JUST BEFORE MONDAY
Nutritionist Anjali Mukherjee talks of how lifestyle diseases have hit us
Almost 60 per cent deaths in India are due to ‘lifestyle’ diseases. We have above 100 million people with cardiovascular ailments, which is 60 per cent of the world’s heart patients. The age group affected by lifestyle diseases is getting increasingly premature due to poor lifestyle. I’ve even had 42-year-old patients with menopause. In women, I see growing cases of Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) syndrome and fibroids. On the rise in men is oral cancer, heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, central obesity, Type 2 diabetes and pulmonary diseases.
Obesity is no longer a disorder, but a disease and more and more men above 35, now have pot bellies and thin legs. This means you are not digesting and burning nutrients properly. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the waist size for Asian men must not exceed 35 and women, not more than 32, though for the rest of the world it is 40 for men and 35 for women. If you exceed these measurements, then you have visceral fat in the abdominal cavity that causes inflammation, a root cause of most lifestyle diseases that predisposes you to heart disease and diabetes. While body Mass Index above 23 is considered overweight, and above 28 is obese, about 50 per cent of Indians are overweight, that is one in every two people. The only good thing now is that people have become more aware of what is right or wrong to consume thanks to awareness campaigns by the media and health groups. That having said, people still find it attractive to eat wrong. It is ‘cool’ to be a foodie, drink alcohol, and smoke. And they prefer being cool than correct. Though lifestyle diseases are preventable, people don’t want to invest time, energy and money in lifestyle-correction. Until the person is affected cosmetically.
I’ve seen women, switching to a diet of high-fibre and less carbs overnight, only when they start to get acne, baldness and gain weight from PCOD. Vanity has become a trend, where you care about a good skin and body, more than correcting the disease.
Sitting has become the new smoking. Physical inactivity makes the body insulin-resistant and prone to clotting, and so it is important you brisk walk for five minutes after every hour of sitting at the computer. That’s why the concept of clocking 10,000 steps a day came into being. Eat only when you experience hunger, and let your body feel the burn.
People are also forgetting to drink adequate water, which is causing constipation, change in skin colour, ache, blackheads, dark circles, etc. Water hydrates, reduces unnecessary hunger, and improves metabolism. While ‘superfoods’ quinoa and kale are becoming ‘fashionable’ to eat for their high mineral and iodine content, these won’t bail you out from a lifestyle disease if you’re already overweight, eating other unhealthy foods and continue smoking or excessively drinking. So watch what you indulge in 2018. What must get popular is the focus on long-term lifestyle management, not temporary answers.
Anjali Mukerjee is a nutritionist, researcher, columnist, author, and founder director of Health Total.
Bigg Boss 18: Viral Bhabhi Hema Sharma becomes first evicted contestant of Salman Khan-hosted show
New ITR e-filing portal 3.0 to be launched soon: Check features and other important details
Indian Railway Rules: You won't be able to carry these items during train journey due to...
New Zealand's Suzie Bates surpasses Mithali Raj for massive feat in women’s international cricket
Diwali 2024: Is Deepawali on October 31 or November 1? Know date, rituals, significance and more
Baba Siddique's son Zeeshan dares killers, says, 'they silenced my father, but they forget...'
Flipkart Big Diwali Sale: Massive discount on Moto G85, iPhone 15 Plus and more
CNG prices likely to surge by Rs 4-6, here's everything you need to know
This is world's most expensive condom that is 200 years old, it is made of...
PM Narendra Modi to virtually inaugurate Bagdogra airport terminal worth Rs 1550 crore
Meta AI on WhatsApp to soon serve as your personal assistant, know how it will work
Shocking: People in THIS country love eating crocodile meat, price of reptile's meat per kg is Rs...
Russia shoots down over 100 Ukrainian drones as missile strike on Ukraine injures 17
Delhi pollution hits ‘severe’ levels, AAP govt lists THIS reason as major factor
Elon Musk promises to award $1 million each day to anyone who signs his...
Loud blast in Delhi: Explosion reported outside CRPF school in Rohini, probe underway
‘No clean shave, no love’: Indore women's dating demands sparks discussion, watch viral video
Isha Ambani turns heads in stunning black and white outfit at Mumbai event, it costs...
Big move by Mukesh Ambani as Reliance Industries to revive Campa Cola, plans to disrupt...
'Mom, thank you...': Isha Ambani credits Nita Ambani for her success in touching speech
8th Pay Commission: Minimum salary to be doubled? Big announcement expected on...
Kichcha Sudeep’s mother Saroja Sanjeev passes away at 86 due to…
'The answer lies in the...': Gautam Adani gets candid on why he didn't complete his education
Cultural Shock? Desi singing loudly inside bus in Germany divides opinion, watch viral video
Meet man who worked as waiter, earned Rs 3,000 per month, cracked UPSC exam with AIR...
Noida Master Plan-2041: NCR to get new city, UP government approves 'New Noida', to be readied in…
Understanding Fault Lines: Deep dive into India-Canada diplomatic standoff
Aditya Birla Group's big movement, set to invest Rs 75 crore in THIS Virat Kohli backed brand
Air Pollution: Delhi-NCR air quality turns 'severe', AQI reaches...
70 Bomb Threats In 6 Days: What is the reason behind this surge in hoax warnings?
'I'm sorry...': Throwback to when Ratan Tata fact-checked journalist for a quote attributed to him
Salman Khan gets emotional at Bigg Boss 18 amid death threats: ‘What all I am going through…’
'Grave mistake': Netanyahu warns Iran, Hezbollah after 'assassination' attempt
Mukesh Ambani's next BIG step, Jio Cinema likely to shut down due to...
Meet man, who used to be mechanic, cleared UPSC exam on first attempt, secured AIR 32 to become....
RRB NTPC 2024: Registration window ends today, check easy steps to apply at rrbapply.gov.in
Watch: Little girl lifts huge snake in viral video, parents face backlash for dangerous stunt
Happy Karwa Chauth 2024: WhatsApp wishes, messages and quotes for your loved ones
Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath, known for favouring renting, buys his 1st house; here's why
Meet Ratan Tata’s favourite chef, who began his career in a garage, now he is...
Rajinikanth to compensate producer's loss for Vettaiyan failure? Here's what we know
Meet woman behind the voice of Apple's iPhone 'Siri', never paid for it due to...
Who is IPS Anurag Gupta, acting Jharkhand DGP removed by EC ahead of Assembly polls?
Meet Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, the newly appointed chairperson of NCW