By Mohammed Shafeeq

Hyderabad, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hip hop and Urdu don't go together so also hip hop and Sufism but an Urdu hip-hop band has come out with an album with strange fusion of rap music with the Sufi message and in mostly Urdu lyrics.

As Hyderabad's Thug Unit is all set to release its album 'Resurrection 040', the duo behind it shared with IANS their experiences and the motivation behind the unique experiment.

Comprising 12 tracks and representing a variety of elements, the album is set to be released on Friday on Apple Music. Mostly in Urdu, the tracks also have English and West Indian flavor with Jamaican lingo.

Mudassir Ahmed and Syed Irshad, who go with stage names 'Mo Boucher' and 'Irish Boi' respectively, told IANS that for the first time message of sufism has been conveyed to people through the medium of hip hop.

People so far used to listen to qawwalis to known something about the message of Sufism but the Hyderabadi rappers with this album are adding a totally different medium.

"This is not philosophical Sufism like reading of books but it is actual practical journey. This has come out of our own experience," said Mudassir, who stopped writing poetry and composing music in 2012 for his spiritual journey and is making a comeback to the world of hip hop with his old friend.

"In 2014, I started to have spiritual yearning. I stopped writing and making music asking questions what is purpose of life. I started reflecting what I want to do with my life," said Mudassir, who read books include Bhagavad Gita and Vedas.

"I realised Sufism suits me on a personal level. I connected with the Sufi message. I spent 5-6 years with a Sufi master and learnt the Sufi traditions."

They said the main purpose of the album is to give good content to hip hop listeners. "What they mostly get is rubbish stuff like, sex, drugs and partying. Hip hop is not just that. It is reflection of ourselves," he said

Mudassir and Irrshad are confident that they will be able to change to hip hop scene in the country. "Hip hop is about poetry on any subject chosen and what we are seeing. We have put our own personal experience in the form of poetry," said Irrshad.

The musicians say that their fourth album, the first commercial one, has given them satisfaction. "Hip hop is a representation of yourself. You have to use it with responsibility because young people are listening to it. What they listen at this age is going to stay with them. We have a huge responsibility as to what content we are giving," said Mudassir, who started writing poetry when was 14.

He pointed out that one of the tracks in the album is on the current political atmosphere in India and the political shift that has happened in last 5-6 years, especially the last two years.

"As Indians while we were growing up it was different but now you have a completely different situation. There is more hate now and that is what motivated us to write a song about it," he said.

The album features pertinently named tracks Rubaroo (face to face), Raahe Rast (straight path), Suroor e Ishq, (exhilaration of love), Pardafash (unmasked), Azmaish (test), Atishbazi (fireworks), Bossman, Bus'em (Bust Them), Hate Monger, Intro, Kun (Be) featuring Rebel of Khan Artists and Original Rajah (Original Ruler).

The musical ensemble portrays Sufism-inspired self-reflection, community evils and voice against power establishments. Music for the album is produced by seasoned Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum producers including Buck Wild, making the duo the first from Telangana and perhaps from India to work with US-based Grammy nominated producers.

Thugs Unit inked a deal with Apple Music earlier this month. "We are happy that Bobin James Editor and Artists Relations Lead at Apple Music personally listened to our music tracks and liked them enough to honour us by featuring on a platform so robust like Apple Music", they said.

Source: IANS

Gopi Adusumilli is a Programmer. He is the editor of SocialNews.XYZ and President of AGK Fire Inc.

He enjoys designing websites, developing mobile applications and publishing news articles on current events from various authenticated news sources.

When it comes to writing he likes to write about current world politics and Indian Movies. His future plans include developing SocialNews.XYZ into a News website that has no bias or judgment towards any.

He can be reached at gopi@socialnews.xyz

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Spreading the message of Sufism through hip hop - Social News XYZ

This past weekend was Diwali, the Hindu New Year. I associate Diwali with being at home among family, with rows upon rows of traditional lamps, and with the triumph of good over evil. But Diwalis beauty can feel ephemeral. The dancing firelight eventually vanishes. The epic Ramayana, from which some stories of the triumph of good originates, doesnt end so happily after all. The semesters work comes crashing back after a weekend of cooking, cleaning, and family worship, and its like you had only been folded into a world of your own foolish construction.

This year, Diwali reminds me of my father, who underwent major back surgery about this time last year. The surgery was successful and my father is healthy. But for every year leading up to it, my father, a natural and skilled athlete, an intrinsically brave man, was perpetually in pain. I have vague memories of this fact, when he was a little bit more irritable after a long day of performing procedures as an indefatigable physician, or when he did not want to eat dinner at the dining table and instead watched TV from the couch. Still, it was only after I read about ankylosing spondylitis, the autoimmune arthritic condition that my dad has, on an organizations website that I realized the degree to which people with this condition feel pain: Bad days felt like grizzly bear claws and teeth ripping through my connective tissue and joints. And, I struggle to keep my mind positive and just want to cry which on occasion I do. For a time, I hardly believed that my father felt this kind of pain, because if I am having the least bit of discomfort, he is the first to advise ibuprofen. It is as if the fact that he has suffered from chronic pain means nothing for how others should learn to bear it, too.

