Posts

Obesity epidemic of India

-
Image
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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Global peace index 2020!

-
Image
Global peacefulness has been showing a decline in the last decade. This is not a good sign. There are intercountry and intercountry conflicts and frictions. And if this continues, it would have a bad impact on world living, economy, and people's well-being.  Global peace (Source: Vector Stock)  Global peace indices Global peace index chart reveals that global peace is at risk due to various race and religious conflicts. For calculating peace index of a nation, 23 quantitative and qualitative indicators are taken and each is weighted on a scale of 1-5. The lower the score of GPI, the more peaceful is the country.  Why is vaccination rate low in USA?  In 2020, countries have shown an average of 0.34 percentage decline in GPI scores. The covid crisis added to the already prevailing regional tensions in the world.  Countries and their GPI scores Iceland tops the list with a score of 1.078. It is the most peaceful country and holds this first position since 2008. New...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why is vaccination rate in population and health care workers in the USA still below 70%?

-
Image
USA has set a vaccination rate of 70% to be achieved in order to get the pandemic under control. But this rate has not reached in the population as well as the health care workers. A significant number have refused the vaccine. Though the vaccination is voluntary, people who refuse it are losing their jobs in hospitals? Is this move justified?  Vaccination rate and health care workers   Health care workers and frontline workers who came in direct contact with patients were high risk and first to be vaccinated in the USA. But a recent survey showed that a significant number of the staffs have refused vaccination. A survey conducted by USA Today in 276 hospitals (4.5% of the country's hospitals) showed that the fully vaccinated rate was 53 to 72% in hospital networks and 51 to 91% in 15 public hospitals of the US. Rural hospitals have even lesser vaccination rates. Covid vaccine (Source: Pinterest)  The target of 70% of Joe Biden by 4 July seems to have become impossible. S...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sex behavior: the status of being asexual or minimally sexually active rising! Why?

-
Image
Social barriers of coupling and having sex are fewer for the newer generation. Sex is equally enjoyable and means to enhance the pleasures are also available. Yet this generation youth is having sex less frequently.  Stats on sex behavior CDC keeps a survey analysis of teen sex and it found that sex in this age group is declining since 1985. National Opinion Research Council at the University of Chicago since 1972 is doing the regular General Social Survey of American behavior. The findings show that doing sex once a week was 45% in 2000 and it declined to 36% in 2016. And the number of young millennials who are inactive on the sexual front s twice the number seen in the previous generation. This decline was steep from 2014 to 2016.   In 2016, 4% fewer condom sales occurred than in the year 2015. Anda drop further of 3% was noticed in 2017.  The fertility rate has also fallen. Thus people are into less sexual drive. Is it normal? What are the reasons? Is less sexual ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Herbal products can cause severe liver damage

-
Image
 Herbal medicines are increasingly used in Eastern countries and though they are not evidence-based, they have somehow also managed to find their way into the Western world. But they are not devoid of side-effects and liver damage and gut problems are most common of these. Morbidities and mortalities  are associated with the use of these natural remedies and such cases are now occurring in significant numbers of users.  Liver damage and natural products There is an ongoing craze for natural products especially herbal medicines. People start using them if they had problems with regular treatments. Some just use it after they get brainwashed into it during their oriental trips. But one cannot overlook the fact that these herbal drugs also contain phytochemicals that can harm the body especially the liver. Increasingly such hepatic damage cases are encountered in the users.  The damage can range from abnormal liver function tests without symptoms to death. It might come...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jackfruit Seeds and health and immunity

-
Image
 Jackfruit is a tropical fruit. Most people eat its fleshy part which is delicious and nutritious. But did you know that the seeds of this fruit are equally good for the body and its immunity. It has zinc and can be cooked in a variety of ways. A synopsis below: Jackfruit Seeds and health The seeds of the jackfruit has a lot of zinc, fiber, and other vitamins. Zinc is essential for immunity and thus the seeds of jackfruit can be immune-boosting.  Read here: Does rice make you gain weight ?  The seeds can be cooked in a variety of ways. They add diversity to your diet and make it wholesome and more delicious. A new flavor walks in and one can relish it. After consumption of the fruit freshly, one can preserve the seeds away safely and use it to make another healthy dish later on.  Dishes one can make with jackfruit seeds The seeds can be steamed, cooked, or roasted. Their healthy ingredients are preserved in all methods of cooking. One can cut it and cook it into a dr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is rice fattening? Should it be avoided by obese and overweight people?

-
Image
 Rice is a staple food of many people in the world. Whenever any person has a higher weight than normal they are advised to stop rice intake. But is rice really fattening?  Rice and its parts The grain of rice has an outer layer called bran, a middle endosperm, and an inner germ. Bran is rich in fiber, minerals, and anti-oxidants. While germ has carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. But the endosperm is all carbohydrates. Just a small amount of proteins exist in the endosperm.  Parts of rice grain (Source: Pinterest)  Brown rice has all the three above components. Hence it is healthy and nutritious. But white rice is only endosperm. Hence it is devoid of healthy nutrients.  White rice can be sticky or non-sticky type. The sticky rice has higher amounts of amylopectin and causes a rapid rise in blood sugar compared to the non-sticky rice. The latter has more of amylose and hence has a lower glycemic index.  Rice and weight gain There is a mi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Black and white fungus both increasing in India: white is more dangerous, say doctors

-
Image
 While fungus and black fungus both are increasingly seen in coronavirus patients in India. So much so that some states have asked the health authorities to declare it as an epidemic in their region.  Black fungus or mucormycosis  Increased incidences of black fungus or mucormycosis are observed in those who are coronavirus-positive in India. Gujrat is the worst-affected as regards the black fungus. The state doctors have requested it to be called an epidemic in their stare considering the magnitude of cases coming up in those who test posits for coronavirus.  The fungus appears in immunocompromised states of coronavirus. As if this was not enough, now white fungus cases in these patients are also on the rise. And the white fungus is more dangerous than the black fungus.  White fungus and coronavirus cases  Doctors from states such as Bihar have reported that they are finding an increasing number of cases of white fungus in those infected with coronavirus. ...
Post a Comment
Read more