Tag: immunity

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Lifestyle Lite Blogs

Yoga for super immunity

According to yoga and psychology, other than the physical body, we have a conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind. A health problem can start from any of these three…writes BIJOYLAXMI HOTA

For yoga therapy to be fully effective, the initial treatment should be done away from home in a yogashram. At home, it may not be possible to relax deeply, and tension slows down the healing. Also, at home, the conditions that created the health problems in the first place, are still there and may counter yogas effects. The peaceful atmosphere of an ashram automatically relaxes the inmates.

Healing will be enhanced if the yogashram is in the mountains, surrounded by greenery. At such a place, not only will the relaxation and oxygenation of the body tissues be better, the concentration of prana will be the maximum. It has been seen that 300 cubic feet of the mountain air contains 5,000 units of prana against 50 units of this energy in a city office. Sea shore and riverbanks are the next best alternative.

Furthermore, at home, one cannot spare much time for yogic practices. Mostly, people spend about an hour on yoga, and that too doing only Hatha Yoga, i.e. asanas, pranayamas and occasional satkarma. But Hatha Yoga does not comprise the entire practice of yoga; it is just a part of this system. Hatha Yoga is meant to rectify faults only in the gross physical body. But we are much more than just a body.

According to yoga and psychology, other than the physical body, we have a conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind. A health problem can start from any of these three. However, it manifests on the physical body as that is the only aspect that can be seen. Therefore, unless the root cause is corrected, the resultant ailment cannot be cured.

Freeing the mind of a deep-rooted fault may not be achieved through one yoga. The ancient yogis realized that and developed other yogas, mainly Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotion), Raja Yoga (the yoga of concentration and meditation), Karma Yoga (yoga of action, where one does physical labour without expecting any material gains) and Gyana Yoga (the yoga of enquiry) to do that. Therefore, it is necessary to practise them all, at least in the beginning. People without any ailments also benefit from them as it clears their psyche of all unwanted past impressions that could lead to a disease later.

According to Swami Satyananda Saraswati, it is necessary to practise all the four yogas. He says that if one does not practise “Karma Yoga, you will experience frustration and disappointments and the consequent reactions in life; if you do not practice Bhakti Yoga, passions will rise high; if you do not practice Raja Yoga, your mind will be jumping like a drunken monkey; if you do not practice Gyana Yoga you won’t know why you are practicing all these things; and if you do not practice Hatha Yoga, you may not be able to practice any of them”.

In the yogashram, the entire day is filled with various other yogas besides the four main ones. They are: Nada Yoga, Mantra Yoga and Tantra Yoga, etc. Each yoga caters to one aspect of the human character and together they take care of the complete personality making the practitioner feel uniquely calm, elated, healed and invigorated. It is as if one gets a fresh body and mind. Everybody should experience the ashram life to realize how wonderful the effect of real yoga. The feeling cannot be described in words. One has to experience it to believe it.

The ancient wise of India knew the value of the combined yoga and made rules such that people practised them from childhood. At the tender age of seven or eight, every child was sent to a gurukul, i.e. the abode of a guru. There, while learning their future professional skills, the children were made to do yoga. For Gyana Yoga, they studied scriptures; for Raja Yoga, they meditated and practised asanas and pranayamas; for Bhakti Yoga, they performed religious rituals such as yagnyas and for Karma Yoga, it was hard physical labour.

Whether one was a prince or a pauper, he was made to do various chores such as gardening, chopping wood, drawing water from wells, tending to cattle, etc. All these yogas, along with the strict disciplined life, went a long way in building their health and character.

According to the vedas, the vedic man’s lifespan was at least a hundred years, and they spent the second half of their life alone in the forest, catering to their own various needs. Such a lifestyle indicates the physical and mental strength of people of ancient times. It is a far cry from the contemporary times, when after a certain age, we cannot do without drugs, hospitals, doctors, nurses and attendants.

Ideally, all yogas should be done every day, although in shorter versions. But if that is not be possible, one should go to the yogashram periodically. Those who do that find it helpful in remaining in the best of their health and face the challenges of life with equanimity. According to my Guruji, it is like recharging one’s inner battery to withstand the vagaries of living in complex society.

Rules of Yoga

* Yoga should be practised on an empty stomach. Food can be taken 10 minutes after the completion of the routine.

* Use a folded blanket or rug for yoga practice. No soft spongy mattress or mat should be used as they do not provide the needed support to your back.

* Face the east. Even when you lie down, your head should be towards that direction.

* Wear loose cotton clothes. Tight or synthetic ones restrict proper oxygenation of the system.

