukas in a glass vessel. In a grinder take all the soaked ingredients and grind into a fine paste. Bring milk to boil in a pan and add the saffron strands. Mix well. Add sugar and simmer till the sugar melts. Grind the 3-4 rose petals to a fine powder. To give it a nice yellow tint, add the saffron strands and the water in which it was soaked, this will accentuate the taste and aroma of this drink. Add the grinded paste to the milk along with some cardamom-nutmeg powder. Mix well and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the flame and keep it at a normal room temperature. Then refrigerate it for 2 to 3 hours. Garnish it with some crushed rose petals, saffron strands and soaked sabja seeds. Serve chilled with some delicious snacks like cucumber or palak bhaji
We at Nadi Tarangini believe that natural foods are the key to maintaining good health and we always try to suggest the use of the best natural ingredients in a wholesome and natural way!!! So “Stay Desi, Eat Healthy”.

Happy Holi!! Stay safe and play safe!

Author: Mrs. Shruti Prashant Kulkarni
Research & Product Domain Expert (Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd)
Chief Nutrition Counsellor (Germany)
Credits- Vaidya. Tejaswini Sameer Bhale
Nadi Pariksha domain expertise

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Digital Medical Data & its Applications: New-age Reform & Revolution!!

As India is becoming more powerful & profound in digitizing the systems, making them accessible, stratified, transparent & secure, the inclination is towards getting a digitally abled Indian Healthcare system. Yes, you rightly understood. In the coming years, India may introduce a concept of a Digital Medical card for every citizen linked to an Aadhar Card, Insurance card, etc. Do you think it is not possible? Well, let’s look at how India became digitally & technically sound and connected and how India is using digital tech for Medical record-keeping in today’s era.

The healthcare data in India is quite fragmented and scattered across the country. The way an individual interacts ranges from rural to urban areas, from multiple diagnostic centers to private or public hospitals, from a small medical practitioner to a polyclinic facility, and from a traditional medicine set-up to a pharmacist. A new data format is getting created and applied everywhere. There are thousands of ways how data is generated and stored, it varies with technology, applications, and budget allocation. Though the medical system is evolving into a giant ecosystem, medical data collection and storage vary. It’s the need of the hour that we all think of having an ecosystem where the digital & tech usage for procuring data, storing data, and passing data through a secured method happen. It will allow an individual to get treatment without carrying piles of papers or reports from door to door, where a single card can be the identity of an individual’s inner health system.

The new reforms and policies taken up by the National Health Commission in India bought the National Health Stack, a platform being developed to support the collection, storage, and analysis of healthcare data in India. Additionally, the National Digital Health Mission started on 15th August 2020 by PM Narendra Modiji, aimed to create a digital infrastructure for healthcare delivery in India, which includes the use of digital health records and telemedicine. This initiative has the potential to transform healthcare in India by improving access to care, reducing costs, and improving health outcomes. Below are some of the applications of the Digital Medical records system:

  1. Epidemiological studies: Digital Medical data is used to conduct large-scale epidemiological studies to understand the prevalence and distribution of non-communicable and communicable diseases across India. This can help in identifying risk factors for non-communicable diseases and developing strategies to prevent and control them.
  2. Clinical trials: Digital Medical data is used to conduct clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of new drugs and treatments. This can help in developing new treatments for diseases that are prevalent in India.
  3. Disease surveillance: Digital Medical data is used to monitor the spread of infectious & communicable diseases and track outbreaks. This can help in early detection and response to outbreaks, which can help in reducing the spread of diseases. This can be efficient in Malaria, Dengue, or even Covid-19 outbreaks.
  4. Personalized medicine: Digital Medical data can be used to develop personalized medicine based on an individual’s genetic makeup and other factors. This can help in developing more effective treatments that are tailored to an individual’s needs. Ayurveda is the source of personalized medicine tradition in the world and with digitization, we can now create awareness and reach of Ayurveda in the remotest of places using modern tech.
  5. Health policy: Digital Medical data is used to create informed health policy decisions, such as the allocation of resources to different areas of healthcare. This can help in improving the overall health of the population. We can cover a large population and also create target-oriented policy by mapping and tracking high-risk sources helping the Health Policy to become more sustainable and specific.

One such specific application which is currently having a national as well as global reach is using Digital Medical data along with Ayurveda to help get more accurate predictions. We all know, Ayurveda places great emphasis on personalized treatment plans, based on an individual’s unique body constitution and health status. Digital Medical data can help Ayurveda practitioners to gather and analyze information about their patients, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and treatment recommendations. This unique application can be now actually done with the help of a Digitized Nadi Pariksha device. Yes, you heard it right!

The Digital Nadi Pariksha device named Nadi Tarangini is a cutting-edge technology that uses a combination of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and computer vision to analyze pulse movements and generate a digital report securely.

This device can be used to monitor and assess a range of medical conditions, and inner health parameters (doshas, gunas, strotas, deviations, etc.) with utmost precision.

One of the key benefits of the Nadi Tarangini device is its ability to generate highly accurate and detailed Inner Health data. This data can be used to track changes in an individual’s condition over time, monitor treatment progress and identify potential issues before they become serious. Also, it helps in keeping a track of their inner health. Additionally, the device is non-invasive and easy to use, making it an ideal tool for Ayurveda Practitioners to track their patients.

The Nadi Tarangini device can be used in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, spas, and rehabilitation centers. By using the Nadi Tarangini device to generate Digital Medical data, healthcare providers can improve the accuracy of diagnoses, enhance treatment outcomes, and reduce the overall cost of care. Additionally, patients can benefit from the convenience and accessibility of this technology, which can help them to manage their health more effectively and efficiently.