A few weeks before the surgery, my mother called me and told me exuberantly that my father had finally signed up to take theological exams at the temple. These exams are meant to teach scripture of this particular Hindu tradition and ways of understanding the world and our place in it. Theyre open to anyone and are purely for spiritual discovery and fulfillment. My mom had been urging my dad to take them for years, since, in her view, without the positive pressure of an exam, its tough to find time to read anything at all. After eleven years of taking the same exams, I can say with confidence that Ive found this to be true. But my father always resisted, brushing it off jokingly as unnecessary, citing his busy work schedule as a valid reason not to do it.

Hes finally decided to do it! my mother was smiling at me from behind the screen. From behind her, out of the frame, my father called back, Dont get your hopes up too high! I was shocked; I couldnt be sure that his decision wasnt just a brief, noncommittal comment to assuage my mother.

There are times when I resent the added burden of studying for this exam, when my friends on campus are stressed about spring semester midterms, and I am stressed about all of those things plus the fact that I am miserably underprepared for an exam one that is supposed to tell me how to salvage the fate of my soul after death. The kicker is that having read by now thousands of pages on the subject, I still look at my father and think, here is a person who wastes no time drowning in theoretical faith. For him, faith is nothing like leaping off the edge, or a blinding firework, beautiful but short-lived. He is a person who enacts those theories and concepts that I only memorize. He is a person who is put to the test not once a year by pen and paper, but by nature. The word faithful has a longitudinal connotation, after all.

Diwali reminds me of my father because its not always jubilant and loud. Sometimes, like in the pandemic when we will not visit family members, it is quiet. Its less like a firework and more like an image I cherish from the Bhagavad Gita: a lamp in a windless place. It is still and warm; it is transparent and yet substantial.

Six years ago, I stood in the winding line of a ride called Leap of Faith at a resort in the Bahamas. From the railing, I could see him, sitting in a reclining chair surrounded by our shoes and towels. While the anxiety preceding a near-vertical slide into a shark tank rose, none of us mourned the absence of the lone family member who sat near the edge of the pool reading. Thats because it happens every time. My dad always spearheads vacation planning, hurtling headlong into the logistics for every excursion, and then sits out when the moment to lie on the salt-encrusted surfboard, to buckle into a humongous roller coaster arrives.

It was me, my brother and mom and cousins, and aunt and uncle, who leapt off the edge that day and came up sputtering at the end of the slide with chlorine in our eyes and noses. But it was my father, that day and every day, who gave faith a new meaning, steady and quiet, performing nothing, and needing no occasion but normalcy to find good in the dark. This Diwali, when the last light dissolves, I remember this.

Pranati P. Parikh 21 is a joint Religion and Comparative Literature concentrator in Adams House. Her column appears on alternate Wednesdays.

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Light Without Wind | Opinion - Harvard Crimson

The perils of Indian economy are products of directionless economic policies of Modi government. It is led by ignorant leadership and arrogance of Hindutva politics based on exclusionary ideology, which is inspired by European Nazism and fascism. There is a method madness in the reactionary politics of BJP and RSS. It intends to convert multicultural India into a monolithic India based on Hindutva. It is a reactionary political outlook shaped by national and global capitalist classes. These forces have unrestricted access to national treasury and natural resources in India under Modi led government. From deregulation, demonetisation, GST to pandemic lockdowns, Modi government did everything to dismantle both supply and demand side of the Indian economy. The collapse of two primary pillars of economy led to the growth of unemployment and declining purchasing power of the masses. The consumption and consumer demands declined immediately, which shocked Indian economy and pushed it to undeclared recession for the first time in Indian economic history. Modi government is doing everything to protect corporate interests, when people are trying to find ways to survive with hunger, homelessness, unemployment and Coronavirus pandemic. Indian economic predicaments are inherent within exclusionary Hindutva politics. The economic recovery, growth and development in India depends on social, religious, and political inclusive culture, where citizens are equal shareholders of economic opportunities.

Hindutva exclusionary politics is trying to hide all its failures and constantly diverting public attention. The advocates of Hindutva glorify mythological Hindu past and blame all previous governments for all ills of Indian society today. The current problems are products of past deeds. It is a perfect Hindutva recipe that derives its philosophical legitimacy from the Karma theory of the Bhagavad Gita. The current problems are products of Hindutva economic policies, which are geared towards upholding the interests of corporates in India. It is evident in the rise of corporate wealth and decline of per capita income of the working Indians. Hindutva uses neoliberal dispossession to mobilise the masses and consolidates its Brahmanical social and cultural order. At the same time, Hindutva politics accelerates neoliberal economic policies that dispossess the masses. This political and economic contradictions are integral to Hindutva politics. The mainstream mass medias are playing a central role in hiding these contradictions by promoting Hindutva agenda of dispossession and disenfranchisement of majority of Indian citizens; Muslims, religious minorities, lower caste, tribals, women and working classes. Hindutva exclusionary ideology is not only depriving Muslims from their citizenship rights but also accelerating deprivation of lower caste, women and working-class population from participating in economic opportunities by privatising national resources.

Hindutva politics is opposed to the idea of India as an inclusive, constitutional, liberal and secular democracy. It follows mythological theocracy, which is opposed to very foundation of scientific and modern India of 21st century. The Indian economic perils are products of such a reactionary and medieval ideology of Hindutva. It is shaping India with its Hindutva shock therapy based on prohibitions, controls, and commands over everyday lives of people. Hindutva discourse is trying to dominate every aspects of Indian life from food habits, dress patterns, education, health to reproductive rights. These regressive outlooks are fundamentally opposed to economic growth and development in India. Because social, political, economic religious, and cultural marginalisation weakens citizens, families, societies, states and institutions to mobilise internal resources of India. The centralisation of power by Hindutva forces further diminish the abilities of local and provincial governments to mobilise local resources. The availability, accessibility and distribution of goods and services depend on production, demand and supply. Hindutva politics destroys every economic foundations of the country by creating social and religious conflicts and violently supressing political opposition and democratic decentralisation processes.

