Healthy Living

The concept of inclusive and accessible outdoor play areas for differently abled is being actively recognised and built across several cities in India. Manju George, Senior Program Officer, ESAF Bangalore, talks about the challenges involved in undertaking these initiatives. Why did you embark on this initiative of an inclusive play area? In 2008, a research done across three cities with children and different stakeholders highlighted the issue of lack of play spaces for kids. Hardly anyone…

Adveka Foundation, one of the first organizations in India to work primarily with caregivers, hands out tips on self-care and emotional management and how to prevent stress and burnout. The growing burden of chronic diseases and health care has given rise to a new community that is rapidly gaining in number and significance: The Caregivers. Caregivers provide support and assistance to individuals suffering from a health issue and those unable to look after themselves. They could either be…

Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi explains the risks of the Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) diet if precautions are not taken, even though it has often yielded amazing results of weight loss Diet trends have undergone a steady transformation over the years, all the way from low fat diet to high protein ones. And in the last 11 years, the idea of reversing and consuming a low carbohydrate diet by increasing the fat consumption has been making waves. Ketogenic diet, Atkins diet and recently the LCHF diets…

Do you or your loved one have COPD(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Do you understand the various types of COPD and medications? Would you like to know what accessories/devices you need to keep at home? How to handle pollutants? What exercises are useful in managing COPD?  How will COPD progress? What questions should you ask the doctor? Are you prepared for emergencies? We have pulled all of the above and an action plan into an ebook that you can download and print. Download your…

Is it true that red meat should be avoided, while white meat encouraged? Bonnie Lau, an Australian-trained dietitian, answers. Here, we compare the pros and cons of both and helps you decide which type of meat you should eat in the future. Meat is a great source of protein and lots of vitamins and minerals. But there are claims that red meat (mutton, lamb, beef, pork) should generally be avoided, while white meat (chicken, duck, fish) is encouraged. We look at this closer and compare pros and…

Geetha Paniker, a survivor of triple negative cancer with double mastectomy, shortlists 3 books on cancer that had a great impact on her. When you're dealing with cancer, a daily dose of inspiration may make a big difference in the outlook on life. Keeping a positive outlook is proven to help with stress management, but when someone says to "think positive" or "be optimistic" during a traumatic phase of any disease, it can be much easier said than done. Knowing cancer isn't all rainbows and…

The Choir of the Loaves and Fish, a musical ensemble of senior citizens, started by Pervin Varma with Regina Thomas in Bengaluru has been immensely therapeutic for the elderly and has helped bring loads of warmth and sunshine into their lives. Picture above: Ammachy taking a bow with Pervin Varma Imagine a group of people – all senior citizens between 65 and 96 – people who have suffered strokes or are living with cancer, arthritis, heart disease, dementia, physical disabilities, people with…

Vonita Singh from Dubai is a trained Kathak dancer who, through her unique initiative Movement Mantra, addresses the basic concerns of Parkinson’s Disease like balance, flexibility and coordination with rhythm and music. Vonita also pulls in caregivers for her programmes, making it holistic, with end results being therapeutic. Taking on disorders like Parkinson’s Disease and Arthritis is a formidable task, especially when you are neither a therapist nor a medical person. What gave you the…

You don't have to feel guilty digging into that pizza! Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju suggests ways of reducing calories of your favourite food like pizza and fried rice and making them wholesome and healthy. Check out the calorie counts! Wholesome Pizza Everyone loves pizza. But mind you…it can be a sinister source of calories and fats. Is there any way of giving it a nutritional upgrade, instead of ruthlessly banishing it as junk food? Yes definitely. You can make your pizza a whole lot…