Health

Brick in chilli powder, chicory in coffee, coal tar dye in tea leaves, soap in milk - the list of adulterated products in as endless as it is shocking. The latest adulterants to hit the market in Bangalore are artificially ripened mangoes.In Russell Market and other areas, mangoes like Malgova and Badami are treated with toxic calcium carbide powder to ripen them fast and supply to increasing market demands. This toxic powder, called ‘masala' in trader lingo is used to give the fruit a bright yellow colour much before time and could result in food poisoning, skin and stomach problems.…

The common adulterants in pulses, tea, soft drinks, sweets, oil, saffron, coffee and chilli powder and so on are as follows.Pulses: Stone is a common occurrence in rice and Tur Dal. Kesari dal is a banned product and is sometimes sold as Tur dal, especially at times when Tur dal prices are high. It contains toxins that can paralyse the individual if consumed for two or three months. "We discovered the dal (Kesari passed off as Tur dal) was being sold in Karnataka border for Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg and was being passed off for Tur Dal.…

Brookfields/Whitefield-Informer & Shopper (BWIS), a community neighbourhood yellow pages based in Whitefield in partnership with the Rotary Club of IT Corridor, Bangalore and Sahyog, an organisation working on social and legal issues, came together for a cause on a Sunday morning of April 25th. Their messengers were on wheels seeking hidden treasures.This initiative was a call to pledge your eyes by the Sankara Eye Bank, Sankara Eye Care. The message was clear: Miracles cannot cure the blind. You can, by pledging your eyes. Bhaskar Rao (second from right), flagging off the event. Pic credit: I-Light studio. The participants covered a…

Ever heard of a workplace only for individuals with disabilities? Yes, Swayam, a parent support group of the differently-abled adults opened its first sheltered work unit at 4th Block, Koramangala extension on April 1st. There seems to be no time to waste for this group of individuals with challenges as they have already got their first work order. Their first assignment is to decorate marada baganna sets for a wedding to be held in May. Reshmi, a Swayam member with Lalitha Bilgi. Pic credit: Swayam. “Swayam is not an NGO or a non-profit group,” clarifies Lalitha Bilgi, Parent Promoter of…

Scared, witless by dire warnings from medical friends about the horrifying ailments that await those who turn fifty, one decides to embark on a fitness drive. Thus, clad with one ‘Reeback' tracksuit from a roadside boutique (Made as USA - assures the label), one pair of cloned Nikes, one Chinese iPod and walking tips from the internet, one sets off on a morning walk.  In Puttenahalli. The walker's website advises ‘Start with a deep breath'. So, one goes ‘Aaaahh, Inhaaaale!' Bad mistake. There's an overflowing garbage bin at the corner. Gasp, choke, gag.   ‘Avoid main roads', the website further…

On a bright Sunday during the first week of this month, Namma Santhe - Navachetana Trust's first organic market, with 20 odd stalls selling vegetables and fruits, spice mixes, packaged health products, herbal plants, and eco friendly bags, attracted a mixed crowd. Middle class couples hoping for fresh produce and interesting pickles, a considerable number of the elite who had developed an interest in sustainable living, and the common man curious as to what the whole thing was about.One could hear occasional grumbles about the setting - the grounds of a school in Vidyaranyapura in north Bangalore. When some visitors…

He is a 5-year-old boy. Most days, he is happy playing by himself, with his bead string or colour blocks. Occasionally his gaze is fixed outside the window, lost in the light. He throws tantrums when his favourite toys are taken by his 2-year-old sister. He is happy when he hears music - anything from classical to Bollywood numbers. He cannot sense any approaching danger. He has no fears of heights or heat. When Shyamantak was 3.5 years old, he was diagnosed as autistic. His parents were counselled and trained to adapt to the child's world. He goes to a…

Which are the schools in Bengaluru for children living with autism?Academy for Severe Handicap and Autism (ASHA)L-76/A, (Opposite to L-50) Kirloskar colony,HBCS 3rd Stage, 4th Block, Basaveswarnagar,Phone: +91 80 23225279 / 23230357Email: info[at]ashaforautism[dot]comSunshine Autism Trust280, 6th Cross, Domlur Layout,Phone: +91 80 65360892Email: rao_vanitha[at]yahoo[dot]com, Sunshineautism[at]vsnl[dot]netApoorva Centre for Autismc/o Lions Club of Sarakki,21st main, 1st cross, Marenahalli,J P Nagar Phase-2,Phone: +91 80 65710445 / 9243195154 / 9845076140Email: apoorva{at]SAIautismcenter[dot]orgRainbow Centre For Autism Spectrum DisorderSpastics Society of KarnatakaNew #31, 5th Cross, 5th MainIndira NagarPhone: 25280935, 25281831Communication DEALL47 Hutchins Road II CrossSarvajna Nagara (Cooke's Town)Bangalore 560 084Phone: 91 080 2580 0826Email: info[at]communicationdeall[dot]orgWhich are the support…

One of the most important projects of Rotary International is to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. In 1985, Rotary International launched 'Polio Plus', a time bound commitment to eradicate polio. The Polio Plus is one of the most ambitious humanitarian undertakings ever undertaken by a private entity. On the immunisation day, in India more than 1,00,000 Rotary volunteers and their families  join hands with Government and all concerned to facilitate administering polio drops to the children below five years, signaling the largest public health event ever in the world.Philanthropists worldwide including Microsoft Founder Bill Gates are taking…

From yoga classes to aqua aerobics, kickboxing to Krav Maga or doing time on the treadmill, fitness now has interesting options to choose from.  Krav maga is a form of martial arts developed by the Israeli defense forces. The same goes for health clubs and gyms. This makes it even more important for the consumer to be aware of what they are opting for and what to be conscious about. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GYMa. Check if the gym has a physiotherapist, nutritionist, certified and well-informed instructorb. Speak to existing gym members for their feedbackc. Most gyms offer…