Hindutva model of economic and political governance of Modi government is based on multiple forms of exclusionary practices that hinder economic growth and development in India. Hindutvas innate hatred for Muslims is the first form exclusion, which diminishes more than fourteen percentage of Indian population and their abilities to contribute to their individual lives and to the national economy. Hindutva politics considers women only as mothers, sisters and wives who can be prayed inside the house. Such a patriarchal approach discourages civic and economic participation for nearly forty-eight percentage of Indian women population. The apartheid Hindutva ideology believes in caste hierarchy, which disables social and economic abilities of nearly twenty five percent of lower caste and tribal population. It means eighty-seven percentage of Indian population are living under the conditions of structural barriers that does not allow them to grow and be the shareholders of national life. The processes of marginalisation, denials of citizenship rights and lack of participation creates social, political and economic conditions of institutionalised deprivation, which gives power to Hindutva forces. Therefore, crisis crime, dominance, and deprivation are four weapons of Hindutva politics in India.

Hindutva exclusionary politics creates conditions of deprivation trap, which breeds unemployment, poverty, debt, destitution, marginalisation, illiteracy and illness. These outcomes are dangerous and weakening of India and Indians both in short run and long run. Social coexistence, peace and inclusive cultures are foundations of economic growth and development. But the idea of inclusive culture and peace are alien ideals and antithetical to Hindutva politics. Therefore, Hindutva ideology is a hinderance to economic growth and development in India.

The Hindutva politics led Modi can neither be reformed nor can be revised. The only alternative is to defeat it ideologically and politically till it becomes qualitatively and quantitatively irrelevant and illegal in India. Hindutva is Indian version of Nazism and fascism. It is detrimental to India, Indians and humanity. India and Indians will suffer social and economic underdevelopment as long as Hindutva rules the country. The institutionalisation of Hindutva discrimination destroys all potentials and conditions for economic growth and development. The struggle against Hindutva is struggle against caste, gender and religious based discrimination in India. The united struggle against Hindutva politics must develop radical narratives based on social, political and cultural integration, inclusive economic and development policies for peace and prosperity for the masses. These are essential conditions of sustainable economic growth and secular development of society in India.

*Bhabani Shankar Nayak, Coventry University, UK

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Hindutva Hindrance To Economic Growth And Development In India - OpEd - Eurasia Review

Professor Brij Maharaj

Monday marks the 160th anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured labourers in South Africa and the 110th anniversary of the official recognition of the festival of Diwali in South Africa (1910).

It is also the 108th anniversary of the SA Hindu Maha Sabha established in 1912.

Historically, indentured Hindus (with fellow Muslims and Christians of Indian origin) in South Africa struggled against discrimination, poverty, lack of education as well as political and civic representation, and religious and cultural marginalisation.

The indentured built temples which provided comfort and encouraged communal worship observing birth, marriage and death ceremonies, and celebrating festivals.

Apartheid not only suppressed political freedom but also stifled religious choices in favour of a narrow Christian Calvinist agenda.

South African Hindus have come a long way from the era of memory, oral tradition (and distortions) in religious rituals and practices.

Tamaso ma jyothir gamaya lead us from darkness to light is an important concept in Hinduism, and is the essence of Diwali.

Dispelling darkness and illuminating truth, honesty, integrity, morality, righteousness with Divine radiance the ultimate triumph of good over evil are messages which permeates all faiths.

There are many explanations about the significance of Diwali, and the most well-known is the celebration of Lord Ramas return after his banishment and exile.

The Ramayan is one of the most popular scriptures among Hindus in the indentured diaspora because of this theme of exile and return.

The indentured laboured in the belief that like Lord Rama, they would overcome adversity in the colonies, and triumphantly return to India from exile.

The message that we must all work positively to build inclusive communities of love, justice and peace, where the dignity and equal worth of every human being is emphasised especially important in South Africa.

This is partly because of its complex colonial history, and also, because of the betrayal of the non-racial struggle, 26 years into democracy, the country remains as divided, polarised and corrupt as in the apartheid era, and minority groups increasingly feel threatened and marginalised in the land of their birth.

When South Africans (including Hindus and those of Indian descent) seek inspiration and enlightenment, they inevitably turn to the voice and words of Nelson Mandela, and his views on Diwali are apposite:

"The Hindu faith is as much a part of South Africa as any other religion

Justice, truth, integrity, humility, freedom, are values that the Hindu scriptures, like the scriptures of most other religions, espouse

At this time of Diwali and as I light this sacred lamp I am aware of how this lamp symbolises the triumph of: Enlightenment over blind faith; prosperity over poverty; knowledge of ignorance; good health and well-being over disease and ill health; freedom over bondage.

As we celebrate the triumph of radiance and righteousness over darkness and evil, it is appropriate to reflect on how we can illuminate the lives of those around us who are less fortunate, regardless of race or religion.

Scriptures compel all Hindus to engage in some form of charity (daan) and social upliftment, according to ability, selflessly, without expectation of reward (Nishkhaam Karma).

Some give money, while others offer time and labour in support of worthy causes.

