Nutrients & more...

source of image I hail from Rajasthan which lies in the western part of India. It is a very dry area with low rainfall and a desert to boast for landscape. The temperature variations are extreme; ranging from -2 degrees in winters to 40 - 45 degrees in summers. I can confidently say that I really know what is meant by “hot”. The heat, length and dreariness of summers is not limited to Western India which also struggles with low rainfall but extends to other parts as well, where high heat and humidity make summer afternoons unbearable. The data regarding the incidence or prevalence of heat related illnesses in India is not available, but most Indians have read about or known deaths due to heat waves (common in summers). In 1998 about 81 cases of heat stroke were recorded in the city of Chennai (former Madras) during a 23 day long spell of very high heat and humidity [1]. Some of the common conditions which are prevalent in summers and sometimes prove to be life-threatening are: • Hea...

March is the month of receding winters and the hint of the coming summers. It’s also the season of a major festival in Northern India - "Holi". This is a fun filled festival in which practical jokes and people playing with colors are seen everywhere. As with every festival in India, this is also characterized with special dishes and drinks which are shared with everyone in the community. Some of these are: Thandai (a cool milk based drink), Gujiya (a khoya & coconut filled sweet), Mathri (indian chips of refined wheat flour), Shakkarpare (a fried sweet), Kanji ke vade (fried dumplings of green gram dal), Kachori (packets of dal & onion filling in refined wheat flour), and Besan burfi (a chickpea fudge). All this food is yummy enough to shake any dieter’s will. Note that all of these items are fried and some are sweet as well. It’s alright to refuse them completely, but then we don’t want to be spoilsports. There are just a few things which we need to keep in mi...