Anant Ambani wedding: India tycoon’s son marries after months of festivities

Deutsche Welle

13 Jul 2024, 09:55

Photo: Reuters

Anant Ambani, the son of India's richest man, ties the knot with his partner Radhika Merchant. Justin Bieber, Priyanka Chopra, and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt were among those attending the grand wedding.

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Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant married Friday in a ceremony that has seen A-list stars fly into Mumbai for a grand weekend of celebrations.

Anant is the son of Mukesh Ambani, who is India's richest man. He tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Radhika Merchant, the daughter of pharmaceutical magnate Viren Merchant.

While the couple married in a traditional Hindu ceremony on Friday, it was the attendees in the room that drew media attention like no other wedding this year.

Social media platforms saw Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber, and Hollywood wrestler John Cena join in on the fun.

As did a host of political figures, like former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt.

Among business leaders, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Lee, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet were reportedly also present, according to Indian media outlets.

Mukesh Ambani hired 100 planes, including three Falcon-2000 jets, to fly his guests to the party, according to Reuters.

Who is Mukesh Ambani?

The 67-year-old Mukesh Ambani is the chairman of Reliance Industries, which has interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecom, retail and financial services.

With a fortune of over $123 billion (€113 billion), he is ranked as the 11th richest person in the world, according to the Forbes billionaires list.

He is also an important ally of India's right-wing Hindu nationalist leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Critics of Ambani said his company has thrived mainly because of political connections during the Congress governments in the 1970s and 80s and later under Modi's rule since 2014.

The grand Indian wedding

A recent report by Outlook put the estimated cost of the entire wedding celebration at Rs 4,000-5,000 crore (approximately $600 million), which amounts to just 0.5% of the Ambanis' net worth.

While Anant's engagement ceremony was a private affair at a temple in the northern state of Rajasthan, it was followed by a string of celebratory events that featured performances by pop stars, including Rihanna and Justin Bieber.

In March, Mukesh Ambani threw a pre-wedding bash for the couple in Gujarat, which was attended by nearly 1,200 people from around the world, including tech moguls Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg and former US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka.

Singer Rihanna charged between $8-9 million for her performance at the event, according to some Indian media reports.

In May, the Ambanis and their guests jetted off on a four-day luxury cruise in Europe.

Early in July, Ambani and his wife Nita hosted a mass wedding for 50 underprivileged couples ahead of their son's wedding.

Last week, Canadian singer Justin Bieber held a performance as part of the latest pre-wedding festivities of the billionaire heir.

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Using Baking Soda as Cleanser Better for Environment

