Mental health drives at grassroots can prevent suicides, says report

Grassroots community mental health programmes to address risk factors such as depressionand alcohol use disorders can significantly address treatment gaps and reduce incidence of suicide, a new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry shows. The prevalence of depression, one of the most common mental disorders, fell from 14.6% to 11.3% following community mental health interventions implemented by two NGOs -Prakriti and Sangath. The population-based programme -Vishram (Vidarbha Stress and Health Program) was implemented over 18 months in Vidarbha, which reported a high prevalence of suicides in agricultural com munities. The…

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Starch in Bananas, Potatoes, Grains Beneficial for Health

Resistant starch, which occurs naturally in foods such as bananas, potatoes, grains and legumes, may benefit your health by aiding blood sugar control, supporting gut health and enhancing satiety, new research has claimed. The comprehensive review by researchers, including those from University College Dublin in Ireland, examined the potential health benefits of resistant starch, a form of starch that is not digested in the small intestine and is therefore considered a type of dietary fibre. Some forms of resistant starch occur naturally in foods such as bananas, potatoes, grains and…

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10 Incredible Health Benefits of Moringa Seeds

“Moringa seeds are obtained from the pods of the Moringa plant (Moringa Oleifera) or the drumstick tree, native to Northern India. Fresh and raw moringa seeds are quite tender, but as soon as they get dried, they become hard and start to resemble small beans. They are greyish-white in colour with unique wing-like structures. They can be steamed, boiled or roasted for various purposes,” says Dr. Divya Choudhary, Chief Dietitian, Max Super Speciality Hospital. According to Dr. Manoj K. Ahuja, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, “Moringa is a nutrient-dense plant that…

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15 Incredible Benefits of Jeera Water for Your Skin, Hair and Health

Want to lead a healthy lifestyle? “Start your day with a glass full of jeera water”, advises Bangalore-based Nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood. All you need to do is boil a few seeds of jeera (cumin) in water, then allow it to cool and drink it early in the morning on an empty stomach. Jeera water also referred to as ‘Jal jeera’ in Hindi, jeeragam or cumin water can be used as a natural remedy for various health problems and is of great advantage to our bodies. “It is essential to…

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To good health

Hiking, outdoor meditation, climbing mountains, swimming with sea turtles… being amid nature — the way we were born, was the diktat this year. The need to lighten the stress of electronics by going back to natural surroundings was felt by one and all. Adapt to stress 2016 was all about superherbs, with adaptogens leading the lobby. Maca, ginseng and moringa became the new must-haves and were used as garnish in salads, smoothies and soups. Adaptogens are herbal substances that help balance our adrenal response to the zillion odd stressors around…

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Is Soya Bad for Your Health? Here’s Why You Should Have it Sparingly

In recent times soya has been much talked about and touted as the new big thing, especially for vegetarians. However, studies indicate that the health benefits of soya may have been greatly exaggerated, mostly by the soya industry itself. In fact, soya makes its way into almost all processed food because of its versatility. Also, soya is cheap and in abundance. It adds thickness, creaminess and bulk to processed food. Now healthy or not, that is a question I have set out to answer.Doctors agree that eating soya on a…

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