Ways of eating idlis

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 During my trip down South, I had the opportunity to watch common people enjoy traditional southern foods. Idlis are one such popular food items that can be consumed anytime of the day. They can be had during breakfast, lunch, or dinner or anytime in between.  Idlis are traditionally South Indian delicacies. They are rice and lentil cakes that are steamed. They are usually salty but in Mauritius, you will find sweet varities as well in small shops and restaurants there.  Idlis are healthy food items and are a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. They have minerals and vitamins and have the goodness of fermented foods too. They are served with sambhar (curry made of dal) and chutney (coconut, tomato or the like). Some also savour them with yoghurt, ghee (clarified butter) or spice mix (podi).  Idli pizza A modern twist to idli dish has been as idli masala (idlis usually small-sized covered with spices), idli fry (idlis usually small-sized that are...
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Who should be careful about the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines? Problems with allergies and facial fillers!

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 The world and especially the USA is raging with COVID-19 infection. In an emergency, USA FDA approved two vaccines for mass immunization; Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. As the vaccine rolled out from the lab to the public, gradually the side-effects and contra-indications are trickling in. The Pfizer vaccine is causing more allergies in people than was expected. Besides, the Moderna vaccine has been found to be unsafe in people with facial fillers! 

Walking-a cost-effective exercise!-Read on it here

Allergies and Pfizer jab for COVID-19

Operation Warp Speed’s chief scientific adviser, Dr Moncef Slaoui stated that the frequency of allergic reactions with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is more than expected. The incidence of allergies found with the new vaccine is more than that with the other jabs used in the past for other diseases. Dr Moncef said that by Tuesday 22 December 2020, 6 cases of allergies to the vaccine had been reported. But more data on it is awaited. He said:

“That frequency, as it stood yesterday, is superior to what one would expect with other vaccines,”

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine [Source: NDTV]

Moncef added that they are talking to the vaccine makers and the NIH to start having clinical trials in allergic individuals. The main sufferers of side-effects with the vaccine for coronavirus are those who have severe allergies and have to always carry the anti-allergic EpiPen. The scientists are trying to find out the reason for allergies in those with severe allergies. They plan to start a study on such people. Alkis Togias is the chief of the NIAID’s Allergy, Asthma, and Airway Biology Branch. He told CNBC:

 “Several hundred people who have a history of severe allergic reactions will be involved in a study.”

Moderna coronavirus vaccine and facial fillers-the new caution

The FDA advisory committee has now said that people who have a history of cosmetic facial fillers may experience swelling and inflammation with Moderna vaccine. The committee stated that many of the recruits in the clinical trials who had facial fillers developed this side-effect with the vaccine. Dr Shirley Chi is a dermatologist from California. She said:

“Your immune system which causes inflammation is revved up when you get a vaccine, that’s how it’s supposed to work,”

“So it makes sense that you would see an immune response in certain areas where they see some substance that is not a naturally occurring substance in your body.”

Moderna vaccine for coronavirus [Source: Pinterest]

But these symptoms are mild and easily treatable. Hence, she feels that people with facial fillers can get the vaccine. She added:

“In these cases the patients all had swelling and inflammation in the area that was given the filler,”

“A couple of the patients had cheek filler six months prior to their vaccine and one patient had lip filler done two days after the vaccine. All were treated with steroids and anti-histamines and all of their reactions resolved.”

Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 was the second to get an emergency use authorization fro US FDA.

More on the two COVID-19 vaccines

NIH Director appeared optimistic and said that the two vaccines are even better than what they were hoping for. He said:

“Science is working here, science has done something amazing.”

Large, yet incomplete clinical trials of the two vaccines have shown that the two vaccines are strongly protective and also safe. Besides, Moderna vaccine is easier to handle since it does not require the storage at ultra-frozen temperatures.


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