Doctors slam Mohanlal’s ‘cholesterol-free’ oil

His claims of cholesterol-free coconut oil not scientific, say medical professionals

A section of Indian doctors in the UAE have said they do not endorse a much publicised endorsement of a coconut oil brand by the Malayalam superstar Mohanlal.

Indian doctors at the All Kerala Medical Graduates Association (AKMG), a group of doctors practising in the UAE, said they are perplexed by the endorsement of a coconut brand by a superstar like Mohanlal, claiming that coconut oil is totally free from cholesterol.

What Mohanlal publicises through the advertisement is not scientifically proven and people may risk their health by blindly trusting a superstar endorsement, according to them. Earlier endorsement of a leading liquor brand by the superstar raked up controversy, similar to a celebrity brand endorsement by KJ Yesudas for a property firm that cheated hundreds of NRI investors.

“Coconut oil, like all saturated fats, should be limited to 7-10 per cent of calorie-intake because it can increase risk for heart disease, according to the AHA and 2010 Dietary Guidelines,” an Indian doctor said, quoting the American Heart Association.

A number of radio stations, television channels and newspapers are currently running an advertisement campaign for the new brand of coconut oil, claiming that the oil processed using a new technology will not cause heart disease or fat accumulated as spread by some foreign agents.

Mohanlal, one of the most popular Malayalam actors, acts as a Kerala King, sending out a Royal Decree, endorsing the specific brand of coconut oil.

According to marketing experts, celebrities are roped in to sell anything from gold ornaments to chit funds and financial products. The particular brand of coconut oil is claimed to be 100 per cent pure made with finest copra (dry coconut) pieces. Trans fats, saturated fats in coconut oils can be harmful and cause heart attack, doctors said.

In the advertisement Mohanlal, dressed as a traditional king of Kerala, says he is aware of a conspiracy hatched by foreign countries and is issuing a decree endorsing the pure coconut oil, free from cholesterol. Doctors say it is a highly misleading advertisement of Coconadu oil, because such claims are not scientifically proved.

“There are two basic categories of fats. Healthy fats are unsaturated and include vegetable oils, fish oils, and plant fats in nuts, avocados, and seeds. These fats should be the primary fats in your diet because they are either neutral or raise HDL cholesterol [considered good cholesterol] but don’t raise LDL cholesterol [considered bad cholesterol].

“The less healthy saturated fats found in animal fats and tropical oils, including coconut oil, are allowed, but in lesser amounts because they raise LDL cholesterol,” says Dr Hanish Babu.

“Trans fats in processed foods are the worst fats, capable of lowering HDL and increasing LDL, and should be kept as low as possible. Eating a nutritious diet that includes mostly whole foods and is balanced in calories is more important that worrying about specific nutrients and foods.”

“Coconut oil is an essential fat, saturated fat that can cause problem for heart by causing LDL cholesterol. Both coconut oil and palm oil can cause more cholesterol and can cause heart attack, which is scientifically proven. It is not misleading information spread by foreign countries, as Mohanlal claims in the advertisement. It is a scientifically proven fact that saturated fat can cause cholesterol,” said Dr Babu, who was speaking in his personal capacity.

He is also the Vice President of AKMG Emirates, but some officials in the Association have a different opinion.

Dr Babu said Keralites are more prone to heart diseases than people from many other Indian states due to many factors – increased use of red meat, egg and other fatty food items. About 7,000 tons of red meat is consumed every day in Kerala and now people are not doing enough physical exercise. High levels of stress, increased use of smoking and alcohol and negative attitude are factors causing heart ailments. It is definitely a misleading advertisement,” Dr Babu . There are different opinions on this issue and it is not the view of the organisation, he added.

According to studies, pure virgin coconut oil, containing no hydrogenation (the process of adding hydrogen to make a liquid fat hard), contains 92 per cent saturated fat – the highest amount of saturated fat of any fat.

“Most saturated fats are solid at room temperature, found in animal products (such as meat, dairy, poultry with skin, and beef fat) and contain cholesterol. Unlike animal fats, tropical oils – palm, palm kernel, and coconut oils – are saturated fats that are called oils but depending on room temperature can be solid, semi-solid, or liquid, and do not contain cholesterol.

