Over the years, turmeric has become a popular ingredient for all those people who believe in healthy living. Though the western world came to realise the benefits of this wonder spice comparatively late, Indian kitchens have depended on turmeric or Haldi for centuries. It goes in almost every curry and savoury dish that is cooked in our kitchens as it helps in the process of cooking and also adds nutritional value to it.
Haldi is also consumed uncooked with milk and warm water or tea, to help combat flu or cold. It helps enhance the immunity and eliminate cold, cough and chest congestion if any. While the powdered form has its benefits, the raw roots of turmeric are quite helpful too. According to research, Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric is known to have anti-inflammatory properties that help boost immunity.  Turmeric, which is antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, is also prebiotic that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in our gut.
“Turmeric is a powerful herb with over 300 nutrients including beta-carotene, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), calcium, flavonoids, fibre, iron, niacin, potassium, zinc among others. But the active compound which has caught the attention of scientists, supplement industries and food technologists is curcumin for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Absorption of curcumin from turmeric is enhanced by 2000 times by peppering, a compound present in black pepper. Somehow our ancestors seem to have cracked this knowledge as all our recipes have both turmeric and black pepper in combination.
While it’s easily available in the market there are two ways to start your day with raw turmeric.
* Add raw turmeric and boil it with one teaspoon of ghee and have it every morning. It helps improve immunity and cure dry cough.
* One can also grind raw turmeric and one teaspoon ghee and make a cold morning drink before you start your day.
Turmeric in its raw form is packed with several health benefits including immune-modulatory effects. Studies conducted on curcumin and other bioactive components in turmeric reported having beneficial effects in various disease conditions, by modulating the immune system. Raw turmeric is one of the main ingredients in several home remedies used for various health issues. Turmeric milk is an example in which grated raw turmeric is boiled with milk, and served hot. It is considered as a magic elixir to ward off the common cold and seasonal flu. Especially in children, it is associated with a reduction in Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections. Raw turmeric concoctions/ tea taken daily over a while may help to improve immunityâ€ÂÂ.
Here are some of the benefits of having raw turmeric
* It helps facilitate smoother digestion through the tracts.
* Consumption of raw turmeric may also help treat stomach ulcers and irritation.
* It also helps in reducing inflammation in the body.
* All of these factors also lead to a reduction of skin impurities. Traditionally, it is also used in treating skin ailments.
* Kacchi Haldi, as it is also known, is also applied as an ointment to any kind of cuts or injuries.
* It purifies the blood, eliminating toxins from it.
* Raw turmeric has been known to regulate blood sugar levels too.
* Inflammation is an important part of the immune system to fight infections and is a short term process. When the inflammation becomes chronic it leads to various health problems including cancers. Turmeric has shown anti-inflammatory properties that could prevent chronic inflammation and therefore such diseases.
[cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_column data_width="1/1"][cmsmasters_text]
An antigen is a molecule capable of stimulating an immune response. They may be proteins, polysaccharides, lipids or nucleic acids. Each antigen has distinct surface features that are recognized by the immune system.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has several known antigens, including its nucleocapsid phosphoprotein and spike glycoprotein, which are the visible protrusions on its surface.
An antibody is a Y-shaped protein produced by B cells of the immune system in response to exposure to antigens. The tip of each Y-shaped arm contains antigen binding sites (paratopes) that bind to a specific portion of the antigen’s surface (epitope). This binding helps to eliminate antigens from the body, either by direct neutralisation or by “tagging†them for elimination by other arms of the immune system.
When infected with SARS-CoV-2, the body produces antibodies that bind specifically to the spike proteins and other antigens to help eliminate the virus. This binding can be harnessed to develop antibody and antigen-based diagnostic tests.
An antigen test reveals if a person is  currently  infected with a pathogen such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Once the infection has gone, the antigen disappears.
Unlike nucleic acid-based tests such as PCR, which detect the presence of genetic material, antigen tests detect proteins or glycans, such as the spike proteins found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
They can take longer to develop than molecular and antibody tests, as suitable antibodies for use in the assays must first be identified and produced, which can be a complex and time-consuming process. Accuracy can also be a problem, with antigen tests typically having a much lower sensitivity than PCR.
However, they usually provide test results rapidly, are relatively cheap, and can be more amenable to point-of-care use, which could make them more suitable for testing in the community and in remote regions.
Antigen tests seek out specific proteins only found in the virus, which the body’s immune response recognizes as 'foreign'. Most COVID-19 antigen tests target the 'spike protein' that studs the surface of the coronavirus.
A swab from the nose is collected for this test, where there's a high likelihood of virus particles being present. The swab is then dipped in a solution that inactivates the virus and then transferred onto a test strip. The test strip houses antibodies that bind to coronavirus proteins and hold them in place as the fluid spreads.
If the sample is positive for coronavirus, colored lines will show up on the paper strip in 15-20 minutes.
[/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row]
[cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_column data_width="1/1"][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id="8p2xxk0w7" animation_delay="0"] B.P. Poddar wishes all a happy World Health Day When the entire world is reeling under the tides of Covid-19, it becomes much more important for us to stay healthy so that our body is ever-ready to fight the pandemic onslaught. Here we are discussing the 4 principles that will ensure a 360 degree approach for a healthy lifestyle. Balanced Diet Diet is the most important ingredient towards a healthy lifestyle. A balanced diet that includes the right proportion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Avoid alcohol and say a big no no to tobacco. Regular Exercise Daily exercise, either aerobic or anerobic or even a 15 minute brisk walk daily should be inculcated as a habit. Exercise increases the metabolism, keeps the heart healthy, keeps blood pressure, hypertension and lipids at check which are the major rootcause of all problems in our body 8 Hours Sound Sleep A 8 hours sound sleep is the basic pre-requisite towards a healthy body and mind. Inadequate sleep increases catecholamines in our body, reduces immunity, increases anxiety levels and also promotes co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and dislipidemia De-stress Yourself Regular meditation for 15 minutes and coupled with 15 minutes of yoga is like a magical wand to de-stress the body. Stress increases free radicles and also increases catecholamine levels in our blood which are detrimental for our general health. [/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_column data_width="1/1"][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id="8p2xxk0w7" animation_delay="0"] Get the Shot..Shoot out Covid-19 We all know that the Covid positive cases crossed the landmark figure of 1 lakh per day on 4th April. This is by far the highest toll on a single day since the onset of Covid onslaught. But now we are having the weapon to curb the Covid-19 menace and that weapon is Covid-19 vaccine. We know that GOI have opened up vaccination for any one above 45 years of age. If you are yet to get the first dose, register yourself at the earliest at the CoWIN portal and enroll for the Vaccination. Get Vaccinated. Protect Your Family and others. Together we can and will fight out Covid-19. [/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_column data_width="1/1"][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id="8p2xxk0w7" animation_delay="0"] The Dual Approach Towards our Fight Against Covid-19 In this testing times, when we see a resurgence of Covid-19 in the past few weeks to the extent that India have crossed the 1 lakh mark in a single day. We have to be highly vigilant in our approach towards fighting back against this Covid menace. For that, a dual approach of Protection along with Prevention is mandatory. All those who are 45 years and above, should opt for the vaccination schedule as early as possible. We should also continue our regular hand hygiene, social distancing and wearing masks which will provide us the necessary prevention against Covid-19 [/cmsmasters_text][/cmsmasters_column][/cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_row][cmsmasters_column data_width="1/1"][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id="8p2xxk0w7" animation_delay="0"] Steps to register for the Vaccination process:
NABH Accredited Hospital