By Matilda Welin I don't like cleaning. I also don't like buying commercial cleaning products: I worry that they are harmful both to me and to the environment. As a result, you'll sometimes find me mopping our entire kitchen floor with just a kitchen roll dampened in tap water. So when my BBC editor asked me to test a cupboard staple – baking soda – in my household chores, I agreed to give it a go. I would try a few hacks popularised online and see if they worked for me. Could they help keep my home clean, while alleviating my environmental concerns and saving me money at the same time? Keeping your home fresh by using cupboard staples like baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda, bicarb, sodium bicarbonate or NaHCO3, if you're feeling chemical, but not baking powder, which is a combination of baking soda and cream of tartar) is a perennial hack, associated as much with old housewives as with TikTok videos, health sites and even the Great British Bakeoff's Nancy Birtwhistle. The idea is that in certain situations, baking soda can replace shop-bought cleaning products, sparing not only the environment but also ourselves from harm. I head to the grocery store and buy two small store-brand jars of the stuff for £0.59 ($0.77) a piece, along with a small jar of a branded version for £1.59 ($2.08). Then I call Nathan Kilah, a senior lecturer in chemistry at the University of Tasmania, Australia. "Any cleaning property that we're going to get from baking soda arises from the chemical properties it has," he tells me. "[When we clean] there are different parts in the grime and muck that can be chemically modified by the baking soda." Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda is a base or alkali, he explains, meaning it has a high pH. Therefore, one of its chemical properties is that it can remove hydrogen in the form of an ion from other materials. "So the molecules react?" I ask. "It's not just that if I scrub something, I'm removing dirt?" Correct, he tells me. Bicarbonate of soda is also a mild abrasive, meaning it can shift stubborn material off a dirty surface with the help of some elbow grease. This is why using baking soda for limescale in the kettle would not be ideal – limescale is a base too, so the two wouldn't typically react. For that, lime or vinegar work better, because they are acidic. This seems to be the golden rule. "Acids are good for cleaning up bases," Kilah says, "whereas bases are good for cleaning up acids". (This is why the popular online trend of combining bicarbonate of soda and vinegar into a fizzy mixture for cleaning is almost completely bogus – the two substances simply cancel each other out.) Later, I do my first cleaning experiment. I add baking soda mixed with water onto the stained fabric of a sofa cushion and leave it for 30 minutes before wiping it off. The stain is gone – but a white ring of powder has taken its place (and will, it turns out, remain for weeks). As I wipe at the substance, it feels slippery – an indication that I am dealing with alkaline matter, according to Kilah, which you can sometimes feel even when eating cakes or biscuits made using baking soda. I also try it on stained teacups with limited success. Luckily, I have another chemist to call. "Most of the uses I see for baking soda [for cleaning] don't work," says Dario Bressanini, a chemist and science communicator from the University of Insubria in Como, Italy, and author of the book The Science of Cleaning. He is puzzled about the public perception of the cupboard staple. "You see all these concoctions with lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, and table salt. Most of these recipes are completely bogus,” says Bressanini. Its high pH, he says, is baking soda's one key power. It can be used to counteract things like bad smells in shoes, which are usually generated by organic acids produced by bacteria, and the smell of rotten tomatoes in your fridge, created by acidic liquid, but that is more or less it. And even this one power is quite weak. I later pour a generous helping of baking soda into our bathroom sink and chase it with boiling water from the kettle. It fizzes a bit. A few bubbles form, and I feel like a wizard or a witch. But the drain remains the same. At least I didn't clog it. Furthermore, baking soda is not a detergent – it cannot englobe dirt. Most of the dirt around us is greasy, Bressanini says. To clean that, you need surfactants, molecules that reduce the surface tension between two materials. "Soap is a surfactant. The shampoo contains surfactant and detergents contain surfactants. Baking soda does not." Reluctant to give up, I tell Bressanini how I poured baking soda and hot water into a greasy oven tray the previous day, and the resulting goop was easily washed out. That, he explains, is because the fat and the soda reacted transforming into a stronger base. It is one way of cleaning a crusty and greasy pan. It turns out I produced soap – although actual soap, produced with the right ingredients in the right proportions, would have been better, he says. And what about the online trend of using baking soda in your hair? Don't do it, says Bressanini. Alkaline substances raise the small plaques, or cuticles, that cover our hairs, making them weaker. That is the reason shampoos are slightly acidic, unlike soap. Both Kilah and Bressanini assure me that cleaning with baking powder is not dangerous (so long as you don't think washing fruit in it will disinfect it, or mix different products and risk dangerous chemical reactions), but they point out the strengths of supermarket cleaning products that I have not thought about