* Avoid plastic neti pot and non-stick pan to heat the water.

* No microwave for any heating. The vitamins may remain intact, but the prana will be gone.

(Excerpted from ‘Yoga For Super Immunity’ by Bijoylaxmi Hota with the permission of Rupa Publications)

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-Top News COVID-19

Covid cases at highest level as immunity wanes, study finds

The Imperial College researchers raised concerns that it will become more difficult to detect emerging variants as the government scales back testing…reports Asian Lite News

Covid-19 infections in England reached their highest level in March since the pandemic began, driven by the omicron subvariant BA.2 and waning immunity among older adults, according to a new study.

The overall Covid prevalence rate more than doubled last month from February when infection rates were falling from the omicron-led January peak, the React-1 study led by Imperial College London found. Since then the emergence of BA.2 — a more-transmissible version of omicron- has accelerated new infections and become the dominant strain in England, accounting for about 90% of the samples that tested positive.

The higher infection rates may result in an increase in hospitalizations despite the higher levels of vaccination among the population, said Paul Elliott, director of the React program, and chair in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine, Imperial College London.

Rates of Covid-19 are growing among adults over 55 years driven by higher mobility and waning immunity given that they received their booster shots earlier compared to other age groups, the study said.

The latest results are the 19th round of the React-1 study and will be the last as the program comes to an end at the same time the UK cuts back on free coronavirus tests.

The Imperial College researchers raised concerns that it will become more difficult to detect emerging variants as the government scales back testing. 

“There are a lot of variants out there and it’s looking at the patterns that helps to identify variants of concerns and make sure that people see what’s coming,” said Christl Donnelly, a professor of statistical epidemiology at Imperial.

New variant

A new COVID mutant ‘XE’ has been found in the UK, the World Health Organisation has said in its latest report and noted that it may be more transmissible than the BA.2 sublineage of Covid-19. XE is recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 sublineages of Covid-19.

Early-day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of ~10 per cent as compared to BA.2, however this finding requires further confirmation. XE belongs to the Omicron variant until significant differences in transmission and disease characteristics, including severity, may be reported, it added.

The United Kingdom has reported 637 cases of XE and experts said it has shown a variable growth rate. According to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), its new analysis has examined three recombinants known as XF, XE, and XD.Of these, XD and XF are recombinants of Delta and Omicron BA.1, while XE is a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2, it said in an update.

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Health Lite Blogs

Importance of kids’ immunity

The lack of a sufficient, varied, and nutritious diet can affect the cognitive development of a child, interfere with learning, and weaken their immune system…reports Asian Lite News

The pandemic kept most kids restricted to virtual classrooms for close to two years. Lack of physical activity, increased screen time and unhealthy dietary habits have had an immense impact on the physical, mental and social development of children. Additionally, kids are prone to ‘immunity debt’ as a result of not being exposed to the outside world, which causes a slower and inadequate development of the body’s defence system, eventually leading to negative consequences when one returns to normal life.

With restrictions now easing up and schools reopening, students are all set to flock back, meet their friends and indulge in much needed physical playtime as well as social interaction. While parents are relieved to see their kids slowly resume normal life, there is understandably an element of anxiousness. The biggest question in their minds is on how strong their child’s immunity is at present since kids in school are bound to be surrounded by their friends and teachers — and germs.

Here comes the importance of nutrition in building the immune system in addition to aiding proper growth and overall development of a child.

The lack of a sufficient, varied, and nutritious diet can affect the cognitive development of a child, interfere with learning, and weaken their immune system.

There are several key nutrients that play a part in regulating, building, and strengthening the body’s immune system and promoting healthy growth in kids. These nutrients are found in foods like lean protein, fruits, vegetables, dairy, legumes, nuts, and grains. Parents should consider adding it in daily breakfast or lunch

Vitamin C: An essential vitamin that is produced in the body, it is abundantly found in many food groups. Fruits like oranges & lemons are a great source of vitamin C; so are vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and peppers

Vitamin E: A key antioxidant that helps keep the nervous system healthy and it is an important nutrient that supports cell development. Moderately required in children, Vitamin E can be found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, leafy & green vegetables

Selenium: An important mineral that is essential for the healthy functioning of the body and ensuring healthy cells. It is a great antioxidant and is usually found in abundance in vegetables. Foods like beans, mushrooms, and sunflower seeds are great sources of this mineral. It is also found in poultry and certain seafood

Arginine: This is an important amino acid that plays a key role in growth by promoting the multiplication of cells in the growth plate of the bones to help them grow faster when there is a delay in growth. Sources of Arginine are dairy products, non-veg foods, nuts etc.