According to the Bhagavad Gita (17.20) charity that is given as a matter of duty, desiring nothing in return, to a deserving candidate at the right place and time, is sattvic.

So as we celebrate Deepavali let us do it with purpose and meaningfulness beyond the crass conspicuous consumption in which the elite indulge.

Let it not be just for the day.

Rather, the spirit of Diwali must guide us through the year to ensure that righteousness and justice triumphs in our homes, communities and country, as well as in the world at large.

The Independent on Saturday

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Diwali a celebration of light and hope - Independent Online

So youve been diagnosed with diverticulitis, a form of diverticular disease. Eating and avoiding certain foods can help you manage and prevent symptoms but theres a lot of misinformation out there.

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The best diet for diverticular disease depends on whether youre having a flare-up, says registered dietitian Anna Taylor, MS, RDN, LD.

Here, she clears up the confusion about how to manage diverticular disease with diet.

Diverticular disease means you have polyps (small growths) called diverticula in your gut. These polyps can exist without causing any symptoms and without you even knowing theyre there. This is called diverticulosis.

If the polyps become inflamed or infected, they can cause symptoms such as abdominal cramping, pain or tenderness in the area, swelling, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. This is called diverticulitis.

Constipation often contributes to the development of diverticula. People develop polyps due to years of excessive muscular contractions as the body attempts to move small, hard stools, explains Taylor. A high-fiber diet helps fight constipation by softening stool, which then moves through the GI tract more comfortably and easily. Theres also less pressure against the polyps, which prevents diverticulitis flare-ups.

To eat a diet rich in fiber (doctors recommend 25 to 35 grams per day), choose minimally processed plant foods such as:

Years ago, doctors thought that eating corn, popcorn, nuts and seeds could inflame the polyps and cause diverticulitis, but theres no research to support that. Its safe to eat these types of foods, including tomatoes and strawberries with seeds, Taylor notes. All that normal roughage and fiber is fine.

To get the most out of a high-fiber diet, Taylor also recommends:

Diverticular disease may be common in Western societies because our diets are so low in fiber, Taylor says. Americans, on average, eat around 14 grams each day about half of whats recommended.

On the flip side, when you have diverticulitis, the polyps are upset, inflamed and maybe even infected. We want to reduce traffic in your GI tract so that nothing else irritates them, says Taylor. Decreasing the fiber in your diet helps with that.

During a diverticulitis flare-up, your doctor may recommend rest, antibiotics and either a clear liquid or low-fiber diet.

If a diverticulitis flare-up is severe or requires surgery, your doctor may recommend a clear liquid diet. After a day or two, you progress from clear liquids to a low-fiber diet, says Taylor. Even if your pain does not subside, you still move toward regular food. You cant be on a liquid diet long-term because you can become malnourished.

On a clear liquid diet, you can eat:

For milder cases of diverticulitis, eat a low-fiber, or GI soft, diet. A low-fiber diet limits fiber intake to between 8 and 12 grams of fiber, depending on the severity of the flare-up.

Good low-fiber food options include:

Foods to avoid with diverticulitis include high-fiber options such as:

Follow the low-fiber diet until diverticulitis symptoms subside. Usually they start to improve after several days of being on antibiotics, Taylor says.

If they do, your doctor will have you gradually increase your fiber intake over several days to weeks to avoid constipation and bloating. The goal is getting back to a high-fiber diet to decrease your risk for future bouts of diverticulitis, Taylor adds. But if youre not feeling better within a few days, talk to your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about a long-term plan, too. And if youve recently been diagnosed with diverticular disease, meet with a dietitian to learn practical and sustainable ways to get more fiber into your diet. Dietitians can also give you more specific recommendations to feel better during a diverticulitis flare-up, Taylor says.

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What Foods Should You Eat and Avoid on a Diverticulitis Diet? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

