Death from diabetes increased 50 per cent in India between 2005 and 2015

It is an accepted fact that changing lifestyles have increased deaths due to diabetes by 50 per cent in India between 2005 and 2015. This is now the seventh-most common cause of death in the country. It was at the 11th position in 2005. This is based on data published by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD).
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 13 October 2016.

Ischemic heart disease remains the highest cause of death, followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, lower respiratory infection, diarrhoeal diseases and tuberculosis. However, in 2015, there wee 346,000 people who died of diabetes. This figure was 3.3 per cent of all deaths that year, with an annual increase of 2.7 per cent from 1990.
On an average, nearly 26 people die of diabetes per 100,000 population. In addition, diabetes is also one of the top causes of disability and accounts for 2.4 per cent of the disability-adjusted life-years lost (sum of years lost due to disability or premature death due to the disease).
Incidentally, in other countries a majority of people with diabetes are over 60 years old but, in India, it is in the 40-59 years age group. This affects productivity of the population. As per estimates, diabetes patients in urban areas spend Rs 10,000 and patients in rural areas spend Rs 6,260 every year on treatment. This is as per a study of 2013 published by The Association of Physicians of India.


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Air pollution took 1.4-million lives in India during 2013

World Bank has disclosed that India has the distinction of being the country with the second highest number of deaths due to air pollution in 2013. With 1.4-million deaths during 2013, India is next only to China which is the world's most populous country and it lost 1.6 million lives.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 9 September 2016.

According to the report that has been released by the World Bank and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, premature deaths due to air pollution has cost the global economy $5.1 trillion annually. The report also highlights the fact that in 2013, premature deaths alone cost the global economy about $225 billion in lost work days. These have adversely affected the economic development of the countries, especially in the growing economies in Asia. In 2013, for which global data is available, China lost nearly 10% of its GDP, while India over 7%, Sri Lanka and Cambodia roughly 8%.
In 2013 about 93% of deaths and non-fatal illnesses attributed to air pollution worldwide had occurred in these countries, where 90% of the population was exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. This factor is a major environmental health risk and increases one's chance of contracting diseases like stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.


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Study shows that there is no link between obesity and intake of fat

If the latest study is to be believed, it is now high time that we change our age-old concept that intake of fats leads to obesity. That is what we have been told for years - namely, we should cut down on the amount of fat we eat. That, in turn, has inspired many people to go in for low-fat diets.
However, the concept is undergoing changes because, a report indicates that such eating patterns are having "disastrous health consequences". The National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration have called for a "major overhaul" of dietary guidelines and have accused major public health bodies of colluding with the food industry.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 23 May 2016.

The report wants a return to "whole foods" like dairy, fish and meat, as well as high fat healthy foods like avocados - their message is "eating fat does not make you fat". The logic is saturated fats do not cause heart disease and full fat dairy foods - including milk, yoghurt and cheese - can, in fact, protect the heart. In their opinion, low-fat diets and snacking between meals are responsible for Britain's growing obesity crisis and their suggestion is to avoid processed foods labelled "low fat", "lite" or "low cholesterol".
They also suggest that people should stay away from sugar, stop counting calories and those with type two diabetes should eat a fat-rich diet instead of one dominated by carbohydrates. In the opinion of the authors, food science has been "corrupted by commercial influences" in a way that represents a "significant threat to public health".


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Bust the obesity timebomb with grapes and oranges

A research has concluded that oranges and grapes could be a key to fighting the obesity crisis because, chemicals present in these two humble fruits could, when combined, help combat diabetes and heart disease. This has been revealed by experts of Warwick University who have taken trans-resveratrol, a compound found in red grapes, and hesperetin, a substance in oranges, and combined them in a pill. That pill, in the opinion of scientists, could in the future offer a new treatment to fight the three killer diseases.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 13 May 2016.

Professor Paul Thornally, who led the research, has indicated that this find is an incredibly exciting development and could have a massive impact on our ability to treat these diseases because apart from diabetes and heart disease it could take care of obesity.
When administered in tandem, the two compounds decreased blood glucose, improved the action of insulin and improved the health of arteries. However, these compounds should be taken in pharmaceutical doses. Otherwise, if consumed directly from oranges and red grapes, the average daily intake for a person would be about 10 litres of orange juice and grape juice.


