'I lost my mother to black fungus'

 In continuity of the deadly second wave of Covid-19, doctors are also reporting an unusual infection called ' black fungus'. According to some reports, Mucormycosis can be expedited in humans by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment which is for moderate-to-serious Covid cases.

Vatsala Jadia, 28, a software engineer at Microsoft belongs to a middle-class nuclear family with 4 siblings and parents. She lost her mother who was struggling with black fungus on May 21. It started when her father had a fever including cold and cough for continuous 5 days starting April 17. Later after testing, they came to know that he was Covid positive.

Vatsala said, “While in isolation, my mother contracted Covid on April 20 and started with a fever. Then her health started deteriorating. On April 21, my sisters and brother started showing symptoms. On April 22, my father's fever was gone but my mother's fever was still above 100°F.  She was completing her initial course of Covid medicine (Azure, Lime, Dolo, Zincovit).

As per the doctor's suggestions, they did CBC, CRP, D-dimer and HRCT tests. CRP came very high at 28 and HRCT score was 1-3. Fabi Flu started for the next 5 days with Dexona 2 mg twice a day and rota cap. Her spO2 started dropping from 97 to 92 on the course from 6th to 10th day. She again had her HRCT done on the 10th day, her score came 13/25, half of her lungs were infected and the temperature was still above 100°F and CRP level 66.

On the 11th day (April 30), she was hospitalised in the Medical College of Kota as there were no beds available in any private hospital. She had her first Remdesivir (2 doses) and Rexona on the 11th day and continued to have it for the next 5 days, arranging injections were a big deal at that  time. After taking steroids, her sugar increased to 400 and thus, insulin shots had to be given and as side effects of these high doses, she had her tongue full of blisters while hospitalised, so she was unable to eat much. She was constantly having headaches and swelling on the right side of her face and numbness. But the doctor said it could be side effects.

On May 5, she had her last dose of Remdesivir and started complaining about toothache and much more swelling on her face, and was discharged on the evening of 6th.

She added, “After getting discharged, her swelling didn't stop but continued to increase, they referred doctors but since it was a rare disease, they were not able to figure it out and said it could be  a side effect of steroids.”

Vatsala said, “We were skeptical about the swelling as it should have decreased but it was increasing and she was constantly suffering from pain in the head. We took a consultation from the Microsoft helpline and they suggested consulting an ENT specialist in the clinic as soon as possible to investigate and suggested CT PNS.”

They had a tough time finding a CT PNS machine in such a small city, Kota. Her CT scan reports came after one day on May 11 and they again consulted with an ENT specialist who suggested emergency surgery because her jaw was fully infected and her eyes were very close to getting infected. Within the next 3 hours, they rushed to Jaipur as Kota didn’t have all the facilities. They luckily got a bed in Jain ENT hospital.

Later Vatsala's mother had a major jaw surgery on May 12. It happened and her upper right palate and teeth were removed. The following check-up in the hospital, where the doctor suggested clean  up to be done as CRP level, was continuously increasing to 137 during that time.

Vatsala said, “Her left eye started swelling and on May 18, she had her second surgery in which her lamina papyracea was removed. In the whole process, we were facing scarcity of Liposomal Amphotericin B injection but luckily we kept on arranging for her everyday needs.”

After the second surgery, she was not able to maintain her spo2, she was on oxygen and started complaining about headaches and chest pain. On the 20th, after her second meal at 2 pm, her BP dropped in 15 minutes from 80 to 40 and her oxygen level below 60. She was rushed to an ambulance where she had a brain haemorrhage and her vitals were very low, spo2 came to 28 and BP is very low.

She got intubated and put on a ventilator. On May 20, she never regained consciousness. After they came out, she had her second cardiac arrest from which she never regained.

Remembering the old times, Vatsala added that they used to play Ludo and Monodeal together every day. Her mother enjoyed dancing and singing through which she used to wake all of them in the morning.

Vatsala said, “Every time we asked her how she was feeling, she said that she was fine and asked us not to worry about her. She was the pillar of our family and everything revolved around her and her happiness. I could say she could be a good detective, it's like if we do something wrong she can sense it. The void she has left is irreplaceable, we are all trying to fulfil her dreams and one of them is to help other people and create awareness about the disease. She was brave, beautiful, intelligent and all-rounder. She devoted her life to make us stand on our feet. If she is suffering, she will never let us know. She was well educated and always guided people around on education. She liked to be always groomed and stay up-to-date. The only message I gained from losing my mother is that it's better to panic even with small symptoms and always try to find time for awareness.” 

