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Impact of Social Media on Children
Social media is a rapidly evolving platform for younger people to communicate with each other, express themselves, and share content of all kinds. It has given rise to a new cultural paradigm that drives technology and businesses, while changing the way people interact. As a tool, social media is a double-edged sword. While it has many benefits, it can also influence youngsters in unhealthy ways.
Positive Effects of Social Media on Children
While social media is mostly talked about in a negative light, there are some strong positive arguments in favour of it. Here are the advantages of social media for kids:
Spending time online is important for the younger generation to pick up necessary technical skills they will need to navigate their way through the future. It allows them to be competent citizens in a digital age, where they can fully participate in the broader society and learn the social skills of that generation. They will also learn to adapt to having an elaborate online network of friends and acquaintances.
Social media is being used by the youth in positive ways that weren’t thought of before. It is not just a medium for socialising, but kids and adolescents have found a new way to express themselves creatively, and interact and learn with a broader audience. Students are using it to form study groups, where they can easily and instantaneously share ideas and learning material.
Social networking has also changed the way kids learn. It has introduced a more peer-based learning method, where students are motivated to learn from their peers. They are always interacting and giving feedback to one another, which refines their learning process. They are also more enthusiastic to learn from each other, than from adults. Learning can now come from newer sources and not just their parents or teachers.
Not only is social media a tool to communicate, but it is also an important part of the lives of adolescents and young adults. It gives them an avenue to stay connected with their peers from sports teams, activity clubs, and classes, while also allowing them to network with others having similar interests.
It has been observed that social media makes people more empathetic, considerate, and relationship-oriented. They express how they feel, by commenting or liking pictures, videos or status updates posted by their friends. They also wish more people than ever, on their birthdays.
Kids maintain long-term friendships with others by staying in touch with them online, even when they can no longer meet each other in person.
It has been observed that virtual empathy shown by youngsters is received positively by their distressed friends on social media.Social media improves their moods and helps them find solutions to problems. Virtual empathy can also spill over to the real world, and teach youngsters how to be more compassionate.
Social media offers a platform for youngsters to connect with others who share similar interests. It can be anything relating to hobbies or professions involving music, art, games, and blogs.
Kids also get to have an influence on their community through social networking groups, and help bring about positive changes. Some of the examples being fundraising campaigns and participating in political events and debates.
Social media allows youngsters to network with people from around the globe, exposing them to cultures and ideas that they may not otherwise come across. It helps them acquire a broader perspective on life and people in general.
Social media gives introverted kids the chance to open up over the internet, giving them a boost of confidence. Many youngsters find it easier to talk to people in person, after interacting with them over social media platforms. It also helps them interact with people around the world, understanding other cultures, food, music, and more.
Many youngsters like stay on top of current events, and with several news accounts to follow on social media, it has become a powerful tool in feeding concise and relevant news to kids. This helps them expand general knowledge, keeping them in touch with latest happenings around the world.
Negative Effect of Social Media on Kids
A popular opinion of the impact of social media on children is that it does more harm than good. Here are some negative impacts of social media on children:
The most well-known downside of social media is the addiction it creates. Constantly checking the news feed of the different social media sites becomes an addictive habit. Experts think that some features such as 'likes' and 'shares' activate the reward centre in the brain. This reward circuitry is highly sensitive during adolescence and may partly explain why teenagers are more into social media than adults. These features further influence our moods. Being social creatures, we value interaction and connection, both of which determine how we think of ourselves. This drives a lot of our behaviour on a day-to-day basis, which is centred around social media.
Youngsters addicted to social media end up spending hours, each day, watching videos, photos, and other content posted in the accounts they follow. This addiction disrupts other activities, such as school work, sports, study, and other productive routines. They end up wasting a substantial amount of time, every day, resulting in poor grades in school. Some heavy users of social media admit to checking their feeds as many as 100 times a day, and sometimes, during school hours too. Some of the kids also realise that they are wasting a lot of time on social media, which affects their mood negatively. It also builds in them a defeatist attitude.
Psychologists have long observed bad effects of social media on the mental health of children. One finding suggests that children spending more than three hours a day on social media are twice as likely to suffer from poor mental health. Their immersion in a virtual world delays their emotional and social development. The effects on teens is much stronger. One report by the IZA Institute of Labour Economics suggests that spending only an hour a day on social media can make a teen miserable. It could be due to the influence of social comparisons, cyber bullying, and decreased person to person interactions.
