Snakes on a plane: Indian smuggler caught with venomous vipers
The snakes, which included 44 Indonesian pit vipers, had the snakes "concealed in checked-in baggage", Mumbai Customs said in a statement late Sunday.
"An Indian national arriving from Thailand was arrested," it added.
The passenger, details of whom were not released, also had three Spider-tailed horned vipers -- which are venomous, but usually only target small prey such as birds -- as well as five Asian leaf turtles.
Mumbai Customs issued photographs of the seized snakes, including blue and yellow reptiles squirming in a bucket.
The snakes are a relatively unusual seizure in Mumbai, with customs officers more regularly posting pictures of hauls of smuggled gold, cash, cannabis or pills of suspected cocaine swallowed by passengers.
However, in February, customs officials at Mumbai airport also stopped a smuggler with five Siamang gibbons, a small ape native to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Those small creatures, listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, were "ingeniously concealed" in a plastic crate placed inside the passenger's trolley bag, customs officers said.
In November, customs officers seized a passenger carrying a wriggling live cargo of 12 turtles, and a month before, four hornbill birds, all on planes arriving from Thailand.
In September, two passengers were arrested with five juvenile caimans, a reptile in the alligator family.
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6 Best Simmer Sauces for Better Blood Sugar, According to Dietitians
Reviewed by Dietitian Karen Ansel, M.S., RDNKey Points Simmer sauces are a convenient way to get flavorful dishes on the table quickly. Some contain ingredients that can raise blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure. Dietitians say look for sauces low in carbs, added sugars, sodium and saturated many times a week do you find yourself resorting to takeout because you're too tired to cook? If it's more often than you'd like, simmer sauces can be a game changer, even if you're managing diabetes. These convenient, shelf-stable sauces are a shortcut to flavorful dishes in a fraction of the time. That said, many prepackaged sauces can be high in carbohydrates, added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. These may raise blood sugar or increase your risk of heart health issues, like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Not to worry. We asked registered dietitians to share their top simmer sauce recommendations to help you prepare healthy, no-fuss, blood sugar-friendly meals. Their picks have no more than 15 grams of carbs, 1 gram of saturated fat, 240 milligrams of sodium and 75 calories per serving. Plus, they include a range of cultural flavors. So, whether you're craving Italian, Indian or Mediterranean, we've got you covered! 1. Yo Mama's Spicy Marinara Sauce If you usually make homemade marinara sauce, kudos to you! For those of you who want this tomato-y goodness on a short timeline, try Yo Mama's Spicy Marinara Sauce. 'Yo Mama's Spicy Marinara is made from fresh ingredients, natural herbs and spices and minimal salt,' says Sheri Gaw, RDN, CDCES. 'In addition, it is free of added sugar, which makes it low in total carbs and a great choice for a person living with diabetes.' You can use it to simmer chicken, meatballs, ground meat or eggplant. Each ½-cup serving has 60 calories, 5 g carbs, 0 g added sugars, 0 g saturated fat and 130 mg sodium. 2. Burman's Tikka Masala Curry Sauce If you're an Aldi shopper, pick up Burman's Tikka Masala Curry Sauce during your next Aldi run. Lisa Andrews, RD, LD uses it to make a one-pot Indian-inspired dish. 'I like to add chopped chicken breast, frozen spinach, onions and other frozen vegetables. While the sauce and veggies are cooking, I prep brown rice to use with this simple dish,' she says. Not only is it blood sugar-friendly, it's free of saturated fat since it uses yogurt instead of cream, so it's heart-healthy, too. How's that for an easy, nutrition-packed dinner? Each ¼-cup serving has 50 calories, 6 g carbs, <1 g added sugars, 0 g saturated fat and 190 mg sodium. 3. Food Earth Organic Vindaloo Curry Simmer Sauce If tikka masala isn't your thing but you still want Indian flavor, try Food Earth's Organic Vindaloo Curry Simmer Sauce. 