For many among us, eating daily is a given but not so easy bowel movement. Being bothered by haemorrhoids (piles) and fissures is a painful problem that can impact the quality of one’s life.
“Fissures and piles are generally caused due to long-term constipation and lack of fibre in the diet,” said Dr Prajesh Bhuta, colorectal surgeon at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai. Dr Narasimhaiah Srinivasaiah, senior consultant-colorectal surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru, too said constipation is a significant factor for anal fissures. Passing of hard stool causes a crack in the lining of the anal canal. This injury causes the anal sphincter (the muscle that controls the back passage) to go into a spasm which causes pain. The pain is sharp followed by a feeling of discomfort and unease for a few minutes to hours. Irregular toilet habits too can lead to fissures. He added that any chronic straining that increases abdominal pressure such as constipation, chronic cough and prostatic problems can be a cause of haemorrhoids and fissures too.
Poor dietary habits increase risk of constipation
LARGELY RELATED TO DIET AND LIFESTYLE
The choices we make related to our diet and daily activity have a large impact on the way our bowels behave. Bhuta said: “More westernisation in diet with processed foods has contributed to increase in the incidence of these problems. Non-vegetarian and spicy food lacking in fibre has also shown to increased incidence of piles.” There are also genetic factors involved, he added.
How Dantewada's Kadaknath chicken could be the new food fad
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A fowl from poverty-stricken and Naxal-affected Dantewada region in Chhattisgarh is slowly getting to be the favoured white meat on urban menus. The ironies are flavourful.
The chicken has black meat and the state government is hoping women autodrivers will give it the required fillip to reach the economic scale to be self-sustaining.
A fowl from poverty-stricken and Naxal-affected Dantewada region in Chhattisgarh is slowly getting to be the favoured white meat on urban menus. The ironies are flavourful.
The chicken has black mea..
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Locally called Kalimasi — the fowl with black flesh — the Kadaknath is considered a premium breed and its meat is priced three times more than that of broiler chicken.
Uday Chand Sinha is fast picking up the tricks of the trade in raising Kadaknath chicken, and also the economics of it. As Sinha is growing 333 Kadaknath fowls at a farm in Palnar village in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, he is confident, at least 300 birds will survive.
In a back-of-the-envelope calculation, Sinha hopes to make a decent Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh in six months, discounting the inevitability that some of the grownup fowls could be weighted marginally lower than two kilograms, and he might also end up selling the meat at a price a tad below Rs 500 per kg.
Locally called Kalimasi — the fowl with black flesh — the Kadaknath is considered a premium breed and its meat is priced three times more than that of broiler chicken.
Uday Chand Sinha is fast picki..
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Kadaknath, to be precise, is not a local fowl in Dantewada though it is grown in pockets of Bastar including Dantewada. The fowl that belonged to neighbouring Jhabua and Dhar districts of eastern Madhya Pradesh was introduced in Naxal-affected Dantewada district in large volume only in January this year.
But with the government subsidising 90% of Rs 5.23 lakh needed for growing 1,000 birds, the scheme has picked up its momentum: the district has now 76 individual entrepreneurs raising 76,000 birds, with the district administration targeting to up the number to 1.5 lakh by mid-2018.
The scheme is such that from the next round — one round is one and half years — the entrepreneur needs to pay 90%, with the rest only being aided by the government.
Kadaknath, to be precise, is not a local fowl in Dantewada though it is grown in pockets of Bastar including Dantewada. The fowl that belonged to neighbouring Jhabua and Dhar districts of eastern Mad..
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Last month, Dantewada administration applied for geographical indication (GI) tag for Kadaknath on the ground of the district’s adventure in the fowl’s promotion and breed purity conservation.
As Kadaknath meat has more protein with less fat and Cholesterol — fat content, for example, is 0.73 — 1.03% as against 13 to 25% in other breeds — it’s likely to be a hit among health conscious, rich and urban foodies.
Last month, Dantewada administration applied for geographical indication (GI) tag for Kadaknath on the ground of the district’s adventure in the fowl’s promotion and breed purity conservation.
As Ka..
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The capital city of Raipur is another destination which may also consume Dantewada’s black chicken, but the district officers find it a challenge to expand the market to other metros as the transportation is still a bottleneck — the nearest airport in Raipur is 385 km away, and the railway connectivity is still poor. Mumbai, Pune and also Vizag could be the next destinations.
For the Hyderabad market, a formal transportation arrangement was already made. There are now four restaurants in Hyderabad that have Kadaknath in their menu, but the plan is to expand the base, according to Dantewada district administration officials.
In Hyderabad’s upmarket Jubilee Hills locality, Jivati Restro has started sourcing Dantewada Kadaknath chicken only from this month, packaging it to its customers as "healthy", "tasty" and "100% organic" dish.