Using Facebook is also known to lead to a decline in the subjective well-being of youngsters. The more they use Facebook, the more they feel dissatisfied with their lives, in general. Teens are also observed to be suffering from “Facebook depression” after spending too much time on it or other social networking sites. Some also become anxious and moody, as they see that the lives of their friends are better than their's, even though they may know that their representation is idealised. However, vulnerable teens are more prone to this than their confident counterparts.
Screen relationships also detract real-life relationships and social skills in children and teenagers. This happens because they grow up without learning how to read non-verbal cues and facial gestures of people. Social interaction is critical to developing the skills needed to understand other people’s moods and emotions. Hence, children growing up interacting mostly with social media may turn out non-empathetic and also become poor at communicating verbally and non-verbally.
While some teenagers get affected by the pressure of having to react to posts of their friends or respond to messages, others fear not being in the social loop, which is called FOMO (fear of missing out). Teens obsessively check their media feeds for updates by friends, as they don’t want to miss out on jokes, activities, parties and gossip. FOMO is also known to lead to depression and anxiety, while being a major contributor to teenagers’ heavy use of social media.
Obsession with the self and posting endless updates and selfies on social media is increases narcissism in youngsters. Their moods depend heavily on how appreciated their photos are on social media and they go into anxiety when they don’t get the attention they expect. Having their own pages makes kids more self-centred. Some vulnerable children would then live under the notion that everything revolves around them. This is a precursor to dysfunctional emotional conditions, later in their life, and a lack of empathy for others.
Selfies turned into the most popular thing with the advent of camera phones. Taking selfies every hour and posting it on social media is strongly linked to narcissism, and can trigger obsessions with one’s looks. Some selfie addicts have been known to do dangerous things, such as scale skyscrapers, pose with wild animals or weapons, or stand close to moving vehicles, such as trains to get a “cool” selfie, which has ended fatally. Risky behaviour is also observed in teens, as they participate in mass social media challenges that involve engaging in absurd or dangerous activities while filming themselves.
Facebook and other social media platforms have had a negative effect on the brains of youngsters. It sets their brains to a state similar to a child that gets attracted to bright colours and buzzing noises, while having a short attention span. It is no surprise this happens, as it barely takes any concentration or thought process to browse on social networking sites.
It is often the case with social media effects on child development that with having grown on superficial stimuli, children lack the ability to engage deeply with others and themselves. They end up living for perfect Instagram photos, while missing out on the actual experience of the event, which may be a vacation or having lunch with friends or family.
Other dangers of social networking sites for children include cyber crime and cyber bullying. Bullying is easier on social media platforms, in the form of threatening messages or subtle posts with offensive content directed at a particular person. Younger children can also become targets of stalking by predatory individuals who intend to cause harm.
Offensive, explicit and violent content is easily accessible on the internet, which impacts young minds. This content can shape their minds in the wrong manner, or cause them to become mentally distrubed, later affecting other avenues of their lives, from education to personal relationships, and more.
How Can Parents Help Kids Be Smart About Social Media?
Parents always want the best for their children, while also protecting them from the worst. Parents try and enable children to handle bad situations, while also advising them to stay away from them in the first place. So here is how parents can be smart about their kids using social media:
Begin with researching on the impact of social networking sites on children and educating them about the pros and cons of it. Initially, set boundaries on what sites they can be on and for how long.
Encourage your children to engage in more real life communication with people, rather than online networking. They need to be taught the importance of spending more time in real life friendships and activities.
Instead of constantly lecturing them about the bad influence of social media on children, encourage other interests or passions they may have. It could be hobbies, sports, social work or anything that is not virtual.
Suggest them to use social media platforms constructively to enhance their learning, or to collaborate with others who have similar interests. Teach them how to differentiate between what has substance and what is not worth spending time on.
Supervise their online activity, so you can teach them to protect themselves from online predators and bullies. Give them enough freedom, but ensure they know you are aware of their online habits.
Join their social networking site so you can be better aware of how it works. If possible, follow them on the site so you can see their posts. However, refrain from commenting or interacting with their posts.
If your child is often upset after looking at their phones or their time online, talk to them about it. They may need guidance on how not to take things that happen online, to their heart.