Vaccination drives start in highrise societies of Noida

 It is very important at this point for more people to get vaccinated. In the wake of the same, societies in Gautam Budh Nagar are organising vaccination drives to ensure that the residents get vaccinated. The Apartment Owners Associations (AOAs) are participating to facilitate the same by collaborating with hospitals.

The Covishield vaccination Camp was organised by the Suptertech Capetown AOA in collaboration with the team of Fortis Hospital at Club 2 of the society in Sector 74, from 9 am to 6 pm on Sunday to protect against coronavirus. Almost 360 people were vaccinated in this camp. Residents had registered online for vaccination.

Senior people and other people who could not register online were given the facility to register offline after reaching the club. Fortis Hospital, Noida was coming for a vaccination camp at the society at 1,050 rupees for residents and 850 rupees for maids and helpers for per dose of Covishield, available for the 18+ age group and for the 1st or 2nd dose seeker and for 2nd dose a gap of 84 days.

In the last 2 months, unfortunately, 24 people have died due to coronavirus or subsequent complications within the society. For this reason, people were serious about their health. From last year to now, more than 500 people were infected.

Arun Sharma, AOA of the Capetown society said, “There was tremendous enthusiasm among today's vaccination camp and all the vaccine beneficiaries followed the physical distance with discipline and got vaccinated.”

He added, “People expressed their gratitude to volunteers who supported vaccination like Sachin Singla, Girish Single, Bhupendra, Krishna Sharma, Praveen, Yash Rawat for organising this vaccination camp. I thanked the facility team for making arrangements. Soon, more such vaccination camps will be organised in Cape town.”

One of the early vaccination drives in a highrise society of Gautam Budh Nagar district is taking place at Prateek Laurel society, Sector 120, Noida. This upscale society in Noida houses above 1,500 apartments and around 6,000 residents. The AOA in collaboration with Felix Hospital successfully initiated vaccination for the residents.

The large turnout of the residents is indicative of a tremendous response and willingness amongst the residents for vaccination. It is the intention of the AOA to vaccinate maximum residents along with housekeeping staff and maids in its fight against this dreaded virus and the AOA hopes to achieve 100% vaccination by the end of June.

Dr DK Gupta, CMD, Felix Hospital and Mr Rajiva Singh, President NOFAA inaugurated the vaccination drive in Prateek Laurel Society.

The federation chooses the cluster approach by smaller societies for covid vaccination camps (CVC) in highrise societies. For example, Mahagun Maple, Sector 50 is organising a covid vaccination camp on June 3 in collaboration with a hospital. NOFAA is following societies to collaborate for this vaccination program.

The numbers indicated below are approximate:

1. Mahagun Maple: 130
2. Shivkala Apartments: 20
3. Shubhkamana Apartments: 13
4. Silver Estate: 7
5. Windsor Greens: 20

Rajiva Singh, President of NOFAA said, “We can replicate many such similar arrangements in various societies where the federations play an important role for such camps. Next we plan to have one CVC in Stellar Kings Court with Felix on June 4.  More societies, who have smaller numbers of residents needed to be vaccinated, can collaborate in a similar manner.” 

Free walk-in vaccination facility for journalists, their families opens

 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday inaugurated the free of cost walk-in vaccination facility for journalists and their families at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, DDU Marg, ITO. The newly launched facility will vaccinate journalists and their families of both age groups, 18-45 years and 45+ years. 

He appealed to all the journalists to get themselves and their families vaccinated at the centre. He also said that the need of the hour is to vaccinate more and more people at a faster pace to protect them from Coronavirus. He appealed to the central government to fight Covid-19 together as 'Team India'. 

He said that based on the experience of the last 1.5-2 months, it has become apparent that states are not able to procure vaccines on their own despite all attempts, and the central government should do it. He also said that procurement, production, and distribution of the vaccines is the responsibility of the central government and administering the vaccines to the people is the responsibility of the state governments.

Dy CM Manish Sisodia also accompanied the CM for the inauguration of the vaccination centre.

Addressing the media following the inauguration of the facility, the CM said, "This vaccination centre has been especially started to vaccinate journalists and their families. I am happy that this facility has been launched and the demands of the journalists have been met. This facility will vaccinate journalists and their families of both age groups, 18-45 years and 45+ years. Vaccination is the need of the hour to protect yourself from Coronavirus. I appeal to all the journalists to come here and get themselves vaccinated for free."