before. While cleaners from the supermarket may indeed make use of the same pH-induced chemical reaction as baking soda and vinegar, they have additional properties as well – they can break down fat, lower the surface tension of water, or disinfect. "The thing that I'd say with a lot of these alternate baking soda cleaning methods is that they always involve scrubbing," Kilah says. "You're never just going to sprinkle it on there and walk away and expect it to be clean. You're going to scrub." What's more, baking soda, says Bressanini, is not naturally occurring. It costs energy and resources to synthesize. It is created, I learn, from carbonate, around two-thirds of which is obtained synthetically, mainly via the Solvay process (The remaining third comes from the mineral trona, which is dug out from mines). "It's produced in industrial processes that use ammonia, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate... Many of the Solvay plants around the world are huge, industrial plants," notes Bressanini. The most important thing to do is to measure your cleaning products, and not flush unnecessary products into our seas, Bressanini says. And to use things selectively. You don't have to clean everything with bleach. My floor, I think, does not need to be as clean as my pillows. Once created, baking soda is not in itself harmful to the environment, my experts assure me. So is cleaning with baking soda better for the environment? I ask Kilah. "On balance, I would say yes," he answers. "But it depends on the comparison being made... the pathways of sourcing through manufacturing and sale are so complex." Still, commonplace chemical cleaning products from the supermarket can be environmentally costly to produce, transport and package – and often come in volume-demanding liquid form and in more complicated packaging than baking soda, which, Kilah points out, is often stored in cardboard boxes. These cleaners can also be harmful to humans and the environment, for example by emitting volatile organic compounds (VOC) and polyfluorinated organic compounds (Pfas) – so-called "forever chemicals", toxic compounds that can remain in humans and animals across the globe. "Recent research suggests that the greatest threat to children's health from home environments across much of the industrialized world may no longer be pathogenic microbes, but impoverished microbial communities and the chemicals used in everyday products, including those for cleaning," according to research co-edited by Rachael Wakefield-Rann, a sustainability researcher at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia and author of the book Life Indoors. I call her to learn more. We have come to define hygiene narrowly, she tells me – it's become synonymous with germ avoidance. But really, many synthetic chemicals pose a great health risk; antimicrobial chemicals, for example, can be endocrine-disrupting. Some microbes, on the other hand – like those on our pets – are beneficial, and even play an important role in training children's immune systems, she says. Products that kill 99% of germs allow the nastiest ones to survive and recolonize our homes like weeds in an empty flowerbed, Wakefield-Rann says. "I think using things like vinegar, the biodiversity isn't being killed because you're not... trying to eliminate everything that's living," she explains. However, she adds, if someone has an upset stomach, for example, you may want to bring in something more intense. (Read more about why we might need less cleaning and more "targeted hygiene" in our daily lives). More like this: • Why vinegar is so good at cleaning • What it takes to replace a flight with a long-distance bike ride • I made my plant-based milk to see if it was cheaper Our experience, Wakefield-Rann adds, trains us to like modern cleaning products. "From a very young age, a lot of us associate pine smells or lemon smells with that kind of hospital cleanliness. [And] it's not just scent, but it's things like lather. Whether something bubbles or not is central to whether some people judge it to be cleaning effectively," she says. The same goes for whether something's squeaky or shiny: often, Wakefield-Rann says, people seem to think natural cleaning products don't work because things don't look clean enough when they use them. While cleaning is in some ways necessary to our lives and health, some aspects of how we view it are more cultural says Jo Littler from the media department of Goldsmith's University in London, who together with Emma Casey, senior lecturer in sociology at the University of York, has studied online clean fluencers like Sophie Hinchcliffe, also known as Mrs Hinch. "Having a certain standard of cleanliness or cleaning in a particular way can connect you to people or give you a particular status or make you appear respectable." Social media, Casey says, makes cleaning seem easy. "Even with the environmentally-friendly bicarbonate of soda accounts, there's quite often a very pleasing visual aesthetic, very curated. [But] cleaning with any product, let alone bicarbonate of soda, it's not easy. It's not straightforward." I try one last baking soda hack. Grabbing a pair of smelly Wellington boots, I sprinkle the baking powder in them, as Bressanini recommended. Powder dust blooms on my face and lands on the carpet. Afterwards, the shoes still stink. I call my experiment done. To save the planet and my wallet, I decide, I need to gain a bigger perspective on cleanliness in general: to think of it as a grey scale rather than a black and white one. Baking soda has a place on that scale, but really, it turns out, that place is quite small.

