Latest news with #Samaddar
Hans India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Struggling with PCOS? Experts suggest breakfast ideas for a balanced start to your day
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a fast-growing condition, and it affects women across the globe, including in vast numbers in India. PCOS results in hormonal imbalances that can affect overall health, metabolism, and weight. Although lifestyle changes are important to live with PCOS, an equal emphasis should be put on diet. A well-nourished diet packed with nutritious foods can bring overall well-being, and almonds are one such nut that should not be missed. They offer sustained energy levels all day long and thus are an easy yet efficient means of boosting a PCOS diet, particularly when added to breakfast. In conversation with Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head of Dietetics at Max Healthcare, New Delhi, she recommends easy and healthy breakfast options that are PCOS-friendly and ideal for busy mornings. She emphasizes the importance of a diet that is both nutritionally balanced and tasty, suggesting that ingredients such as whole grains, greens, and almonds help support hormonal balance, weight regulation, and overall well-being. Here are a few healthy and convenient breakfast recipes from Samaddar that may even be easily adjusted to cater to individual likes and dislikes: Almond and Oat Milk Breakfast Smoothie Simply put, the healthy mix of almonds and oats - high on 15 must nutrients, the smoothie is bursting with key nutrients, essential fat, protein, and fibre intake. It all comes together for maintaining level sugar levels and generating long-term energy in the mornings. A tablespoon of blended seeds gives an added dose of nutrition. Replacing milk with almond milk not only lightens it but also aids weight control and insulin sensitivity. A simple, wholesome option to fuel your body! Easy Quinoa Upma Quinoa upma is a healthy and filling breakfast option, ideal for women with PCOS. Due to its low glycemic index, it regulates blood sugar levels, and the high fibre and protein content makes you feel fuller for longer, aiding in weight control. You can add a variety of vegetables such as carrots, peas, and beans to make the dish more nutritious. Sprinkling chopped and toasted almonds on the dish provides texture and also makes it more nutrient-dense, with a combination of healthy fats, protein, and essential nutrients. Quick Almond Flour Pancakes These fluffy and soft almond flour pancakes are not only delicious but also healthier compared to regular pancakes. They are lower in carbs, which supports maintaining blood sugar levels stable. Almond flour is gluten-free by nature, so it's an excellent alternative for those sensitive to gluten or those on a gluten-free diet. This may be particularly useful for women who have PCOS and struggle with gluten. It's a tasty and healthy breakfast that works towards your health objectives. Healthy Moong Dal Chilla Moong dal chilla is a healthy and PCOS-friendly breakfast. Its low glycemic index keeps the blood sugar in check while incorporating vegetables such as spinach, grated carrots, and bell peppers gives the dish a boost of vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For an added twist, serve the chilla with almond yoghurt instead of classic mint chutney—it provides a creamy texture and additional almond goodness. A healthy and filling way to kick-start your morning! Whole Wheat Toast with Toppings Whole wheat toast topped with almond butter is a fantastic choice for managing blood sugar and insulin levels, making it ideal for those with PCOS. The low glycemic ingredients—whole grain bread, almond butter, almonds, berries, seeds, and a dash of cinnamon work together to help regulate blood sugar. The fibre content in the toast delays sugar intake, and almond butter contains healthy fats that make you feel satiated and enhance improved insulin sensitivity. Berries and seeds are nutrient-dense and provide an overall health boost as well as relieving symptoms of PCOS. Honey or maple syrup is added for a sweet touch without blood sugar spikes.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Digital archive to connect writer Samaresh Basu to future generations of readers
In what is being considered as the first private bilingual archive of its kind for any Bengali author, the family of Samaresh Basu, one of Bengal's tallest literary figures, has created a digital archive of his private and public records so that he stays connected to the future generation of readers. 'We believe familial archives serve as vital links between personal memory and collective heritage, enriching our understanding of the past. Samaresh Basu Digital Archive is keen to work with holders of such collections and share our knowledge and expertise in this area,' said the writer's grandson Prachetash Samaddar, who, along with his wife Sampurna Chakraborty, came up with the idea. Diverse themes Samaresh Basu (1924-1988) was known for his novels, short stories, essays, and travelogues. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Kalkut and Bhramar, and his themes ranged from struggles of the marginalised, partisan conflicts, spiritualism, sexuality, gender dynamics, and the complexities of semi-urban aspirations. One of his most famous and controversial novels, Prajapati (1968), was initially banned by the lower court for obscenity — an order that the Supreme Court overturned 17 years later. His stories were adapted into several acclaimed Bengali and Hindi films that include Kitaab, Namkeen (both directed by Gulzar) and Basu Chatterjee's Shaukeen. The idea struck when the family was looking at celebrating 100 years of the writer. 'While centenary is the perfect time to look back at the bygone century, to reflect on his life and literature, we felt it is also the right occasion to think about the next century and how readers of the future generation will know and perceive Samaresh Basu's literature. It is from this forward-looking perspective that the idea of this archive was born,' Mr. Samaddar said. 'The initial aim was to preserve the familial collection, like photographs, letters, manuscripts. Then my wife Sampurna, who is an art historian and archivist herself, suggested that we take the project forward. The scope of the collection increased gradually as close friends and associates of Samaresh Basu contributed to the archive from their collection,' he added. According to him, the form of preservation chosen was digital because, even with the best form of physical care, the longevity of paper-based documents is limited. 'But preservation alone was not enough. The real essence of the archive lies in the stories and thoughts that emerge through these collections — the image they paint of Samaresh Basu, the man and the writer. If those stories are not shared with others, the archive's purpose remains incomplete. That is why we have created a website which is hosted at Mr. Samaddar said. Among the things they discovered during research was that Basu, when he was just 15, started editing and writing for a magazine with a group of friends. The magazine, Beena, was entirely handwritten and therefore only had one copy. 'We have been able to digitise one of the editions of that magazine, which includes Samaresh Basu's illustrations as well. Our central vision is to make records and the literary range of Samaresh Basu accessible to the world. The other is to expand the visibility of Bangla literature where literary archives can play an interlocutory role for the younger generation of readers as well as researchers,' Mr. Samaddar said.
