lifestyle
Charukola celebrates the birth centenary of Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed in style
The Faculty of Fine Art (FFA), Dhaka University observed the birth centenary of Shilapaguru Safiuddin Ahmed, the pioneer of Printmaking in Bangladesh, through various events on Friday and Thursday at the FFA campus in the capital.
The two-day commemorative fest featured the ceremony of 'Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed Sammanna-2022,' commemorative seminars, the inauguration of a special exhibition, cultural events and a rendezvous of artists from different artistic backgrounds.
As part of the birth centenary celebration of Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed, the 'Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed Sammanna-2022' was awarded on Friday to seven eminent Bangladeshi artists by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Printmaking Department of Dhaka University.
Eminent Printmaker Kalidas Karmakar (posthumous), artist Professor Mohammad Kibria (posthumous), legendary cartoonist Professor Rafiqun Nabi, Bangladeshi-Spanish artist Monirul Islam, artist Professor Mahmudul Haque (posthumous), artist Shahid Kabir and artist Professor Abul Barq Alvi received this prestigious award, presented by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor in charge and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Muhammad Samad on Friday at the Bakultala of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
The crests were received on behalf of the late artists by Mohammad Kibria's son Nashrid Kibria, Mahmudul Haque's wife Shikha Mahmud, Kalidas Karmakar's sister Sanchita Karmakar, and Shahid Kabir's niece Maliha Masud.
Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Prof Nisar Hossain, artist and son of the Shilpaguru Ahmed Nazir, Chairman of Durjoy Foundation Durjoy Rahman Joy, Convener of Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed Birth Centenary Celebration Council Professor Rokeya Sultana and Member-Secretary Professor Anisuzzaman spoke at the ceremony, which was presided over by the Printmaking Department Chairman Sheikh Mohammad Rokonuzzaman.
Earlier on Thursday, different departments of the FFA including Printmaking, Drawing and Painting, Graphic Design, Oriental Art, Craft, History of Art, Sculpture, and Ceramics, alongside several art organizations including the Bengal Foundation, Gallery Chitrak, Gallery Cosmos, Safiuddin Shilpalay and Fine Arts department of Jagannath University, among others, paid tribute to the artist by placing floral wreaths at his grave.
A commemorative seminar was held after that at the Osman Jamal Auditorium of the FFA, joined by eminent artist and cartoonist Professor Rafiqun Nabi as the chief guest.
Shilpaguru’s son artist Ahmed Nazir, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin’s son engineer Moinul Abedin, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Fine Arts Department Director Syeda Mahbuba Karim, DU FFA Dean Professor Nisar Hossain were present as special guests at the seminar, while Dhaka University Bangla department chairman Syed Azizul Huq was present as discussant, who shed light on the Shilpaguru as a journeyman, fostering Bangladeshi art.
Following the seminar, an exhibition titled "Paramparay Chhapchitra" was inaugurated at the Zainul Gallery I and II and at the artwork collection room, featuring artworks created by 170 eminent and aspiring artists such as Somnath Hore, Quamrul Hassan, Mohammad Kibria, Aminul Islam, Murtaja Baseer, Bijan Choudhury, Devdas Chakraborty, Hamiduzzaman Khan, Rokeya Sultana, and Nisar Hossain.
Several artworks of the Shilpaguru have been featured in the artwork collection area, including an oil on canvas piece titled Portrait of Hamidur Rahman and wood engraving works titled ‘Santal Women,’ ‘On Way to the Fair,’ among others.The exhibition will welcome art admirers till June 30.
Chhayanaut postpones Sufia Kamal Memorial Monsoon Celebration due to Covid
Cultural institution Chhayanaut has postponed the event to celebrate the rainy season, named after its founding president eminent poet Sufia Kamal, after taking stock of the Covid-19 situation in the country.
The event was scheduled to take place Friday at the Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban in the capital's Dhanmondi and be broadcast on Chhayanaut's official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The event "Sufia Kamal Smarok Borshar Onushthan" (Sufia Kamal Memorial Monsoon Celebration) was initiated to mark the 111th birth anniversary of the legendary poet.
READ: Chhayanaut pays tribute to Rabindra Sangeet legend Mita Haque
"Due to the recent surge in the Covid-19 case test positivity rate, the Sufia Kamal Memorial Monsoon Celebration which was scheduled to be held Friday, Ashar 10, 1429, has been postponed," Chhayanaut General Secretary Laisa Ahmed Lisa said.
"We plan to organise this event next month, the Bengali month of Shraban, if the situation improves."