"We will rectify whatever issues the people are facing. I observed that the portal was facing some issues today (Monday). We are working towards resolving those and all the other issues based on the feedback of the people," he added.

Addressing the issue of black fungus cases in Delhi, CM Kejriwal said, "There are 300 cases of Black Fungus in central government hospitals and around 650 in Delhi government hospitals. However, the supply of injections is low. We had received 1,000 injections on Saturday, but did not receive any injections on Sunday. It takes 3-4 injections per person per day."

"If we do not vaccinate people at a faster pace and as soon as possible, how will we ensure vaccination for all our people and protect them from Coronavirus?" said the CM when asked about the pace of vaccination.

He said, "Sputnik will probably offer vaccines after June 20. They will start the vaccine production from the month of August. They are importing the vaccines right now, and they will allot a section of their imported vaccines to the Delhi government."

"I believe that this is not the time to do politics. This is the time to help the states and fight Coronavirus together. This does not suit the central government. I appeal to the central government to realise that this is the time to fight Coronavirus, together as Team India," added the CM. 

On the question of states being held responsible for the procurement of vaccines, he said, "How will the states procure the vaccines? It has been 1.5-2 months since the Centre had announced that states should float the tenders. There are 36 states and UTs, every state and every political party has tried its best to procure the vaccines by filing global tenders. They could not procure a single vaccine injection on their own until now. It has become apparent that states are not able to procure vaccines on their own and the central government has to do it. States should be held responsible if and when they are not able to make proper arrangements to administer the vaccines after the Centre has procured, produced and supplied the vaccines to us. Thus, I feel that procurement, production, and distribution of the vaccines is the responsibility of the central government, and administering the vaccines is the responsibility of the state governments."

On the uncertainty of availability of Covaxin, the CM said, "I hope that second doses will be administered as soon as possible to the ones in need as soon as Covaxin is available.

Delhi starts preparing for probable third Covid-19 wave

As the Capital regains some bit of normalcy after battling with the second wave of Covid-19 which hit the country hard, it now seems to be preparing ahead of the third wave, if the necessity arises. 

The biggest issue faced in the past few months was ensuring good coordination and management between state, civic and central agencies. The United Residents' Joint Action (URJA) wrote to Delhi's Lt. Governor and Chairman of Delhi Disaster Management Agency to develop a unified state-level war room. 

In the letter, URJA wrote, "Developing a war room (single window) to operate round the clock, which will coordinate with all agencies and functions to resolve the grievance at state with decentralised district/zone/ward levels under a unified responsible command, which is answerable and accountable, is the need of the hour to deal with the likely third wave anytime later this year."

They further added, "However, it is felt that the ease of business to operate under pandemic guidelines is still missing from the government agenda. The same is being suggested to be considered for the smooth functioning of the city under pandemic by the government. State government announces extension of the lockdown week after week and still, it is  uncertain of its future repetition. Lockdown means the responsibility of the Police increases to manage, impose rules, monitor and punish the violators."

URJA also recommended several steps to be followed for the above problems and smooth functioning of the city under pandemic by the government. They suggested:

Decentralise the operations: Declaration of decentralised containment zones/ isolation centres/hospital facilities under strict watch and monitoring by local area teams/an the independent agency under coordinated support from the government agencies, private suppliers of medicine, medical equipment, oxygen etc.

Local area plans: District Magistrates of all districts to coordinate with RWAs/NGOs/religious bodies/commercial establishments and organization’s/elected representatives-MP/MLA/MC

Vaccination & testing: An increase in the volume of the services is much-needed side by side with a planned structure.

Guidelines for the operation of commercial establishments, markets, factories, local shopping centres and institutions etc. with reduced, scattered time and staff on a daily basis to enable the economy to get going.

The detailing of the above points was also listed in the letter. The letter explained the need to plan and arrange the state/district/zone/ward resources accordingly and respectively. They are: 

1. Increase the number of Covid-19 isolation beds depending on the population recorded or anticipated by expert’s analytic reports from the second wave to third-wave surge. 
2. Increase the capacity of the number of beds for treatment with oxygen and ventilators in ICU 
3. It is well understood that a majority of infected persons will remain isolated at home only and to support their needs a separate decentralised mechanism under the war room may be equipped with oxy-meter, concentrators, cylinders, medicine etc.
4. Work towards sustainability of medical and para medical services, equipment and support, medicine and vaccines in each ward/zone/district/state.
5. Similarly, the cremation grounds, burial grounds, hearse vans, ambulances etc. also need to be equipped to deal with the additional load likely to be generated.
6. Set up unified war rooms at the state level and district levels with a dedicated team and resources in the public domain to deal with the expected third wave.
7. Disposal of used PP kits, gloves, masks, face shields, hHousehold garbage of infected persons must be ensured and monitored by local area teams.

