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Published on: Oct 28, 2020
2 minute read
By: Dr Rajan ( Medical Second Opinion Cell)

COVID: A Reminder To Stay Safe

COVID: A reminder to stay safe

As we approach the second wave of COVID, we need to remain vigilant with our actions to prevent the spread of the virus. We are continuously reminded about wearing a mask in public, maintaining socially distant, and not engaging in risky behavior such as large gatherings. But today we will focus on other forms of transmission. COVID is primarily transmitted by airborne droplets, but spreading the infection through infected surfaces is still feasible. Here we will look at three articles that investigate this mode of transmission.

SARS-COV-2 Survives for 28 days on surfaces

This study by Australian scientists has found that SARS-CoV-2 can survive on surfaces for up to 28 days. The team investigated using the same amounts of virus found on infected individuals, interacting with surfaces such as cotton, paper, stainless steel, glass, and vinyl. Such materials were chosen as they represent commonly touched objects such as mobile phones, ATMs, supermarket checkout regions, items that may not be cleaned regularly enough. Previous research showed the virus could be detected in aerosols for up to three hours, and on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to three days.

This study found the virus may survive as long as a week on most surfaces, with enough potency to re-infect. Even after two weeks, there were still plenty of detectable viruses. On other surfaces such as banknotes, the virus could survive as long as a month. The survival of the virus is also potentiated by colder temperatures. The virus is far less likely to survive at 30C than at 6 C, a worrying finding for countries currently approaching winter.

Survival of SARS-CoV 2 on the human skin

We know our skin is host to millions of different bacteria and viruses, but the conditions created by the body alongside the degree of microbial competition actually makes it quite a hostile environment for pathogenic microbes. Hirose et al looked to investigate how well the SARS-CoV-2 virus survives on human skin, using a model. They found that SARS-CoV-2 and the influenza A virus were destroyed more quickly on the skin than other surfaces such as steel, glass, and plastic. However, COVID lasted over 4x longer on skin compared to Influenza A (9 hours vs 1.8 hours).

More importantly, ethanol compounds were found to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 within 15 seconds on human skin. This highlights the importance of regular hand washing, even if with alcohol gel. Taking this in mind, it is useful to keep small bottles of alcohol gel on a person when traveling in public and using it regularly. After all, if you are touching door handles and other items that hundreds of other people may have touched before you, potentially with poor hygiene, it is safer to regularly disinfect.

Low risk of COVID transmission by fomites in real life conditions

Having taken these studies into account, it is quite difficult to quantifiably measure transmission from surface to a person. Knowledge of this transmissibility is quite important, especially to those working in a hospital environment. A review by Mondelli et al published in the prestigious journal The Lancet (Infectious Disease) describes two sequential studies to looking at the possibility of contamination of surfaces in an infectious disease ward of a major Italian hospital, and also whether risk of transmission was higher in emergency rooms and sub-intensive care wards.

These studies found there were very few surfaces in the hospital through which positive swabs could be taken, suggesting contamination was low. Of course the hospitals were running standard cleaning procedures, with regular wipedowns of commonly toughed objects. This again highlights the importance of maintaining hygiene, and how adequate cleanliness can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

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AI-Powered Healthy Cookbook: India’s New Way to Eat Smarter and Live Healthier

Healthy eating in India is rapidly evolving. With rising lifestyle diseases, increasing digital adoption, and growing awareness of nutrition science, people are prioritizing what they eat more than ever before. However, the challenge remains-most people don't know what to cook, how to plan meals, or which foods match their personal health needs.

This is where the AI-Powered Healthy Cookbook becomes a game changer.

SecondMedic’s AI-driven nutrition engine blends medical science with intelligent recipe planning to help Indians eat better every day. It analyzes key health data, dietary patterns, medical conditions, and nutrient needs to build highly personalized meal recommendations.

AI is not just digitizing recipes; it is transforming them into preventive healthcare tools.

