Debunked: 5 Obesity myths to let go of

According to numerous studies & reports, more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight and 650 million are obese globally. In India, over 135 million people are affected by obesity.  Obesity presents many medical and financial challenges for the individual, society and government. The problem of obesity can be solved by creating public awareness about obesity and its health consequences.

Misconceptions or myths about obesity can result in stigma and weight bias. Countering myths with facts and evidence has been proven to be an effective educational tool to increase individuals’ knowledge about a certain condition and to reduce stigma, and obesity is no exception.

Below are some of the common myths around Obesity

Myth 1: Obesity is a result of poor lifestyle choices

Fact: Obesity is a complex chronic disease with multiple contributing factors such as genetic variables as well as medical conditions. There is still a common belief that obesity is a lifestyle choice and that people become obese because they eat too much or exercise too little. This is not entirely true! Some people are merely susceptible to gaining weight owing to their genetic disadvantages. Obesity demands a personalised treatment model involving medical therapies and lifestyle interventions, just like other chronic diseases. The interdisciplinary team should consist of health care professionals, (including dietitians and physicians) working together to deliver optimal treatment.

Myth 2: Exercising will fix Obesity

Fact: Exercise has many health benefits; however, weight loss isn’t really one of them. Exercise only helps helps in losing 3% to 5% of weight. Exercise is important for maintaining weight once you shed a few kilos. Some forms of strenuous exercise can even be dangerous for obese patients, particularly if started all of a sudden. For some obese people, exercise isn’t suitable until they lose a certain amount of weight.

Myth 3: Obesity is always hereditary

Fact: When it comes to obesity, genetic factors play an important role. However, it doesn’t mean that inheriting some traits makes one obese. Obesity rarely shows a clear inheritance pattern when it occurs in families. It seems that in most cases, obesity is multifactorial, which is the result of complex interactions among many genes and environmental factors.

Myth 4: Obesity does not affect health

Fact: Obesity has an adverse effect on almost every part of the body and can hamper a person’s quality of life. Obese people are at increased risk for many serious illnesses and health conditions when compared to people with healthy and normal weight. These conditions include type 2 diabetes mellitus, arthropathy, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, cerebral vasculopathy, sleep apnea syndrome, etc. 

Myth 5: Eating less will solve the problem of Obesity

Fact: One of the main reasons for obesity is consuming more calories than the body requires, over an extended period of time. The most common steps taken towards controlling obesity are lowering calorie intake, increasing physical activity or both. Though diet and exercise are important aspects, several other factors also play crucial role in obesity. These factors are inadequate sleep, psychological stress, chronic pain, endocrine (hormone) disruptors, and the use of certain medications. It is unfortunate that people often forget about these when thinking of obesity.

Obesity is a complex disease and we still have a lot to learn about it. Due to these gaps in knowledge, people lean towards ideas that simply aren’t correct. Unravelling the facts about obesity from the fiction will help understand and manage the disease better. It is advisable to seek expert opinion from your doctor to address obesity at an early stage.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Is your relationship hurting your mental health? 5 signs to watch out for

Relationships can impact us in very different ways, depending on the relationship. Some relationships can uplift our spirits, give comfort during stress, fill our day with fun and playfulness, or instill a profound sense of purpose in our life. But there are also some relationships, which can pull us downward, drain our energy, take a toll on your mental health and erode our happiness. The symptoms of dealing with such relationships may not be obvious, as they can come out in the form of some obsessive behaviour, such as obsessive hair-picking.

For example, if you are dealing with an emotionally abusive partner, the stress and anger may spill over into other areas of your life. From having trouble concentrating on work to beige watching and losing temper with friends, you are likely to burst out anger in many ways. Here are some signs that can tell your relationship is hurting your mental health.

You’re feeling depressed

Studies have found association between lower-quality relationships and symptoms of depression. Researchers say people in toxic or abusive relationships are more likely to feel depressed. At worst, it can also lead to suicidal thoughts.

You’re not doing well physically

You mental and physical health are connected. Researchers also say relationships have direct influences on cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, neurosensory, and other physiological mechanisms.  An unhealthy relationship can cause anxiety or depression, as well headaches, insomnia, or muscle pain.

You’re indulging in unhealthy habits

While trying to distract yourself from thinking about your relationship, you may end up doing many unhealthy habits like obsessive hair-picking, binge-watching, oversleeping, etc.