Vitamin K2: An important micronutrient that helps to transport calcium in the bones and ultimately helps build stronger bones. It is found in fermented foods, dairy, eggs, and meat

Zinc: An important nutrient for growth and the immune system, it can be found in lean meat, poultry, seafood, milk, whole grain products, beans, seeds, and nuts

Iron: A mineral that our bodies need for many functions as it helps muscles store and use oxygen. It is found in dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, legumes, pumpkin seeds, eggs, meat

Iodine: Iodine is a mineral the body needs to make thyroid hormones which control the body’s metabolism and many other important functions. It is found in seafood and iodized salts

Parents should focus on protecting children by providing healthy nutrition to strengthen immunity and optimize physical, cognitive, and social development. Feeding a child, a nutritious, balanced diet, which is beneficial for their holistic development and growth is easier said than done. Science-based childhood nutrition supplement PediaSure offers a complete and balanced nutrition solution with 37 nutrients and is clinically proven to bring visible growth to children in 90 days.

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Books Lite Blogs

Immunity Plus: A groundwork to build immunity

Coupled with clean, natural and green eating, and various forms of exercising, the book has a four-week program. Each week has its own planned schedule of nutrition, workouts, meditation, prayers and philosophy lessons…Mehta speaks with Siddhi Jain.

An upcoming book on health and immunity in light of the COVID-19 pandemic has been penned by holistic health guru and corporate life coach Mickey Mehta and renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor, and is slated to launch later September. Titled ‘Immunity Plus’, it provides the groundwork to build your personal immunity, as well as adding to the immunity of the world.

The book, to be published by Harper Collins, broadly covers six topics, Mehta tells. “The fundamentals of correct breathing techniques; Workouts; Nutrition; Rest & Recuperation; Sensible natural Supplementation; and Cosmic Nutrition, which is the inclusion of the five elements of the Earth, Air, Water, Sky, and Fire ‘The Panchmahabhootas’ of Yogic science. It’s proven that belief can change your biology. I say that breathing can change your hormonology; meditation and prayers can change your emotions and psychology; and faith can change your physiology.”

He says: Coupled with clean, natural and green eating, and various forms of exercising, the book has a four-week program. Each week has its own planned schedule of nutrition, workouts, meditation, prayers and philosophy lessons.

“Sanjeev Kapoor, the global Super Chef, who has co-authored the book, has added lots on the immunity from the perspective of nutritious foods. The book is a Bible not simply for weight-loss and fitness, but rather for building and upholding a supreme invincible immunity.”

What prompted the authors to write the book?

“The Covid-19 breakout in early 2019 was the turning point for the book’s inception. The pandemic’s wildfire, which sprung and spread from China and affected millions worldwide, prompted me to take a major step towards raising people’s awareness about physical and psychological wellness , fitness and immunity.

“However, the seed was laid even long before, when, seeing the generic world model of bad lifestyles and rising life-threatening diseases, I commenced a research paper on immunity in conjunction with Dr. Ali Irani of Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai. So, around the initiation of the pandemic, I thought to come up with a book version of my research to benefit mankind; and thus ‘Immunity Plus’ was born,” shares Mehta, who has previously written ‘The Shoonyam Quotient’.

After reading and following the book, as one starts behaving in a much disciplined way, alters one’s lifestyle and outlook appropriately towards fitness and wellness — One would begin to lead by example. You would transform other people around you, who start seeing you beginning to enjoy the benefits of good health: a radiant smile; confident and fit aura, and high energy level throughout the day, he concludes.

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Health Lifestyle Lite Blogs

Impactful immunity-boosting exercises

Opt for power walking to reduce fat, a casual stroll for a more relaxed feel or marathon walking for high-impact results…writes Siddhi Jain.

A life without workout is not good and possible in the modern era. We know that exercising is the best way to keep the body and mind fit and healthy. But exercise does more than that! It also acts as an immunity booster. The good news is that you do not have to do heavy exercises for long hours to strengthen your immune system.

Here are five simple exercises recommended by InterMiles that can get the job done. Check out these impactful immunity-boosting exercises to do at home:

Walking

If you find it difficult to fit an hour-long workout in your schedule, but want to keep active, add this simple exercise to your daily routine. Walking has several health benefits — the heart stays fit, muscle endurance is improved, bones get stronger, body fat is reduced, high cholesterol can be managed and the body’s defense mechanism gets better. People of any age can participate in this without any difficulty. Opt for power walking to reduce fat, a casual stroll for a more relaxed feel or marathon walking for high-impact results. With so many health benefits, walking undoubtedly ranks high on the immunity boosting workout checklist.