Why People Advise Against Dipping Metal Spoons in Honey

Have you ever been told not to dip a metal spoon in a jar of honey? It is often one of the common household rules passed down through generations. The belief is that metal could react with honey, turning it toxic, or at the least, ruin its health benefits. What happens if you leave a metal spoon in honey for a while? Could it be harmful? To clear out the confusion, we reached out to a health expert. "Using a metal spoon briefly in honey is completely safe," said Isha Lall, nutritionist and ayurvedic wellness coach. She said that while honey is slightly acidic and it is true that acids can react with metals, a quick dip of a stainless steel spoon won’t cause any negative reactions. What is the basis of this myth? Years ago, spoons were made of reactive metals like copper or iron, and these could corrode over time when left in honey. However, most modern stainless steel spoons are resistant to corrosion. According to Lall, even if left in honey for weeks in humid conditions, these spoons may not see any major corrosion and are unlikely to affect the honey in any harmful way. What can you use instead? Lall recommends wooden spoons as a great alternative, "They also bring that old-school, natural vibe to your kitchen, like you’re harvesting honey from your backyard beehive," she said. In Ayurveda, honey is revered as a potent “Yogavahi,” which enhances the medicinal properties of anything it’s combined with. However, Ayurveda warns against heating honey, as it changes its composition and produces toxins. As for metal spoons, stainless steel is safe—just avoid leaving utensils in honey for long.

