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Most of our days start with sitting on our porcelain seats for a bit, followed by commuting to work, spending long hours of sitting before the computer screen at work, and then at home if you have hobbies that keep you glued to your seat. That’s roughly 12 hours of sitting a day or an average of 60 hours of sitting a week — and I’m sure you know where I’m going with this — which isn’t great for your health. Now I know what you’re going to think: isn’t the 30-odd minutes of moderate exercise that you try to squeeze into your day enough? The answer, according to new research, is a resounding no. If anything, these seated hours could accelerate your aging process, affecting you in ways you may not expect. <h2>Sitting is the new smoking?</h2>The <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0308660">study</a>, involving over 1,000 individuals, including 730 twins, revealed worrying insights into how prolonged sitting can affect cardiovascular health and increase body mass index (BMI). According to the findings, even meeting the minimum exercise recommendations — around 20 minutes of moderate activity per day — doesn’t offset the risks associated with long hours in a chair. The study’s senior author, Professor Chandra Reynolds, emphasises that “sitting less throughout the day and getting more vigorous exercise, or a combination of both, may be necessary to reduce premature aging in early adulthood.” Collaborating with Ryan Bruellman, a PhD candidate at UC Riverside, Reynolds aimed to uncover the long-term health consequences of increased sitting post-COVID pandemic. <h2>Is standing the solution? </h2>Are you already scrolling through Amazon, trying to find a standing desk? Don’t bother, because that is probably just as bad. Please don’t throw your phone away and hear me out. In a complementary <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/53/6/dyae136/7822310?login=false">study</a> from Australia and the Netherlands led by Matthew Ahmadi, researchers analysed data from the UK Biobank, tracking over 83,000 adults for nearly seven years. This study found that standing for extended periods was no better than sitting in reducing cardiovascular disease risk. In fact, standing for more than two hours a day increased the risk of circulatory diseases by 11% for every extra half hour, while sitting more than ten hours a day raised circulatory disease risk by 26% per additional hour. <h2>Movement is key </h2>The key takeaway from both studies is clear: movement is essential. Simple measures like using a standing desk or taking brief walks are insufficient on their own. Instead, integrating regular vigorous exercise and reducing overall sitting time are crucial steps for Millennials to safeguard their health and stave off premature aging. Individuals who incorporated 30 minutes of vigorous exercise daily — like running or cycling—showed a notable improvement, with cholesterol and BMI levels comparable to people five to ten years younger. But even this vigorous exercise couldn’t completely negate the damage done by extended sitting, highlighting the importance of breaking up sedentary time with movement throughout the day. Reynolds emphasises the importance of building healthy habits now to ensure long-term benefits. “This is the time to build habits that will benefit health over the long term,” she advises. Meanwhile, policymakers are urged to revisit physical activity guidelines to better address the risks associated with prolonged sitting. Ahmadi’s study reinforces that standing alone isn’t a cure-all for the health risks of prolonged sitting. "We’re not seeing risks when someone’s walking around," Ahmadi explains, "but we are when they're standing still, which causes blood pooling in the lower extremities." <h2>Why millennials need to act now</h2>Many young adults might assume they have time on their side, believing they can address health concerns later in life. But as the study’s lead author, Ryan Bruellman, highlights, this critical period has lasting effects. He observed that after the COVID-19 pandemic, sedentary habits increased among his peers, prompting him to investigate the consequences. Bruellman notes that young people often feel they are immune to aging’s impacts, but “what you do during this critical time of life matters.” <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114851528" title="A scientist who researches healthy aging shares how she eats and works out" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Sitting vs. Standing: Settling the debate on workplace health

A period of darkness followed after World War II for a number of reasons — one of them being the limited access to sweets and sugar. Between 1942 and 1953, the UK imposed sugar rationing to prevent hoarding, where sugar intake averaged at 40 grams per day. And this purported deprivation had some surprisingly positive effects! Recent research on individuals born in the 1950s has revealed a startling connection between early life sugar exposure and the development of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension later in life. The study found that limiting sugar intake during the critical first 1,000 days of life — from conception to nearly age three — can significantly reduce the risk of these conditions. Published in the journal Science, the study analysed data from the UK Biobank and compared the health outcomes of individuals born before and after the end of World War II sugar rationing in 1953 — after which sugar and sweet intake doubled to 80 grams per day. Notably, overall nutrient intake remained relatively stable during the rationing, with protein and fat consumption largely unaffected by the rationing policies, as per the study. The researchers discovered that those exposed to lower sugar levels during this period had a 35% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 20% reduced risk of hypertension. Moreover, the onset of these diseases was delayed by four and two years, respectively. “Sugar early in life is the new tobacco, and we should treat it as such by holding food companies accountable to reformulate baby foods with healthier options and regulate the marketing and tax sugary foods targeted at kids,” says Paul Gertler, one of the study’s authors and a professor of economics at the University of California. The study suggests that even in-utero sugar exposure can have long-lasting health consequences. Limiting sugar intake during pregnancy and early childhood can provide significant protection against future health problems. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112411685" title="Diet soda fans, look out for this ingredient — it may increase your risk of blood clots and heart problems, scientists say" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