The capital city of Raipur is another destination which may also consume Dantewada’s black chicken, but the district officers find it a challenge to expand the market to other metros as the transport..
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Dantewada is one of the Naxal-affected districts in the Bastar region even as the incidents of Maoist violence in the district are still less as compared to that in neighbouring Sukma and Bijapur districts.
The Dantewada administration has been roping in women auto-rickshaw drivers to multiply Kadaknath farms so as to reach a target of 1.5 lakh birds by mid-2018.
The government under a new scheme has started imparting training to local women to drive autos and making the 1.6-lakh-vehicle available with an 80% subsidy; what could however turn this “Danteshwari Sewa” into a game-changer if the women auto drivers and their groups take up the business of Kadaknath to boost their existing income.
And the move will minimise the problem of transporting the birds to the local markets, both for wholesale and retail.
Text: Shantanu Nandan Sharma, ET Bureau
Dantewada is one of the Naxal-affected districts in the Bastar region even as the incidents of Maoist violence in the district are still less as compared to that in neighbouring Sukma and Bijapur dis..
Sreenivasaiah too said: “Lifestyle choices are to be blamed in a significant population; westernised diet, lack of fibre, inadequate intake of fruits, lack of exercise, prolonged working hours and sedentary lifestyle” can lead to problems.
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The job you do may also have a connection with your bowel disorders. Sitting for long hours and a sedentary lifestyle cause stool stasis and constipation. This in turn causes hard, bulky stool to cause a tear while it passes through the lining of the anal canal, Bhuta said.
Sitting for too long can increase risk of constipation Our ‘insignificant’ personal habits also seem to matter. Dr Adarsh CK, senior consultant medical gastroenterologist and advanced endoscopist, BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Bengaluru, said: “The habit of sitting in the loo for too long either reading a newspaper or browsing on your phone, or sitting there for too long for no reason also cause excessive blood to be pumped to the rectal veins, leading to swollen veins that protrude out of the anal walls.”
Adarsh too pointed out that desk jobs can cause the problem. He also holds the sedentary lifestyle among today’s population a culprit. Also, being overweight is a cause for many diseases, including piles, he said.
“Excess body weight tends to put pressure on the muscles of your anal walls, causing nerves to protrude out of the anal layering,” Adarsh explained.
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Obesity can also increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems SYMPTOMS
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Bhuta said the commonest symptoms are pain after passing motion in a fissure and
bleeding from the back passage in piles. Some people even notice a swelling near the back passage in piles.
IT’S IMPORTANT TO SEE A DOCTOR
If not treated at the right time, these conditions may cause bleeding with stools leading to anaemia, said Adarsh. “They can cause painful defecation leading to impaired quality of life. If due to a thyroid problem, it can lead to weight gain. Although they are rarely dangerous, they can be a recurrent and painful condition,” he added. Anemia could be a consequence of these conditions Bhuta said it is better to be sure than to assume all symptoms are because of piles. Also, if you diagnose them early both fissures and piles can be treated medically or as an OPD procedure, he added. In case you have bleeding, it’s best to see a doctor as sometimes there are other causes of bleeding which can mimic piles, like bowel cancer and diverticular disease, Bhuta added.
Bleeding through the back passage could be coming from a problem higher up in the bowel. Polyps can cause bleeding too. It is therefore important to check with a doctor, especially if you are above the age of 40 years, have a family history of bowel cancer or consume red meat, he said. Change in bowel habits or loss of weight warrant further investigation. Bhuta added that haemorrhoids or piles and fissures are not dangerous and they never become cancerous.
Say Yes To Water, No To Coffee: How To Keep Your Stomach Healthy This Summer
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Summer brings along various digestive issues. Not only do the high temperatures make us sweat more, they also reduce our immunity, so make sure you eat properly this season.
Kirti Chadha, Head of Global Reference laboratories, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. says, "Summer brings a majority of digestion related illnesses. Considering the rise in temperature every year, it is very important to manage our food habits to avoid stomach illnesses."
Here are a few tips by Chadha to keep your stomach healthy this summer:
Summer brings along various digestive issues. Not only do the high temperatures make us sweat more, they also reduce our immunity, so make sure you eat properly this season.
Kirti Chadha, Head of Gl..
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Keep yourself well-hydrated, always, as this helps in fighting 90 per cent of the diseases.
Fiber present in the body pulls water into the colon and helps the body in creating softer, bulkier stools. This makes the passage of the stools easier without causing fissures or piles.
Keep yourself well-hydrated, always, as this helps in fighting 90 per cent of the diseases.
Fiber present in the body pulls water into the colon and helps the body in creating softer, bulkier stools..
