Full of Beans

IT’S spring in Australia, the air is cool and crisp and the food is awesome (or should I say Oz-some?). But there’s a spring in my...

IT’S spring in Australia, the air is cool and crisp and the food is awesome (or should I say Oz-some?). But there’s a spring in my step and a song in my heart for a totally different reason. It is the presence of a certain Italian jet-setter who has flown in after criss-crossing the globe several times. Immaculately dressed, this charming 78-year-young man not only steals my heart but also inspires me to learn from him.

If you are a coffee lover, then you will most certainly have heard of the fine Illy coffee blended in Trieste, Italy, that is popular all over the globe and run by a 100-year-old family company. So when the second generation Dr Ernesto Illy serves up a heady brew offering vitality and energy, I sit up and take note. ‘‘What is true for violins is true for human beings,’’ he says, ‘‘You have to practise exercising your mind every single day and it’s the same with your body.’’ I am completely rivetted by his talk. He is a student of Indian philosophy and believes in ‘‘advait’’ or non-duality. ‘‘You must eat little and exercise your brain a lot,’’ he emphasises with a chuckle. ‘‘Oh, yes! That’s another thing…laughing, being in a good frame of mind, really helps keep you in good health,’’ he says.

	You Ask, They Answer

			• HOLE IN THE HEART Ravi Chandran’s two-and-a-half-month-old son has a hole in his heart, approx. 1 inch. He has had two Echos and doctors in Chennai have advised open heart surgery. Ravi would like to know whether the hole can be closed without open heart surgery. If so, please give details. A hole in the heart can be closed without surgery by the catheter method. It has its own limitations. All holes (VSDs) cannot be closed with this method. They could consult a cardiac surgeon in this matter. Dr Nandkumar Consultant Cardio Vascular Surgeon, PD Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre • HOME IN ON HEADACHE Thirty-six-year-old Neville has severe pain in his head above his right eyebrow since the past two months. He had consulted his doctor, who diagnosed a cold as the cause of the headache. The doctor prescribed some medicines which have provided temporary relief. He would like to know what he should do next. Neville could be having migraine/sinusitis/ophthalmic problems and needs to rule them out one by one. Instead of going in for consultation and treatment, get some X-rays done and lay your finger on the exact problem. Dr Hemant Thacker Consulting physician and cardiologist at Jaslok, Breach Candy and Bhatia Hospitals Story continues below this ad

This grandfather of eight begins his day in a good mood and with three cups of Indian tea (the finest Darjeeling and Assam), toast, yoghurt and eggs. He eats plenty of fruits and veggies and makes it a point never to stuff himself. And just when I begin to think that coffee is not really his cup of tea, he points out that he has three to five cups of espresso a day. ‘‘It keeps one alert yet relaxed,’’ he says matter-of-fact. ‘‘I love it too,’’ I point out, ‘‘but it plays havoc with my stomach.’’ He immediately draws my attention to the fact that I am not educated enough and requests me to go to the intergovernmental website http://www.i.c.o.org and check the facts for myself. ‘‘Coffee has anti-oxidants which destroy free radicals.’’

I sip on the short black cup of espresso he brews for me. It’s a rare honour and I really do begin to feel alert yet relaxed, when he explains that getting enough sleep is extremely critical to good health and so is bonding with nature. ‘‘I enjoy sailing boats, it’s like getting into a primeval egg and reuniting with nature.’’

And here’s the father of gourmet coffee’s parting shot: ‘‘Enjoy activity for its aesthetic enjoyment, like dancing, and remember that life is all about continuous change, like flames of fire. Lord Shiva dancing in a circle of flames is the perfect symbol of life for me.’’

Do keep calling and writing. And do keep smiling. For all your health queries, call 022- 22161313 or log onto http://www.rashmiudaysingh.com. Write to P. O. Box No 19946, Colaba, Mumbai-5 or e-mail hol@rashmiudaysingh.com

EXCLUSIVE: EC brings in feature to check misuse of identity to seek voter list deletions

Political Pulse2 hr ago

The Election Commission has launched a new 'e-sign' feature on its portal and app to prevent fraud. This comes after allegations of misuse of online voter deletion forms in Karnataka. The feature requires voters to verify their identity using their Aadhaar-linked phone numbers, reducing the possibility of fraud.

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