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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Health guide
Value of donating blood : A life giving gesture by Shanika Sriyananda
On June 14, the World Blood Donor's Day, people around the world talked much about this precious drop and the importance of having a regular flow to save thousands and thousands of humans suffering from life threatening injuries and diseases. Do you know that over 25 per cent of women die during pregnancy or delivery due to massive obstetric bleeding. This number can be greatly reduced if the hospital's blood banks are full. On the other hand, the deaths due to road accidents can also be minimised if the blood supply of the country's hospitals is smooth. Sri Lanka needs a regular and safe supply of this life giving product to save hundreds of lives daily. But, the main problem for the smooth flow is the lack of volunteer donors. The only way to fill the stores of the National Blood Transfusion Service is through blood donated by those who give willingly to save another's life. Those who benefit from the donated blood are the children and pregnant women who are anaemic cancer patients, women with birth complications, haemophilic patients and patients with trauma. Giving blood doesn't hurt you or harm your health. It is a simple five- step process that lasts less than an hour. 1. Form filling - Needs your honest answers and it will take less than 10 minutes. 2. Registration - Your ID is required and you need to produce your previous blood donation card, if you have donated blood previously. After checking the weight and haemoglobin count you will be given a number and a bag to collect your blood. It will take only 10 minutes. 3. Medical screening - It will take 10 minutes for the doctors to ask about your medical history and to check your pulse and blood pressure. 4. Now you are ready to donate blood - Blood donation will only take 15 minutes and after cleansing your arm, the nurse will insert the blood bag needle into your vein. You will feel only a slight pinch and the needle is fully sterilised. Only 450 ml of blood will be 'extracted' from your body. 5. Your blood will save not only just one life a life but several. Do not worry, your body will replace the lost fluid within 36-hours. Some do's and don'ts before and after donating blood: Do drink enough fluids for the day. Do not smoke or take alcohol within two hours of giving blood. Do not rush around, especially in the hot sun. Do not stand for a long period or do rigorous exercises for the day. Remove the dressing next morning. In case of any problems contact the Blood Bank. Here are some answers to often asked questions about donating blood. * Who can give blood? Those who are fit and healthy and have a weight of more than 50 kgs can donate blood. They also need to be over 18 years-old and below 65-years-old. * How often can one donate blood? Healthy adults can give blood regularly, every three months and women can donate blood every four months. * When should you not give blood? If you feel unwell, or you are anaemic or pregnant, or have certain medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes. Or else if you are taking antibiotics. * What is the safest blood? Blood collected from voluntary donors. * Who should not give blood? Those who have recently contracted a sexually transmitted disease such as HIV or syphilis that can be passed on to a patient via the blood, those who lead a risky life style e.g. have more than one sexual partner or have sexual contact with prostitutes, those who have recently injected drugs, had a tattoo, skin scarification or ear or body piercing. So, if you are attuned to the silent cries of those struggling for life, it is a plea for you to respond. Dial the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) Hot line -0777-272985 for further information or walk into the NBTS to register yourself as a volunteer blood donor. If you are a regular blood donor of the NBTS, you can walk into the NBTS at any time and can donate your blood three times a year. Nutritional value of soya by Dr. D. P. Atukorale It is said that the soya bean is a gift to all generations of mankind from the sages and wise rulers of China. When soya reached the West at the end of the 18th century, soya oil, which was commercially made from it, was used for the manufacture of soap and the remains of the bean were fed to cattle.
