Lifestyle
Ronni Ahmmed’s solo exhibition explores mysticism of Sufism
Month-long exhibition ‘NOOR’ by artist and painter Ronni Ahmed recently begun in the capital in both offline gallery and virtual platform.
The exclusive, solo exhibition started on April 14 at Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan Avenue, marking both the occasions of the first day of Ramadan and Pahela Baishakh 1428.
But the ongoing countrywide lockdown forced the exhibition to go virtual in association with art agency ARTcon.
Showcasing Ahmed's personal and artistic journey toward Sufism, NOOR features 48 paintings and five installations, along with a premiere screening of the film ‘Taslima’s Garden’.
Read Two-month long art show on Sheikh Hasina ends with tributes to Bangabandhu
The works in the exhibition are themed on the mystical and romantic aspects of Sufism, where light and enlightenment are emphasised. An Artificial Intelligence (AI) art project by the artist can also be viewed in a VR tour of his own studio.
Kishwar wins Australians hearts with her Bangladeshi recipe on Masterchef
A Bangladeshi woman has won much applause following her participation in MasterChef Australia, a competitive TV cooking show that is a global phenomenon.
The Bangladeshi expatriate Kishwar is a 38-year-old lady with two kids who finds delight by presenting Bangladesh dishes to her family members, she said at the programme.
Kishwar, who lives in Melbourne of Victoria with her family, prepared a Bangladeshi dish with sardines at the competition.
Her dream was to write a cooking book presenting Bangladesh food recipes and Bangladeshi flavor, she explained at the show with wet eyes.
Also read: French chef Bocuse restaurant loses 3rd star after 55 years
“If I don’t do that this food recipe and flavor will fade with me, I really want to pass them to my children,” she said while describing her small dream.
The judges of the show immediately passed her a Yes card after tasting the food, making her qualify for the round of 24 in the competition. One of the judges said “This is testament to the fact that simple food, you have nowhere to hide with it, can be the best and most triumphant in the world.”
MasterChef Australia is an Australian competitive cooking show based on the original British MasterChef.
Initial rounds consist of a large number of hopeful contestants from across Australia individually "auditioning" by presenting a food dish before the three judges in order to gain one of 50 semi-final places.
Also read: Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes dies at 59 with wife by his side
The semi-finalists then compete in several challenges that test their food knowledge and preparation skills.
The contestants will then be whittled down through a number of individual and team-based cooking challenges and weekly elimination rounds until a winning MasterChef is crowned.
The winner plays for a prize that includes chef training from leading professional chefs, the chance to have their own cookbook published, and $ 250,000 in cash.
Read Iftar Items, Recipes for Ramadan in Bangladesh
Apple Cider Vinegar: Benefits and Risk of Regular Consumption
When we think apple juice, we think of a refreshing beverage that is sweet and packed with nutrients. Crushed apples made into fermented juice, however, is an unfiltered version of the aforementioned that surprisingly provides more health benefits than the ingredient may lead you to believe. Functioning as an ingredient to many dining staples, here’s how apple cider vinegar can benefit you and the risks associated with it under regular consumption.
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar Used For?
Despite the sounds of it, apple cider vinegar isn’t exactly a viable choice to pick up and drink. When the juice begins to ferment, its sugar is replaced with alcohol. The”vinegar” in its name is the one you’ll want to pay closer attention to - it is not commonly drunk straight like other types of apple-based liquids, and functions best as an ingredient for salad dressing, baking, cooking and preservatives. It isn’t abnormal to consume it directly, but that comes with its own set of risks if taken in excess.
Strangely enough, the ingredient has tons of medicinal properties that can cure colds, warts and even bug bites. The ingredient also has a place in cosmetics - serving as a natural conditioner. Because of its strong acidic properties, apple cider vinegar can also act as a household cleaner and odor remover. That is not to be confused with being inedible, as it can safely be used in soups, sauces, hot beverages and much more.
Read Pink Chai: Kashmiri Tea Health Benefits, Recipe
Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Weight Loss
According to a study, all it took for weight loss was two tablespoons (30ml) of apple cider vinegar daily for three months to generate weight loss. Like other natural foods, this isn’t a cure for being overweight, but it does suppress one’s appetite enough to slow food urges throughout the day. With apple cider vinegar being a completely natural product, calories and sugar levels are incredibly low. If your diet would couple this ingredient with other healthy food options and exercise, results are guaranteed!
Improves Digestion
Because apple cider vinegar contains heaps of acid, naturally that means that the digestive tract will be affected. The higher acidity count enables the body to create pepsin which is an enzyme that breaks down protein. Studies have shown that this ingredient was effective specifically for protein-based diets, which indirectly leads to mitigating constipation or other bowel irregularities.
Read Fungus: Health Benefits, Nutritional Values and Precautions
Lowers Blood Sugar
Type 2 diabetes is a serious threat that grows every year and apple cider vinegar does a good job to reduce overall blood sugar levels. The fermentation process that creates the ingredient does away with sugar, which makes its natural count extremely low when added into foods. Additionally, apple cider vinegar has proven in research to improve the sensitivity of insulin in carbohydrate-heavy meals, which lowers blood sugar already in the body. It is not an antidote for high blood sugar levels, but it is one of the best ingredients to complement low sugar diets.