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Fishing Photo courtesy of Longevity LabsMISSION, Kan., Nov. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Family Features) -- Aging may be inevitable, but with advancement in research and technology, there are plenty of ways you can slow, or even reverse, the hands of time to stay healthy and promote longevity. Consider these ideas from Longevity Labs+, a company dedicated to cutting-edge aging research and the makers of spermidineLIFE, a first-of-its kind, clinically studied supplement containing natural spermidine, which renews cells and can reverse the signs of aging:Protect Your Skin Not only does your skin protect vital internal organs, its an essential barrier to intruders like bacteria and other infection-causing microbes. The skin is also the bodys greatest tool in managing hydration levels and providing critical cues to your nervous system about things like temperature and pain.With such a big role in your overall health and well-being, the skin often shows the first signs of aging. Wrinkles and age spots are often indicators of a persons true age.However, you can reduce the visible impacts of aging on the skin with daily care. Regularly moisturizing helps keep skin supple, and diligent sunscreen application year-around can protect your skin from damaging sun rays. Some compounds and nutrient plans can help nurture youthful skin.Its also important to closely monitor your skin for changes, especially changes to moles or other spots that may be signs of skin cancer, which is generally treatable when caught and managed early. In addition, collagen peptides and a spermidine-rich diet can be key in ensuring healthy skin into your later years.Maintain Clean and Healthy Cells You may not realize it, but as each day passes, your bodys cells age, die and accumulate toxic matter, which disrupts cellular function and causes a myriad of age-related diseases such as dementia and cardiovascular disease as well as decreases immune function. However, a compound naturally produced by the body and found in nature called spermidine can clean cells of toxic matter so they can operate with renewed youth and efficiency.Spermidine triggers a cellular renewal process called autophagy, which allows cells to shed layers of waste and regenerate instead of slowing down and dying off. As the body ages, natural levels of spermidine decline, cellular regeneration slows and signs of aging are accelerated.Spermidine is a key to anti-aging and is believed to help reduce the onset of neurodegenerative and age-related diseases. You can boost spermidine levels by eating certain foods that are high in spermidine, like lentils, soybeans, mushrooms, aged cheese, pears, broccoli, peas and cauliflower.However, few people eat enough spermidine-rich foods to maintain optimal levels in their later years. Taking a supplement like award-winning spermidineLIFE* can support cellular renewal and help cells stay young and healthy. The first and only clinically studied spermidine supplement in the world, it includes spermidine naturally extracted from European non-GMO wheat germ along with carefully selected vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.Manage Physical Health As you grow older, your metabolism slows, making it easier to hold onto extra weight. Excess pounds are associated with numerous health risks, in addition to slowing you down overall. Maintain a more youthful body and mobility by consuming a well-rounded, nutritious, whole-food diet and committing to regular exercise, which can help not only banish extra calories but also keep your muscle tone strong, your balance steady and your posture straight.Just as important as what you do to protect your health as you age is what you dont do. That means limiting alcohol, quitting smoking and avoiding the temptation to indulge in high-fat and sugary foods.Support Mind Matters Worry lines arent just wrinkles that come with age; they can be a sign of persistent angst. From stress to lack of sleep to slips in memory, there are plenty of reasons to focus on your mental health as you advance in years.Getting enough rest can play a big role in your physical health as well as your mental wellness. Too little sleep prevents your body from reenergizing itself fully and can affect your cognition and mood. Worry and stress can also cause you to feel your years. Information is key, and smart devices such as heart rate and sleep trackers can provide you with the necessary information to find what helps and what hurts healthy circadian rhythms and deep, regenerative sleep.Growing forgetful as you age is also common to an extent, but memory problems can be exacerbated by stress, lack of sleep and other factors. You can also keep your mind sharp by playing games, doing puzzles, reading and maintaining an active and engaging social life with others. Even during this pandemic, phone and video calls can help engage your mental state through important social activity.Find more ideas for navigating your later years with grace at spermidinelife.us.Eat Away Your Age This tasty recipe features three of the top 10 spermidine-rich foods: broccoli, mushrooms and aged cheese. It also keeps well, so you can prepare it for a casual brunch then reheat for an easy breakfast the next day.Longevity Breakfast Bake Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 1 hour Servings: 81tablespoon olive oil 1pound uncured, organic bacon 1pound sliced, organic white mushrooms 1pound organic broccoli 1/2cup water 2cups grated aged cheddar cheese 14organic eggs 1-2teaspoons garlic salt fresh ground black pepper, to taste In skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. While skillet is warming, chop bacon into small pieces.Cook bacon until crispy. Transfer bacon to plate covered with paper towel to absorb excess grease.Drain most grease from skillet, reserving some to saute mushrooms.Saute mushrooms until translucent. Cut broccoli into thick, bite-sized pieces; cover and microwave 4 minutes with water to soften.Heat oven to 350 F.Crack eggs and whisk until egg whites and yolks blend together in one consistent color. Season with garlic salt and pepper, to taste.In bottom of baking pan or cast-iron skillet, spread broccoli and mushrooms evenly. Add crispy bacon bits and cheddar cheese. Pour eggs into pan and carefully stir until ingredients are evenly mixed.Bake 40-45 minutes, or until top of casserole starts to brown.*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.Michael French mfrench@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 editors.familyfeatures.comAbout Family Features Editorial Syndicate A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com.A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9486bfdd-ba74-4d83-8ede-80c947e02275

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International Mens Day 2020: Here Are 5 Simple Exercises & Basic Diet Plan Every Man Should Follow For Healthy Living - Yahoo India News

21-year-old rapper Polo G is a lot of thingsa Billboard Hot 100 artist, a social media savant, and the owner of his very own record label, ODA Recordsbut one thing he is not is a particularly health-conscious eater. "My rider for all my shows is pizza and wings," he said. "Literally for 25 shows, all I ate was pizza and wings."

For the latest installment of Vs. the Internet, the rapper took on internet commenters once and for all, revealing his diet, exercise, and the reason you won't see him featured on other artists' songs.

As it turns out, Polo G's new to the workout game. "I started working out in 2019," he told Men's Health. "I used to be 100 pounds, skinny as hell. Slowly making progress, I want to be like 185 lbs." (Something tells us the pizza and wings might help get him there.)

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Outside of conquering the rap game itself, the artist has plans outside of music, too; he shared that acting might be in his immediate future. "With my being a big Tupac fan, [that's] definitely a path I want to take...You're going to see some acting from Polo some day soon."

Men's Health

This past May, the rapper dropped his second album, The Goat, which debuted at number two on the Billboard charts and features collabs with Lil Baby and the late Juice WRLD. But don't expect him to be featured on other artists' records anytime soon. Responding to one fan's comment, he looks at features with a competitive "sports mindset."

"I just know I don't want nobody to outdo me on a song," he said. (We can't say we blame him.)

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Polo G on His New Album 'The Goat,' Workout Routine, and Complicated Diet - menshealth.com

The 2-7 Los Angeles Chargers are not having an amazing season. That having been said, their rookie quarterback Justin Herbert is doing an impressive job under center. He's being touted as the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year, and if youve got him on your fantasy team, youre probably doing a little dance every Sunday. The issue seems to be on the other side of the ballthe Chargers are excelling at blowing leads. Still, the former Oregon Duck says he's just grateful to be doing what he loves every single day.