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Obesity among Chinese kids is due to junk foods - findings of a 29-year-old survey

Obesity among Chinese kids is due to junk foods - these are the findings of a 29-year-old survey conducted on kids in China's eastern Shandong province. It has been revealed that 17 percent of boys younger than 19 were obese in 2014, and that of girls was nine percent - these are up from under one percent for both genders in 1985. Obviously, the researchers have raised the red flag hinting at an obesity explosion among children in rural China. This is attributed to a Western-style diet that is high in both sugar and carbohydrates.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 27 April 2016.

The data is based on six government surveys of some 28,000 rural school children (aged 7-18) in Shandong. It is seen that the percentage of overweight boys had grown from 0.7 percent to 16.4 percent, and girls from 1.5 percent to nearly 14 percent. The study had used different measures of Body Mass Index (BMI) for overweight and obesity as compared to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
The experts of Shandong Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have indicated that China has experienced rapid socioeconomic and nutritional changes in the past 30 years. In China, people have got into the habit of eating more and are, also, less physically active than they were in the past. Moreover, the traditional Chinese diet has changed to embrace one that is high in fat and calories and low in fiber. A caution has been sounded that the popularity of the Western lifestyle will cost lives because of an escalation of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
In the opinion of WHO - being overweight brings about a major risk factor for heart disease apart from stroke, diabetes, and some cancers.


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British Heart Foundation (BHF) finds that only one in five can run 100m

Research carried out by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has revealed that nearly half of UK adults get out of breath while running for a bus and that only one in five people in Britain admit that they could only manage to run 100 metres.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 4 April 2016.

A poll of 2000 adults found that around 47% felt they could run up to half a mile while three in 10 (29%) of those who claimed to be able to run a mile said they had not done so for more than a decade and nearly two-fifths (38%) admitted to the survey that they did not feel fit enough to join a gym. Just under three in 10 (less than 30%) thought running was for those who are already fit and healthy.
BHF has described the figures as "worrying" and is warning that heart and circulatory disease affects around seven million people in the UK and is responsible for around 155,000 deaths annually. The charity suggests that people participate in the marathon and run the distance of 26.2 miles over the course of a month, so that they can remain fit.
Heart disease can affect anyone at any age, and keeping physically active is one of the best ways to help build a strong and healthy heart.


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Long term vegetarianism can give rise to risk of heart disease and cancer

In a study, researchers from Cornell University in the US compared hundreds of genomes from a primarily vegetarian population in Pune, India to traditional meat-eating people in Kansas and concluded that there was a significant genetic difference. In their opinion, long term vegetarianism can lead to genetic mutations that, in turn, increases the risk of heart disease and cancer.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 30 March 2016.

The study has found that populations who have had a primarily vegetarian diet for generations were found to be far more likely to carry DNA that makes them susceptible to inflammation. Scientists in the US feel that the mutation took place to make it easier for vegetarians to absorb essential fatty acids from plants. However, the flip side is that it has the knock-on effect of boosting the production of arachidonic acid. This acid is known to increase inflammatory disease and cancer and, in conjunction with a diet high in vegetable oils - like sunflower oil - the mutated gene quickly turns fatty acids into dangerous arachidonic acid. The researchers expect the finding to help explain previous research which found vegetarian populations are nearly 40 per cent more likely to suffer colorectal cancer than meat eaters. This finding has puzzled doctors because the general perception was that eating red meat raises the risk.


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Regular intake of nuts could add years to your life

A study has shown that nuts, when taken regularly, can add years to one's life. One handful (or about 30 grams) of nuts for five or more days a week could do wonders to your longevity. The study carried out by Harvard University has revealed that those who eat nuts tend to live longer and suffer fewer deaths from cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 2 March 2016.

For women, eating just two handfuls of nuts a week may extend their lives as much as by jogging four hours a week. The researchers also established that women at high risk of heart disease who consumed a tablespoon of peanut butter five or more days a week appeared to nearly halve their risk of suffering a heart attack as compared to women who ate one serving or less per week.
as to the possibility of putting on weight by consuming nuts, that is a misconception - around 20 clinical trials have been carried out on nuts and weight, and not a single one has shown the weight gain one might expect. In short, those who ate a handful or two a day either had less weight gain than predicted, no weight gain at all, or actually lost weight.
The reason for this is that nuts can make you feel full faster than some other foods and the ability of nuts to boost metabolism — hence, when you eat nuts, you burn more of your own fat.