Ensure they spend only as enough time on it as it is useful. You may even allow social media time as a reward for good behaviour.
Let them understand that having 500 friends on Facebook doesn’t mean they are cool, social, or popular.
Emphasise the difference between social networking and real life.
As with just about all things, social media should be used moderately to stay in touch with the times and trends. Trouble begins only with excessive indulgence.
Also Read: Internet Safety for Kids Read more
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How to Maintain Progesterone Levels during Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes to facilitate the growth and the development of the foetus. These changes include an increase in hormone levels as well. One of the hormones that plays an important role during pregnancy is progesterone. This hormone is important during childbearing years and has a lot to contribute towards the health of the pregnant woman and her baby.
What Is Progesterone?
Progesterone is a female sex hormone that is produced in the ovaries each month. This hormone prepares the uterus for an impending pregnancy. If a woman gets pregnant during the ovulation period, the level of progesterone in her body increases in order to facilitate the pregnancy process. But if her progesterone levels are low, it may affect her ability to conceive and put her at a higher risk of a miscarriage.
What Is the Role of Progesterone in Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the progesterone hormone increases the circulation of blood between the placenta and the uterus, stimulating the growth of breast glands to produce milk. It also protects the baby from getting rejected by the mother due to antibodies or other immune factors.
How Can Progesterone Affect Your Pregnancy?
Progesterone is of great importance during pregnancy because of the following reasons.
It prepares the lining of the uterus to enable implantation.
It regulate the body temperature from the end of the ovulation period and throughout menstruation.
It thickens the lining of the uterus to ensure the success of a pregnancy.
This hormone increases the flow of arterial blood and glycogen into the lining of the uterus to ensure that the baby gets enough nutrients.
The progesterone hormone thickens the cervix and creates the mucus plug, which helps in blocking bacteria from entering the uterus.
It helps prevent uterine contractions.
Progesterone hormone also regulates your menstrual cycle.
What Are the Normal Progesterone Levels?
The normal levels of progesterone during pregnancy are given below. To help you understand better, we have provided the information on the basis of weeks and trimesters. Progesterone is of extreme importance in the first trimester. Read to find out how it increases in the initial weeks of pregnancy.
1. In the First and Second Week
In the first two weeks of pregnancy, ovaries release about 1 to 1.5 ng/ml of progesterone. You might not be pregnant yet, your body will produce progesterone to prepare for pregnancy. Your pregnancy will be calculated from the last day of your menstrual cycle, but you will not really be pregnant at least until the second week.
2. In the Third and Fourth Week
Once ovulation takes place, the endocrines in your ovaries will begin producing progesterone. During this time, your progesterone level will gradually rise to 2 ng/ml or more. This will stimulate the walls of the uterine to thicken in anticipation of implantation of the egg. Once the egg is fertilised in the third week, your progesterone levels will rise by 1 or 2 ng/ml every day.
3. In the Fifth and Sixth Week
Your progesterone levels may be anywhere between 10 ng/ml and 29 ng/ml during this time. Doctors expect a minimum of 6 ng/ml to 10 ng/ml during the fifth and the sixth week. At this point, the progesterone in your body will help develop the embryo and the placenta, along with facilitating the growth of your blood vessels. Progesterone is also responsible for the ‘pregnancy glow’ that you may notice. However, sometimes, it could also cause rashes or make your skin itch.
4. From Seventh to Fourteenth Week
From the seventh week, the progesterone will be produced in the placenta rather than the ovaries. This causes a slowdown in the rise of the progesterone levels. However, your progesterone levels will rise again around the end of the first trimester. Your progesterone levels may be anywhere between 15 to 60 g/ml during this time. This number can be higher for women with multiple pregnancies. The progesterone hormone will help relax your muscles during this time and make it easier for your body to expand and accommodate the growing baby. It will also prevent contractions during early pregnancy. However, high progesterone levels during this time can lead to indigestion, heartburn, constipation or haemorrhoids.
Trimester-Wise
Given below is the trimester-wise information about progesterone levels during pregnancy.
1. First Trimester
During your first trimester, your progesterone levels can be between 9 and 47 ng/ml.
2. Second Trimester
A normal level of progesterone during the second trimester is between 17 and 147 ng/ml.