Overall, the Nadi Tarangini device is one of the first-of-its-kind, non-invasive applications that can be used to create India’s first-ever Digital Medical Health record system based on Ayurveda & AI-powered forming “A Healthcare- Ecosystem”. Its innovative technology, combined with its ease of use and accuracy, make it an invaluable application for healthcare providers and patients to not only use an indigenous technology application as a revolution but creating new-age reforms and solutions.

“To learn more and to go digital with Nadi Tarangini, visit the Nadi Tarangini home page or contact us at +91 9168616013″

Author: Mrs. Shruti Prashant Kulkarni
B.Sc. (Foods & Nutrition), M.Sc. (Public Health)
Clinical Nutritionist, Diabetes Educator & Counsellor, Ph.D. scholar
Research & Product Domain Expert (Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd)
Chief Nutrition Counsellor (Germany)

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Happy Maha-Shivratri

Maha-Shivratri means the most important night of lord Shiva. Shivratri is celebrated on the 14th day of every month, one day before the new moon. Among the 12 shivratri celebrated according to the Hindu Calender in a year, Mahashivratri is the most important one generally celebrated in the February or March depending upon the planetary position every year. This major festival marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world by praying to the Shiva Shakti. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Goodness by Lord ShivaShambho. On Mahashivaratri the devotees are awake all night to get the blessings of Lord Shiva. The celebration includes maintaining a “jagran or staying awake“, offering prayers throughout the night to Lord Shiva. Offerings of fruits, Beal leaves, sweets and milk to Shiva are made. We perform all-day fast or Upwas on this day.

Special recipes of the day:

Mahashivaratri Upwas (Option 1)

Mahashivaratri Upwas (Option 2)

 Detox (Post Upwas day)

1 bowl sabudana (cooked in buttermilk) + 5 manukas (soaked) + 1 wati pomegranate

1 bowl rajgira lahya/puffs with 1 cup milk + 5 manukas (soaked) + 1 small banana

Rice / Nachni Ukkad + 5 manukas (soaked) + 2-3 slices of sweet lime

1 in no. Sabudana flour with cucumber thalipeeth with ghee + suran in buttermilk bhaji + nariyal barfi (optional) + 1 wati buttermilk with coriander

1 in no. Varai with cucumber thalipeeth with ghee + arbi sukhi sabji + 1 wati buttermilk with ginger

1 Bhakri or 2 phulka + 1 wati padwal/navalkol bhaji+ 1 wati plain dal + boiled carrot raita (in buttermilk)

1 glass kokum sherbat  + 2-3 pear slices or 1 rajgira ladoo or wadi

1 glass coconut water + 1 wati pomegranate or 1 rajgira ladoo

1 cup Green Tea (Lemongrass, ginger, cardamom) or 1 glass Amla-Kokum sherbet + 1 plain khakhra or 2-3 slices pear 

1 bowl varai/saam chawal with pumpkin (ghee vaghar) + arbi sukha subji (ghee vaghar)  + 1 wati buttermilk with ginger

1 bowl rajgira flour porridge (ghee vaghar) + pumpkin/lal bhopla sabji (ghee vaghar) + cucumber slices

1 wati Dal Khichdi (rice, moong dal, onion, carrot, peas) + 1 wati kadhi (ghee tadka) + radish-cucumber slices

 

Mahashivratri Special: Refreshing Thandai

Ingredients

 

1 cup: warm water,

3 tablespoons: almonds or 30 grams,

2 heaped tablespoons: pistachios (or 20 grams),

2 tablespoons: poppy seeds (khus khus),

¼ cup: melon seeds or 30 grams melon seeds,

2 tablespoons: dried rose petals OR, 

2 tablespoons: rose water OR,

 1 to 2 tablespoons: gulkand,

1 tablespoon: fennel seeds,

½ teaspoon: whole black pepper,

3 to 4: green cardamoms – husks removed and seeds kept,

1 pinch: saffron – optional,

½ cup: sugar or 100 grams sugar,

1 glass: chilled milk (cows A2 milk),

ice cubes as required,

a few rose petals or chopped almonds or pistachios for garnish.

Recipe for Thandai Paste

 

In a bowl, pour 1 cup warm water.

Then add almonds, pistachios, poppy seeds (khus khus), melon seeds, dried rose petals, 1 tablespoon fennel seeds and ½ teaspoon black pepper. 

Mix very well. Cover and keep aside for a minimum one hour or 2 hours. If you use water at room temperature, then you can also keep it overnight or for 4 to 5 hours.

Making Thandai Paste

After 1 to 2 hours, pour the whole mixture including the soaking water in a grinder or blender jar. Do make sure to use a good grinder or blender.

Add ½ cup sugar, seeds from 3 to 4 green cardamoms and 1 pinch of saffron. 

Blend the mixture to a very smooth and fine paste. Remove in a bowl and keep aside. You can cover and refrigerate if not using immediately.

Recipe 

 

To prepare thandai, take about 4 tablespoons of the thandai paste in a glass. Add chilled milk. 

Mix very well. Add a few ice cubes.

Garnish with rose petals. You can also garnish with some chopped almonds or pistachios.

Serve thandai immediately. Alternatively, you can prepare the thandai drink in a large Kansa or Pittal mug or jug. Refrigerate and then serve.

 

Author: Mrs. Shruti Prashant Kulkarni
B.Sc. (Foods & Nutrition), M.Sc. (Public Health)
Clinical Nutritionist, Diabetes Educator & Counsellor, Ph.D. scholar
Research & Product Domain Expert (Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd)
Chief Nutrition Counsellor (Germany)

For regular updates, like and follow:

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