Table of contents for 2023-05-17 in Post

According to a new study, talking on a cellphone for 30 minutes or more per week is related to a 12% greater risk of high blood pressure when compared to less than 30 minutes. The findings of the study were published in the European Heart Journal –Digital Health, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Professor Xianhui Qin of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China, is the study’s author. He said: “It’s the number of minutes people spend talking on a mobile that matter for heart health, with more minutes meaning greater risk. “Years of use or employing a hands-free set-up had no influence on the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. More studies are needed to confirm the findings.” A mobile phone is owned by over three-quarters of…

250g mushrooms, quartered ½-1 pepper, chopped 6 cups chopped spinach or baby spinach leaves olives, pitted sundried tomatoes (in olive oil/rehydrate in warm water for 30 minutes or until soft) 1 aubergine 1 tsp crushed garlic or 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely 1 tbs olive oil salt and pepper to taste pasta of your preference Slice the aubergine into 1cm-thick discs. Place on a tray and sprinkle with coarse salt. Set for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut into cubes. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and add the garlic, aubergine, mushrooms and pepper. Fry until soft and cooked. Add the salt and pepper. Add the spinach and cover with a lid until it is soft, for about 5-10 minutes. Stir in…

250g good quality dark chocolate, chopped 2 large ripe avocados 120ml milk (or a little more for preferred consistency) 1-2 tbs honey (optional) garnish: fresh berries grated dark chocolate Place the chopped chocolate into a heatproof bowl. Either microwave on medium heat using 30-second bursts (stirring between each) or set over a pan of lightly simmering water, until melted and smooth. When the chocolate is almost melted, remove from the heat and just stir through until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. Cut the avocados in half and de-pip. Scoop the flesh into the bowl of a food processor. Add ¾ of the milk to the avocado and blend until smooth. Add the melted chocolate to the blender and blend into the other ingredients until smooth. Scrape down the sides…

Bhavna Pather, a Master’s student in Digital Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), was recently awarded a research scholarship by the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. Pather, 25, from Queensburgh, Durban, graduated with her Digital Art Undergraduate and Honours degree summa cum laude and is now registered for a Master’s degree. Her mother, Dr Roshini Pather, is a portfolio manager at UKZN library services and her late father, Rajan Pather, was a detective at the Point detective unit, Durban. She said her research project had earned her the scholarship. “My project was about digitally interactive installations that are responsive to the audience members present in the installation, ultimately changing their roles from simply viewers to creators. I was interested in how humans interacted with technology and…

Real Madrid hearts were in mouths when Eduardo Camavinga limped off against Getafe in La Liga on Saturday, ahead of their Champions League showdown with Manchester City. The 20-year-old French midfielder has become a key figure for Carlo Ancelotti’s reigning European champions and an injury would have been a big setback for the semi-final, second-leg at the Etihad on Wednesday. Ancelotti soothed Madrid fears in his post-match news conference, saying Camavinga had twisted his knee, but that it would heal quickly and was not a caused for concern. Spanish media reports since have reflected that Camavinga will be fit, with the tie on a knife edge after the first leg finished 1-1 last Tuesday. Camavinga played a key role in Vinicius Junior’s brilliant strike in that game, charging up the…

Sam Curran is the most expensive player in Indian Premier League history but England’s World Cup hero is drawing flak after failing to justify his price tag with bat or ball. Punjab Kings shelled out $2.23 million (R42.5m) on the all-rounder but they are eighth in the 10-team table and, barring a miracle, will not qualify for the knock-out phase. With a week of the group phase left, Curran was languishing at 39th on the runs table as of early Monday, with 216 from 11 innings and only one half-century. South African six-machine Faf du Plessis at Bangalore has almost three times as many runs and seven 50s to top the batting stats. Left-arm quick Curran, who with his run-choking bowling at the death was player of the tournament at…

Competition for spots in the Proteas playing XI for the World Cup will intensify in various departments in the team, but more so for the all-rounder spot which has steep competition. Marco Jansen’s talent has taken the world by storm from the time he unexpectedly made his international debut against India at Centurion on Boxing Day in 2021. His natural ability to step up to the pressure against steep opposition in the form of Virat Kohli’s Test side of that time was the most impressive aspect of Jansen’s game. From there on in, it was clear the youngster could more or less play any format for South Africa and that is what the tall left-arm seamer achieved in that season. Fast forward to a couple of years, Jansen is a…