“Sugar early in life is the new tobacco”: Scientists urge food companies to reformulate baby foods and tax sugary options

Most couples eat the same meals as their partners — because who’s got the time to cook two different meals, right? As it turns out, this extra bit of effort might be the key to weight loss in both sexes! There is a growing awareness amongst people that it is your diet that largely determines whether you’re losing weight or not. More notably, people are realising that the dietary and nutritional requirements differ between sexes. And now, a recent study from the University of Waterloo piles onto existing research, suggesting that this factor could play a significant role in how your body processes food. The study’s authors used a mathematical model of human metabolism and revealed that men and women respond differently to various dietary components. For instance, men could benefit from consuming a carbohydrate-rich breakfast (think aloo paratha), while women may find a fat-heavy meal (such as anda bhurji) after waking up better. According to the study, gender-specific diets that follow this man-eats-carbs, woman-eats-fats formula could help both sexes retain energy for longer durations, regulate blood sugar levels and yes, even reduce fat deposits! By tailoring our diet to our specific metabolic needs, we can optimise our weight management and overall health, explained Stéphanie Abo, the lead author of the study. We know what you’re thinking: the math ain’t mathing because how can a high fat diet help reduce fat in women?! The scientists provide answers to this as well. <h2>It's time for women to embrace fat-rich meals </h2>Women have a higher body fat percentage than men on average, so it is a common misconception that they probably don’t burn as much fat as men do. However, the mathematical model indicated that women store fat immediately after a meal but also burn it quicker during fasting to obtain energy — which could be a good thing for weight management. The team thinks a biological process known as the TG-FFA cycle could be responsible for these differences in energy use and fat storage among sexes. But more definitive research is required in this area. What we can take away from this very insightful study is that men and women break down fats for energy differently. And eating meals that complement this pattern rather than interfere with their respective metabolism could be the key to losing weight! However, breakfast is only one part of the day and an individual’s overall weight loss may be influenced by other factors like age, lifestyle and other underlying health issues. As the researchers continue to refine their models, we can expect further advancements in personalised nutrition. For now, this study fills a long-standing gender gap in metabolic research. And understanding how different sexes metabolise food can be a game-changer. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="109160364" title="The weight loss wonder: How coconut water can transform your journey" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Why personalised Him & Her breakfasts could be the key to weight loss

