HL Cover_30.indd

T H E
C O M P L E T E
F A M I L Y
M A G A Z I N E
Issue 30, May 2012
Issue 30
May 2012
Rs 50
They mean
business
St
Stereotypes
t
No
N
More—Changing Role
of Women Today
The 30-Day
Power Yoga
Challenge
Power
P
ower Y
Yoga
oga ccomes
omes w
with
ith
great benefits
SUMMER EXUBERANCE
Loyalty to
Friends before
All Else
–Sahana Vajracharya
The Greatest
Test
of
Life
Love is for the courageous
Nutrition
during Pregnancy
ISSN 2091-1068
9 772091 106008
The Beauty of
Wisteria
Wisteria is a flower that
illuminates homes
Summer
Exuberance
Enjoy the summer months like never before
FAMILY . PARENTING . HOME . RELATIONSHIP . FOOD . FITNESS
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Choose any one of the following six packages
Reflexology (Foot massage) &
Sauna (60 min)
Head & Shoulder Massage
with Sauna (60 min)
Reflexology is a method of applying
pressure to the feet and hand with
the thumb, finger and hand. Saunas
are used both for recreational and
therapeutic purposes, with most people
utilizing them as a relaxation tool that
provides additional health benefits.
Head and shoulder massage
includes massage of head and
shoulder by applying pressure
with the thumb, finger and hand.
Based on the system of acupressure points, the treatment relaxes
the head and shoulder.
Manicure & Steam
Manicure is a spa beauty treatment
for the fingernails and hands which
improves and increases the blood
circulation, suppleness and flexibility of
the hands and wrist while discouraging
wrinkling of the skin on the hand. A
steam bath is a good way to relax and
take care of your body inside and out.
Spa (Steam, Sauna, Jacuzzi Area
Usage) (60 min)
Vertebral Message with Doctor
Consultation (60 min)
These are forms of hydrotherapy.
These help in relaxing body and
mind. They encourage relaxation,
improve blood circulation,
relieve pain, relax muscles. These
are playful ways to better health
and relaxation.
Applying deep pressure of the
thumb and palm to target specific
trigger points on the upper and
lower back and ironing out tight
muscles, this massage is ideal for
relieving stress, tension and pain
for a stronger, healthier back.
Dry Massage-Shiatsu (60min)
Shiatsu is a traditional Japanese
healing method which works on
specific pressure points of the
body. It helps to balance a person’s
energy flow, and strengthen the
vital organs. It cures chronic
diseases resulting from blocked or
unbalanced energy.
CONTENT
18. COVER STORY
Fresh Fruity
Blends
The days are getting
longer and the heat
is on. Sit back with
a tall cool drink and
suddenly, summer
seems a lot more
fun.
30. FAMILY
A Confused State of Mind
ADHD is a disorder that is often misdiagnosed as
a routine part of growing up. It is not.
34. PARENTING
Keep your Kids Engaged
Parenting is no doubt a difficult chore; it
would be a good idea to have a few tricks
up your sleeve.
Miss Nepal 2010 1st Runner-Up Sahana is
unequivocally, the most glamorous beauty
around, and she promises to be in the
limelight long after other beauty queens have
faded away.
40. HOME
Beautiful Blooms
God made flowers to uplift our spirit and give
us cause for hope and optimism.
On the Cover
Models: Sahana Vajracharya
Make-up artist: Lokesh Thapa
Wardrobe courtesy: Tenzin Tseten Bhutia from his first ever
summer collection ‘le melange’
Venue Courtesy: Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar Marg
Photography: Pix (The Light Sketch)
Home Advice, Gardening, Tips, Shopping
regular page
10 market news
CONTENT
COVER STORY
14. Summer Exuberance
Some cool, cool ways to spend this
summer. And healthy too, we may add.
FEATURES
28. SUMMER
FASHION
The Spirit of
Summer
Summer is when
designers go all out
outdoing each other, for
the season is just right
for showing off.
22. They Mean Business!
Running a business is a challenge that
many women have started to take
head on.
55. RELATIONSHIP 58.FOOD
76. FITNESS
82. HEALTH
The 30-Day Power
Yoga Challenge
Mosquito Magnet
The Greatest Test of Life
An Herbivore’s Dilemma
It is better to have loved and
lost than never to have loved
at all, so said Shakespeare.
Vegetarian diets are healthy–
agreed. But what exactly is
lacto-vegetarianism, lacto-ovovegetarianism and flexitrianism?
Tips, Your Say
Mom’s kitchen,Recipe, Drinks Beauty news, Queries
Get into the thick of things
with Power Yoga and feel the
difference.
Mosquitoes may have a fatal
attraction to the odor you
emit. Know more.
Health Query, Tips
D.A.O. Lalitpur Regd. No. 78 - 066/067,
Healthy Life Magazine, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal. Tel: 501.1571, 501.1639, Issue No. 30 May 2012
A COMPLETE FAMILY MAGAZINE
Publisher: ECS MEDIA PVT. LTD.
Managing Editor: SUNIL RAJ SHRESTHA
Director, Editorial & Marketing: NRIPENDRA KARMACHARYA
Group Editor: ANIL CHITRAKAR
Sr. Managers, Editorial & Marketing: SUDEEP MAN SHAKYA,
NEERAZ KOIRALA
Sr. Manager, Business Planning & Development: RUPESH SHAKYA
Manager, Editorial & Marketing: CHARU S. MALHOTRA
Manager, Editorial & Promotions: NILADRI S. PARIAL
Contributing Editor: AMAR B. SHRESTHA
Sub Editor: LIZBETH LUCKSOM
Inhouse Writers: NIMMA ADHIKARI,
NIKITA TRIPATHI
Editorial Secretary: PRAGYA POKHREL
Stylist: NITESH SHERCHAN
Editorial Enquiries: [email protected]
Sr. Design Executive: DIVYA SHRESTHA
Design Executive: MANJESH MAHARJAN
Assistant Design Executive: ANJAN ALE
Design Assistants: SUNIL MAHARJAN,
SAMIR RAJ TAMRAKAR
Sr. Photographer: DASH B. MAHARJAN
Photographers: UMESH BASNET, HARI MAHARJAN,
SUYESH RAJ SHRESTHA, RABINDRA PRAJAPATI
Healthy Life is published 12 times a year at the address above. All rights reserved in respect of all articles, illustration, photography, etc published in Healthy Life Magazine. The contents of this
publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher,
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8 HEALTHY LIFE
Business Development Heads:
ANGIRAS MANANDHAR, BIJENDRA PRADHAN
Sr. Business Development Executive: VINAY
RAJKARNIKAR
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AMATYA
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market news
z
Dragonair welcomes
Government’s
Approval of Third
Runway Plan
Dragonair welcomed the Hong Kong
SAR Government’s decision to approve
in principle the Airport Authority Hong
Kong’s recommendation to adopt
the three-runway option for planning
purposes for Hong Kong International
Airport (HKIA) on March 20, 2012.
Dragonair is in support of the long-term
development of the HKAI.
The Chief Executive Officer of Dragonair,
Patrick Yeung, explains that it is a crucial
step in enabling the airport to meet the
anticipated growth and also a method
to maintain the position of Asia’s premier
aviation hub. The increased capacity will
enable a growth parallel with the aviation
industry in Hong Kong, boosting prosperity.
Dragonair has recently announced its
own expansion plans due to the growth
in demand and the rising passenger
expectations. It will include additional aircraft
joining the fleet, a strengthened network,
enhanced products and services and
recruitment of more cabin crew and pilots.
This year, BNL organized plant tours
for students from various schools
to increase awareness on the
manufacturing facilities at the CocaCola plant and the effective use of water
resources. A painting competition was
also organized for the children staying
true to the theme ‘Water Conservation.’
Salman Latif Rawn, Country Manager
of Coca-Cola Bottlers Nepal Limited
explains that the World Water Day
provides an opportunity to reinforce
this commitment and engage with
stakeholders and the community and to
share the approach towards sustainable
water management.
Flower Expo Held at
Bhrikutimandap
The 15th National Flower Expo was held
from March 29, 2012, to April 1, 2012.
Organized by the Floriculture Association
Nepal (FAN), this event showcased the
latest developments in the floriculture
sector of Nepal. It aimed to promote and
develop floral business in Nepal by creating
awareness about the use of flowers and
ornamental plants among the public.
screen sized with full multimedia, slim
design, touch screen, MP3 Player, MP4
Player, Bluetooth, video recording
and social multimedia features with
Facebook, MS, and
Yahoo Messenger. The
V100 (Babe) Mobile
includes a touch screen
and also features the
full multimedia with
Bluetooth, MP4 Player,
MSN, Facebook and
Yahoo. Both the mobiles
have a 1 GB memory
card and the V100
comes with a back
cover for free. The targeted market is
the younger generation. The company
has made the Bird Mobile available in 28
cities in Nepal.
Sanima Bank’s Blood
Donation Campaign
Dragonair has an affiliate member of the
Oneworld and has been recognized for its
product and service quality. It was voted for
two consecutive years as the “World’s Best
Regional Airline” in the annual World Airline
Survey run by Skytrax in 2010 and 2011.
Water Day Celebrated
On 21st of March 2012, Coca-Cola
Bottlers Limited celebrated World
Water Day keeping up with the
global commitment of sustainability
or resources focused around the UN
mandated theme of ‘Water and Food
Security.’ Coca-Cola Bottlers Nepal
Limited (BNL) has been celebrating
World Water Day for many years and
has been organizing various water
related activities to educate the people
on the water related crisis. It was aimed
to help the people understand the
importance of water and the sustainable
management of water through
conservation and replenishment.
10 HEALTHY LIFE
The Flower Expo displayed a variety of
indoor and outdoor plants—from creepers,
like wisterias, to rhododendrons and
orchids—along with gardening tools,
gardening products and decoration items.
It also emphasized on the products and
services available in the country. The Expo
had around 60 stalls displaying a wide
range of products and services to facilitate
customers for buying different kinds of
floral products. It was an attempt to bring
together different producers, suppliers,
marketer, exporters and other stakeholders
helping to create growth of this industry.
FAN has been organizing several
promotional events including workshops,
publications, exhibitions and trainings. It
organized the first trade fair in 1994.
Bird Mobile Slim Touch
Phone Available in the
Market
Gadgets Nepal Private Limited,
authorized sellers of Bird Mobile, has
brought two mobiles into the market.
The W3000 (Hen) Slim Model—big
Sanima Bank organized a Blood
Donation Campaign in Chapagaun
recently as part of their corporate social
responsibility which includes social
welfare programs. 76 people donated
blood during the program. Sanima
Bank has been involved in other social
welfare programs as well.
New Year ‘Yamaha
Ride of Pride’
M. A. W. Enterprises, the sole distributor
of Yamaha Motorbike in Nepal,
launched the ‘Naya Barsha, Naya Shaan
Offer’ for the New Year 2069. This
scheme involves scratch cards, lucky
draw, surprise
gifts and
lottery and flat
discounts on
the bikes for
every purchase.
This scheme
ensures that
everyone gets
lucky without
the hidden
costs.
that much-required skin sheen. Recently,
however, a new trend is fast catching
up among youngsters and middle-aged
people alike – consuming plenty of fruit
juices – to enhance the quality of the skin.
The popular SZ-R150 with the same
features and performance as the other
bikes with the 150 cc segment will be
available for Rs. 177,900 after the New Year
discount. Every year, M.A.W. Enterprises
has used promotional schemes during
festive occasions, and this year it is through
the instant cash offer.
Yamaha’s R15, FZS, SS-125, YBR-125,
YBR-110 and Enticer are popular among
male riders while LYM is popular among
females. Yamaha motorcycles have
high mileage, is performance oriented
and stylish in look, making them very
popular amongst all segments of society.
CG Electronics’ New
Year scheme “LG
Hataima Surprise,
Prize Ma Surprise”
CG Electronics, a wing of the Chaudhary
Group and authorized dealer of the LG
brand in Nepal has come up with the
New Year scheme, “LG Hataima Surprise,
Prize Ma Surprise.” This scheme is
applicable to LG Consumer Durables and
Home Appliances.
Healthy Life, a monthly publication of
ECS Media, undertakes a lucky draw
every three months for its subscribers.
Bhuju was declared the winner after the
lucky draw for the month of January
through March. Bhuju has been a
Healthy Life subscriber for 4 months.
She says that she was not expecting
to win. She was planning to buy a new
camera but was lucky enough to win
it through the lucky draw. “I like the
articles on healthy lifestyle and the tips
on fitness published in Healthy Life,” says
Bhuju . “I would like to thank ECS for
organizing such competitions.”
The next lucky draw will be held in June,
2012. Nimma Adhikari
Downtown’s One
House Many Benefits
Scheme
The aim of this scheme is to provide
various new prizes on the occasion
of New Year 2069 for customers. The
customers are given a scratch card
coupon after purchasing a LG product
and have a chance of getting an LG
42” Cinema, 3D Smart TV or any LG
appliance or gold or silver coins. The
customers will also get a sure prize of
LG DVD or CG Moline along with scratch
coupon in 32” and above LCD and LED
TVs. The customers also get a big price
of LG’s Home Theater for the purchase
of LG’s 47” Cinema and 3D Smart TVs.
Unexpected Win
Salina Bhuju, a BBA first-year student at
Apex College, became the lucky owner
of a brand new Canon PowerShot A3200
in a lucky draw organized by ECS Media.
The prize was handed over to Bhuju by
Dinesh Agrawal, Marketing Manager for
Primax International, New Road.
Downtown Housing has come up with
the ‘One House Many Opportunities’
Scheme. This scheme includes the sale
of apartments, rentals and buyback
services. The buyer can, within five
years of buying an apartment, rent it
and sell it if they choose to do so. This
offer is valid for Dhapakhel’s Downtown
Apartments and City View in Sanepa.
Downtown Apartments in Khumaltar,
Dhapakhel, is built on 12 ropani of land
and can resist an earthquake of up
to 8 Richter. The two towers will have
207 apartments. City View Apartments
in Sanepa will have one and three
bedroom apartments. During the
International Trade Fair, Downtown
Apartments offered a Mac Book Pro for
a booking on a place and for every 15
bookings, a lucky draw was held for the
prize of a Honda Ion Delight Plus.
Glowing Skin is as
Healthy as Consuming
Tasty Fruit Juices
People spend fortunes in a bid to have
glowing skin like celebrities around the
world. While some use natural products,
some use expensive cosmetics to get
Given the fact that most fruits are high
on nutrients and minerals, fruit juices are
excellent to get that glow on your skin.
Also, by virtue of the fact that fruit juices
are easily and quickly absorbed by the
body, they show quick results on the skin
too. Consuming juice everyday not only
keeps you healthy but makes your skin
look healthy and free of skin problems.
Media Personality Sahana Bajracharya
says, “My work schedule keeps me really
busy, juggling between meetings and
shooting involving lots of traveling.
I make it a point to eat healthy and
consume at least a glass of Real Fruit
Juice every day which helps me keep fit
and going. It also keeps acne problems
at bay and gives my skin a healthy glow.”
Some of the most popular juices
consumed for great skin are orange juice,
apple juice, lemon juice and watermelon
juice. But, vegetable juices, like juices
of papaya, spinach and cabbage also
help to give a shine to the skin, making
it healthy from within. Nowadays,
consumers need not bother about juices
as one can buy and consume from a
wide variety of exotic juices readily
available from Real and Real Activ. Well,
if glowing skin comes with consumption
of something as tasty as fruit juices, no
one should be complaining.
Dabur Nepal
Launches New
Almond Hair Oil
Dabur Nepal has launched their latest
product— Dabur Almond Hair Oil. It is a
one-of-a-kind product that nourishes the
hair and assures 100% damage free hair.
Head of Marketing Abhaya Pd. Gorkhalee
of Dabur Nepal said, “Dabur
bur Nepal being
a market leader in Hair Oil
Category has entered into
to the
attractive almond segment
ent
offering a superior product
uct to
almond hair oil consumers.
ers.”
Dabur Almond Hair Oil has
as
twice the amount of Vitamin
min
E than ordinary ones and
d
it is the only hair oil with
Almond Protein, which iss
a vital nutrient for healthyy
hair. Consumer research
shows that the product
provides extensive care
to hair. It is available in
three sizes of 50 ml with
20 % extra, 100 ml with 25
% extra and 200 ml with
25 % extra.
HEALTHY LIFE 11
promotions
Opting for a Cost Effective Solution
in Oxygen Concentrators
Words: Sadichchha Dhakhwa
e always go forward in
the world of technology,
always with innovative
ideas and perseverance.
Nidek Medicals, a US based company
specializing in the field of oxygen
concentrators and PSA technologies,
has developed ‘Nuvo Lite’, an
innovative oxygen concentrator
designed for use at home for those who
need to rely on constant oxygen supply.
KAN International has made this
product available in Nepal.
W
‘Nuvo Lite’ has been described as a
new innovation, designed to help those
in need. This oxygen
concentrator uses the air
in the environment—the
air we breathe every
day, and converts it into
oxygen for those who
have medical need of it.
Hence, instead of carrying around a
heavy cylinder of oxygen, Nuvo Lite,
a product weighing merely 13.6 kg, is
an improvement. The other feature it
has to its advantage is that this oxygen
concentrator has a quiet operation—
operating below 40 dBA. Nuvo Lite
operates with the use of electricity;
however, the electricity consumption of
this machine is only 290 Watts.
Nuvo Lite has other features that make it
a desirable choice. It is a high efficiency
compressor—making the best of the
air around and to minimize any loss of
energy. It can also be adjusted to the
prescribed flow of oxygen that ranges
from 0.125 liters per minute up to 5 liters
per minute. It delivers oxygen purity in
the time frame of 3 minutes and also uses
an operating system with a timed cycle.
Among these benefits, Nuvo Lite is a cost
effective solution for providing oxygen. It
has a warranty of five years and does not
need a constant replacement of oxygen
cylinders. The cost of this innovative
solution for medical conditions that
require the patient to have a constant
supply of pure oxygen in Nepal is
Rs. 100,000. Due to is small size—a
compact 36 X 22 X 58 cm and light
weight, it is an option to opt for.
This product cannot be found in retail
medical stores and must be purchased at
KAN International located at Thapathali.
KAN International is a company
specializing in supply of medical
equipments for hospital or private use. It
is an importer and supplier of basic needs
in medical care such as surgical gloves,
ECG Machines, and Vital Sign Monitors.
For more information; Contact: Kumar Dahal at
KAN International. E-mail: [email protected] or
[email protected]. Tel: +97714141545, Mob:
+977 9851036162, +977 9801036162
advertorial
Vaccinate your Family against
Alcoholism & Drug Addiction
Words: Phr. Santusta Adhikari
W
e take great pride in our family
members’ accomplishments.
Why not? We are an important
influence in their lives.
Unfortunately, addiction is a family affair
too. Substance dependence is a set of
symptoms that indicate the continued use
of certain substances notwithstanding their
harmful effects on the body, cognition and
behavior. This type of dependency has two
forms: alcoholism and drug addiction.
Children’s experience at home is the largest
single factor in whether or not they will
have a drug or alcohol problem early in life.
A majority of people in trouble with alcohol
or drugs were introduced to them at home.
The stress and pain from living in an alcohol
or drug-affected family can lead to the use
of substances by other family members.
The World Health Organization reported 2.5
million deaths each year due to the harmful
effects of alcohol. They also reported another
alarming statistic of about 15.3 million people
with drug use disorder at present. Addiction
is a chronic relapsing disease caused by
multiple factors, such as genetics, trauma and
a family history of substance abuse, yet many
behaviors can make the problem better or
worse for a family. The very best prevention
program for many people at risk is to make
sure their addicted family member receive
appropriate treatment.