Like all fats, coconut oil is a blend of fatty acids. Coconut oil contains an unusual blend of short and medium chain fatty acids, primarily lauric (44 per cent) and myristic (16.8 per cent) acids. It is this unusual composition that may offer some health benefits,” an Indian doctor said quoting relevant studies.

VM Sathish

 

Related articles

• 17 Beauty Uses For Coconut Oil (Infographic) (mindbodygreen.com)
• UPDATE: Coconut Face Oil (then8kedrose.com)

More Than 80 Pct of Healthy Indians Are #VitaminD Deficient

We might live in a country full of sunshine but Indians are still deprived of the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D – which is wrongly called so – is a pro-hormone that influences the expression of more than 200 genes in human body. Nearly every tissue in the human body has receptors of Vitamin D, be it brain, heart, skin, kidney, pancreas etc. Any deficiency of Vitamin D in the human body is bound to affect normal functioning of all organs having Vitamin D receptors.

Vitamin D deficiency is fast becoming a global and National Health Concern. It is estimated that around 80 percent of the Indian population has Vitamin D levels less than normal. However, the bigger concern is that the population at large is not even aware of Vitamin D deficiency and its consequences.

One of India’s leading diabetologist, Dr Banshi Saboo, Founder of Diabetes Foundation of India, said, “Earlier Vitamin D was thought to be responsible for maintaining calcium homeostasis to prevent osteoporosis and maintain bone health. But, in the past decade research has established the strong association of Vitamin D deficiency in diabetes, immunity, asthma, TB, high blood pressure, neuro-muscular function, etc.“

Dr Saboo further added, “Low level of Vitamin D is associated with higher incidence of type 2 diabetes and correcting Vitamin D deficiency improves insulin sensitivity and helps in better management of hyperglycaemia. Also Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with high incidence of type 1 diabetes.”

As the mother is the sole source of vitamin D substrate for her developing foetus, vitamin D status is very important during pregnancy. Maternal deficiency of vitamin D is linked with abnormal foetal growth and gestational diabetes.

Sunscreen lotions, staying indoors, clothing habits, pollution and minimal exposure to direct sun light (during the period of 10 am to 3 pm) are the major reasons of such widespread deficiency in the Indian population.

The eminent endocrinologist from Mumbai, Dr Manoj Chadha said that Vitamin D deficiency has no defined signs or symptoms. “People who complain of back pains, unexplained muscle pains, general fatigue are the most likely to be Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency can be easily corrected by Vitamin D supplementation or some lifestyle changes. In a Vitamin D deficient person, oral 60,000 I.U per week for 8 weeks followed by maintenance dose of 60,000 I.U per month is a reasonably safe method to correct the deficiency.”

Although there are few major studies carried out in India to determine the optimum (sufficient) levels of serum Vitamin D 25(OH) D to be maintained to prevent chronic ailments, globally there is a consensus that Vitamin D deficiency is defined as serum 25(OH) D levels less than 20 ng/ml and insufficiency as serum 25(OH) D less than 30 ng/ml. Whereas serum 25(OH) D levels above 30 ng/ml is found to be sufficient.

Given the fact that Vitamin D receptors are present in various organs and tissues of the human body, maintaining Vitamin D levels in blood above 30 ng/ml may ensure normal functioning of the body organs and protect many from the suffering from chronic ailments.

Police probe threat to India’s richest man

 

Mukesh Ambani at the India Economic Summit 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Indian police are probing a threatening letter sent by militant Islamists to India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, for supporting a nationalist politician, police and reports said on Thursday.

 

The Mumbai Mirror said Indian Mujahideen had threatened to harm the head of the Reliance Industries group for backing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who is expected to make a bid to become premier in polls next year.

 

Reliance is a major investor in Gujarat and Ambani hailed Modi as a leader with a “grand vision” as well as calling him a “brother” at a major business conference in Gujarat in December.