Sufia Kamal established Chhayanaut at the end of 1961.
Investing in Yourself: 10 Best Ways of Investment for Self-Betterment
There’s a general notion that to build anything, a person needs to invest. Billionaire investor Warren Buffet started investing at the age of 11. According to Buffet, the best investment is one that ensures personal growth. And he couldn’t be more accurate. The growth path, be it mental or monetary, starts from investment in personal development. The more you invest in yourself, the more you’ll reap its benefits. And with that, here are 10 proven ways to invest in personal development.
Top 10 Ways to Invest in Yourself
Start with Regular Exercise
The first step to self-development starts with the body and mind. And there’s no better way to bring the unison through exercise. Regular exercise increases endurance, focus, and overall proactivity. It allows a person to be more concentrated in each aspect and brings about a total overhaul from a rut.
Exercise doesn’t have to be in the form of yoga classes or gym commitments. Instead, it can be a simple walk in the park or a 5 minute power workout. The key here is consistency. Rather than putting in a mammoth effort one day and sitting idle in others, try and make a small exercise routine to start each day.
Read Self-Accountability: How to Develop Personal Accountability in Life
Visualize the Goals
Where do you want to see yourself 5 or 10 years from now? The key to self-betterment starts with visualizing the goals. It's important to have the idea as it helps to plan and work for the goal. It's important to remember that a better future doesn’t come automatically or overnight. Rather it takes time and effort to get from one stage to the other. And having a clear goal to that end helps in the concerted effort.
Skill Development
Skill development is another important aspect of self-investment. Many self-help pundits would suggest learning new things one after the other. While it's true that it helps to diversify knowledge, the process isn’t the best for a better and secured future. Instead of becoming the jack of all trades, first, focus on becoming the master of one thing.
To be more precise, focus on the existing skills and try to increase their expertise in them. Ask yourself do you see yourself continuing in your current field? If the answer is yes, then you should definitely try to progress your career rather than stay stuck in one position. And the process of progression starts with increasing the expertise.
Read Law of Attraction: Ways to Manifest Your Dreams
Attend Seminars and Workshops
We talked about increasing the existing skill set in the previous point. An effective way to initiate this skill development is through seminars and workshops. These are great places to start the skill development process. Besides, they also provide a great opportunity for networking and building connections.
Networking is a key aspect of potential future opportunities. All in all, seminars and workshops are definitely something worth the time considering future benefits.
Energize the Brain
While exercising is a great way to freshen the body and increase focus, other aspects of mental development should also be focused on. And that starts with stimulating the brain. Rather than getting stuck in a boring routine, bring about a change and initiate new experiences for the brain.
Read What is Self Serving Bias? How Can it Damage Your Career, Creativity, Potentials?
It can be learning a new language, taking on painting, or simply spending more time with loved ones. The key goal here is to keep the mind fresh and energized and to avoid potential mental rut and depression.
Side Hustles
Some extra cash never hurts. The best way to go about it for anyone with a full-time commitment is through hustles. It can also be something that generates passive income. If you are good at writing, freelance. Better yet, start your own blog and monetize it. Side hustles can come in all shapes and forms. All you need to do is find out what works best for you and what you can capitalize on.
Work-Life Balance
Just because you need to start that side hustle or put in that extra hour at work, doesn’t mean you should let burnout kick in. The importance of a proper work-life balance cannot be over-emphasized. Try to strictly maintain work time and personal time. Also, take regular time offs for self-care. Without a proper work-life balance, many of the points mentioned above will not work as the body and the brain will be constantly tired.
Read Why Do You Need a Purpose In Life?
The Art of Saying No
More often than not, most people don’t have what it takes to say ''no''. It can be a request for extra work hours or additional work pressure, the inability to say not only adds up to the personal woes. The way out? Learn to say no. It's not easy and you run the risk of potentially upsetting the person.
If any person or situation puts pressure on you to do or allow something which can be a burden on yourself, think before saying "Yes". Ask yourself. Does your personal health and comfort matter more or not? Try to put personal interests first as it will go a long way for self-betterment.
Volunteer
Volunteering is also a great way to invest in the future. Now you might be thinking how doesn’t do something for free work as an investment? Well, it’s all about how you visualize volunteering as. The pursuit of self-development also treads the path of developing moral values, empathy, and all other beautiful traits that make us humans.
Read Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle: Concept, Significance, Practice, Examples
Volunteering for a cause will help to channel those traits into your personal life bringing satisfaction and mental peace. Remember, self-development isn’t always about being more successful, sometimes it starts with being a good human.