Good Skin Treatment
The high acidic content in apple cider vinegar also plays a role in balancing the PH levels of the skin. Conditions like eczema, dry skin, and insect bites are responsible for skin irritation - and alkaline-based cleansers can harm to the skin when overused. The ingredient also boasts anti-bacterial properties and can be applied on the skin sparingly to prevent acne breakouts and odor. Although its benefits lie in a more medicinal approach, apple cider vinegar can work just fine as a cleanser.
Read Curry Leaf Health Benefits and Uses
Good For The Hair
Apple cider vinegar tackles the hair on two fronts: the first, and arguably most important is its ability to get rid of dandruff. This is thanks to vinegar's acetic acid that alters the scalps PH level that prevents yeast build up - one of the culprits that creates dandruff in the first place. When applied in between washes, this ingredient can also moisturise the hair to a certain extent and prevent overall dryness. Once again, the vinegar serves as a catalyst more than a solution to existing hair conditions.
Side Effects & RIsk of Apple Cider Vinegar
Slows Digestion
As anything that is taken in excess, too much of apple cider vinegar can cause a lot of health problems; the first also being indigestion. High acidity comes at a cost when overconsumed. Granted, this ingredient can do wonders for the digestive system, but things can get significantly worse when taking in too much. Although it does reduce blood sugar levels, the result of this also leads to food having a prolonged stay in the stomach. This slowed rate of absorption into the bloodstream can cause damage to the nerves of the stomach called gastroparesis. Other side effects to this condition include bloating, heartburn and nausea.
Read Most creative ways to eat more fruits for the non-fruit eaters
Weakens The Bones
The body faces a severe reduction in potassium levels when apple cider vinegar is consumed too frequently. The lack of potassium causes brittleness in bones. This is once again the byproduct of the incredible amounts of acidity found in the ingredient. Because of this, mineral transportation is interfered within the bloodstream which leads to this malnourishment. It also hampers the ability for new bone to grow, but it can be avoided if apple cider vinegar isn’t consumed daily in copious amounts.
Can Cause Sore Throat
Adults may not deal with the brunt of this side effect but children have been reported to suffer from this when consuming this ingredient. Vinegar’s high count of acetic acid specifically has been proven to be the leading cause of throat burns among children, which presents a risk that can easily be avoided with proper supervision. Adults have also faced a similar issue when consuming apple cider vinegar pills, which has caused severe throat irritation over the course of daily consumption.
Read Is Raw Onion Good For High Blood Pressure?
Iftar Items, Recipes for Ramadan in Bangladesh
After a long day of fasting, we tend to get more interest in delicious food in iftar. But iftar food should not only be tasty and nutritious, but it should also be healthy. Most of the iftar items sold in the market are adulterated, which are deadly harmful to our health. Hence, Proper and healthy iftar is a very important issue to maintain physical health during the month of Ramadan. Only a balanced and healthy iftar can meet the proper nutritional needs as well as keep the body healthy and active. The iftar menu should be arranged in such a way that it is suitable for everyone. Here will discuss popular and healthy iftar item you can make at home.
Popular Iftar Items
When it comes to popular iftar items, we understand the different fried items. Our iftar remains incomplete without the fried items such as Chop, Peyaju, Pakora, and other oily items. However, these iftar items are not healthy for our body, especially when we eat them for months. The continuous consumption of this item may cause issues with gastric ulcers, heartburn, and more. You may take them once in a while or a small amount every day during Ramadan.
Also read: Islamic Foundation releases Sehri, iftar timings
Here we have listed a few popular fried iftar Items.
Egg Chop
Many of us would like to have egg chop in our iftar. Especially children like this food very much. That's why many people tend to buy egg chops from outside or make this at home. However, making egg chop can be tricky for some people. For those who don't know the easiest recipe for egg chop, here we have explained briefly.
Ingredients you will need boiled eggs, boiled potatoes, chopped onions, chili, chili powder, salt, bread crumbs, beaten eggs, and oil.
Boil the eggs and potatoes and peel them off, and cut each egg in half (depends on individuals).
Mix the boiled potatoes with onion powder, raw chili powder, coriander leaf powder, chili powder, and salt very well. Now fill the whole boiled egg inside the potato mixture and make it in the shape of a chop. Beat 2 eggs with a little salt. Dip the chops in the egg yolks, wrap them in bread crumbs and keep them in the fridge for some time.
Also read:'No iftar gatherings, sehri in mosques during Ramadan'
Now take the chops out of the fridge and deep fry them in oil so that the brown color comes. When done, serve hot on the iftar table.
(we did not mention the amount of each ingredient as it varies on individual's taste the required quantity, you can use ingredients according to your needs)
Beguni
Beguni is one of the different foods in Iftar and adds an extra flavor to Iftar.
Required ingredients are thinly sliced eggplants, finely ground, 1 cup of gram lentils, 1 tablespoon of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of coriander powder, 1/3 teaspoon of cumin paste, 1/2 teaspoon of ginger paste, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic paste, 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of cornflour, 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder, amount of salt, amount of water, 1 egg, amount of oil for frying eggplant.