<ul><li>The situation has made us all vulnerable to the illness, which, in turn, is bound to affect both the current and long-term mental health of people.</li><li>Each one may feel a sense of emotional overload coupled with anger, hopelessness, helplessness, fear, anxiety, and mental fatigue arising from constantly being on vigil. </li><li>From healthcare workers to hotline volunteers to civil society, all are affected by the massive mental health impact of the pandemic. However, there are a few calculated steps one can maintain to manage their emotional wellness.</li></ul> Life was almost back to normal when the pandemic's second wave hit India. It wasn't unexpected, but the scale at which it has impacted our lives and the realisation of how fragile we are is unfathomable. The situation has made us all vulnerable to the illness, which, in turn, is bound to affect both the current and long-term mental health of people. Each one may feel a sense of emotional overload coupled with anger, hopelessness, helplessness, fear, anxiety, and mental fatigue arising from constantly being on vigil. Always looking over our shoulders without the power to control an outcome and to be prepared for the worse can be more exhausting than we can imagine. From healthcare workers to hotline volunteers to civil society, all are affected by the massive mental health impact of the pandemic. However, there are a few calculated steps one can maintain to manage their emotional wellness. 1. Acceptance: Accepting one's emotional state means acknowledging one's human frailty. It helps validate our human experience and making room to express our emotional self with ease rather than questioning and fighting it. Remember, it's okay to feel whatever you're feeling. 2. Focus on what is in our control: We all are doing the best we can to cope, but the fear is real, often making us spin and have anxiety around situations that we may be unable to control. For example, worrying all the time about hospital beds or oxygen or how many people are being affected may lead to excessive anxiety. What you can focus on is your safety, making sure your medical papers are with you, who you can call for help, and so on. 3. Maintain a routine: Sticking to a plan for the day can help you focus on your daily tasks but remember to make room for flexibility if new developments need urgent attention. Have a sleep, wake up, work, meal and me-time routine. It helps one stay on track, have a purpose to a new day and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 4. Focus on your health: Maintain sleep hygiene, have an exercise regimen you can comfortably follow from home, and eat healthy, nutritious food. Focus on maintaining a decent screen time and not overdo or binge-watch every day. You can focus on board games, reading, writing or even start a new hobby. 5. Keep your in-group close: We're stuck at home, therefore keeping in touch with your loved ones and people you can talk your heart out to, is vital to maintaining a healthy perspective towards your life and being less stressed. Stay in touch with what you can call your in-group. They could be family, friends or relatives. 6. Limit News: Limit the time and sources of news consumption. This doesn't make you uninformed. In fact, it helps keep the news you get credible while also reducing the time you put into it. This includes social media engagement or WhatsApp time. 7. Your well-being is a priority: We're witness to how people are helping each other and can even go out of their way to serve. But it's a personal choice and depends upon what resources you can spare. Remember, your mental and emotional health is a resource for you, and you may not have the capacity to be there for people. And that's okay. If you're someone who is finding peace in your cocoon, you deserve it, and it is absolutely fine. 8. Choose who you spend time with: You may wish to help people, but some of them can make you feel miserable and lower your energy further, making it difficult for you to cope. You may choose to lessen your interaction with them. You can pick your pace over others', and there is nothing wrong with it. 9. Follow precautions: You know all precautions that must be followed to keep you safe. Make sure you're not callous. Nothing is worth the risk. A friend, relative, a parlour or office visit can wait. 10. Seek professional help: If you find yourself stuck in a loop of negative thoughts and are unable to cope, it is advisable to seek help from a psychologist or psychotherapist to help you learn skills to build a coping mechanism and resilience.

If you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the pandemic and the news around it, here are a few ways to calm yourself down

<ul><li>We spoke to Dr Vaishali Sharma, Senior Consultant Gynaecologist, Laparoscopic Surgeon and Infertility Specialist at Apollo Cradle &amp; Milann Fertility, Delhi, to help us understand concerns and dispel the myths of taking the vaccine.</li><li>While our Ministry of Health has contraindicated the use of the vaccine in pregnant women, most gynaecological associations world over have suggested that since pregnancy with Covid is a very high-risk condition, it is recommended that the benefit of the vaccine should be extended to pregnant females as well. </li><li>While the research is limited, so far, there are no known adverse effects of breastfeeding on the child. </li></ul> During these harsh times, when the dreadful Coronavirus has even reached the <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/covid-outbreak-threatens-mount-everest-climbing-comeback-plans-2436806">peak</a> of Mount Everest, and people are so desperate for relief that they are <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nashik-hospital-oxygen-leak-saw-people-take-cylinders-from-the-dead-use-them-to-revive-kin-7283811/">snatching oxygen cylinders</a> off people who have succumbed to the virus to save their kin, the vaccine is, without a doubt, the best way to defeat this onslaught. But like with everything unknown, there is a fair bit of hesitation in taking the shot, primarily due to the number of rumours spewed all over the internet and messenger apps. Women are particularly hesitant because of its possible impact on either fertility or those expecting a child, or nursing mothers. They are wary of taking the vaccine because these supposed side effects may permeate to the child they are having or nursing. That said, not all of the concerns women have are baseless, and some of the apprehensions people have of possible side effects may, in fact, hold ground. However, on the flip side, the impact of the terrible consequences of actually contracting the virus is right there in front of us. We spoke to Dr Vaishali Sharma, Senior Consultant Gynaecologist, Laparoscopic Surgeon and Infertility Specialist at Apollo Cradle &amp; Milann Fertility, Delhi, to help us understand the concerns and dispel the myths. Can pregnant women get vaccinated? As such, our Ministry of Health has contraindicated the use of the vaccine in pregnant females considering the lack of studies on this. But most associations of gynaecologists world over have said that, since pregnancy with Covid is a very high-risk condition, it is recommended that the benefit of the vaccine should be extended to pregnant females as well. The <a href="https://www.fogsi.org/">Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI)</a> has also <a href="https://www.fogsi.org/wp-content/uploads/covid19/fogsi-statement-on-covid-vaccination-in-pregnancy-and-bf.pdf">advised</a> that all pregnant females should get vaccinated as soon as possible. Personally, I would like to advise all pregnant women to take an informed decision to get vaccinated, considering the benefits of taking the vaccine definitely outweighs the risks associated with not taking the vaccine and contracting the virus. That said, it's prudent to check with your doctor before taking the vaccine because they would be best equipped to guide you, depending on your condition. Can breastfeeding women take the vaccine? Yes, they can. Gynaecological societies world over have said that it is safe to breastfeed. While the research is limited, so far, there are no known adverse effects on the baby. In fact, there is a passage of protective antibodies to the child, which may have a beneficial effect. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India is yet to make changes in recommendations in accordance with other countries associations. There are rumours that women shouldn't take the vaccine five days before and after their menstrual cycle and not during their periods. Can you get vaccinated during this time? Yes, definitely. It would be best if you got vaccinated as soon as possible irrespective of your periods. Will getting the vaccine have any kind of effect on your periods? No, not at such. But yes, anxiety and stress can definitely make your periods irregular so be calm and relaxed and get yourself vaccinated, especially now that the vaccine is available to every adult. Can the vaccine affect women's fertility? At the moment, there are no long-term studies regarding this, but scientifically it should not have any effect on the fertility of women well as men. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/canadian-city-lights-up-for-india-and-ontario-sends-3000-ventilators-to-delhi/articleshow/82476992.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Canadian city lights up for India and Ontario sends 3,000 ventilators to Delhi</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/gautam-adani-net-worth-has-crossed-60-billion-as-per-forbes/articleshow/82454659.cms">Gautam Adani’s net worth has crossed $60 billion – thanks to Adani Ports’ profits</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/good-news-for-tata-steel-jsw-steel-sail-hindalco-and-other-indian-steel-companies/articleshow/82451127.cms">China has broken another emissions record ⁠— and it is good news for some Indian companies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-is-now-automatically-turning-on-two-factor-authentication-for-some-accounts/articleshow/82452629.cms"></a>