 

The letter, delivered to a Reliance office in Mumbai, also accused Ambani of grabbing land belonging to a state-run statutory body to build his 27-storey residence in the city, believed to be the world’s most expensive private home, according to the newspaper.

 

Police confirmed they were investigating the letter, without giving details of its contents.

 

“We got the letter yesterday and we’re verifying all the facts and an inquiry is going on,” Mumbai police spokesman Satyanarayan Choudhary told AFP.

 

Indian Mujahideen has been blamed for several recent deadly attacks in India, including the recent twin attacks in southern city of Hyderabad, which killed 16 people.

 

Related articles

 

• Mukesh Ambani’s security cover not a dole (thehindu.com)
• India assigns commando squad to protect its richest man (with gallery) (vancouverdesi.com)

 

Indian American Devotee Ramalinga Raju Donates $3 Mn to Tirumala Temple

In a princely offering, an NRI devotee from US today donated Rs 16 crore to the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala.

M Ramalinga Raju, an entrepreneur based in the United States, handed over the offering in the form of a demand draft to top temple officials, temple sources said.

They said this was the first such large cash offering made by an individual devotee from overseas.

Raju presented the DD to Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman K. Bapiraju and the temple Joint Executive Officer K.S. Srinivasa Raju at the temple.

He requested the TTD, administering the cash-rich ancient temple, that Rs 11 crore be used to make a golden garland “sahasra nama mala” weighing about 35 kg and utilise the balance Rs five crore for the construction of a free-meal complex for pilgrims at Tiruchanur near here, they said.

This is the second large cash offering since last month. On March 27, a Chennai-based pharmaceutical firm had donated Rs two crore to the hill shrine, they added.

Source: PTI

Related articles

• NRI donates Rs.16 crore to Tirumala temple (thehindu.com)

Indian-American doctors seek end to physician shortage

An influential group of Indian-American doctors has proposed a comprehensive legislative agenda to end the shortage of physicians in the US, which would need a staggering 130,000 doctors by 2025.

Members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), representing thousands of Indian-American doctors, spent Thursday in the Capitol Hill meeting lawmakers to press their agenda.

This includes a provision for green cards for physicians graduating from accredited US residency programmes in the proposed comprehensive immigration reform bill.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts that America will need 90,000 physicians by 2020 and a staggering 130,000 by 2025.

Among other things AAPI urged the lawmakers to support two bills in the house and the senate introduced by Democrat House member Joe Crowley and Democrat Senator Bill Nelson to address the shortage of physicians.

Crowley, co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, who has sponsored the “Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013,” assured AAPI members that he would work for their legislative agenda.

Other lawmakers who addressed the doctors’ conclave included Republicans Phil Gingrey and Phil Roe and Democrats Jim McDermott, Frank Pallone, and Zoe Lofgren.

AAPI has also suggested making the J-1 visa waiver programme — that allows international medical graduates to do their medical training and residency in the US — permanent; an increase in residency positions and the enrollment in medical schools and providing a permanent fix to the medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

Skin Care Tips for Summer

With the enhanced flow of skin’s oily discharge, epidermal layer may be prone to dullness, loss of luster and blemishes. Secondly, owing to the increased susceptibility to the damaging UV rays of sun, there is a consequential increase in the formation of patches and wrinkles. In order to overcome the seasonal blemishes and loss of collagen, it is important to comply with certain skin care regimen.

