Maharashtra Bans Junk Food in School Canteens to Curb Obesity

The Maharashtra state government has imposed a ban on the sale of ‘High in Fat, Salt and Sugar’ (HFSS) food at school canteens across the state. With the rise of obesity cases among children, a measure such as this is crucial to curb the health issue and encourage kids to eat nutritious meals. The Government Resolution (GR) listed 12 categories of foods that cannot be sold in the school premises and it included items like potato chips, noodles, carbonated soft drinks, pizza, burger, cakes, biscuits, buns, pastries, etc. The GR…

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Facebook Pop-Up Helps Curb Fake News Sharing

In a battle against fake news, Facebook has started to roll out a new tool that fact-checks the stories a user shares. According to a report in Telegraph on Monday, some users in the US saw a pop-up window appearing when they shared a story on their profile, reading “Disputed by multiple, independent fact-checkers.” Facebook has been severely criticised for promoting fake news and spreading misinformation. It was also accused of helping US President Donald Trump win the elections by allowing misinformation and fake stories on its platform. “Before you…

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Eating Dark Chocolate Can Curb Diabetes, Heart Disease Risk

Fancy eating chocolates every day? You may soon have the recommendation of doctors to indulge a little as researchers have found that a dark chocolate bar daily could reduces the risk of developing diabetes and heart diseases.   For the study, the researchers analysed data of 1,153 people aged 18-69 years old who were part of the Observation of Cardiovascular Risk in Luxembourg study. It was found that those who ate 100 g of chocolate a day — equivalent to a bar — had reduced insulin resistance and improved liver…

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To Curb Deaths From Disasters, End Poverty – U.N. Chief

Ending extreme poverty is essential to save lives and limit damage from disasters, U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon said, as figures revealed poorer nations bear the brunt of deaths from earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, storms and heat waves. An analysis of more than 7,000 disasters over the past two decades, in which 1.35 million people died, showed 90 percent of those deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries. Ban called it “a damning indictment of inequality”. The impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti, which suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010, lost more lives…

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Kerala Fat Tax: Could Making Junk Food Expensive Curb Obesity?

Spending money to lose weight does work at times. You could force yourself to wake up earlier every morning and head to the gym – if you have paid up a hefty fee, or bought fancy shoes and workout gear. But does the same motivation work when it comes to avoidant behaviour? Will you stop eating a Rs. 300 burger or pizza because it is now pricier, at roughly Rs. 345?Much has already been said on Kerala’s 14.5 per cent fat tax on “junk foods” like burgers and pizzas sold…

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