To make the Bason mixture, take the gram flour in a bowl and mix all the ingredients well except the eggplant, water, eggs, and oil.
After that, heat the taken oil in a saucepan to start frying. Then dip the thinly sliced eggplant in the besan mixture and fry it in deep oil till it turns brown. The fun item of Iftar became purple.
Piyaju
Piyaju is one of the main ingredients of Iftar and Iftar is not complete without it. However, Piyaju making procedure is simple, like a piece of cake.
Also read: Shops finally start selling Iftar delicacies on a limited scale
Ingredients you need, Lentil paste 1/2 cup, onion powder 1 cup, raw chili powder 1 teaspoon, coriander powder 1 tablespoon, ginger paste 1 teaspoon, garlic paste 1 teaspoon, mint leaf powder 1 tablespoon, salt and oil as required.
Mix all the ingredients with the lentil paste and fry in different sizes, from large to small, as per your choice. You can add any sauce or chaat masala if you want during the service.
Healthy Iftar Items
Healthy iftar items provide full nutrition and keep the body light. Following healthy food items should be your top priority during Ramadan to ensure a healthy life.
Chicken Salad
1 Cup of chicken salad and other ingredients can get you 508 calories. Required ingredients are 1 cup of boneless chicken, 2 tablespoons of flour, 1 teaspoon of onion powder (can also be made with onion), 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of paprika powder/half teaspoon of red chili powder, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, Half a teaspoon of oregano (available in super shops), a little bit of dried chili powder, 1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup, salt to taste, 1 tablespoon of oil, cucumber slices, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce slices and lemon juice, a little olive oil.
Mix all the ingredients of the meat without oil and marinate for 10 minutes. One hour is better. First, heat the oil in a pan and cook the marinated meat on medium heat. When fried, take it down. Now add chopped cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce to the salad with a little salt, fried crispy noodles, lemon juice, and a little olive oil.
Juice
It is very healthy to drink the juice of different fruits like orange, mango, apple, mixed fruit, etc. You can blend it if you want; you can also buy good quality juice. Eating cold juice also keeps your stomach cold and boosts up digestion. Also, it can relieve dehydration. Juice from one cup or 249 grams of fruit can get you roughly 136 calories.
Read Most creative ways to eat more fruits for the non-fruit eaters
Soup
Soup but very effective, is a healthy option for iftar. You can easily make soup with ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, prawns, chicken, vegetables, etc. Soup is high in protein, minerals, fiber, vitamins, low-calorie, and low-fat, which is 100% nutritious and delicious. Depending on the ingredients, one cup of soup can be a source of 50-140 calories.
Chira
Chira is an excellent item for iftar, and it can satisfy hunger by keeping the stomach cool by eliminating the lack of water. It can be made by soaking them in water or cooking chira in different ways. However, banana slices, yogurt, and soaked chira mix can retain your energy after fasting the whole day. Depending on the yogurt type, you can get approximately 200 calories from this iftar item.
Apart from these items, you can also easily make very tasty and healthy iftar items with eggs, flour, rice, potatoes, honey, etc. Besides, try to use a very little amount of oil if your fry something.
You can also easily make very tasty and healthy iftar items with eggs, flour, rice, potatoes, honey, etc. And try to oil the folds very little.
Read Pink Chai: Kashmiri Tea Health Benefits, Recipe.
Bangla Academy Chairman Shamsuzzaman Khan loses battle with Covid-19
Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan, legendary folklorist and Chairman of Bangla Academy, passed away at a city hospital Wednesday (April 14, 2021) after losing his battle with Covid-19.
The 80-year-old was on life support after being tested Covid-19 positive and was undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital for other illnesses as well.
Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Siraji confirmed the news to UNB, saying: "Professor Shamsuzzaman breathed his last at around 2pm at BSMMU after fighting with Covid-19 for two weeks."
Read Prothom Alo joint editor Mizanur Rahman dies of Covid-19
The folklorist will be laid to rest at his family graveyard in Manikganj later in the day.
Professor Shamsuzzaman was put on life support on Monday as his condition had worsened. He and his wife tested positive for Covid-19 on March 30.
Born in 1940 in Manikganj's Charigram, Shamsuzzaman is recognised as one of the most respected folklorists of the country.
As a folklorist, researcher and writer, Shamsuzzaman penned and edited more than 100 books including "Folklore Charcha," "Muktabuddhi," "Dharmanirapekshata O Samakal," "Bangarashtrer Galpasamagra," "Kishore Rachanasamagra," and "Bangladesher Utsab."
Read Ustad Shahadat Hossain Khan dies of Covid-19
He was awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2001, Ekushey Padak in 2009 and Independence Award in 2017 for his great contribution to the arts and culture of Bangladesh.
The folklorist completed his post-graduation from the University of Dhaka and started his career as a lecturer for Haraganga College in Munshiganj and Jagannath College (now university) in 1964.
He was appointed as the director-general of Bangla Academy on May 24, 2009, and continued till May 23, 2018.
Read A book fair unlike any other
Shamsuzzaman was named the new Bangla Academy Chairman in June 2020 after the death of former president National Professor Anisuzzaman, who also died from Covid-19.
