(1) Does linking dietary practices to religion make sense? The dilemma of eating meat – a short thread …
(2) Why this concept abstaining from non-veg food on certain days of the week. Devout Hindus won’t eat non-veg (or even onion & garlic for that matter) as all tamasik food is prohibited. The religion itself is based on Satya and Ahimsa.
(3) But why then do we find mention of meat consumption in our scriptures? Ok – will try and explain what I think, but please understand that, this is purely conjecture from here on. Let’s dive in ...
(4) Hinduism is more a way of life than a religion per se. I start with the basic premise that most practices that have survived thousands of years, would have had some rationale. Methinks, our ancients understood the perils of non-veg food.
(5) Science is increasingly proving that an overtly meat based diet is unhealthy. But science also says, that the best source of protein is meat/egg (better than plant protein). And protein is the basic building block of muscles and a lot of other stuff.
(6) So, in short, it seems that an average Joe is better off without meat where as someone who engages in physical labour (including battles) would need meat.
(7) So sedentary guys are better off with a plant based diet where as the warriors need more of meat. The issue is getting the ones in between (the majority) achieve a balance. If I tell you eat or drink in moderation, we all know how that is going to end.
(8) So what the ancients did was convince the majority that if you eat meat on Mondays or Tuesdays or Thursdays, you stand a very good chance of upsetting Lord Shiva or Hanuman and so on. Ok to eat on Wed/Sun and so on. Even back then, fear was a way better enforcer than reason.
(9) I accept that the above is a way too simplistic explanation. But I hope this was food for thought.
(1) Traditionally, politics has always been about power. Money, yes – but the whole thing has always been about power. Money was always a spin off – a by product if you will. So how does one go about achieving power. A thread …
(2) When one says power, in politics it traditionally means power over people. The ability to get people to follow you, believe in you and vote for you. But then why would people do that? This is where an understanding of the basic human nature comes in to play. Let me explain …
(3) People tend to admire someone who (1) demonstrates that s/he is there to help and support you (2) can show that there is a common enemy who is out to get you (3) and s/he is the one who can protect you against this enemy. What enemy you ask …
On good health – and why achieving it is no rocket science. A short thread …
(1) Myriad factors affect health. Genetics is one of the most important. All of us know that one person who has won the gene lottery–can eat all without weight gain, can smoke 3 packs a day. And still glow with health. However, for most, that’s not the case. So what should one do
(2) Food first. Principles are simple. Eat less than you think you should. DO NOT eat unless hungry. The need for the mandatory 2/3/4 meals based on the time of the day is a myth. Trust your body, not the clock. NEVER eat to your fill. Try not eating anything for 12-18 hours.
If this doesn't warm the cockles of your heart, i doubt anything else will. Providing Health care services in one of the remotest places in Odisha. A thread...
Setting: the interiors of Simlipal forest reserve. Miles and miles of dense jungles. No electricity. Scattered populace. Bang in the middle if this, stumbled upon this quaint health center at Gudgudua.
Managed in a PPP Mode by an NGO, SPAR. 24*7 Electricity generated by solar panels. Spic and span. No less than a corporate setup. Right in the heart of the jungle. Miles from civilization. Don't trust me? See these...
(1) Truly exciting news coming in on the efficacy of the indigenous Covaxin. If the trend holds, this can be a better vaccine than the famed Pfizer and Moderna ones with 90-95% efficacy? How? Read on...
(2) The Phase III protocol in a nutshell: The plan was to enroll 25,800 participants in the study. Divided in to a vaccinated and a placebo group of ~ 13,000 each. Test all to ensure Covid-ve at baseline. Give 2 doses a month apart (vaccine as well as placebo). And then wait..
(3) Wait till 130 patients are tested Covid +ve on rt-PCR. Then compare the positives in both groups to arrive at an efficacy %. With me so far? Grossly dumbed down. But that's the gist of it. So what happened next?
(1) Thanks all for the massive response on my thread on the menace of TB. This time around, let’s discuss the basics of (1) how do I know if I have symptoms of TB (2) what do I do if I have these symptoms and (3) what all facilities has the Govt made available for this?
(2) As discussed in my prev. thread, TB mostly (>70%) affects the lungs. Hence, the commonest symptom obviously is cough. Not just any cough though - cough that persists for at least 2 weeks. Sometimes tinged with blood (NOT the copious amounts of blood that we saw in old movies)
(3) In addition, it may be accompanied by fever (low grade, evening rise of temp), night sweats, weight loss, loss of appetite and so on. For TB affecting organs other than lungs, the symptoms would be organ specific.
(1) Been working in Public Health, esp. in the field of Tuberculosis since almost 2 decades now. I continue to be surprised, almost on a daily basis, at the level of ignorance that persists in the community regarding this killer disease. Hence the thread - prepare to be shocked..
(2) First Things first – TB is caused by a bacteria. In India, it is estimated that every year ~27 lakh people fall ill with TB and ~4.5 lakh succumb. For perspective, so far, ~1.5 lakh deaths have been attributed to Covid – meaning, TB is thrice as deadly as Covid.
(3) Lesser known fact (1) TB is probably the only disease which can affect any living tissue of our body. Think of any body part or tissue and you can get TB there. However, it most commonly (70%) affects the Lungs (Pulmonary TB).