Nikita Porwal from Madhya Pradesh Crowned Femina Miss India 2024

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5 Foods That Improve Mental Focus

We need a nutrient-rich diet to keep the brain healthy. Foods that contain nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, iron, selenium, and choline improve brain functioning. Consuming them can help in improving brain function and improve mental focus. Here are 5 foods that can improve brain health to boost mental focus: Blueberries Rich in flavonoids, blueberries are one of the best foods for improving brain health. They help in slowing down age-related mental decline and enhance cognitive function. Walnuts Walnuts are rich in various essential nutrients required for a healthy brain including omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and vitamin E. They improve brain function and reduce the risk of dementia. Dark Chocolate Considered a brain food, dark chocolate is loaded with flavonoids and polyphenols. It helps in improving cognitive function and memory, which will improve mental focus. Coffee When consumed in moderation, drinking coffee can help increase alertness and improve memory. However, consuming too much coffee can lead to negative effects on the health. Avocado Avocados have a high content of essential nutrients including fiber, monounsaturated fats, potassium, folate, vitamin E, and vitamin K. They can help in improving memory and cognitive skills.

10 Best Foods To Look & Feel Younger

Aging is a natural process and is something we shouldn't fear, despite what marketing companies have been telling us forever. But as we age, it's understandable that we'd want to find healthy ways to look and feel our best with every passing year so we can have the energy and confidence to enjoy our daily lives. Things like exercising, drinking plenty of water, and eating a nutritious, balanced diet are all ways we can help ourselves look and feel younger as we get older. When it comes to diet, food can impact the way you feel on the inside and look on the outside. For instance, research proves that nutrition can play an important role in heart and brain health, and your risk of age-related disease as you get older. Research also shows that your diet not only has the power to repair skin damage, but it can cause damage to the skin as you age as well. So what are some of the specific foods that can impact the way you age? Read on to learn about 10 foods you can add to your diet to help you look and feel your best as you age. And for more healthy eating tips, make sure to check out The 10 Best Eating Habits to Fight Inflammation, Say Dietitians. Berries raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries An important key to healthy aging is eating foods that are rich in antioxidants. This is because your body goes through a process called oxidation, which creates molecules known as "free radicals" that can cause damage to your cells and contribute to a greater risk of chronic disease. Antioxidants can directly help fight these damage-causing free radicals in your body. When it comes to antioxidant-rich food, berries are toward the top. "Berries are rich in antioxidants, such as anthocyanins and vitamin C, which combat oxidative stress and inflammation in the body," says Mary Sabat MS, RDN, LD. Berries also have anti-aging properties. Oxidative stress damage caused by free radicals can also impact your skin health, so Sabat says that eating antioxidant-rich foods like berries "helps protect your skin from premature aging and improve its overall health." Lisa Young, PhD, RDN adds "Blueberries specifically are packed with the antioxidant anthocyanin, which helps to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, and these compounds may contribute to improved skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and promoting a youthful complexion." Another amazing benefit of eating berries as you age is that they "support cognitive function and may reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline," says Sabat. For instance, one study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating more strawberries and blueberries was linked to a slower rate of cognitive decline in participants over 70 years old. Fatty Fish raw salmon There's more than one reason to eat fatty fish as you get older. For starters, fatty fish is rich in healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. According to Sabat, "Omega-3s can help maintain heart and brain health, as well as reduce the risk of age-related diseases." In addition to helping your heart and brain feel better as you age, omega-3-rich foods like fatty fish can also help you maintain more youthful skin. For instance, "Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, and these essential fats support skin health by maintaining cell membranes and reducing inflammation," says Young. And Sabat adds "These healthy fats can also promote skin elasticity and hydration, giving you a youthful and glowing complexion." Nuts and Seeds mixed nuts You've learned about antioxidants found in berries and healthy fats found in certain fish, but snacking on nuts and seeds can give you the best of both worlds by providing healthy fats and antioxidants. "The antioxidants found in nuts and seeds combat free radicals, preventing skin aging and reducing the risk of chronic diseases associated with aging," says Sabat. Specifically, Young notes that "Almonds are a good source of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the skin from oxidative damage, and can help maintain skin elasticity and hydration, potentially reducing the signs of aging." She adds, "Including nuts like almonds in your diet may support a healthy, youthful glow." Nuts—especially walnuts—also contain omega-3 fatty acids, and seeds like flaxseeds are some of the richest sources of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming these healthy fats can contribute to a slower rate of aging—both internally and externally. Leafy greens Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are "nutrient powerhouses," according to Sabat, "offering vitamins A, C, and K, and minerals like iron and calcium." For healthier aging, "These nutrients can promote skin health, aid in collagen production, and protect against skin damage caused by UV radiation," Sabat adds. Beyond just skin health, vitamin K has also been linked to reducing the risk of age-related diseases, and vitamin C has been found to help slow age-related cognitive decline. Avocado halved avocados with pit We mentioned earlier that vitamin E—a powerful antioxidant—is linked to better skin health and can be found in nuts like almonds, but this vitamin can also be found in your bowl of guacamole. Avocados are rich in vitamin E, and because of this they can help "protect the skin from UV damage and maintain its youthful appearance," says Sabat. Not only are they rich in vitamin E, but avocados are rich in healthy fats, which can "hydrate and nourish the skin," Sabat adds. Additionally, says Sabat, avocados can help support a healthy heart as you age "by reducing bad cholesterol levels." Sweet Potatoes roasted sweet potatoes Fruits and vegetables contain plant compounds that give them their bright coloring. For example, sweet potatoes contain a compound called beta-carotene, which is responsible for its vibrant orange hue. Aside from bringing color to this vegetable, this compound—among other plant compounds—can provide a ton of health benefits, too. According to Sabat, "Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A and has been linked to promoting skin health and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Beyond that, research has also found that beta-carotene may be able to help in the prevention of various chronic diseases. Although it's found in smaller amounts, sweet potatoes also contain vitamins C and E, which we know now can help fight free radicals and support health. Tomatoes Speaking of those delightfully powerful plant compounds, tomatoes are rich in a certain compound called lycopene, which gives them their beautiful red color. Lycopene has antioxidant properties and is "known to protect the skin from sun damage and reduce the signs of aging," says Sabat, which means tomatoes may play a role in helping you look and feel younger as you age. Lycopene's benefits extend beyond just skin health, though. A report published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences says that a diet rich in lycopene may be able to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk and improve the health of your blood vessels, and because of this, Mary says "Consuming tomatoes can support heart health, contributing to a youthful and vibrant life." Dark Chocolate dark chocolate pieces in a bowl Probably the most exciting food on our list, dark chocolate is rich in naturally occurring compounds called flavonoids, which can help with aging in numerous ways. "Flavonoids can enhance blood flow and protect the skin from UV damage," says Sabat, and research also shows that dietary flavonoids may help with blood pressure, artery health, and vascular-related issues such as cardiovascular disease and vascular dementia. As you can see, dark chocolate can help promote healthy aging and youthfulness "both inside and out," says Sabat. Just make sure to eat in moderation, as many varieties come with a lot of added sugar, which can lead to more inflammation and increase your risk for certain diseases if consumed in large quantities regularly. Yogurt bowl of Greek yogurt with berries Research continues to show that a healthy gut contributes to healthy aging and healthier skin. Thankfully, there are plenty of delicious foods to add to your diet that can help you have a more diverse, flourishing gut microbiome. One of these foods is yogurt, which Sabat says "is a probiotic-rich food that supports gut health and aids in nutrient absorption." Not only that, but yogurt "provides essential protein for maintaining muscle and skin health, while also contributing to strong bones through its calcium and vitamin D content," says Sabat. However, just make sure you're buying yogurt that is fortified with vitamin D to get that specific vitamin. The 15 Healthiest Yogurts on Grocery Store Shelves Green Tea Although it's a drink and not a food, we had to include green tea on our list because of its powerful anti-aging abilities. "Green tea contains polyphenols—notably epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties," says Sabat. "These compounds help improve skin elasticity and protect against the harmful effects of UV radiation, reducing the signs of skin aging." Not only can green tea help with a more youthful appearance, but research shows that its main polyphenol—EGCG—is connected to slower aging and even extending your lifespan.

