Papaya - Solution for Weight Loss?

Papaya

When people are spending thousands of rupees every month on various slimming packages including laser, ultrasound and liposuction, 100 gm of papaya on an empty stomach in the morning is a guaranteed way to reduce weight and fight obesity. Ongoing research on this diabetic-friendly wonder fruit has proved the effectiveness of papaya in weight loss, say experts.

Ayurvedic physician Dr K. Jayakrishna said, “In overweight and obese people, the metabolic rate or BMR goes down. Papaya is rich in the enzyme papain, which aids the digestive process and increases metabolism which in turn helps in weight loss. Papain found in the fruit, is concentrated mainly in the skin of the fruit. Certain ayurvedic digestive tablets are prepared with the enzyme extract from the energy booster papaya.”

Calling the wonder fruit a goldmine of vitamins, minerals and fibre, Prof. N. Satya Prakash, principal, BRKR Government Ayurvedic Medical College, said, “The fruit contains a lot of fiber, is very low on protein, carbohydrates or fat content. It has just 3 kilocalories, and 0.1 gm of fat and 16 mg of phosphorus, all of which helps reduce obesity. So obese/overweight people can have three to four servings of this fruit throughout the day, starting with 100 gms of papaya in the morning. Caution should be taken to avoid other high calorie fruits like bananas, sapota, mangoes and grapes.”

Besides fighting obesity, the anti-oxidant carotenoid and bioflavanoid rich papaya is very good for lowering bad cholesterol, good for the skin, cardio vascular, immune and digestive system, provides protection against constipation and colon cancer and helps to treat sport injuries, point out doctors.

AIDS not Invincible Anymore

AIDS - Not invincible anymore

In a major breakthrough in the fight against AIDS, scientists claim to have for the first time shown that human stem cells can be genetically engineered to seek out and kill HIV-infected cells in a living organism.

The study demonstrates for the first time that engineering stem cells to form immune cells that target HIV is effective in suppressing the virus in living tissues in an animal model, said lead scientist Scott G. Kitchen.

He added: "We believe that this study lays the groundwork for the potential use of this type of an approach in combating HIV infection in infected individuals, in hopes of eradicating the virus from the body."

In their previous research, the scientists took CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes -- the "killer" T cells that help fight infection -- from an HIV-infected individual and identified the molecule known as the T cell receptor, which guides T cell in recognising and killing HIV-infected cells.

In their latest research, the scientists at California University similarly engineered human blood stem cells and found that they can form mature T cells that can attack HIV in tissues where the virus resides and replicates.

They did so by using a surrogate model, the humanised mouse, in which HIV infection closely resembles the disease and its progression in humans.

In a series of tests on the mice's peripheral blood, plasma and organs conducted two weeks and six weeks after introducing the engineered cells, the scientists found that the number of CD4 'helper' T cells -- which become depleted as a result of HIV infection -- increased, while levels of HIV in the blood decreased.

CD4 cells are white blood cells that are an important component of immune system, helping to fight off infections.

These results indicated that the engineered cells were capable of developing and migrating to the organs to fight infection there, the 'PLoS Pathogens' journal reported.

"We believe that this is the first step in developing a more aggressive approach in correcting the defects in the human T cell responses that allow HIV to persist in infected people," Kitchen said.

Gold with Chemical Process

Thermo-chemical Process to create Gold Effect (Colour) henceforth

All that glitters is gold under a new thermochemical process developed by Colombian engineers for colour-tinting the precious metal to make it look like sapphires, rubies or emeralds.

The tinting can increase the value of gold by a factor of five, meaning the chemically-altered precious metal is likely to appear in jewellers' display windows worldwide soon, according to University of Antioquia engineers.

"It does not involve painting the gold or covering it with some material that disguises the traditional white, yellow or pink of the precious metal," said Maria Eugenia Carmona, the principal researcher on the project.

"It involves subjecting it to an elaborate thermochemical process of eight to 10 hours, after which not only does its colour become red, blue or green, among others, but also its market price increases significantly," she said.

Colombia extracted 56 tons of gold from its mines in 2011, representing a 4 per cent increase over the previous year. Colombia's gold exports were valued at $2.8 billion in 2011, a 31.4 per cent increase, according to official figures.

Colombia, Peru and Mexico are Latin America's biggest gold producers.

"We are sitting on a mine and it's sad to see large companies take our gold as a raw material to other countries where it is processed to return here at a high price," Carmona said.

A better option, she suggested, is to give the gold added value that would allow Colombians to export a new product.

