Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Saturday, 20 June 2015

Yoga not an exercise. It is a way of life.



June 21 was declared as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly December 11, 2014. Celebrating 21st June as International Yoga Day has been supported by 177 countries which is a record for any of this kind of global events.

Yoga is considered to be a good exercise not only for body but also for soul. While the exact origins of Yoga in Ancient Indian history are unclear, it is speculated that Yoga as a form of exercise was adopted during Pre-vedic Indian times.

Here’s few good reason why you should adopt Yoga as a way of life.


Exercise for Greater Flexibility & Strength


Smart yogis know dumbbells aren't the only way to sculpt. "You're using your body weight to move from posture to posture, and in certain poses, you're lifting every pound of it." says Loren Bassett, an instructor at Pure Yoga in New York City. Yoga is one of the most comprehensive exercises since it works all the muscles of the body. 


People having suffered from various problems of the joints (Arthritis), bones or muscles are recommended yoga. This is because yoga helps to strengthen our musculature and ligaments. Breathing and stretching techniques used in Yoga if followed can help to regulate the flow of various fluids in the body. Better circulation means that the body’s ability to self-heal gets a boost. With greater flexibility, we are able to move, grasp, push, pull and lift things with greater ease. This also ensures a better range of motion. According to researchers Yoga improves postures & strengthens back muscles better compared to physical therapy or even medicines. 

Increased Cardiovascular Conditioning


Highly congested lifestyles combined with bad eating habits ensure that our heart is more prone to developing fatal conditions like a stroke. Cardiovascular problems have increasingly started affecting people who are barely in their mid-30s. Yoga by harmonizing the breathing pattern, helps to regulate the heart-rate and raise our overall physical endurance. The heart becomes less vulnerable when pushed into demanding, physical and mental situations. More oxygenated blood and a greater range of motion help to keep the body free from toxins.


Revitalize your sex life

According to a study conducted by The Journal of Sexual Medicine Yoga helps increasing your desire and ensures more exciting times in bed. Yoga helps reduce anxiety, increase body awareness and even leads to speed the release of hormones that rev arousal. All of this translates to a boost in libido, lubrication and ability to achieve orgasm.


Stay Young & Look Younger



One of the most common benefit of yoga is weight management. Since yoga works the entire body and makes the circulation of fluids more smoother, it leads to rise in the overall metabolic rate. Thus, more calories are burned. By working out the lean muscle mass, yoga makes it possible to burn fat, lose weight and look younger. The sense of calmness and stimulation of various bodily organs helps to fight-off the aging-causing free radicals that attack our skin on a daily basis.

Peace of mind & Building Better Relationships 


Yoga helps to achieve a better physical and mental state of existence, everyday apprehensions are eradicated. Women who had followed yoga at least once a week for two years or more released 41 percent less of a tension-triggered cytokine (a type of protein) that can make you feel tired and moody compared with yoga newbies, a study in Psychosomatic Medicine notes.

Also people who are less worried and not bothered by frequent illnesses and naturally feel better. This helps to overcome issues like lack of self confidence or lack of compassion that are common, relationship hurdles. A more focused mind is undoubtedly able to address such problems in a more capable manner. People who regularly practice yoga have a better ability to comprehend situations. 



Wednesday, 3 June 2015

Is Nestlé the only culprit?


Nestlé S.A. is a Swiss multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. It is the largest food company in the world measured by revenues and ranked #72 on the Fortune Global 500 in 2014. (Source: Wiki)

One of the most popular product in Nestlé’s portfolio, Maggi Noodles came under scanner in India. An officer from state of U.P food safety & drug administration ordered tests on over a dozen samples of instant noodles. Nestle claims that the product does not contain Monosodium Glutamate (Popularly known as MSG: Used for enhancing the taste). Gorakhpur lab & Kolkata lab (Considered to be among the best in country for food testing) found the samples to be positive for MSG. In addition Kolkata lab also reported the samples to be containing dangerously high levels of lead content. Lab reported 17.2 ppm of lead in the sample. According to food safety regulation norms in India permissible lead content ranges between 0.2 ppm to 10 ppm depending on product categories. Instant Noodles falls under a category with a limit of lead restricted at 2.5 ppm.



Instant noodles are identified under food category code 6.4.3, which includes “pre-cooked pastas and noodles and like products” that are “pre-gelatinized, heated and dried prior to sale”. These categories of food are governed by Codex international standard 249, standards of food safety recognized by WHO. The masala used in these noodles is identified in code 12.2, which includes herbs, spices, masalas, seasonings, and condiments (eg. seasoning for instant noodles), where the use is “intended to enhance the aroma and taste of food”, according to FSSAI regulations.

Controversies are not new to Nestlé. In 1974 Mike Muller wrote an article for War on want called “The baby killer”. Articles focused on impact of alternative introduced by Nestlé for breast feeding the newborn babies. Swiss court on the basis of the report, warned Nestlé that if the company did not want to face accusations of causing the infant deaths or illness, should change the way they do the business & not to use unethical sales practices. Following the report Nestlé products were boycott across Europe, UK & US. The campaign also garnered support from health authorities & medical professionals in developing nations. Momentum gathered by this even lead to 1981 formation of code of conduct to govern sale & promotion of products substituting breast milk.  

Mike Muller has been consistently active against companies which are purely money minded & does not care towards the health of people.

In one of the recent articles Muller posed an important question. Though this was not applicable to just Nestlé as a single company but to the entire industry. While in 1970’s challenge was high child mortality rates, malnutrition, quality of water, in today’s times issues have been replaced with obesity, diabetes & heart diseases. Back in 70’s industry was accused of harming the health of the babies. Now it has raised to a level of harming the entire nation. In either cases issues about the food industry’s responsibilities remain unchanged.

UN’s current millennium goals are due to expire in 2015. In such case, question of importance is should the sustainable goals focus on unsustainable & unhealthy lifestyle of riches or on the plight for the basic needs of the poor? Also, should UN actively engage with global food giants to control products & marketing to improve people’s health. For answers to these questions we will have to wait & see until we discover/ invent machines that can take us to future.


This article is not intended towards the questions raised at Nestlé but towards the general issues relating to the food industry.