9 Best Supplements to Slow Signs of Aging After 40

Turning 40 is a rite of passage. And if you have reached this milestone, you are likely already appreciating a level of confidence that your 20-year-old self never dreamed of and a unique appreciation for life that only comes with age. But, with all of the positives that come with turning 40, there are some clear downsides to living for four decades, one being that your body can start showing signs of aging. From those creaks and cracks, you may experience when you get up from a sitting position to the reflection in the mirror that doesn't quite look like what it used to, getting older does come with some unique effects. Thankfully, dietitians say there are some helpful supplements to slow aging. While taking certain supplements won't be a magic bullet to slow signs of aging, certain choices may help, especially if you combine taking these pills with following a balanced and nutrient-dense diet, and participate in physical activity regularly. If you have reached the big 4-0 and are motivated to explore adding some of these supplements to slow aging, keep reading to find 9 of them that are worth considering. Turmeric turmeric supplements Turmeric is a spice that has been used in many dishes for thousands of years, and data shows that taking it consistently may alleviate aging symptoms and postpone the progression of age-related diseases. Specifically, turmeric has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects that can help enforce these anti-aging benefits. A turmeric supplement that also contains BioPerine—a piperine extract that can help enhance the absorption of the active compound in turmeric. Ceratiq plant oil extract, supplement to slow aging Ceratiq is a plant oil extract that may help promote smooth skin and support the skin's hydration status. Since aging is associated with loss of skin moisture, finding ways to combat this effect may offer some benefit. Pomegranate pomegranate extract If you can't make a habit of drinking 100% pomegranate juice, pomegranate supplements may be a fantastic addition to your diet to fuel yourself with plant compounds that may reduce UVB-induced skin damage. Skin damage caused by the sun's rays can make a person's appearance seem to look older, thanks to the discoloration and wrinkles that can occur as a result. One study showed that taking a pomegranate extract supplement for 4 weeks resulted in a reduction in wrinkle severity. DHA fish oil supplements to slow aging One tell-tale sign of aging is when your memory starts to decline. A reduced level of DHA is associated with cognitive decline during aging. Some data suggest that this nutrient may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, and may enhance memory. Vitamin D vitamin d supplements Vitamin D is an important nutrient to help combat signs of aging for many reasons. When it comes to skin health, this nutrient may help reduce skin DNA damage and inflammation. This "sunshine vitamin" can also play an important role in bone health, a key factor to consider when trying to slow signs of aging, as older people are more likely to have weaker bones and suffer from a fracture vs. younger people. Now Foods Vitamin D3 contains quality ingredients and can easily be included in many diets. Vitamin C vitamin c tablets If your diet is lacking vitamin C, including it in supplement form may offer some benefit. This nutrient is involved in skin collagen synthesis and the elimination of compounds that may cause skin damage. Maintaining healthy vitamin C levels can have a protective effect against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease too. Collagen collagen-supplement to slow aging Yes, collagen is a go-to for people who are aging, as our body's natural ability to produce collagen decreases as we age. But collagen isn't just a supplement that may help our skin stay supple and healthy. This supplement may also help support bone health, a factor that people need to focus on as they age, as half of women over age 50 and 25% of men over 50 will have an age-related bone fracture sometime in their lifetime. Resveratrol red grapes Resveratrol—a natural substance found in many foods, including the skin of certain grapes—has been linked to lessening the effects of several age-related conditions, including supporting the body's normal inflammatory response and activating a special class of protein enzymes called sirtuins, which help manage cellular aging, inflammatory response, and glucose metabolism. CoQ10 Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is, as the name implies, a coenzyme. It has been shown to promote healthy aging by enhancing mitochondrial function, which in turn, may support cardiovascular and skin health, making this one of the best supplements to slow aging.