• Drink at least 15-20 glasses of water to keep yourself hydrated. Other than providing the necessary moisture, it will help flush the toxic content.
• Make sure that the sunscreen used is applied at least fifteen to thirty minutes before stepping out in the sun.
• According to dermatologists and skin care specialists sun protective formula meant for summer should have a higher SPF content. SPF-30 should be used during summer.
• Similarly special care should be taken to have it applied twice or thrice during summer, other than using the same prior to stepping out in the sun.
• For those choosing to swim and bask in sun, sun protective formula should be applied every hour and twenty minutes to overcome the damaging impacts of sun burn, rashes and blister formation.
• Use of moisturizer watery in base is necessary during summer. Rose water which happens to be an effective toner cum moisturizer may be used as part of toning and moisturizing.
• Juice extracted from cucumber or watermelon may be similarly used for moisturizing facial skin.
• Application of moisturizer containing aloe extracts or for that matter application of aloe gel serves to be an effective summer healing option.
• As far as caring of feet and hands are concerned, soaking hands and feet in water enriched with a pinch of salt will help boost blood circulation.
• Make it a point to resort to the same at least once in a week.
• Avoid wearing closed shoes that block free circulation of air, in its place go for flats and sandals that make for necessary circulation.
• Other than avoiding moisturizer with oily base, it is also necessary that one avoids using synthetics and silk preferable during winter.
• For excessively dry skin types, olive oil may be used as an alternative to oily based moisturizers and toners.
• In order to make for healthy breathing and free circulation of the epidermal layer, tight fitting clothes blocking circulation should be avoided.
• Exfoliating the facial skin by means of a homemade scrub prepared out of half a cup yogurt, five table spoons of gram flour, a dash of turmeric and six drops of rose water can prove to be an effective option.
• Exfoliation followed by the application of facial pack consisting of three table spoons of mashed papaya , one table spoon of honey or lemon juice and white of an egg will serve to revive radiance and glow lost during summer.
• In case you want to avoid the use of egg white, the resulting blend of cucumber, honey and yogurt may be used to provide cooling touch to the skin
• In order to get rid of uneven summer tanning, go for a blend of gram flour, yogurt and squeezed juice of half a lemon, to apply the same on parts affected.
• Mixture consisting of honey and potato juice serves to be a good option for overcoming tan.
• Honey is similarly effective in overcoming conditions of scars and rashes.
• Avoid carbonated drinks containing soda and high doses of sugar. Instead go for juices extracted out of fresh fruits like lemonade and that extracted from unripe green mango.
• In cases of bites and stings during summer, soothing the affected part by means of an ice pack will prove to be healthy.

Venezuelan President Chavez Dead

 

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela died on Tuesday due to complications following cancer operation, Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced. Chavez was at the helm of his country for 14 years. Nicolas Maduro, a close Chavez ally, became Venezuelan vice president about two years ago, after doctors diagnosed Chavez with cancer in June, 2011. He endured four operations and courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Days before his death Chavez returned to Caracas from Havana, where he was under treatment after last surgery in December 2012.

Leaders of Russia, Cuba, Latin American countries, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have sent their condolence messages to the people of Venezuela. Venezuela. Cuba and several other regional countries have declared state mourning on Chavez’s death.

The situation in Venezuela after President Chavez’s death and ‘despite a painful shock’ is normal, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua declared. Elections of a new president are to be held within 30 days. After Chavez’s death, Nicolas Maduro has taken over the charge of acting president.

The Best Anti-Aging Foods

             

Photo Credit fruit and vegetables image by photo25th from Fotolia.com

Diet can have a profound affect on how we age. The basic ingredients of a healthy, anti-aging diet are not too surprising: a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, some protein, and a small dose of healthy fats. Beyond that, however, there are some foods that exhibit truly remarkable anti-aging properties.

Blueberries

Blueberries contain vitamins C and E as well as antioxidants called anthocyanins which are known to neutralize free radicals and provide support to the cardiovascular system, the eyes and the digestive system.
In a 1999 study at the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, rats that were fed blueberries in addition to their regular chow scored better on tests of balance and coordination as they aged. In a study at the University of Michigan, after 90 days of eating blueberries, rats had better insulin sensitivity and lower fasting blood sugar–important indicators of a reduced risk for diabetes, one of the most common diseases of aging. A University of Reading and Peninsula Medical School study showed that rats that ate blueberries had less cognitive decline with aging as well.

Olive Oil

Olive oil’s protective qualities for both the heart and in regard to cancer come from polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. These findings have been reported in The Journal of Nutrition and the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, among others.
In addition to other benefits, a Journal of the American College of Nutrition study suggested olive oil and other Mediterranean diet staples may be connected to less wrinkling of skin.

