Farm-To-Table With KinnowKart!

It is said that one should their keep friends close and enemies closer. I would like to rephrase it to 'Keep Your Friends Close, and Farmers Closer', because this is the era where health is of utmost importance and our intake in terms of food, is to viewed critically.

With adulteration being at the helm for any and every kind of fruits, veggies, staples, and even processed food, one must be concerned as well as informed as to what is going into our bodies, owing to the fact that what the hand accepts as food for nourishment could turn out to be toxic in the long run.

It is imperative to embrace the organic route for our diet as above all, it is the natural soil that is capable of providing any food cultivation the nutrients it requires for maturation so that it could benefit and not harm our systems.

Keeping the above concept in mind, India’s first e-commerce portal dedicated to the organically grown citrus fruit Kinnow has been launched by Alba Info Solutions LLP.

Kinnowkart.com ensures delivery of best quality non-preserved Kinnow at one's doorstep thus, adhering to the farm-to-table ideology, of providing completely fresh, preservative-free fruit, to the health-conscious masses.

Kinnowkart.com is Alba Solutions' third offering looking towards benefitting society. The other two being Shiksha Sudhar (an Edu-socio initiative) and HorsesofIndia (A dedication to equestrian pursuits). 

Also known as Punjab’s 'King Fruit', Kinnow is highly regarded for its health benefits. Kinnow harvesting begins when it sports an orange hue on the outside, typically from December to February. The best harvesting time is mid-January to mid-February when the fruit attains a TSS/acid ratio of 12:1 to 14:1.

Mr. Deepak Khanna, Director Alba Info Solutions LLP had this to say about KinnowKart.

“We provide 100% organic Kinnows straight from our farms in Abohar to your table within 36 hours. We have also tied with leading schools for placement of Kinnowkart counters, vending freshly squeezed Kinnow juice. The fruit can be stored in cold storage at a temperature of 4-5 °C and a relative humidity of 85-90%.”

Mr. Kunal Chahar, Director Alba Info Solutions LLP further added - “Kinnows have multiple health benefits. It is one of those fruits that aids digestion, works as a body energizer, and helps in kick-starting the metabolism and keeping one healthy for a long time”.

The fruit 'Kinnow' is a high yield mandarin hybrid cultivated extensively in the wider Punjab region of India. It is a hybrid of two citrus cultivars: 'King' (Citrus nobilis) × 'Willow Leaf' (Citrus deliciosa) - first developed by Howard B. Frost, at the University of California Citrus Experiment Station. After evaluation, 'Kinnow' was released as a new citrus hybrid for commercial cultivation in 1935.

In the hot climate, plants can grow up to 35 feet high. Kinnow trees are highly productive; it is not uncommon to find 1000 fruits per tree. The fruit matures in January-February. It peels easily and has a high juice content.

Kinnowkart.com has tied up with TGH Lifestyle Services Pvt. Ltd for distribution to corporate Speaking at the occasion Ms. Ritu Grover, CEO TGH said,

“We have been working for various corporate for so many years. This is one fruit which though seasonal has multiple benefits and that is why we decided to tie up for promotion and for spreading the good word.”

On the whole, it is a good initiative on Alba Info Solutions' part, and I hope that it is received nicely by the masses too. 

Embracing Wellness By Being #ApneTareekeSeHealthy...

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"Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Going by this interpretation of 'Health' by World Health Organization, being healthy or even striving to achieve wellness seems to be a herculean task. For it is an arduous task to strike a balance between the three facets of the holy trinity of health - physical, mental, and social.

More often than not, it takes a truckload of willpower to proceed (and persist) on 'the road less traveled by' as Frost may have put it. Neglect (knowingly or unknowingly) towards one or more of the above facets while aspiring to achieve well-being also plays its part in making the road seem rocky. 

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What is needed is a little push for our lethargic and inattentive selves to pay heed to our hearts, minds, and brains hopelessly churning themselves from night to day and further again, immersed in our 'busy schedules' just like hamsters on wheels. 

However, going by the conventional school of thought, there exist not three but six facets to health and well-being. Those six facets or components of health would be:

PHYSICAL HEALTH concerns and is affected by aspects such as the intake of a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, presence or absence of illness, genetics etc. for a person.

PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH or MENTAL HEALTH concerns multiple factors associated with the proper functioning of the brain namely the ability to learn, memorize, rely on intuition, analytical thinking, communication, logical reasoning, concentration, and such.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH, as the name suggests, concerns emotions and their appropriate expression in suitable situations.

SOCIAL HEALTH concerns the fact that man is a social animal and cannot have a black box existence. A person's reactions to situations are borne keeping in mind their interactions with their immediate social circle, be it family, friends, colleagues, or even social media in today's times. 

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH encompasses all environmental factors that can possibly affect human health, and thus impact wellness. 

SPIRITUAL HEALTH according to WHO, is given perspective in the following definition presented by the health assembly. 

"The spiritual dimension is understood to imply a phenomenon that is not material in nature but belongs to the realm of ideas, beliefs, values, and ethics that have arisen in the minds and conscience of human beings, particularly ennobling ideas. 

Ennobling ideas have given rise to health ideals, which have led to a practical strategy for Health for All that aims at attaining a goal that has both a material and non-material component. 

If the material component of the strategy can be provided to people, the non-material or spiritual one is something that has to arise within people and communities in keeping with their social and cultural patterns. 

