Tackling The Menace Of Counterfeit Medicines

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counterfeit medication in Pakistan, drug overdose, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, ProCheck, self-medication, verification checks for counterfeit medicines

In a country where approximately 30% of all medications sold are counterfeit, a Pakistani start-up ProCheck – is on a mission to reduce this figure, ensuring that people have access to safe and authentic medicines. This is a welcome initiative given that several instances of fake drug usage have endangered hundreds of lives in recent years.

Incorporated in 2014, the start-up is in the process of establishing collaborative partnerships with the largest pharmaceutical brands operating in the country. Once these agreements are finalised, every strip/bottle of medicine manufactured by these companies will have an eight-digit alphanumeric authentication code imprinted on it. To verify that the medicine they have purchased is original and has not expired, all buyers need to do is to SMS the code to 9900, after which they will receive a message confirming whether or not the medications are valid.

Colour Yourself Happy!

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adult colouring books, colouring as therapy, colouring to improve moods, Johanna Basford, Marylou Andrew, reduce anxiety, relieve stress, Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book, stress reducers

In 2013, Scottish artist and illustrator Johanna Basford released her first colouring book for adults, Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book. Since then, Secret Garden has sold two million copies worldwide, while Basford’s second book, Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest and Colouring Book, has been one of the bestselling books on Amazon.com this year.

Basford’s books are just two of the thousands of colouring books bought by adults around the world, in what publishers are calling the ‘year of the grown up colouring book’. And the reason why they are doing so is for stress relief.

Yoghurt – Your Heat Wave Essential

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benefits of yoghurt, calcium, cortisol, face mask made from water-based yoghurt, health benefits of yoghurt, obesity, Probiotics, Vitamin B, Why yoghurt is a Heat Wave Essential

With the Met Office forecasting yet another heat wave – temperatures are expected to soar to 42 degree Celsius until October 21 in Karachi – health officials have issued a warning to people to take precautions to prevent heatstroke. These include using sunscreen, covering their heads and staying hydrated.

Given that recent research has highlighted a host of health benefits found in yoghurt, it is recommended that you have a helping of this ‘cool’ super food every day to stave off heat-related problems.

Nutritionists recommend substituting caffeine and carbonated energy drinks with a yoghurt smoothie to start the day. Or, if you are one of those people whose appetite is reduced in the hot weather, opt for a bowl of yoghurt – with the seasonal fruit of your choice to add flavour and nutrition – for an energy-packed lunch.

The Perils Of Over Indulgence

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atherosclerosis, bad cholesterol, Bakra Eid, chronic hypertension, digestive tablets, Dr Samia Babar, gastrointestinal disorders, gurdas, high cholesterol, kaleji, maghaz masala, mithai, sheer khorma, ulcers

For the past four years, almost like clock-work, Mr S enters my clinic immediately after Bakra Eid, looking miserable. His statement is always the same: “They made me eat too much again and I feel really sick!”

Although I know that freshly roasted kaleji, grilled gurdas and marinated maghaz masala are hard to resist, I tell my patients that the key to staying healthy is not to starve and deprive your body of essential nutrients, but to eat in moderation. As for Mr S, his health issues are compounded by the fact that he has a sweet tooth and believes that “passing up on sheer khorma and mithai is a sin.” No surprise then that every year I end up prescribing digestive tablets and a usually ignored lecture beginning with, “You really need to watch what you eat…”

Beef Liver: A Bakra Eid Essential

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Alzheimer’s, Bakra Eid, Beef Liver, chronic fatigue, copper deficiency, dizziness, eye infections, healthy muscular growth, healthy nervous system, nerve degeneration, night blindness, ocular cancer, ophthalmologists, Saba Gul Hasan, schizophrenia, Vitamin B

The ancient Egyptians and Greeks believed that beef liver – a must-have for many people on the first day of Bakra Eid – had ‘magical’ healing properties. They were clearly on to something, because beef liver, in addition to being a treat for your taste buds, contains a host of nutrients that provide several health benefits.

Promotes growth and healing. Beef liver should be a grocery list essential if you have children between the ages of seven and 15; it is loaded with protein, essential for healthy muscular growth and for healing wounds. Furthermore, the presence of iron prevents anaemia, which can result in palpitations, chronic fatigue and dizziness.