Protect Your Children
Here are a few of the things you can do:
1. Do a family history to determine
whether your family has shown signs of
alcoholism or other addiction. If so, your
children are especially vulnerable. Let them
know they can take steps to abstain from
substances that cause addiction.
2. Expose your children to sports, art,
music, reading, drama, so that they
develop avid interests. When kids are
bored, they’re more likely to experiment.
3. Foster strong family bonds to help
counter peer influences. If kids have a
sense of belonging within their families,
they will less likely seek it elsewhere.
4. Evaluate your own use of tobacco,
alcohol and drugs. If you walk in and grab
a beer or light up a cigarette every time you
get tense, what are you conveying to your
kid about coping with life’s stresses?
5. Set clear expectations for behavior.
In a major survey, thousands of teens said
that their biggest reason for choosing not
to drink, or drinking less than they would
have, is that their parents would be upset.
6. Let your kids know they can talk to
you about anything, without harsh
judgment or lectures. Be on the lookout
for “teachable moments,” like when your
child talks about drugs, or when an antidrug commercial comes on TV.
7. Teach them to make independent
decisions. Allow kids to make some of
their own decisions; when faced with offers
of drugs or alcohol, they can resist pressure.
8. Teach them to cope with frustration/
stress. When your child is upset, teach him
ways to feel better, like talking about it,
taking a walk, or relaxation techniques.
9. Teach your child to be skeptical of
sales pitches. When watching adverts or
passing a billboard advertising cigarettes/
alcohol, help your child discern between
the salesman’s interest and his own.
Is the problem already there?
Diagnose it.
Physical warning signs
• Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller
than usual.
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
• Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
• Deterioration of physical appearance,
personal grooming habits.
• Unusual smells on breath/body/clothing.
• Tremors, slurred speech or impaired
coordination.
Behavioral signs
• Drop in attendance and performance at
work or school.
• Unexplained need for money or financial
problems. May borrow or steal to get it.
• Engaging in secretive/suspicious behaviors.
• Sudden change in friends, favorite
hangouts and hobbies.
• Frequently getting into trouble (fights,
accidents, illegal activities).
Psychological warning
• Unexplained change in personality/attitude.
• Sudden mood swings, irritability or angry
outbursts.
• Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation
or giddiness.
• Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or
“spaced out.”
What can be your role now?
There are two ways to intervene with a
substance abuser: an informal intervention
(a personal discussion) or a structured
intervention. The latter involves bringing
together a group of people with the substance
abuser to explore how the abuse has affected
all their lives, and is used when the person
has repeatedly declined to get help. In any
intervention, it’s important to approach
your loved one when he/she is not high or
drunk (and when you are not acutely upset).
An Informal Intervention
• Avoid labeling the person an “alcoholic” or
“addict”.
• Cite specific incidents resulting from the
person’s substance abuse.
• Stick to what you know firsthand, not
hearsay.
• Talk in “I statements” explaining how the
person’s behavior has affected you (“When
you drive drunk, I don’t sleep all night.”)
• Be prepared for denial and resentment.
• Be supportive and hopeful about change.
The point of any intervention
is to ask the person to take
concrete steps to address the
problem.
A structured intervention should be
facilitated by a professional.
You can seek professional help and assistance
through rehabilitation and support centers
to get your affected family member out of
this problem. One thing what you should
always be clear is that, more the delay you
do in taking your child to support centers,
more difficult it will be to get them back
to normal life. In addition to social and
psychotherapeutic methods, medicine
like REHAB (Naltrexone Hydrochloride) are
available on prescription to help and ease the
process of quitting substance abuse (alcohol
and drug abuse). You can talk to a doctor or
the consultant in support centres to ease the
process. Always remember, substance abuse is
a complex problem, but not a hopeless issue.
Discover the brighter side of life
REHAB
Naltrexone Hydrochloride 50 mg
Treatment of Alcohol and Opoid
Dependence
cover
Summer
Exuberance
ECS Media
Enjoy the summer months like never before
It is true— the changing of the seasons does have
a profound effect on the psyche. And, no other
season has as profound an effect as summer
because this is the season when you can literally
take the shirt off your back and let yourself go.
S
14 HEALTHY LIFE
Here are details of the web programmer and
his colleagues’ rafting excursion, which is typical
and will give you a very good idea about what
this cool and sporty activity entails:
Itinerary:
Words: Amar B Shrestha
aturday was still
a good three days
away, yet there was
a definite buzz of
excitement around the office.
The web programmer, who had
brought up the idea first, was
busy collecting the requisite
amount of Rs. 1400 from all in
the office who wished to spend
the coming Saturday rafting
down the scenic Trishuli River.
This fresh dose of exuberance
on their part perhaps reflected
the coming of summer once
again in no uncertain terms. It
is true— the changing of the
Let’s go Rafting!
seasons does have a profound
effect on the psyche. And, no
other season has as profound
an effect as summer because
this is the season when you can
literally take the shirt off your
back and let yourself go.
Hmm, all this does making
rafting a really cool idea to
give a fantastic start to your
summer, what do you say? So,
since this feature is on how
to make your summer extra
cool (in all senses of the word)
we suggest you plan your
next weekend to go rafting
7:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.–Journey to Charaundi,
about 80 km away by tourist microbus
10:00 -10:30 – Tea and snacks
10:30 – 11:00 a.m. – Orientation
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Rafting down to
Kuringhat, about 20 km away
3:00 -3:30 p.m. – Lunch
4:00 p.m. – Journey back to Kathmandu
Package cost: Rs. 1300 per person
(minimum group of 15).
Extras: Rs. 100 each for miscellaneous
expenses.
For rafting tour organizers check out:
http://welcomenepal.com/promotional/
directory.php?cid=766633741332
http://www.raftingholidays.com/nepal/
kathmandu/operators/
Be sure to ask about special deals.
with friends and family. This great
outdoor activity is something that
Nepal is especially famous for
and will set the tone right for a
sparkling summer ahead.
Since we have started on an
adventurous note, might as well
explore the following activities
this summer as well. There is no
dearth of reputed tour operators
for such activities. Go to: http://
welcomenepal.com/promotional/
directory.php?cid=766633741332
for a comprehensive list of
agencies. Most will have special
packages for domestic tourists.
Canyoning
Canyoning is an adventure sport
where you travel down creeks or
streams within a canyon in various
ways: hiking, scrambling, wading,
boulder-hopping, rock climbing,
abseiling and rappelling. Trained
instructors will ensure that the
techniques employed and the
equipments used will be of good
standard. However, keep in mind
that your safety depends on your
own judgment based on a realistic
assessment of your abilities and
understanding of current canyon
conditions. The Bhotekoshi River, just
a three hour drive from Kathmandu,
is a great place to go canyoning.
Protect yourself from the Sun
Of course, all such activities means that you are in the great outdoors
all day which is a good and healthy thing. But, at the same time, it
also means that you are exposed to the sun for long periods which
means you need to take be careful because overexposure to the sun’s
ultraviolet (UV) radiation can result in painful sunburn. It can also
lead to serious health problems like skin cancer, premature aging
of the skin, cataracts and other eye damage. So, be sure to take the
following precautions:
Apply sunscreen generously to cover exposed skin areas about 20
minutes before going outside. The sunscreen should have a Sun
Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 and provide protection from
both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B
(UVB) rays.
Reapply every two hours and especially
after swimming or sweating.
Wear suitable and
protective clothing like
long-sleeved shirt, pants,
a hat and sunglasses. Take
special care to see that
your child is also similarly
dressed since they are
more vulnerable.
The sun’s UV rays are
strongest between 10 a.m.
and 4 p.m. so seek shade
when possible especially
during this period.
Ultra light aircrafts are two-seater
planes, which carries one pilot and
one passenger in every flight.
ECS Media
Ultra Flight
Ultra-light flights are operated
from Pokhara Airport beginning
September through June. Ultra
light aircrafts are two-seater planes,
which carries one pilot and one
passenger in every flight. Designed
to safely carry passengers, they
provide openings on both sides
allowing viewing freedom.
Generally, the flight will take you
to a height of 5000 ft and you will
soar over Pokhara city. The plane
will fly at 50 to 90 km/hr and the
flight will usually be of 15 minutes
duration. Another program takes
you close to Fishtail Mountain at
90 km/hr and the flight duration
will be for 30 minutes. Yet another
HEALTHY LIFE 15
cover
Voyaging in Comfort with Voyage Villa
We talked to a travel and tour
operator in Kathmandu about
special packages for this summer
and this is what they had to say:
What are your special
packages for domestic tourists
this summer?
We have specially customized
“Summer Splendor” packages
for Nepalese nationals targeted
towards couples and family groups
which is tailored both in terms of
budget as well as preferences. Our
package ranges from 2 nights–3
days to 7 nights–8 days depending
on customer’s preferred length
of stay. Costs of these packages
are completely based on our
customer’s preferences which
varies as per their preferred
transportation means, choice of
hotels etc.
Can you give some details
please?
Considering the quality of services
offered in various locations; we
have carefully chosen our partner
hotels for various hotel categories
program takes you on a one hour
flight to 12,000 ft flying over the
whole of the Annapurna Range at
speeds of 90 to 130 km/hr.
Bird Watching
Another interesting pastime for the
summer could be bird-watching.
Even if you haven’t really tried it
before, do so now. Who knows,
you might start cultivating a very
absorbing and rewarding hobby
for yourself that could be lifelong.
Nepal boasts of more than 857 bird
16 HEALTHY LIFE
in different cities which we call
“A Voyage Villa Partner Hotel”. We
strictly use our partner hotels only
in order to maintain the level of
quality services being used by our
customers. Usually, an overnight
stay includes destinations like
Dhulikhel and Nagarkot whereas
our packages also caters to
destinations like Chitwan National
Park, Pokhara and Lumbini in case
they have adequate travel time.
Do you have any deals/
discounts? What are they?
As an early bird offer; we are
currently offering up to 15%
discount on our selected domestic
packages if it is purchased 21-days
in advance ahead of the scheduled
travel date. However, there are
various discounts options as well if
the group size is 10 and above. This
offer is valid until July 31, 2012.
Some details about any
adventure activities for locals
including special rates if any.
Adventure activities come along
with the packages if customer
wishes it to be. For example, in
Pokhara we have sightseeing
options by using “Ultra Light
Air Craft”, “Paragliding”, etc.,
whereas in Chitwan we have
the Jungle Safari with cultural
programs. Most of our packages
are inclusive of all 3 meals—
breakfast, lunch and dinner—
including 2 way transportation,
local taxes, monument fees,
etc. Therefore, there are no
hidden costs and customers,
after paying upfront for the
package cost, will not have to
spare any extra amount apart
from their personal expenditures
like beverages, telephone calls,
internet, etc.
Contact
Voyage Villa Travel & Tours Co. (P) Ltd.
Baghdole, Lalitpur – 4 | Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel/Fax: 977 1 5524966 | SKYPE: voyage.villa
Email: [email protected] | Web: www.voyagevilla.com
species and Koshi Tappu Wildlife
Reserve in the eastern Terai is a
bird watcher’s paradise. However,
if you don’t want to go that far,
don’t worry. Many of these birds
can be spotted in Kathmandu Valley
itself. Nagarjun, Godavari and
Phulchowki are popular birding
areas. The national parks like
Chitwan and Bardiya too have a
wide variety of birds. Koshi Tappu,
however, has better sightings of a
diverse variety of both resident and
migratory birds. Many operators
km/h, and you end up swinging
like a pendulum. Adrenaline rush
guaranteed. Go to: http://www.
thelastresort.com.np/content/46 for
more details.
Butterfly Watching
ECS Media
This is another interesting hobby
that could pique your interest and
if so, then you are living in the
right country because Nepal has
651 species of butterflies which is
3.72% of the world’s butterflies. The
British residents who were stationed
here during the Rana regime took
great interest in collecting butterfly
species and cataloguing them. Late
March/April, mid May/mid June
and late August/September are the
best seasons for butterfly watching.
Where you can watch butterflies:
the area around Swoyambhu; the
base of the hills and around forest
streams at Godavari, Nagarjun,
Budanilkantha and Sundarijal; the
Bungee Jumping
Located along the Arniko Highway,
it is a three hour drive from
Kathmandu to The Last Resort
which has a 160 m high bridge over
the Bhote Koshi River specially
designed for bungee jumping. It is
no doubt an activity for brave souls,
but you can rest assured because it
is said to be extremely safe with a
ECS Media
organize bird watching trips under
experienced naturalists. Go to
http://www.birdingpal.org/Nepal.
htm where you will find names
and contact information of expert
birding enthusiasts who will be
happy to accompany you.
4x-safety factor (the loading factor
is 41,500 kg or 4.5 tons according
to Swiss standards). There are two
jump options—one is the regular
‘head first’ jump which is done on
rubber rope and provides about
2 to 2.5 seconds of free fall. The
second is called swing, which is ‘legs
first’ and secures about six seconds
of free fall at a speed about 150
hilltops of Phulchowki, Jamachowk
and Shivapuri; and the bush areas
of Nagarkot, Suryavinayak and
Chandragiri. Again, go to http://
www.birdingpal.org/Nepal.htm
where you will find names and
contact information of expert
naturalists who will be happy to help
you in your quest to develop one
more interesting hobby. „
HEALTHY LIFE 17
cover
Fresh Fruity Blends
Drinks to keep you cool this summer
Make use of the fresh fruits and herbs and enjoy
these cool drinks this summer
Courtesy: Hyatt Regency, Boudha
Photos By: ECS Media
Watermint
1 Slice watermelon cut into pieces
½ apple, cut into pieces
90 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
3 fresh mint leaves
90 ml mineral water
5 ice cubes
Put all ingredients in a blender, add
one scoop of ice and blend it
Glass — Martini glass
Garnish—mint sprig
Yogurt Fizz
90 ml sweet curd
A small pinch of salt
1 bunch of sweet leaves
Mineral water or club soda
Ice
Put all ingredients in a blender and
blend it
Glass– Margarita glass
Garnish– Mint sprig
Tramanto
4-5 fresh strawberries
90 ml pineapple juice
45 ml orange juice
90 ml plain yogurt
Put all ingredients in a blender and
blend it
Glass–Tossa 79
Garnish–chopped strawberry
Basil and Lime
Carpiroshaka
4-5 basil leaves
6-7 lemon wedges
2 white sugar sachet
15 ml sugar syrup
15 ml lemon juice
Put basil leaves, lemon wedge and sugar
in a shaker. Muddle it. Pour lemon juice
and sugar syrup. Shake it well. Pour in a
pitcher glass, top with soda water.
Glass- Pitcher
Garnish- Basil sprig
18 HEALTHY LIFE
on the cover
Loyalty to Friends before All Else
–Sahana Vajracharya
Words: Sadichchha Dhakhwa
She wants to be more than just another pretty face, a refrain
that is so clichéd, you expect all beauty queens to say the
same line during an interview. But, perhaps, we can expect
this particular “pretty face” to live up to her words.
Sahana Varjacharya is a name well
recognized in Nepal. Crowned
Miss Nepal 1st Runner up in 2010,
she has become one of the most
sought after models in the country.
A TV personality, Sahana has been
working with Kantipur Television
on an upcoming show.
I’ve been traveling quite a lot this
year! I did some trekking, and I lost
both my toenails during the trek! I
don’t regret it because the moments
and the experience were just
amazing. This year, I plan to trek
up the Everest Base Camp. That’s
the big travel plan this year.
What activities will you be
engaging in this summer?
Could you list five
interesting locations for
travelling with family?
Work related, I was in Achham
shooting a documentary on
women issues, which is known by
the name Chhaupadi. We hear a
lot about Chhaupadi and it is all
negative news. It’s a practice in
West Nepal when the women have
their periods they are kept away
from the houses in sheds. So, there
are a lot of cases where the women
die of various causes: suffocation,
rape cases and animal attacks. I
was there back in February and
it is now in the post-production
phase. It will be complete by
the end of April and the first
place I want to showcase this
documentary is in Achham itself.
Apart from that, I am busy with
Miss Nepal 2012. I am the MC for
the finale and I am also helping the
girls during their training sessions,
little interactions and all these
things. And, I am coming up with
a new show in Kantipur Television.
I cannot reveal what kind of show,
but a new show, a fresh show!
Do you plan to travel
anywhere in Nepal this year?
20 HEALTHY LIFE
I usually travel with friends
because they are adventurous. I
like adventurous traveling! My
I would suggest Lakuri Bhanjyang.
It is just around an hour’s drive
from here.
Which trip with your
family or friends has a
personal value to you?
I think it would be the recent
trek I did. This was the Great
Himalayan Trail with Apa Sherpa
and his team. The trek started
from Besi Sahar to Galtung, which
is in Sindhupalhowk district. It
was memorable because it was
amazing to trek with some amazing
One place I recommend for family is
Nuwakot. There is a beautiful place
there—Famous Farm. It is an old
Newari three-storied house and it’s
beautifully renovated.
family is usually relaxed and
laid-back. Um, five… I would say
trekking around the Annapurna
Circuit and the Everest Base
Camp. At the same time, I am also
into historical places. I want to
visit Palpa, Tansen’s Rani Mahal—
the beautiful palace. One place I
recommend for family is Nuwakot.
There is a beautiful place there—
Famous Farm. It is an old Newari
three-storied house and it’s
beautifully renovated. It’s a typical
Nepali feel that you get when you
stay there with a breathtaking view
of the Nuwakot palace. I also love
watching planes take off and land.
personalities of the world; Apa
Sherpa is a Guinness World Record
Holder. Another thing is that, in
these places you do not get to
visit easily—you have to walk to
see these places, its not like you
can take a vehicle. The best part
of the trekking with the team was
that—it’s a rush. You have to keep
up with their pace—if you don’t,
you have to find the trail and look
at navigation maps and arrows. It’s
so much fun! We started around
7-7:30 a.m. and we stopped at a
village for lunch, another village
for tea, and then camped. It was
amazing because, for instance, if
11 or 12. Whenever I get time, I try
to spend it with my family. There is
no trick or mantra to keep balance.
For me, family and friends come first.
Even if I am at an important work
and a friend is in trouble and calls me
for help, I rush to her help.
How often do you exercise?
Do you do yoga? Which
yoga do you prefer?
I do kickboxing. I do yoga. But,
these days, it is a bit irregular because
I recently hurt my toe. I do Power
Yoga! I cannot meditate. I don’t have
that much of patience. I need stress!
Mentally, it gives me a feeling that
I’m working out. Those slow ashrams
and all, I cannot work with them.
What does your typical
workout session look like?
It is very stressful to mind and body. I
prefer fast workouts. I don’t have that
much patience for slow meditation
and yoga. I prefer swimming and
Power Yoga and that’s why I’m into
kickboxing.
Which spa/gym do you
recommend?
ECS Media
I do personal training. I would
recommend people to indulge is some
kind of physical activity because it
keeps you fresh and the metabolism
is also good. It is also good for your
health, from within and physically. If
not every day, three times a week
we leave a Newari village in the
morning, then for lunch it would
be a Tamang basti and then so
many other bastis, and finally, we
camped in a Sherpa village. The
variety in the culture, the cuisine,
the lifestyle—that was the best part
about the trek. I think trekking
is all about that, you experience
so many different things with so
many different people with so much
mental and physical pressure.
when I drive, I NEED music. I
don’t start my engine without it.
And definitely, eat healthy. Sadly,
my diet and eating habits are so
irregular; I don’t have a disciplined
eating time because of my work!
Sometimes I forget to eat, and
sometimes I overeat, but I try not to
overeat. And, I drink a lot of water.
What is your trick to keep
yourself fresh all day?
That is most challenging part of my
life- balancing both personal and
family life with work. I usually work
late; my mind is more active after
My music. Music rejuvenates me,
when I am low, I listen to music;
How do you organize your
time between personal
life and work?
