The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Boost your immunity during winters

Ludhiana, January 21
Immunity is the body’s ability to resist certain harmful disease-producing bacteria and viruses. When the bacteria attacks our body, it produced an immune reaction or response by producing disease-fighting immune cells and antibodies. Vaccines keep fatal diseases at bay, so immunise your children.

Some chemicals in the environment are immunotoxic, poison to our immune system. And their effect may be insidious. Immunotoxins, building up in the environment, can deplete immune reserves and weaken the very defences that should protect us. That could leave us open to the spread of cancer and more susceptible to infections as we grow older, a time when immune functions normally decline. Young children, whose immune systems are still developing, and the people with chronic illness such as asthma, may be especially vulnerable. Environmental pollutants, some experts fear, may already be posing a threat to longevity.

*Eat well. One of the fastest and easiest ways to improve immune system is to load up with the right groceries. The best advice is to eat the healthiest diet you can, emphasising upon fruits, vegetables and grains.

*Eating a healthy diet and getting enough minerals such as zinc, copper, and selenium, as well as vitamins A, B6, C and E, are necessary to produce antibodies that fight cold and flu. But for maximum immunity, you need to get those germ-battling immune cells into your blood stream, where they can find, and destroy, invading bacteria viruses. And that means exercise., Exercise builds your immunity by stimulating certain cells that are natural killers of diseases.

*Walking is one of the best exercises. Brisk walking helps circulation of blood throughout the body.

*Running and jogging improve cardiovascular fitness.

*A vigorous form of exercise is aerobics, which improves the efficiency of heart, lungs and circulation.

*New mothers should feed their babies. Colostrum, the ‘first milk’ that newborns receive, does not provide many calories or fill the tummy, but packs a punch when it comes to immune protection. Among the many vitamins and minerals found in colostrum in especially high quantities has the immune-booster zinc. Colostrum, also contains lactobacillus bifunds, a ‘friendly’ organism that prevents the dangerous growth found in the intestines. Colostrum is of full of lactabumin, known to have anti-cancer action under certain conditions, and it contains cytokines, which among other functions, help to attract the right kinds of white blood cells to the sites of infection.

*Drink mushroom soup and eat mushroom vegetable in winter. Mushrooms are among the major sources of beta glucans, Beta glucans, essentially sugars, help stimulate immunity by turning on macrophages and T-cells. Thus, they prove helpful against candida, sinus infections, infected wounds, bladder infections and so on. They also help combat viruses.

*Take half a teaspoon of garlic juice, one hour before breakfast.

*Avoid stress. Stress may stimulate hormones that help suppress the function of immune system. Helping people cope with stress may not just reduce infections, but research indicates it may also lower the risk for heart disorder.

*Drink ginger-lemon-honey tea, without milk, thrice daily during winter. — Dr Anil Dheer

IMA condemns quack for killing patient
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 21
The unit of the IMA has taken a strong exception to the killing of a patient by a quack in the Sundernagar area by administering wrong injections. The IMA has requested the government to book the quack under Section 302 rather than 304 of the IPC. The association has also directed its local branch to form a committee of three doctors to help the aggrieved family and the police in procuring information which will be helpful in getting justice to the poor family.

Dr Gursharan Singh, President of IMA, Ludhiana, in a press statement issued today said the association will try to help the family by some other means like providing legal aids etc. The members also criticised the government for acting after the damage to the poor was already done. The members have also appealed to the government not to succumb to the pressures of the quacks with regard to allowing them to practice modern medicine. The quacks should be asked to refrain from using those injections which even educated doctors do under tremendous precautions. The IMA has also decided to send a copy of the letter of request to the Chief Justice of the High Court and the Supreme Court. “We shall request the court to take suo-motu cognizance of the crime being committed by the Punjab Government on not implementing the orders of the court”, said the members.

The IMA has also cautioned the public that before visiting any doctor they must confirm whether he or she is authorised to use modern medicines or not. The association has criticised the Health Department for not checking the credentials of people who continue to carry MTPs without being registered under MTP Act.

SPORTS

Jaspal, Gurmeet best athletes
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 21
Jaspal Kaur and Gurmeet Singh, both students of BA (III), were declared the best athletes among girls and boys, respectively, in the 52nd annual athletic meet of the Guru Hargobind Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, held at Nihang Shamsher Singh Stadium of the college today.

Mr Sardara Singh Sidhu, former DPE and patron of the college, was the chief guest, while his son, Mr Trilochan Singh Sidhu, gave away prizes to the winners. Mr Sidhu announced a grant of Rs 1.25 lakh for the promotion of sport in the college.

The results: (boys): 5000m race — Jasvir Singh (1), Gurmeet Singh (2) and Harmandeep Singh (3); long jump — Tejinder Singh (1), Gurminder Singh (2) and Jagjit Singh (3); javelin throw — Jarnail Singh (1), Gurmeet Singh (2) and Gurmeet Singh (3); discus throw — Gurminder Singh (1), Amritpal Singh (2) and Gurpreet Singh (3); shotput — Gurminder Singh (1), Gurpreet Singh (2) and Ishwinder Singh (3); 800m race — Gurmeet Singh (1), Satnam Singh (2) and Jagjit Singh (3); 1500m race — Gurmeet Singh (1), Satnam Singh (2) and Jasvir Singh (3); 200m race — Sarbjit Singh (1), Charandeep Singh (2) and Jagdish Singh (3); high jump — Charandeep Singh (1), Gurwinder Singh (2) and Tejinder Singh (3); 100m race — Charandeep Singh (1), Sarbjit Singh (2) and Jagdish Singh (3).

Girls: high jump — Jaspal Kaur (1), Gurmeet Kaur (2) and Kiranjit Kaur (3); long jump — Gurmeet Kaur (1), Simranjit Kaur (2) and Jaspal Kaur (3); javelin throw — Karmjit Kaur (1), Inderjit Kaur (2) and Jaspal Kaur (3); discus throw — Kiranjit Kaur (1), Taranjit Kaur (2) and Jasvir Kaur (3); shotput — Kiranjit Kaur (1), Simranjit Kaur (2) and Jaspal Kaur (3); 800m race — Rajandeep (1), Jaspal Kaur (2) and Jasvir Kaur (3); 100m race — Rajandeep Kaur (1), Gurmeet Kaur (2) and Sarbjit Kaur (3); 200m race — Jaspal Kaur (1), Rajandeep Kaur (2) and Baljit Kaur (3); three-legged race — Kirtan Kaur and Karamjit Kaur (1), Sudesh and Mandeep Kaur (2) and Jasvir Kaur and Sarbjit Kaur (3); spoon-potato race — Paramjit Kaur (1), Karamjit Kaur (2) and Jaganjit Kaur.

Sports festival from Feb 6: The annual sports festival organised by the Baba Sahib Singh Bedi Sports Club, Jodhan, in association with the gram panchayat and NRIs of the area will be dedicated to the memory of Asian athlete Harcharan Singh. This year’s festival will be held on February 6, 7 and 8.

This was informed by Mr Dhanjit Singh and Mr Hamir Singh, president and general secretary of the club, respectively. The main attraction of this festival will be the exhibition kabaddi match between Norway and Dashmesh Club of Kalakh. Besides, kabaddi matches (open, 47 kg, 52 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg one village) , volleyball and single cart races will be held during this three-day festival.

Sarpanch Surjit Singh Jodhan will inaugurate this festival on February 6.