Category: Health

Categories
Health Online grocery shopping Online shopping

How is Online Grocery Shopping Changing in Coronavirus?

'time for change' poster representing coronavirus changing online grocery shopping

The concept of online shopping has been gaining immense popularity during the last decade. People have been purchasing digital products like electronics, fashion accessories, and furniture through online portals. Even though Nigerians have started using online mediums for ordering take-out from their favorite restaurants, they still face inconvenience in ordering grocery items through an online medium.  

Based on survey data from Morgan Stanley Research, nearly 84% of the people still prefer to purchase their groceries directly as they need to look and examine their groceries physically before buying it. This is because people have different preferences for food. Some might like their vegetables to be ripe, while another section of people might prefer their vegetable green. 

Issues faced by companies

To make people purchase more groceries, websites like Amazon and Instacart allowed people to provide specific instructions for buying these products. This created some losses for the company as a large amount of produce was left unsold and wasted. In Seattle center, nearly one-third of the bananas were left out because people preferred bananas as a bunch of four or five. So, the workers had no other option than to throw away the extra banana in a bunch of six, based on a research paper by an MIT student in 2015. Also, because of quality issues, the count of people who tried to purchase groceries online and left it unsatisfied increased from 17% in 2016 to 27% percent in 2017. 

Online Grocery Shopping in The Coronavirus Era 

All these conditions of hygienic and handpicking put forth by the people for online grocery shopping had vanished recently because of a single reason. The global pandemic infection of COVID -19, popularly known as Coronavirus, has forced people to self isolate themselves and their families from the world. On December 31st, a patient with unknown flu-like symptoms was detected in Wuhan, China. The disease was later identified as Covid – 19, a mutated Virus strain of the Coronavirus family. The virus started spreading widely in China and then later started crossing international borders spreading to people from other countries.

Later during March, WHO introduced the disease as a pandemic. Many countries like the USA, UK, India, Italy, etc. closed their borders and isolated themselves from the world to prevent the spread. People also started to self isolate themselves from the outer world by staying indoors. From newsreaders to software engineers, everyone started to work from home. 

Growth of grocery shopping during a pandemic

There are over 333,000 people affected worldwide, and nearly 14,200 people died succumbing to this disease. People have stopped attending mass gatherings, including weddings and funerals. Some funeral homes in New York have even started conducting funerals online to prevent mass gatherings. Because of this lockdown, people shed their trust on online grocery stores and started purchasing groceries and other daily necessities online. 

According to the news reported by CNN business, the download of online grocery applications has exploded, and nearly 41% of people have tried these apps for the first time. Experts believe that within the next four months, most people will resort to online grocery shopping until the issues subside. They also expect that this trend will continue after the pandemic ceases to exist. As per the recent survey by Walmart, people who tried online grocery shopping for the first time stated that they would continue to shop online even after the lockdown is removed. 

Effect of Coronavirus in Nigeria

So far, Nigeria has reported nearly 30 cases of Coronavirus. The government has restricted the entry of people from other infected countries. The country is slowly moving into lockdown, and most of the companies have ordered their employees to work from home. As a result, most of the grocery stores have shut down. As per the latest news, the Nigerian government has shut down the supermarkets in Abuja. People are trying to fill up their pantry by purchasing bulk orders in advance, creating a massive shortage in the grocery department. Even though multiple grocery stores are trying to cope up with the demands, the deficit still exists. 

Online grocery stores are also struggling because of the sudden spurge in the customers. As a result, some people are facing these shortages personally. The government is also encouraging people to purchase products online to prevent the employees of supermarkets from getting infected. As a result, online grocery shopping in Nigeria has been facing some difficulties because of the lack of products and delivery persons. 

Now Now Express to the rescue

If you are a Nigerian living in other parts of the world like Canada and the USA, then you can protect your loved ones living in Nigeria by ordering fresh groceries online using the Now Now Express. People can order groceries online, and fresh groceries will be delivered to people and your loved ones living in different parts of Nigeria on time. Anyone living in Canada and the USA can order food online by visiting the website nownowexpress.com.

During this pandemic situation, the world is facing now; it is our duty to help others as much as possible with food and medicines. Self-isolate yourself to save yourself and others from infections. Report and test yourself immediately if you have the symptoms for an increased survival rate. Negligence is one attribute that will not help people during this pandemic season. 