What are your plans for
your career for the future?
Television is my career, that is what
I studied. I don’t want to be a pretty
face in front of the camera. It is
important to know the technicality
of any field. There are new faces
coming up and if you have knowledge
that is what keeps you alive. Making
documentaries and bringing out
different stories and issues from
various parts of Nepal—that is my
keen interest. Since I love traveling,
I will be working on documentaries
and I already started with my first!
Television and documentaries, yes! „
HEALTHY LIFE 21
feature
They Mean
Business!
Stereotypes No More—Changing Role of Women Today
The women in our lives are like modern technology that makes
our lives so much easier. These women are everything from
a hand on our head to the heel on our feet. It’s time that we
identify these “mothers”, “sisters” and “wives” by what they do
rather than by who they are related to.
Words: Nimma Adhikari
he role of women did not
change much in Nepali
literature few decades
back. I remember reading
short Nepali stories and one-act
plays in my course books where
a woman was always assigned
with the traditional role of a
woman. She was always a doting
mother, devoted wife, caring
sister and an obedient daughter.
T
22 HEALTHY LIFE
Seldom was she portrayed
otherwise, and when she was,
she was a landlady. Those were
the “good” old times as some
people like to call it.
These landladies began to get
out of the domestic sphere
several years later and now they
can be seen everywhere. They
took up every role in the man’s
land. Though their success was
immense, very few believed
women could actually become big
in business. Yes, the non-believers
have always been proven wrong
but that’s a totally different story.
We have women, big in business,
who dared to become more than
a landlady in their own right.
sector for various years, she wanted
a bigger challenge and opening her
own advertising company just seemed
like the challenge that she was looking
for. She wanted to build a team that
could be innovative and could come
up with ideas that were unique. Not
just that, she wanted a team that could
communicate and take up marketing
challenges and sell these unique ideas.
It was a big challenge but she did not
hesitate accepting it.
Muna Shrestha
Managing Director,Munz Ad. Pvt. Ltd.
S
hrestha started working right after
completing her high school. She
worked as a computer teacher in St.
Mary’s School. She juggled her time
between work and education but that
stopped when she completed her MBS.
She had always been passionate about
media and everything related to it.
Having worked in the advertisement
C
reativity, innovation, hard
work, courage – you have to
have it all to become successful;
you should have the willpower and
yes, you have to be optimistic,” says
Lacoul. How did Jamarko come
into existence? Well, Lacoul wanted
to support her mother’s business
of recycling paper. “It was a good
social cause for me, plus, I wanted
to promote Nepali handicraft and
provide employment to locals
using local resources,” says she, a
Master’s graduate in management.
Jamarko is a handicraft store in
Jhamsikhel established in November
2011. Lacoul’s mom has a factory
dealing in handmade paper
products and all the products in
Jamarko come from the factory.
They not only sell their own
products but takes orders as well.
The initial phase of a business is
never easy and neither was hers.
“It was tough. My granddad, who
She believes that the PR she has
developed over the years is an
achievement. “The goodwill that I
have earned and the work that I do
along with my team is an achievement
for me and that keeps me motivated,”
says she. Though she has worked in
this sector for a very long time, Munz
Ad is a relatively new company and
she believes that she is still learning.
She believes in hard work and she
continues working on what she
believes. She admits that she has
attained a certain level of success in
her business venture, however, she will
consider herself successful only if she
is happy with everything she will have
done by the time she retires.
When asked how she makes time for
her work and her family, she says,
“Everyone has 24 hours in a day,
not more, not less. All we can do is
manage it well. As a professional who
is also a workaholic, I spend a lot of
time in my professional venture, but
I make sure that I spend proper time
with my family as well. With years of
experience, juggling family and work is
not that tough anymore,” says she.
She doesn’t think that gender has
anything to do with success or failure.
She concludes, “It is probably because
I see myself as a ‘businessperson’ and
not specifically as a ‘businesswoman’.
The one and only rule is that you should
work hard. Without hard work there is
no success. It’s as simple as that.”
supported me all the time, didn’t
support me this time,” she says, “I
had to rely on my mom financially
and my husband was the one who
motivated me to start this business.”
Running a business is not an
easy task, and an eco-friendly
paper product’s store in Nepal at
that. “Business is all about risks.
It depends on how you tackle
the risks. Awareness towards
environment is growing and it’s
time we contributed towards it,”
remarks Lacoul.
She says that timely service,
quality, creativity, commitment
and customer satisfaction are some
things that have helped in running
her business well. Different kinds
of customers come to her shop
every day. “It is hard to satisfy
everyone. Some do not understand
what handmade products are. They
want their orders to be delivered in
Kritica Lacoul
Proprietor, Jamarko Nepal
a day’s time. It takes time to make
these handmade products. And,
some people think that since they
are made out of paper, they should
be cheap,” says she.
When asked how she sees
Jamarko in the next 10 years,
she says, “I want the first thing
on people’s mind to be Jamarko
if someone asks them about
the first eco-friendly handicraft
shop. And I want to expand
Jamarko and open other outlets.”
HEALTHY LIFE 23
feature
schools in London. She did a
course in London Institute of
Beauty Culture and came back to
Nepal. A few months later, she
travelled back to London and
enrolled herself in ALAND School
of Hairdressing.
Sindhu Karmacharya
Proprietor, Faces, Babarmahal
O
ne of the most prominent
faces in the beauty and
hair salon business in Nepal is
Sindhu Karmacharya, proprietor
of Faces. Many may think all that
requires to be an expert in beauty
and hair business is practice, but
Karmacharya opines otherwise.
Karmacharya, who intended to
study architecture, got fascinated
by the beauty and hairdressing
24 HEALTHY LIFE
“People think that it’s all practice
but we had to study a lot of books
on skin and hair,” says she. Practice
does make one perfect but one has to
have the right education as well. She
studied for four years in London and
finally opened Faces in Kupondole
in 1995 after she returned to
Nepal. Opening up a salon was
not easy for her then. “Back then,
hairdressing was not considered a
good profession. People used to think
that uneducated people got involved
in this business with little or no skill
at all. But mine was totally different,”
says Sindhu. Her family, who
opposed her decision at first, slowly
began to understand her desire and
her profession after her salon began
getting good reviews.
The other challenge was to get good
beauty and hair products for her
salon. “There were no products in
Nepal that I could use. I got them
from London and Bangkok. At one
time, I even thought of going back to
London. But my salon began getting
good reviews,” says she. Karmacharya
still goes to London each year to
refresh her hairdressing skill at Tony
& Guy. Faces extended its services in
Bluebird Complex and Babarmahal
as well but had to close down two
of those at Kupondole and Bluebird.
When asked why, she says, “It is very
difficult to inculcate professionalism
in people. I began getting complaints
from my clients and I couldn’t be at
three places at the same time.”
With Faces in Babarmahal she has had
the opportunity to provide services
to some of her first clients. That’s a
success story. She intends to open
a proper formal hair and beauty
academy. “I want to teach my students
in the same manner I was taught in
London,” says Karmacharya. „
The Spirit of Summer
The Season Is Such As To Make Your Spirit Soar
It’s a time when you have a yearning for adventure and romance. It’s a time when fashion
takes a front seat and colorful attire dominates. It’s a time when everybody feels younger
and full of life. It’s a time when optimism rules and infuses the spirit with fresh new hope.
Photos: ECS Media
Poolside in summer, you are
more often than not, likely
to find folks dressed in the
colors of the season. The more
colorful, the better!
Him
Orange printed tees,
beachwear half pant from Baleno,
Woodland Complex, Durbar Marg,
4224707/4227261
Shades from U.F.O
Slippers from Giordano Exclusive
Showroom, Sherpa Mall, 4243988
Her
Floral top, white quarter pants,
blue flat sandals from Makeover,
Times Square Mall, Durbar Marg,
4228444
Shades from U.F.O, Kumaripati, 5524627
Models: Ayushma Adhikari and Eshan Kudhu
26 HEALTHY LIFE
Venue Courtesy: Hotel Goodwill Pvt
Ltd, Patan—5544520, goodwill@
wlink.com.np
Patan Durbar Square, which throbs
with life all year around, is a favorite
meeting point for the young. Cool
attire is the order of the day.
Him
Deep grey cotton pants
S. Oliver checkered shirt
White classic shoes
From Garage, Times Square Mall, Durbar
Marg, 9841268225, Shades from U.F.O
Her
JP Dhaka casual hand bag
Big green bangles
Cotton leggings
Green printed kurti
From Tridarkarshini,
Durbar Marg, 4417225
HEALTHY LIFE 27
Who can resist the lure of the
great outdoors when summer
comes? But, at the same time,
keep things cool with pastel
colors.
Him
Striped tees, side pocket half
pants, strapped & tie slipper,
Cap from Reebok
Her
Purple tees, strapped & tie
slipper from Rockport Showroom,
Durbar Marg. 4227216
Quarter pants from S&M, from
Times Square Mall, Durbar Marg
Water bottle from Reebok Sports
Plaza Pvt. Ltd, Durbar Marg, 4224707
Bike Courtesy: Epic Mountain
Bike, Jhamsikhel—5555021, info@
epicmountainbike.com
Models: Dinesh Devkota and Subi Basnet
28 HEALTHY LIFE
Casual is the spirit during the hot
summer months and casually mod is
the fashion statement of the season.
Him
Slim fitting tapered jeans from Lee
Stores, Durbar Marg, 4232006
Checkered shirt Classic designed
sneakers from Reebok Sports Plaza Pvt.
Ltd, Durbar Marg, 4224707
Shades from U.F.O
Her
Skinny jeans, printed tees, casual
sneakers from Rockport Sports Shop,
Durbar Marg, 4227216
Ice-cream Courtesy: Baskin-Robbins,
Sherpa Mall, Durbar Marg
HEALTHY LIFE 29
FAMILY
A Confused
State of Mind
ADHD Affects Many Children
It is very usual for them to ask, “Mother, will grandfather
become a skeleton after he dies?” in the middle of a
preaching session. And in the classroom when the
teacher asks, “Who can tell me what a verb is?” he may be
that single boy who will say, “Mr. P did you just pass gas?”
Don’t blame such children. They may be victims of ADHD.
Words: Sunita Gurung
A
ryan* is a normal healthy
eight year old boy who
can outwit the brightest
student in his class
with his sharp memory if he so
desires. But his restlessness, lack of
attention and poor concentration
completely overpowers him and
derails him off the tracks right into
the path of confusion. Very often
he tends to respond before he has
considered things properly and
doesn’t know when to stop. He
has problems following directions
and staying focused, is easily
distracted, bored or frustrated with
tasks and is impulsive, not stopping
to think before he acts. It is very
30 HEALTHY LIFE
usual for him to ask, “Mother, will
grandfather become a skeleton
after he dies?” in the middle of
a preaching session. And in the
classroom when the teacher asks,
“Who can tell me what a verb is?”
he may be that single boy who
will say, “Mr. P did you just pass
gas?” While the horrified mother
gasps in exasperation and the
teacher squirms in embarrassment
it can take a while for the two to
comprehend that his words weren’t
intentional and that he wasn’t
trying to be impudent. He plainly
suffers from a disorder called
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder – ADHD.
• has a tendency to daydream
• has trouble staying organized,
organizing daily tasks and
planning ahead
• frequently loses or misplaces
homework, books, toys, or
personal items
What is ADHD?
One of the most common chronic
conditions affecting children, ADHD
often goes undetected as most
of the signs tend to overlap with
typical early childhood behaviors.
The condition becomes apparent
once the child begins pre-school or
elementary. Researches show that in
approximately half of the cases, the
onset of ADHD is before the age of
four and the disorder occurs as much
as four to nine times more in boys
than in girls. Hence, parents need to
be more aware and have to pay more
attention to behavioral assessment of
their child. When we have to adhere to
a norm where a child’s development is
strictly measured in terms of academic
excellence, it can be a long and trying
journey for a child who faces difficulty
filtering out all the information
coming into his brain. Since most
of the parents and teachers are not
aware of this disorder, they often
doubt the child’s intellectual prowess
thereby leading to a child’s mounting
frustrations. While it cannot be
considered a learning disability, it can
certainly hamper the learning process
if help is not forthcoming.
ADHD is thought to be caused by a
chemical imbalance in the brain that
affects the parts controlling attention,
concentration and impulsiveness.
According to Chhori Laxmi Maharjan,
who has a Master’s degree in
clinical psychology and is the Senior
Counselor and Manager at Ankur
Counseling Centre, “Many causes are
thought to be related to this disorder
but till date, a definitive cause of
ADHD has not been found.” She adds,
“However, scientists and psychologists
believe that there are number of causes
which have been influencing ADHD
which are as follows:
Hyperactivity
A child with ADHD
Chhori Laxmi Maharjan
Senior Counselor and Manager, Ankur
Counseling Centre
• Biological factors (functions and
chemical messengers in the brain)
• Heredity may play a role (3050% of children with ADHD have
a sibling or parent who has the
disorder, Faraone & Doyle,2001)
• Prenatal and postnatal
abnormalities (maternal use of
alcohol and cigarettes, long duration
of labor, malnutrition during the first
year of life, Dulcan,1989)”
Symptoms of ADHD are generally
categorized into three groups:
inattention, hyperactivity and
impulsiveness.
Inattention
A child with ADHD
• is easily distracted
• has difficulty following directions
or finishing tasks and projects
• does not appear to be listening
when someone is speaking
• does not pay attention and makes
careless mistakes
• is forgetful about daily activities
and has difficulty remembering
• avoids or dislikes activities that
require sitting still or sustained effort
ADHD is thought to be caused by a
chemical imbalance in the brain that
affects the parts controlling attention,
concentration and impulsiveness.
• often squirms, fidgets when sitting
• has difficulty remaining seated
• has difficulty playing quietly
• is always moving, such as
running or climbing on things
• talks excessively
• may have a quick temper or a
“short fuse”
Impulsivity
A child with ADHD
• has difficulty waiting for his or
her turn in group situations
• blurts out answers before the
question has been completed
• often interrupts others and
intrudes in others’ personal
businesses like conversations and
games
• says the wrong thing at the
wrong time
• is unable to keep powerful
emotions in check, resulting in
angry outbursts or temper tantrums
• guesses, rather than taking time
to solve a problem
With every possibility of the above
given symptoms getting confused
with early childhood developments,
Chhori Laxmi says, “The initial phase
of this disorder is noticeable detection
of behavioral, social and emotional
disturbances. The very common
characteristics of children with
ADHD include general immaturity
and clumsiness. Elementary school
teachers significantly report that this
type of child has difficulty working
independently, completing any kind
of seated work, has listening problem
and organizing work. A parent has
to often remind them to complete
their homework and they also notice
HEALTHY LIFE 31
frequent destruction or damages or
loss of toys during play. At least eight of
the symptoms should have been seen
before the age of seven years. This will
help a parent to figure out whether the
child should be evaluated for ADHD
by an expert or not. The psychiatrists
and psychologists then take references
from ICD (International Classification
of Mental and Behavior Disorder)
and DSM-IV (Diagnostic Statistical
Manual-Revised IV) to diagnose
ADHD. Besides these, there are
other authorized books which give us
standardized and scientific criterions in
authenticating the case.”
Diagnosing correctly
Notably, not all children with ADHD
are hyperactive; ADHD children who
are inattentive but not hyperactive may
instead seem to be unmotivated and
constantly are lost in their own world.
Amar Bhattarai*, father of 12 year
old Akash* had come to Ankur
Counseling Center seemingly
frustrated. The first thing he had
asked was whether the centre could
take his son and care for him on a
daily basis. Taken aback by such a
strange request, the counselor gently
prodded him to share his feelings.
He sighed and said that his son, a
4th grader, had a problem in school.
He constantly struggled to complete
his assigned tasks due to his below
par attention span and lack of
concentration. When his academic
performance suffered, the teachers
at the school started suspecting him
of having a very low IQ and believed
that he had a learning disability. He
could not maintain a proper peer
relationship and had to be constantly
reminded by the teachers to be gentle
and to greet them properly.
When the teachers suggested
moving him from his school,
Amar went to a psychiatrist who
prescribed some medications which
did not improve his behavior. He
then visited a number of centers
which dealt with children having
disorders. When he saw physically
Providing effective help
• Parents and teachers need to increase their knowledge about ADHD and ways to
manage symptoms.
• Develop and implement an original system to increase the child on task
behaviors and completion of school assignments, chores or household
responsibilities (e.g. using routine calendars, charts, notebooks and class
syllabus).
• Develop a routine schedule to increase the child’s compliance with school,
household or work related responsibilities.
• Encourage the child to maintain regular communication about the academic,
behavioral, emotional and social progress (assign “getting it done”).
• Reward and praise constantly even when they finish a single task.
• Consultation among the parents and the teachers to implement strategies to
improve school performance such as sitting in the front row during class, using a
prearrangement signal to redirect the child back to task, scheduling breaks from
tasks, providing frequent constructive feedback, implementing a daily behavioral
report card, clearing away distractions and studying in quiet places.
• Teaching them self controlling strategies e.g. “stop, look, listen and think”.
• Assist the child by reading directions twice and rechecking works for more
effective test taking strategies.
• Exploring periods of time when the child demonstrates good impulse control and
engages in fewer disruptive behavior.
• Coaching and training on ‘Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT)”, “Positive
Discipline Techniques” and “Behavior Modification Therapy” for parents, teachers
and for the individuals who directly deal with children.
and mentally challenged children
with Cerebral Palsy, Autism and
Down’s Syndrome, he assessed that
his son didn’t actually suffer from
that kind of disorder. That’s when
he came to ACC seeking help and
Akash was diagnosed with ADHD.
Unlike his younger brother who is
very independent, Akash needs help
with very simple tasks like tying his
shoelaces and needs more instructions
to complete even small tasks. Besides
being intellectually challenged, he can
remember numbers quickly and is
very good in singing.
The severity of ADHD is categorized
as mild, moderate and severe. Some
of the symptoms can be as severe
as a tendency to engage, or often
engaging in, physically dangerous
activities without considering the
possible consequences. They also have
difficulty accepting responsibility for
actions, projecting blame for problems
on others, and failing to learn from
experiences. They have a low self
esteem and poor social and emotional
skills. Research shows that children
with ADHD often have above-average
intelligence but find the entire learning
process a challenge. And their refusal
to conform to the accepted standards
of academics in a society obsessed
with nothing less than excellent,
makes blending with the rest a
gargantuan task.
“To deal and manage with
ADHD, only the efforts of parents
and teachers is not enough, so
a combination of medication,
behavioral management, effective
teaching and parental monitoring
as a holistic approach improves
ADHD,” says Chhori Laxmi.
Friends of Needy Children (FNC)
/ Ankur Counseling Center (ACC)
has been working in this field since
2006. It provides individual and
group counseling sessions to the
children and youth by using different
therapies or treatment interventions
such as Sand Play therapy, Child
Parent Relationship Therapy,
Positive Discipline Techniques,
Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Creative
Movement Therapy, etc. „
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
32 HEALTHY LIFE
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PARENTING
Keep your
Kids Engaged
Tricks parents should know
Parents are the child’s first role models and there is no
doubt that this is tricky business. Growing up is hard,
and when you are older you end up wishing you could
be a child again. Take this time, be your child’s best
friend and enjoy the healthy innocence of a child.
Words: Sadichchha Dhakhwa
A
A Puppet Show
Kids like to travel to their imaginary
land. Imagination is a part of
growing up. Feed to this need and
make your own puppet show. Easy
and attractive, this activity will have
every kid hooked.
Materials needed
Puppets
A small stage for your performance
34 HEALTHY LIFE
Instructions
Step 1: Imagine what your
character can do.