Apart from this they also mentioned several challenges, strengths and recommendations, which are listed below:

Challenges:

1. To coordinate with RWAs, civil society under a responsible unified command.
2. The internal support staff and officials respond timely and effectively.
3. Dissemination of information interdepartmental and public domain.
4. Develop a process to monitor the internal and external functioning under command of operations by the government. & non-government agencies under command of DM.
5. To create enough resources, back up plans and reserves.
6. Maintain the quality of dissemination of information, collection of data and storage.
7. Categorise the population based on the economic strength.
8. Maintain availability of goods, medicines, equipment’s, disposables and other linked services like ambulances, hearse vans, crematoriums strength etc. at nominal prices.
9. Plan in advance to use the material, equipment, etc. purchased during making the engagements to deal with the pandemic later, meaningfully and usefully at appropriate places.

Strengths:

1. Available government buildings, structures, community halls, schools & colleges
2. Booth level data to work under planned vaccination drives
3. Municipal dispensaries, mohalla clinics, DGHS & CGHS dispensaries, government and private hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, Asha workers, civil volunteers, RWAs & civil societies, faith and community leaders

Recommendations:

1. The existing system of health care (Center and State) needs to be strengthened with infrastructural support, deployment of adequate technical and other staff with release of personnel funds sanctioned annually on time to be sustainable.
2. Limited use of contractual employment to maintain continuity of care and services.
3. Disaster management protocol for managing pandemic/endemics at central/state/district/zone/ward levels with decentralisation of decision making, central authority for guidelines, monitoring and help in case of disaster.
4. Health care facilities to be marked for the care of people not affected by pandemic, otherwise another disaster in the making for other chronic ailments like DM, CAD, cancer and an emergency required to be taken care of.
5. Prevention to be promoted over tertiary therapeutic care with the provision of adequate financial resources chargeable as all services can’t be allowed to be free.

Maids and construction not allowed under new DDMA order

 

The national capital went under step-wise lockdown due to the second wave of corona in April. It is still being extended, however, with some relaxations.

A recent order of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) stated that the curfew period is extended till June 7, with restrictions lifted from certain activities.

There were queries regarding the same, to clarify them, Piyush Mohanty, SDM, DDMA, South-West district said that maids, car wash employees are not officially allowed as they don’t fall under the classification of essential services.

Also, construction activities within residential areas are not allowed as the latest order only permits site-based construction. This is to also clarify that whatever activity the order doesn't mention as permitted will be automatically deemed as prohibited/restricted.

He further said that the aforementioned points must be understood in context of the fact that the overall goal of the curfew extension is to restrict mobility of the people.

By prematurely permitting entry of maids in societies or starting construction activities in residential areas, the objective of the curfew extension will remain unattainable.

He also requested the RWAs to assist the administration and prevent any violation of the DDMA order as it will attract penal actions under applicable laws.

Milk is not just a drink, it's an emotion

World Milk Day is celebrated every year on June 1. It is a day for milk lovers. For me, milk is just not a drink, it's an emotion. Sometimes when I recall my childhood memories, they make me laugh and feel emotional at the same time. My Nanu and Nani used to make me drink milk with their own hands. My childhood days were spent mostly in my maternal uncle's house while my mother lived in a village.

I think, not only humans but even animals have a strong relationship with milk by birth. A newborn baby doesn't have to eat anything other than mother's milk. Milk is packed with calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and different vitamins. It’s an excellent source of protein.

I was a 2-year-old boy, and since I lived with my Nanu and Nani, they used to love and care for me a little extra. Most of the time, I drank milk from my Nanu's hand. I remember that I wasn’t fond of milk a lot but my Nanu always told me if I don't drink it, how will I become a  strong and powerful man. When I recall this, I laugh and my eyes become teary. I remember that I did not like ‘Malai’ in the milk and due to this, he had to filter the milk again and again.