In his esteemed career, Shamsuzzaman also served as the director-general of Bangladesh National Museum and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Shamsuzzaman worked as a faculty member of Bangladesh Agricultural University from 1968 to 1973 and National University from 1998 to 2001, too.
Read Eminent Rabindra Sangeet singer Mita Haque passes away
After lives & livelihoods: Covid strikes at culture, with Pahela Baishakh forced indoors
The country will be forced to abandon its traditional Bengali New Year celebration on April 14 for a second consecutive year, as the local outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic witnesses a resurgence, forcing the festive occasion of Pahela Baishakh to be welcomed and celebrated once again through online platforms and symbolic programmes like the last year.
Although millions are bound to be disappointed by the turn of events, most of them would not be surprised that it came to such a pass, where the year 1428 in the Bengali calendar will be ushered in by most people indoors, same as 1427 was a year ago.
With its celebration of the changing of the seasons, rooted in nature through its relation with the spring harvest, and rife with symbolism drawn from the region's flora and fauna, Pahela Baishakh is an essentially outdoor event. No one can look forward to recreating any of its traditional magic in an indoor setting. Besides, Covid restrictions mean very few can even gather under the same roof to be with their near and dear ones at least.
Renowned cultural organizations and institutions including Chhayanaut, the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA) of Dhaka University, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Liberation War Museum Bangladesh (LWM) and more will observe the day with online-based festivities and programmes, to welcome the new calendar year 1428.
Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina
The marquee events of the dawn are the traditional Borsho-Boron programme by Chhayanaut at Ramna Batamul in the capital and the Mangal Shobhajatra parade of the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), Dhaka University, which will not be arranged live this year.
However, both Chhayanaut and FFA have informed UNB that they are going to showcase pre-recorded programmes on national televisions in the morning.
First observed in 1989 by FFA as a colourful procession celebrating the Bengali New Year with the participation of people from all walks of life, the annual Mangal Shobhajatra has received the recognition of UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage on November 30, 2016.
With the theme "Kal Bhoyankorer Beshe, Abar Oi Ashe Sundor", FFA was forwarding to celebrate this year's procession and started preparation for making props on April 6, as it could not organize the parade last year due to the lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions.
Also read: Bangladesh’s complete lockdown set to begin on Apr 14; notification issued
Unfortunately, plans for organizing the large procession this year had to be cut down, and instead of cancelling the event, FFA has pre-recorded a symbolic programme at the premises of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
"Initially, the Dhaka University authorities decided to arrange a symbolic event on FFA premises on the day of Pahela Baishakh, as it has always been culturally very significant and this year marks the Golden Jubilee of our Independence. As per the government's directive regarding the lockdown restrictions to curve the ongoing pandemic, we decided and pre-recorded a symbolic Mangal Shobhajatra for 1428 on a very limited scale at the premises of FFA with the participation of our State Minister for Cultural Affairs and fewer than 20 people, showcasing our banner and 100 prop items made by our students and teachers including face shields and masks," Nisar Hossain, Dean of the FFA, told UNB on Tuesday.
The press and electronic media were not allowed to broadcast the recording, however, The DU authority will provide a video and press elements of the programme to the press and electronic media tomorrow, he informed.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 69 more die, 6,028 infected
On Monday, Chhayanaut general secretary Laisa Ahmed Lisa stated, “As we could not celebrate Pahela Baishakh 1427 through arranging our traditional cultural festivity under the banyan tree at Ramna Park, we had been preparing and rehearsing to organize the festivity this year without the crowd at the venue and also we had plans to pre-record the programme if the situation restricts us to arrange on that day. Sadly, as we have been observing the recent surge of the pandemic and also as some of our artists are being infected with COVID-19 - we have decided to broadcast this year’s festivity through a special collaborative programme with Bangladesh Television (BTV) as last year."
“The programme will broadcast from 7 am to 8 am, and it will be showcasing a compilation of some of the new and previous performances of Chhayanaut artists, and this year we are featuring performances focusing on the Golden Jubilee of our glorious Independence. Aside from BTV, Chhayanaut will also broadcast the programme on its YouTube Channel Chhayanaut Digital - Platform," she added.
Also read: Chhayanaut cancels Pahela Baishakh festivities at Ramna, goes back to virtual celebration with BTV
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) will broadcast a live webinar and cultural programme on its official Facebook page and YouTube channel from 11 pm onwards, which is scheduled to be joined by former Cultural Affairs Minister and eminent thespian Asaduzzaman Noor as its chief guest.
BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky will preside over the virtual event, which will also be joined by prominent eductator and writer prof Syed Manzoorul Islam as the speaker and renowned cultural personalities including Nazrul Sangeet maestro Khairul Anam Shakil, folk singer Akramul Islam, Rabindra Sangeet singer Lily Islam, performing students from the Govt Music College and more.
Liberation War Museum (LWM) will also broadcast a virtual programme on its official Facebook page at 11 am.
Also read: Pahela Baishakh celebrated without outdoor programmes
Wrishiz Shilpi Goshthi will arrange an online programme on Facebook as well. It will be broadcast at 9 am on Pahela Baishakh, according to legendary folk icon Fakir Alamgir, President of the cultural group.