Step 2: Think of conversations.
Have a background on your
puppet; where he comes from,
things he likes to do and things he
dislikes, his age and so on.
Step 3: Make a dialogue; imagine a
story for your puppets. Write it down
if you want to read while you perform.
Step 4:
Practice. Put
your imagination to the
physicality of the puppet.
Learn some skills of
a puppeteer; lip synch
(moving the mouth of your
puppet during a conversation),
eye focus (where the puppet should be
focusing) and body movementg Give
each character a different voice. Be
sure to use expressions to make the
show more interesting.
Step 5: Have a stage ready. Make
sure that any part of you cannot be
seen behind a veil.
Learn a Magic Trick: Ice
Breath
There is nothing more impressive
than a parent’s magical abilities. In
a world dominated by Harry Potter,
not being a ‘muggle’ is the need for
cool parents. Learn a simple trick
to impress children.
Materials Required
A non-transparent cup
Sponge
Ice Cube
A clear water pitcher or glass with
water
Instructions
Step 1: Cut a sponge in a circle so
that it fits tightly into the bottom of
the cup. Make sure that it doesn’t
fall out when turned upside down.
Step 2: Place an ice cube on top of
the sponge.
Step 3: Put a small amount of
water (1/8 of a cup into a clear
pitcher/glass).
Step 4: Tell your audience that you
have really cold breath and you
can freeze water by blowing on it.
Show the cup and the water to the
audience. Make sure no one can see
inside the cup with the sponge.
Step 5: Pour the water into your
cup. Let the sponge absorb the
water.
Step 6: Blow onto the cup.
Step 7: Turn the cup slowly upside
down so that the ice cube falls out.
Making a Toy: A Bunny
When you find that you are missing a
sock from a pair, use the remaining on
to make a stuffed toy with your child.
Materials Needed
A spoon
Dried lentils
A sock
Rubber Band
Ribbon
Scissors
Cotton balls
Glue
Paper
Instructions
Step 1: Use a spoon to add dried
lentils and fill it just pass the heel.
Step 2: Use a rubber band to close
the sock. Wrap it tightly.
Step 3: To make the head and neck,
tie a ribbon around the sock right
below the heel.
Step 4: Use scissors to cut the
sock’s cuff into two ears. Round
the ears to give them a right shape.
Step 5: Cut out a nose, teeth and
eyes. Attach them to the sock bunny.
Step 6: Attach the cotton ball for
the furry tail.
Learn a Yo-Yo trick: Walk
the dog trick
Yo-yos are a classic. Every child
should, at least once in its lifetime
play around a yo-yo. There are
quite a few tricks to play on a yoyo; learn a trick and teach your kid
how to do it.
HEALTHY LIFE 35
Make an Origami Crane
Origami is a favorite when it comes to paper-folding. This ancient
Japanese tradition lives inside the heart of every child. Learn to make
the Japanese good luck charm—the origami crane.
Materials Needed
OrigamiPpaper
YOU
Ñ DID
KNOW
You can make any game, toy or
activity more fun by just joining
in! All kids want is your positive
attention and love.
Instructions
Step 1: Fold the paper into a triangle.
Materials Needed
A Yo-Yo
Step 2: Fold again in half to make a smaller triangle.
Step 3: Open the folds.
Step 4: Ntw fold the paper into a rectangle. Fold again into a smaller square
Step 5: Open to five the creases.
Step 6: Using the creases, bring the top three corners down to the
bottom corner and flatten.
Step 7: Fold the triangular flaps to the center. Turn around and do the
same.
Step 8: Fold the top and crease it well.oOpen the folds.
Step 9: Open the uppermost flap, bringing it upwards and pressing the
sides of the model inwards at the same time. Flatten down, creasing well.
Step 10: Turn around and repeat step 9.
Step 11: Fold all the flaps towards the center.
Step 12: Fold the legs of the model and make a crease.
Step 13: Reverse fold the legs into creases make in step 12.
Step 14: Make a crease along one of the Reverse fold to make a head.
Reverse fold the head.
Step 15: Pull down the wings.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Instructions
Step 1: Learn the Gravity Pull.
Hold the yo-yo in your hand in
front of you and let the yo-yo unroll.
Whenoit reaches the end of the
string, give a firm upward jerk. The
yo-yo will curl back into your hand.
Step 2: When comfortable, move
on to a Throw Down, which is the
same as the gravitypPull but starts
with the yo-yo at the edge of your
palm facing up. The string should
come off toward the top and front
to the yo-yo. With a flick of the
wrist, whip the yo-yo to the ground.
Step 3: Learn the Sleeper Yo-Yo. This
is possibey the most important trick in
yo-yoo. Have the yo-yo at the edge of
your palm as in Throw Down. With
a whipping motion, grab the yo-yo
and flick it towards the ground. It
should stay down spinning. Whenoit
is spinning, turn your yo-yo hand over
palm, facing down. Give the string a
jerk and the yo-yo should retreat.
Step 4: You are now ready to ‘Walk
the dog’. To take the dog out for a
walk, throw a fast Sleeper.
Step 5: Swing the yo-yo slightly
forward and set it lightly on the
ground. It may snap back but
practice is the key.
Step 6: Before they yo-yo stops
spinning, give a slight tug and the
dog returns back to your hand. „
ECS Media
Sources:
http://wondertime.go.com/
familyfun.go.com
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/
easy-yo-yo-tricks.htm
http://www.origami-fun.com/origamicrane.html
36 HEALTHY LIFE
kids news
z
Fun-Filled Kids Carnival at the Civil Mall
The 2012 Kids Carnival was held on 6th and 7th April at Civil Mall, Sundhara.
Organized by “Central Bal Sansar”, Civil Mall, in collaboration with Kudos
International (a Delhi-based organization that manages events and marketing)
the event was a great success with a mall filled with children of all age groups.
The kids and everyone else were entertained by various fun-filled attractions
such as magic show, pony ride, basketball, and especially the much loved
cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Batman. These
cartoon characters were the highlight of the event as the kids were really
excited to take photos with them. Coloring, card making and face painting
were also popular attractions at the event.
In addition, Kudos International coordinated some other major attractions
at the event such as fancy dress competition, fashion show, extempore
and talent show. According to Sonica Kapoor, event coordinator at Kudos
International, the programs have been designed to provide the kids with a
platform where they can display their talents and have fun at the same time.
While some mall visitors attended the event by chance, others had gone
exclusively for the carnival. “I brought my six-year-old daughter (dressed in a
Japanese kimono) to participate in the fashion show because she really enjoys
such extracurricular activities―as long as she is happy, I am happy,” said
Sangita Shakya, a beautician by profession.
“The “Kids Carnival 2012” is the first annual event organized primarily for the
promotion of the mall,” said Manchin Shakya, assistant marketing manager
of the mall. Indeed, marketing to kids is a smart marketing strategy used by
many enterprises―these future consumers highly influence today’s buying
decisions of their parents (Kusum Hachhethu)
12-Year-Old Builds
Giant Paper Airplane
Giant Paper Airplane Fly-Off, a competition for
children 6-14 years, was organized by a team
including NASA engineer Art Thompson and
Guinness World Record holder Ken Blackburn,
who kept a paper airplane floating in the air for
the longest time. The children had to design
and create airplanes using an 8.5X11 sheet of
paper. The airplane had to fly the furthest to be
named the winner. “Desert Eagle” , 12-year-old
Arturo Valdenegro’s
45-feet long plane,
weighing 363 kg,
traveled the longest
distance. The plane
glided at 98 mph
for 6 seconds.
(dogonews.com)
Whooping Cough
Vaccine Ineffective
From Ages 8 To 12
The efficacy of the vaccination for whooping
cough was examined by Dr. David Witt’s
team during an outbreak in a well-vaccinated
community that faced a large whooping
cough outbreak in 2010. 171 patients
were tested positive for B. pertussis, 132
of them, children. The prevalence was
large among children aged 8 to 12 years.
Researchers noted that the effectiveness
of the vaccination dropped considerably
in children aged between 8-12 years.
(medicalnewstoday.com)
Emotional Support
Necessary for Adoptive
Children
K.G. Graduation at
Rupy’s
The Rupy’s
International
School hosted the
K. G. Graduation
Ceremony on
March 21, 2012,
at the school
premises. The chief guest for the occasion
was Reiny De Wit, Director and CEO of Early
Childhood Education Center. The theme
for the event was “Red and Black”. The
K.G. graduates delivered their speeches
confidently and presented farewell songs
and dances. They received certificates and
graduation hats from the chief guest.
Inauguration
Ceremony of Shemrock
The Inauguration Ceremony
of Shemrock was held on March 17,
2012, which was followed by Annual
Day function of Shemrock Kindergarten.
The event started with the Inauguration
38 HEALTHY LIFE
Ceremony of Shemrock. The Chief
Guest of the ceremony was Pradeep
Jung Pandey, Vice President, FNCCI,
and the Guest of Honour was
Nirnaya Shrestha, celebrity singer.
The special guest for the event was
Amol Arora, Managing Director
of Shemrock Group of Schools. On
this occasion, Shemrock Kindergarten,
which is the master franchise
of Shemrock Group of Schools for
Nepal, announced opening of two more
branches of Shemrock, Shemrock Little
Harvard, Tahachal, and Shemrock Keen
Kiddies, Chakupat.
Ullens Kindergarten
The Ullens School team initiated a new
program – Ullens Kindergarten, Narayan
Bhawan Bungalow, Jawalakhel – on
March 19, 2012. The guests of honour
for the inaugural ceremony were Baron
Guy Ullens and Myriam Ullens, patrons
of Ullens School. Susan Wood, advisor
to Ullens Kindergarten and Director
or Children’s Center at CalTech, USA,
delivered the keynote speech.
70% of the 4,000 children in UK adopted
last year were subject to negligence or
abuse says Charity Adoption UK. Plus, Family
Rights Group estimates that almost 60 % of
the 250,000 children brought up under the
guidance of “kinship carers” come from abusive
or neglectful backgrounds. Professionals
including social workers, psychotherapists
and occupational therapists, who closely work
with adopted children, believe that neglect,
domestic violence, emotional abuse, multiple
carers and separations, all add up to the stress
level of these children. These stress level during
infancy imprint an impact on the brain, central
nervous system, physiological development
and ability to bond with other people.
(guardian.co.uk)
ECS Media
HOME
Beautiful
Blooms
Flowers in bloom makes spring extra special
With winter here, can spring be far behind? – P.B. Shelley
once mused. Finally, spring is here bringing in a new
freshness to the air. The time is ripe for gardening.
Words: Samridhi Goyal
40 HEALTHY LIFE
ith spring here, everyone
can see flowers in bloom
bringing happiness
and color to the lives
of the people around. Nepal too has
a growing floriculture business with
many nurseries and florists around
town. But what are some of the
flowers that are grown in the country
and what goes into having a blooming
garden? Healthylife finds out.
W
With winter here, can spring be far
behind? – P.B. Shelley once mused.
Finally, spring is here bringing in
a new freshness to the air. Even
the winds seem to say, “Go get the
world”. My favorite part of the season
is the flowers; in our culture they hold
an important place, from being used
as ornaments and hairpieces, being
offered to gods as a mark of devotion,
being used to express a myriad of
emotions such as love, friendship,
truce. Even in times of sorrow, flowers
express your grief. This month I
decided it was time to observe what
flowers we have around us.
Though most of the flowers are
imported to Nepal there are a few
that are commonly cultivated in
the country, let’s take a look at a
few of them:
1.
Marigold―First discovered
by the Portuguese in Central
America In the 16th century, they
are scented flowers that grow
from July to September. They are
hermaphrodite (having both the
male and the female parts). They
need damp to wet soil and sunlight
for growth. Use of potash fertilizer
while growing is also important.
This flower is used in religious
ceremonies, as food colouring, as
skin ointments and in salads. It
brightens up your garden instantly.
for container gardening, they can
be propagated through division of
roots, cuttings and seeds. They have
a flowering period of three months
after sowing and fertilization and
regular checkups for disease is
required for prolonged flowering.
3.
Rannaculus―Essentially meaning
frog because it grows mostly
close to water, it is usually found in
bright colours such as red, orange and
yellow. Supposed to be poisonous with
an acid taste, it is widely used in floral
arrangements. It requires well drained
soil. Blooming in winters and dormant
in summers, the more you cut the
flowers the better the bloom.
4.
Lantana Camara―Indigenous
to Nepal, they are pink and
white lantern shaped flowers. They
are now being imported to Japan.
5.
Rhododendron―This beautiful
red colored national flower
of Nepal has inspired many songs
and fantasies. Sweet in taste, and
succulent, many people consume it
whole. Accham district of Nepal is
one of the places where it grows.
6.
Anti rhynum―Also known as
dragon flower because of its
resemblance to a dragon and how
it snaps its mouth shut. It grows
in winters at heights and in well
drained soils.
7.
Despite Kathmandu being such a
crowded and busy city, there are
quite a few avid gardeners around the
city. Healthylife talked to two of them.
Utilisation of Space
This charming lady has stretched
the boundaries of age and
expectation. Vibha Singh is in her
fifties and manages to multitask
efficiently. Born in India, she
married into an aristocratic family
in Nepal. Former Vice- Principal
of Modern Indian School, she
now runs Nest Furniture. She
was also President of Lions Club
Nepal and is currently involved
with the Rotary. Apart from
that, she is into semi-professional
theatre and is a homemaker too.
Growing up, she was surrounded
by Licchi gardens and this fuelled
her interest in gardening. She
had quite some space in the front
yard of her house and decided to
utilise it as a garden. She says that
although she does not get so much
time to tend to the garden herself,
she makes sure that it is bright,
colourful and decent looking.
Her gardener Rajesh Bikram
Sijapati has been with her for the
last decade or so and sees to it
that the garden is in good shape.
Various flowers such as marigold,
coropsis, anti-rhynum, lilies,
2.
Vibha Singh
ECS Media
Chrysanthemum―Translated
from Greek, it literally means
‘golden flower’. First grown in China
around the 15th century, they are
essentially tropical flowers which are
not specific to any season. Suitable
HEALTHY LIFE 41
From Japan with Love
I arrange flowers in my house but
don’t have a specific pattern to their
arrangement. When I feel like, I collect
flowers from the garden and arrange
them in vases. This time however, I
decided that I wanted to learn the art of
flower arrangement and hence I went
down the lanes of the city of Patan.
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower
arrangement, literally means giving
life derived from the word Ike. It is
based on three basic premises of sin,
soy and tai which mean earth, human
and heaven respectively. The flowers
are arranged either at the entrance of
a house so that the outside of a house
looks pretty, or to beautify the rooms.
It is a minimalist approach which
believes that use of very few flowers
also produces beautiful arrangements.
The two basic principles while
practising this art are: always cut
flowers only while they are in water
and in straight lines, while the branch/
stem should be cut in a slanted
manner. The important tool in this art
ECS Media
hibiscus and calendula find place
in her garden. Once back from
the office, she likes to take her
evening walk in the garden and sit
and relax. That is her de-stressing
exercise. Although satisfied with
her garden, she feels that the dayto-day logistical issues that every
Mansi Bagaria
42 HEALTHY LIFE
is the specialised metal holder used to
keep the flowers in place.
In the beginning, Ikebana used to be a
hobby cultivated by the elite classes of
society but in the 1930s and post World
War, the interest grew wider. During
the occupation too, the wives of US
servicemen took it up and helped make
it popular around the world. Ramita
Manandhar, who conducts Ikebana
classes at the Japenese Embassy, says
that the popularity and demand for
Ikebana is growing steadily and the
future looks positive. She herself learnt
it in Japan almost two decades ago. She
says peach flowers, bhogate flowers
and about to sprout guava buds are
good flowers to use, Rose can only be
used as a centrepiece and not on the
sides. Amongst all the sub-disciplines
in Ikebana, Ikenobo is the oldest and is
practised by Manandhar herself. It is a
standing flower style and initially used
to be made up of seven components
but it has now been refined to merely
three components. It is designed to
housewife in the country faces takes
away time that she would otherwise
spend gardening.
A Gardener at Heart
Mansi Bagaria, CFO at Nimbus
Industries, could easily trade her
corporate suit for the gardener’s
show the beauty and uniqueness of
the plant itself. Today there are about
3,000 Ikebana schools in Japan and
thousands more around the world. The
Ikenobo sub-discipline alone has some
60,000 teachers worldwide. Fifteen
million people practise Ikebana in
Japan, mostly young girls.
Ramita Manandhar
overalls. Brought up in Delhi, she
picked up gardening from her
grandmother and has a deep love for
it. When she moved to Nepal post
marriage, it was but natural that she
would continue gardening. She has
redone the garden n her house to
make it bright and cheerful and has
also created a small rockery within the
garden. A very hands-on gardener,
she instructs the gardener how to go
about the garden and does some work
herself too, which includes buying
the fertilizers. People are known to
bring back clothes, gadgets and books
from their travels but she brings back
saplings of flowers and plants for her
garden. She says all her staff including
the driver have now learnt to do a bit
of gardening and can be seen working
around. Her beautiful garden has
lilies, petunias, orchids, pansies, roses,
cosmos and many other plants. She
also has cactuses in little pots. She
plans the flowers in such a way that
there is never a dormant period in the
garden. Her enthusiasm for the garden
is infectious and I think it rubbed off
a little on me too. Among other things
she enjoys reading as well. „
home gardening
z
ECS Media
The Beauty
of Wisteria
Wisteria is a flower that illuminates homes
Words: Sadichchha Dhakhwa
44 HEALTHY LIFE
Wisteria is a
member of
the Pea family.
This genus
was named
after Professor
Casper
Wistar of
Pennsylvania.
Venue: Jardins
G
lancing upon the wisteria
flower fills the soul with
a sense of beauty. The
perfume of the flower
intoxicates all those in its vicinity
when it blooms in the late spring
season. Characterized by its hardy
nature, wisteria is a creeper growing
with the support of walls or poles.
It is a flower that brings extra color
to the home and sweet fragrance
vaguely reminiscent of a sensation of
being in a blissful paradise.
Wisteria is a member of the Pea
family. This genus was named
after Professor Casper Wistar
of Pennsylvania. It’s vines climb
by twining their stems around
any object available for support.
There are two types of wisteria,
Wisteria Sinensis also known as
the Chinese Wisteria and Wisteria
Floribunda or the Japanese
Wisteria. The Chinese Wisteria
has been found to be more popular
due to its flowering habits. This
flowering vine comes in different
colors; purple and white are
most commonly seen around
Kathmandu.
Although the blossoms of this vine
sets a rather romantic mood, the
flowering period does not last as
long as one might like; wisteria
flowers blossom approximately for
three weeks. The foliage take over
as the flower falls.
Taking Care of Wisteria
Growing this vine is easy but
extensive care must be taken as
it can overtake almost everything
quickly. Hence the location
for planting a wisteria must be
considered wisely; pick a place
where the wisteria has space to
grow. This twining vine does not
fare very well in the cold hence it
is important to find a place with
ample sunlight.
Wisterias can climb as high as 20
meters above the ground. Due to its
tendency to grow rapidly, pruning
is most important while growing a
wisteria. Wisteria doesn’t need much
care in terms of fertilizing and requires
little water. Considered a ‘tough plant’,
it requires extensive ‘training’ for
support and to prevent it from invading
other plants around its vicinity.
Growing Wisteria Vines
It is relatively easy to plant a wisteria
vine. If starting from seed, they must
be soaked overnight before planting.
The seeds begin to sprout within a
few weeks however the flowers may
not over 10-15 years. This process
is not recommended because of the
uncertainty of the flower blossoms.
Hence, if you wish the blooming
to occur earlier, the best method is
through a cutting taken in the summer
or layering branches. Both these
methods may still take 3-4 years.