Get a Pet
A pet is like a life companion. They go through the phases of life with their owners, be it ups and downs. Getting a pet helps to create a bond and bring a sense of responsibility to oneself. Pets can also be an amazing emotional support element in times of despair. So go get a furry friend or a bird, and create memories and good times which will surely fuel you to strive for the better.
Final Words
Investing in yourself for the future may not have any shortcut. It’s a long and arduous process that starts with small progress. Each dot connects with the other to create a big picture in the long run. Most people fail to recognize this and are hesitant to take the first step. In reality, all you have to do is motivate yourself for the future, and the rest of everything will follow suit.
Read Time Management: How to be ruthless with your time
'Reminiscence of Dreams': Jogen Chowdhury's solo exhibition goes on
Indian contemporary art maestro Jogen Chowdhury's solo painting exhibition "Reminiscence of Dreams," which began on May 27, is still underway at the Arcadia Arts Gallery in Dhaka's Banani.
The exhibition is showcasing more than 100 works of the "Banga Bibhushan" winning artist, also professor emeritus at Kala Bhavana at the Visva Bharati, Santiniketan in West Bengal.
The exhibition is featuring artworks divided into different mediums, including drawing and painting with dry pastel, pen, charcoal, brush and ink; printmaking works such as woodcut, etching, serigraph; mixed media on paper, watercolour and more.
Painter-cartoonist Rafiqun Nabi and Bangladeshi-Spanish artist Monirul Islam jointly inaugurated the exhibition.
Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art Dean Nisar Hossain and Indian independent art curator Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya joined the event as special guests.
Jogen was born in the village Daharpara in Bangladesh's Faridpur district in 1939. Along with his father, the artist went to Calcutta just before the partition of 1947 while the rest of his family went there in 1948.
READ: British Council brings exhibition “BANGLA” for local art connoisseurs
He enrolled in the Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata in 1955 and earned his degree there in 1960.
After that, Jogen went to Paris in 1965 to study at the Atelier 17 of William Hayter at the École des Beaux-Arts.
In 1968, he returned to India and started working as a professor of painting at Kala Bhavana in Santiniketan in 1987. Along with his many paintings and shows, he has written extensively about modern art and served as a jury member at several exhibitions.
Natural Collagen-Rich Foods for Healthy Joints, Skin, Hair
As the days pass, we grow old. When we get older, the body slows down the natural production of collagen. However, the good news is that the body has the remarkable ability to repair and regenerate collagen levels with the help of natural collagen booster foods.
What is Collagen? How does a human body build Collagen?
Collagen is considered the body’s most common substance after water. It is the main structural protein that holds the body together. Furthermore, it acts as a building block for your bones, teeth, muscles, skin, joints, and connective tissues and provides strength to our bones and muscles.
We need certain nutrients such as amino acids, zinc, copper, and vitamin C, to build the collagen throughout the body, says Christen Cupples Cooper, the founding director of Pace University’s Nutrition and Dietetics Program.
Read Quit Smoking: Best, worst kinds of foods, drinks to quit cigarettes
Vitamin C helps fend off free radical damage and ultimately does a number on your collagen. Therefore, you need to eat foods rich in these nutrients so that your body can produce sufficient amounts of collagen and maintain healthy levels.
What are the benefits of Collagen?
It is more difficult to sustain collagen levels as you age especially if you are a woman and have already gone through menopause. The reason is over time your body growingly struggles to absorb enough amounts of the nutrients needed to make collagen. Check below some of the main health benefits of collagens include:
Skin Health
Type I collagen gives your skin a chubby, youthful appearance as it is the main structure of the tissue. The consumption of natural collagen foods and drinks improved skin elasticity in women 35 years of age and older.
Read Ways to Purify Water during Flood, Disaster, Emergency Situations
Bone Health
Some research has shown that taking collagen peptide supplements can increase bone mineral density in women who have gone through menopause.
Muscle Strengthening
In older people who experience muscle deterioration, collagen may help strengthen their muscles.
Why you should consider food first
Foods are possibly safer to keep going with a dietary approach to boosting collagen. Consuming collagen-rich foods or foods that boost collagen production may also help create the building blocks.
Read Cold Remedies: Best, worst drinks to boost immune, fight sickness
Natural Collagen booster foods to improve your skin, hair and joints
Bone broth
Bone broth may be a reliable source of collagen which is made of bones and connective tissue. It contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, amino acids, and many other nutrients.