1. Why India Needs an AI-Powered Healthy Cookbook

A. Lifestyle Diseases Increasing Rapidly

As per ICMR:

1 in 4 Indians has lifestyle disorders
Diabetes prevalence crossed 100 million
23% of adults have hypertension
Obesity rates rising annually

Diet is the first line of prevention.

B. Lack of Diet Awareness

Most Indian households:

Cook without portion planning
Consume excess sugar, salt, and oil
Lack awareness of micronutrients

AI simplifies nutrition into daily habits.

C. Busy Urban Lifestyle

People lack time to:

Plan meals
Track nutrition
Measure macros

AI automation removes friction.

D. Need for Personalized Nutrition

Every condition requires unique dietary rules:

Diabetes ? Low GI
Heart disease ? Low sodium
PCOS ? Anti-inflammatory meals
High cholesterol ? Fiber-rich foods

AI customizes meals at scale.

2. How the AI-Powered Healthy Cookbook Works

The AI engine uses:

Medical history
Lab results
Eating patterns
Food preferences
Allergies
Cultural diet habits
Activity level

It then creates:

Personalized recipes
Daily menus
Ingredient lists
Smart calorie distributions
Nutrition scoring

Each recipe is rated on:

Sugar load
Salt load
Trans-fat score
Vitamin & mineral density
Protein balance

3. Key Features of the AI-Powered Cookbook

1. Personalized Recipes for Every Individual

Every meal recommendation is built uniquely for the user.

2. AI Nutrition Score

Each recipe receives a score based on how healthy it is.

3. Disease-Specific Cookbooks

AI modifies:

Salt
Sugar
Oil
Carbs
Fiber

based on the medical condition.

4. Meal Plans Auto-Generated Every Day

Breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacks.

5. Ingredient Optimization

AI suggests:

Cost-effective ingredients
Healthy alternatives
Portion control tips

6. Integration with Wearables

If the user tracks steps, BP, glucose or calories, AI adjusts meals.

4. Benefits of the AI-Powered Healthy Cookbook

1. Supports Weight Loss Naturally

Balanced portions and calorie control.

2. Helps Manage Diabetes

Low GI recipes and sugar-controlled meal plans.

3. Improves Heart Health

Reduced sodium, low-cholesterol meals.

4. Boosts Immunity

High-antioxidant recipes and nutrient-dense meals.

5. Prevents Nutrient Deficiency

Balanced micronutrient planning.

6. Saves Time & Money

Optimized grocery lists and simple recipes.

5. How SecondMedic Uses AI Nutrition for Preventive Healthcare

SecondMedic integrates AI nutrition into:

Chronic disease programs
Preventive screening plans
Teleconsultations
Weight management
Diabetes reversal programs
Healthy eating education

Doctors and dietitians combine medical expertise with AI-generated insights for maximum results.

6. Example of an AI-Generated Daily Menu

Breakfast: Vegetable dalia + green tea
Lunch: Multi-grain roti + dal + spinach sabzi
Snack: Fox nut trail mix
Dinner: Grilled paneer bowl with quinoa
AI Score: 92/100

Balanced macros, low sugar, low sodium.

7. Future of AI-Driven Nutrition in India

The future will include:

Fully automated meal planning
AI-powered grocery shopping
Smart kitchen appliances connected to health profiles
Precision cooking for diseases
Real-time nutritional correction

India is entering the era of tech-enabled nutrition intelligence.

Conclusion

The AI-powered Healthy Cookbook is not just a recipe collection-it is a personalized preventive healthcare companion. It transforms how Indians eat, helping them manage chronic conditions, optimize nutrition, and build long-term healthy habits. With SecondMedic’s AI integration, healthy eating becomes simple, smart, and sustainable.

Explore personalized AI nutrition at:
www.secondmedic.com

References

ICMR Nutrition & Diet Study
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5)
NITI Aayog Digital Health Report
Lancet Nutrition Research India
WHO Healthy Eating Guidelines

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