If you choose to layer branches,
choose a flexible branch and bend it to
the ground with the leaf node, placing
a few inches into the soil. Make sure
that it is weighted down to be secure
and allow a time frame of overwinter.
As spring arrives, it brings all to life:
the wisteria too would have enough
roots for planting.
Training Wisteria Vines
When training the wisteria vine, it
is important to select an upright
stem and attach it to the chosen
support. Any other side shoots
must be removed to continue the
HEALTHY LIFE 45
training. New side branches can be
trained as needed to fill in spaces of
the support structure. To stop this
vine from outgrowing the desired
height, cut off the main vine tip to
stunt the growth.
best to have horizontal support
wires around the house. The
supports are best placed 30 cm
away from each other.
On Pergolas and Arches
The twining process of wisteria may
be different on different species
of wisteria. The Chinese Wisteria
twines counterclockwise whilst the
Japanese Wisteria twines clockwise.
The flowering racemes of the
Japanese Wisteria are the longest
while the Chinese is more abundant.
The blooming of the wisteria
flowers are best admired
on structures where they
are allowed to hang free. To
showcase the flowers at their
best, make sure to thin the plant
for the flowers to blossom and
also to leave enough space for
the vine to develop.
On Walls
Pruning
If you wish to plant the wisteria vine
against the side of your house, it is
Pruning is important even in
trained wisteria vines. If not
Interesting Facts
• The largest wisteria vine is
in Sierra Madre, California. It
measures more than one acre
in size and weighs up to 250
pounds. It was planted in 1894.
• Ashikaga Flower Park in Japan
is well known for its wisteria
that covers an area over 1000
m2. These flowers are used to
create an 80 m long tunnel
within the park.
• Purple wisteria flowers have
been depicted in the Japanese
kimono for hundreds of years.
• Fuji Musume, or the Wisteria
Maiden, is a Japanese folk
painting that became the
subject of doll making.
• The seeds of the wisteria plant
are poisonous.
• Wisteria vines live up to or
more than 100 years of age.
pruned regularly, wisteria can
quickly take over everything in its
path. Heavy pruning is required in
late fall or winter to keep the vine
manageable.
Summer Pruning: It is best to do
the summer pruning around July or
August. This requires trimming of
the whippy green shoots to control
the wisteria and stop it from raiding
the structures around it.
Winter Pruning: This pruning
may be done around January
or February to tidy it up for the
growing season. Cut back growths
to two or three buds. „
ECS Media
References:
Mr Muni S. Rana, Project Director,
Hotel Annapurna
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/
advicesearch/profile.
aspx?PID=173
http://www.gardeningknowhow.
com/flower/growing-wisteriaproper-wisteria-vine-care.htm
46 HEALTHY LIFE
home advice
z
Natural air cleaner: Poorly ventilated rooms often
contain pollutants that cause eye irritation, lung and
upper respiratory problems, allergies, colds and viruses.
Going green improves air quality of your room by
removing harmful toxic gases from carpets, wallboards,
paint, electronics and cleaning chemicals.
Reduced illness: Looking at green plants also
significantly lowers blood pressure, reducing stress
within minutes and is therefore effective for sleep,
agitation, and cognition of dementia patients.
Indoor
Greenery!
Create a green ambience
inside your home
Indoor gardening is ideal for fostering
plants not native to a particular outdoor
climate while providing you a whole
new way to get creative with greenery
that you can enjoy all year round.
Words: Ar. Alex Shrestha
I
ndoor gardens have become a growing trend
for various reasons, from our desire to get
back in touch with nature to an attempt
to lead a healthier lifestyle. Either way,
indoor plants are fabulous in enhancing the
architectural space! They benefit you physically,
psychologically, add color and greenery to your homes
and fill your life with fresh fragrance.
And, just because you have a small or no garden
space doesn›t mean you cannot have greenery in
your homes or offices. Indoor gardening is
also ideal for fostering plants not native to a
particular outdoor climate while providing
you a whole new way to get creative with
greenery that you can enjoy all year round.
Benefits of Greenery in Living Space
Indoor environment: Aside from the aesthetic appeal
of flowering plants and foliage, plants also influence the
indoor temperature, making your room nice and cool.
Plants also increase the overall humidity of a room
making it more pleasant especially in dry climates.
48 HEALTHY LIFE
Increased productivity: Indoor plants increase
productivity by giving out oxygen while taking in
carbon dioxide from your room’s air, resulting in
improved concentration and creativity for you. Plants
also absorb noise thus calming nerves.
Increased sales for your business: Retail customers
also tend to visit shops with greenery more often, stay
longer, and perceive the products quality to be much
higher. Spaces with interior landscaping appear more
chic, inviting and more comfortable.
Inexpensive facelift: You can also conceal what you
don’t want to reveal; construction flaws, ugly wires and
cables are easily camouflaged with live foliage. Plants
can also be used to define traffic patterns or demarcate
a work space without expensive barriers.
Greenery in your Living Area
Space and natural lighting will likely be
the biggest factors in determining
the location of your indoor garden.
These gardens do
not need to be large
or expensive to
make an impressive
statement. And often a
beautiful plant, few ferns
or creeping plants in striking
containers will do the trick to
liven your interior.
Knowing your plants’
preferences for light,
water and a few other
things will keep them
healthy and happy. It
is better to purchase a
plant which requires
the same environmental
conditions your indoors
has to offer than to
alter the environment of
your home or office to
suit the plants.
up-lights to feature your
beautiful greenery.
Designing your
Indoor Greenery
The space: Finding a
permanent place for
plants will help you not having to move your greenery around
the house when the seasons change. Also, select a relatively
low-traffic location as too much motion can disturb the
plants’ environment and cause unwanted soil spills.
People who live in apartments can also have a beautiful
garden. You can use your patio or balcony to have an indoor
garden where you can relax and enjoy greenery in a concrete
city! You can find beautiful ivy and flowering plants and
place hooks to hang these from an overhang. You can also
get tall plant holders or holders of different
heights to give a tiered look and fill them with
colorful flowers and greenery. These can be
placed in your patio, balcony or even in the
living room.
Rooftops allow you to own your small,
private oasis in the middle of the city. The
greenery allows a fascinating definition of
your garden space, privacy and protection,
and creates the illusion of a floating Eden.
You can also enhance your indoor garden by
placing wrought iron chairs and tables and bordering the
space with potted plants.
Highlighting your Plants
A courtyard can also be the stage of showcasing your
indoor greenery; you can relax in this space, listen to
the rain and feel the breeze sweeping with the company
of your beautiful plants. Sculptures are a nice way to
create a focal point and add interest with upscale style.
Fountains are also a soothing way to evoke peace and
tranquility throughout your indoor garden.
Rock gardens provide a beautiful organic element
to compliment your greenery. You can use white
rocks or sand to create contrast against the foliage by
highlighting the plant forms and colors in your garden.
Lighting plays an important
role in creating depth and
composition, setting a
mood, providing security
and highlighting your indoor
garden. One way to create
drama is to use subtle accent
Natural Light: Look for open spaces that receive indirect
sunlight; though some plants will prosper in full sunlight,
many will actually burn in it. Place the plants outside during
the summer to give them a much needed boost of energy
and rotate your plants to ensure upright growth since most
plants bend toward the light. As a general rule, you want to
incorporate plants that require a medium to low light.
Ventilation & Humidity: All
plants benefit from air flow, so
position them near windows or
oscillating fans to foster air and
humidity flow around your plants.
Make sure plants are not exposed
to a direct air flow for too long
as it can dry the plant out. Low
moisture leads to curling and dry
leaves, if you are going to spray
your plants, do it in the morning. A humidifier can be used
during the winter while your heater is on.
Water: Every plant has different needs when it comes to
watering, so research about your plant and its watering needs.
Be sure to wet the soil fully, but be careful not to over-water
your plant. All types of houseplants thrive best with natural
sources of water, whenever possible, capture rainwater for
your plants or use distilled water rather than tap water.
Containers: Choose containers big enough for their particular
plants and make sure they drain well; standing water in
container bases can cause deadly root rot. Plastic containers
also retain humidity better than clay or terracotta containers. A
good quality, loose potting soil should contain all the nutrients
your houseplants will need for at least eight to 10 weeks.
Natural pesticides & fertilizing: To keep your family and
pets safe, combat houseplant pests with natural pesticides
such as dish soap, alcohol and hot peppers. Fertilize quickly
growing plants every two to three months. On the other
hand, dormant plants do not need to be fertilized at all.
Care for your houseplants, and they’ll care for you! „
Alex Shrestha is an with over 15 years of experience. He can be reached at
[email protected] or www.facebook.com/WonawAssociates
HEALTHY LIFE 49
home tips
z
Household Tips
The heat of the season is a cause for worry as far as
pests are concerned. They are as harmful to health as
they are irritating to the senses. So, read this carefully
and keep these handy tips around for it’s a safe bet
that you’ll find them useful at one time or another
this summer.
Compiled by Sunita Gurung
ith summer officially underway, it is that time of the year
to have fun filled time outdoors. Though it guarantees a lot
of fun it also means having to deal with some invasive pests
and unprecedented incidents. The onset of warm weather
also indicates the time to take out your cleaning paraphernalia to keep
your house in top condition.
W
During the summer, flies find sweet
or alcoholic drinks very appealing.
Anybody having an outside party or
meal might find flocks of the creatures
heading to the drink glasses to drown.
If lime flavor does not alter the taste of
the wine, cut a lime into wedges and
smear the juice around the rim of each
Flies are not only a nuisance but can
transmit diseases and can pose serious
problems. Try hanging a plastic bag
filled with water outside the door or
near a window or a refuse bin possibly in
a place with good lighting. Light refracts
or bends as it passes through water
causing optical illusions and the flies
with their compound eyes get disturbed
by the refracted light and retreat.
After a barbeque, party or a picnic, the
possibility of having ants crawling over
spilled drinks or looking for crumbs
is an unwanted sight. Wipe the tables
with white vinegar. The acetic acid not
only deodorizes the table but also hides
the scent of sugar from spilled drinks.
wine glass. The acidic properties of the
lime juice deter fruit flies, which prefer
sugar. Or pour the wine at the last
minute, just before you plan to start
drinking. The longer drinks sits around,
the more chances of these flies finding
them. Or, place paper coasters over the
wine glasses if you plan to leave them
for more than a couple of minutes.
It only takes a moment for a whole
bunch of fruit flies to locate a wine
glass and drown. If it is outside, use
pieces of cardboard and place pebbles
on top if the weather gets very windy.
While dislodging a splinter, reach for
the scotch tape before resorting to
tweezers or a
needle. Simply
put the scotch
tape over the
splinter then pull
it off. Scotch tape
removes splinters
painlessly and
easily.
Ceiling fans can be cleaned in an easy
and simple way by sliding each blade
one at a time into a pillow case and
wiping off the blade with the inside of
the case. All the dust, dirt and debris
will be wiped clean without much
fuss. Shake out the case outside.
Placing citronella candles around your
yard and lighting them in the evening is
an inexpensive way to keep mosquitoes
at bay without the use of chemicals. Place
some drops of Eucalyptus oil on window
sills and near doorways to repel the bugs
and keep them out of your home.
If your carpet is giving off an offensive
smell make it fragrant by sprinkling baking
soda on it. After sprinkling the soda, brush
the soda completely into the carpet with
the help of a broom. Using baking soda is
a proven tip to get rid of smelly carpet. Let
the baking soda sit on carpet overnight
and then you can vacuum the carpet to
remove baking soda.
If the strong odor still persists and you
feel that baking soda is not working to
get rid of the stubborn smell, opt for
vinegar. All you need to do is to fill a
spraying bottle with vinegar and then
spray it on carpet. Vinegar removes the
smell of food particles and even the
smell of puke and pets’ droppings.
Before painting, scrubbing the oven or
digging in any dirt, scrape some soap
from a wet bar of soap. The soap residue
under and around your finger
nails will prevent other things
from getting under your
nails, a tip especially
for those who start
using a rubber
glove and then pull
them off halfway
through the
he job.
To heal a bee or a wasp sting,
apply a little
ttle toothpaste
which contains
ntains mint over the
affected area.
shopping
Lawn Care
Tools to make your garden look cool
Go green, go ahead, see whether you have a green
thumb or not. Gardening is a pleasure (even if it
is just taking good care of your lawn) and it is a
hobby that is suitable for all ages. Besides, you’ll be
helping the great eco-movement currently in vogue.
However, do make sure that you have all the needed
tools at your disposal to make this healthy pastime
a breeze and to ensure that your perfect lawn is
perfect at all times.
Gardening tools & equipments courtesy: Mahankal Agro Seeds
Concern, Mahakalsthan, contact 4218512
Garden tools also available at: Dahal Trading Concern,
Tripureshwor, contact 4260751
6
7
8
9
1
Prices as on March 23, 2012
1. Gardening Set with fixed handle (5Pc)―
Rs 175 per piece
2. Falcon Hedge Shear―Rs 1050(wooden
handle), Rs 1350(Rubber handle)―
Trimming wedges
10
2
3. Gardening Khurpas―Different sizes―
Rs 375, Rs 325,Rs225 (loosening and
weeding of soil)
4. Secateur―Rs 950, Rs 650 (cutting tools)
5. Garden rakes―different sizes with
handle―Rs 750, without handle (S)
Rs 225, (M)Rs 375 (raking, levelling beds
and working the soil)
11
3
6. Bill Hook―Rs 650 (cutting brushes)
7. Sprayers 16 litre-Knap sack sprayer―
Rs 1950, Rs 1650
12
8. Easy 38 (380mm cutting width) ―Rs 8500
9. Sprayers 1-2litres (red, green)-pressure
sprayer―Rs 275, Rs 250
4
10. Pruning saws wooden handle―Rs 375,
& plastic handle―Rs 650
11. Lever sprinkler―Rs 175
12. Manual lawn mower―Easy L8 (300mm
cutting width)―Rs 9500
13. Adjustable Grass Shear(Red) ―Rs 1050
(available in different models and prices)
13
5
13. Watering can―10 litre―Rs 525, 5 litre―
Rs 325
52 HEALTHY LIFE
ECS Media
15. Sickle―for cutting wheat, grass and paddy
RELATIONSHIP
<
The <
Greatest
Test of Life
Love is for the courageous
Love—how sweet is the word and it makes me
sometimes wonder how it was coined in the first
place. Or is it because we have been so accustomed
to identify it with the sweetest of relationships that
we find the word so apt?
Words: Amar B Shrestha
54 HEALTHY LIFE
more, then why do we mortals still
burn in despair at not finding true
love? Should not love be the greatest
thing we should all strive for?
Why do we still mourn our fates
in not getting this golden key to
paradise? Is it really our fates that
dictate who should be blessed with
the gift of love and who shouldn’t?
These are questions which all have
to answer. And, the answers are not
what one would normally want to get.
The answers are not what one would
expect. The answers can be damning
and they can be self-inflicting wounds
on those that dare to question.
Love comes unbidden and love
comes unannounced. Love comes in
deliberate ways and one should be
human enough to welcome it. But,
what does happen is that the welcome
is shallow and full of pretense, hiding
itself behind a coward’s mantle and
with excuses galore.
In other words, lost love is what will
follow. And, those who have lost,
they seek consolation in the belief,
their own belief, that they have been
given a raw deal by life. Oh yes,
they begin to feel the proper martyr,
never realizing that their chance has
gone forever. A chance of a lifetime
Why do we still mourn our fates in not
getting this golden key to paradise? Is it really
our fates that dictate who should be blessed
with the gift of love and who shouldn’t?
W
hatever the case may
be, love is in the words
of all romantics, as
rejuvenating a feeling
as a dip in icy waters at dawn. Love
breaks all resistance, so they say. And,
love improves all things bad is what
is universally believed. Yes, love is a
belief. Love is a balm. And yes, love
is all that the romantics say. But, in
our hearts and in our minds, love is
more often than not, a response—a
response to our individual desire for
sustaining our barren emotions in
times of sorrow.
A response to our craving for our
individual acceptance in times that
are normal. And, a response to
the question of our own standing
among the human race,
leading one to
believe in oneself
all the more
and making
life a colorful
tapestry of
our joy. If love
is all this and
The reason why true love is out of
many’s reach is simply because they
lack the required courage. It is true
that no matter how much wealth one
has acquired, no matter how much
charity one has given and no matter
how much success one has tasted, it
is a failed human who has not tasted
the sweet sensation called love.
It is lack of courage that has
prevents someone from accepting
in her heart that she has fallen in
love from the moment when she
is deadly sure. Lack of courage
prevents him from exploring the
limits of his feelings, and excuses
come in all forms to make him
think a lot when actually what he
should have been doing was to feel
with his heart.
For those who crib and complain
of fate’s or Cupid’s neglect, all one
can say is that there is no one else
to blame but oneself. True love is
noticed once in a lifetime, and when
it is, one has to grab the opportunity
lest it slip from your hand forever.
literally. Chances are few that they
will they walk the path of roses and
emotional attainment the brave do.
They have failed in the greatest test
of life—a human life. Therefore, all
who wish to be truly human, let not
lack of courage make you a loser.
Lose not that which is the most
valuable gift of life for the sake of
your own lack of courage.
Love comes in deliberate ways
and when it does, let your heart
take reign. Listen to your heart
and keep your mind at bay. Do
not hide behind superficial and
hypocritical excuses that you make
to yourself. Love once lost cannot
be regained in a lifetime. Precious
is this love and brave should be
your attitude. No need to analyze
and no need to brainstorm such a
feeling. All you must do is to face
the fact and the reality and bring
courage to your actions.
But no matter what, don’t let it pass
you by—leaving you in the cold
and that too forever. „
HEALTHY LIFE 55
56 HEALTHY LIFE
relationship your say
z
“I love you”
Three words as important as
Words: Nimma Adhikari, Photos: ECS Media
Silly’s Sorry
<
We are never proud of that awkward moment when we
unintentionally hurt our better halves but then again we fail to
say the three words “I am sorry.” And, when we do say so, the
anger fuels up even more. The, I-am-sorry, is not enough. There
are times in every couple’s lives when they regret having made
an innocent joke or remark. In these situations, what do we do?
How do we make our partner smile or make them forgive us?
<
Meena Kayastha
My husband has always been supportive and
understanding because of which he is seldom
bothered or put-off with anything silly that I do.
But yes, at times when he’s upset because of
something I did unintentionally, I keep calm and
quiet for a while and don’t make a fuss about it. It
helps him to cool down and get back to his natural
mood. Then sometimes, I offer to cook his favorite
delicacies or give him a massage for him to relax.
In general, what I believe is, small disputes are healthy and necessary
between a husband and a wife; it keeps the relation lively and spiced up.
Nima Rumba
There are times when I
unknowingly upset her.
When that happens, I go to
her and say “I am sorry” or
message her saying “I am
really sorry.” I take her out to
a nice dinner or shopping.
At times, when she is too
angry or upset, I try not to
reply back or talk to her; I
just keep my mouth shut.
FOOD
An Herbivore’s
Dilemma
Is it intelligent to be a vegetarian?
Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances
for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a
vegetarian diet–Albert Einstein
Words: Kusum Hachhethu
S
ocrates, one of the wisest
Greek philosophers of
Athens, was a vegetarian.
The revolutionary
scientist, Albert Einstein, turned
vegetarian later on in his life.
The great Mahatma Gandhi
devoted his life to the advocacy
of vegetarianism–many other
famous personalities have pursued
and maintained a vegetarian diet.
Perhaps, for whatever reasons,
it might be intelligent to be a
vegetarian, Let us study the case.