Not only in my maternal uncle's house, but I also spent my holidays with my mother and she was always worried about my health as every mother does. In my childhood, she made sure I drank milk twice a day. In my village, everyone was so sweet to me. Our neighbours loved me and I always used to go to their home every day because I remember that they always gave me a full glass of milk or curd and I loved the taste of it.

One of my childhood friends taught me how to extract cow's milk and how to drink it directly. In the beginning, I was afraid but he forced me and said you are from the village so should know about it, but I did it only once. It was fun for me to know about all these things. Seriously, I didn't like the taste of crude milk. Cows are the sweetest animals I have ever seen, very polite and calm.

It was fun and emotional for me when I spent my days in my hometown. I remember that I always waited for my holidays and thought about when I would go to my home town to enjoy all of this. I  remember that when I went to my hometown for my holidays, my neighbours used to come home with milk or buttermilk because everyone knew that I love both these things too much and most of the time, there were  two or three bottles full of buttermilk at my home and that made me so happy.

When I used to pack my bag to go back to my house, one of my neighbours always gave me a full bottle of buttermilk, and even now she never forgets this. I remember that one day, I was having my lunch at my friend's house and his mother gave me a typical plate of Indian food including sabzi and roti with lots of ghee and said, “Eat, how skinny you are, lagta hai shehar mein ghee nahi milta,” and that is something a lot of us have heard from someone at some point in our lives.

All of this makes me think how lucky I am. Everyone loved me and took care of me like their son and milk has always been a big part of that. 

A guide to different types of cheese

 Ah, those delicious, fragrant pieces of goodness that turn every other food into heavenly treats! Heat it and it melts into a gooey extravagance that blends with anything that it's spread on or served  with. Yes, I’m talking about cheese in all its glory.

Whether you eat cheese on its own, team it up with crackers, sprinkle it on pastas, or spread it between slices of bread, it's always a delight. Our favourite grilled sandwiches, pizzas and salads are always delicious in taste with lots of cheese in them.

If you're cheese lover like I am and can’t resist adding it to your food, here are different types of cheese that you simply need to realize:

1. Mozzarella

The origins of Mozzarella come from Italy. Earlier, it had been made using the milk of water buffalos reared in Italy and Bulgaria. Most of the Mozzarella cheeses available today, however, are made up of cow’s milk.

The semi-soft Mozzarella is meant to be consumed fresh, within a couple of hours of being made up of pasteurized or unpasteurized cow. It isn’t difficult to make mozzarella at home. It is quite versatile and may be used in making salads, pizzas, meat and vegetable recipes.

2. Parmesan

Parmesan cheese is one among the foremost commonly eaten cheeses on the planet. It has a tough, crumbly texture and a fruity, nutty flavour. Its creation was inspired by the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese from Parma, Italy.

It is made up of unpasteurized cow’s milk. While it is often eaten on its own, it's also widely used in a grated form over soups, risottos, pizzas, pastas and other snacks.

3. Cheddar

Rich in protein content, cheddar is additionally referred to as a highly nutritious cheese type while being rich in calories and thus, you want to consider before binging on it. It has its origin in England and is named after a village called Cheddar. With a touch creamy flavour, cheddar features a smooth texture and for a far better taste.

As it ages, the taste of this cheese sharpens and becomes tasty and tangy. This cheese can be used in making grilled appetizers and main dishes like Mac and cheese, Cheese Toasts, Cheese Cauliflower Pasta, and Cheese and Garlic Chicken.

4. Feta

Feta is a Greek cheese made with sheep and goat milk. It’s a white brined cheese, salty, tangy, and moist, with a texture which will go from crumbly to moderately creamy.

Crumble Feta cheese in salads and over roasted vegetables, add it to your sandwiches, add it in tacos and other Mexican dishes. Feta are often also served alongside olives, peppers, olive oil, and fresh flatbread.

5. Gouda

Most people cannot pronounce this cheese and it is often paired with wine or casserole dishes. It is pronounced as ‘How-da’ and is named  after the Gouda city in the Netherlands. Made from cow’s milk, Gouda features a creamy-rich flavour.

The quality and taste of Gouda cheese increases. This cheese is usually aged for a minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of 36 weeks. With this cheese, you can prepare grilled cheese sandwiches, macaroni, salads and soups.

6. Swiss Cheese

This cheese only reminds me of my favourite Tom and Jerry show. Cheese which has holes in it.
The Swiss are known for their cheeses and Emmental is a type of cheese that has become iconic the world over. Mild in both colour and flavour the foremost distinctive aspect of this cheese is that the holes that form during the assembly of the cheese.