You’re feeling low about yourself

If you have started feeling low about yourself and less interesting, your partner may be blamed for lowering your self-esteem. When a close person makes you feel inferior, you may start to believe you are.

You feel relieved when he leaves

You eagerly wait for your partner to leave your place, and just the thought of it excites you.  This feeling of relief shows that your partner is causing you stress.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Probiotics not just good for gut, but for your mood disorders too

The effect of probiotics or good bacteria is conveyed to the brain through the gut brain axis

Probiotics may be good for more than just your gut health. They may also help treat bipolar disorder and other psychiatric mood disorders, because of the intimate relationship between gut health and brain health. There is in fact a connection called the “gut-brain axis” (GBA), allows for crosstalk between the endocrine, immune, and autonomic nervous systems.

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition characterised by dramatic shifts in mood from depression to mania. Currently, the standard treatment includes a combination of psychotherapy and prescription medications such as mood stabilisers and antipsychotics.

However, an emerging field of research is exploring the use of probiotics — often thought of as “good bacteria” — as a potential new avenue for treatment of bipolar and other psychiatric mood disorders.

There is also mounting evidence linking imbalances in the microbial species that make up the gut microbiome to a number of health problems including allergies, autoimmune disorders, and psychiatric mood disorders

A study found that a probiotic supplement may reduce inflammation of the gut, which is known to exacerbate bipolar disorder.

Probiotic organisms are non-pathogenic bacteria that, when present in the gut flora, are known to improve the overall health of the host.

The GI tract is also home to the intestinal microbiome, a complex population of roughly 100 trillion microorganisms (more than ten times the number of cells that make up the human body) that interacts with the mucosal lining of the GI tract. Studies have shown that the intimate association between the gut microbiome and GI tissue has a significant effect on the GBA.

There is also mounting evidence linking imbalances in the microbial species that make up the gut microbiome to a number of health problems including allergies, autoimmune disorders, and psychiatric mood disorders.

In the case of bipolar disorder and the GBA, previous studies have shown that inflammation, or over-stimulation of the body’s immune system, is a contributing factor in the disease.  With this in mind, researchers developed a probiotic supplement aimed at reducing inflammation caused by microbial imbalances in the gut.

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                     
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Popular Antibacterial Ingredient Has Been Linked to Cancer

The chemical triclosan began to appear in a multitude of products in the early 1970s. From soaps and toothpastes to cleaning supplies and pesticides, this chemical was reportedly an effective antibacterial and anti-fungal compound. After it started to appear in household products, the FDA began to investigate the chemical's safety profile. However, it wasn't until 2016 that it established a final, clear regulation. 

 

It was at this time that the FDA had effectively banned triclosan and 18 other compounds from consumer antiseptic wash products such as hand soap. However, the regulation was limited as it still allowed the chemical to be used in hand wipes or sanitizers and toothpastes. However,a researcher said, "Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water."
Over the years, a growing body of evidence has come to suggest that triclosan is harmful to humans and to the environment. Initial studies pointed to concerns over the chemical acting as an endocrine disrupter in humans and also increasing the prominence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
However, the direct effect that the chemical has on human health has been controversially debated. According to a review, it was recently concluded that when used in low concentrations triclosan is not harmful to human health. This includes the current levels found in cosmetics, shampoos, and toothpaste. The review does note, however, that the chemical can pose a hazard to the environment, and it has been seen to be very toxic and disruptive when found in river ecosystems. In fact, it has been noted as one of the top 10 pollutants found in rivers in some countries.  Even more concerning is the result of a survey which found traces of triclosan in 75% of urine samples from participants in a country. 
In a new study, it set out to explore if triclosan had any relationship with gut inflammation, which has been reported to be an increasingly diagnosed problem. The study fed mice amounts of the chemical relative to concentrations that have been identified in human blood samples. After three weeks of administration in healthy mice, a low-grade of colonic inflammation was identified. 
The study then administered the same regime to mice that were genetically engineered to develop inflammatory bowel disease. But after three weeks, the development of symptoms relating to irritable bowel syndrome had significantly accelerated, as did the development of colitis-associated colon cancer cell growth. It was noted that one group of mice, in particular, displayed significantly reduced lifespan. 