Green Tea

Green tea is another food loaded with antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin and catechins. As reported in The Journal of Nutrition, Cancer Prevention Research and elsewhere, a growing number of studies indicate that it has some protective effects in regard to certain cancers as well as liver damage.
A study reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that green tea antioxidants called catechins travel to the tissues of the eyes where they may reduce oxidative stress for up to 20 hours. A German study improved the effects of LED skin treatments for wrinkles by adding a lotion made of green tea extract.

Red Wine

The results from numerous studies have been reported in Carcinogenesis, Nature and Clinica Chimica Acta: the International Journal of Clinical Chemistry. Red wine contains several antioxidants, including a polyphenol called resveratrol that may help ward off age-related illnesses. In one study, resveratrol appeared to prevent cancer by limiting tumor growth in rats. In another study, resveratrol extended the lifespan of mice on a high-calorie diet.

 

References

• Journal of the American College of Nutrition: Olive oil’s anti-aging benefits
• Science Daily: Green tea may help fight glaucoma
• Science Daily: Green tea may reduce wrinkles
• Tufts study abstract: blueberries provide aging-related benefits in rats
• U-M study: blueberries provide aging-related benefits in rats

KATH BEE

A tongue has No Bones

“A tongue has no bones,but it’s already strong enough to break a heart,and we can’t take back the words we’ve spoken or heal the wounds we’ve made, so be careful with your words.”

Triple Filter Test story. — One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, “Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?”

“Wait a moment,” Socrates replied. “Before you tell me I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”

“Triple filter?” asked the man.

“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my student let’s take a moment to filter what you’re going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it.”

“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?”

“No, on the contrary …”.

“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you’re not certain it’s true?”.

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued.” You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter – the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really…”

“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?”
Have you ever tried living up to it? Do you believe people can?

Well.. Don’t just sit there! Share this lesson! this is a good one!

Eight Exclusive Yoga poses for Kids

Yoga is form of exercise that affects both your body and mind. In fact, some yoga asanas have the capacity to cure chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes. So making your kids do yoga from early ages might reap benefits for them later. Some yoga poses help kids in their general body growth and development too. Take the mountain pose for example. This pose of yoga helps kids correct standing posture problems.

There are some other yoga asanas that are specifically meant for kids. Yoga Poses For Kids To Try

1. Hands To Feet Pose:

Make your kid sit with their legs stretched straight in front of them. Ask them to hold their toes without bending their knees. This yoga asana is an excellent stretching exercise that helps your kids grow taller and improves their blood circulation in the body too.

2. Butterfly Pose:

Allow the child to sit on the floor mat with outstretched legs. Then fold the legs in and join the two feet facing each other.

The butterfly pose is a fun-filled asana that is a great stretching exercise for the thigh muscles.

3. Mountain Pose:

Make your child stand straight and join his/her hands over the head. This yoga pose increases kids concentration, body balance and also corrects their posture defects.

4. Cobra Pose:

Ask your kid to lie flat on the stomach and then lift the upper body by supporting his/her weight on arms. This yoga asana strengthen the spinal cord of the child and also increases flexibility. Apart from that, it helps digest food faster.

5. Swan Pose:

Yours kids would love to imitate a swan and fly away. So make the child lie flat on the belly. Fold his/her legs at the knees and let them raise their upper body by supporting the weight on the arms. Ask the child to look up towards the skies. This pose improves blood circulation in the nervous system making your child more alert.

6. Downward Facing Dog Pose:

Make the child stand on all fours like a dog and bend his/her head downwards. This yoga pose is great for role playing a dog. Apart from the fun, it improves the child’s blood circulation and also strengthens his/her limbs.

7. Triangle Pose:

You too can try this pose along with your kid. Stand with your feet apart. Place your arms up horizontally and then bend down on one side to touch your ankles. This pose of yoga helps the kid’s chest to expand and also stimulates the abdominal organs to function properly.

8. Wood Chopper Pose:

Ask the child to stand with his/her legs apart. Then they can raise their hands over their head and join palms into a ‘namaste’. This pose releases stress from your little one’s system. These are some of the best yoga poses for kids. What else have your kids tried?