Jumping Jacks

Jumping jacks are an amazing workout to boost immune system. It is one of the easiest workouts to do from the comfort of your home. All you need to do is add a bit of variation to this immunity power exercise to boost up your fitness regime. Doing so will not only promote stability but also strengthen your immune system. Here are some variations for you to include in your fitness plan: step jack, basic jumping jack, press jack, squat jack, plyo jack, crossover jack, skier jack and seal jack. Adding 20 minutes of this session to your routine will be enough.

Squats

Squats are one of the most popular exercises among fitness enthusiasts. When done regularly, this exercise can tone your legs and strengthen your glutes and muscles. There is no better exercise to work your lower body than squats. In addition, this activity also boosts blood circulation in the body. All you have to do is get the posture correct. Once you excel in the form, you will never skip a leg again. Switch it up with some variations to have a lasting impact. Overhead squat, landmine squat, front squat, split squat and jump squat are some of the more popular ones that you can try. Add some weights to your squats and you will burn calories quicker than ever.

Pilates

Any list of exercises for the immune system is incomplete without Pilates. They are great for building flexibility, strength and immunity. Pilates promotes muscle development, flexibility, core strength, energy, weight loss and increases joint motions. That is not all! It also improves body posture. A pilates workout can generally take anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour to perform. But you can also perform the shorter ones when you are short on time. Although optional, you can get hold of a yoga mat for better comfort.



Plank

Not many workouts engage so many muscles at the same time as a plank does! It is also the best exercise to tone your abs. Beginners or experts, this simple exercise is for all of us to strengthen our arms, shoulders and backs. This activity can be completed within a minute or two. Just balance your body and hold it in position for a minute. If you are someone who can do it longer, go for it! Or you can take breaks and start afresh. Although a bit challenging, with practice you can do it in one go. Include its variations for a fun routine. Side star plank, reverse plank, extended plank and low plank arm reach can be the best ones to begin with.

Now that you have a list, try taking out some time for these exercises from your daily schedule and do them at home. For an even more comfortable and fun time, you can shop online and invest in some workout equipment.

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-Top News COVID-19 UK News

‘Mass Boosters Unnecessary As Immunity Lasting Well’

The comments from the scientist behind Oxford vaccine comes at a time when the UK medicines regulator has given greenlight to Pfizer and AstraZeneca for booster vaccines and awaiting approval from the vaccine advisory body, JCVI, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

The UK medicines regulator – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – has approved the use of Pfizer and AstraZeneca as Covid booster vaccines, paving the way for a rollout ahead of the winter.

But the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the UK vaccine advisory body, has not decided if they are needed, and who should be eligible, the BBC reported.

The JCVI has said a third dose should be offered to people with severely weakened immune systems. Up to half a million people over the age of 12 in the UK are in this group.

Meanwhile, Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, the scientist behind the Oxford vaccine, told the Daily Telegraph that giving booster jabs to everyone is unnecessary as “immunity is lasting well.”

“We need to get vaccines to countries where few of the population have been vaccinated so far,” she said.

She said the decision over boosters needed to be looked at carefully. “We will look at each situation; the immunocompromised and elderly will receive boosters,” she told the Telegraph. “But I don’t think we need to boost everybody. Immunity is lasting well in the majority of people.”

Meanwhile, Dr June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive, said giving booster shots is an important regulatory change as it gives further options for the vaccination programme, which has saved thousands of lives so far.

“This means ensuring that existing COVID-19 vaccines can continue to be used in the most effective way possible,” Dr Raine said.

She also said the UK has in place a comprehensive safety surveillance strategy for monitoring the safety of all UK-approved COVID-19 vaccines and this surveillance will include booster jabs.

‘No need to rush into booster’

A third dose of vaccines against Covid-19 may not be needed for everyone in the UK and rushing into a nationwide rollout may put extra pressure on the country’s already burdened National Health Service (NHS), Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca has said, according to The Telegraph report.

“Moving too quickly to boost across the entire adult population will deprive us of these insights, leaving this important decision to rest on limited data,” Soriot wrote in the newspaper.

“A third dose for all may be needed, but it may not. Mobilising the NHS for a boosting programme that is not needed would potentially add unnecessary burden on the NHS over the long winter months.

“Because NHS staff and resources are scarce, another national mobilisation would potentially leave us with fewer resources for cancer screenings and the other care provided by doctors and nurses each day,” he said.

The UK drug maker chief noted that “this is important not just for the UK but for the rest of the world”.

So far, 1.2 billion doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, Covishield in India, have been distributed.