However, each bone broth can be different because of the quality of the bones and other ingredients. Bone broth is anti-aging and good for digestion and gut health. It also supports immune function, and joint health and promotes sleep.
Read How to fight sugar cravings with healthy foods, drinks
Chicken
Many collagen supplements are derived from the chicken as it contains high protein levels. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, and anticancer properties. Reducing cholesterol can control your blood pressure. It is essential for healthy skin and natural antidepressant.
Fish
omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins like D and B2 (riboflavin) are available in fish. Besides, it is plentiful with calcium and phosphorus. Moreover, it is a great source of minerals like iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium.
Fish have bones and ligaments made of collagen named marine collagen which is easily absorbed. Eating fish at least two times per week is a part of a healthy diet, says The American Heart Association.
Read Upset Stomach Remedies: What to eat, drink and avoid
The white part of an egg
The white part of eggs contains protein, sodium, folate, selenium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus , and potassium. It has large amounts of proline and amino acids necessary for collagen production.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like grapefruit, orange, clementine, and tangerine are great sources of vitamin C. This vitamin C is required to synthesize collagen.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds promote the production of collagen. Pumpkin seeds, cashews, almonds, and sesame seeds contain more than 20 percent of your daily value of a nutrient- zinc or copper, or both.
Read Superfood Moringa Powder: Know Its Health Benefits, Side Effects
Leafy Green Vegetables
Leafy green veggies for example kale and spinach are high in Vitamin C, zinc, and copper. They are collagen-boosting vegetables. You will find one and a half times the recommended daily value of Vitamin C from one cup of fresh, chopped kale. Besides, kale is great to increase the precursor to collagen in the skin.
Cocoa
The cocoa powder which is a natural source of copper activates a specific enzyme during the formation of collagen fibrils, or large fibers of collagen. Moreover, it is rich in nutrients and minerals like iron, zinc, selenium, and magnesium. It is delicious so you can add it to many of the foods you eat on a regular basis- smoothies, oatmeal, coffee.
Broccoli
Broccoli, a great source of vitamin C, plays a role in building collagen.
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Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe Vera is another collagen synthesis item that itself may have anti-aging benefits. A study shows that those who were 40 years or older and took aloe vera supplements for 8 weeks saw the wrinkles on their faces shrink and appear less pronounced.
Berries
Berries are another excellent source of vitamin C. You will find more vitamin C in strawberries than in oranges. Raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries offer a heavy dose.
Tropical fruits
Tropical fruits including mango, kiwi, pineapple, and guava are another great source of vitamin C, the cofactor for collagen production.
Read 10 Ways to Tell If Your Food is Spoiled
Garlic
Garlic could boost your collagen production which is high in sulfur and helps synthesize and prevent the breakdown of collagen.
Beans
Beans, a high-protein food contains the amino acids necessary for collagen synthesis. Besides, they are rich in copper, another nutrient for collagen production.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are also sources of vitamin C- an important nutrient for collagen. Moreover, tomatoes boast large amounts of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant for skin support.
Read Lactose Intolerance: 10 Food Substitutes for Common Dairy Products
Collagen-destroying foods/ drinks
Refined carbs, french fries, other fried foods, soda, other sugar-sweetened beverages, and processed meats are collagen-destroying foods and drinks.
How Collagen destroying foods/ drinks can harm your skin and joints
The chemicals in these foods and drinks damage collagen molecules and thereby diminishing the quality of the tissue. Besides, they lead to fuel inflammation. They spike the insulin also.
Read Office Breakfast Ideas: Quick, healthy, delicious breakfast recipes for busy mornings
Landslide Safety, Preparedness Tips: Dos and Don'ts
Natural disasters like landslides can demolish infrastructure, houses, structures and harm living beings like humans, pets, wildlife, forests, etc. Keep reading to find out more information on Landslide safety tips and ways of prevention.
What is a Landslide
A landslide occurs when large volumes of rock, soil, or debris slip down a slope. Debris and mudflows are water-saturated rivers of rock, soil, and other debris. They form when water quickly accumulates in the ground, such as after heavy rainfall or fast snowmelt, turning the land into a mudslide or "slurry" river.
At avalanche rates, they may flow quickly and strike with little or no notice. They may also continue many miles from their origin, expanding in size as they take up trees, stones, automobiles, and other debris.
Read: Acid Rain: Causes, Effects and Solutions
Landslides can be caused by a number of different things, such as the pressure of water from underground, rainfall, earthquakes, human activity, and other things.