'Most Indian simmer sauces are high in saturated fat and sodium, so if you're craving that Indian flavor, this one is the way to go!,' says Toby Amidor, M.S., RD. For a speedy, one-pot meal, simmer veggies and your favorite protein in this sauce. And voila, you have a tasty, diabetes-friendly dinner! Each ¼-cup serving has 50 calories, 9 g carbs, 2 g added sugars, 0.5 g saturated fat and 100 mg sodium. 4. Le Sauce Mushroom Gourmet Gravy Le Sauce comes highly recommended by Caroline Thomason Bunn, RD, CDCES. 'I have been a huge fan of this brand because they make a simple protein like chicken come to life, but they're also low in added sugars and sodium,' she says. When you want rich, umami goodness, pick up a pouch of their Savory Mushroom Gourmet Gravy. Then, use it to make a quick chicken marsala-inspired dinner with whole-wheat pasta on the side. Each ¼-cup serving has 30 calories, 6 g carbs, 1 g added sugars, 0 g saturated fat and 210 mg sodium. 5. Primal Kitchen Unsweetened Classic BBQ Sauce Primal Kitchen's Unsweetened Classic BBQ Sauce is a good go-to for BBQ lovers who want a sauce that's free of added sugars. This sauce can be used for dipping and simmering alike. And it works especially well for slow-cooking meats. Thomason Bunn loves it for a healthy crockpot barbeque-style pork or chicken. Simply set up your slow cooker in the morning and enjoy tender barbeque goodness a few hours later. Each 2-tablespoon serving has 20 calories, 4 g carbs, 0 g added sugars, 0 g saturated fat and 115 mg sodium. 6. 365 Shakshuka Simmer Sauce Shakshuka is a breakfast and brunch favorite made by simmering eggs in tomato sauce with spices. Whole Foods' 365 Shakshuka Simmer Sauce makes it easy to add this tasty dish to your weekly menu in a flash. And rest assured, its nutrition profile is diabetes-friendly. 'Pair with chicken, tofu or fish or add eggs like traditional shakshuka,' says Amidor. Each ½-cup serving has 70 calories, 10 g carbs, 0 g added sugars 0 g saturated fat and 240 mg sodium. Tips to Select a Diabetes-Friendly Sauce As much as dietitians love these simmer sauces, they're not the only sauces that can work with your blood sugar management goals. Next time you're grocery shopping, these dietitian-approved tips can help you find a sauce that's delicious and blood sugar-friendly. Keep an eye on carbs. Sauces can be a sneaky source of carbs and added sugars. To avoid blood sugar spikes, opt for sauces with a lower carb count. 'Sauces that contain 15 grams of total carbs or less will have a lighter impact on blood sugar levels,' says Gaw. While you're checking the Nutrition Label for total carbs, don't forget to look for added sugars, too. Extra points for herbs and spices. Packaged sauces can be high in sodium, which can be problematic for the roughly two-thirds of people with diabetes who also have high blood pressure. 'Look for sauces that are flavored with minimal salt and more natural seasonings such as garlic, oregano or basil to keep blood pressure under control,' says Gaw. Shop ahead of time. When you're in a hurry, it can be tempting to grab any old sauce to get dinner on the table quickly. But don't wing it, says Amidor. Many simmer sauces can be loaded with sodium and saturated fat, she explains. Stocking up on diabetes-friendly sauces in advance will make it easier to prepare meals that align with your blood sugar management goals, even when things get hectic. Our Expert Take Just because you're living with diabetes doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen to make a healthy meal. Thanks to diabetes-friendly simmer sauces, you can whip up a tasty, nutritious meal in less time than it takes to pick up takeout. Plus, simmer sauces are a fun way to incorporate different cultural flavors into your meals. So, you don't have to order out every time you're craving Indian, Mediterranean or Italian. Next time you're at the store or online, stock up on a few of these diabetes-friendly simmer sauces. For even more healthy meal success, stock your freezer with easy-to-add ingredients like frozen chicken, shrimp, veggies or edamame. In return, you'll enjoy plenty of quick, tasty, blood sugar-balancing meals–even when you hardly have time to cook. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