COVID-19 vaccines and women’s health: Dispelling myths on periods, pregnancy and breastfeeding

<ul><li>Two different classes of micro-organisms inhabiting the earth, bacteria, and viruses, have nothing in common between them other than sharing the name ‘microbes’. </li><li>Bacterial and viral infections can cause mild, moderate, or severe diseases in humans with similar or dissimilar symptoms. </li><li>Bacterial and viral infections are different in many regards, as these microbes have stark structural differences, and they respond differently to medications. </li></ul>Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, diseases caused by bacteria and viruses have been a popular topic in human society. Disease outbreaks like Black Death and Bubonic Plague caused by Yersinia Pestis bacteria and smallpox caused by the variola virus have killed millions of people. The entire world suffered a fatal blow after two big pandemics. One during 1918-19 called the <a href="https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bacterial-and-viral-infections#1">Spanish Flu, which killed 20-40 million people</a>. The second being the 2013 HIV / AIDS outbreak, which killed around 1.5 million people. What are bacteria and viruses? Bacteria and viruses are two different classes of microorganisms. Both are too small in size to be seen without the aid of a powerful microscope. Nevertheless, they are as different from each other. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#bdd7ee;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Point of comparison </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#bdd7ee;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bacteria </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#bdd7ee;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Virus </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#bdd7ee;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> Anatomical features </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bacteria are complex single-celled organisms consisting of a cell-wall and an elastic membrane surrounding the cell fluid. Bacteria come in different shapes and sizes including spheres, cylinders, threads, rods, and chains. The projections on bacteria are known as pili or flagella that help them attach to the host and move respectively. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Viruses are much tinier than bacteria. The largest virus is still smaller than the smallest of bacteria. The structure of a virus reveals a piece of genetic material either DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein shell known as a capsid. Many viruses have some projections called as peplomers that help them attach to some kinds of receptors on the host cell. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#bdd7ee;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> Existence </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Can exist, live and reproduce on their own. They can live in any conceivable environment, and inside or outside the human body. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Viruses are parasitic. They cannot survive without a host. They can multiply only by attaching themselves to living cells. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#bdd7ee;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> How harmful they are to humans </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Most bacteria are harmless. Many bacterial populations in fact help humans by digesting food and killing disease-causing microbes and cancer cells and supplying essential nutrients. Only less than 1% of bacteria called pathogenic bacteria cause diseases in people. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Most viruses are disease causing. In several cases, they reprogram the cells they inhabit to create new viruses to the point of the host cells bursting and dying. In some other cases, they convert normal cells into cancerous or malignant cells. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#bdd7ee;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> Treatment </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bacterial infections are treated by administering antibiotics. Overuse of antibiotics can make the bacteria develop resistance to them. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:top;padding:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Antibiotics are not effective in treating viruses. Most viruses are fought through vaccines. Due to their smaller size, viruses are highly challenging to treat. In some cases, antiviral medications are employed. Some viruses have become drug-resistant. </td></tr></tbody></table>