3. Third Trimester
The progesterone levels between 55 and 200 ng/ml are considered normal in the third trimester.
What Are Low Progesterone Level?
Progesterone levels are monitored throughout the first trimester in order to detect an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage. Progesterone levels lower than 6 to 10 ng/ml around the sixth week of pregnancy are considered to be low. If you are worried about low progesterone levels, you can ask your doctor to conduct a blood test. The results of the test will be provided to you within a day. For women who have had over 3 miscarriages within the 20th week of their pregnancy, doctors recommend progesterone treatment to prevent the chance of a miscarriage.
What Are the Causes of Low Progesterone Levels?
The common causes of low progesterone levels in early pregnancy include:
Ectopic pregnancy – When the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube, the ovary, in the pelvic or abdominal cavity, or in the cervix, it is a case of an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy should be diagnosed on time. If it is left untreated, it could lead to life-threatening complications.
Loss of the foetus or the embryo early due to certain abnormalities in the chromosomes.
A complete or incomplete miscarriage. This happens in about 10 to 25 percent of the pregnancies.
A threatened miscarriage or an inevitable miscarriage. This may or may not progress.
Low levels of BHCG leading to a chemical pregnancy. A chemical pregnancy is the loss of pregnancy in the early stages. It happens before the fifth week of gestation.
The early death of the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum is responsible for the production of the progesterone in the ovaries until the placenta takes over.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Low Progesterone Levels During Pregnancy
A miscarriage is the most common sign of low progesterone levels during pregnancy. Although you may notice spotting and bleeding due to other reasons, it is always best to get your progesterone levels tested. Your doctor will conduct a blood test to check whether your pregnancy will survive or not. If your progesterone levels are too low, you won’t be able to carry the baby to term. If you identify any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately.
What Are the Side Effects of Low Progesterone Levels?
If the progesterone levels are low during pregnancy, they might result in:
A miscarriage
A premature birth
Low blood sugar levels
Vaginal dryness
What Are the Side Effects of High Progesterone Levels?
If you have a high level of progesterone during pregnancy, you may face the following side effects:
1. Mood Swings
An increase in progesterone levels has been linked to mood swings and depression.
2. Stuffy Nose
Since progesterone is responsible for relaxing the muscles during pregnancy, unstable levels of this hormone may end up relaxing the smooth muscles of the nostrils as well. This can result in a stuffy nose.
3. Headaches
A rise in the progesterone levels increases the flow of blood into the brain, which relaxes the blood vessels. This can result in migraines or severe headaches in women.
4. Constipation
The hormone can also relax the intestinal muscles making it difficult for food to pass into the intestine, leading to constipation.
5. Breast Tenderness
It can cause tenderness and sensitivity in your breasts.
6. Fatigue
As the hormone affects the central nervous system, it can lead to extreme fatigue and sleepiness.
Low Progesterone Treatment During Pregnancy
If a woman has low progesterone, it will be difficult for her to get pregnant. But if a woman is pregnant, she should try to maintain healthy levels of progesterone hormone as they help carry a pregnancy to term. If your progesterone levels are low, your doctor will suggest various methods of treatment. Some of the common treatments for low progesterone during pregnancy are stated below -
Hormone Therapy – This is provided to expecting women to enable optimal lining of the uterus and increase the chances of carrying the baby to term.
The doctor might also suggest some creams and gels, which can be used topically. Some creams can be used vaginally too but only after consulting with the doctor.
When low progesterone levels lead to fertility issues, then the doctor might recommend suppositories. Vaginal suppositories are medication that are inserted into the vagina with a special applicator.
Vaginal rings with hormone releasing mechanisms may also be used. These release hormones at a slower pace than the oral medication.
Oral pills like provera.
It is important that you do not use any over-the-counter medicines to increase the level of progesterone as these tend to be less effective. Also, it is ideal to consult a doctor and take the right prescription of medicines and supplements that you can consume.
Home Remedies
Here are a few home remedies that you can try to increase your progesterone levels.
1. Increase the Amount of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C in Your Diet
The liver requires Vitamin B6 to break down oestrogen. Lack of Vitamin B6 will slow the breaking down of oestrogen and increase its level in the body. This can create a hormonal imbalance. Seafood, walnuts, whole grains, lean red meat, poultry, beans, spinach, potato, etc are rich in Vitamin B6. You will also need to consume Vitamin C. Studies show that taking 750 mg of Vitamin C on a daily basis for over six months can considerably increase the progesterone levels in the body.
