World Bank allocated 200 million Dollar for ebola-affected West African nations

The World Bank is allocating 200 million dollars in emergency assistance for West African countries battling to contain the ebola outbreak.
The WHO says the number of people killed in this outbreak is fast approaching 900 with more than 1600 infected. The US is preparing to receive its second ebola-infected patient, an American missionary who is now being flown from Liberia.

playing outside makes kids more spiritual

Turn off the TV, hide the game consoles and send your kids to play in the great outdoors if you want to raise more thoughtful, fulfilled and spiritual children, suggest the findings of a small study.

Children who spend significant amounts of time playing outside were found to have a stronger sense of purpose, peacefulness and spiritual connection to the earth.

For their study, published in the Journal of the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture, researchers from Michigan State University conducted in-depth interviews, drawings, diaries, observation and conversation with parents to measure the children’s esthetic values and sensibilities.

Children who spent five to 10 hours a week playing outside were found to demonstrate strong imaginations, creativity, and curiosity, as well as a deep appreciation for nature’s beauty, whether it be lush green bushes, water patterns or a fascination with bees’ nests, researchers noted.

The 10 children, ages seven and eight, reported feelings of peacefulness and wonderment at natural phenomena like storms, and said they felt happy. They also expressed a sense of belonging in the world and an acute need to protect the earth.

Though small in scale, the findings underscore the importance of free play for children and its lasting impact: the parents of children who expressed the highest affinity toward nature likewise reported spending significant amounts of time playing outdoors in their childhood.

More than video game graphics and cartoons, researchers theorize that nature’s multisensory diversity — sights, sounds and colors — can help children feel more alive and build self-confidence.

Another study published out of Finland, meanwhile, found gender differences in the way school-aged boys and girls viewed nature: While girls said they appreciated the beauty of flowers and plants, more than 30 percent of boys in the study said they could live without vegetation.

Plyometric exercises short and effective

Is your body refusing to shed those last inches and kilos? Do you want to enhance the performance of your body? Fitness experts say you can opt for short and effective plyometric exercises for desired results.



Plyometric is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements and improve the functions of the nervous system. It is generally used for improving performance in sports.

According to Delhi-based fitness trainer Aashu, this regime is best used to burn maximum calories in minimum time.

"The amount of calories you would be burning in a one-hour workout, with plyometrics you can burn in just 30 minutes," Aashu told IANS.

"So one can easily burn 400-600 calories in a session of 40-50 minutes," he added.

The exercise regime uses explosive movements to develop muscular power and is mostly done by athletes.



"Plyometric training acts on the nerves, muscles, and tendons to increase an athlete's power output without necessarily increasing their maximum strength capacity," said Nicholas Kraal, business development manager, True Fitness India.

"In this, muscular contractions happen in a very short period of time, compared to conventional weight training exercises," he added.

And if you are one aiming for weight-loss results, Huzefa Lokhandwala, training manager of Gold's Gym India, believes one can get maximum results by performing this activity at least twice a week.

"This exercise challenges your muscular strength and endurance which are the two vital components of physical fitness, thus boosting your metabolism resulting in fat loss," he said.



"To some extent it also challenges your heart and lungs, thus improving your cardiovascular efficiency and improving your posture as well," he added.

Plyometrics workout is injury-prone and involves a lot of power moments - like throw further, jump higher, hit harder and so on.

Hence experts suggest that one should do this workout under proper guidance.

"The intensity of the movements may cause stress on the knee and ankle joints. There are also high chances of muscular pull or strain if a good warm-up is not done properly," said Kraal.

"The key to plyometrics training is the application of proper technique and adhering to safety precautions," he added.



So, if you are planning to join a class soon, Lokhandwala has suggestions for people who should stay away from this exercise.

"People with joint problems like knee, hips, ankle should avoid these exercises where the impact of explosive movements will put a heavy toll on their joints," he said.

"One should consult one's physician or personal trainer before starting this plyometric exercise. People who are 50 years old and above are not recommended to do this exercise, but there could be an exception if they are living a healthy lifestyle and having a good fitness level."

"People suffering from high blood pressure and heart-related problems should avoid it," he added.

So, if you want to increase muscular power, have better agility and improve muscular balance, go for plyometrics.

Source: Shilpa Raina

Fight the flu with these helpful guidelines

The rainy season ushers in flu and bacterial, viral and fungal infections. While we can’t do much about the rains, we can certainly beat the bugs by strengthening our immune system.



The simplest way to boost immunity is through good diet, plenty of exercise, yoga, adequate rest, sleep and stress control. A healthy immune system requires a number of nutrients, including proteins, essential fats, vitamins and minerals.

Conversely junk food, refined sugar and fats and white rice are low in vitamins and minerals, and if taken in excess can weaken the immune system.

Proteins play an important role in boosting the immune system, which is responsible for fighting infections. Inadequate amount of protein prevents the body from making the necessary antibodies.

Other nutrients that aid in immunity are beta-carotene, B complex vitamins, vitamins C and E, minerals like selenium, zinc, iron, copper and magnesium, folic acid and prebiotic and probiotic foods.





Vitamin A and beta-carotene are the first line of defence against bacterial, parasitic and viral attack. Good sources include greens like spinach and broccoli, and yellow and orange foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, mango, butter, egg yolk, cheese and fish liver oils. But a diet with excessive amounts of vitamin A does lower immunity.

Vitamin C deficiency lowers immune response to infection. Vitamin C is needed for lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system to function properly. It also acts as an antioxidant, which protects against harmful reactive chemicals (free radicals). Good sources of vitamin C include amla, citrus fruits, tomatoes, green peppers, leafy vegetables, kiwi, broccoli, and strawberries.

Vitamin E also boosts immune functions through lymphocyte activity. Vitamin E is present in wheat germ, whole grains, nuts, seeds, apples and leafy vegetables. Zinc too is vital for immunity. Good sources of zinc are nuts, seeds and whole grains.



Selenium too is an important mineral and antioxidant. It plays a key role in boosting the immune function and fighting infections. Selenium can be found in brown rice, wheat germ, whole wheat bread, poultry, fish, garlic, meats and seafood. Other immune-boosting foods include probiotics and prebiotics.

Probiotic, the friendly bacteria, in adequate amounts promote the body's natural immunity and helps in digestion. They are essential and help keep harmful bacteria suppressed. Probiotics are found in yogurt, buttermilk and lassi. Prebiotic, a substance that feeds probiotics, is found in whole grains, pulses, beans, vegetables, fruits and seeds.





Special Dietary guidelines for Flu:

- The diet should be light in fat and easily digestible.

- Oily, rich food should be avoided.

- Bakery products and food made of refined flour should be avoided.

- Hot liquids, like soups, broths, hot milk, hot water and tea infused with ginger provide relief and help fight infections.

- Anti-inflammatory foods such as coconut, fenugreek, garlic, onion seeds and turmeric should be consumed.

- In the initial stages of a cold, ginger with honey provides relief, prevents accumulation of phlegm and has anti-expectorant effects.

- A half teaspoon of turmeric boiled in milk has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

- Two-three cloves of crushed garlic help boost immunity and act as a decongestant.

- If symptoms persist, probiotic supplements and foods are useful to boost immunity.

Source: Ishi Khosla, Indian Express