Bacteria and virus: Differences you need to know

<ul><li>Meditation is one way that can help individuals regain focus and inner peace, thereby improving mental health. </li><li>According to researchers, ‘mindful’ meditation for over eight weeks can actually help reduce anxiety and depression. </li><li>It can also help in managing negative emotions. For instance, feeling fear or anger. </li><li>‘Walking meditation’ — which refers to the time spent with nature — can also help the mind get away from distractions and give a clearer perspective.</li></ul>Mental health is often overlooked, compared to other health issues. In fact, lack of mental peace can also act as a ‘silent killer,’ as it leads to stress and anxiety. But, meditation is one way to help individuals regain focus and inner peace. According to researchers, ‘mindful’ meditation for over eight weeks can actually help reduce depression. Mindfulness expert and founder of Headspace Andy Puddicombe says that there is power in refreshing the mind for even 10 minutes a day — experiencing the present moment. “When was the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking,” he asked while delivering a TEDtalk. <a href="https://www.headspace.com/blog/">According to Headspace</a>, a healthcare company that specialises in meditation, meditation or mindfulness might not change external circumstances but can help the mind experience it in a different way, with more calmness. “We can then be able to respond to things without feeling so overwhelmed or getting swept away by our thoughts,” it suggested. In the current situation, where most people are confined to their homes due to lockdown and social distancing, anxiety has become an even prominent issue to deal with. On that note, actor Richa Chadha also said “Like so many people, I had been waking up with anxiety in the first week of this lockdown... I would get up and immediately check the death toll from this lethal virus and feel extremely sad. I'd worry about the migrant labour, daily wagers and the homeless people, having sleepless nights after looking at their images or watching the news. I felt I could tap into the energy of the universe and it was so heavy. So I made it a habit to get up and meditate every day.” In fact, meditation can also help in managing negative emotions. For instance, feeling fear or anger. A study published in the journal <a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/meditation/how-meditation-can-improve-your-mental-health/">Consciousness and Cognition</a> suggests that meditation can help cope with anger. In fact, even one session can show significant improvement. The study also revealed that those who had never meditated felt a surge in heart rate and blood pressure and reacted less impulsively to anger. Moreover, ‘walking meditation’ — which refers to the time spent with nature — can also help the mind get away from distractions and think about anything to give a better clarity of things. This in turn, improves the mental health of an individual. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/work-from-home-tips-to-boost-productivity/articleshow/74686331.cms">Dressing for ‘sleep’ and other top mistakes to avoid while working from home</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/is-sachin-bansal-right-does-work-from-home-really-suck/articleshow/74672290.cms">Is Sachin Bansal right? Does work from home really suck?</a>

‘Mindful’ and ‘walking’ meditation can help improve mental health and regain focus

<ul><li>India is believed to be in the second stage of the Coronavirus outbreak. </li><li>The Indian Council for Medical Research <a href="https://icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/whats_new/ICMR_website_update_22March_6PM_IST.pdf">data</a> showed that India now has 396 infected people; out of which 24 recovered and seven died. </li><li>Stage three is said to be one of the most critical stages, where the pandemic starts spreading in the community. </li></ul>Although India is believed to be in the second stage of the Coronavirus outbreak. It might enter the third phase soon, according to experts. The Indian Council for Medical Research <a href="https://icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/whats_new/ICMR_website_update_22March_6PM_IST.pdf">data</a> showed that India now has 396 infected people; out of which 24 recovered and seven died. However <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/contract-tracing-the-next-phase-of-indias-coronavirus-battle-unfolds/articleshow/74706730.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&amp;utm_medium=text&amp;utm_campaign=cppst">experts</a> believe that the reason behind India's comparatively low positive cases is because of the limited scope of testing facilities in the country. Last week, ICMR said that it was testing random samples of flu-like illness and severe acute respiratory-like illness to look for signs of community transmission of the pandemic. What are the different stages of the pandemic? The pandemic is divided into four stages, depending on the source of spread of the disease. Stage 1- Stage one is when the pandemic is mostly cases that are imported from largely affected nations. Stage 2- Stage two is when the pandemic starts spreading from those infected locally. In India, it began four weeks back when a Delhi citizen with a travel history from Italy infected six others in his family. Stage 3- Stage three is said to be one of the most critical stages, where the pandemic starts spreading in the community. At this stage, a disease spreads to individuals in a particular geographic location who have no known contact with other infected individuals or who have not recently travelled to an area where the disease has any documented cases. The United States is in the third stage of the disease. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmission.html">According</a> to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Coronavirus seems to be spreading quickly and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in affected geographic areas in the US. Stage 4- Stage four is the last stage, where the disease takes the shape of a pandemic with no clear endpoint. Italy and China are at this stage of the outbreak. Italy is the epicentre of the global crisis at the moment. It exceeded China’s death toll last week, despite a far smaller population than China. Almost 5,500 Italians are testing positive every day, the official data showed. The Italian Prime Minister told Italians that the country was facing the gravest moment since the second world war and that all businesses that were not “strictly necessary, crucial or indispensable” would close until 3 April. How to stop it from further spreading? Quarantine: It is not necessary to quarantine only if you have travelled from foreign but one should self-quarantine and isolate from others <ol><li>If you have come in contact with someone who travelled from Coronavirus impacted nations like Italy or China. </li><li>If you came in contact with someone who showed symptoms of common flu and cold or if you experience any symptoms yourself. </li></ol>Contact tracing: Contact tracing is essential to find people who may have been exposed to an infectious disease by coming in contact with people suffering from it. There are two types of ‘contacts’ – close contacts and casual contacts. The WHO says if a person has been found positive, everyone he or she may have come in contact with should be put under surveillance and on showing symptoms, they should be quarantined after testing. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coronavirus-dos-and-donts-for-protection-against-convid-19/articleshow/74475858.cms">Do’s and Don’ts for protection against COVID-19</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/topic/coronavirus">Check Coronavirus Latest News and Updates on BI</a>

