Obesity is defined as a body weight that is higher than the prescribed standard. For the longest time, the yardstick to measure was Body Mass Index, also known as BMI. I have written several times in the past that this measure is wrong. I am glad that the standards and
Have you been asked to get an MRI recently? If you have, chances are that you dreaded the experience. MRI's are generally not fun, being locked into a closed space, the sound of machines clanging, while magnetic images are being taken of you. Typically, to detect a disease.
Have you heard of the concept of rapid eye movement (REM) during sleep? If you have wondered how did we discover REM sleep and what are the implications, dig in. In 1953, Eugene Aserinsky and Nathaniel Kleitman, at the University of Chicago, were studying sleep. During their studies, they observed
Stress is so normal that perhaps you don’t even actively think about it anymore. Except for those times when it becomes unmanageable. Can you imagine a life without stress? One where your mind and body are self-regulating and at peace? Our time here is finite. The duration is not
A cell is the smallest unit of life. Life doesn’t exist below the cellular level. But what exactly does a cell do? In short, everything that the complete organism can do. It can ingest food, produce energy, remove waste, divide and multiply, move, defend itself, communicate and cooperate with
Are you in sleep debt? You may or may not have heard of the concept, but chances are most of us experience it. Sleep debt is the backlog of sleep over days or weeks. The difference between the hours you should have been asleep and your current reality. I know
If your blood pressure is high, chances are that your doctor advised you to lose weight. She may not have been specific, but she was asking you to reduce body fat. But what exactly is the connection between body fat and blood pressure? High body fat invariable means high visceral
Depression is a health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Among the various theories explaining depression, the idea that gut health plays a role is becoming increasingly popular. Depression is a complex interplay of genetics, neurological factors, and your environment. People generally accept stress as a trigger. Researchers have
"My stomach gets hot if I eat these foods." Have you heard yourself or someone you know say something like this? Do you believe that your stomach can get hot? Is it even possible for you to feel heat in your stomach? Doesn't Ayurveda tell you
Nitric oxide is made in the body by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) from the amino acid arginine. Arginine is an element in the protein you eat. Why, you ask, am I focusing on nitric oxide? When you eat nuts and seeds, lean meats, yoghurt, and dairy, your body
We tend to look at weight as an aesthetic issue. It affects the way I see myself in the mirror. In reality the consequences of excess weight extend far beyond mere aesthetics. Let us look at the effect of weight on your kidneys. The kidneys are remarkable organs responsible for
Live a Long & Healthy Life
Growing up, winters meant sitting in our kitchen in front of a coal-based fire, toasting loads of bread and eating it with butter. A gas connection was years away. We have made progress since. Yet, kitchens are hot, humid places. Fire, heat, smoke, oil. I don’t know about your
Have you listened to music recently? The Beatles, Mozart or Dizzy Gillespie? If you have, did you ever wonder why music sounds, well like music to your ears? Is our brain inherently build to appreciate music or is this an acquired skill? How does this ability affect not just the
I have spoken about playing the game Lumosity before. It helps you develop verbal, spatial, and memory skills. I discovered something fascinating about myself. My verbal skills were outstanding. My memory and spatial not so much. I was scoring 100% on any level of difficulty in the verbal section. For
We use electricity to light our homes at night. Electricity gives energy to the light bulb, which then illuminates our lives. Have you noticed that the bulb is now inside your computer? I have been using a laptop or equivalent for the longest time. Somewhere in the specifications, it said,
Your desire to be vegan, vegetarian, or carnivorous can cause a war. People fight over the choice of olive oil, ghee, or seed oils. We debate the ill effects or not on our cardiovascular system. But few people discuss fake food. Food that is masquerading to be olive oil, soy
Vitamin B12 is one of the essential B family vitamins. Very likely, you have taken a supplement at some point, especially if you are vegetarian. Sometimes, however, the body produces excess B12 without medication. Why does B12 get elevated without external intervention? Let us first start with what we are
Human beings are extremely good learners. In fact, A students are the ones who learn better than others, and are feted. You soak in information. It forms memories and ideas in the brain. Then you apply what you know. But is learning limited to the brain? What exactly does it
Plaque in our arteries is a major cause for concern. But why exactly is it a problem? Put simply, it is a garden hose problem. Allow me to explain. If you have ever watered a garden using a hose, you would have likely pinched the hose at some point. Your
Each year, we celebrate the festival of Makara Sankranti marking the transition of the Sun from the south to the northern hemisphere. This year, it falls on the 14 of January, where millions will dip themselves in the freezing Ganges, despite the cold. Is there a physical benefit besides appeasing
Happy New Year! 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of my new life and writing. I am grateful for your patience! So what did I learn this year? In one word: harmony or balance. You see it everywhere you look. Our planet delicately balanced by gravity. The balance of carbon dioxide
The Valsalva Ratio is a measure of the response of your heart to the way you breathe. Interestingly, it tells you whether diabetes has affected your nerves. So what is the connection? Antonio Salva was an Italian scientist. Credited with several scientific insights, the Valsalva doctrine and maneuver are named
Buddhist philosophy has a concept known as Annicā. That nothing is permanent. Derived from the Pali language, Annicā teaches us that all experiences, material, emotional, or spiritual are transient. So how can we use this concept to understand our reality or life. Annicā is stating the obvious. Every moment, experience,