2. Consume Foods Rich in Zinc
Zinc is important to increase the production of progesterone in the body. The mineral zinc causes the pituitary gland to release hormones that stimulate the follicles in the ovaries. This leads to ovulation and the production of oestrogen and progesterone. Zinc is found in good quantity in foods like lean red meat, watermelon, dark chocolate, wheat germ, pumpkin, chickpeas, squash seeds, etc.
3. Eat Foods Rich in Magnesium
Magnesium is also important for maintaining a healthy amount of progesterone in the body as it promotes hormonal balance. You can include foods like black beans, pumpkin, okra, spinach, nuts, etc in your diet as they are rich in magnesium. You can also take dietary supplements.
Some Other Ways to Increase Your Progesterone Levels
Apart from these home remedies, there are some other ways too for increasing progesterone levels. Here’s what you can do:
1. Lower your stress levels
Chronic stress is known to affect the adrenal glands and lower the production of cortisol. Stress hormones can make the kidneys convert progesterone hormone to cortisol. High cortisol levels can be bad for your health. Hence, you should try to manage your stress. Indulge in activities to lower stress in your daily life. You can journal, read, listen to music, or meditate.
2. Maintain a healthy weight
If you are overweight, your body will produce more oestrogen, which could imbalance of progesterone levels in your body. The progesterone to oestrogen ratio should be normal. Although losing weight won’t increase your progesterone in your body, but it will balance your hormonal levels.
3. Do not overexercise
Performing exercises during pregnancy is good as it can help you manage your stress and maintain a healthy weight. But if you exercise too much, it can make your body produce more stress hormones than progesterone. If you want to continue exercising during pregnancy, you can swim, walk, or practise yoga. Strenous exercises should be avoided completely. Also, consult with a doctor before you start exercising.
FAQs
1. Can Low Progesterone Levels Lead to an Ectopic Pregnancy?
Low progesterone levels can lead to an ectopic pregnancy. A study found that women who had ectopic pregnancies had progesterone levels lower than 22 ng/ml. However, out of all the patients with progesterone levels lower than 22 ng/ml, only 10 percent had ectopic pregnancies. According to the study, there is a good chance that your low progesterone levels will not lead to an ectopic pregnancy.
2. What Is Meant By a False Positive Progesterone Level?
A false positive progesterone level is when there is a rise in the level of progesterone in your body for a reason apart from pregnancy and ovulation. Some of the reasons why there might be an elevation in the progesterone levels in your body are:
Ovarian cancer
Adrenal cancer
Taking progesterone pills or suppositories
Aongenital adrenal hyperplasia, which is a condition that affects the adrenal gland
It can also be due a laboratory error caused by a cross-reaction with other hormones
3. What If Progesterone Shows a False Positive Pregnancy HPT Test?
A pregnancy test shows result based on the levels of the hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) hormone. This pregnancy hormone is not similar to the progesterone hormone. The levels of progesterone in your body will not result in a false positive pregnancy test.
4. Can Low Progesterone Levels During Pregnancy Lead to a Miscarriage?
Low progesterone levels may be indicative of an ectopic pregnancy. It may also mean that the pregnancy may not last till term. Progesterone levels lower than 6 to 10 ng/ml in the 6th week of pregnancy can put you at a high risk of miscarriage.
Progesterone is essential for a smooth pregnancy and it is important to ensure that your progesterone levels are optimal to avoid any complications in pregnancy. Hence, it is recommended that you visit a doctor to measure your progesterone levels during pregnancy. Continue to monitor them during early pregnancy and seek timely treatment in case of low progesterone levels.