Categories
Health

What to do in this Hand sanitizer shortage?

hand sanitizer shortage - coronavirus - now now express

Coronavirus has resulted in around 11,900 registered deaths across the globe. Italy, in just one day alone, reported more than 800 deaths. Consequently, European nations which are being considered the ‘epicenter of the epidemic,’ are under federal lockdown. Countries like Italy, Ireland, Germany, Uk have announced complete lockdown along with multiple Asian nations who will be following the suit. The demand for sanitizers and N95 masks has increased exponentially, but it’s become hard to find such products. Moreover, in this era of hand sanitizer shortage, several companies are selling basic amenities like a hand sanitizer in the black market rate. 

The question arises – what to do when Europe, Asia, Africa, and the American subcontinent are all struggling to get their hands on sanitizers. To curb this need, Now Now Express is selling Septol hand sanitizer gel 500ml bottles to you at the price of only $6.44, which is readily available for you to order from anywhere across the globe.

But just buying a sanitizer is not enough!

Well, we should also know what this coronavirus is, how it can spread, and what precautions we can take. It is a novel virus that causes respiratory disorder with the symptoms as cough, cold, high fever, and difficulty in breathing. It spreads when a person gets in contact with a person who is suffering from it or touches something which has this virus on it. In order to prevent this, there are several measures which must be taken.

Especially when alcohol-based hand sanitizers are going out of stock, the best alternative to do that and the most basic one is – washing your hands properly. Yes, you just can’t afford to do it the wrong way, not right now!

First, wet your hands a little, pour soap in your hands, and rub it properly between your hands and palm. Do not forget the spaces between your fingers and your nails. It is essential to follow these steps, to have clean hands. Sanitize your home thoroughly and make sure you read the five do’s and don’ts you MUST FOLLOW to overcome this novel coronavirus or covid-19.

Do the Five in Coronavirus:

  1. Wash your hands often to prevent the virus from staying on your hands.
  2. If you are coughing, try to use a tissue or cover it with your elbow, instead of using your hands.
  3. Refrain from touching your face to prevent the virus from spreading through your eyes and mouth.
  4. Maintain social distancing from everyone.
  5. If you feel sick, stay either at home or go to the nearest hospital.

Don’t do the Five in Coronavirus:

  1.  Don’t travel at all, even if you do not show any signs of fever, cough, or cold. If you get sick or show any symptoms while traveling, let the crew on the flight or train know about it, and consult a health professional.
  2. Don’t panic. People started panic buying the products in the market, and this vanished masks and sanitizers. Taking proper precautions is all you need. 
  3. Don’t go outside unless it can’t be avoided at all. You may come in contact with a person who doesn’t show any symptoms but may transfer the virus. And if you have it, you may infect others!
  4. Don’t order products from any part of Asia as those products might contain the virus, and you might get in contact with it. 

Now that you know what you should and shouldn’t do. Following are some terms you must hear every day in the news or through multiple social media channels. So, let’s understand what they mean:

What is a Quarantine?

Quarantine means when groups or communities are separated because they are exposed to a contagious disease. Due to the rapid increase of the cases of coronavirus it was decided to quarantine people in wards, quarters, and hospitals so that their treatment can be done. It is the least restrictive that US officials and big health organizations and hospitals have largely recommended so far, especially for the vulnerable sectors of the society. 

What is isolation? 

A diagnosis of Covid -19 puts a person in quarantine. Isolation is done in order to keep the people who are infected from the people who haven’t got affected so that the spread can be controlled and the ill can be treated. In India and parts of Asia, the government has strongly recommended the people to isolate themselves. This slows the spread rate of the virus around the people so that people who are already affected can be treated better. 

What is Social Distancing? 

Social distancing should get practiced by everyone, whether exposed to the virus. 

This broad set of measures include avoiding shake hands, crowds, staying at 2 meters (6 feet) away from people, and staying home if you feel sick. 

Sanitizers are not the solution to everything because studies have revealed that washing hands with soap is more effective than sanitizers. As there are no sanitizers in the market, there are a lot of myths and facts related to them, which should get cleared.

Breaking the Myths in Coronavirus.

Myth 1: Hand Dryers are effective in killing the coronavirus. 

Fact: No, it won’t because the heat won’t elevate to a stage where it kills the virus. It is said that there is no such heat that would kill the virus as there were rumors in some hot countries that the virus would get killed by the heat there but didn’t happen. Heat only decreases the contagiousness of the virus, which means the virus spreads less from one person to another.

Myth 2: An ultraviolet disinfection lamp can kill the coronavirus.