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Cancer linked to obesity could turn out to be the biggest killer in next decade

#obesity #cancer #heartdisease In the opinion of academics of Harvard University, cancer linked to obesity could turn out to be the biggest killer of the next decade. As it is, this condition is already to blame for up to 32,000 cancer deaths every year in the UK.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 30 May 2015.

The experts feel diet and exercise regimes should become ‘standard’ treatment for cancer along with the regular chemotherapy and surgery. Thy have warned that unless checked, the US and the UK obesity will cause more cancer deaths than smoking.
The warnings should not be taken lightly because overweight patients have high risk of developing cancer and also are far more likely to die. The WHO predicts that at present nearly 25% of adults in Britain are obese and this would increase to 33% by 2030.
Moreover, children faced a ‘rising tide’ of cancer, heart disease and ill health due to the effects of their obesity which needs to be checked and kept under control.
The researchers have indicated that obesity increases the risk of the most common types of tumors including breast, prostate, bowel, womb and cervical cancers.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Eat cereals to enjoy a long and healthy life

#health #diabetes #cancer #porridge #heartdisease #wholegrains Doctors recommend that you begin your day with a bowl of cereal or porridge because such a start would add years to your life. Any diet that is high in whole grains and cereal fibers reduces the risk of premature death from chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes.
This has been reported in daiiymail.co.uk dated 24 March 2015.

Whole grains mean the entire seed of a plant used for food and is supposed to contain the germ, bran and endospore, such as wheat, oat and quinoa. These are rich sources of dietary fiber and other nutrients like minerals and antioxidants.
In a study carried out by the Harvard Public School of Health it has been found that consuming an average of 34g (1.2 ounces) of whole grains on a daily basis would lead to a 17 per cent reduced risk of premature death.
Moreover, a diet high in whole grains was associated with an 11 per cent reduced risk of death from respiratory disease, and a 48 per cent reduction in the risk of diabetes.
The results were based on an analysis of the results of data from nearly 500,000 members of AARP - a membership organization of people aged over 50 from California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, and the metropolitan areas of Georgia and Detroit.
In 1993, a questionnaire had been sent to these members and the list was whittled down to 367,442 after elimination and these persons were monitored for the next 14 years, on an average.

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Coffee culture – the health benefits and risks of coffee

#instantcoffee #heartdisease #dementia #type2diabetes #health Coffee is a drink that provides energy and it has its plus and minus. Studies keep getting published about health benefits as well as risks surrounding this drink. While one school of thought reveals the positives of drinking coffee, another study would point out the grave dangers associated with drinking coffee.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 10 March 2015.
While one study links coffee with reduced risk of heart attacks, it protects against dementia, type 2 diabetes and even skin cancer. Coffee is also seen as a culprit for anxiety, heartburn and making menopausal hot flushes worse. These are usually attributed to to the caffeine found naturally in coffee beans.
But, it must be remembered that coffee also contains a range of antioxidants and plant chemicals that give the drink its characteristic smoky bitterness and smell, apart from its healthy properties.
Therefore the question arises – what is the safe limit. How much intake of coffee will help reap the benefits and not suffer the risks? The answer as given by a dietician is up to three cups a day. That way one can enjoy its health benefits.
However, those who have heart disease should avoid instant coffee since it contains high levels of potassium and tis can cause dangerous changes in heart rhythm.
Read more on coffee and health at this link.