Newars like to eat meat, a lot of
them. Being a lacto-vegetarian
in a Newar family is not easy for
Kanchan Hachhethu who gave up
meat after being distressed by the
occasional killing of animals in the
name of sacrifice. She accentuates,
“I have been lacto-vegetarian since I
was five–I am against animal cruelty–
the way they are crammed in small
boxes, the way they are slaughtered
and the way they are treated
bothers me a lot.” While
animal ethics is
her primary
58 HEALTHY LIFE
rationale for being a vegetarian,
others pursue vegetarianism for
various reasons—religious practice,
health reasons, environmental
concern and even poverty.
He who desires to augment his
own flesh by eating the flesh of
other creatures, lives in mystery in
whatsoever species he may take in
his next birth— Mahabharata
Cultural aspects
Vegetarianism has its roots in ancient
India, the country with the highest
number of vegetarians in the world–the
majority of vegetarians being Hindus.
The Hindu virtue of vegetarianism is
The benefits of meat have long being
associated with its high protein
content and vitamins, vitamin B12 in
particular.
Kanchan Hachhethu
MBA Student
primarily based on the intrinsic value
of animals–Hindu vedic texts describe
the spiritual equality of all living beings.
Hindu vedic shastras (literature)
also depicts the karmic dangers of
slaughtering animals and eating their
meat–such an activity is considered
as himsa (violence). Bikash Gurung,
one of the members of ISKCON
(International Society for Krishna
Consciousness of Nepal) elucidates,
“The principles of karma can be related
to Newton’s third law of motion, that
for every action, there must be an equal
and opposite reaction”; if we engage
ourselves in himsa through buying/
selling/consumption of meat, we will
have to face the consequences in our
next life form, it will come back to
us in one way or another. Sri Bikash
and other ISKCON members abstain
themselves from the consumption
of meat, fish, eggs, even onions and
garlic, with the belief that consumption
of those food items disrupts physical,
mental and spiritual wellbeing.
Similarly, Radha Bohara, a Hindu
lacto-vegetarian by birth, underscores
several reasons why vegetarianism is
best suited. The foremost is the belief
that human beings are not designated
to eat meat and those who consume
meat do so due to ignorance–after all,
we do not have fangs nor do we have
claws. Moreover, she believes that
non-vegetarians participate in himsa by
consuming meat/fish/eggs.
While Bikash and Bohara are
against the consumption of meat
for satisfying one’s palate, Surgical
Resident Binod Raj Bhandari
of Nepal Medical College feels
otherwise. After giving up meat
for four years, he has gone back
to eating non-vegetarian diet–
primarily due to the taste factor.
“After joining medical school, with
regular human dissection, I could
not eat meat, but I missed the taste
of meat. I started craving for meat
and I could no more continue being
a vegetarian,” he confessed.
Binod Raj Bhandari
Nepal Medical College
Pros and Cons
While some claim that humans
have evolved as vegetarians,
advocates of non-vegetarianism
argue that humans have been
hunter-gatherers for an incredibly
long time in history, and our
progenitors acquired most of their
energy from meat. The benefits of
meat have long being associated
with its high protein content and
vitamins, vitamin B12 in particular.
Bikash Gurung
Member, ISKCON
Rajbhandari spells out some of
the advantages of being a nonvegetarian–he explains that meat,
fish and eggs are the only source of
vitamin B12 and the major source
of folic acid and iron. On the other
hand, Bikash and Bohara defy the
claims made on health grounds.
Bikash, who has been following
a vegetarian diet for the past five
years, argues that he feels healthier–
physically and mentally–than before.
Likewise Bohara claims that she has
not yet experienced any diet-related
health problems. “In fact, I have
beautiful skin,” she makes her case.
Many scientific studies have proven
that a vegetarian diet is healthier
than non-vegetarian diet–fruits and
vegetables have a wider range of
nutrients and are lower in calories;
they are also comparatively easier
to digest. On the other hand,
meat and other animal products
(including egg yolks and dairy)
are high in saturated fat, the kind
of fat that raises blood cholesterol
HEALTHY LIFE 59
level and the risk of heart diseases,
obesity and even various types
of cancer. Dietician Binita Pant
at Alka Hospital explains, “For
an average human body, only
10% of the daily calorie intake
should come from saturated fat.
Considering that we acquire some
amount of saturated fat from other
food sources, daily consumption
of meat would ultimately increase
the intake of saturated fat by more
than 10% and hence, increase
the risk of various lifestyle related
diseases.” According to her, a
small portion of meat every once
in a while would not do harm,
however, those individuals with
lifestyle related diseases–such as
hypertension, diabetes and obesity–
must drastically lower their intake
of meat–especially red meat.
Although both Rajbhandari and
Pant believe that a small portion of
meat would help with protein and
vitamin B12, they also agree that
as long as a vegetarian person is
consuming eggs and dairy products,
he/she can eliminate meat from
their diet without affecting the
nutritional quality of his/her diet.
Likewise, the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics also states that the
consumption of a sufficient amount
of whole grains, green vegetables,
legumes, fruits and milk can fulfill
all the necessary nutrients to our
body, and that meat is not a must.
Hence, dieticians recommend that
vegans, who do not even consume
eggs and dairy, must take special
care of their diet in order to
prevent any nutritional deficiencies.
Rajbhandari also shared some cases
where vegans and lacto-vegetarians,
generally later in their lives, suffer
from anemia and other diseases
related to the deficiency of iron/
vitamin B12 /folic acid.
Conclusion
Dietician Binita Pant
Alka Hospital
Hence, on health grounds,
“lacto-ovo-vegetarianism” and
“flexitarianism” seem to be the most
intelligent options for vegetarians,
but then again, we all have our own
reasons and perspectives to eat,
what we eat and what we do not
eat. For instance, I do not eat meat
on Tuesdays for religious reasons; I
do not eat red meat because of my
childhood exposure to the sacrifices
Types of Vegetarians
The Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics has classified vegetarians
into four different categories:
1. Vegans: Vegans are strict
vegetarians who consume only
plant-based products and abstain
from eating/using all animal products
including milk, cheese, other dairy
products and even silk, honey, wool
and leather.
2. Lacto vegetarian: Lacto vegetarian
diet excludes the consumption of
60 HEALTHY LIFE
meat, poultry, fish and eggs but
includes dairy products.
3. Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: Lactoovo-vegetarians eat both
dairy products and eggs but
avoid meat, poultry and fish
4. Flexitarian: Flexitarians
are semi-vegetarians
who focus on plant-based
foods but consume meat,
poultry and fish on an
occasional basis.
Radha Bohara
Housewife
of goats and buffalos. Recently,
I have become a flexitarian,
primarily for an environmental
cause. Meat consumption is also an
environmental issue, which, until
recently had been quite underrated.
Meat production is incredibly
inefficient–by producing grains
for animals, which is then fed to
humans; we end up with much
less food than if we were directly
consuming grains. Furthermore,
meat production has many adverse
impacts to our environment–
through common water pollution,
water use, land use, animal
waste and the use of energy for
production and processing. This
urgent issue of “meat consumption
and its environmental impact”
requires special attention and
perhaps one of us; the so called
“environmentally aware citizens”
could dedicate an entire piece
on this subject. Until then, bon
appetite! Eat less meat! „
Works cited:
Academy of Nutrition and Dietitics
. (2012 ). Vegetarian Lifestyle .
Retrieved March 18, 2012, from
Eat Right: http://www.eatright.org/
Public/content.aspx?id=6372
Brower, M., & Leon, W. (1990).
The Consumer’s Guide To Effective
Environmental Choices . New York :
Three Rivers Press.
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food recipe
z
Summer-Fresh Fare
ECS Media
African Chermoula Spiced Squid & Prawns
Served With Couscous and Chickpea Salad
62 HEALTHY LIFE
French Confit Of Duck Served With Bubble
And Squeak, Pak Choi And Orange Jus
ECS Media
HEALTHY LIFE 63
Enjoy authentic summer recipes as prepared by
Chef Dwaipayan Chakraborty at Kaafe Lahsoon
After the cold and painful winter
days, it’s time for the easy, breezy
and sunny days. It’s the time to relax,
sitting in the lush green garden and
sipping a cold glass of beer. But, when it
comes to food and eating out on a warm day, you have
to be choosy. Whether you’re hosting a backyard party
or simply planning a weeknight family meal, we’ve got
the summer-fresh fare you’re looking for. It’s the spring
vegetables, cooling and nutritious fruits which makes the
season just right for food lovers.
Nothing says summer like juicy, barbecued chicken and beef, tangy
fruits and vegetables and sun-drenched North African, Modern
European and Italian flavors. In Kaafe Lahsoon, these light, healthy
and oh-so-delicious summer recipes will delight your taste buds
while our frosty, fruit-laden desserts and beverages cool you down.
Chef Dwaipayan Chakraborty hails from Kolkata and he
specializes in modern European cuisine— Mediterranean and
Italian—and pastries. He previously worked in London at the
Hilton and Cumberland Hotel and at Park Hotel in Kolkata before
joining Kaafe Lahsoon, Pulchowk, as a Chef and partner.
African Chermoula Spiced Squid & Prawns Served With Couscous
and Chickpea Salad
Oranges, nicely dressed in a cold cous cous salad, with mild fiery and
tasty seafood, makes this dish incredibly refreshing. And, I give the hot,
spicy chermoula a hint of freshness by adding finely sliced lemon zest.
Recipe for 2
For the Chermoula spice, you would require:
Garlic
1 clove
Lemon zest
10 gm
Paprika powder
15 gm
Saffron
2 strands (soaked in cold water)
Olive oil
50 ml
Salt
5 gm
Pepper
5 gm
Cumin
5 gm
Lemon juice
1 lemon
METHOD
Just mix all the ingredients to make your Chermoula mix.
For the couscous and chickpea salad, you would require:
Orange juice
60 ml
Couscous
40 gm
Chickpea
20 gm (soaked overnight)
Coriander leaves
10 gm
Mint leaves
0 gm
Onions
15 gm
Salt
5 gm
METHOD
Boil the chickpea in slightly salted water. Strain them and cool it down.
Heat up the orange juice and add all the ingredients. Mix it well so that
the couscous swells up. Cool the mixture and your salad is ready.
OTHER INGREDIENTS
Prawns
150 gm
Squid rings
150 gm
Olive oil
15 ml
FINAL PREPARATION
Heat the olive oil in a pan. Toss both the seafood for 3 minutes. Add the
chermoula spice and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve it warm over
the cold couscous salad.
64 HEALTHY LIFE
French Confit Of Duck Served With Bubble And
Squeak, Pak Choi And Orange Jus
Another delicacy from France from its traditional
gastronomy just for the summer to cherish with its fruity
sauce. Though the sauce base is made in house, but you
can buy the chicken cubes from the super market.
INGREDIENTS
Duck breast
Cabbage
Potato
Chicken cube
Red wine
Pepper
Olive oil
Pak choi
500 gm
50 gm
150 gm
3 pcs
60 ml
15 gm
5 ml
50 gm
Carrot
Onion
Butter
Orange juice
Salt
Worcester sauce
Thyme
50 gm
45 gm
50 gm
100 ml
20 gm
10 ml
10 gm
METHOD
For the bubble and squeak:
Grate the carrots and cabbage and slice the onions.
Boil the potatoes and mash with 30 gm of butter.
In a pan, take 20 gm of butter and sauté the carrot,
cabbage and onions.
Once the vegetables are half cooked, put the mash potato
and mix it well. Check the seasoning and keep aside.
For the orange jus:
Take a pan and add 5 ml olive oil.
Add 15 gm of chopped onion and 5 gm of chopped garlic.
Put the red wine and reduce it.
Add the chicken cubes and 40 ml of hot water. Mix it well.
Add the orange juice and reduce it to one third. Strain
the sauce and keep it aside.
For the duck, marinate it with salt, pepper and Worcester
sauce. Then, roast it inside the oven for 20 minutes. For the
pak choi, boil some water and blanch the pak choi. Then, in a
pan, add some butter and toss the pak choi with seasoning.
Assemble the bubble and squeak, pak choi, duck in a
plate and pour the jus over it. Serve it hot.
food drink
z
Have a sip!
Tropical drinks this summer
Refreshing drinks for the summer which can be tried
anytime during the day—enjoy this lovely blend of tropical
& Mediterranean summer in your chilled Martini glass.
Venue-Kaafe Lahsoon,Pulchowk
Photos: ECS Media
Minty Adam
INGREDIENTS
Fresh mint leaves
Lemon slice
Caster sugar
Apple juice
6-8 pcs
1 pcs
2 tsp
180 ml
METHOD
Fresh mint, lemon and sugar
muddled and topped up with
apple juice.
Guava Cooler
INGREDIENTS
Guava juice
Cranberry juice
Club soda
Crushed ice
Mint leaf
50 ml
50 ml
50 ml
50 gm
1
METHOD
Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and
shake it well. Serve in a Martini glass. Garnish with
a mint leaf.
66 HEALTHY LIFE
Degaa Resto Lounge
Kumaripati, Lalitpur
Ph.: 5008679
TANDOORI FISH GULNAR
Ingredients
Fish 1 kg
Vinegar
Method
Wash fish in vinegar
In a bowl, mix lemon juice, garlic paste,
chili powder, salt, curd, egg, cream, ginger
paste, gram flour, turmeric to make batter.
Take fish for one portion and mix with
batter and grill in tandoor oven
Baste with butter.
Serves Newari & Indian Food
Marination
Lemon juice 2 tablespoon
Garlic paste 4 teaspoon
Chili powder 4 teaspoon
Salt 1 teaspoon
Hang Curd 1 cup
Egg 1 piece
Cream 2 tablespoon
Ginger paste 2 teaspoon
Gram flour 5 teaspoon
Turmeric 4 teaspoon
Serve for 5 Portions
Introduces Kabab & Curries
NU
IN ME
YEAH!!! YOU WILL LOVE IT
PANEER & PRAWN CURRY
Ingredients
Prawn 175 gm
Paneer 75 gm
Butter 2 tablespoon
CHICKEN PANEER TIKKA
Marination 1
Chicken Breast 1 kg
Lemon juice 2 teaspoon
Garlic paste 1 tablespoon
Salt 1 teaspoon
Marination 2
Paneer 150 gm
Cream 4 tablespoon
Corn flour 1 ½ tablespoon
Green chili paste 2 teaspoon
White pepper powder 1 teaspoon
Green coriander chopped 1 tablespoon
MUTTON & APRICOT CURRY
Method
Marinate chicken with lemon juice,
garlic paste and salt.
Mix paneer, cream, corn flour, green
chili paste, white pepper powder,
chopped green coriander in a bowl.
Mix the chicken mariantion 1 in
marination 2.
Take the per portion and grill in
tandoor oven
Baste with butter and serve hot
Best Served with Mint Chutney.
Serve for 5 Portions
Tomato Puree 1 cup
Curd 2 cups
Garam masala ¼ teaspoon
Chili powder ¼ teaspoon
Chopped garlic 1
tablespoon
Salt 1 teaspoon
Amchur 2 pinch
Coriander powder ¼
teaspoon
Oil 2 tablespoon
Cream 6 tablespoon
Curry powder 1 teaspoon
Cumin ¼ teaspoon
Green chili chopped for
garnish
Green coriander chopped
for garnish
Method
Put tomato puree, curd, spices,
chopped garlic, salt, cream
and make a sauce in a bowl.
Heat butter in a pan; sauté
prawn and paneer in
medium heat, add sauce
and cook.
Garnish with chopped green
chili and chopped green
coriander.
Serve for 3 Portions
Method
In a bowl mix curd, tomato puree,
garam masala, cumin powder, salt,
ginger garlic paste, chili powder.
Heat oil in a sauce pan and add the
curd mixture and sauté briefly and
add onion paste.
Add water and cook the gravy.
Curd Mixture
Heat butter in a pan sauté
Oil 6 tablespoon
cinnamon stick, green cardamom
Curd 2 cups
and apricot for about 2 minutes
Tomato purees 12 tablespoon and add over the gravy.
Boil mutton with salt, cumin
Garam masala ¼ teaspoon
powder and garam masala
Cumin powder 1 teaspoon
Heat butter in a pan and sauté the
Salt 3 tea spoon
Ginger garlic paste 4 teaspoon mutton and add the gravy and cook.
Garnish with chopped green coriander.
Chili powder 1 teaspoon
Water
Serve for 5 Portions
Ingredients
Mutton 750 gm
Onion – Fried onion paste
Butter 10 tablespoon
Cinnamon stick
Green Cardamom
Apricot
food mom’s kitchen
z
Quick & Easy Summer Treats
Recipes that are easy and fast to make
and perfect for the summer season
Tasneem Shahani’s Indian cuisine consists of Biryanis,
Indian curries and many unique recipes passed down
from the family. She says she constantly experiments
with varieties of food for her two daughters and puts in
a lot of effort to let everyone have a taste of the great
‘Bohri’ Muslim culinary delights at the comfort of your
own home. For a great takeaway food, call 9803299610.
Mediterranean Salad
INGREDIENTS
1 Can chick peas
1 Can kidney beans (rajma)
1 Can corn kernels (or American Com)
1 Cucumber
3-4 Tomatoes
2 tsp Vinegar
Salt and pepper for seasoning
100 gm feta cheese
100gms paneer (optional)
Croutons for dressing
2 tsp olive oil
ECS Media
METHOD
Cut cucumber and tomatoes in small
cubes. Take a bowl and mix all the
ingredients and just before serving, place
the croutons on top of the salad.
68 HEALTHY LIFE
Cream & Cookies Ice
cream
INGREDIENTS
500 gm Vanilla Ice cream
200 gm Amul or Nestle cream
1 packet Oreo biscuit
METHOD
Whisk all the ingredients once in a mixer
and put it back in the freezer and keep
till it sets.
While serving, scoop out the ice cream
in a bowl and decorate it with either
chocolate sauce or wafer sticks or just
scoop the ice cream out in a cone.
ECS Media
kitchen matters
Dealing with Leftovers
Making the best possible use of all that’s left behind
Leftovers are a problem faced everywhere—in every household. Healthy
Life got together a group of 15 women and Chef Sandeep KC to discuss
the problem of wastage at home and how to minimize the amount of
food that is wasted or leftover on a daily basis.
Words: Sadichchha Dhakhwa
o matter how hard you
try not to waste, there
will always be some
leftover food time and
again. They can sometimes cause
indecision–do you throw them out
or do you refrigerate them for use
the next day? Wasting food does
make you feel guilty and we hence
tend to avoid taking such measures
and hence it is a normal intuitive
decision to try using them in some
other dish. A group of women, some
participants of the Healthy Life
Knorr Recipe Contest, later joined
by Chef Sandeep KC, got together
in Dega Restaurant to discuss
possible solutions to the problem.
N
Among the many cuisines in the
world today, Nepalis still tend to
stick with the traditional daal bhaat
and tarkari. There is no doubt
that there will be times when there
are bound to be some leftovers,
especially rice. Leftovers are a
problem in every household, there
is no escaping it.
Dealing with Rice
Rice—possibly the food consumed
most in all households. It is an
important part of our diet; we cook
rice almost everyday and never
seem to get tired of it. Having
leftover rice is also quite normal.
As Tasneem Sahani, owner of
Tasneem’s Indian Cuisine, explains:
the most obvious solution to this
problem is to make fried rice out of
it. Fried rice tastes good and is also
a favorite among children.
70 HEALTHY LIFE
From top left to right: Sangya Ghimire, Sabitri Maharjan, Kabita Rai, Raj Rani Lohia, Tulika Agarwal,
Tasneem Sahani, Chitra Malla, Karishma Agarwal, Neelam Sureka
Bottom row: Maria Shrestha, Rashmi Dharewal, Manju Agarwal, Nikita Sethi, Deena Shah, Julie Lama
Tulika Agarwal, a homemaker and an
enthusiastic cook, presented another
solution. The recipe was quite unique;
making pancakes out of the leftover
rice. The recipe was simple: replacing
most of the flour with rice and adding
cottage cheese and mixing it to make
the pancake batter. It was a recipe for
a rather delicious and filling breakfast.