Fact: UV hands should not be used to sterilize hands, or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation. UV lamps should be able to kill the virus at some point, but it will also affect the skin, so it is not advised to use it.

Myth 3: Thermal scanners are effective in detecting whether people are affected by the coronavirus.

Fact: Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have developed a fever (i.e., have a higher than normal body temperature) because of infection with the new coronavirus. 

Myth 5: Antibiotics are effective in preventing the coronavirus. 

Fact: Antibiotics do not prevent viruses, only bacteria. It is a myth that antibiotics help in getting safe from the virus.

Myth 6: Eating garlic can help prevent infection with the coronavirus.

Fact: There were rumors in parts of Asia that eating garlic helps in preventing the virus but is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence that it prevents the virus. 

Myth 7: Old people are more susceptible to the virus.

Fact: People of all ages can get infected with the coronavirus, and people having pre-existing medical conditions can get more ill because of the effect of coronavirus.

Final Thoughts

It is better not to believe in the myths around the internet and to believe only credible sources. Rather than finding the sanitizers in the market by going out, we can prevent the spread of the virus just by staying home as its life is 12 hours on a surface, and if you isolate yourself for a few days and do not step out, we will be able to overcome this!

Because together we can, and together WE WILL!

Categories
Health Lifestyle

A Healthy Pregnancy Diet: What To Put On Your Grocery List

Healthy Pregnancy Diet

What a woman ingests when she is expecting a newborn and what a wannabe Mr.Universe puts on his grocery list are not unakin though the purposes are. The experts have a lot of opinions about what a pregnancy diet should be, which we do not negate because it is, after all, for the development and well-being of the child.

The Grocery List Of A Pregnant woman

According to authoritative sources such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a woman who is pregnant needs a whale lot more calcium, iron, and protein than a woman who is not expecting. Four other nutrients are absolutely undeniable.

Folic Acid

This all-important nutrient, also commonly referred to as folate when present in food, is Vitamin B. Its availability is compelling to prevent birth defects in the spinal cord and brain, which in medical terms are called neural tube defects.

Food sources are leafy green vegetables, enriched and fortified cereals, beans, pasta, bread, and citrus fruits.

Calcium

The baby’s bones and teeth are owed to this mineral. If the mother restricts her intake of calcium, the deficit is withdrawn from the store in the mother and given to the baby. Dairy products are vitalized with vitamin D, which in tandem with calcium to develop a baby’s bones and teeth.

Food sources are milk, cheese, yogurt, salmon, sardines (with bones) and specific leafy greens like bok-choy and kale)

Iron

Twenty-seven milligrams of iron is what a pregnant woman needs, which is 100% more than a woman who is not expecting. The reason for this elevated requirement is that the baby needs an adequate blood supply. Relinquishing on this deal to get sufficient iron can spell doom for the mother, anemia, fatigue, and being infection-prone. Iron is stubborn to absorption. It has to be accompanied by vitamin C. For example, have a glass of orange juice with an iron-enriched cereal.

Food sources are meat, poultry, fish, dried beans, peas, and ed iron-enriched cereal.

Protein

Protein is best described as a “builder nutrient.” It is responsible for the strong development of the baby’s lungs, brain, and heart. A lot of protein is required in the mother’s diet, but by and large, it has not been an area of concern.

Food sources are poultry, fish, meat, dried beans, nuts, eggs, peas, and tofu.

Foods That Need To Be Eaten When Pregnant

Prenatal nutrition is a serious business and one that a would-be mother would be investing her time in. To milk most of the nutrition requirements, broadly, we have split it into five groups based on which you should carefully decide on your grocery list for shopping.

The grouping is:

  • fruits, 
  • vegetables, 
  • lean protein, 
  • dairy products and, 
  • whole grains.

Fruits And Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables should take center stage, especially during the second and third trimesters. The rule-of-thumb is to ingest 5 to 10 tennis ball size servings a day. They are meager in calories buy chockful in minerals, fiber, and vitamins.

Lean Protein

To support the baby’s development, at every stage, the mother needs to compose quality protein. To reiterate, we are looking at fish, meat, poultry, tofu, eggs, beans, nuts, milk, and seeds.

Whole Grains

These foods are an undeniable energy diet source. They contribute handsomely to iron, fiber, and B-vitamins. Whole grains should constitute 50% of the carbohydrate consumption of a pregnant woman. This should come from whole grains such as oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta, bread, and brown rice.