If you were to open your medicine cabinet right now, there’s a fair chance you’d find a bottle of vitamins alongside the painkillers, plasters and cough syrup. In 2020, the global market for complementary and alternative medicines, which includes multivitamin supplements, was estimated at $82.27 billion. Multivitamins and mineral supplements are often marketed for their health benefits. There is a perception that supplements are harmless. But they can be dangerous at incorrect dosages. Warning bells Most consumers use multivitamins. But others take large doses of single nutrients, especially vitamin C, iron and calcium. As lecturers in pharmacy practice, we highlight the potential adverse effects of vitamins and minerals: Vitamin A/retinol is beneficial for good eye health. But it can cause toxicity if more than 300 000IU (units) is ingested. Chronic…

20g salad leaves 80g canned lentils, rinsed ½ red onion, chopped roughly 20g dried apricots, chopped roughly 1 celery stick, chopped 5g almond flakes 5g herb mix (coriander/flat-leaf parsley/mint), chopped 10ml orange zest and juice 1 fresh chilli (optional to taste) Moroccan Dressing: 5ml honey 5ml olive oil 10ml red wine vinegar 1 garlic clove, finely minced – use a garlic press (optional to taste) 2g cumin 2g cinnamon pinch of ground cloves salt and pepper to taste Rinse the green leaves. Drain and rinse the lentils. Peel and chop the onion (if sensitive to onions, chop and place in a bowl of cold, salted water). Chop the apricots and the celery. Rinse the fresh herbs and chop roughly. Zest and juice the orange, leaving some segments for garnish. De-seed…

Shirdika Pillai recently graduated with a Master of Arts in Drama and Performance studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Born and raised in Durban, Pillai currently lives In Johannesburg. She matriculated in 2004 from Durban Girls’ High School. Pillai did a triple major BA degree in Media and Communications, Marketing, and Drama and Performance studies. “Theatre has always been my passion so I pursued my Honours in Drama and Performance Studies afterwards.” Her recent Master’s qualification was based on her research on domestic violence in the Indian community. “My research was driven by the desire to explore and confront the social ill of domestic abuse that remains tightly contained within the boundaries of the Indian South African community. “My research analysed three South African plays written by Indian South African…

Children at schools in KwaZulu-Natal reportedly went hungry because the assigned supplier failed to deliver meals to the designated schools as per the contract. Provincial experts described this as a mishap, and said the tender was inappropriately awarded and mishandled. It was then revealed that the KwaZulu- Natal Department of Education had awarded the entire province’s school feeding scheme to a single supplier, which many believe is the reason for meals not being delivered on some days. Children from mostly impoverished and food-insecure households went without adequate nutrition for days. These feeding scheme initiatives aim to combat the prevalence of child hunger and nutrition. There are about 9 million children who benefit from this grant nationally. According to researchers, KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape have the highest number of food-insecure…

A woman in her sixties is recovering at a local hospital after her husband allegedly tried to run over her with his car and then shot her. The incident took place on Lawrence Drive, Berea West, opposite the Berea West Junior School in Durban. It is alleged that during the incident, the man crashed into a precast concrete fence. He then jumped out of his vehicle, drew a pistol and fired several shots at her. He then fled. A witness said: “We were busy in the store across the street when we heard a commotion outside. I didn’t think anything of it. I just thought someone was driving fast. “Then, when we heard gunshots, I thought it was the children at the school playing with fireworks. “When I saw people…

Dhanabagiam “Dhanum’’ Govender of Shallcross marked her 100th birthday last Friday. The mother, grandmother and great-grandmother celebrated with her family at her home. Govender was born in the old corrugated tin-and-iron barracks on the Melville Sugar Estates, near Stanger on the old North Coast of KZN, in 1923. She was the eldest of 10 children. Ganesh Kitoony Nair, 87, is her brother. He facilitated an interview with Govender as she only speaks Tamil. “She had no schooling of any kind but had inculcated great moral values and discipline in her children. “She married Shunmugam Govender on 20 December 1942. Shunmugam was from 26 Delhi Avenue, Mayville, in Cato Manor,” he said. They had 11 children – six sons and five daughters. Her husband worked in the dispatch department of Durban…

