ISLAMABAD: The demand and sale for peanuts has significantly increased as a biting chill crept into the air during winter all over the country. A report aired by a private TV channel said, many vendors on pushcarts are seen selling the seasonal delight of crispy peanuts at every corner of the cities. There is no specific age group of peanut lovers and everyone including children, youngsters, middle aged or older people cannot stop their hands until they finished the peanuts serving placed in front of them. Peanuts are not only tasty, but also nutritious and provide necessary energy to the body. Many vendors serve passers-by hot peanuts on their wooden carts on roads. They shell and grind the nuts and cook them with salt and other flavors for half an hour. Rao Athar a peanut vendor said, people crave hot and spicy peanuts in the chilled weather and since their price is economical, the demand is high. “Children, particularly, prefer to have these nuts in winter,” said Javeria Ashraf. Peanuts remained the favorite dry fruit for entertainment during gossiping, around sessions or during watching TV in chilly evenings, she added. According to a shopkeeper they earn more money in the winter season from peanuts as they sell four thousand bags in the whole month. From morning till night people come here and they buy mostly peanuts, he added. Peanuts have a strong association with the winter season. Most of the people like to eat peanuts to enjoy the season, a wholesaler Basit Khan said. According to health experts the peanuts have many nutrients and carry more quantity of calcium, which is useful for the aged persons. Peanuts contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E which can prevent signs of ageing like wrinkles, spots and fine lines, they added. Cold weather affecting students’ attendance: Mostly schools throughout the country have continued to witness low attendance as many students have been suffering from ailments caused by the chilly weather. A report aired by a private news channel said, that students of many government and private schools have been complaining of breathlessness, cough and headaches. The staff of various schools also confirmed there had been a decrease in attendance and many students had returned with health complaints. “Many of my students come to school with their mouths covered with a scarf” said a teacher Hassan Ali. He added that the teachers too were being affected by the rainy weather. Muhammad Zafar Ali, said that his entire family was ill because of the cold weather. “My daughters have been coughing, vomiting and have trouble breathing. My eldest daughter who is in Class VII had to miss her school because of her health, he said. Doctors warn of diseases after rains: The In Charge director of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Doctor Seemi Jamali said that gastroenteritis and hepatitis are likely to spread after the thunderstorm. Talking to a private news channel, she further said, the rainy season comes with lot of fun, excitement and along with it there is a host of infections that are prevalent during this season. She demanded that people must be careful of not just what they eat, drink but also have to take sufficient care to prevent the most important organ of our body, the liver. The most common is hepatitis A, a high risk infection during this weather. People should be aware of these problems so that they can take necessary precautions during this season. The most common illness is related to the respiratory system and water and food borne diseases cannot be overlooked, she highlighted. If you are a student, a working citizen or a mother, you need to protect yourself from these illnesses and prevent yourself from getting sick, she said. Dr Seemi said water-borne diseases are caused due to the consumption of roadside foods. Air-borne diseases spread due to pollution and lack of sunlight and insect-borne diseases are caused due to breeding of mosquitoes in places where there is stagnant rain water.