Im honored to be playing for a great organization, he says. Every week is another opportunity to play the game and Im ready to get after it." GQ caught up with him recently to chat about his diet, which involves lots of team-catered meals and a steady rotation of fast-food sub sandwiches.

GQ: When are you up in the morning?

Justin Herbert: The day starts out pretty early. I wake up at about 5 a.m., immediately brush my teeth and head out the door. I live about 15 to 20 minutes away from the facility, and I really look forward to the drive because it gives me a chance to just listen to music and unwind.

I can't eat very much in the morning. I kind of have a weak stomach, so maybe Ill reach for a Gatorade protein bar or two. I usually stick with the chocolate peanut butter flavor. We lift at 6 a.m. for about an hour, and then well have a couple of meetings. I usually have just the right amount of energy to get through all of this, and then at 9:00 or 10:00, I'll have two slices of bacon, three eggs over easy, and two slices of wheat toast.

Are you big on hydrating?

Definitely. I drink a lot of water throughout the day. Normally it's about five or six bottles. I try to drink at least one right when I wake up. I think hydration is really important, and we've done a good job of integrating that.

When you say weve done a good job, who is the we that you mention?

Well, we have a team nutritionist, but I really just mean the team. We make it a point to drink plenty of water.

Have you ever worked one-on-one with anyone to chat about your nutrition?

When I was training prior to the draft, I used a couple of food services that catered meals and had prepackaged meals ready to go for the day. When I did that, I was focused on low-dairy, low carb diets. It was a lot of protein. Now, since we're in season, I try to maintain my weight, and in that process I need to kick up the carbs a little bit.

Whats for lunch?

Well have whatever the team normally caters. So maybe its a sandwich or it's rice and chickensomething along those lines. In the afternoon, Ill usually stop by the smoothie station that we have at the facility. In my smoothie, I put in strawberries, banana, mango, pineapple, Greek yogurt, and vanilla whey isolate protein powder.

So youre a fruit smoothie but a peanut butter chocolate protein bar guy?

I like to mix it up, you know?

And dinner?

At night after we get off, I normally just honestly stop at Subway. That's kind of what I've been living off for the past couple of weeks. Normally I'll get two sandwiches. One is a steak and cheese and then the other is the chicken bacon ranch, both on their Italian herbs and cheese bread. Its been working for me. Its a good thing to pick up on the way home.

When youre not grabbing Subway, what are some other things you may do for dinner?

If I have enough time, I'm definitely barbecuing. I've got a Traeger grill in my backyard and a bunch of Snake River Farms meats. Any time I get a chance to throw some of those on the grill, its pretty great.

Do you have a sweet tooth?

I'm a big fan of mint chocolate chip ice cream and peanut butter cookies. But I've done a pretty good job over the past couple of months of staying away from that. Probably because I call it a night pretty soon after dinner, like at 8:10 or so. I get home at about 7:45. So I'll have dinner for like 15 or 20 minutes, and then its always right around 8:10 that I turn the lights off.

Thats pretty impressive.

I'm normally a night person and waking up early in the morning is not easy for me by any means. But it kind of comes with the job. It's something I have to do. So it's something that I've had to practice and it got easier over time. But it's still not easy at all.

"There is no greater motivator to lose weight than knowing that you are going to be mostly naked on television."

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Justin Herbert Who Lives on Subway Sandwiches - GQ Magazine

Some Hollywood stars, such as Christian Bale, are famous for their body transformations for different roles they played, while others are well-known for having a fit physique in general. The latter group includes Chris Hemsworth, a.k.a Thor, and Henry Cavill, a.k.a. the Man of Steel. Cavill, who plays Geralt of Rivia (the Witcher) in the hit Netflix series has shared a snippet from his full body workout that got him in shape for the role (yet again).

After packing on quite a few pounds of muscle mass to portray the Man of Steel in 2013, Cavill once again returned to the gym to do the same for the role of the Witcher, and his full body workout to get in shape this time seems no less intense than that for Superman. If youd like a body like Geralt of Rivia or, erm, Kal-El of Krypton, you have come to the right place.

Needless to say, if you are planning on bulking up like Cavill, you'll need to eat a lot more than you usually do, and we are not talking about gorging yourself on pizzas and beer. We hope you like eggs and steak. For breakfast. Every day for six months. If you think you are dedicated enough to bulk up and work out like Henry Cavill, read on. Your reward will be broad soldiers, big arms, buttocks tight enough to bounce tennis balls on, extreme handsomeness and a lot of charm.

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(Image credit: Henry Cavill / Facebook)

Henryis famous for his roles in movies such as Mission:Impossible, Superman and most recently, the Netflix hit-series The Witcher. Cavill is also famous for looking like a Greek god in Beast Mode. He reportedly stands 6"1' tall and weighs around 200 lbs. This puts him in the 'obese' BMI category, technically, but we all know the extra pounds are not fat but muscle mass. And lots of it.

Unlike what many people think, Cavill's 'super built phase didn't start with Superman: Man of Steel. No, he had a pretty chiselled body in the 2011 movie the Immortals, when he was around 28 years old. Admittedly, he didn't look as big as he does now. Henry Cavill's workouts have got progressively more brutal as time has gone by.