Dairy

3 to 4 helpings of dairy foods should be a daily goal. Dairy products offer a basketful of bounties. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are the front leaders of efficient dietary providers of Vitamin D, calcium, and also protein.

Some nutrients are not so easily absorbed, such as folic acid and iron.

Food To be Taken In Moderation

Caffeine is a bad number. 200 mg, which is the equivalent of a 12-ounce cup of coffee is about the limit.

Fish is a tremendous source of lean protein, especially sardines and salmon, which are bubbling over with Omega-3 fatty acids. 8 to 12 ounces a week is most desirable.

The trouble is with white tuna, which has high levels of mercury. Up to 6 ounces is still okay. A newborn’s brain development can be damaged because of mercury.

Pregnancy Diet Foods That Should Be Given A Wide Margin

Alcohol

Avoid, avoid, avoid. Alcohol in the mother’s system passes through the umbilical cord to the baby. This manifests itself later in the child’s life in the form of behavioral and learning disabilities.

Fish With High Levels Of Mercury

We have touched lightly on this aspect before. It deserves more consideration.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, seafood such as king mackerel, shark, swordfish. Marlin and so on are pretty high in methyl mercury levels. This toxic chemical can be passed on through the placenta and can be damaging to an unborn baby’s vitals such as brains, kidneys, and nervous system.

Unpasteurized Food

The USDA has proclaimed that pregnant women are prone to two forms of food poisoning; abacterial invasion called listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection. These can be fatal to the newborn, including death. To steer clear of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, the following foods should be culled from your grocery list.

Pasteurization involves subjecting a product to high temperatures to kill bacteria. 

  • Unpasteurized milk and products derived from it like Feta, Brie, Camembert, and such cheese.
  • Hot dogs, cold cuts, and luncheon meat.
  • Store-bought salads
  • Refrigerated unpasteurized pates or meat spreads.
  • Raw fish such as sushi, sashimi and so on
  • Undercooked shellfish such as clams, mussels, etcetera.
  • Raw, undercooked sprouts such as alfalfa, clover, and the likes.

Wrapping It Up

We have rendered an account of the food that is good and also what should be strictly avoided for a mother to be. It is not our intention to provide you with a shopping list but to bring about awareness as to the ramifications on the health of the new entrant, depending on what the mother consumes.

Categories
Fashion Health Lifestyle Shopping Travel

Coronavirus in Nigeria, With Lassa

Send esential products to nigeria now by nownowexpress

Covid-19 or coronavirus is making the situation bitter with each passing day. The outbreak of coronavirus has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation as it is severely impacting countries worldwide, and the most concerning part is there is still no proper network of vaccines and medications available for this. 

Being in the delivery of groceries in Nigeria, it is our responsibility to ensure that your loved ones get the best at this time. It would be best if you avoided crowded places like grocery stores yourselves and ask the same to your friends and family in the US and Nigeria. So to stay safe, stay away from gatherings and all sort of crowded places. 

Lassa Fever and Coronavirus in Nigeria

In Lagos, Nigeria, specific temperature screenings and practice of hand sanitizers before arriving in social spaces are on the rise to prevent the virus and, along with that, all the infectious diseases which may come with it!

Nigeria is awaking to be the world’s biggest epidemic of Lassa fever, which is a viral infection fatal than coronavirus. Apart from this, the detection and confirmation of Covid-19 coronavirus in Nigeria raise multiple questions about Nigeria’s capability with a leading widespread of the virus. 

How is the Nigerian government Dealing with Covid-19?

In a press conference in Nigerian Capital, Abuja on, the Nigerian Minister of State for health, Osagie Enahire ensured the journalists by saying, “Social awareness movement on hygiene is under conduction.” He also assured that the Nigerian government is doing everything to contain the virus.

An Italian man who wandered from Milan, Italy, has become Africa’s leading cause of coronavirus. He is now hospitalized in Lagos. When asked about this case, Enahire said, “Health consultants are helping people who wandered with the patient.”. 38 of 156 people who toured with the man on the Turkish Airlines flight on February 25 have been under consultation, he added.

The situation is not good, but you don’t need to panic. We have to face this pandemic, and together we will come out of it very soon! And when we know the precautionary measures, we can do it efficiently as well. Let’s start by avoiding grocery stores yourself and do your bit so that your loved ones are safe too! Sign up on Now Now Express and place your order today to get it delivered in Nigeria within just 3 hours!