This was not the only solution she
presented—the second was a part
risotto and partly baked dish. As she
described the use of leftover rice
for this dish, taste buds came to life
longing for the extravagant mix of
flavors. What she described uses white
sauce, tomato sauce, chopped onions
and capsicum as well as cooked
macaroni. What she described vaguely
reminded me of lasagna using rice
and macaroni as the distinctive layers.
She explained about mixing rice with
the sauce and using it different layers,
and placing it in the oven for baking.
Khichadi
Karishma Agarwal, owner of the
Pranic Healing Center, offered an
interesting method to make use of
khichadi. She presented an easy
recipe—mixing khichadi in dough
with finely chopped onions and red
or green chilly with salt to taste.
Although the mixture seems strange,
she vouches for a good taste with a
soft texture in the parathas. There
is also no need to make any other
vegetable or curries. If you want, you
could try raita or simple chutney.
Noodles
Another growing popular trend in food
is noodles. Every child growing up
wants to have noodles as an alternative
for food and there is no surprise that
this may as well be another popular
leftover food. Karishma Agarwal
shared her thoughts on this matter.
Her solution is to make some white
sauce, add cheese and coriander, some
chilly and salt and pepper and make
balls out of it. You then deep fry it and
have it as a snack.
Badam Katli
Raj Rani Lohia, a homemaker,
pointed out a leftover problem during
Featured Leftover
Recipes
Rice Pancakes as suggested by
Tulika Agarwal
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 cup cold cooked rice (leftover)
1 cup small curd cottage cheese
4 large eggs
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
2 tbsp sugar
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp cinnamon
5 tbsp unsalted butter–malted
Stir together rice, cottage cheese,
eggs, flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon
and 3 tablespoon butter in a bowl.
Let it stand for 5 minutes.
Lightly coat a 12-inch nonstick skillet
with some butter and heat over
moderately high heat until hot but not
smoking. Working in batches of 3 or 4,
pour a scant ¼ cup butter per pancake
into a skillet and sauté turning over
once until pancakes are golden brown
but still slightly soft, 4-5 minutes per
batch, adding butter as needed. Serve
with maple syrup or honey.
Pea Skin Soup as suggested
by Manju Agrawal
Winter is the season for peas and
we make many different dishes with
them. We generally throw away the
pea skins which are actually full of
nutrients. Here is a recipe to minimize
this waste and make a healthy and
delicious soup out of these.
INGREDIENTS (8 SERVINGS)
• Pea skins from 1 kg peas
• One tsp butter
• Four tsp cream
• One tsp cornflower
• One tsp chopped onions
• Half-cup chopped & boiledmixed vegetables ( carrot, beans,
cauliflower)
• Half-cup boiled macaroni
• Salt & pepper to taste
METHOD
• Wash the pea skins thoroughly
and boil them in a pressure
cooker with 3 cups of water.
• Sieve the mixture and add
cornflour mixed in half a cup of
water.
• Cook the mix on a low flame
until it boils
• Sauté the onions in butter until
they turn brown and add to the
mixture
• Add the boiled vegetables and
macaroni to it and serve with
half tsp cream per serving
Chef Sandeep KC
GG Machaan
the Dashain-Tihar season: the excess
of sweets. A sweet she provided an
example of was the badam katli—an
Indian sweet made out of almonds
and ghee. The solution was to
refrigerate it and make it into halwa
when you desire. The recipe is simple:
grind and sauté it with hot milk
and a small amount of sugar. Add
cardamom and keshar and it is ready.
Other Ideas
The other ideas discussed included
the use of grinded cashews and
almonds as they grow soft and using it
in gravies to have an enhanced flavor.
As bananas start to go bad, an idea is
to wrap it in plastic and deep-freeze
it. If there is an excess of bananas, a
solution is to make banana cakes out
of it. Another interesting idea that
came up was using the skin of peas
to make soup. The process is simple,
boil and grind it and mix corn flour,
cream, onion and salt to taste.
When you make parathas and rotis,
and there are leftovers, a way to utilize
them would be to make lasagna.
Instead of using the lasagna sheets, use
the rotis to make layers between fillings
depending on your choice of vegetables
and/or non-vegetarian choices.
Sweet and Sour and Hot
and Sweet
Chef Sandeep KC joined in the
discussion sharing his views on
food. He explained that it was
inspiring to see innovations in the
food industry. He explained that
there is no such thing as original
dishes and they have not existed
since the establishment of the Silk
Road that promoted trade and
led to trading between countries
not only goods but also ideas. He
emphasized on the point that it
is important to play with dishes
and there is nothing wrong with
it—it is the start of making of a
good chef—daring and innovative.
“There are two flavors we crave the
most—sweet and sour and hot and
sweet,” he explained.
The discussion session came to
an end with the crucial topic of
refrigeration. Nepal is a country
with troublesome electricity. It is
important hence to know how to
store food properly. Chef Sandeep
KC emphasized on the use of
ziplock bags and airtight containers.
The temperature of the fridge
should not be higher than 7° C.
Despite our measures to store food
carefully and properly to ensure
freshness, there will be instances
when we find the food going bad.
When concerned with fruits and
vegetables like carrots, the easiest
solution is to preserve them as
pickles. Fruits can be preserved
as homemade jams. This reduces
wastage and also ensures that
money is not wasted.
Chef Sandeep KC also emphasized
that 40 % of food is wasted all
around the world. This wastage
comes from unwanted foods—
purchased food items that were
not necessarily needed. He
recommends using vegetables
that have minimum wastage, for
example, carrots: 5 %, eggplants:
3 %, zucchini: 3 %. “Plants like
coriander have no taste and is only
used for presentations, there is no
need to use more coriander than
you need,” he explained. „
HEALTHY LIFE 71
food diet news
z
Popcorn as good as
fruits
A new research has found that popcorn
has higher concentrations of polyphenols
than fruits and vegetables. Polyphenols
are plant substances that experts
believe to work as antioxidants. These
compounds
are expected to
prevent disease
by protecting
against harmful
chemical
reactions in the
body. There
is a bad news
though; most of
the polyphenols that we consume with
our food gets stuck between our teeth
preventing it from entering our system.
and high doses (1050 mg) of capsules
of the extract for 22 weeks. The subjects
lost an average of 17 pounds during the
22 weeks of the study which included an
average of a 10.5 % decrease in overall
body weight and 16 % decrease in total
body fat. (sciencedaily.com)
Low-calorie diet may
be harmful
There are several kinds of diet these days
that people follow to adapt a healthier
lifestyle but rarely is the effectiveness of
these diets studied. Researchers from
the Michigan State University performed
a study to determine the effects of diet
(washingtonpost.com)
Slimming down with
chocolate
on bowel disease. The study was based
on mice. The researchers found that
mice on calorie-restricted diet were
more likely to die after being infected
with an inflammation causing bacterial
pathogen in the colon. Experts believe
that a low-calorie diet may in fact prevent
the immune system in our body from
responding to infection. (sciencedaily.com)
People who eat chocolate more
frequently have lower BMIs than those
who don’t. I am not saying this; a
research published in the Archives of
Internal Medicine says so. The study
was based on a survey on 1000 people.
The subjects’ age, gender, mood,
physical activity, calorie consumption
and consumption of saturated fat were
all taken into consideration but the
conclusion still remained the same;
frequent chocolate eaters had lower
BMIs. (washingtonpost.com)
Hypertensives—switch
to soy products!
Isoflavones, a major compound in soy
milk, tofu, green tea and peanuts, are
believed to help people reduce their
blood pressure. A study performed to
determine the effectiveness of isoflavones
showed that people consuming less
Fitness plan with
green coffee beans
Green, or unroasted coffee beans can
help lose weight, and that too in a short
period of time. A study was concluded on
16 overweight and obese people aged
22-26 years. They were alternately
given low (700 mg)
Mini-Chicken
Burger with Herbs
People may think that there are
only boring ways to slim down
or cut their calorie intake. Fast
foods are not healthy they say
but what if we could make our
own version of those yummy
foods with healthy ingredients?
Try your own healthy version of
mini-burgers in your kitchen.
Ingredients
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 pounds ground chicken
3 cloves, minced garlic
1/2 cup minced flat-leaf or curly
parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoon extra-virgin
olive oil
Directions
Mix the chicken, garlic, parsley,
oregano, basil and lemon juice in
a large bowl. Add salt and pepper
to taste. Make 16 patties out of
the mixture, each flattened and
about 2 inches in diameter. Press
the patties into the bread crumbs
to coat each side.
Heat the oil over medium heat in
a non-stick pan. Cook the patties
turning each side once till they
turn brown.
NUTRITION FACTS
Serving size: Per 2-patty serving
Calories: 265
Total Fat: 17g
than 0.33 mg of isoflavones per day had
decrement in systolic blood pressure (-5.5
mm Hg lower on average). This finding
may help patients of hypertension
claim experts. They believe that intake
of soy protein (8 ounce glass of soy
milk=22 mg isoflavones, 100 g roasted
soybeans=130 mg isoflavones) along
with a DASH diet – diet that is high in
fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy and
whole grains – could drop as much as a
10 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure for
pre-hypertensives. (sciencedaily.com)
Saturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 120mg
Total Carbohydrates: 6g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugar: n/a
Protein: 21g
(washingtonpost.com)
Nimma Adhikari
72 HEALTHY LIFE
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food nutrition
Out of the Sea Seaweed
The term, ‘Sailor’s Cure’ as used by the seafarers
of old was not an exaggerated description of
seaweed; this vegetation has its health benefits.
Words: Sadichchha Dhakhwa
here is much yet to be discovered about the oceans. A
vast field of unknown yet lurks in the seas and things
out of the sea are looked upon with wonder. In the
culinary world, seafood is considered rather exotic,
seaweed being one of many to gain popularity. This food
item has been a part of the diet in Japan, Korea and China
since prehistoric times. This sea vegetation can be added into
soups or in salads to get the zest of a new flavor.
T
Like any other land vegetables, there are different types of
seaweed with different flavors and textures. Some of the
well-known variety includes Alaria, Arame, Dulce, Hijiki,
Kombu and Wakame. Alaria is harvested in the Atlantic and
is a distinct cousin of the wakame. It has a briny and rather
chewy-rubbery flavor. Arame is found in the coast of Japan.
It has a soft texture and has a bland flavor. Dulce, found in
the Atlantic coast of Maine, is known for its broad reddishbrown fronds and its strong smoky flavor. Hijiki, found in
Japan is dark in color and small-leafed, resembling dried
tobacco. It has a tender crisp flavor and a mild-sweet texture.
Kombu is kelp, known for its broad-leafed variety that grows
in the northernmost region of Japan’s Artic Sea. It is often
used in stocks or ground as a flavor enhancer. Wakame,
harvested in Japan, has a mild flavor and a texture similar to
cooked spinach.
This vegetation found in the sea is rich in nutritional benefits.
In a nutshell, seaweed is a good source of minerals such as
calcium, magnesium and potassium. Alaria and wakame are
rich in sodium and magnesium while dulce and alaria are
high in iron and vitamin B12. In addition to this, there is no
doubt that seaweed is high in iodine content. This nutrient
is important for a healthy thyroid and neurological function.
However, too much can cause a problem and hence it is best
to avoid having too much of it every day.
Seaweed is known to have health
benefits. Seaweed contains algal
carotenoids and polyphenols, which
are strong antioxidants, which help the fight against oxygen
free radicals that damage cells causing diseases and aging.
Iodine from seaweed helps with the proper functioning of
the thyroid gland. Seaweed also improves the elasticity of
the skin and detoxifies, tones, and cleanses the skin. On
the effects it has on hair, seaweed has a moisturizing effect
making is shinier and softer.
Seaweed can primarily be found in Japanese or Korean
Restaurants. It is a primary ingredient in Japanese dishes
such as the ever-favorite Sushi. Krishna K. Basnet, Executive
Chef at Yak & Yeti, explains, “Because Nepal is a landlocked
country, seaweed has not gained much popularity here. Not
many people are familiar with it.” Because seaweed has not
set a trend in the country, it is an ingredient that has yet to
make an imprint.
Preparing seaweed is not strenuous. Seaweed can be used in
salads and soups with a soak in cool water; others need to be
boiled for few minutes. To have a taste of this nutritious dish,
visit a few Japanese restaurants; Koto Restaurant, Thamel,
Royal Hana Garden, Lazimpat, Bawarchi, Babarmhal Revisited,
Koketsu, Panipokhari, and Mako’s, Dwarika, to name a few.
Seaweed Facts
The oils in seaweed have long been known to help in recuperating
from illness by detoxifying the body and helping the renewal of
damaged skin cells.
Seaweed does not bleach in the sun, as it has a built-in factor
against the damages of the sun’s rays.
Seaweed has been around for about 3 billion years
now. It is something between an animal and a
plant.
Seaweed has no roots to feed through. The
“roots” that we see on them only serve to hold
them in place on the seabed. Seaweed feed
through the spores on their leaves.
Sources:
http://www.burrensmokehouse.ie/blog/fish-health-benefits/seaweed-health-benefits
http://nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips.com/is-seaweed-good-for-you.aspx
FITNESS
The 30-Day
Power Yoga Challenge
Power Yoga comes with great benefits
If you are considering doing yoga, or any form of
physical exercise to become healthy, do consider
that it is not something like a medicine that you take,
the effects of which stay with you forever. Yoga is an
approach to fitness – these are lifestyles, not fixes.
Trying to be healthy is not a hobby – it is a lifestyle.
Words and photos: Niraj Karki; Venue: Pranamaya Studio, Moksh
T
he New Year’s Resolution
is one of the most
common excuses for
people to take steps
towards adopting a healthy lifestyle
– eating a balanced diet, quitting
smoking and drinking, following an
exercise routine and a few more on
that list. It is odd that the priority of
health is somehow affected by the
position of earth in its orbit around
the sun but most resolutions usually
end up with no results. Excuses
don’t’ work. Usually.
All the same, this is the account of a
30-day Power Yoga Challenge that
started on New Year at Pranamaya
Yoga in 1905, Thamel. [Pranamaya
Yoga is an active yoga community in
76 HEALTHY LIFE
Nepal that offers classes in Thamel
and Jhamsikhel]. For those that don’t
know, Power Yoga is version of the
Ashtanga (8 limb) Yoga, which focuses
on developing physical flexibility as well
your mental strength and willpower.
If you are considering doing yoga,
or any form of physical exercise to
become healthy, do consider that it
is not something like a medicine that
you take, the effects of which stay
with you forever. Yoga is an approach
to fitness – these are lifestyles, not
fixes. Trying to be healthy is not a
hobby – it is a lifestyle.
While yoga is for everyone, Power
Yoga isn’t quite so. Rather, it isn’t
for all stages of yoga practitioners.
For those who like the idea of having
washboard abs (as opposed to love
handles) there is an asana for that!
Mostly, because the things you do
in Power Yoga are very challenging
and demanding and which are
better performed when you already
have a basic understanding of the
yoga asanas. At the same time, the
challenges and demands are not
physical – the limits in yoga are
purely mental and there is always a
rhythm and a flow to what you do –
which is a good thing.
you feeling energized and refreshed
for the day. Also, because you
start by doing basic stretches and
warming up your body a little,
your body is ready for anything
- whether it’s something very
physical or a desk job. Even for
those who have desk jobs, supple
joints mean smaller chances of stiff
backs and necks.
Stop smoking: In daily life, people
who smoke don’t really feel the
effects of smoking. The minute
they go on say, a hike, and walk
uphill, is usually when they realize
what cigarettes do to them – this
feeling of how your whole body
is struggling to breathe properly
and you can feel that smoking is
not good for you. Yoga gives a
similar feeling but it’s a lot more
accentuated. There is a sense of
inner cleanliness that you feel after
yoga into which smoking does not
fit. So, if you want to quit smoking,
then do Power Yoga - especially in
the morning.
Cons of power yoga
To be perfectly honest, the worst
thing about the 30-day Power Yoga
Challenge was having to get out
of bed at six in the morning – in
winter, very cold winter. Power
Yoga, it can be safely said, does
not suddenly transform you into a
morning person. Apart from that,
there are no real reasons why one
should not consider Power Yoga. As
mentioned earlier, if suffering from
any physical condition, it is best to
talk to the yoga instructors who are
usually able to give proper guidance.
Losing weight: For those who like
the idea of having washboard abs
(as opposed to love handles) there
is an asana for that! Power Yoga
stresses on building core muscles
and is very physical so if losing
weight is your concern, then power
yoga is definitely for you.
Toning up muscles: Very often in
yoga, you end up using and toning
muscles that you aren’t really aware
of. The benefits aren’t instantaneous
but if you persevere, they are highly
rewarding.
Flexibility: One benefit of
incorporating yoga into your daily
life, especially in the morning, is
that because of the emphasis on
breathing, a session of yoga leaves
HEALTHY LIFE 77
Power Yoga is like any other form of
yoga where you do a series of asanas.
It is different from other forms of yoga
probably because of the combination
of asanas that you do and the duration
you do them for. It consists of a lot of
Surya Namaskars, in fact, one of the
ways we realized how better we had
gotten was by looking at the number
of Surya Namaskars we could do.
We started with five in the first week
where we were sweating like anything
and in the final week, we did 20
rounds without being really tired.
Interestingly, the progress was gradual
and almost as if without physical
boundaries. I just remember taking
control of my mind and saying “I
can hold on for another minute, and
another minute” – it’s all about taking
control of your mind. The benefits
are obviously for your body – they are
physical – but yoga is a mental process.
There are many aspects to yoga
and Power Yoga is no exception. It
is interesting how of all the asanas
in yoga, the final asana – the Shav
Asana (or corpse asana) – the
one that demands the least energy
because it is essentially sleeping
doing nothing except to have a clear
mind is actually the hardest, and if
not, the one that most people fail
at. The mind is part of all exercise
– yoga highlights that. Doing the
warrior lunges, for example, while a
great workout for thighs, is a true test
of your willpower and endurance.
Yoga is about appreciating your body,
appreciating breath and energy instead
of going through days feeling aches and
numbness.
For all the good that yoga does, it
is difficult to incorporate a regular
yoga routine into daily life and taking
yoga classes is one of the best ways
to do so. Doing yoga with others in a
group gives you better motivation; you
have guidance from an experienced
teacher, which is crucial because it
is very easy to get the asanas wrong.
Considering safety, yoga classes are
even more important because teachers
can suggest alternatives if you are
suffering from medical or physical
conditions. And, if you need a reason
to join the yoga classes at Pranamaya,
the place – it smells of green tea - the
way mornings should smell – which
actually makes you want to do yoga.
If the question you have is whether you
should consider doing Power Yoga or
not, the best thing to do is take a few
classes. Whether you want to burn
away the tummy fat doing planks,
improve your body balance through the
various asanas or want to be aware of
your body, yoga is a great way to go.
Yoga is about appreciating your
body, appreciating breath and energy
instead of going through days feeling
aches and numbness. It’s also worth
considering that all the mumbo-jumbo
about yoga and its emphasis on breath
and energy are repeated over and
over again not to sound cheesy but
because they are true. Yoga, because
of its mental and eventual spiritual
association, is often looked upon as
something obscure but a fit body
means a healthier mind and that
opens thoughts to spirituality.
To conclude, consider yoga, take up
yoga. Power Yoga might not be what
you are suited for but you’ll never
know until you try. Also, the New
Year is just around the corner – that
is an excuse as good as any!
