-Down to Earth Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andhra Pradesh had the lowest Consumption of iodized salt in the country Deficiency of iodine is the one of the greatest reasons for mental health problems. Iodine, a metallic trace element, is an important component of thyroid hormones. It is needed for optimal mental and physical development and the regulation of body metabolism through the generation and utilisation of body energy. The...

-The Hindu Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal and Kerala directed to enforce culling in sick birds Avian flu has been reported at 12 epicentres in four States — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala. Directions have been given to enforce culling in sick birds as per the government’s 2015 National Avian Influenza Plan, according to a press statement from the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry on Wednesday. In these States, cases of...

-Down to Earth Mushrooms in one’s daily diet will eventually promote a healthy body, behaviour and brain power The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted some experts to look at the Consumption of mushrooms, known for their immunity-boosting anti-viral properties, with renewed vigour. In fact, immunity has been one of the most-searched keywords on the internet since the last few months. Immunity is basically the foremost defence system against all sorts of viruses,...

-Down to Earth Alcohol Consumption among women aged 15 years and above highest in north-eastern states Five years since the sustainable development goals of the United Nations came into force, we ask ourselves: How is India and its states progressing towards the goals directly dealing with tobacco (SDG 3.a) and alcohol (SDG 3.5) use? These are critical goals, not only because the aspects they deal with are well evidenced in proving detrimental to...

The World Economic Outlook – a bi-annual publication of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) -- released in October 2020 has anticipated that the economic progress made by the countries since the 1990s to reduce poverty would be turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of that, economic disparity would rise too in the post-COVID world because the crisis has disproportionately impacted women, informal sector workers and people with...