(Image credit: Henry Cavill / Facebook)

It is worth mentioning straight away that no workout alone would've bulked Cavill up to a level where he is now. To pile on muscle mass, Henry was eating loads and kept a strict diet too in order to speed up his muscle building efforts. According to manofmany, his diet consisted of industrial amounts of protein some of it sourced from the best protein powders and carbs, both being essential for muscle building and recovery.

Another source also confirms this by mentioning steaks and eggs for breakfast and multiple lunches to keep energy levels high throughout the day. Keeping the carb and protein levels this high meant that his body was ready for the gruelling workouts, almost 24/7. The system worked, judging from how fit he looked in every role he took since 2011.

(Image credit: Henry Cavill / Facebook)

And you might think: "I can have steak for breakfast, no problem", just think about it. It's not about having a steak for breakfast once a month; it's having the biggest steak and eggs breakfast every day for six months while working out for hours each day. You have to be strong not just in your body but also in the head to do this.

What is the Henry Cavill Witcher workout and why would you choose it over other workouts that are also equally good for building muscle, such as the 10,000 swing kettlebell workout? At the end of the day, any type of resistance training, combined with a strict diet, will result in the increase of muscle mass, so pick whichever workout you prefer and stick with it, at least for a few months. You will see results soon enough.

(Image credit: Netflix)

According to Men's Health, Cavill's workout was relatively straightforward, which is understandable as he has already been in a good shape for years, so for the Witcher, he 'only' had to accentuate some areas of the upper body, as opposed to starting from scratch.

The exercises mentioned in the aforementioned article are not meant to be performed back-to-back, as Cavill mentions: "Those are moves that we put into workouts, depending on which muscle group or muscle groups we're working that particular day." Meaning that these exercises are highlights from his workouts and not the complete workout itself.

That said, the five exercises below can form a simple full body workout and work most of your body. Maybe instead of the hyperextension, you can do bench presses to grow those pecs and triceps. Or overhead presses for bigger delts. Or both.

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Romanian deadlifts are a deadlift variation (surprise!) and they mainly work the hamstrings, glutes and the lower back, especially the Erector Spinae, the muscles supporting the spine. Romanian deadlifts are performed with heavy weights and therefore the incorrect form could result in your lower back muscles being pulled as opposed to gains. Keep the spine neutral, your shoulders wide and lift from your hamstrings/glutes.

The Witcher workout included three sets of 10 reps of this exercise with a four second eccentric (negative) phase and a 2 second pause before the concentric (positive) phase.

Surprisingly, in the not so many exercises mentioned, there was another one that focuses on the hamstrings, glutes and lower back: hyperextension. That said, hyperextension is an excellent leg day staple exercise and would really bomb the hamstrings, done on the same day with Romanian deadlifts.

The workout recommends three sets of 10 reps with a two second hold at the top.

Oblique static holds are similar to planks in a sense that as opposed to moving, they require you to hold a position for a prolonged period of time. And while the plank and especially the hardstyle plank targets the whole of the core, oblique static hold focuses on the side of the abs.

The workout recommends doing three sets of 30 second holds per side.

Bomb the delts with this shoulder exercise. The 3-way shoulder raise works well because it requires you to work the muscles for longer and from a different angle with each rep. This exercise is not as good for bulking up, rather for accentuating and defining shoulder muscles.

The workout recommends three sets of 15 reps from each position.

This is a brutal biceps exercise. Usually, with alternating dumbbell curls, you give one side a bit of a break when you curl the weight on the other side. But by adding the iso-hold, you work both sides all the time, loading the biceps way more than 'just' doing curls. Be extra careful when doing this exercise.

The workout recommends three sets of 10 reps per arm.

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Henry Cavill Witcher full body workout will get you in Superman shape with action hero abs - T3

Despite what you may read on some fitness blogs, theres no better way to help your muscles recover than by eating healthy foods and getting a good nights sleep.

Living an overall healthy lifestyle is the most important step you can take to maximize your muscle recovery. No recovery method can make up for poor nutrition and a lack of rest.

Many people believe they need expensive supplements to achieve results from their workouts. Although some supplements have benefits, youre not going to maximize your performance unless youre already taking care of the basics.

In this article, we give you 15 proven tips to maximize your muscle recovery and help you build a more consistent fitness program.

Well break these tips into five categories:

Keep in mind that the following tips are meant to give you ideas of how you can improve your muscle recovery, but they arent meant to be a comprehensive list that you need to follow point for point.

Your body type, fitness goals, and current level of fitness all play a role in determining the best way to recover.

Some techniques, like contrast baths, may help you recover, but their effects are small and likely only relevant to you if youre an athlete.

When you exercise, the proteins that make up your muscle fibers become damaged. Consuming protein after your workout can help give your body the raw material it needs to repair this muscle damage.

Research has found that 20 to 40 grams of protein, or roughly 0.4 to 0.5 g/kg (0.9 to 1.1 g/lb) of body weight, is enough to maximize muscle growth.

Eating protein before your workout may help increase muscle protein synthesis.

As with post-workout recommendations, research has found 0.4 to 0.5 g/kg (0.9 to 1.1g/lb) of body weight to be the optimal amount.

Your muscles store carbohydrates in the form of glycogen for energy. During short-duration and intense exercise, your muscles use this glycogen as their primary form of energy.

If you need to rapidly restore glycogen levels in less than four hours, such as when performing back-to-back workouts, the International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends consuming 1.2 g/kg of body weight per hour with a focus on carbohydrates with a glycemic index (GI) over 70.