World Pasta Day: The History of Italy's Long Love Affair with Pasta

On October 25th, people celebrate World Pasta Day to recognize the importance of this comfort food across the globe. Today there are numerous options available in every region and pasta has become a go-to meal. However one cannot forget the contribution of Italians in making it a global food. Pasta is synonymous with the cuisine of Italy and its deep-rooted passion for this dish spans centuries, predating even the Middle Ages. But how exactly did this love affair begin, and what is the real story behind the birth of pasta in Italy? A Controversial Beginning The history of pasta is riddled with mystery and debate. A popular myth suggests that Marco Polo introduced pasta to Italy in the 13th century after his travels to China. However, historians have long debunked this, as pasta was already present in Italy centuries before Polo’s time. Although the exact origin of pasta remains a topic of contention, there are a few theories. Some suggest that the Etruscans, an ancient civilization predating the Romans in central Italy, might have been the first to make pasta. Evidence from an Etruscan tomb suggests they had tools resembling those used for pasta-making. Yet, this theory is tenuous. A more widely accepted explanation points to Arab traders who introduced pasta to Sicily in the 8th and 9th centuries. They brought with them dried noodles made from durum wheat, ideal for long journeys and perfect for Sicily's climate. Today, Italy remains one of the largest producers of durum wheat, a key ingredient in pasta production. Despite uncertainty about its origins, one thing is clear: pasta was already being enjoyed in Italy during the Medieval period. References to pasta appear in literature and art, such as Giovanni Boccaccio's 14th-century The Decameron, which humorously describes pasta chefs preparing mountains of ravioli and macaroni. From this point onward, pasta became an integral part of Italian cuisine, spreading throughout the country and evolving into the beloved dish it is today. Pasta’s Evolution Across Italy As pasta gained popularity, it transcended class divisions. It became a staple for both the rich and the poor, though prepared differently depending on wealth. For the lower classes, pasta was a cheap and filling source of energy, while the wealthy would enhance their pasta dishes with luxurious ingredients like pork belly, cow udders, and spices such as cinnamon and raisins. Even today, some Sicilian pasta dishes incorporate these traditional Middle Eastern flavors, harkening back to the influence of Arab traders. By the 17th century, pasta had taken on such importance in Naples that Neapolitans were nicknamed "macaroni eaters." At the time, pasta was being paired with a wide range of ingredients, but it was still a labor-intensive process to make. The word “macaroni” itself comes from a Sicilian term referring to the vigorous kneading of pasta dough, a testament to the effort involved. Tomatoes And Pasta Became Best Friends A pivotal moment in pasta history came with the introduction of tomatoes to Europe. Although tomatoes were brought to Europe in the 16th century, they were initially thought to be poisonous and avoided in cooking. It wasn't until the 19th century that the tomato's role in Italian cuisine, particularly in pasta, became solidified. The first recorded instance of tomato sauce being used with pasta appeared in a cookbook by Francesco Leonardi in 1790. From this point onward, the marriage of pasta and tomatoes became an inseparable part of Italian culinary tradition. The Renaissance Of Pasta The Italian Renaissance in the 14th to 17th centuries was a time not only of artistic and intellectual advancement but also of culinary innovation. During this period, pasta dishes became more elaborate and refined. Italian chefs started experimenting with sauces, shapes, and new cooking techniques. The introduction of the tomato sauce, along with new pasta shapes like conchiglie (shells) and farfalle (bow ties), elevated pasta from a simple, rustic dish to a culinary art form. At the same time, regional variations in pasta also began to emerge. For example, Naples became famous for spaghetti, while Bologna and Emilia-Romagna developed pasta filled with meat and cheese, such as tortellini. Pasta’s Journey Beyond Italy As Italian immigrants traveled the world, they carried their culinary traditions with them, spreading their love for pasta across continents. In many countries, Italian pasta was adapted to local flavors and ingredients, leading to the creation of new dishes that incorporated pasta into diverse cuisines. This exchange enriched Italian cuisine while also making pasta a global phenomenon. Today, pasta is a symbol of Italian heritage and the country boasts over 300 different types of pasta shapes. From dried pasta (pasta secca) to fresh pasta (pasta fresca), they take great pride in their pasta-making techniques, often drying pasta for longer periods and using ridged molds to maximize sauce absorption. Pasta-making has also seen significant innovation, with modern chefs pushing the boundaries by experimenting with new shapes, ingredients, and flavors. Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: pasta’s deep connection to Italy’s culinary history.