Soriot further stated that it is critical to understand the need for a third dose, as the decision will have “real implications for how we deploy scarce NHS resources”.

While booster doses may be “a sensible immediate precaution” for the vulnerable, the elderly or those with people with weak immune systems, the decision to jab the entire population must be based on “real world clinical effectiveness data, not simply antibody measurements”, they noted.

“Indeed, we don’t know what mix of antibodies and T-cells are needed to prevent serious illness — the so-called correlates of protection. This is why we need the weight of the clinical evidence gathered from real world use before we can make an informed decision on a third dose,” they pointed out.

On the other hand, US pharmaceutical major Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla had announced that Covid vaccine recipients will “likely” need a third dose between six to 12 months after they’re fully vaccinated. He also suggested the need for yearly vaccinations against coronavirus.

The US is also expected to soon roll out Covid booster vaccines for all its citizens, even as the World Health Organisation has called for a moratorium on boosters.

The US has already started a third dose for immunocompromised people. Other countries include Israel, Italy, France, and Russia.

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-Top News COVID-19 UK News

Third jab for people with poor immunity

These people may not mount a full response to vaccination and therefore may be less protected than the wider population, it said…reports Asian Lite News.

The government has accepted Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) advice to offer a third COVID-19 vaccine to people with severely weakened immune systems.

According to JCVI, this third dose should be offered to people over 12 who were severely immunosuppressed at the time of their first or second dose, including those with leukaemia, advanced HIV and recent organ transplants.

These people may not mount a full response to vaccination and therefore may be less protected than the wider population, it said.

This offer is separate to any potential booster programme. The JCVI is still deliberating the potential benefits of booster vaccines for the rest of the population and is awaiting further evidence to inform this decision.

“We know people with specific conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 may have received less protection against the virus from two vaccine doses. I am determined to ensure we are doing all we can to protect people in this group and a third dose will help deliver that,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.

“The NHS will contact people as soon as possible to discuss their needs and arrange an appointment for a third dose where clinically appropriate.”

He said that this is not the start of the booster programme.

“We are continuing to plan for this to begin in September to ensure the protection people have built from vaccines is maintained over time and ahead of the winter. We will prioritise those most at risk to COVID-19, including those who are eligible for a third primary vaccine, for boosters based on the final advice of the JCVI,” he added.

He added that vaccines have saved more than 105,000 lives and prevented 24 million infections in England alone.

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COVID-19 India News

A tribal ‘doctor’s’ effort to boost immunity

The group is led by a corona warrior, 62-year-old Bhanvar Dhabhai from Udaipur…reports Archana Sharma

Tribal ‘doctors’ have come to the rescue of people in urban Udaipur who are fighting the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This group of tribal people, who are well-versed with traditional herbs found in the jungles, are distributing decoction (‘kadha’) to scores of people free of cost with an aim to boost their immunity.

The group is led by a corona warrior, 62-year-old Bhanvar Dhabhai from Udaipur, who along with her tribal friends prepares ‘kadha’ and distributes it to the people free of cost.

“In these challenging times brought about by the deadly pandemic, immunity plays a big role in defeating Covid. If someone wants to win the battle against coronavirus, he/she needs to have a strong immunity. Stronger the immunity, quicker will be the recovery,” Dhabhai said.

She added that during the first wave of the pandemic last year, she had served kadha to around 2 lakh people. She has resumed the process during the second wave with the help of her team which comprises around 35 people who stay in the tribal parts of the district.

Dhabai, who works as a social worker, had seen over a dozen kids die in Udaipur due to diphtheria in 1988, which left her shaken from inside.

“Since then, I have decided that I will not allow anybody to die due to lack of medical aid. If there are no doctors around, we have our traditional herbs which can help save lives,” she said, adding that “with the aim of saving precious lives, we floated the �Rashtriya Guni Mission’, and today this mission is spread all over the world”.

“Our organisation helps to make people aware of traditional herbs, their impact on our bodies and their long lasting benefits,” she said.

Dhabai learnt about herbal medicines from her ancestors, and has cured many serious ailments with the same, promoting the traditional herbal methods of ancient India.

According to her, many people in Rajasthan are ‘Guni’ (intelligent), who never charge any fee for treating their patients. Even the WHO, IUCN and WWF have termed them as traditional health practitioners, she said.

“There is a treasure of health hidden in our jungles and diseases like diabetes, asthma and skin disease can be cured by them. But people in today’s world have no knowledge about them,” she said.

“Through Rashtriya Guni Mission, we aim to make our next generation aware of this knowledge, and we want this traditional method to get affiliation. The effects of such herbs should be analysed and studied in depth,” she said.

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