December began with very good news for Cuban culture: The knowledge of the rum masters was included in the representative list of the intangible heritage of mankind. This signifies international recognition of a practice passed down from generation to generation since the 19th century that remains sane and identifies a guild custodian of knowledge that has had a major impact on national industry, economy and Cuban culture.

Proceeding from the remarkable development of the sugar industry in the country, the production of light rum began in the mid-19th century, and with it the appearance of a fundamental figure for its manufacture: the master rum maker. Since then he has combined traditional knowledge, experience and innovation to seal the character of his products and continue a tradition bequeathed to other masters. Its creation requires a long process, during which it also consolidates its commitment to rum culture and promotes the cohesion of a specialized community dedicated to preserving knowledge, giving them a sense of identity and continuity that makes work beyond the commercial Purpose guaranteed.

This year, the knowledge of Cuban light rum, were recognized along with 47 other intangible cultural assets from different countries which generally represent an example of the great wealth and cultural diversity that exists in the world. As in other editions, elements as diverse as the traditional wisdom of embroidery in the United Arab Emirates have been incorporated; Ortéké, a traditional scenic art in Kazakhstan; the manual ringing of bells in Spain; and the oral traditions of calling camel herds in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates; among other.

With its inscription on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, The production of Cuban rum is gaining visibility along with other well-known practices such as the craft and culture of the baguette in France and the traditional tea-making techniques in China and the social practices associated with them. They all involve the recognition of a living heritage perpetuated by a practice, a knowledge, its stewards and the technical infrastructure designed for it. It also appreciates what it has created in establishing social relationships, habits and customs and in identifying a product that is linked to a specific community but not without international reach.

According to the file presented in the candidacy of knowledge of light rum, in which the current rum masters have participated, this practice has been introduced in very specific points of the country, such as: B.: Pinar del Río, Santa Cruz del Norte, San José de las Lajas, Cárdenas, Villa Clara and Santiago de Cuba, where he was born.

The admission and training of teachers as carriers of this knowledge and members of a professional community is selective, takes up the entire adult life and is conditioned by their moral and work behavior. Your training within the guild is seen as an ongoing learning process that includes knowledge and protection of the aging cellars and their contents, the history of each cask and mastery of the blends that bring out the different aspects, aromas, flavors and textures of the wine.

This knowledge includes a code of ethics that encapsulates a series of unwritten guidelines for public and private conduct focused on respect for Cuban rum culture, its history and best practices, transcending brands and the market to become a way of life. There are currently two first master rum makers in Cuba, seven masters and five apprentices (five women and nine men). The first two are the community leaders who design and coordinate production strategies. As a community, they also share with other teachers from around the world.

The knowledge of the Cuban rum masters and the production sites where their knowledge is passed on have already been declared a cultural heritage of the Cuban nation., in 2016. This condition is analogous to that recently awarded by UNESCO, but at the national level, after being approved by the National Council for Cultural Heritage and the National Commission for the Protection of Cuba’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. This declaration constitutes an important measure to identify and protect assets of this type, for which current Cuban legislation does not define specific measures. Another similar legacy that also benefits from the same declaration are the tobacconist readings, an industrial tradition with widespread recognition registered in 2012.

Both the national declaration and that of UNESCO not only contribute to enhancing the knowledge and visibility of Cuban light rum, but also represent a commitment signed by the State to protect it. This is perhaps the most important part, as it requires due diligence by following the guidelines developed for each type of heritage. All of this is regularly inspected by UNESCO to preserve the heritage status it has been granted.

In this case The state has pledged to comply with 22 measures of different types including: granting of legal personality to the Movement of Cuban Master Rum Makers; reviewing the regulations in force to adapt them to union demands; to systematically review the regulatory technical documents of rum production so that they reflect the new insights of the teaching community; to ensure that the development of products destined to expand markets is not done with the backs of master rum producers, nor that the codes of advertising campaigns are alien to the values ​​of Cuban rum culture and community; Ensuring the participation of the union in the investment and development plans of the associated industrial areas and ensuring their preservation.

Last year I had an ultrasound of my abdomen which found gallstones. I was told that over the phone by a deputy who didn’t say much else. Do I have to do something about it? I’m male, 75 and not overweight.