Earlier, the government restricted all sorts of outdoor celebrations of Pahela Baishakh and asked to organize virtual events for online celebrations. Therefore, all the major outdoor celebrations of Pahela Baishakh are called off for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
This year, April 14 also marks the first day of Ramadan in Bangladesh and some other Muslim countries in the world.
Terrace Gardening: Tips, Tricks, and Guidelines for Beginners
Gardening is a great way to keep our body and mind fresh. Besides, it is also a popular way to pass our lazy time. But, for urban people, gardening might be a dream as there is not enough space. Still, some enthusiasts started to make a garden on their roof whether it has large or small space. Rooftop gardening is an old concept, but beginners may find it difficult to make a garden on the rooftop. So, understanding the idea and process is necessary before making up your mind to start a rooftop garden. Hence, we have focused on rooftop gardening tips, tricks, and guidelines for Beginners.
Benefits of Gardening
Gardening is not just about giving your home a good look. It is beneficial for your own physical and mental well-being. A good amount of physical exercise can keep your body fit. However, gardening can contribute to your physical exercise, which can eventually improve your mental health. And it is more useful during this COVID -19 pandemic.
You may need to spend hours to take care of your garden; hence it can burn your calories, and gardening is comparable to some sort of intense exercise. One hour of active gardening can burn about 330 calories from your body, and it increases your body’s metabolism. Therefore, your body’s immunity system gets boosted.
Gardening is correlated with stress reduction and ultimately fights against depression and anxiety. In other words, it can be said that your body and mind will stay fresh. It is evident that we may face stress due to the current coronavirus pandemic; even the healthy person can get stressed too. So, gardening can help you out to divert your mind and get you to relieve yourself from stress.
Read Terrace farming gains traction in cities
Basic Guidelines of Terrace gardening for the Beginners
Want to start rooftop gardening, but not sure how to start? Here we will provide you some basic guidelines for your ultimate rooftop gardening. Let’s go through the basic preparation first.
Check the drainage system
Although most of the roof has a good drainage system, some roof may block the water or does not have enough slope to pass the water. Since the rooftop garden requires more water than the regular garden, you may expect an overflow of the water. So, it is mandatory to check out the roof’s drainage system. If there is any problem with that, you will need to fix it before starting the garden.
Also read: 3 Ways To Live Eco-Friendly in Dhaka
Soil
The important thing is to grow your garden. For the novice gardener buying a balanced soil consisting of fertilizer is recommended. You can get by that from the nearby nursery. But the amount of needed soil depends on your garden size. So, it is necessary to know the pot or container you will use to plant your trees.
Equipment
Before starting the gardening process, you should collect some basic equipment such as gloves, hoses, water cans, rakes, trowels, and other tools. Apart from these, you may choose your own relevant tools too.
Temperature
Checking out your rooftop’s temperature is highly essential because, depending on that, you will need to buy plants. You will also need to check the roof’s position measuring the sun. And you cannot grow any kind of plant on your roof due to Bangladesh’s humid weather. In high humidity or tropical areas, plants need extra care. So, it would be better if you educate yourself about the sunlight on your roof.
Also read: Best Home and Office Shifting Services in Dhaka
Water
Though the water necessity depends on the plant, you are planning to grow. However, it is always better to have easy access to water on your roof so that you can water your garden whenever you need it. On the other hand, overwatering can hinder your plants. Educating yourself about the plants is highly recommended to know the needs of water.
Grow you plant
Now that you have everything ready, you are ready to grow your plants. Whether you want to grow the plants from seed or put want to grow flower trees, the raised beds or pots are necessary. So, get your required pot or raised beds and then fill the half portion with soil and then rope your desired tree and then fill the rest of the part. And then continue this step for other pots too. Gradually you will see your garden growing.
Read IFAD supports smallholder farmers with nutritious homestead vegetable gardening kits
Tips and Tricks for Rooftop Gardening
Gardening is fun, but sometimes it can be difficult to manage if you don’t plan properly. Some tips and tricks can make your gardening life easier.
Firstly, put your pots or raised bed in the appropriate places, depending on the plant’s characteristics. For example, you should put sun-loving plants in the open space, where they can get enough rays. And keep other plants under the shades.
Secondly, watering the plants carefully. As we have mentioned earlier, overwatering can damage the root. As a result, your plant may die. However, there are some plants that need more water than others. So, make sure you know your plants well. Do not grow some plants that have a deep and aggressive root system.
Thirdly, for the better growth of your plant, try to feed liquid fertilizer that contains high potassium and low nitrogen. The appropriate amount of potassium can increase the growth of flowers and fruits.
For the rooftop garden, balancing while planting can ensure the overall growth of the plants. Make sure you maintain diversity when selecting the plants. A combination of large plants, small trees, shrubs, ground cover can balance your garden. Besides, it can be eye-soothing too.
Read Possible Food Crisis: Vegetable gardening at courtyards of 6.5 lakh houses planned
Where to Buy Terrace Gardening Supplies Online?
If you want to buy all the gardening stuffs such as seeds, fertilizers, plants, tools, etc., online, there are many websites that can get your job done. For example, Daraz, garder.com.bd, mygardenbd.com, bonayon.com, and aci-bd.com.
