Vitamins & their functions

Here is a small ( & incomplete ) list of main vitamins and their main functions in human body:

Vitamin A (aka retinol):
- Good vision
- Hair growth
- Healthy skin
- Acts as anti-oxidant
- Guards against bacterial & viral infections
- Lowers blood cholesterol level

Vitamin D:
- Maintains levels of calcium & phosphorus in blood
- Helps in developing strong bones
- Prevent Rickets


Vitamin E:
- Powerful antioxidant
- Helps in smooth blood flow

Vitamin K:
- Essential for blood clotting
- Helps in absorption of calcium

Vitamin C:
- Helps in repairing of body tissues
- Helps in treating cold
- Reduces risk of getting certain kinds of cancer
- Helps in preventing cataracts
- Can regulate blood sugar to some extent thus helping in diabetes


PS: Please keep in mind that I'm not a health professional, this is the information that I've come to know about during normal day to day life. Please consult a qualified professional before making any decision. Also, if you find that any information mentioned here is inaccurate, please leave a comment & I will take necessary steps.

Vegetables, fruits & their names in Hindi

Amarnath Leaves - Chaulayi
Apple - Seb
Artichoke / Colocasia - Arbi / Ghuiyan
Ashgourd / White gourd - Petha
Banana - Kela
Beet Root - Chukandar
Bitter Gourd - Karela
Bottle Gourd / Marrow - Lauki
Brinjal / Eggplant - Baingan
Broad/Butter Beans - Sem
Cabbage - Patta Gobhi
Capsicum/Bell Pepper - Shimla Mirch
Carrot - Gajar
Cauliflower - Phool Gobhi
Chilli - Mirch
Cluster Beans - Gawaar Phali
Cow peas - Lobhia / Barbati
Coconut - Nariyal
Colocasia / Artichoke - Arbi / Ghuiyan
Coriander / Cilantro - Dhania
Corn - Bhutta
Cucumber - Kheera/Kakdi
Custard Apple - Sharifa
Dates - Khajoor
Drumstick - Shahjan
Dry Plums - Aloo Bhukhara
French Beans - Phali
Fenugreek - Methi
Garlic - Lasan
Ginger - Adrak
Goose berry - Amla
Grapes - Angoor
Green Berry - Ber
Green Chillies - Hari Mirch
Green Mango (Raw) - Ambi / Kaacha Aam
Guava - Amrood
Jackfruit - Kathal
Jambu Fruit - Jamun
Kohlrabi - Ganth Gobhi
Lady Finger/Okra - Bhindi
Lemon - Nimboo
Lettuce - Salad ke Patte
Lime - Nimbu
Little Gourd / Ivy Gourd / Gentleman's toes - Kundru
Lotus stem - Kamal Kakdi/Bhein
Mango - Aam
Maskmelon/Cantalope - Kharbooja
Mint Leaves - Pudina
Mulberry - Shahtoot
Mushroom - Khumbi / Kukurmutta
Mustard Leaves - Sarson ka saag
Olive - Jaitoon
Onion - Pyaaz
Orange - Santra
Papaya - Papita
Parsley - Ajmoda Ka Patta
Pear - Nashpati
Peas - Matar
Pineapple - Ananas
Plantain (green) - Hara Kela
Plantain Flower - Kela Ka Phool
Plum / Prune - Aloobukhara
Pomegranate - Anar
Potato - Aaloo
Prune / Plum - Aloobukhara
Pumpkin - Kaddu
Radish - Mooli
Sappotta - Chiku
Spring Onions - Hara Pyaaz
Spinach - Palak
Sweet Potato - Shakarkand
Sweet Lime - Mausambi
Star Fruit - Kamrak
Tomato - Tamatar
Turnip - Shaljam
Water Melon - Tarbooj
Water Chestnuts - Singhara
Yam - Jimikand
Zucchini - Torai / Turayi / Taroi

Self care - Tips for maintaining Immune system

- Be active; walk, work, play, exercise.... try to involve some amount of activity in your day to day life

- Get sufficient amount of sleep

- Eat fresh

- If you eat junk food, then limit the frequency (although ideal situation would be to give up junk food entirely, but that doesn't sound much feasible). For e.g., if someday I consume junk food, then I try to ensure that at least for next 1 week I stay away from junk food.

- Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day

- Avoid touching items available for public usage. For e.g., instead of using a towel in restaurant's washroom, carry your own hanky.

- Avoid taking anti-biotics every now and then; instead switch to natural products

- Take breaks during a stressful day

- Keep a positive attitude

Self Care - Sun Stroke

Here are few points to be kept in mind in order to avoid sun stroke:

- Don't stay empty stomach; also don't overstuff yourself
- While stepping outside, apply medicated oil to your legs
- Keep a raw onion in your pocket
- Don't drink ice cold water
- Include onion, mango-pana, sattu in your meal
- Include seasonal fruits in your meal

Keeping house cool during summers

This is one of common techniques that many people follow in India. On high level, the rooftops are coated with lime (चूना); this can bring the temperature down by almost 5 degrees.
Here is process:
- Soak 20 kgs of lime overnight in water.
- Next morning mix 1/2 kg of hide glue. You may use any other adhesive that can be added to lime solution; check with the hardware store in your area. For e.g., in case the roof has cracks, fevicol can be used instead of hide glue.
- Paint those areas of rooftop that are exposed to sun.

It is said that this much of material is sufficient for covering 300 sq. feet area.
For more cooling, another coating can be applied.

Bike Care Tips

- Keep optimum pressure in tyres. You would get better mileage as well as pressure on engine would be minimized.
- Don't overspeed your bike, and even if you do so don't do it for a continuous long run.
- Replace tyres if they look worn out. Typically a tyre's life is said to be around 40,000 kms; so if you've already travelled 40,000 kms then it is time to change the tyres.
- Regular servicing might seem like overhead, but it significantly increases your bike's life.
- Shut down the engine if you've to stop for more than 30 seconds.
- If battery of your bike is being used for something (like display); then turn that off as well.
- While waiting at a stop sign, if you've less than 30 seconds then bring your bike in neutral gear & release the clutch.
- Go for wheel balancing if you feel even slight swerving.
- Don't ask your mechanic to tune your bike for maximum mileage, because that decreases your engine's life.
- While riding down on a flyover, keep the clutch pressed. This might sound like wasting fuel but actually it would provide good lubrication to the engine; & hence increase engine's life.
- While getting fuel filled in your bike; turn the petrol knob OFF

Self Care - Water Therapy (Usha Paan)

This technique that I'm going to mention is one of very basic yet very powerful techniques that can not only give you healthy life but also can treat various diseases.

I learned about this technique from a yoga class; it requires no investment & can be done at home.
Things you would need:
- 1.5 litres of lukewarm water

Here is what you need to do:
- The first step is the toughest one: get up early; & by early I mean before sunrise.
- Sit in squatting position (if you can't squat, then just sit on a chair comfortably)
- Without even brushing your teeth; just drink the water. No need to push yourself to drink whole 1.5 litres, you can start with whatever is comfortable (may be 2 glasses of water on 1st day).
- Do not eat anything for at least next 1 hour.
- That's it.

Some of the problems that this technique can address is given below (alongwith approx no. of days):

High Blood Pressure - 30 days
Diabetes - 30 days
Constipation - 10 days
Gastric - 10 days

I was told many other names as well, but don't remember them as of now.

This technique is not meant to be included as a routine task in your daily life; just try it for desired no. of days & then stop.