Made from cow’s milk, the name comes from the region it originates  from, the river Emme in Bern. This is a cheese which will differ in  flavour counting on how it's made but it is generally smooth in texture  and mild in taste with a buttery and nutty flavour. This is another cheese that melts rather well, so any recipe that needs melted cheese is ideal, although it's also lovely cold and in sandwiches!

There is an old proverb that goes, “Cheese, wine, and friends must be old to be good.”. Tell us your favourite cheese in the comment section below!

5 types of milk you've probably never heard of

As there has been an increase in lifestyle diseases in the past few decades, people have become much more health conscious. They are willing to try different types of food and drinks in order to stay healthy. This has led to companies developing different versions of staple foods that work in different ways for different people.

Today when you go to a market, you find so many varieties of one ingredient: may it be rice, fruit, cereal, bread or milk, there are a plethora of options. All you have to do is check and decide what works best for your body.

When it comes to milk, there are many who are intolerant to the lactose in the animal milk, who have made lifestyle changes or simply wish for another option. The combination of various illnesses dictates that when you try various types of milk, you check what works for you in terms of allergies, treating and/or working with your illness and is generally good for your health.

While 85% of the world’s milk supply comes from cows, there are plenty  of areas where cattle can’t survive. So, these communities rely on other animals for their dairy supply. Some of these alternatives like camel and goat's milk etc.

Let's know more animal milk which you have never heard of:

1. Yak Milk

Unless you’ve been to Tibet (where 95% of yaks live) you’ve probably never tried this one. However, yak milk is popular in high-mountain areas where they’re sometimes the only dairy species available. It’s extremely nutritious, containing more protein and amino acids than cow, goat, or even human milk.

2. Donkey Milk

Haryana's Hisar has set up a diary of the Halari breed of donkey. Donkey's milk is good for the human body and will also boost immunity. The Halari  breed of the donkey is found in Gujarat and its milk is an important ingredient for medicines. Halari donkey breed milk helps in fighting against cancer, obesity, allergies, etc. It is also considered to be good for kids as it does not cause any infection or have allergic reactions.
Donkey's Halari milk is also a source of antioxidant, anti-aging elements.

3. Goat Milk

While the fat content of cow and goat milk is similar, the fat particles in the latter are smaller, making it easier for your body to digest. Goat milk is also richer in calcium, with about 33% of the daily recommended intake compared to 28% in cow milk. Goat milk has high levels of medium-chain fatty acids, which provide an energy boost that isn’t stored as body fat. They also help to lower cholesterol, and can even aid in the treatment of conditions like coronary diseases and intestinal disorders.

Because of the bioavailability of iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in goat milk, the treatment of nutritional deficiencies like anaemia and bone demineralisation becomes more likely.

4. Camel Milk

Long a great dietary support for millions of people where climates are harsh and water is scarce, camels provide milk with serious nutritional value.

Camel’s milk is pretty much the closest you can come to a human mother’s milk, particularly in terms of immune-boosting proteins like lactoferrin and immunoglobulins. Camel’s milk also contains exclusively A2 casein, making it more digestible and better tolerated than cow’s milk. For these reasons and others, camel’s milk is being studied for its potential complementary role in treating autoimmune conditions, autism, and milk allergies.

Amul was the first to introduce the fresh camel milk, After the successful launch of Camel Fresh Milk, Camel Long life milk and Camel Chocolates, Amul has forayed further into value added camel milk products by launching its newest offering in the form of Camel Milk powder and Camel Milk ice cream.

5. Horse Milk

Horse Milk in reality is termed as Mare Milk. This is mainly due to the fact that a female horse is known as a Mare and only a female horse secretes milk.

Horse Milk contains many types of Vitamins in it, some of them are Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. The Vitamin content found in Horse Milk is higher than it is in Cow’s Milk. Horse Milk is famous for improving Eczema symptoms prevalent in people aiding them in maintaining the skin tone in the best possible manner. It also safeguards people from Psoriasis, allergies, irritation and Rosacea. Applying Horse Milk on the skin adding Coconut oil or Aloe helps maintain skin in a superlative manner at all points of time.

Animal milk other than cow which makes you healthier, let us know if  you ever tried any of them in the comment section!! 

Top 5 rom-com novels you must read

 In the time of this pandemic where nothing is going well, only one thing seems to be keeping us all sane -- books. Meeting, dates, hate to love, friends to lovers --  name a romance trope and it's bringing me comfort right now. 