A cup of soya beans (172g) contains 15.43g of fat of which 3.41g is monounsaturated, 8.71g is polyunsaturated. A cup of soya beans contains 28.62g of protein, 3.47g of fibre, 1.72RE of Vit A, 2.92mg of Vit. C, 0.27mg of thiamine, 0.49mg of riboflavin, 0.69mg of nicotinic acid, 0.69mg of biotin, 0.31mg of pantothenic acid, 0.40mg of thiamine, 92.5 mg of folic acid, 177.44mg of calcium, 8.84mg of iron and 1.98mg of zinc. A word of caution Soya and some other beans contain a substance known as trypsin inhibitor. Trypsin is an enzyme secreted by the pancreas and trypsin helps to digest proteins. As heating destroys trypsin inhibitor, all soya products have to be heated before eating. Soya milk, Tofu and TVP are heated during their manufacture. Therefore in actual practice, only soya sprouts should be boiled before consuming. Tofu Tofu is a fermented product like bean curd and has a higher percentage of protein than any other natural food in existence and is entirely cholesterol free. Tofu has been the staple food of millions of people in Asia for centuries. Eating tofu reduces the risk of cancer according to several decades of large-scale research in Japan. Tempeh Tempeh is a fermented soya bean product made in the traditional manner for centuries throughout Indonesia where it is a basic food for millions of people. It is highly digestible, smells like fresh mushrooms and tastes remarkably similar to chicken. It is a suitable food for young children and older people. Does Tempeh contain vitamin B 12? The answer is both "yes" and "no". Recent tempeh samples purchased from various marketa in Jakarta reveal that a high amount of vitamin B12 is present. However commercially prepared western tempeh does not contain any B12. Miso This is a fermented mixture of soya bean, salt and usually a cereal such as rice or barley. It is used as an ingredient in soups, sauces, dressings, spreads and other vegetable fishes. Epidemiological studies have shown that consuming miso usually as soup can reduce the incidence of stomach cancer. Researchers from Okayama University Medical School have established that miso has antioxidant properties, isoflavones and saponins. Soya sauce This an ancient and traditional seasoning which has achieved prominence and acceptance the world over. It is a dark rich sauce with a savoury salty taste as well. Very little is required for a dish or serving. Soya flour This is ground dried soya bean, a dense rich flour. It may be mixed with wheat flour, with a view to increase the protein content of your bread. TVP (Texturised Vegetable Protein) TVP is made from soya bean processed into high protein low fat food, and TVP is the commonest soya product available in our boutiques and supermarkets. It is a valuable, safe and inexpensive source of proteins and its content of 40 per cent protein is very much more than in fish, meat, poultry and dhal. Soya beans are rich in minerals such as calcium, iron and zinc, and have many of the vitamins such as C,A, and B complex. It is also rich in anticarcinogen. Protease inhibitors in soya prevent the activation of certain genes that cause cancer and also protect against damaging effects of free radicals. Phytostrols in soya bean protect against cancer of the large intestine. Soya bean also contain lecithin which is a fat which prevents ischaemic heart disease. Risk of Heart disease Soya bean reduces the blood cholesterol level especially the LDL (bad cholesterol) level and also raises HDL (good cholesterol) level and prevents ischaemic heart disease. Courtesy: Peter Cox's Guide To Vegetarian Living Holistic healing Ayurveda A good night's sleep by Dr. Danister L. Perera Nidra (Sleep): Have you ever experienced the effect of irregular or improper sleep? You know well that Nidra (sleep) is very essential for life and health. It is a recurring natural function of the body. A nourishing sleep provides a healthy body, strength, virility, sharpened senses and long life. Inadequate sleep causes various problems and of course many serious illnesses. In our life, normally there is a set pattern for day and night. The day is earmarked for various activities while night is for sleep and rest. The sun is responsible for the determination of day and night. Day and night affect our body in different ways. If a person does not follow the usual pattern of sleep, it affects the Doshas. Sleeping during the daytime increases Kapha Dosha and makes the body excessively unctuous and staying awake till late at night increases Vata that can cause various health problems. But there may be circumstances when a person has to work at night and there is no other option. Then it is advisable for him to sleep for half the duration in comparison to the usual night's sleep and also to consume a diet, especially at breakfast, which will pacify the Vata Dosha. Brahamacharya (regulated sexual conduct): You know, Ayurveda has placed great emphases on this aspect of life. The term used for sex is Kama. The Kama has been considered one among the four goals of human behaviour. There are two purposes for Kama - procreation and pleasure. For procreation, there are important considerations like time, age, food and certain rules. To give birth to a child with desired qualities, it is advisable to consult a specialised Ayurveda physician. The word Brahamacharya denotes regulating sexual conduct. By observing it one may achieve mental peace, concentration, meditation, good thought and sleep. Too much indulgence may cause various physical and mental diseases. Practically for the application of Ayurvedic guidelines, a person should know his/her bodily characteristics and capabilities before indulging in the sexual act. A controlled sexual urge is a sign of wisdom. By controlling the mind, an individual can enjoy regulated sex. This ensures a healthy and happy life. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
It is just a drop of blood. A tiny drop of a red colour substance formed
in your body, which has miraculous powers to heal and save human lives. The
life giving drop, which does not have any substitute so far, is also the
'life blood' of almost every hospital in the country and in the world. No
hospital can function without a good blood flow. 
Soya meat and soya milk are very familiar to most Sri Lankans. Low in
calories and being a plant product, soya does not contain cholesterol. Soya
milk is the ideal substitute for dairy milk if you are allergic to lactose
or if you are a pure vegetarian who wants to get the benefits of a diet free
of animal products. 