Gallstones are small, hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, a sac in the liver that stores the digestive juices called bile.

They’re usually made up of cholesterol, and eight out of ten people with gallstones will never know they have them because they don’t cause any symptoms.

If someone has gallstones without symptoms, there is no reason to treat them.

They usually appear in women who are over 40 years old, overweight and eating a diet high in fats and processed sugars.

Gallstones are small, hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, a sac in the liver that stores the imaged digestive juice, bile

Oddly enough, they can also occur in people who are rapidly losing weight drastically.

Gallstones cause problems when they get stuck in the opening of the gallbladder, causing excruciating pain known as biliary spasms.

They can also cause infection or inflammation in the gallbladder and also in the pancreas, a neighboring gland. Both can be very serious conditions and usually require hospital treatment.

If the stones do bother you, the gallbladder is surgically removed completely – usually using keyhole surgery.

When the gallbladder is removed, the liver still produces enough bile to break down fats in the diet, which is its primary function. But instead of being stored in the gallbladder, it continuously trickles into the digestive system.

Some people experience side effects such as bloating or diarrhea after surgery, but these usually improve within a few weeks.

Because bile is released in response to eating fatty foods, opting for a low-fat diet may help prevent biliary colic in some people.

I was recently diagnosed with something called peripheral neuropathy which is causing pain and tingling in my feet. A friend told me vitamin B supplements might help. Is she right?

Peripheral neuropathy develops due to nerve damage in the extremities of the body, such as the hands and feet. Diabetes is the most common cause, as high blood sugar levels damage nerves.

More from dr Ellie Cannon for The Mail on Sunday…

Other triggers are chemotherapy, a lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid, HIV medication and alcoholism.

Nerves can also be damaged by injuries, viral infections like shingles, and certain chronic inflammatory diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms can vary depending on which nerves are affected, including tingling, burning, numbness, or loss of feeling in the hands and feet. If motor nerves are affected, this leads to muscle weakness, cramps, twitching and even paralysis. Bladder control and erectile dysfunction can also be symptoms.

Doctors do a variety of blood tests to look for a cause of peripheral neuropathy, often along with nerve conduction studies. These are specialist examinations in the hospital to see which nerves are working and which are not.

Treatment always depends on the underlying cause — for example, improved diabetes treatment or physical therapy to repair nerve damage from an injury. Vitamin B12 would normally only be offered if a deficiency was confirmed by a blood test.

IS there an alkaline diet that can speed recovery when IBS strikes?

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, typically causes symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. These usually come and go over time and can last for days, weeks, or months at a time.

When someone has an IBS flare-up, it’s often related to a trigger. This can be a specific food, such as dairy, alcohol, caffeine, or fatty foods, but it can also be triggers outside of food, such as stress, anxiety, antibiotics, or an infection.

Do you have a question for Dr. ellie?

Email [email protected] or write to Health, The Mail on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT.

dr Ellie can only respond in general terms and cannot address individual cases or provide personal answers. If you have any health concerns, always consult your GP.

Official guidelines recommend a 12-week cycle of probiotics to replace any gut-friendly bacteria destroyed by an infection or food trigger.

You should speak to a pharmacist about this.

Dietary changes depend on which of the symptoms are more dominant.

For example, someone with diarrhea-dominant irritable bowel syndrome should reduce their intake of fiber, such as whole wheat or high-fiber breads, and also reduce carbonated beverages and gassy foods, such as certain vegetables.

On the other hand, someone with significant IBS constipation needs to gradually increase their fiber intake with soluble fiber such as Fybogel supplements or gradually add oats and flaxseed to their diet.

Individuals with IBS may be advised to follow a low-FODMAP diet. That means eliminating foods like artificial sweeteners, legumes, and certain green vegetables that ferment in the gut.

It is best to follow this diet under the supervision of a nutritionist. It can also be a useful process in identifying which foods are particularly bothersome and causing your flare-ups.

The flu is hard on young people, but time is the best healer

My practice is full of young adults who are sick with the flu and seem to have no idea how to take care of themselves.

The flu can be a serious illness for the elderly or infirm and others at risk – who should be vaccinated – but for those of us who are otherwise healthy the main treatment is looking after ourselves at home.