If you're like me and just looking for a gentle romance with a side of humour that you can get lost in, then you've come to the right place. And as an added bonus, they'll leave you feeling like you've just received a big, warm hug, too.

While romantic movies eventually run out, there are practically limitless romantic books. Just as the rom-com is seeing a resurgence on screen, it's also becoming more popular in print.

'Love Story' by Erich Segal

This story has touched almost everyone who has read it. Oliver and Jenny, two bright young college students get into a whirlwind romance and marry against Oliver's parents' wishes. Jenny is diagnosed with leukemia while Oliver tries his best to save her. Jenny and Oliver teach each other more about life and the story is absolutely heart-wrenching.

'The Blind Man's Garden' by Nadeem Aslam

A love story in times of war, this one has the underlying thought of the will to fight for love even when the entire universe conspires against you. A story of love, loss and longing that will make you only yearn more for your loved one.

'Love at First Like' by Hannah Orenstein

A young jewelry shop owner manages to convince her Instagram followers that she's engaged — but instead of coming clean, she keeps up the charade. This novel is a fun romance with a digital twist.

'The Kiss Quotient' by Helen Hoang

A 30-year-old who is living with Asperger's and has limited dating experience hires a male escort to teach her some romance ropes. Quickly, this logic-first millennial starts to realise love might be the only language that makes sense.

'The Right Swipe' by Alisha Rai

Two rival dating-app creators don't see eye-to-eye on anything business, but they understand each other perfectly in the bedroom. This dynamic, as you can imagine, sparks some chaos.

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." - George R.R. Martin

All of these novels are available on Amazon, Kindle and Audiobook. Happy reading !!

Most annoying, hated characters in favourite shows

 It’s been more than a year since Covid-9 hit us hard and confined us within the walls of our homes. The entire period has been really hard for a lot of people. The lockdown had taken a toll on our mental health but there was no other choice. As much as we were all cursing the lockdown, it actually gave an opportunity to people to spend more time with themselves, to explore more interests, to discover a new hobby and what not. 

I used the lockdown to binge on the shows that were in my watchlist and I don't regret it a bit. The lockdown took me to many new places, made me meet so many new characters. I fell in love with a lot of them while some of the characters were just unbearable. Here, I talk about the latter.

Following is a short list of characters who were so annoying and terrible villains to our favourite characters that it was easy to hate them:

Arturo (Money Heist)

If only there was an award for the worst and the most annoying character ever, he would definitely win it. From the first season itself, he started showing his colours and till the end of season 4, the only thing that pissed me off was that Nairobi was dead while he was still alive.

The man is all things wrong, there is not even a single ounce of sympathy for him and nothing justifies his actions. I really hope we get rid of him in the upcoming season in a way he deserves.

Joffrey (Game of Thrones)

The show is iconic in every way and what is more iconic is the lost list of well-written characters who give life to this show. 'Game of Thrones' has its own share of villains or negative-characters as we call them, however, the most annoying of them all was Joffrey. 

He was so young and yet so vicious and sadist. There was no logic behind his deeds other than his own amusement. A perfect example of not every prince makes a good king. Kudos to the actor who played it to such perfection that we actually hated Joffrey from the core of our heart.

Umbridge (Harry Potter)

This lady in her pink suit is just the worst in the entire Harry Potter universe. She was made to be loathed by the writers. The way she made the lives of students miserable is unbearable. Her annoying and vicious smile made her even more hated. I hated her as a kid and that hasn’t changed even now.

Ryan (The Office)

As good looking B.J.Novak is, his character Ryan was one of the worst characters on the show. 'The Office' actually consists of a lot of characters with shortcomings of their own, nobody was perfect. However, Ryan was entitled and was a brat. Also, the way he treated Kelly was so wrong at so many levels. I hated it at the end when both of them ran away. Seriously Kelly, you left Ravi for this guy?

Isaac (Sex Education)

This show is so refreshing in the way it talks about teenagers and sex in a different light. I love the characters on this show, even Isaac wouldn’t have been on this list. However, what he does at the end of the show tells us that he is actually very selfish. 

He took away the chance of Maeve and Otis being together after all they had been through and we were left at that cliffhanger. I hate him from the bottom of my heart and will continue to do so until he seeks redemption for his actions in the later seasons.

Different kinds of bread in Kashmir

 A day in a Kashmiri's life wouldn’t be complete without a cup of piping hot nun chai (salty pink tea) and a crisp, freshly baked bread from the kandur (the traditional baker).