Sonil, Sajil and Kirash Ramharak graduated with qualifications in teaching last week at a University of KwaZulu-Natal graduation ceremony. Sonil and Sajil, 24-year-old twins, studied towards a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree at the UKZN Edgewood campus in 2020. They further pursued an Honours degree in BEd, with a focus on language and media studies, which they completed in 2022. Kirash, 22, completed his BEd degree in 2022. The siblings, from Phoenix, all matriculated from Greenbury Secondary School. The twins said they were awarded scholarships by UKZN to pursue their Honours degrees. “After carefully evaluating our abilities and desire to widen and reform our knowledge in our careers, we decided to carry out an Honours degree in language and media studies. “Our interest lies in the field of language and…

WWE wrestling superstar Randy Orton might never enter the ring again. According to reports, Orton has been advised by doctors not to return to the ring due to ongoing health issues. He has a history of injuries has gone under the knife several times, and his doctors are concerned that a return to wrestling could cause further damage. While Orton has expressed a desire to return to the WWE, several reports online suggest that his comeback may be in doubt due to his medical condition. Orton, 41, has been wrestling for the WWE for more than two decades, and he is a 14-time world champion. However, his long career has taken a toll on his body. Over the years, he has suffered several injuries, including a broken collarbone, a herniated…

It is a final resting place fit for “The King”: six months after the death of the man widely considered the greatest footballer of all time, Brazil opened Pele’s gilded, football-turfed tomb to the public on Monday. Pele, who died on December 29 at the age of 82 after a battle with cancer, was laid to rest at the Ecumenical Memorial Cemetery in Santos, Brazil. It is a high-rise, 14-story mausoleum that holds the Guinness world record for the tallest cemetery on Earth. Fans were greeted by two life-size golden statues of the player nicknamed O Rei – The King – whose remains rest inside a large golden vault displayed in the middle of a 200-square-meter room carpeted in artificial turf. “It surpassed my expectations. It’s a really beautiful place,”…

This year, the theme for World Hypertension Day is Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer. This theme emphasises that detection is the first line of defence. As very few people with high blood pressure experience symptoms, it is crucial to have your blood pressure measured annually. Luckily, this is a quick process, and your local GP, clinic or pharmacy will be able to assist. The good news is that hypertension can be managed. Through medication and lifestyle adjustments, blood pressure can be kept under control, reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes. Keep your blood pressure in check: l Medication If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, your doctor might have prescribed anti-hypertensive medication. Medication plays a vital role in controlling high blood pressure, and initially,…

If you thought high blood pressure was mainly a health issue of the aged, it’s not. Globally, there has been a rise in the prevalence of hypertension in younger age groups, including in South Africa. Professor Erika Jones, a board member with the Southern African Hypertension Society, said: “While we still see the highest prevalence in those over 65 years (±84-85%), hypertension is seen in between 30% and 53% of people between the ages of 25 and 44 years. The prevalence of hypertension has risen, even in people below 25 years of age. “In a 2016 survey, ±20% of youths between 15 and 25 years had hypertension. This was a rise from 8-9% in 1998. Limited national data are available after 2016, but there are reports that there is a…

avocado or olive oil to drizzle 30ml (2 tbs) Parmesan cheese, finely grated 80g (2/3 cup) dried breadcrumbs 15ml (1 tbs) fish spice 8 firm white fish fillets 1 egg, lightly beaten extra lemon wedges to serve extra dill to garnish Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Add a drizzle of the oil on to a baking tray. Combine the Parmesan and breadcrumbs on a plate. Season the fish with the fish spice, dip into the beaten egg and coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Arrange the fish on the tray and bake until the fish flakes easily when pressed with a fork, about 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness. tartar: 10ml (2 tsp) capers, drained and chopped 3 small gherkins, chopped 2 spring onions, chopped 15ml (1 tbs) fresh dill, chopped…

Avishka Chewpersad, 26, recently graduated top of her class at the University of KZN. She juggled a full-time job in order to finance her studies and recently received a cum laude Bachelor of Medical Science Honours in medical biochemistry. Chewpersad, who lives in Phoenix with her parents, matriculated from Palmview Secondary School in 2014. She did her undergraduate studies at the UKZN Westville campus between 2015 and 2017 and obtained a Bachelor of Medical Science: Physiology degree. On completing her degree, she started working as a laboratory assistant at Lab24 in Mount Edgecombe in 2018. She now works as a quality control officer for the same company. She decided to embark on her Honours degree studies last year. “Going back to study was my choice and responsibility so it was…