Online Courses to Learn Gardening
If you have no idea about gardening and want to get practical experience in gardening, you can take some online courses. If you have an international credit card, you can visit udemy.com, skillshare.com, or masterclass.com and enroll in some world-class gardening courses. For example, you can try Ron Finley’s gardening class on masterclass.com and Gardening 101 on skillshare.com.
Although there are not enough online courses available in Bangladesh for gardeners, you can try different channels to learn gardening. You can search on YouTube about gardening in Bangladesh. Besides, you may also visit oregonbd.org/online-course to get a complete idea of gardening.
Read Rooftop Gardening: Way to Release Stress and Promote Health during Pandemic
Best Baishakhi Offers in Bangladesh 2021
The first day of the Bengali New Year is known as Pahela Baishakh.It's also known as a Bengali folk festival that takes place across the country.Every year on April 14th, the first day of Pahela Baishakh is celebrated.Baishakhi fairs are organized all over the country on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh.The day also celebrates the merchants' traditional accounting new year (Haal Khata). Traders at all levels consider the day as an opportunity to start fresh and they offer a variety of discounts during this festive time.This article discussed the best Baishakhi offers in Bangladesh 2021.
Five places where you can get the best Pahela Baishakh deals and offers
Here are the stores offering some of the best Baishakhi deals for 2021: Daraz, Diamond World Ltd, Sailor, HungryNaki, and Akash DTH.
The perfect time to shop for Baishakh is at the last minute like it is every year. That's when retailers will be desperate to get rid of their stocks. If you can't wait, here's where and shop to save the most money.
1) Daraz Bangladesh
Online super shop daraz seems to have some fantastic gift ideas for the Pahela Baishakh festival. They have a wide variety of products, including clothing, watches, luggage, mobile phones, kitchen pieces, sofa sets, etc. You can order them for yourself or even as a gift for someone you care about. With Baishakhi discounts on daraz, you can save up to 9% on selected products in all categories. To avail the Baishakhi offer, you must first obtain a voucher from the products page.
Also read: Daraz brings 'Baishakhi Mela 1428' campaign
Visit the website: https://www.daraz.com.bd/
2) Diamond World Ltd
If you want to present beautiful jewelry items to your loved ones, you should know that Diamond World Ltd offers discounts of up to 27% on their products. Diamond World, one of the leading jewelry design firms in Bangladesh, has launched a special deal for Pahela Baishakh. If you want to impress someone with a special gift, this will be an excellent option!
Visit the website: https://www.diamondworldltd.com/
3) Sailor
Are you looking for the most stylish Baishakhi Panjabi with an affordable price range? Get the lucrative closet within your budget and enjoy amazing deals and coupons. Sailor is offering a super Baishakhi sale with up to 30% off Just for men's and boy's Panjabi items. If you're searching for a colorful and diverse selection of Punjabi products, you should check out a few of the choices here...
Visit the website: https://www.sailor.clothing/
Also read: Daraz organises roadshow to celebrate 50 years of Bangladesh's Independence
4) HungryNaki
When you cook delicious food for the whole family at once, HungryNaki will also bring the best food deals straight to your doorstep. Pick it because it will allow you to spend more time with your family.In the midst of the covid-19 epidemic, HungryNaki and Nagad have come up with a fantastic cashback deal for those who enjoy eating outdoors.You will get a 10% Instant Cashback if you buy food from HungryNaki and pay with ‘Nagad'. The offer is effective from April 1st to April 14th, 2021. During this time, you can take advantage of the offer twice.
Visit the website: https://nagad.com.bd/en/offer/hungrynaki-2/
5) Akash DTH
Do you have a cable tv connection at home? Or maybe you'd like to upgrade the current one. Whatever the issue may be,the Akash DTH has offered you an attractive Baishakhi package that will surely make you happy. Customers who purchase an AKASH connection from the AKASH website during the “Boishakhi Campaign” will get a BDT 800 cashback.This amazing offer will end on 16 April 2021.
Visit the website: https://akashdth.com/
Bottom Line
The Bengali nation's traditional New Year's Day is Pahela Baishakh and the Bengali New Year greeting is "Shubho Noboborsho".Mass people tend to do a variety of shopping for the family to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh festival. Shopkeepers develop attractive promotions in order to increase sales. There are multiple types of offers, and customers buy the things of their choice from the deals. Going shopping in the midst of the covid-19 is unsafe, therefore you should consider online platforms to buy your favorite products. The above-mentioned best Baishakhi offers in Bangladesh 2021 might be just what you're looking for.
Vitamin D: Benefits, food sources, recommended amounts, and risks
We all know that calcium strengthens our bones. However, we may not know that vitamin D helps our body to absorb calcium properly. Apart from boosting calcium absorption, vitamin D also prevents our body from being affected by different diseases, and it improves our immune system too. And during this COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to keep our immune system balanced. Read on to know the vitamin D benefits, sources, and risks.
Recommended Vitamin D Per Day
Typically, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally available in few foods. An adult person needs to intake 10-20 micrograms or 400-800 IU (International Unit) of vitamin D per day while it is 10 micrograms or 400 IU for the children.
