Desi Colours

Alzheimer’s Disease

About 3% of the people above the age of 60 are likely to suffer a form of forgetfulness or a sort of dementia that gradually affects the mind finally loosing the memory. This condition is called Alzheimer’s disease. The former American President Ronald Reagan and the Indo-Anglian poet Nissim Ezekiel Reagan are the victims of this disease.

Alzheimer’s is a common form of dementia a neurological brain disorder named after a German Physician Alois Alzheimer in 1906.

Health Benefits of Maize Corn

Image Source: Raman Sharma

Types of Corn – Nutrition & Health Benefits
Whenever we go out on evenings to beach or outskirts of the city first we see vendors roasting maize corns and selling them. People usually purchase and eat them for a time pass or an uncontrollable fresh aroma of the roasting maize corns. Maize corns are healthy food to eat because they are nutritious and with low calories. They contain fiber essential to control cholesterol and also an anticancer agent. Maize is eaten in several ways as corns burnt, steam cooked, as chips, corn powder and as a vegetable in the preparation of curries and soups. One should not miss to eat this healthy food commonly available nowadays throughout the year due to intensive cultivation methods and availability of transport facilities from any corner of the world. There are several varieties of maize corns. The important varieties are Flour corn, Flint corn, Pop corn, Dent corn, and sweet corn. Maize is usually in golden yellow color. However light yellow, white, pink, black, purple, red, and blue colored maize are available due to hybridization and breeding.
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Facts of a 100kVA Transformer

A 100 kVA transformer can satisfactorily take 33.3 kVA single phase load on each of its three phases if it is fully balanced. On the other hand it cannot take even 50 kVA load if it is connected on one phase only. This embosses the balancing of the loads equally between the phases. Therefore never add or remove load for effective utilization of transformers and machines.

Remember, unbalancing leads to burning out of bulbs, house hold appliances and machines too.

Mera Bharat Mahan

Indian culture is one of the oldest cultures among all the countries of the world and unique. We have several religions, sectors, customs, traditions and yet living harmoniously. India is a birth place of ancient civilization evidenced by the excavations at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa of 26th century BC. The Indus civilization is comparable to any other civilizations like Sumerian and Egyptian civilizations confirmed by the ancient archeologists.

Our great India is the birth place for several arts like paintings, dance and music. We have major religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. We have several language speaking people and birth place for the great epics like Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhaghavatham, Bhagavad-Gita Vedas and Upanishads contributed greatly for our spiritual development and we can boast that no other country has got this culture. Read more…

Medicinal uses of Fig Tree

Image Source: Clive Darr

Fig tree or commonly called as ‘Medi chettu’ in Telugu is a sacred tree for Hindus. Perhaps may be due to its immense medicinal values. In Sanskrit it is called Oudumbara a common plant in Shirdi Sai Baba and Dattatreya temples. Almost all parts of the plant are of medicinal value. The tree is a perennial tree grows to a height of about 20 feet. It is commonly grows in forests and in agricultural fields. Ripened fruits are sweet and liked by children. Birds also eat these fruits. The plant can be propagated by stem cuttings and seedlings. Latex oozes from all parts of the plant. The dried stems are used in Homams (Yagams).
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Titanic – King of World Cinema is back in 3D

Nothing was as big as Titanic in 1998. It was the king of world cinema. The radiance of James Cameroon’s 11 Oscar winner is still in the minds of the cine-goers. Leonardo De Caprio and Kate Winslet remain a pair forever. The movie attracted critics and the ordinary man alike. Titanic is now back in 3D version in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. This pays a special tribute to the disaster that took place in April 15, 1912.

Get Set to Watch Titanic in 3D from April 5, 2012 (in India)

Medicinal uses of Crown Flower

Image Source: Joel

‘Jilledu’ (Calotropis gigantea) is very common plant grown in waste lands as a bush and like a weed. There are two varieties of plants are available with white and red flowers. Mostly plants with red flowers are used in medicines. The leaves and the stems release milky white latex on cutting which is very irritant to the skin and eyes and also corrosive. For this reason people hesitate to go near the plant. In Sanskrit the plant is called Arka and it is distributed throughout India, Srilanka, and South China and Malay islands. Originally the plant belongs to Singapore. The plant grows to about 15-20 feet and the leaves, flowers, roots and the latex are used in medicines.
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Uses of Aloe Vera

Image Source: Arjit Gupta

Aloe Vera is a small plant grows to about 1-2 feet with succulent long leaves. It is seen in all parts of India said to have originated from northern Africa. It is seen near rivers, tanks and in waste lands. It can be grown in sandy loams and in semi arid areas. The plant can be cultivated with small seedlings that develop from the main plant. It can be cultivated in homes in flower pots or in the back yard easily. It requires little irrigation only however it cannot withstand direct light. The plant is also called as Burnt plant, Lily of the desert and its technical name is Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis. The plant has several medicinal properties and used in Ayurvedic and in herbal medicines in several countries. At present Aloe vera is widely used in cosmetic preparations in several countries more than the medicinal purposes. The leaves of the plant are thick and succulent. Inside of the leaves contain a gel like material which is mostly used.
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Medicinal Uses of Drumstick

Munaga (Drumstick) Moringa olifera – Valuable for food and medicine

Image Source: Philip Tellis

‘Moringa Olifera’ is a useful plant both for food and medicine. It is a very commonly grown tree and grown by many people traditionally as a backyard plant for using its long pods for food. The pods are delicious and in southern India they are commonly used in the preparation of sambar a favorite dish. The sambar gets a particular taste and flavor by using the cuttings of the pods. It is native to the southern foot hills of Himalayas in the northwest part of India. It grows very well in semiarid and tropical climates. It can be grown in poor soils also. The plant can be propagated with stem cuttings and seeds easily without any difficulty. The tender leaves are also used as food by cooking along with dolls (Either green or Red grams). The leaves are a rich source of Iron and it is believed that using the leaves as a food increases the hemoglobin level in anemic patients. Extract of leaves also can be taken to increase the blood levels of hemoglobin. It is a safe home medicine for anemic patients. In addition drum sticks also contain Beta carotene, Vitamin C, Proteins and Potassium.
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Medicinal Uses of Bael Tree

‘Bael tree’ is native to India and a sacred plant to Hindus. It has got immense medicinal values. All the parts of the plant are useful and used in Ayurvedic medicines. Hindus use the leaves to worship Lord Shiva (Bilwa patra) and keep them on Shivlinga and they consider it is very auspicious and to get the blessings of Shiva. The Bael leaves are also used on Vinayakachavithi festival to worship Lord Ganesha. The plant is of medium sized hard and the fruits are yellowish or green with soft pulp inside of medicinal value. The Bael fruit is bitter in taste and used in Ayurvedic medicine to cure Vatha and Kaphay disturbances in the body. The fully ripened fruit is not much used in medicines. Half ripe fruits are mostly used in medicine.
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