When to get prepared for Landslide
While landslides may strike without notice, there are warning indicators to look for, particularly if you live in a landslide-prone location or where landslides have occurred before.
Changes in the landscape, such as the flow of precipitation, new fissures in a building's foundation or in paved areas, skewed trees, fences, and utility poles, and the noises of moving material are all symptoms of a landslide. Watch out for those signs and take the necessary cautions to be safe.
Read: School Fire Drills: Significance, Ways to Conduct Safely
How to prepare for Landslide
Landslides may also happen rapidly and without warning, so being knowledgeable about changes in and around your property that might indicate a landslide is imminent is the best way to prepare.
Safety Plan
Establish an emergency plan for your family or company that is in line with local emergency response and evacuation strategies. Make sure you have the correct insurance. Landslides may be insured by different Flood Insurance Programs in certain places.
The gathering of information is the first thing you should do in order to ensure your safety in the event of a landslide. Find out whether and how often landslides and mudslides have occurred in your town, and locate the evacuation routes and shelters in your region.
Read Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
As is the case with the majority of emergency preparations, you should design a household emergency plan that accounts for the chance that your family would be split apart in the event of a landslide. Prepare a portable emergency stockpiling kit that you are able to carry with you in the event that you are forced to evacuate.
Domestic Animal and Pet Safety
Develop a buddy system. If you are unable to care for or evacuate your pets yourself, make arrangements with nearby residents, neighbours, and family members to ensure that someone will be available to do so.
Make sure your pet has a microchip. Be sure to maintain an up-to-date address and phone number, and also include the contact information for a person who is located outside of your local region who can assist you in case of an emergency.
Read How Can One Person Reduce Environmental Pollution?
If you are unclear how to care for your pet in the event of an emergency, it is recommended that you get in touch with your local emergency management office, animal shelter, or animal control agency for extra guidance and information.
Consider the fundamentals for survival, such as food and water, just like you would with your family's emergency supplies box. Have two kits on hand: one bigger kit for sheltering in place and one lighter one in case you need to leave. Check your kits on a frequent basis to check that the contents, particularly meals and medications, are still fresh.
Property Protection
If you want to protect your home and property from being damaged by landslides, you should think about erecting nets, retaining walls, and cultivating sturdy vegetation. This is highly important on slopes and in regions where wildfires have decimated the surrounding plants and trees. It is not appropriate to destroy vegetation that has the potential to help prevent erosion.
Read: School Fire Hazard Safety: Essential preventive measures to minimise risk
Proper Shelter
If you are unable to escape, relocate to a higher level of your house and remain vigilant while listening to the weather radio or watching the weather on television. If you're in your car, be vigilant and keep an eye out for running water, which might signal the start of a landslide.
Do's and Don’ts During Landslide
In the event of a landslide, it is imperative that you safeguard yourself and your community by adhering to certain fundamental dos and don'ts until official aid comes.
What You Should Do
- If you are staying in a landslide-prone region, attempt to leave as soon as possible.
- Be wary of large stones that are unusually cracking or rolling.
- Keep an eye on the stream or channel's water. A change in colour from clear to muddy or an increase in water level might be concerning.
- Keep yourself out of the way of falling rubble or landslides.
- Keep an eye out for mudslides or debris overflow on the road.
- Contact the local government for assistance or aid.
- Notify your neighbours about the disaster.
- Simply bring your essential papers and valuables.
- Make your life a higher priority than your house furnishings or automobiles on the road.
Read How to stop global warming? How to combat climate change in Bangladesh?
What You Shouldn’t Do
- During the Landslide, avoid driving.
- Crossing a stream or a flooded river is not a good idea.
- Try to follow the government's directions and do not disobey them.
- Do not disregard moist places or any signs of a road or building fractures.
How to prevent the human causes of Landslide
Though a landslide is a natural disaster, human activities can influence the process. Land mismanagement may produce landslides, especially in mountainous canyons and coastal areas. Lower precipitation thresholds may cause landslides in regions burnt by forest and brush fires. Many landslides, mudflow, and debris flow hazards may be avoided through land-use zoning, competent inspections, and good design.
Conclusion
Landslides may be produced for a multitude of reasons, including earthquakes, storms, volcanic eruptions, fire, and human land alteration. So far we have mentioned how to stay prepared for landslides. If the people of a community follow a comprehensive landslide safety plan, the harm to life and property can be minimised.