The spiritual dimension plays a great role in motivating people’s achievement in all aspects of life." 

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Taking into consideration these six facets, I have devised a six-point strategy on to stay #ApneTareekeSeHealthy...

For the upkeep of Physical Health, a three-point-agenda of Eating Right, Exercise, and Positive Lifestyle is to be adhered to, religiously.

It is of utmost importance to have a well-balanced diet comprising a fair share of vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, nutrients, etc. Being hydrated throughout the day also plays its part, as does maintaining a regular sleep cycle which in turn syncs our body clock.

The inclusion of a minimum fifteen-minute brisk walk at the neighborhood park in my daily routine is what keeps me going. Early morning Yoga comprising of simple breathing exercises and stretching before I leave for work is what keeps my energy levels up through a hectic day.

In addition to the above, being a teetotaler and abstinence from alcohol and smoking works in my favor, big time! :)

As far as #ProtectHerHeart and my PROTECT Checklist is concerned, I have my Saffola Total by my side to keep me 'Dil Se Healthy' as it gradually works on the eight bio-markers of heart health for my family and me.

As far as Psychological Health is concerned, my daily newspaper comes to the rescue, as there are numerous puzzles - Crossword, Soduko, Kakuro, Word Wheel - to jog my brain's muscles. A half-an-hour session at the maximum, alongside my morning cuppa, is what is required to keep my cognitive abilities intact. As for my creative insights, I always have my blog to fall back on, thinking out of the box for numerous writing prompts as I have always done in the past.

In order to keep my emotions in check and to counter stress which has the potential to adversely affect my Emotional Health, meditation and an effort to maintain a positive attitude, seeing light at the end of the tunnel in day-to-day situations that might lead me off-track work wonders.

Social Health, in today's times, might be one of the easiest (or hardest) to maintain well, given the all-pervasive World Wide Web. I, for one, have a limited virtual friend circle, prefer to maintain cordial relations with colleagues, and be available for as much 'Family Time' as possible.

Environmental Health is what I believe, is the trickiest to sustain appropriately, not only in the perception of a personal domain but also on the global level as well. However, simple, humble, but significant steps, like putting the 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - into practice, striving for the upkeep of an in-house garden, opting for paper or jute bags whenever wherever possible, segregation of household waste, commuting by the all-pervasive Delhi Metro network or carpooling in all workable scenarios, and opting for energy-efficient appliances, have all helped me reduce my Carbon Footprint one step at a time, over the years.

As far as Spiritual Health is concerned, I have not had to take conscious measures to reflect on its upkeep because that is a domain which reflects on ideas, beliefs, values, and ethics. Praying, both before I rest for the day, and as I begin a new one, meditation, and appreciation for the harmonious coexistence of all life-forms, and a feeling of gratefulness throughout is what makes me connect to God Almighty on a spiritual level.

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It is through this six-point strategy focusing on straightforward measures reflecting on each facet of health, that I strive to strike a balance in the continuum of life and embrace wellness by being #ApneTareekeSeHealthy. :) 

I am joining Saffola #ApneTareekeSeHealthy initiative and sharing my ways of being healthy in association with BlogAdda.

Questioning The Diet!

"Mom, I want my burger and fries!", said Rahul.

'But, you have had the same for lunch, Son.', replied Rahul's mother.

"So what? I love them so much that I want to have them, day in and day out! Why don't you ever let me have them?", asked Rahul, with a pretty anxious look on his face.

"These are junk food items and are not good for your health.", replied the concerned mother.

"How can such delicious dishes be bad for my health? I want them right now!", Rahul said with a frown on his face and adamantly stomped his feet on the ground. 

In his opinion, he was doing a favor to his mother, when he finally decided to switch to 'pasta or pizza' with 'coke'. 

As if these were any healthier! :o

His mother could not understand whether to feel amused or to frown and helplessly give up to her child's tantrums. 

She was really concerned about the ill-effects of these foods affecting her boy's health adversely. 

Rahul was already over-weight. He had become lethargic, irritable and devoid of energy to pursue any sport or game, over the years. 

Rahul refused to have any fruits or nutritious leafy vegetables so as to counter those ill-effects. 

Fizzy drinks were making his teeth turn pale, and had even become home to cavities! 

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This is the scenario with kids like Rahul in most homes, today. To make these children understand the importance of a healthy balanced diet is a herculean task and more often than not, parents end up conceding to the demands put forth. 

Teenagers who go for a casual outing almost always for a meal from a fast food joint as they are the 'in thing'. No one wants to be labeled as being old fashioned. 

If potato is served to you as 'French Fries', it is yummy and if served as home-cooked 'Potato Peas Gravy', it is frowned upon as being old school. 

The fact that these foods are composed of mere calories and have no fibre content does not bother young children!

Some people even chase the myth of adopting a crash diet to achieve the 'dream shape'.
Aiming to keep oneself in good shape is fine, but not to the extent of being borderline anorexic!

It is in such a scenario that the body is depleted of all the vital vitamins and minerals, the deficiency of which, leads to diseases.

Dabur has always been there for us, with their fine quality honey, which is so rich in vitamins and minerals that we do not need to compromise with taste for health.

It is rich in iron and calcium, that are vital for the proper growth of a young child, and which impart strength to their developing bones also.

They have always made us realize that #HoneyDietIsHere with their well-rounded Honey Diet. :)