Author: Mindful Team

By: Iqra Parveen Awan “I have not been having my periods properly for the past few months and have also gained weight, but I don’t know what to do.” This is a common question asked by many girls in this country. Such conversations often begin with complaints about health and either end with totkas or more complaints. According to a survey conducted in 2017, more than 52% of the female population in Pakistan is suffering from PCOS. Unfortunately, there is no more recent data available, but medical professionals estimate that the figures have increased to approximately 70-80%. Nearly every girl…

By: Sarah Kamal Muggo Contrary to popular belief, maintaining good physical and mental shape begins with the first 30 minutes upon waking up in the morning. Your mindset during this time should be optimistic and focused on improving your health and fitness. The 30/30/30 technique is a successful principle for getting motivated to start your fitness journey. People often ask, “Why only workout for 30 minutes? Isn’t that not enough? What else should I do?” But I don’t want to overtrain. Just 30 minutes can make a significant difference in maintaining consistency, which is crucial for achieving results. This approach has proven…

By Yemeen Zahra Lahore, a city known for its rich culture and heritage, harbours many mysteries within its lively streets. One such historical treasure is the Bansi Dhar Mandir, tucked away in the colourful Anarkali Bazaar. Located at the bustling intersection of modernity and days of old, Bansi Dhar Mandir, or Bansi Temple, is a silent witness to Lahore’s ever-changing landscape. It’s nestled at the end of Anarkali Bazaar, surrounded by the chaos of daily life and overshadowed by the tomb of Qutb-ud-Din Aibak. What makes this an architectural marvel, in particular, is how its European facade blends in with…

By Dr. Amina Saeed People are often admired for climbing the socioeconomic ladder in ways that impress the world, even if they conceal their silent struggles. Both genders experience burnout during their careers, but stereotypes and societal norms can make it especially taxing and challenging for men to identify, acknowledge, and speak up about their mental wellness. Our society conditions individuals to hide their hardships , especially men, where it’s seen as a sign of weakness. Due to societal pressure and stigmas, it’s commonly accepted that men should “man up” or “suck it up” regardless of their difficulties. The head…

By Zain Irfani The Audi R8 has done a rather fabulous job dethroning other supercars in Pakistan. As fast as it is pretty, the Audi R8 is considered to be one of the most desirable supercars built to date, definitely kicking things up a notch. This daily-drivable rocket ship houses an insanely powerful 5.2-liter V10 engine, equipped with a bolt-on and fully reversible VF800 supercharger, pushing the numbers to over 710 Nm torque/808 horsepower at the crank. It features a titanium alloy Akrapovic Catback exhaust system with a gutted catalytic converter, producing an impressively thunderous roar. Paired with a 7-speed…

By Sarah Khalid Ingredients: 750 grams precooked puff pastry (you can use bakar khani too)  2 liters milk (full fat)  1 can condensed milk (400 grams)  1.5 cups cream  1.5 teaspoons cinnamon powder (sifted)  3 tablespoons (or to your liking) sugar  A pinch of cardamom powder  Raisins, Almonds, Pistachios (omit whatever you don’t like)  Method: Preheat oven to 180° Celsius.  Add milk, condensed milk, cream, cinnamon powder, sugar & cardamom powder in a pot on medium heat till the mixture has warmed up and mixed well.  Crumble the precooked pastry with your hands.  Take 2 medium sized oven proof dishes…

By Sarah Khalid Ingredients: 1 kg baby potatoes  2 tablespoons salt + extra for seasoning  2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil Freshly ground black pepper- to taste  1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped  1/2 cup raisins  3 garlic cloves smashed  1-2 tablespoons chili flakes (adjust according to your liking)  200ml cream  Juice of 2 lemons  1/2 cup mixed fresh herbs (parsley, coriander, basil, dill) Method: Take water in a large pot, add 2 tablespoons salt and bring to a boil.  Add potatoes in boiled water and reduce heat to medium-low, bring to a simmer, and cook until potatoes are just half cooked…

By Sarah Khalid Ingredients: 500 grams chicken thigh mince 3 tbsp vegetable oil 6 cloves garlic, smashed 1/2 cup sliced onion 3-4 Thai red chilies, sliced 2/3 cup basil leaves, sliced Sauce Ingredients: 3 tbsp oyster sauce 1/4 cup water 1 tbsp regular soy sauce 1 tbsp dark soy sauce 2 tsp fish sauce 2 tsp brown sugar Method: Prepare all the ingredients first (slice/chop, etc.) because this recipe comes together very quickly. Mix all the sauce ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until combined. Heat oil in a wok/pan on high flame, add the chicken mince, and cook…

By Sarah Khalid Ingredients: 4 medium eggplants, sliced Salt, enough for rubbing onto the sliced eggplants Oil for frying 2 small onions, finely chopped 2 tbsp oil 4 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1/4 cup tomato paste 1/4 cup tomato ketchup 2 tbsp sambal oelek (or your choice of hot sauce) 1/2 cup water Spices for the Tomato Base: 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp chili flakes (or less if you don’t like spicy) 1/4 tsp turmeric 1 tsp toasted cumin seeds 2 tsp sugar Yogurt Mix: 350 grams yogurt + 2 tbsp cream or 400 grams greek…

Ingredients: 1 liter organic milk 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice Optional: salt, pepper, herbs, or spices for seasoning Instructions: In a large pot, bring 1 liter of organic milk to a boil over medium heat. Watch it carefully to prevent boiling over. Once the milk boils, remove it from heat. Gently stir in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a clockwise motion. The milk will start to curdle. Place a muslin cloth over a sieve or strainer. Pour the curdled milk through the muslin cloth and let the liquid (whey) drain away. The solids left in the muslin cloth are the…