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Limit your intake of caffeine as it can give rise to trouble with the smooth functioning of your digestive system, and lead to problems like stomach ulcers, acidity, and heartburn.
Limit your intake of caffeine as it can give rise to trouble with the smooth functioning of your digestive system, and lead to problems like stomach ulcers, acidity, and heartburn.
It is vital to increase fiber intake during the summer months. Including foods that are rich in fiber like whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits can improve your digestive tract. A high-fiber diet helps in avoiding constipation which is a leading cause of fissure.
It is vital to increase fiber intake during the summer months. Including foods that are rich in fiber like whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits can improve your digestive tract. A high-fiber..
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'Tis the season to avoid fatty food. Oily, fried food negatively affects the digestive process, hence it is best to stay off junk food during summer.
(Inputs: IANS)
'Tis the season to avoid fatty food. Oily, fried food negatively affects the digestive process, hence it is best to stay off junk food during summer.
(Inputs: IANS)
The solution is largely in the problem itself. “It is important to emphasise on green leafy egetables such as spinach, broccoli, sprouts and spring onions in your diet. Fruits are important too – both fresh and dried. Fruit fruits with fibre, dry fruits, apricots, grapes and prunes all help in avoiding constipation and hence fissures,” Sreenivasaiah explained.
Rich Fruits: From $50K For 12 Mangoes To $4,395 For A Single Strawberry
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A pair of Yubari King Melons sold for $29,300 at an auction in Japan recently. Here’s a taste of some other expensive fruits.
A pair of Yubari King Melons sold for $29,300 at an auction in Japan recently. Here’s a taste of some other expensive fruits.
$6,000
Densuke Watermelons sell at auctions in Japan for exorbitant prices, typically anywhere from $2000-5000, per melon. Those big prices are only paid for the first few lots of the annual crop yield. A 2014 crop, however, broke all records, selling for a cool $6,000 per fruit. The extremely rare fruit is sweeter than regular watermelons, a little rounder and are a shade of pink, instead of the usual red on the inside. They are also known for their black and shiny skin as well as for their crunchy texture.
$6,000
Densuke Watermelons sell at auctions in Japan for exorbitant prices, typically anywhere from $2000-5000, per melon. Those big prices are only paid for the first few lots of the annual crop yi..
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$50,000
One might be forgiven for thinking that the world’s most expensive mango would come from India or some other tropical country. However, this record is held by Australia, where a tray of 12 mangoes were sold for a cool $50,000 in 2010. That made each mango worth about $4,000. The mangoes were purchased by Carlo Lorenti, owner of Clayfield Markets Fresh, one of Australia’s largest green grocery firms at an auction in Brisbane. Australia has been holding mango auctions since 1998 in celebration of the summer harvest season. Japan also attempts to claim they have the most valuable mangoes with a pair of mangoes called Ears of Sun sold for $2,000 each in April 2008.
$50,000
One might be forgiven for thinking that the world’s most expensive mango would come from India or some other tropical country. However, this record is held by Australia, where a tray of 12 m..
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$4,395
There’s no Wimbledon without some traditional strawberries and cream. Taking the tryst of these berries and tennis forward, scientists in the UK engineered a giant breed of the fruit that can grow to the size of tennis balls. The new strawberry plant— Gigantella Maxim in Latin — produces strawberries that can fill the palm of a hand. At an auction in 2017, one of these giant strawberries was sold for $4,395. Obviously, some of these are shipped to Wimbledon for the elegant few who can afford to indulge in them.
$4,395
There’s no Wimbledon without some traditional strawberries and cream. Taking the tryst of these berries and tennis forward, scientists in the UK engineered a giant breed of the fruit that can..
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$14,600
About the size of a ping pong ball, this variety of luscious red grapes grow in Japan. They were sold for $14,600 a bunch in 2016. With 30 grapes in the bunch, the cost of each fruit was approximately $480.
In 2008, the Ruby Roman grape debuted as a new variety of premium grapes in Japan and was so named via a public referendum. For a grape variety to be counted as a Ruby Roman, it must be over 20 gm and should have over 18 per cent of sugar.
$14,600
About the size of a ping pong ball, this variety of luscious red grapes grow in Japan. They were sold for $14,600 a bunch in 2016. With 30 grapes in the bunch, the cost of each fruit was app..
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$13,000
Rare, exotic and hard to grow, pineapples were a symbol of great status and wealth in Victorian times. This rings true even today, that is if your pineapples come from Cornwall. Cultivated at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, each of these carefully tended pineapples are worth a fortune. In 2012, each fruit was auctioned for $13,000. Traditional techniques are used to grow the fruit, complete with Victorian-style greenhouses and frequent changes of fresh horse manure. The resulting fruit is always “sweet, delicious and not stringy with an explosive flavour”, according to a Lost Garden spokesperson.