Also Read: HCG Levels during Pregnancy Read more
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Contribution – Rollercoaster ride… When god takes something from u he gives something in return to make u happy
I conceived after trying 4 yrs of my marriage…I was over d cloud wen I became pregnant.starting 3 months had extreme nausea but was happy dat a life is growing inside me..at 4 months I became bit normal but I got worst news of my life dat my dad had a stroke nd paralyzed totally…I used to cry each nd every day…it broke my heart..due to pregnancy I was unable to c my dad coz he was in different city…somehow nine months completed..at nine months I got labour pain..I wanted nrml delivery coz I knew if I get c-section dere will be no one to take care of me Nd my baby except hubby..coz mom’s will be taking care of dad…I used to walk 1 hour daily till my labour began…used to do all house chores coz no one was dere…I gone through labour pain more dan 24 hours…can’t explain it was near death feeling but I still beared it from my baby but her heart rate dropped so dey did emergency csection..dey took me to ot..my baby didn’t cried doctor was silent coz dey didn’t want me to know dat she is serious.. my baby girl didn’t able to breath properly nd was not responding..I was semi-conscious bt I knew something is wrong den doc explained dat she was admitted in other hospital due to complication…i was dat unlucky mom’s who didn’t even get to c my daughter’s face…4 days after my discharge I went to see my daughter directly to her hospital again I was sad nd cried a lot but god’s grace I think my dad gave his life to my daughter…she recovered but I lost my dad…though I miss him badly bt I know dat he knew dat if he didn’t gave me angle I would have not able to live without him
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A Tulsi Plant And The Quest For "Why" In Life.
A Tulsi plant needs no introduction. It’s widely known for both of its medicinal properties and spiritual significance.
I too had a Tulsi plant in my balcony planted in a pot. She was almost one year old. With the drag of time, the plant was earning age. By the time the incident happened, her appearance was similar to an old lady who was crowned by her own age. The tale of my Tulsi plant begins like this….
Like any other day, I was carrying out my daily activities in the prayer room. There I felt something on my hand, a sensation. When I looked at, I found a caterpillar crawling on my little finger. The worm was much similar in both size and color to those caterpillars who infect drumstick plants. But the antenna like structures protruding from its front and back were making it different. As most people would have reacted, I with a loud noise waved my hand as fast as I could and the worm fell at a distance. I got it out of my home and guessed how the caterpillar might have found it’s way . After getting rid of it I finished my offerings to my Lord and went to my Tulsi plant to serve and pray. There I found the same caterpillar attached to the body of the tree. I looked up and to my awe, the whole plant had been infected by the worms. I had a sense of shame. I realized I had neglected the plant. The worm had brown color body with same color fur for which they could easily camouflage themselves in the branches of the plant. Perhaps this was reason it had slipped out of my sight. When I googled, I found the larvae belonged to tussock moth. The worms were surviving on the leaves of my plant. At first, I was advised to apply insecticide. Somehow I did not feel like carrying out worm massacre, especially when they were under the shelter of my sacred plant. Instead I reduced the amount of water supply. The purpose was to slow down the growth of the plant. The shortage of eats might curb their number.
It was almost a week. The population of the caterpillar was restricted as the source of food was depleting. Out of all, two were large enough to depart the tree and wriggle on the wall. Three or four had formed cocoons. However the plant was still infected with several small to medium size worms. The Tulsi plant was not looking good. My three-year-old daughter was very curious to watch them. To add to her fun, with a stick, I picked one very tiny worm. It was like, I had picked a just born caterpillar. It was too small. As soon as I picked it up, a blow of wind carried it away like a feather. It occurred to me that the wind might be the carrier of the larva to my plant. They had eaten almost every leaf and anything green. To save the plant, I broke the branches. Almost every branch was infected but I anticipated if taken care of, the plant would again produce new leaves. I checked the bottom of the pot, if any caterpillar was present. But none were there. I got rid of the broken branches by properly disposing them. I was very happy. I cleaned the area properly, watered the plant adequately. Everything seemed nice and excellent.
A day or two more passed. I was regularly watching the growth of the TulsI plant. There was sign of new leaves forming. This made me dream the beauty of my plant covered in fresh green leaves. On the contrary to my imagination, after four or five days the leaves started to dry and there was no newly formed leaf attached to the plant. It was evident that I would have to get a new plant as the old plant was withering and I was quite disappointed that I couldn’t save the plant.
A few days passed again. I had not removed the plant. Until I brought a new one, I was keeping the old yet non-living plant. I still would rain the soil, hoping the plant to show some sign of its existence. Then one morning, out of the blue, I saw a few germinated Tulsi leaves peeking above the soil. They took very few days to stand straight above the surface. Hence I carefully got the old Tulsi plant out of the pot. Slowly within a fortnight, the pot was covered with many more Tulsi plants. The worms somehow shredded the seeds of Tulsi on soil. The cement pot looked like a tiny field of leafy vegetables. The old had perished to make the way for the new.