White rice, potatoes, and sugar are three examples of carbs in this GI range.

Eating an overall healthy diet can ensure that you dont develop any nutrient deficiencies that may impair your muscles ability to recover.

As a general rule, this means:

Dehydration can impair your muscles ability to repair themselves. Youre especially prone to becoming dehydrated if you exercise in hot or humid weather.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends drinking 16 to 24 ounces of fluid for every pound you lose while exercising.

Research has found that drinking tart cherry juice after exercise may reduce inflammation, muscle damage, and muscle soreness from exercise.

More research is needed to fully understand its effects, but many studies published to date look promising. A typical dose used in research is 480 milliliters per day (about 1.6 ounces).

Creatine is one of the most widely studied supplements. Research consistently shows it can help improve muscular strength when combined with resistance training.

Research has also found creatine may help athletes recover from intense training by helping reduce muscle damage and inflammation, as well as aiding in replenishing your muscles glycogen stores.

Protein powder is a convenient way to add more protein to your diet.

Many types of protein powders contain a complete spectrum of essential amino acids. Whey and collagen powders are two popular choices.

Sleep gives your muscles time to recover from exercise. People who exercise intensely need even more rest than the average person. Some professional athletes allegedly sleep 10 hours or more per night.

Research has found that sleep deprivation may impair muscle recovery by impairing the bodys inflammation reaction and the production of hormones that aid muscle growth.

Many athletes incorporate massage in their training to reduce muscle soreness.

A 2020 review of studies found that massage has a small but significant effect on improving flexibility and decreasing delayed onset muscle soreness after exercise.

Wearing compression garments has become common among athletes over the past several decades.

Theres a limited number of studies looking at their effectiveness for speeding up recovery from exercise. But a small 2019 study found that they lowered time for body muscle recovery in German handball players.

In the study, the athletes wore the garments for 24 hours and then alternated between 12-hour breaks and 12-hour periods of wearing them for a total of 96 hours.

Contrast bath therapy involves alternating periods of submerging in very warm water and very cold water.

This change in temperature stimulates the contraction and dilation of your blood vessels and changes your heart rate.

Research has found that contrast bath therapy may help reduce muscle soreness post-workout. The results are limited and may only be relevant for athletes.

Cryotherapy is the technique of exposing your body to an extremely cold temperature for a few minutes.

Research has found that it may be able to speed up recovery by reducing pain, inflammation, and muscle tiredness after strenuous activity.

Consuming alcohol is damaging to many aspects of your health.

Research has found that consuming alcohol after cycling impairs your muscles ability to replenish glycogen after endurance exercise. Alcohol also impairs protein synthesis in your muscles.

Smoking tobacco negatively impacts your musculoskeletal system.

Although theres a limited amount of research on the effects of tobacco on muscle recovery, theres some evidence that smoking is associated with an increased risk of muscular injury.

Smoking tobacco is also associated with an increased risk of developing joint disease and an increased risk of fracturing a bone.

The amount of time it takes for your muscles to recover from exercise depends on your fitness levels and the difficulty of your workout.

The volume, intensity, and duration of your workout all play a role in determining how taxing it is on your body.

After a relatively light workout, your muscles may be able to recover in 24 hours, whereas a more challenging workout might take two to three days. Very intense workouts might take even longer.

Other factors that can affect your recovery time include:

Its important to give your body time to recover fully after a workout. While youre exercising, you create damage to your muscles. Its only during the recovery period that your muscles can repair the tiny tears that form during exercise.

Your body also needs time to clear out lactic acid produced during strenuous exercise that makes your muscles feel sore and tired. If you dont give your muscles time to recuperate, you risk injuring yourself.

The basis of any good training program is small incremental increases in intensity or volume over time. If you jump ahead too quickly, you put yourself at risk of injury or overtraining.

Different trainers have different philosophies when it comes to training. Many agree that you should leave your workout session feeling challenged but not completely exhausted.

Even world-class athletes are strategic about which times or years they train at peak intensity.

Designing your program so you work alternate muscles groups in different workouts is a good way to increase the recovery period between sessions.

For example, if you are lifting weights three times a week, try a schedule like this to give each muscle group a full week to recover:

Athletes training for specific sports, like sprinters or Olympic lifters, often train the same body parts almost every day. Theyre usually strategic about how they set up their training. They often alternate high- and low-intensity days to give their muscles time to recover.

If you dont let your muscles recover between workouts, you put yourself at risk of getting injured.

Repeated stress from exercise causes small tears called microtears that lead to muscles feeling sore and inflamed. An accumulation of tears puts you at risk of developing torn muscles, also called muscle strains or pulled muscles.

Muscle strains can range from mildly uncomfortable to complete ruptures that may need surgery to repair. If youre not recovering fully, youll also likely notice your athletic performance decline over time.

If you dont let your muscles recover fully after exercise, youre putting yourself at risk of getting injured. Muscle injuries can range from mild to complete tears.

If youve stopped seeing improvements in your fitness level, or if your muscles constantly feel inflamed and sore, you may need to spend more time recovering from your workouts.

Whether youre training to stay in shape or are a competitive athlete, the best way to maximize your muscle recovery is with a healthy diet and a good nights sleep.

No other recovery techniques are going to be able to make up for bad habits in these two areas.

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15 Tips To Maximize Muscle Recovery: Tips, Complications, and More - Healthline