(All representative images)
$13,000
Rare, exotic and hard to grow, pineapples were a symbol of great status and wealth in Victorian times. This rings true even today, that is if your pineapples come from Cornwall. Cultivated a..
Avoid excess red meat and indulge in more vegetarian diet. Consume a lot of fluids, especially water. Opt for a well-balanced, well-nourished diet and a healthy lifestyle. Exercise regularly, quit smoking and excessive drinking, he advised. Adarsh said eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains softens the stool and increases its bulk, which will help you avoid the straining that can cause haemorrhoids.
Invest In The Right Masks, Consumer Immunity-Boosting Foods: Tips To Stay Healthy As Delhi Chokes
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The past week has seen hazardous air quality levels in India's National Capital. Delhi has been covered in a thick layer of haze and dust, compromising the health of its residents.
As air quality worsens, a health emergency has been declared in Delhi - schools are closed, cars on the roads have been reduced with the 'odd-even' scheme, and construction has been halted.
The current crisis, that led Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to describe the National Capital as a 'gas chamber', has turned into the worst in three years. Smog levels have exceeded those of Beijing by more than three times, according to a report in news agency AFP.
Fourteen Indian cities including the capital are among the world's top 15 most polluted cities, according to the World Health Organization.
Even as environmentalists and residents call for measures to fight the pollution, there are some precautions that you need to take to stay safe during such severe conditions.
The past week has seen hazardous air quality levels in India's National Capital. Delhi has been covered in a thick layer of haze and dust, compromising the health of its residents. As air quality w..
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Small dust particles can lead to moderate to severe respiratory conditions like hay fever, common cold, cough, eyes and throat irritation, asthma, dust pneumonia chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) and emphysema. It is advisable to spend more time indoors, rather than venturing out unnecessarily. Do keep the doors and windows closed as much as possible.
Small dust particles can lead to moderate to severe respiratory conditions like hay fever, common cold, cough, eyes and throat irritation, asthma, dust pneumonia chronic obstructive airways disease..
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The quality of air takes a deep dip during and after the dust storms. The miniscule dust particles that include pollens, heavy metals, arsenic, fertilizers, virus, bacteria, salts, sulphur and pesticides can easily enter the lungs. People with respiratory problems and allergies face a lot of difficulty during this time. Health experts suggest wearing a mask both indoors and outdoors. Avoid the basic surgical and comfort masks. Opt for N95/N99/FFP3 or 'NIOSH Approved' that filter out more than 95% of particles (larger than 0.3 microns).
The quality of air takes a deep dip during and after the dust storms. The miniscule dust particles that include pollens, heavy metals, arsenic, fertilizers, virus, bacteria, salts, sulphur and pest..
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Sticking to the right dietary plan is one of the most crucial things to do during dust storms. The weather can lead to various illnesses like common cold, tiredness, sore throat, irritation in eyes and nose, ceaseless cough, wheezing and other respiratory problems.
To keep yourself safe and boost immunity in the changing season, plan your diet properly and include gooseberries, flaxseed oil, hot soups, olive oil, vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables, vitamin E-rich diet, omega-3 diet, honey, garlic, neem, oatmeal, green tea, carrot juice, and pineapple extract.
Stay hydrated, opt to drink lukewarm water, and working out regularly to stay healthy.
Sticking to the right dietary plan is one of the most crucial things to do during dust storms. The weather can lead to various illnesses like common cold, tiredness, sore throat, irritation in eyes a..
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No matter how many precautions you take, the indoor air quality is bound to get impacted by the outside air. If it becomes too oppressive, it makes sense to invest in an air purifier that helps remove up to 99.99% pollutants.
When deciding to buy an air purifier (starting from Rs 10,000), avoid ionizers and UV light-based air purifiers as they produce ozone. Always look for high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. The size of the room, the device placement, air changes per hour (ACH), and clean air delivery rate (CADR) are few factors that determine the efficiency of the air purifier.
No matter how many precautions you take, the indoor air quality is bound to get impacted by the outside air. If it becomes too oppressive, it makes sense to invest in an air purifier that helps rem..
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Ensure that children, elders and ill people stay at home, and are well hydrated. Keep a constant check on their health and look for flu-like symptoms. If the condition persists for long or gets severe, visit a doctor immediately.
Ensure that children, elders and ill people stay at home, and are well hydrated. Keep a constant check on their health and look for flu-like symptoms. If the condition persists for long or gets sev..
Drink six to eight glasses of water and other liquids (not alcohol) each day. Stay active to help prevent constipation and reduce pressure on veins, which can occur with long periods of standing or sitting, he said. Avoid straining while passing motions and if constipated take laxatives, said Bhuta.
