Milk in Nepal and India: the difference!

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 I have observed that whenever milk ferments when I am in India, the paneer or cottage cheese does not come out easily. Even if I boil it and add lime juice to it, the cheese formed is quite little and more powdery than cheesy.  But when the same happens in Nepal, the cheese formation is immediate, dense and cheesy. I do not have to do more efforts to get cottage cheese out of the milk in Nepal. What is the reason? I checked internet and found some factors that can affect the quality and amount of cheese  1. Freedom from pathogenic bacteria - Good cheese forms of milk is free from pathogenic bacteria. Differences between Nepali vs Indian panipuri  2. Different milk quality with different amounts of fats and proteins  3. Ultra-pasteurization can destroy vital enzymes and bacteria that are required for cheese formation  4. If temperature of milk is less when it ferments, cheese formation will be less.  5. If milk is rancid, it means it's fats are also br...
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Swimming pools and seas are not for me!!!

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I love swimming but I think swimming is not for me. Everytime I have waded into water, I have landed with some serious illnesses. 

Hepatitis A

I was small and in school when my father decided to take me swimming along with him. He was good in swimming and diving. I accompanied him for a few weeks. But I developed fever, yellowish discoloration of urine and yellow sclera. I was diagnosed with hepatitis A. 

An analysis of the possible causes was done. I used to never eat or drink outside. My parents were very strict on it. For school, I used to carry boiled and filtered water from home in a plastic water bottle. I used to have home cooked food at school lunch time: bread butter, bread milkmaid, bread jam or rice with curd. Then from where did I contract the bad virus?

Further investigations pinpointed to the swimming pool as the likely cause of my illness. I recovered slowly with my parents' love, care and nutritious diet. But my return to the swimming pool was halted. Dad too stopped visiting it and gave up his membership of the club. 

Urinary tract infection 

Recently, I was in Phuket, Thailand for a medical meet. It was extremely hot there. I used to take lots of water and fluids including juices. I used to stay in air-con room and not move out much. 

But how can one go to Phuket and not enjoy the ocean? Usually, I soak only my feet and lower legs in sea water. But this time, I ventured a bit more deep and was waist deep in the water. My clothes and innerwear were all soaked and immersed in the salt sea water. 

I also met an Australian lady on the beach. Both of us stood waist deep in the water enjoying it as we discussed our respective lands, it's culture and politics. We were so engrossed in the discussion that we did not realize when three hours passed by. In the morning, I only had a light breakfast. Hence, my stomach had started growling and I needed some lunch bites. We departed. 

I went to my hotel and had some food. I did go to my hotel and take bath. But I believe the bacteria of the ocean had already started to act. In a few days after this incident, I had pain in my urethral region with increased frequency of micturition, painful micturition and urgency. Suspecting urinary tract infection, I got urine analysis done. And lo and behold it was positive for pus cells and bacteria. I started antibiotics. 

But I kept wondering why I got it. Females are vulnerable to urinary tract infection, no doubt, because of their short urethra. But still what else gave me the infection? Was it the dragon fruits that I had whole or in the form of juices? It contains calcium and calcium in urine can cause bacteria to proliferate. But the calcium in dragon fruits is not as high as in milk. Were there other things in it that led to this illness? Do not know. 

Was it due to the figs that I had? But I had eaten it in moderation. It could likely be the filthy sea water that caused it. 

Nonetheless, I have to do imaging abdomen, just in case. But I have to keep away from the sea and drink more fluids!

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