What is Coronavirus phase three and how should we stop it from spreading?

Meditation isn’t about becoming a different, new or better person. In essence, it is training in awareness and developing a healthy perspective. You’re not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings; you’re learning to observe them without judgment. Eventually, you will start to understand them better as well. In a fireside chat, bestselling author and yoga acharya, Ira Trivedi, spoke to Rich Pierson, Co-Founder and CEO of Headspace, and Andy Puddicombe, Co-Founder of Headspace, on the importance of taking time out to notice one’s surroundings. The conversation began with a short meditation session led by Andy Puddicombe at Gurgaon’s exclusive The Quorum club. It was attended by The Quorum’s members, wellness enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. Vivek Narain, Founder, The Quorum, said, "Wellness is an integral part of The Quorum, and we were delighted to host a conversation with the founders of Headspace, which has made meditation &amp; mindfulness accessible to people all across the globe. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and our wellness programme at The Q fine-tunes the body through yoga &amp; our world-class fitness centre, and the mind &amp; soul through meditation and personalised holistic coaching." When asked about how it all started, Puddicombe recalled that after completing his monastic commitment in 2004 he returned to the UK with a huge-yet-simple goal: to demystify meditation and mindfulness, and make them accessible to all. Soon after, while offering one-on-one meditation sessions at a health clinic, he met Pierson and began a skill-swap. Pierson offered him marketing advice for his clinic while Puddicombe taught him how to meditate. That exchange changed Pierson’s life and he saw, firsthand, what a difference meditation could make if taught in a more accessible way. It felt natural to empower others to experience the benefits, so both of them began working together on Headspace. The project launched officially in 2010. 
 
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 While describing their struggles, Pierson mentioned that, initially, investment was a challenge since it took time to convince people about the concept. This forced them both to get creative and find ways to make mindfulness scalable. “We started Headspace by doing events, and in 2012 we created the subscription services via an app for iOS and Android,” said Pierson. When asked about competition as their 10-year anniversary approaches, Puddicombe said he welcomed different offerings but was confident that Headspace’s focus on authenticity and science – with 70 clinical trials and 25 published papers – is what makes the app stand out. Headspace is committed to advancing mindfulness through clinically validated research, having one of the largest research pipelines of any digital health and wellness company. Headspace for Work, its B2B business, offers its products and services to more than 600 leading companies such as Hyatt, Adobe, GE and Starbucks to help them build healthier, more productive cultures and higher-performing organisations. Headspace partners with many of the world’s most recognisable brands, such as Apple, Amazon and more. It also partners with sports brands and organisations like Nike, the NBA and the US women’s soccer team to offer sport and movement content. “Among all our clients, we have had sessions for Bill Gates and his family too,” he added. Headspace Health is the company’s digital health subsidiary working on pioneering new ways to incorporate the Headspace mindfulness experience into digital medicine. Headspace will enable Indian users to integrate mindfulness and meditation into their daily lives through easily accessible routines, including sleep and movement. Even today, Indian users can explore bite-sized audio sessions on a wide range of subjects, from focus and productivity to stress and anxiety. There’s even content for children, which teaches mindfulness and life lessons to kids. The courses are led by the guiding voice of Puddicombe, whose 10-year-long travels across the world culminated with his ordination as a Tibetan Buddhist monk in North India. Headspace has one mission: to improve the health and happiness of the world. Now reaching more than 62 million users in 190 countries, it was one of the first meditation apps in the world and remains a leader in mindfulness and mental training. 
 