Benefits of Vitamin D
Usually, we don’t care much about vitamin D intake, but it has some surprising benefits.
Reduce the risk of affected by flu
A 2018 review suggests that some studies have found that vitamin D can work against the influenza virus. Therefore, it may fight the seasonal flu. Some study shows that vitamin D can prevent COVID-19 and defend any kind of serious symptoms.
People with low vitamin D levels may have the chance to get infected in the upper respiratory tract. Hence, vitamin D can work against COVID-19 in two ways. Firstly, it works as a catalyst to increase the natural defense of our body, which actively prevents viruses and bacteria. Secondly, it can stop exaggerated inflammatory responses, which can cause severe illness top some COVID-19 patients.
Read Zinc: Health Benefits, Food Sources and Daily Requirements
Fight against depression
Research has found that Vitamin D can play an important role in fighting depression. In one study, it has been proved that people with depression saw a significant improvement after vitamin D consumption. However, the study used vitamin D supplements instead of natural sources. But, the result should be the same either way.
Boost weight loss
Adding vitamin D to your diet would boost your weight loss progress. According to a study, people who take calcium and vitamin D supplements are able to reduce more weight and without supplements. The extra vitamin D consumption can suppress appetite intake. While it works on reducing weight, vitamin D can also work on heat diseases.
Read Honey Benefits: What Happens to Your Body When You Consume Honey
Strengths the bones
Vitamin D is known for its bone-building powers. As we have mentioned earlier, it boosts calcium’s work and eventually powers up the normal mineralization of the bones. According to the medical experts, calcium actually cannot work properly without the D’s help. Hence, the importance of Vitamin D is undeniable.
Strengthen muscles
Besides the bone-building abilities, Vitamin D also helps strengthen the muscles. In other words, lack of vitamin D may lead to the risk of having weak muscles. This is mainly important for the elderly person. Hence, anyone aged 70+ is recommended to take more than 20 micrograms of vitamin D each day.
Read Vitamin C: Where to Found and How Much to Consume
Local Food Sources of Vitamin D
It is evident that, like other vitamins and minerals, Vitamin D is highly essential for our body. Hence, you need to consume enriched vitamin D enriched foods.
Egg Yolks
Egg yolks are the easily accessible source of vitamin D. Besides; it also contains other nutritional ingredients. Each egg yolk may contain 18-39 IU of vitamin D. However, this might not be high in amount but, multiple consumptions may fill your daily needs. You can include some eggs in your daily diet chart to make your body grow and fetch the benefits of vitamin D.
Read Honey Benefits: What Happens to Your Body When You Consume Honey
Milk
After egg, milk is another commonly known source of vitamin D. Apart from vitamin D; it contains phosphorus, calcium, and other vitamins as well. However, many of us do not know that milk can help us to get the desired amount of vitamin D each day. That is why packaged dairy milk producers add vitamin D words in their commercials and packages.
Milk can provide around 130 IU of vitamin D for sure, which can easily serve the desired amount of vitamin D needed for our body.
Mushrooms
If you are a vegetarian, Mushrooms will be your only plant-based source for vitamin D. It is enriched with vitamin d2, which is highly essential for our body. The locally grown mushroom can give you 130-450 IU of vitamin D. The good thing about adding mushrooms to your daily diet is that they can provide you up to 2300 IU of vitamin D. So, mushrooms are the savior for vegetarians.
Read Post Meal Bad Habits: Things You Must Avoid Right After Eating Meal
Shrimp
If you are not comfortable eating eggs or mushrooms, shrimp can be a good source for you. A regular size contains 152 IU of vitamin D, which can easily meet up with your vitamin D intake. Besides, they have minimal fat, and thus it reduces any inevitable side effects. So, seafood lovers can easily add shrimp to their diet list.
Beef Liver
Although excessive consumption of beef may cause multiple health issues, it is a great source of vitamin D. You may take beef liver once a month or week to meet your vitamin D requirement. Generally, beef liver contains 149 IU of vitamin D, which is good enough to meet the required vitamin D for your body. However, if you have health issues that are related to beef liver, you may take other foods we have mentioned above.
Read Most creative ways to eat more fruits for the non-fruit eaters
Orange Juice
If you don’t want to eat any of the items we have mentioned above, you can try drinking orange juice. You can get 142 IU of vitamin D from one glass of orange juice. So grabbing a glass of orange juice in your breakfast will definitely serve the desired amount of vitamin D. You may find orange juice fortified with vitamin D in the super shops.
Possible Side Effects of Vitamin D
You may love the foods we have mentioned earlier and consume excessively. Therefore, you may face some side effects due to additional consumption. You may face bone pain, kidney stones. Frequent urination, muscle weakness, weight loss, vomiting, frequent thrust, and disorientation. So, we should refrain from eating excessive amounts of vitamin D.
Read Fungus: Health Benefits, Nutritional Values, and Precautions
It is widely known that sunlight is a source of vitamin D, and it is totally natural. Whenever your skin is exposed to sunlight, it creates vitamin D from the cholesterol. The ultraviolet B rays from the sun hit the cholesterol available in our skin cells which provides the desired energy for vitamin D synthesis. Hence, exposing your skin to the sun is necessary if you are unable to have vitamin D from food intake.