Read: Apartment Fire Safety: Causes, Prevention, Ways to Stop Fire in Residential Buildings
UNHCR, Liberation War Museum launches ‘We are Rohingya’ photo exhibition
A three-week photo exhibition titled "Amra Rohingya" or "We are Rohingya" organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with the Liberation War Museum (LWM) began on Sunday at the Temporary Gallery of LWM, Agargaon in the capital.The exhibition is taking place to mark this year's World Refugee Day, showcasing photos taken by Rohingya refugees and allowing for an intimate look into what life is like for people living in the largest refugee camp in the world.Based on the Rohingyatographer magazine showcasing the photographs of ten talented Rohingya artists living in refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, this exhibit allows visitors to learn more about the individuals who have found refuge in Bangladesh, after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar.
Read: Rohingyas to stage demo on SundayThis photographic exhibition explores themes of memory, hope, dreams, faith, beauty, craftsmanship, grief, loss, and love among the Rohingya refugees through 50 photographs.Curated by David Palazón, Sahat Zia Hero, Amena Khatun and supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the exhibition features photography by Sahat Zia Hero, Ro Yassin Abdumonaf, Shahida Win, Azimul Hasson, Md Jamal, Abdullah Khin Maung Thein, Hujjat Ullah, Enayat Khan, Md Iddris and Omal Kahir.Additionally, 11 photographs from the Liberation War Museum archives have generously been included, showing the lives and stories of Bangladeshi nationals, who in 1971 were forced to flee and live as refugees, during the Liberation War.
Cold Remedies: Best, worst drinks to boost immune, fight sickness
When you are sick or suffering from a cold, you must be conscious about the drinks you usually take. It is true that you need to take plenty of fluids as your body needs extra hydration when you are trying to get well. But what, exactly, should you drink? Some drinks are excellent to ease symptoms while others may make them worse. Keep these tips in mind when you are picking what to drink to combat colds and sickness.
Best Drinks to Fight Colds, Sickness
Decaf tea
Vitamins and Minerals
Unsweetened, decaffeinated, instant, tea contains iron, calcium, and potassium.
Health Benefits
This caffeine-free tea has health benefits including the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and free radical aging.
The heat of the decaffeinated tea can soothe sore throats, stuffy noses, chest congestion, and upset stomachs. Besides, a warm cup of tea can comfort you when you’re feeling rough. This tea has less caffeine than coffee. Therefore, you can get calm wakefulness and more health benefits.
Tea with herbs such as ginger can boost your immune system. If you want to get extra benefits, you can add a small dollop of honey to your cup to calm a cough and help you sleep.
Read How to strengthen your immune system to prevent COVID-19 infections?
Lemon water
Vitamins and Mineral
Lemon water contains vitamins and minerals such as potassium, folate, and some B vitamins.
Health Benefits
Lemon water is a great source of vitamin C that helps fight free radicals, reduce inflammation, and improve white blood cell counts. Warm lemon water works magically to heal a sore throat. It supplies a healthy dose of vitamin C that eases colds and coughs. It helps you stay hydrated. Most of us don't drink enough water during sickness. It has some other benefits, like:
- Aids in digestion. The acid helps break down food.
- Helps Weight-loss.
- Prevents oxidation.
- Provides a potassium boost.
- Helps prevent kidney stones.
Read 10 Healthy Bedtime Teas for Better Sleep, Relaxation
Bone Broth
Vitamins & Minerals
Bone marrow is enriched with Vitamins like A, B2, B12, and E, omega-3s, omega-6s, and minerals like calcium, iron, selenium, and zinc. It has connective tissue that provides glucosamine and chondroitin, a popular dietary supplement for arthritis and joint pain.
Health Benefits
Bone broth is related to collagen which is a structural protein found in skin, cartilage, and bone. Studies have shown that broth can help clear nasal passages and ease symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. It May support immune function. The other benefits are as follows:
- The broth is good for digestion and gut health.
- May support joint health.
- May help promote sleep.
Read How to fight sugar cravings with healthy foods, drinks
Coconut water
Vitamins & Minerals
Coconut water naturally contains some nutrients like the B vitamins Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), pantothenic acid, folic acid, biotin, as well as trace amounts of thiamin (B1), Vitamin C, potassium, and sodium.
Health Benefits
Coconut Water has antioxidant properties and helps lower blood sugar for those who live with diabetes. Besides, it is great to prevent kidney stones and support heart health. Besides, it helps to regulate fluid balance, prevent dehydration, and even ensure proper muscle function. Its vitamin C helps to fight coldness.
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Golden milk
Vitamins & Minerals
This healthy drink is rich in protein, Antioxidants, Curcumin, Magnesium, Calcium.
