Health

A team of researchers has identified small molecules in the blood that may impact early childhood development. The McMaster University team shows how dietary exposures, early life experiences, and gut health can influence a child`s growth and cognitive milestones. The team collaborated with Brazilian scientists to conduct an untargeted metabolomic analysis of blood samples taken from more than 5,000 children between the ages of six months and five years as part of the Brazilian National Survey of Child Nutrition study. They found several metabolites – small molecules that are by-products of human metabolism and microbial fermentation, known as uremic toxins – were inversely associated with developmental outcomes. Metabolites play important roles in human health especially at early stag...

A new study has offered intriguing new insights into the origins of type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as the brain`s function as a critical control centre. The hormone insulin plays a key role in the development of obesity. Up until recently, there have been numerous signs indicating insulin causes neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, especially in the brain. The latest study by the University Hospital of Tubingen, the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), and Helmholtz Munich now offers new insights. Unhealthy body fat distribution and chronic weight gain are linked to the brain`s sensitivity to insulin. What specific functions does insulin perform in the brain, and how does it affect individuals of normal weight? In their study, published in the journal Nature Metabolis...

India needs regulation and awareness on junk food to fight obesity in India, said Luke Coutinho, holistic health coach, while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to fight the condition in the country.  “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is absolutely right in his vision of combating this problem of obesity,” said Coutinho, during his visit to an Anganwadi Centre in New Delhi. “We need to have regulation and awareness about junk food for children and adults, which is contributing towards the obesity epidemic,” Coutinho said. He added that nutrition must begin right from an early age and education about nutrition must be imparted in languages across the country. He also emphasised the need to boost access to local superfoods like millet. “Modi has encouraged us to use local supe...

Mumbai doctors in Haji Ali successfully performed a complex surgical procedure to treat a rare case of Hereditary Elliptocytosis of a three-month-old patient. The case presented a diagnostic challenge that was meticulously navigated by Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital’s team, led by Dr. Aditya Kulkarni, consultant- pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology. Born as the first living child of his parents’ third pregnancy, the patient had been suffering from jaundice since birth, which was first noticed by his parents on the third day of life.  When he was brought to the hospital at 45 days old, he exhibited persistent jaundice and slightly dark-coloured urine. Given his complex history, which included maternal pregnancy-associated diabetes mellitus, a thorough diagnostic approach ...

According to the World Health Organization, 2.5 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight in 2022, including over 890 million adults who were living with obesity.  Obesity gives rise to several health complications, but some people living with the condition also face another challenge – the stigma that is associated with being overweight. Stemming from oversimplified notions of health and personal responsibility, weight stigma is fuelled by the assumption that obesity is merely a consequence of poor lifestyle choices. However, that is far from true. Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, Consultant Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgeon, MetaHeal Surgery Center, and Saifee, Apollo and Namaha Hospitals, Mumbai, explains, “Society often reduces obesity to a simplistic equation: eat less, move ...

As Maha Shivratri ends, the transition of the season from winter to spring and summer begins. As the country prepares for this change, some places like Mumbai are already experiencing hot weather, with the temperature soaring as high as 38 degrees Celsius. Amid the increasing heat and humidity, it is essential to keep yourself hydrated and include specific foods in your diet that can help keep the body cool. Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar took to Instagram and shared a video sharing three foods that can accomplish this purpose.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Rujuta Diwekar (@rujuta.diwekar) She recommends the following foods to include in your diet: Bel sherbet This is a...

India is witnessing a transition from the winter season to spring, with some places like Mumbai experiencing extremely high temperatures. With a change in seasons comes the necessity to take extra care of your health, including skin health. Fluctuations in temperature, humidity and environmental factors can stress your skin, leading to dryness, irritation and even breakouts. Adapting your skincare routine to seasonal transitions is important to keep your skin healthy and balanced throughout the year. Speaking to mid-day.com, Dr Kiran Sethi, dermatologist, author, and founder of Isya Aesthetics, shares four tips that can protect your skin from seasonal change, and help maintain its radiance. Choose a gentle cleanser and moisturise daily Select a sulfate-free cleanser enriched with glyce...

Gastric bacteria, which leaks around the stomach lining, plays a significant role in the onset of stomach cancer -- which has limited treatment options and poor survival rates, according to a study on Wednesday.  The study led by researchers from the University of Birmingham identified a crucial interaction between Helicobacter pylori and non-H. pylori bacteria in the pre-cancerous stage of gastric cancer. The results, published in the journal Helicobacter, could pave the way for a more effective treatment of pre-cancer. “We are excited about the potential of this observation to open a new avenue of research in the prevention of stomach cancer. It is possible that a simple antibiotic treatment could be administered to treat these bacteria. However, there is a lot more work to do,” said ...

Reducing the amount of oil intake, while increasing physical activity, as well as eating a balanced meal are crucial to fight the rising menace of obesity in our country, said experts on Tuesday.  This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday in his "Mann ki Baat" programme nominated 10 personalities to push the campaign against obesity in the country, as part of his `Fit India` initiative. Dr Naval Vikram, professor of Medicine, at AIIMS, New Delhi, said it`s high time to consider obesity very seriously, as its prevalence is increasing rapidly across the age groups and across the socio-economic status in the country. "Obesity is no longer a cosmetic problem. It now is a chronic persistent disease which leads to several other non-communicable diseases, like diabetes, hypertension...

While continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) may be of significant help to people living with diabetes, they may harm healthy adults by showing inaccurate results that can lead to unnecessary food restrictions, according to a study on Wednesday. CGMs were originally designed to help diabetics manage their blood sugar. It helps by tracking glycaemic index (GI) -- a measure of how quickly a food can make your blood sugar. However, these devices are now increasingly being used by health-conscious adults to track how different foods affect their glucose levels. The peer-reviewed research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, warns that CGMs could be overestimating blood sugar levels in healthy adults, leading to unnecessary dietary changes. “CGMs are fantastic tools for peop...