In the early 1960s, when the primary school I attended had the platoon system of morning and mid-afternoon sessions to cope with a larger number of pupils, the story of the Great Trek was drummed into our tiny heads during lazy afternoons. We were taught that Boers from the Cape Colony – rural descendants of the original European settlers – were in rebellion against the British and in search of fresh pasturelands. In January 1832, pathfinders were despatched into the hinterland. They scouted then-Natal as a potential colony. On their return to the Cape, they waxed enthusiastically about Natal as a land of exceptional farming quality that was well-watered and nearly devoid of inhabitants. Thus, from 1835 until the early 1840s, some 15 000 Boers comprising entire families in ox…

The highly respected 53-year-old South African Hindu Dharma Sabha, a national Hindu religious and cultural organisation, this week launched its flagship Gita Studies programme. The historic programme was started with prayer led by popular Pundit Satish Maharaj at the Shri Vishnu Temple in Sea Cow Lake, Durban. Members of the National Executive Council of the Dharma Sabha were the first Hindus to be presented with a new set of the Holy (Bhagavad) Gita. The Dharma Sabha has planned to ensure that as the apex project of its five-year comprehensive and integrated strategic action master plan, every Hindu home in South Africa will have a copy of the Holy Gita. The Dharma Sabha believes that the Holy Gita is the Direct Word of God, and is the main scripture of Hindus…

A WEEK before Mother’s Day, Andre Craig Ezra, the eldest son in his family, was stabbed and killed – allegedly by a girlfriend. The 22-year-old man, from Sunford in Phoenix, allegedly spent the weekend with the woman. His father, Ashley Ezra, said on May 7, he called to find out when his son would return home, but was instead told that his son had been stabbed. “He was stabbed on Sunday afternoon. I called him at 5.30 pm that day. He told me he was on his way home and that he was waiting for transport. I then phoned him at 6.45pm. His girlfriend answered the phone. She repeatedly said, ‘Come, uncle Ashley, Andre is stabbed’. “I went to her house and found him in a pool of blood. “I…

Five attorneys were recently presented with Long Service Awards for their free legal work as Small Claims Court commissioners at the Chatsworth Magistrates Court. The certificates of recognition were presented by John Jeffery, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development at a ceremony in uMhlanga. Attorney Jerald Danasekera Vedan, one of the recipients, who has been a commissioner at the Small Claims Court for 28 years, welcomed the acknowledgement. “I felt very proud to receive the award, as I am aware of the hard work done in the Small Claims Court in Chatsworth.” Vedan said the small claims court dealt with cases of R20 000 or less and often involved motor vehicle collisions, neighbourly disputes concerning encroachment of properties, disputes involving goods sold and delivered, and poor workmanship by contractors.…

Safura Abdool Karim, 31, daughter of renowned academics and scientists Professors Quarraisha Abdool Karim and Salim Abdool Karim, recently graduated with a doctorate in law from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Born and raised in Durban, Abdool Karim now lives in Johannesburg with her fiancé, Ivo Peres. She matriculated from Durban Girls’ College in 2009. “In 2010, I began my LLB at UCT which I completed in 2013. I went on to do my articles at a corporate law firm, Bowmans, and I was an associate there for a short time. In mid-2016, I then went to Georgetown University in Washington, DC where I did my LLM in Global Health Law. “When I came back in 2017, I started the process for my PhD.” She is now a practising attorney. She…

PGA of America chief executive officer Seth Waugh fanned the flames of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf civil war even as he called for civility at this week’s PGA Championship. Waugh told British newspaper The Times that players who left the PGA Tour for Saudi-backed LIV have “disappeared”, and the breakaway series has no viable survival plan. After LIV lured top PGA Tour talent with record $25 million purses and money guarantees, the PGA banned LIV players and restructured its schedule to have “designated events” with larger purses and limited fields to reward top stars. That has left this week’s showdown at Oak Hill and the other majors as the only place where LIV and PGA stars battle for bragging rights, with somewhat of a truce being called last month at…