Health Benefits
Most importantly, it boosts your immune system. If you drink warm, it can ease a sore throat and minimize cold.
Golden milk has the potential to lower cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, relieve arthritis, reduce inflammation, improve mood, support liver function, and improve digestion. It is also great to prevent heart diseases and reduce the risk of cancer.
Read Upset Stomach Remedies: What to eat, drink and avoid
Orange, grapefruit, and other citrus
Vitamins & Minerals
You can get potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, B- 9 (folate) vitamin C and Zinc from the oranges, vitamin A from grapefruit, and vitamin C from all the citrus fruits.
Health Benefits
Drinking this citrus explosion, you will find more than enough of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C which has antioxidant properties to protect your cells from substances that damage the body. Remember, deficiency of vitamin C can lead to delayed wound healing and the inability to fight infections like colds and sickness properly.
However, if you have a cold, you need high doses of vitamin C so that you can experience less severe symptoms and a quicker recovery.
Read Ways to Purify Water during Flood, Disaster, Emergency Situations
Tomato
Vitamins & Minerals
Tomatoes are packed with Magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-9 (folate), vitamin C and vitamin K.
Health Benefits
Vitamin C from tomatoes can help you relieve a cold and runny nose. Tomatoes are packed with vitamin B-9- folate that helps lower your risk of infections. Tomatoes also have modest amounts of magnesium which is an anti-inflammatory.
Moreover, Tomatoes have many health benefits such as the reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
Read Coronavirus Tips: Immunity Booster Herbal Teas to Prevent Infection
Watermelon Mint
Vitamins & Minerals
This drink can supply your body with arginine, citrulline, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C
Health Benefits
As watermelon is riched with vitamin C and arginine, they are great to bolster your immune system. Besides, watermelon helps relieve muscle soreness which is a common symptom of the flu. Muscle soreness happens especially in older adults.
Read Healthy, Delicious Mango Recipes to Try this Summer
Worst Drinks to Fight Colds, Sickness
Coffee
Caffeine can have a diuretic effect that can cause you to tinkle more frequently. If you don’t balance with plenty of water, this caffeine can lead to dehydration. Therefore, it would be wise to avoid beverages with added sugar or caffeine when you are sick
Alcohol
You should not drink Alcohol when you are sick.
However, certain alcoholic beverages like hot toddies may work as immune-boosters. Hot toddies contain lemon, honey, and anti-inflammatory spices.
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Sports drinks
You can take electrolyte drinks if you are very dehydrated. But during colds and sickness, these drinks may not help you feel better. Usually, sports drinks contain a lot of sugar whereas other drinks will help you hydrate without the extra sweet stuff.
Fruit juices
Fruit juice is great but like sports drinks, fruit juice is also filled with added sugar. The adults can avoid sweetened fruit juices during colds. But it is good for children.
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An ode to designed objects: Brihatta opens ‘Sthithi: Objects in Conversation’
Showcasing the fifty year legacy of uniquely designed old Bangladeshi furniture, Brihatta Art Foundation has lifted the curtain on ‘Sthiti: Objects in Conversation’ on Saturday at its Mukti curatorial space at Mukti Tannery-1, Hazaribagh Tannery area in the capital.
Featuring 33 unique and diverse pieces of furniture made by 17 artists, architects, artisans and designers symbolizing different stories, emotions and memories and emotions, the exhibition is the first design exhibition in the country that is highlighting the cultural consequences of furniture as a design object.
With the determination to start a new dialogue behind the scenes regarding the craftsmanship of the furniture, the eccentric exhibition is jointly curated by Bangladeshi artist-art educator-curator and Brihatta co-founder Bishwajit Goswami, Korean-American architect and designer Diane Rhyu Taylor and US-based interior architect-interior stylist Ulrike Fellner.
How to fight sugar cravings with healthy foods, drinks
People who experience a sugar craving feel a strong yearning to eat something sweet and can find it difficult to control themselves around sugary food. This can lead to over-consuming calories. Sometimes, it happens on a regular basis. Sugar cravings may happen due to blood sugar imbalance. Various research shows that sugar cravings are not good at all for health. If you experience sugar cravings, continue reading to know how to combat sugar cravings.
Why are sugar cravings bad for health?
Research shows that sugar has an effect on the brain similar to that of an addictive drug. Therefore, if you want to remove it quickly from your diet, it can cause withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, depression, headaches, and muscle aches. However, it is not easy to quit. Taking too much sugar helps to ride blood sugar dysregulation, and can perpetuate physical stress and ultimately increase sugar cravings.
