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Showing posts from August, 2026

Obesity epidemic of India

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Obesity in India is on the rise. It has reached enormous proportions. As I sit and count at airports, the number of women who look obviously overweight and obese, the figures I get is 8 out of 10. And this is around same in children of all sexes and around 6 in 10 men show clearcut overweight and obesity that is obvious even to naked eye. Anthropometric measurements might reveal more of them.  What are the likely causes? I have a theory that starts analysing these cases right from the 2000s or previous century. Junk food eating and sedantry lifestyle had already given an upward push to obesity in last century. And this also gave rise to diabetes mellitus in both men and women. Hence, such mothers also had diabetes in pregnancy. Some who did not have diabetes otherwise had gestational diabetes. From 2000 to 2026 prevalence of gestational diabetes has risen in india. It has even spread to rural areas and recent national data gives a figure of 22.4% which is almost 1 in 4 pregnant mot...
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Are you on these drugs? Beware!

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Thermoregulation is a normal process in warm blooded animals including humans that tries to maintain body temperature. Hypothalamus in brain, thermoreceptors, skin sweat glands, blood vessels, and hormones such as thyroid hormones all coordinate and function together to retain body heat or cause loss of excess body heat.  Thermoregulation in humans  When external temperature rises, sweat glands start producing sweat which on evaporation carries the body heat with it. Blood vessels of skin dilate and release beat to atmosphere. Thyroid hormones decreases production to reduce body metabolic rate. All this is regulated via hypothalamus and receptors. Thirst centre is also activated to cause intake of water to replenish body water loss. Urine output also falls to reduce water loss since excess water is being lost via sweat production and evaporation.  When outside temperature falls, sweat glands decrease sweat production, skin blood vessels dilate and thyroid hormones product...
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New non-fried microwaved healthy delicious Pani Puri fun

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Pani Puri is an Indian delicacy and street food. People of all ages relish it.  It consists of a stuffed wheat puri (puffed food) with spicy and tangy water. The stuffing is of soaked and boiled and cooked white peas (ragda) and mashed potatoes.  But the puri made of wheat flour is fried in oil to puff it. This implies more oils and fats going into our gut and body. Health conscious individuals and obese individuals might therefore be concerned about eating too much of Pani Puri. They have an appetite for it but have to fall short of appetite appeasement due to the high fat content.  Bug no more. You can make non-oily puris in a microwave. Steps are: 1. Purchase Pani Puri discs available in market in supermarkets and stores. They come in packets made by different companies. They are made from wheat flour, semolina, vegetable oil and salt. 150 g packet has around 60-64 puri discs. 2. To puff them, place them on the microwave plate. Keep each disc separately without touchin...
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