Researchers hypothesized that triclosan could be affecting the gut microbiome which could be the fundamental mechanism resulting in inflammatory effects. In order to look deeper into this mechanism, the study subsequently found that when fed to germ-free mice (those with no gut microbiome), they found that the harmful effects of triclosan disappeared. Furthermore, they discovered that triclosan did indeed lower the diversity of an animal's gut flora. 
It's worth noting that this study is only demonstrated in a small mouse cohort and so far, it has not been validated in humans. But researchers do suggest the results indicate that the effects of this chemical on human health do indeed need urgent and close inspection. 
A scientist says "Little is known about the impact of this chemical on human health or other species. Our study indicates there is an urgent need to further evaluate the impact of triclosan exposure and update the potential regulatory policies."  

For now, it seems that regulators may be dragging their heels on working out whether this chemical is harmful or not. But, in a statement released last year and co-signed by over 200 scientists and medical professionals suggests that we should probably just avoid it altogether. Within a report, it was found that despite the lack of definitive evidence of its harmful effects, there is no conclusive evidence of its efficacy as an anti-microbial agent. 
An environmental health professor says "People think antimicrobial hand soaps offer better protection against illness, but generally, antimicrobial soaps perform no better than plain soap and water." Furthermore, an earlier study by a team found that the chemical can build up to concerning levels of toxicity in the bristles of a toothbrush. What's worse, when a non-triclosan containing toothpaste was applied to the brush, the accumulated triclosan could be released in potentially harmful amounts. 
Ultimately, this all leads to a scenario where we have a chemical compound in a variety of household products that is, at best, relatively ineffective, and at worst, cancer-causing and toxic to the environment. Still, further work needs to be done to establish, for certain, whether there is an inflammatory connection in humans. However, at this point, triclosan can be easily avoided by simply paying attention to the ingredient list of purchased products. 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                             PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   

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How Does Sleep Deprivation Affect Your Health

Sleep is very important, but do you sleep enough? You have to make sure to get enough sleep each night because it is vital to your health and well-being. Keep in mind that only several hours of sleep per night is not enough for your brain and body.

Actually, during sleep the brain goes through your memories and removes the unimportant ones, so you will have free space for new information. If you do not get enough sleep, you will have problems with your concentration, mood, creativity, memory, and decision-making.

Also, almost every organ in your body is affected by the amount of sleep you get. Keep in mind that not enough sleep can cause health problems.

1. The Central Nervous System

Not enough sleep affects your mood, concentration, memory, and so on. The sleeping disorder, insomnia, can lead to depression, paranoia, hallucinations, and impulsive behavior.

2. The Immune System

Not enough sleep can make your immune system weaker, so you will be more susceptible to diseases and chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

3. The Respiratory System

If you have a chronic lung illness, not getting enough sleep can worsen the condition. And, it can put you at a higher risk of infections such as flues and colds.

4. The Digestive System

Lack of sleep leads to increased levels of insulin and weight gain. In fact, it increases the risk of diabetes type 2 and promotes fat storage.

5. The Cardiovascular System

Not getting enough sleep can affect your blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation, and it increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease

6. The Endocrine System

Lack of sleep affects the production of the growth hormones. That is why sleep is very important for children and teenagers.

The Recommended Sleep Times

Although there is a rule that says eight hours of sleep are enough, the time varies. Actually, it depends on age. The professor and his group of researchers have conducted a research.

The research’s aim was to reveal how much sleep do people of different age need, and the National Sleep Foundation supported the results. Here is what they revealed:

• 0-3 months = 14-17 hours
• 4-11 months = 12-15 hours
• 1-2 years = 11-14 hours
• 3-5 years (preschool age) = 10-13 hours
• 6-13 years (school age) = 9-11 hours
• 14-17 years (teens) = 8-10 hours
• 18-25 years (youth) = 7-9 hours
• 26-64 years (adults) = 7-9 hours
• 65+ years (seniors) = 7-8 hours

How to Compensate for the Lost Sleep?

The only way to compensate for the lost sleep is to get more sleep, but you will need more than just several nights. It can take a few weeks. Try adding one extra hour each night during the weekends.

Then, you should adjust your time according to your age. Avoid caffeine and energy drinks during the day. They may increase your energy and concentration, but they also affect your sleep.

So, people, make sure to get enough sleep each night if you want to be healthy and filled with energy. Keep in mind that staying up late when you have to wake up early is not a smart idea.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

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