[The writer would like to thank
Pranamaya Yoga.]
78 HEALTHY LIFE
new look
Beating the Sultry Summer
Makeup tips you can use this summer
Ayushma Adhikari is currently
pursuing her Bachelors in Mass
Communication from St Xavier’s,
Kathmandu. She normally does
not use makeup except during
commercial ad shoots. Even if she
attends night parties she uses light
makeup and nothing bold.
Before
Ayushma has a normal skin,
points out Asha, the makeup artist
at Laxmee. All kinds of makeup
suit those with normal skin. She
suggests light makeup this summer.
Things to keep in mind as
suggested by Asha
1. Cleansing―Using a toner to
cleanse
2. Moisturise―Applying moisturiser
and sunscreen lotion or sun block
3. Naturalise―After applying
foundation or compact powder it’s
necessary to spray some water to
give a more natural look
Don’ts
• Using moisturiser on oily skin
• Using eyebrow pencil, makes it
look patchy
Summer tips
The summer season brings cheers to
life. It also brings a problem faced by
women all over the world―melting
makeup. Smudges are a nightmare
while going out and having to worry
about your makeup all the time.
Here are a few tips:
Tip 1: Wash your face thoroughly
before applying any makeup.
Tip 2: Wear a primer; this keeps
the makeup in place. Make
sure to spread it evenly and
thoroughly.
Tip 3: Lightly dust translucent
powder over your face after
applying makeup. This will set your
makeup and keep it looking fresh.
Tip 4: Use pencil or liquid
eyeliner instead of crayon.
Tip 5: Avoid using a lot of
foundation—best to avoid liquid
foundation.
Tip 6: Always buy waterproof
makeup. It is more resistant to
heat and sweat.
4. Neutral looks―Applying lighter
eye shadows is always better
5. Preferable liner―Eye liner is
better than eye pencil because it
doesn’t smudge
ECS Media
6. Compacting―Apply compact
powder before applying lipstick, it
lasts longer
After
Model: Ayushma Adhikari; Venue & make up:
Laxmee Hair and Beauty Studio, Bhatbhateni
80 HEALTHY LIFE
Experience Nepal with ECS
Duration
No. of Issues
Cover Price
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1 Year
12
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HEALTH
Mosquito
Magnet
Mosquitoes have blood sucking preferences,
amazing but true!
Mosquitoes are insects that have been around for more
than 30 million years and within this period they have
been honing their skills and have mastered the technique
of finding the most likely target. Beware, it could be you!
Words: Sunita Gurung
T
he advent of summer
brings in the warm
weather giving us the
much needed respite
from the bitter cold. Unfortunately,
along with the comforts, the season
also brings in the swarming hordes
of summer pests that can annoy
the living daylights out of anyone.
Besides the common houseflies that
have their own unsanitary ways of
brushing off the microorganisms
on unsuspecting territories, the
mosquitoes are armed with enough
panache to disturb the mental
82 HEALTHY LIFE
equilibrium of your status even if
it is momentarily. Enjoying a cool
evening out after dinner always
ends up getting stalked by this
intruder which ultimately gets
ruined by these noxious pests
landing on you. While you become
a luscious feast for the darned
pests and go on a slapping spree
you can’t help but notice that the
people sitting around you seem
unfazed. The inevitable question
pops up, “Why am I the only one
to get victimized?” The truth
is that, mosquitoes do exhibit
Protecting ourselves
Use insect repellents on exposed skin
before you get bitten - not after!
Wear light colored clothing during
the day.
Avoid shady spots. Biting is less
common in sunshine and brightly lit
areas.
Avoid areas close to water and
waterlogged ground where insects
hatch or breed.
Use loose long sleeved tops and
trousers to cover exposed skin on
arms and legs, particularly at dawn
and dusk when mosquitoes bite
most.
Close mosquito screens and hang
mosquito nets before dark.
Drill holes in the bottom, not the
sides, of any garbage or recycling
containers stored outdoors. Holes
on the sides still allow enough water
to accumulate in the bottom for
mosquitoes to breed.
Keep gutters clean and unclogged.
Keep swimming pools cleaned and
chlorinated, even when not in use.
Homeowners who go on vacation
without chlorinating their pools
may return to a veritable mosquito
hatchery.
After a rain, look for areas in the
landscape that are not draining well.
If you find puddles that remain for
four or more days, regrade the area.
(Long-lasting) Insecticide-treated
mosquito nets repel/kill the insects
that land on it and reduce the risk.
Ornamental ponds should be
aerated to keep water moving and
discourage mosquitoes from laying
eggs. Alternately, stock the pond with
mosquito-eating fish.
Use a mosquito coils or insecticide
spray to clear rooms of insects before
you retire for the night.
Keep your house clean of items that
can hold water, including discarded
aluminum cans and tires.
blood sucking preferences. One
in ten people are highly attractive
to mosquitoes say experts. But
apparently, it seems that it is not
dinner that they are seeking.
Dipak Sagar, Program Manager,
Malaria, Population Services
International/Nepal, elucidates,
“Female mosquitoes – the males
do not bite people (they feed on
flower nectar and juices) – bite
to obtain necessary proteins from
blood so that they can produce
eggs. Proteins in human and animal
blood are necessary for the female
mosquitoes to produce fertile
eggs. Females require a new blood
“meal” for every nest they lay.”
Since human blood is a necessity
for the female species, their blood
sucking preference makes them
attracted only to some people
whose blood will suffice. With
their well constructed proboscis,
they pierce the skin, sucking the
blood out. Before drawing out the
blood, it injects a small amount of
saliva which lubricates the opening
while the chemicals in it prevent
the blood from clotting. It is these
chemicals that cause the stinging
sensation and irritation that is well
associated with a mosquito bite. In
most cases, the itching sensation
and the swelling disappears after
a couple of hours, but in sensitive
cases, it may persist for several
days. Scratching can result in
infection if bacteria from finger
nails are introduced to the wound.
wearing deodorant, perfume,
cologne, or lotion; being outside
at dusk; and wearing dark colored
clothing. Overall, mosquitoes are
attracted by smells. People with
high concentrations of steroids or
cholesterol on their skin surface
attract more mosquitoes. That
doesn’t necessarily mean that
mosquitoes prey on people with
higher overall levels of cholesterol.
These people simply may be more
efficient at processing cholesterol,
the byproducts of which remain
on the skin’s surface to attract
more mosquitoes. Mosquitoes also
target people who produce excess
amounts of certain acids, such as
uric acid. They are also attracted
by people who emit large quantities
of carbon dioxide. Pregnant
women are also at increased risk,
as they produce a greater-thannormal amount of exhaled carbon
dioxide. Movement and heat also
attract mosquitoes,” says Dipak.
As Dipak says, the researchers haven’t
yet been able to discover what attracts
or repels a mosquito. Research is
being conducted on what compounds
and odors people exude that might
attract these bugs but with 300-400
different chemical odors to examine,
the task is extremely daunting. These
insects seem to have a keen power
of smell that directs them to an ideal
human flesh to feed on its blood.
Who do the Mosquitoes
Prefer?
“Some people are bitten by
mosquitoes more often than
others. While scientists have yet
to pinpoint the exact reason why
mosquitoes bite specific people,
there are some well-known factors
that play a role: giving off large
amounts of carbon dioxide;
HEALTHY LIFE 83
Mosquitoes can carry diseases that can be
transferred to humans through their bites,
some of which are malaria, dengue fever,
yellow fever, Chikungunya fever, Japanese
encephalitis virus, et cetera.
Dipak Sagar
Program Manager, Malaria, PSI
During the hunt, these pests do an
aerial search of a possible target and,
after they locate it, zero in. It seems
that they are armed with sensors
designed to track their prey that is
why they are so good at finding and
biting. Mosquitoes are insects that
have been around for more than 30
million years and within this period
they have been honing their skills
and have mastered the technique of
finding the most likely target.
Mosquitoes can carry diseases
that can be transferred to humans
through their bites, some of which
are malaria, dengue fever, yellow
fever, Chikungunya fever, Japanese
encephalitis virus, et cetera.
Mosquito’s hot spots
Your body chemistry might guarantee
that no mosquitoes will bother you,
but where you are situated might
be a haven for these pesky insects.
Fact File
• The adult lifespan of a mosquito lasts
for two weeks. The majority of these
fragile insects meets a violent end by
becoming a prey for birds, dragonflies
and spiders or is killed by the effects of
wind, rain and drought.
• Mosquitoes, like all insects, are
cold-blooded creatures. Since they
are incapable of regulating body
heat, their temperature is essentially
the same as their surroundings.
Mosquitoes function best at 270
Celsius, become lethargic at 160
Celsius and cannot function below 100
Celsius. In tropical areas, mosquitoes
are active the year around. In temperate
climates, mosquitoes become inactive
84 HEALTHY LIFE
with the onset of cool weather and enter
hibernation to live through the winter.
• There are an estimated 400 chemicals
emitted from human skin and about
100 volatile compounds in each human
breath that mosquitoes can detect.
• Female mosquitoes can detect a host to
feed on at a great distance depending on
species and weather conditions.
• Mosquitoes fly for a short distance
from the place where they hatch but
some species have been known to fly
many miles from where they hatch.
They have been found to fly thousands
of miles riding on an airplane.
In Nepal, malaria cases are being
reported from 65 of the 75 districts.
Approximately 22.8 million people
(83 % of Nepal’s population) live in
these malaria-endemic districts. The
high-risk areas are the foothills and
river belts, forest fringes, forests of
Terai, valleys and inner Terai districts.
It is a well known fact that mosquitoes
prefer stagnant water but any water
source is a potential breeding ground.
Dipak has this to say, “Many people
associate mosquitoes strictly with
standing water, with the belief that
mosquito must have water to lay their
eggs. Breeding habits of mosquitoes
depend upon their species. Mosquitoes
breed in stagnant waters (roadside
ditches or containers), stream and
seepage, slow-flowing waters with
marginal vegetation, partially shaded
slow flowing waters with marginal
vegetations, and so on.” „
health queries
z
Dental Caries Tooth Decay
The word caries
is derived from
the Latin word
meaning “rot” or
“decay”. Due to its
higher occurrence
in the last few
decades, it can
Dr. Bhavana Luintel
Dr
be considered
(B.D.S; F.A.G.E)
the disease of modern
times. If left untreated, this disease can
lead to pain, tooth loss, infections, etc.
Symptoms
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
Tooth discomfort after eating
Darkening of the tooth surface
Visible pits or holes in the teeth
Bad breath/foul taste in the mouth
Throbbing, lingering pain
Prevention
1. Brush twice a day with fluoride
toothpaste. Also, know how to brush
and floss correctly.
2. Clean between the teeth daily with
a floss or an inter-dental cleaner
3. Eat a balanced diet and limit sugar
intake.
4. Visit your dentist regularly for
cleanings, fluoride application and
oral examinations to detect any
abnormalities in their initial stage.
Treatment
Different options are:
• Restoration (filling)
• Root canal therapy
• Crown (cap)
• Extraction (removal)
With regular visits,
you get the required
information and care for
your teeth which will help
you enjoy excellent oral
health.
For more, please contact
us at:
Dental Spa; ph no: 4431218; 2082840;
www.nepaldentalspa.com
Q&
Q My sister had a baby four months back
and both are fine but she has gained a lot
of extra weight which just refuses to go
away. What should she do? Thanks.
A There’s no secret to weight loss after
pregnancy. It takes healthy foods, a
commitment to physical activity — and
plenty of patience.
Consider your eating habits
•Focus on fruits, vegetables,
whole grains and lean sources of
protein. Foods high in fiber, such
as fruits, vegetables and whole
grains, provide you with important
nutrients. Other nutrient-rich
choices include low-fat dairy
products. Skinless poultry, most
fish, beans, and lean cuts of beef
and pork are good protein sources.
• Eat smaller portions. Don’t
skip meals or limit fruits and
vegetables in your diet though,
you’ll miss vital nutrients.
• Eat only when you’re hungry.
Include physical activity
If you exercised during pregnancy
and had an uncomplicated vaginal
delivery, it’s generally safe to
begin exercising within days of
delivery—or as soon as you feel
ready. If you had a C-section
or a complicated birth, talk to
your doctor about when to start
exercising again.
When your doctor gives you the OK:
• Get comfortable: If you’re breastfeeding, feed your baby right before
you exercise. Wear a supportive bra
and comfortable clothing.
• Start slowly: Begin with light
aerobic activity, such as walking,
stationary cycling or swimming.
Note to Readers: Mail your questions to [email protected]. We will get the answers from the experts.
86 HEALTHY LIFE
A
Nilima Tuladhar, Asan, Kathmandu
Lima Adhikari, Weight Loss
Expert, Shape-Up
• Include your baby: Take your
baby for a daily walk in a stroller
or baby carrier. If you prefer
to jog, use a jogging stroller
designed for infants. Lay your
baby next to you while you
stretch on the floor.
• Target your abs: Losing
abdominal fat takes dietary
changes and aerobic exercise;
abdominal crunches can help
tone your abdominal muscles.
• Remember your Kegels: Simply
tighten your pelvic muscles as
if you’re stopping your stream
of urine. Work up to keeping
the muscles contracted for 10
seconds at a time, relaxing for 10
seconds between contractions.
Aim for at least three sets of 10
repetitions a day.
Set realistic goals
Most women lose more than 4.5 kg
during childbirth. During the first
week after delivery, you’ll lose more
weight but the fat stored won’t
disappear on its own.
Through diet and exercise, you can
lose upto 0.5 kg a week. It may
take six months or longer to return
to your pre-pregnancy weight,
whether you’re breast-feeding or
not—and even then, your weight
may be distributed differently from
how it was before pregnancy. You
may have extra skin as a result of
the stretching of your abdominal
wall, and pregnancy-related
changes in bone structure may be
permanent.
health how to
z
Nutrition during Pregnancy
Nine months of pregnancy is a period of rapid physiological changes in a
woman’s body. During this period, her body builds the capacity to store
and deliver large quantities of blood, oxygen and nutrient to the fetus.
Words: Supriya Maharjan, Dietetic Intern at Louisiana Tech University, USA
For a mother-to-be, the news
of pregnancy is followed by a
staggering number of things to do:
visiting the doctor for checkups,
pondering over baby magazines,
deciding names, shopping in baby
stores, etc. However, one thing
that would be atop of an expectant
mother’s “things to do” list would
be modifying their eating pattern.
One must have heard about “eating
for two during pregnancy”.
How much to eat?
Nine months of pregnancy is
a period of rapid physiological
changes in a woman’s body. During
this period, her body builds the
capacity to store and deliver large
quantities of blood, oxygen and
nutrient to the fetus. The Institute
of Medicine recommends food
intake of 2200 to 2900 kcal per
day depending on pre-pregnancy
body weight. Generally, pregnant
women need more than 340 kcal
per day for the second trimester
and more than 450 kcal for the
third trimester. Calorie requirement
during pregnancy is also affected by
one’s physical activity level.
What to eat?
Carbohydrates are main sources
of energy for the human body.
88 HEALTHY LIFE
The energy from carbohydrates
should constitute about 50-60
% of total calorie intake. Grains,
bread, fruits, legumes and starchy
vegetables are good sources of
carbohydrate. Protein requirements
increase. Meat, dairy products,
legumes, egg, seafood and soy
are major sources of protein. Add
nuts and seeds because they are
rich in alpha-linolenic acid which
is good for the fetus brain. Adding
almonds, soybeans, sesame and
walnuts to daily meals is beneficial
for a mother’s health also. Pregnant
women should consume an average
of 8 to 10 cups of fluid every day.
When calculating fluid intake, one
should account for the amount
of milk, juice, soup or any liquids
consumed in addition to drinking
water as well.
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals play a great
role in delivering a healthy baby.
Lack of folic acid can cause anemia
in mothers and cause complications
like fetal neural tube defects and
reduced growth. Good sources are
spinach, lettuce, mustard greens,
asparagus, broccoli, papaya,
pineapple, orange, beans, etc.
Iron deficiency is common in
pregnant women. It increases
the risk of low birth weight and
pre-term delivery. Meat, seafood,
beans, pumpkin, squash and
soybeans are good sources.
Iron supplementation is usually
recommended to pregnant
women. Vitamin A, C and E act as
antioxidants. Fruits and vegetables
are major sources. Calcium and
vitamin D requirements are greater
for pregnant women as compared
to non-pregnant women. Plant
based food provides a variety of
essential vitamins and minerals,
however, vegetarian women may
lack vitamin B12, D, calcium, and
zinc in their diet.
Avoiding problems
Apart from eating a balanced diet,
pregnant women should stay away
from smoking, alcohol or using
any drugs. Such behaviors can
result in birth defects, pre-term
birth and miscarriages. It is also
recommended to limit caffeinated
drinks such as coffee and cold
caffeinated drinks. Exercise
or physical activity is another
important factor during pregnancy.
Traditionally, it is recommended to
take bed rest, but researchers have
found that regular physical activity
can reduce the severity of some
pregnancy complications. Pregnant
women should avoid any possible
food contamination by following
food safety guidelines. It would be
wise to visit the doctor for further
information and advice. Overall,
good nutrition is important to
ensure adequate nutritional status
of pregnant women and the fetus as
well as the quality of breast milk.
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Dream On
Everybody dreams, only, some think they dream
more, but actually, that’s not true. They just
maybe remember more otherwise everybody
has about 4-6 dreams every night.
Words: Umang Parajuli
1. On average, what percentage
of your sleeping hours is spent
dreaming?
a. 5% to 10%
b. 20% to 25%
c. 45% to 50%
7. What is a lucid dream?
a. A vivid dream that seems very real
b. A dream in which you are aware that
you are dreaming
c. A dream that is not unusual, that is
similar to life
2. Who created the first dream
dictionaries?
a. Indians
b. Romans
c. Egyptians
8. Dreams are useful for learning
more about your:
a. Behaviours
b. Values
c. Both a & b
3. In which of the following countries
are people most physically aggressive
in their dream?
a. United States
b. Canada
c. Switzerland
9. Which of the following best
describes the part of the mind most
involved in dreaming?
a. The subconscious mind
b. The conscious mind
c. The regulatory mind
4. Of the following, which is the least
common dream?
a. Having Sex
b. Being Chased
c. Falling
10. What kind of dream do most
people usually have?
a. Full colour dream
b. Black and white dream
c. Dark gray and black dreams
5. Researchers think dreams may be
important for:
a. Mood Regulation
b. Problem Solving
c. Both a & b
11. The average person over the age of
10 has how many dreams per night?
a. 1-2 dreams per night
b. 3-4 dreams per night
c. 4-6 dreams per night
6. Pregnant women dream:
a. Less often than average
b. More often than average
c. About as often as average
12. Dreams occur during which phase
of sleep?
a. Non-REM Sleep
b. REM sleep (rapid eye movement)
c. Both REM and non-REM sleep
Answers: The correct answers are - Questions 3,4,9,10 = A, 1,6,7,12 = B and 2,5,8,11= C respectively
T H E
C O M P L E T E
F A M I L Y
M A G A Z I N E
Issue 30, May 2012
Issue 30
May 2012
Rs 50
They mean
business
St
Stereotypes
t
No
N
More—Changing Role
of Women Today
The 30-Day
Power Yoga
Challenge
Power
P
ower Y
Yoga
oga ccomes
omes w
with
ith
great benefits
SUMMER EXUBERANCE
Loyalty to
Friends before
All Else
–Sahana Vajracharya
The Greatest
Test
of
Life
Love is for the courageous
Nutrition
during Pregnancy
ISSN 2091-1068
9 772091 106008
The Beauty of
Wisteria
Wisteria is a flower that
illuminates homes
Summer
Exuberance
Enjoy the summer months like never before
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