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 Disclaimer: Both Headspace and Business Insider are Times Bridge partners in India

When Headspace founders, Andy Puddicombe and Rich Pierson met yoga guru Ira Trivedi

If I give you two scenarios, one in which I’ll cut open your leg just like that and the other in which before cutting it open I give you a magic potion that can make all the pain and the memory of it go away, what will you choose? You’ll choose the second option! You want to know what that magic potion is called? It is called “Anesthesia”. Anesthetic drugs are generally a combination of drug Propofol &amp; Fentanyl. You must be wondering how our ancestors used to carry out surgeries without anesthesia. Well! Human beings were quick enough to invent anesthesia after they started carrying out complicated surgeries. Any guesses on when anesthesia was first used in a surgery? It was in the year 1846 and the drug most commonly used was ether. As the evolution of medical science advanced, so did the technology and drugs. There are three most important functions of a good anesthetic drug: <ol><li>Amnesia: If you’re taken into an operation theatre with all those beeps and monitors ringing in your ears, would you even go there? I won’t. They say being under the influence of anesthesia is similar to being in a state of coma. You don’t hear anything, remember anything and you don’t feel a thing. Seems like before you went to sleep and after you woke up, there was hardly a second that passed. </li><li>Analgesic: You certainly would not want to wriggle in pain while the doctors are displaying their well earned talent on your dismembered body. That’s where the role of anesthesia kicks in. </li><li>Operating conditions: Medical science and the desire to get everything done in a fraction of seconds without much discomfort has given birth to this magic potion called as anesthesia. You are as good as a plastic doll when you are under the effect of anesthesia. Which type of neuro inhibitor you need in your drug depends on which kind of surgery you are undergoing. </li></ol> To put it in simple words, anesthesia disrupts the communication between neural-networks. That means, your brain is practically detached from the rest of your body. You do not feel a thing. As fascinating as it sounds, anesthesia does have some side effects. But, would you mind having a headache in lieu of getting operated with no pain and no memory of it? That sure is not an unfair bargain!

Thee most important functions of a good anesthetic drug

superfoods are a sudden fad amongst the current generation. They’re supposed to be super good for your health and are known to drive away all illnesses. According to a popular belief, they’re great to overcome all your bad habits! Here are a few facts about superfoods that nobody told you. <ol><li>No magic, no miracle</li></ol>As per Dr. Nina Shaparo, author of “Hype”, no food alone is good enough to keep you healthy. One might keep eating berries everyday or even an apple, but could still land up with some or the other deficiencies. Exercise along with good food is the only key to a fit life. No food, with all its antioxidants and everything else, will save you unless you eat them right and in the correct proportions. <ol><li>The secret- Balanced diet</li></ol>Balancing your foods is the actual magical formula to a healthy life. All the rest of it is just a notion and can change with time. Many super foods keep coming with a newer generation, for example, in the 1980s, a sudden fad of a preference of frozen yogurt over ice cream took over the market, while now they’ve discovered that they contain nearly the same amount of sugar! So we can see, a balanced food intake is what keeps you going. You can add or deduct whatever suits you! <ol><li>The concept of pronunciation </li></ol>Simply stating, the more difficult it is to pronounce, or the more exotic a food is, it is easily labelled as a superfood. For instance, quinoa and Goji berries are now flooding the markets and numerous articles and dieticians are promoting its use. People tend to believe that anything that has been working in other countries is bound to help them too, when in reality, it is the locals that are the best for you! All in all, a balanced will resolve most of your daily requirements of vitamins and essential nutrients. Add a bit of exercise and you don’t those expensive superfoods to stay healthy!