Pink Chai: Kashmiri Tea Health Benefits, Recipe
Teas are done radically different across the world, but few are as complex as Kashmiri pink chai tea. With an impressive array of ingredients that work better together than one from another culture might expect, this concoction subverts expectations in its health benefits and general uses. This beverage is also known as Noon Chai; here are a few health benefits and recipes of Kashmiri Pink Chai to get you started.
Kashmiri Pink Tea Ingredients, Recipe
The standout feature of pink chai is its assortment of ingredients that are clearly prevalent in South India. Kashmiri chai leaves, green cardamoms, salt, soda bicarbonate, cinnamon, star anise, milk, sugar, and pistachios are all required to make the most basic form of Kashmiri tea.
Milk, tea, and sugar are on the higher scale of quantity in the mix, while salt and soda bicarbonate is used sparingly ( 1 teaspoon each) to enhance the flavor without overstepping its boundaries.
Read Tulsi Tea Health Benefits: Know the Magical Herb Holy Basil
Alternatively, it isn’t unheard of to replace milk with half-and-half if you’re keen to up the fat intake for a keto diet. A small amount of baking soda and cloves are also optional if you want to change things up.
Instead of regular sugar, cane sugar, brown sugar, and date syrup are all perfectly viable replacements. Pistachio bits are the staple for Pink Chai recipes, however, if you’re pursuing the healthiest possible concoction, using chopped raw almonds would be the best choice to opt for.
Also read: Curry Leaf Health Benefits and Uses
Kashmiri Pink Tea Preparation
More ingredients can lead to more room for error; that being said, the preparation process requires more attention to detail than simply boiling water with a teabag in it. To get started, two separate cups of water are needed to be boiled. It has traditionally been done through a non-stick pan, but a boiler may work too.
Once boiled, one pan will require cardamom pods, seeds, tea leaves, cinnamon, star anise, and bicarbonate of soda will be mixed in first and stirred. Milk will be added after, while the leaves and spices are removed. The sugar of choice will be next and it will have to sit in the mix till it melts in. Straining the tea from the kettle will come last and will be poured into separate cups.
Read Masala Tea Health Benefits: How Can It Improve Your Immunity
The key ingredient in this entire mix is your Kashmiri Chai tea leaves. The quality will make a drastic difference to how the entire blend will taste.
Kashmiri Pink Tea Brands
In the end, the tea will be at the forefront of the beverage’s taste - therefore your choices of brands are crucial. A few recommended brands include Three Rivers, Tapal Gulbahar, Dewan Kashmiri, and Food Net Hi-Sun.
These brands are reliable starts to get you prepared as you embark on your tea-making journey. Do note that ice water can be added after the leaves are boiled to increase quantity without losing flavor. Ice cubes, however, will affect the coloration of the beverage.
Read Is Being Vegan Good For Your Body?
Kashmiri Pink Chai Health Benefits
Digestion Improvement
Much like how other teas are renowned for their role in a detox regime, Pink Chai tea is no exception. It features malic acid that helps your digestive tract regulate normally. As a bonus for its improvement to the entire system, constipation specifically can be remedied with a cup of this. If the ordinary blend doesn’t do the job as well as you’d hoped, adding apple (slices or blended) with more cinnamon should do the trick.
Read Easy Homemade Drinks to Boost Up Digestion Power Naturally
Helps Weight Loss
There is no single cure that can help the body burn fat at the pace we’d like it to, but Pink Chai tea does have a few benefits: its low-calorie count despite the ingredient pool can enhance many fat-loss-centric diets. It certainly does help that a cut done correctly only contains 115 calories Additionally, its properties can help boost the body’s metabolism rate and helps improve the oxidation of fat in your blood. The latter does wonder to combat the excess fat storage in blood vessels, along with protecting the heart from fat build-up.
Read Matcha Green Tea Health Benefits
Good For The Skin
Many food options offer improvement to skin health in the form of aging and oil build-up, but it never hurts that it comes from a beverage as delectable as Pink Chai Tea. Like other teas in the market, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties are present and specifically slows wrinkles on the body. It isn’t a short-term fix; like any other superfoods, regular intake is necessary to ensure that the skin is properly nourished so that the results can come to fruition.
Read Coronavirus Tips: Immunity Booster Herbal Teas to Prevent Infection
Strengthens The Bones
An odd benefit, given that tea isn’t commonly known for its bone-strengthening properties. The tea itself contains an impressive amount of magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C that boosts bone density. Added on top of dairy-based milk and the benefits are improved even further. It can never replace the likes of calcium-rich foods, but it does its part to assist in bone strengthening, rather than being the focus of said benefit.
Read Fungus: Health Benefits, Nutritional Values, and Precautions
Mood Booster
The tea’s antioxidant properties zero in on the liver to help purify the body of toxins. Normally considered a standard beverage choice of a cleansing diet, this tea is no exception. Antioxidants in general stimulate chemicals that are secreted from the brain such as dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. Because of this, anxiety, depression, and even insomnia are reduced moderately, but not cured. Even as a mood booster, the tea may be enjoyable, but not an immediate cure to these conditions.
Read Best Tea Brands in Bangladesh