And that takes time – a flu attack can last a good ten days.

My practice is full of young adults who are sick with the flu and seem to have no idea how to take care of themselves

During this time you need to rest, drink plenty of fluids (no alcohol of course) and take acetaminophen or ibuprofen (not on an empty stomach – unless you want indigestion) for the pain.

GPs can’t prescribe anything for the flu, but pharmacists have great options for constipation, malaise, and fever.

Usually the main treatment is simply time.

Think outside the box of pills

I like to think I’m open-minded—with a healthy dose of skepticism—to the ability of alternative medicines to treat disease or relieve symptoms.

In general, they do not stand up to scientific scrutiny or have not been adequately studied. But when patients tell me something works for them and it’s harmless, I say go for it.

For that reason, I was intrigued when a friend told me that a gluten-free diet had apparently helped end her menopausal hot flashes in just four months.

She’s also lost her “menopausal belly” and is happy to have found a solution without having to resort to medication.

There’s no evidence that a gluten-free diet can alleviate menopause symptoms, but there may be something to it. Let me know if you’ve had success with anything out of the ordinary that made your menopause a little easier.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on progress in restoring electricity after the recent Russian attacks. Within 24 hours, supplies were restored to six million people, Zelenskyy said last night. “Repair work will continue uninterrupted after yesterday’s terrorist attacks.”

Meanwhile, Russia has reported its own attacks in the Donetsk region. Counterattacks by the Ukrainian army were beaten back and, as a result, advantageous positions were taken, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in Moscow today. On the other hand, the Ukrainian military announced that Russian advances on the defense line were stopped.

Reports of civilians killed

Both Ukraine and Russia reported civilian deaths on the other side. According to Russian sources, three people were killed by Ukrainian rockets in the Russian-occupied village of Shchastia in eastern Ukraine. Five other people were injured and four homes were destroyed.

Russia continues attacks

The air raid alarm went off again today in Ukraine, people were sitting in basements again – and Russia’s attacks continue unabated.

According to the authorities, a man was killed in a Russian bombing in the city of Kherson, in the south of Ukraine. The 36-year-old died in his car when Russian troops attacked the western part of the city with artillery and rockets, regional governor Yaroslav Yanukovych said on the Telegram short message service. A 70-year-old woman was also injured.

Sirens sounded across the country, officials said. The military administration in Kyiv urged the population through the Telegram short message service to go to shelters. Only at the beginning of the weekend did the Russian military again attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine on a large scale, paralyzing the supply of electricity and water in a large area. Russia fired over 70 rockets. It was one of the heaviest waves of attacks since the invasion began on February 24.

Information sources of the Ukrainian national project “Hochu Zhit” [ “I want to live” – ed.]allowing Russian soldiers to surrender was used by 1,200,000 people, most of them within the Russian Federation.

Source: Andrii Yusov, spokesman for the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, on the air

Quote: “More than 1,200,000 people have used the information resources of the “Hochu Zhit” project. An overwhelming majority of them are people who are currently on the territory of the so-called Russian Federation.

At present, these are not intentions to capitulate, but requests to find a way for yourself and your loved ones to save their lives in this bloody, unjustified war of the Putin occupiers against Ukraine.”

Details: Yusov reported that every day more than 100 people get in touch through the project’s hotline, chatbot and other communication tools.

“There are results, and they are significant; this applies to individual Russians as well [ Ruscism – an ideology of Russian military expansionism – ed.] who devote themselves, but also entire divisions. There are not only private detachments, but also groups of officers. But the biggest activity we get is undoubtedly from the partially mobilized. These are the people who don’t understand what they are doing in the war against Ukraine and why they are here,” the spokesman said.

Details: The Ukrainian national project “Hochu Zhit” aims to help Russian soldiers surrender safely to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

For information about the surrender, Russian soldiers and their families should call the 24-hour hotline: +38 066 580 34 98; +38 093 119 29 84.

Background: On October 4, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine reported that over the past few weeks, over two thousand Russian soldiers have contacted them asking for an opportunity to surrender.

The story goes on

The Hochu Zhit website will be blocked on the territory of Russia.

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