Ensures a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B found in beef liver helps prevent neural disorders – such as Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia – caused by nerve degeneration, as well as delaying the onset of age-related cognitive decline.

Healthy Animals For Bakra Eid

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Bakra Eid, Congo virus, Haroon Rasheed, pneumonia, sacrificial animal, skin lesions

With Bakra Eid around the corner, people are on the lookout for the ideal sacrificial animal; one that conforms to their religious injunctions, fits in their budget and is also healthy.

Given the Congo virus outbreak that affected hundreds of animals, as well as people, last year, health experts advise caution to people who handle animals as well as to those who visit animal markets. As the virus spreads either through ticks in animal hide or exposure to an infected animal’s blood, applying insect repellent and wearing full-sleeved clothes and gloves is highly recommended.

However, the Congo virus is not the only red flag you should be watching out for.

Should You Go On The Lemonade Diet?

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benefits of the lemonade diet, cayenne pepper, chickweed tea, dandelion root tea, digestion, flaxseed tea, herbal teas, lemon juice, lemonade, Lemonade Diet, maple syrup, Saba Gul Hasan, sea salt, should you go on the lemonade diet, Vitamin C, water, weight loss

Several celebrities, ranging from Beyonce to Jared Leto, have been on the Lemonade Diet which is also called the ‘Master Cleanse’ in order to lose substantial amounts
of weight.

The Diet, as its name suggests, entails restricting your food intake to lemonade (made from lemon juice, water, organic maple syrup and cayenne pepper) in addition to lots of water (with a pinch of sea salt) and herbal teas (including chickweed, dandelion root and flaxseed) for a period of up to
10 days.

While nutritionists recommend the Diet to a few of their patients (after several checkups), they are careful to warn them that they should not make it a permanent lifestyle choice. Furthermore, they are quick to point out that people should only go on the diet for a maximum of three to four days, rather than the recommended 10.

The Lemonade Diet offers a host of health benefits which include:

1. Weight loss. Since it is a liquid diet, your weight loss will be immediate, mainly because your carbohydrate and sugar intake will be next to none. This is what makes the Diet ideal for people looking to lose a few pounds quickly. However, the Lemonade Diet is not believed to deliver any substantial results for obese people, since it is not an efficient way of burning calories
   or getting rid of stubborn fat.

Listen Up! Turn Down The Volume

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105 decibels, Australian Audiologist Nick Parkyn, ‘I Hear Report’, Dr Samia Babar, headphone, high-frequency sounds, iPods, MP3 players, MTV, music devices, National Acoustic Laboratory, Penn State College of Medicine, safe listening habits, sleeping disorders, tinnitus

According to research conducted at Penn State College of Medicine in December 2013, one in six teenagers suffers from a degree of preventable hearing loss due to constantly being ‘plugged’ to their music devices, such as MP3 players and iPods.

Similarly, the I Hear Report (compiled by the National Acoustic Laboratory) concludes that 64% of the 1,400 people who were tested, suffered from a constant ringing sound in their ears caused by a condition called tinnitus, which is believed to be the precursor to hearing loss and is on the rise in people between the ages of 11 and 35. Caused by listening to loud music, tinnitus can also lead to depression, poor concentration and sleeping difficulties.

Ghee – Desi And Healthy!

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benefits of ghee, ghee, ghee consumption, Omega-3, preparing ghee at home, research about ghee, saturated fats, Vitamin A, Vitamin E

No traditional Pakistani recipe is ever quite complete without ghee. Although until a few years ago, it was believed that ghee causes a host of health problems, recent research studies have concluded that saturated fats such as good old desi ghee can help you stay healthy and strong.

Fermenting For Better Health

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benefits of fermented food, Drawbacks of processed foods, fermented foods, gut health, healthy bacteria, I Quit Sugar, kombucha, lassi, pickles, Probiotics, Sarah Wilson, yoghurt

Gone are the days when the women of the house spent hours preparing spices, sauces and dairy products at home. As increasing numbers join the workforce, convenience takes top priority when it comes to anything on their to-do lists.

You may wonder what is the drawback in stocking your kitchen with processed foods (for example, pre-packaged yoghurt instead of one that has been fermented overnight at home or bought from the doodhwala) when it saves so much time. The answer is the elimination of naturally ‘fermented’ foods from our diets, due to which we lose out on the ‘healthy bacteria’ present in them.