Go nuts over nuts – reduce chances of death from heart disease

#HeartDisease #peanuts #VanderbiltUniversity #health Researchers in the United States have gone nuts over nuts because, after analyzing thousands of different categories of men and women, a team of the Vanderbilt University in Nashville has concluded that a regular intake of a handful of nuts can reduce chances of death from heart disease. This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 3 March 2015.
The study was carried out to establish whether nuts and peanuts were linked to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease in different ethnic groups and among people with low socio-economic status. If so, it could prove to be a cost effective way to improve cardiovascular health. Incidentally, nuts are rich in nutrients while peanuts, which are legumes, have nutrients similar to tree nuts.
Xiao-Ou Shu and her co-authors carried out analysis of three groups involving 71,764 low-income black and white men and women in the United States and 134,265 Chinese men and women in Shanghai. It seems men both in the US and in China consumed more peanuts than women.
The consumption of peanuts was roughly 50 percent In the US, but in China, the assessment was done only for consumption of peanuts.
The findings were that in the US, there was a reduced risk of total mortality of 21 per cent for those who consumed the most peanuts. In contrast, in China, the risk reduction was 17 per cent.

Child obesity rates for British children under 10 leveling off

#BMI #obesity #type2diabetes #heartdisease A study carried out by researchers of the King's College London has concluded that, while obesity in children under-10s is gradually stabilizing, the same connote said of children in the age group of 11 to 15 as reported in bbc.com dated 30 January 2015.
The rise in childhood obesity was a matter of concern – it had left one in three children overweight. That is showing signs of leveling off for the children under 10s. During the period 1994 to 2003, there was a steady rise in the proportion of overweight children in England but, in the last decade, it has remained at about 30%.
The Public Health England has said that there was no room for complacency because, in the opinion of experts, overweight is responsible for a wide range of health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and, even, infertility. And - the number of obese people in the UK has increased three times in the past 25 years.
The study was conducted by considering weight, height and body mass index (BMI) measurements for more than 370,000 children from 1994 to 2013 and, this data was analyzed. Children who are obese have to face problems like bullying. Such children also suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease as they grow up.

Decline in heart deaths attributed to improved lifestyle and not due to statins

#heartdisease #statins #smokinghabit #transfat #dietarychanges Those who suffer from heart diseases can now celebrate because England has seen a drop in the number of deaths related to heart diseases. A study has revealed that more than 20,000 lives have been saved in the last seven years – this is attributed to changes in diet and lifestyle and not drugs.
It has been possible because of reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol and only a minority were tied to the use of drugs such as statins. It has been revealed that more than two-thirds were the result of reduction in smoking rates and dietary changes like going in for consuming of less trans fats.
In order to carry out the study, researchers had made use of a mathematical model to assess the role of medication in the huge decline in deaths from 2000 to 2007. The study brought forth the facts that deaths from coronary heart disease fell by 38,000 in that time. Of course, many lives would have been saved by advances in emergency treatment, or by other factors that have not yet been fully explained.
But - 20,400 deaths were prevented as a direct result of reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol. Moreover, just 5,300 of those were linked to the use of statins, the study found.
The study was carried out by Dr Martin O’Flaherty and colleagues at Liverpool University and they made use of trial data, national surveys, and official statistics to calculate how many deaths were prevented and why. A Dr O’Flaherty has said - statins were not as effective as they were claimed to be . . . rather, curbs on salt and trans fats in processed and takeaway foods, as well as changing smoking habit gave better results compared to pills.

Enjoy long life – go in for high fiber diet to stay healthy

#HighFiberDiet #chronicdiseases #heartdisease Chinese researchers have concluded that people who eat a high fiber diet live longer and are less prone to die from any disease – the study was carried out on nearly one million people.
This is because the fiber has the potential to lower the risk of chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several types of cancer, hence people should be encouraged to increase their dietary fiber intake 'to potentially decrease the risk of premature death.'
The interesting study was conducted by Yang Yang, of the Shanghai Cancer Institute in China and published in in the American Journal of Epidemiology. He and his colleagues correlated data from 17 previous studies that tracked 982,411 men and women – most of them were from Europe and the U.S. The team also examined about 67,000 deaths.
Yang's team divided the participants into five groups based on their daily fiber intake and observed that those in the top fifth consumed the greatest amount of fiber daily and were 16 percent less likely to die than those in the bottom fifth, who consumed the least fiber products.
Incidentally, the norms laid down by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is that adults should consume 14 grams of fiber in every 1,000 calories they take in which, in turn, works out to nearly 25 grams every day for women and 38 grams for men.
Food with high fiber content are fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, seeds and nuts.