What is superfoods and truth behind Superfoods

While most of the people don’t drink enough water in a day, it is surprising that water might, in fact be hazardous for babies up to 6 months of age. Even a small quantity might turn fatal and cause serious complications. Body composition While adult human beings have 50-55% water in their body, babies have nearly 75% water in their bodies. By pure logic, consuming water is harmful for the baby’s health since it won’t be able to handle this much amount of liquid. Cellular changes Similar to what happens in marathoners and athletes, ‘hyponatremia’ occurs when there’s too much water in the body, or water toxicity. By bodily processes, cells are designed to store water and salts together. When there’s excess water and relatively less salt, the cells try to retain more water by absorbing more salt and this leads to reduced salt in the body. Poorly developed kidneys In addition to all micro cellular changes, babies have newly formed kidneys which are still growing. Such kidneys cannot handle a huge amount of fluid leading to water toxicity. Consequences Water toxicity can lead to some dire consequences including confusion, seizures and brain damage. In worse cases, it might even lead to death. Prevention The most obvious part is an absolute ‘NO’ to water for babies until age 6-9 months. Avoid unintentional water intake by adding excessive water in the baby food. Also, while in the pool, make sure the baby doesn’t gulp in much water. Water is indeed a boon to human life, however, it might just turn lethal for the babies or have serious consequences. Precaution is the only key!

Reasons why babies don’t drink water

You might have come across people who tell you with confidence that one can sleep in contacts as they get used to it. They claim that it is okay to do so. In reality, it is not. According to Dr Irina Belinsky, Eye Surgeon at NYU Langone Health, contact lenses are safe and defined to be more comfortable these days. But they are safe and comfortable to wear if you take care of them appropriately. To maintain good lenses hygiene, it is imperative to not sleep in, while wearing your contact lenses. Contact Lenses are like a sponge in your eye. No matter how natural they may feel, contact lenses are a foreign material in your eye. They are like a sponge that uses the moisture of your eye to remain comfortable. Not only do they absorb moisture from your eye, but they can also trap bacteria. What Happens when you sleep with your contacts on? When you sleep in with contacts, it can result in causing an eye infection. Though a lot of infections might be mild and go away with anti-bacterial eye-drops, some might be more severe. Even if they go away, the chances are that might cause scarring of the cornea. Such scars can also create a permanent effect on your vision. At times the infection can be so severe that one might have to opt for a corneal transplant or lose sight completely. Fortunately, blinding cases related to contact lenses are extremely rare and occurs when their hygiene is neglected. To maintain good contact lens hygiene, you need to take care of a few things: 1. Know whether it’s time to change your contact lenses 2. Mark a reminder to do so every month or every two weeks (as per the instructions) 3. Try and stick to it Over-wearing your contacts might not be a good idea Over-wearing the contact lenses can make your cornea go devoid of oxygen (leading to a condition called neovascularization). Over time, the surface of the contact lenses tends to break down with micro-break edges, as well as dry out completely. When your contacts are completely dried out, your eyes don’t have enough moisture to hold them anymore. Sometimes (quite rarely) the contact lenses might become folded and entrapped in the eye, underneath the lid. Such a situation can cause severe redness of the eye. It can happen if you put your contacts wrong if you don’t take them out or sleep in with them. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to take off your contacts every day. That way, it’ll help you keep your eyes healthy and prevent you from discomfort.

What happens when you sleep in your contact lenses

Diet and Indians are two terms that hardly ever go hand in hand. Whenever India comes to mind, naturally, it is food that pops up first. But why is it so? Why is it that Indian’s can’t resist food? Eat Well is our Mantra It is so because, since times immemorial, Indians are taught to lie by the golden rule ‘eat well’. It is thus not in their blood to compromise their love for food to stay thin or lead a healthy lifestyle. It is like asking a non-vegetarian person not to eat chicken. In other words, it goes against their philosophy. Indians are happy with their current weight As revealed by Global Market Research Firm, IPSOS, out of the entire Indian population: <ul><li>33% of them consider being thin holds much more importance than so-called eating well. </li><li>Majority of the people, 74% to be precise, said that they were happy with their current weight. Diet is not their cup of tea. </li><li>When they talked about exercise, 67% of the people claimed that they exercise so that they don’t have to watch what they eat. </li></ul>Indians love to eat restaurant food at home As Indians, we prefer to eat at home, most of the time, but never mention whether it is a home-cooked meal or an online ordered packet. With so many ‘Eat-out or home-delivery apps’ in the market, we prefer restaurant delivered food, eating at home. The definition of healthy food needs to be modified Eating well might be a mantra for Indians; however, the type of food that we consume daily can hardly be considered as healthy. According to the National Family Health Survey, “Half the population (of India) consumes an unbalanced diet.” If you’re the one who loves to eat ‘Poori &amp; Sabzi with a bowl of fresh fruit’ and call it a healthy meal, you know what we are talking about. It has been over a decade, but India’s food patterns haven’t changed a bit. They are still fixed on thinking that ‘eating well’ is the only way of living a good life. Will it ever change? Only time can tell whether it’ll be ‘Live for Eat’ or ‘Eat to live’.

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