Well-known Bogota jeweller Eladio Rey said the thermochemical transformation produced an outcome that is ‘wonderful, so innovative.’

"It is undoubtedly attractive to traders and buyers because of the diversity of colours, and much better if a high quality for the metal can be guaranteed," Rey said.

The only similar tinting process the University of Antioquia researchers could find was done in Italy, where blue gold was produced.

The University of Antioquia process involves mixing 24-carat gold with reactive metals in a four-to-one ratio. The mixture is then subjected to a thermal process in special ovens, which changes its colour.

After cooling, the material has the appearance of precious stones, and can be coated with a protective resin and mounted in rings, brooches or pendants.

Rey says he likes the colouring process, not only because it allows gold to be combined with other gemstones, but also because it allows the product to be labelled ‘made in Colombia.’

Hearing Loss

Indiscriminate usage of Common Antibiotics for ear infections, affects people. We have to be careful.

Use of a common antibiotic to treat serious infections can cause debilitating loss of balance by damaging the inner ear, according to a new study.

The study published by the Medical Journal of Australia said that the antibiotic - Gentamicin - could cause permanent imbalance with just a single dose.

The study reviewed 103 patients who sought treatment at a balance disorders clinic between 1988 and 2010 and who had been treated in hospital with the antibiotic between 1975 and 2010 The patients had noticed a loss of balance while in hospital or immediately after being discharged.

The doses of gentamicin they received varied but six had only one dose. The condition can occur with any dose and is often unrecognised, authors of the study said.

Many doctors mistakenly believe gentamicin can cause hearing loss, when in fact it can damage the part of the inner ear responsible for balance, causing imbalance (vestibulotoxicity), they said.

"Vestibulotoxicity is frequently overlooked in patients having gentamicin, so that severe, irreversible, bilateral vestibular loss can occur, causing permanent imbalance, which is particularly debilitating in elderly people," the study said, according to local media.

The authors were able to confirm that all patients had received gentamicin and had no other potential cause for the loss of balance. However, the 103 cases identified over the 23-year period suggested the condition was rare.

Mrutyunjaya (Immortal)

Om Namasshivaaya

Mrutyunjaya Homa

Mrutyu is death, which cannot be escaped by anyone, who is borne. Therefore, every creature dreads the moment of death. One, who is limited by the notion that he/she is just the body, is terrified by the prospects of death. Whereas, the blessed realising the omni potent, omni present traits of the Aatman is least affected by the prospects of Mrutyu. For such souls, death is nothing but a transit. Such transcendental phenomenon is Mrutyunjaya, (transgressing the limits of death.)

Lord Shiva represents the phenomenon of Mrutyunjaya. He alone begets you the bliss of Wisdom connected with Mrutyunjaya. Devotees, who worship Him will be eased from the clutches of death fears. Such liberated soul, gradually emancipates from the tendency to fear death. This is the gist of Mrutyunjaya Mantra. 

For such benefit, several procedures are prescribed in Dharma Shastra. The word Tryambaka is used predominantly in Yajurveda, while prescribing the Chaturmasya series of Ishti Rituals. The Ishti of Tryambaka is performed at the junction of 4 roads. The symbolic location represents the phenomenon of Mryutyunjaya, whose inevitability (in form of continuity of life) is central to achieve any one of the Four Purushaarthas (Dharma,  Artha, Kaama, Moksha).

Imbibing the inspiration of that Vedic ritual, Mrutyunjaya Mantra Anushthanam is conducted by Pundits, by chanting sacred Mantra, offering oblations (Aahuti) and propitiation of the deity with milk (Ksheera Tarpanam) along with Daanam/ Anna Samaaraadhana.

Basic premise of these rituals is to dispense your time and resources to realise the supposed motive and goal of life, in order to become immortal in supreme sense. Commitment of Sins drifts us away from this Supreme State. Hence, Japa, Homa, Tarpana and Daana tethering us to the virtuous activities, result in the decimation of Sins. Naturally, the performers of such noble activities (such as Mrutyunjaya Japa) realise the purpose not refrain from Sinful Tendencies and thus they are spared from the clutches of Decease, Pain and Untimely Death.

  

Chant the sacred Mantra.

मृत्युञ्जयाय रुद्राय नीलकण्ठाय शम्भवे। अमृतेशाय शर्वाय महादेवाय ते नमः।।

మృత్యుంజయాయ రుద్రాయ నీలకంఠాయ శమ్భవే। అమృతేశాయ శర్వాయ మహాదేవాయ తే నమః।।