The journal Nutrients published a report in November 2016 that eating too much sugar can increase the risk for obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cognitive decline, and certain types of cancer.
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Which factors are causing you to crave sugar?
Check below some of the potential causes that are responsible for increasing your sugar craving.
Dehydration
Thirst can create hunger or a food craving. When you are thirsty, you feel dehydration which ultimately helps you to eat anyway.
Poor Diet Quality
Consuming too many carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats or consuming white, refined carbohydrates that are available in processed foods can increase hunger and sugar cravings. Therefore, you need to improve the quality of your regular diet to minimise sugar cravings.
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Hormonal Changes
Women feel a craving for sugar due to hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, and estradiol (or oestradiol). Research has shown that estradiol can be associated with an increase in food cravings.
Stress
Stress also causes sugar cravings. A previous study found that chronic stress had a significant direct effect on food cravings that ultimately had a significant effect on body mass index (BMI).
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Nutrient Deficiencies
When you have deficiencies in certain minerals like zinc, chromium, iron, calcium, and magnesium may lead to sugar cravings.
Best Foods to Fight Sugar Cravings
Sugar cravings are common and it is more common among women. If you experience a sugar craving, you will feel a strong urge to eat something sweet and can find it difficult to control yourself around food. However, luckily, you can take the following best foods to fight sugar cravings.
Fruits and Vegetables
Though Fruits are naturally sweet, they also contain lots of beneficial plant compounds and fibre and help you to fix and keep them healthy. To satisfy your sugar cravings, eat fruits and vegetables that are slightly higher in sugar.
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Berries
To stop your sugar cravings, you can choose berries that are excellent, and nutritious. They contain fibre contents which are actually quite low in sugar.
Besides, berries have plant compounds rich in strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These contents may help reduce risk factors for chronic diseases including heart disease and diabetes.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a good source of many important nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, soluble dietary fibre, and some healthy plant compounds. This sort of fibre forms a jelly-like substance in your gut to help keep you feeling fuller for longer and prevent sugar cravings. If you want to lose weight naturally, Chia seeds can be a good choice.
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Legumes
Legumes such as lentils, beans, and chickpeas are great plant-based sources of fibre and protein to increase feelings of fullness. Therefore,including legumes in your diet, you can feel fuller and reduce hunger-driven sugar cravings.
Yogurt
Yogurt is considered a healthy snack as it is high in protein and rich in calcium. Besides, it could be a good snack to regulate your appetite and control your cravings.
Dates
Dates which are the dried fruit of the date palm tree are highly nutritious and very sweet. Dates can be your best choice as they are a great source of fibre, potassium, iron, and beneficial plant compounds. Having some dates can minimise your sugar cravings amazingly.
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Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are nutritious and sweet. They contain carbs, fibre, and a number of vitamins and minerals along with vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. By consuming sweet potatoes, you can reduce sugar cravings.
Meat, Poultry, and Fish
Taking protein like meat, poultry, or fish in your meals may help prevent sugar cravings. Eating ample amounts of protein may be very important for managing your food intake, cravings, and weight.
Eggs
Eating eggs is another way to keep your appetite and cravings in check. Having a high-protein breakfast- eggs may reduce hunger and help people eat less throughout the day.
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Whole Grains
Whole grain foods like wheat, rice, barley, corn, oats, rye, etc., are packed with fibre and nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, and selenium that may help you feel full.
Oats
Oats are a good source of soluble fibre that helps prevent hunger and can help lower glucose levels and curb sugar cravings. But avoid taking instant oatmeal packets as they are highly processed and high in added sugars.
Avocado
4 ½ cups of avocado offer about 8 g of fibre as well as healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and so it is one of the best foods to fight sugar cravings.
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Best Drinks to Fight Sugar Cravings
Water
You know well water is vital to our overall health and vitality. Drinking water will keep you hydrated and help to fight sugar cravings.
Golden milk
Golden milk is known as turmeric milk. It has many positive benefits like blood sugar regulation. To get the best result, add turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger but not sugar with milk.
Chamomile tea
Taking chamomile tea also helps you to fight sugar cravings as chamomile improves glycemic control markers in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
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Other Ways to Fight Sugar Cravings
Besides food and drink you need to take proper exercise to fight sugar cravings. Fasting also helps you with this issue. Moreover, make sure to follow a healthy diet plan. If you can still feel uncontrollable cravings for sugar then consult with a nutritionist.