As life should be, it surrounds us with events. I always seek for the “why” which I believe preceded many good and every bad chapter of the book of my life. Often my search for the “good -event-why” ends agreeably but it deeply bothers when the answer to why for an undesirable occurrence is not interpretable. Sometimes a long time passes, yet the particular “why” is not found. Perhaps that’s the taste of life. Its blessings many times come in disguise. Thus, I try my best to solve the puzzle of my life containing the pieces of episodes of my being, which I still do. In this process, one thing I recognize that I am solving it better than the previous times. Read more
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The one-bowl quick, easy, vegetarian and healthy banana bread recipe!
This is the easiest banana bread recipe. I have tried and tested so many versions. And this one comes out great everytime. Recently, I have been trying out eggless versions and I have pleasantly surprised. In this version, I used olive oil. Though you can replace it with the same amount of melted butter. Sweetness from the bananas varies. Add a couple more of bananas and avoid sugar for a sugar-free banana bread.
Baking is a science. Therefore, don't be afraid to add a few ingredients as an experiment to make it your own recipe.
Following is mine.
Preheat the oven at 180 degrees. Take a large bowl and add 3 whole ripe bananas (a great way to use up those over ripe bananas on the kitchen counter). Mash them up thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup oil (neutral oils do best like olive, sunflower, coconut), 1/2 cup of milk,1/2 cup of sugar and a few drops of vanilla essence (optional). Whisk and mix them well.
Keep a sieve on top of this bowl. Add a cup of whole wheat flour (you can use flour of your choice or availability), 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1tsp cinnamon powder and 1 tsp salt. Sift and fold them into the wet ingredients. Add walnuts or any dry-fruits of your liking. This is optional. Do not overmix. Just cut and fold to incorporate the mixture.
Grease the pan and pour the batter. Lightly tap. Bake for 30 mins. Keep an eye on it. If the surface starts browning, cover it with aluminium foil and bake. Different ovens tend to cook in different time frames. The best way to ensure is to check the centre of the bread with a toothpick. Cool on a rack.
Best enjoyed with a glass of warm milk or a cup of tea. If you are feeling fancy add a dollop of whipped cream or a side of ice-cream. Enjoy! Read more
Sarika gupta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
15 hours ago
Q. Am craving to have a burger at McDonald’s. Am 15 week pregnant.
Is it safe to have
Sarika gupta
Mom of 2 children
3 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much and it is better to avoid this at this time and also if you want to eat burger then it is better to make it a home . Thanks and take care
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
14 hours ago
Q. It's my 12th week of pregnancy but last night I noticed some bleeding. So, my doctor prescribed Duphaston for 2 weeks. Is there anything to worry about? Please guide me.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
14 hours ago
A. at present take rest and use medicines as advised by the doctor. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 3 months
8 hours ago
Q. I am 7 month pregnant with second baby I have severe abscess pain in armpit and buttocks pls tell me remedy for this ...Dr recommend antibiotics and ultracet pain tablet I have taken some doses of it but worried about the foetal development..does it hurt my baby
Read moreDr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
6 hours ago
A. You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
continue antibiotics regularly
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
2 hours ago
Q. Hello dr meri beti 6 days ki hai or use feed karwane ke bad nose or muh se milk bhar aa raha hai to aesa kyu kr rahi hai….me kya Dr ko dikhau kya???
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
2 hours ago
A. Hello dear parent! Keep your baby’s heart in a little elevated position while you’re breastfeeding. Burp your baby after every feed. Keep Babyhug tummy roll on handy. Consult your doctor for further assistance
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts how to reduce belly fat after pregnancy and skin was loose .two year passes but problem is persist.How can reduce it
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. For weight loss diet is good in intermittent fasting a good and but if your body is loose or you feel you really do tighten up your body then gymming or yoga both the things are going to be very good both the things are going to be helpful in tightening up your body and muscles at the same time but it is time consuming we just have to have patience
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. my baby is one month old and have cold symptoms. can I consume buttermilk?
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
17 mins ago
A. yes u can further you can contact with your doctor and you can get thhje the solution for this by discussing with him he will guide you for more details if required .
Its always better to take the guidance by the concernged person with the geniune advice ...
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