While the entire Valley sleeps, the kandur remains awake preparing his tandoor to bake bread for the morning breakfast. The kandur forms an intrinsic part of the social life in Kashmir and every locality has their own local kandur from which the people purchase their daily quota of breads.

In Kashmir, the kandur shop isn’t just a place where one goes to buy the morning and evening breads, it is a social hub. A place where you get to listen to and participate in discussions that range from gossip to political discourses to moral lectures. It is the place where all local happenings are discussed.

All the breads, aroma, smell, appearance, colour, size, and overall texture are characteristics optimised by the kandurs over many years that they have spent mastering this art. The texture and quality of those breads are determined by the share of wheat protein, temperature and sort of flour present within the bread.

Here are 5 different varieties of breads you must try when in Kashmir:

Tsot- Girda

Tsot or Girda is a medium-sized round everyday bread that is a must on every breakfast table in Kashmir. I always eat Tsot with a scoop of butter on it. It is one among the various things that Kashmiris miss when not in Kashmir.

Tsochwor or Tilvor

Kashmiri's have their own bagel, slightly hard bread with a sprinkling of sesame seeds on top. The baker prepares ‘tsochwor’ at noon to be enjoyed with the afternoon tea.

Roath

The sweet bread with a cake-like texture is topped with dry fruits. However, this one bread is made for grand occasions like weddings, child birth or engagements and served with Kahwa. The main ingredients that go into a roath are wheat, sugar and ghee along with black cardamom seeds and khas khas that adds a unique flavour to it.

Lavasa

Just like bagels, Kashmiris have their own naan-type bread. Lavasa may be a puffy level bread made up of maida. One can apply butter or jam before eating. Barbeques and traditional Kashmiri snacks like masale tchot are served wrapped with a soft lavasa.

Kulcha

These are crispy palm-sized mounds of flour. There are two types of kulchas:  mith (sweet) and namkeen (savoury). I vividly remember how my grandmother used to break them into two, put lots of butter inside it and feed it to us.

For every single sort of these breads, the tandoor has got to be prepared differently. Best thing about living in New Delhi is that I found my kandur shop near my house. Now, I mostly enjoy my breakfast with these breads.

Indian web series you can enjoy watching on YouTube

 If you've already binged through streaming sites over the weekend, or even the week (who even knows the difference anymore?), or have been kicked off your friends' subscription plan with a password change, then worry not.

Here are some amazing, engrossing, and diverse web series available on YouTube for free:

Adulting

There are only two kinds of flatmates you remember for life -- the best ones, and the worst ones. And 'Adulting' is a story of the best ones. Easily one of the most relatable shows, when it comes to friendships and adulting failures.Two seasons are there to give it a watch.

Minus One

What happens when your ex happens to be your flatmate? 'Minus One' has an answer, sort of! If romedies are your jam, then this is worth a watch.

Man's World

An edgy, hilarious commentary on gender inequality that raises the question of how would society look like if women became the 'superior sex'.

Happily Ever After

What goes behind planning the big, fat Indian wedding? If 'Happily Ever After' is to be believed, it includes alcohol, chaos, and a test of romance.

Girl in the City

Whether it's been one year or ten, the idea of navigating a new city and charting your own path always brings a mixture of nervousness and excitement. And that's exactly the feeling that 'Girl in the City' encapsulates.

What The Folks?

When two people get married, it's not just about adjusting with each other. It's also about adjusting with each other's family. And that's the journey Nikhil and Anita undertake across three seasons of misadventures.

Please Find Attached

This mini 2 season series is just a tale of sweet nothings shared between two colleagues who share a beautiful bond. With the entire story getting wrapped up in three episodes with a run time of 20-minutes each, this is just the kind of content that makes us stick to YouTube over everything else.

Home Sweet Office

This 5-episode series centers around two sisters who operate a wedding videography business. The show is easily watchable and is just the  kind of content that you would casually watch on YouTube.

Cubicles

Set inside a corporate office, 'Cubicles' is the story of a fresher at work. The first job, first salary, first love and many more firsts confront the lead character as he tries to adult while being surrounded by friends and some interesting colleagues. 'Cubicles' has five episodes.

Soulmates

This 10-episode series features conversations between the two lead characters. The structure of the series is quite similar to the film 'Before Sunrise', not really in terms of the plot but the way their conversation flows. The show is quite binge-worthy as the characters and the conversations are quite engaging.