PatientsEngage General Community

Prolonged lack of sunlight is the most common cause of Vitamin D deficiency, writes Shital Raval. And how can you treat Vitamin D deficiency. It is as simple as stepping out of doors, yet a fear of sunshine is one of the factors that leads to Vitamin D deficiency. This in turn can give rise to a number of health conditions.   What is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which is structurally classified into D2 and D3.  Vitamin D2 is known as Ergocalciferol and D3 is known as…

Here is a round up of the PatientsEngage top 10 most popular stories of 2015 1. My Special Child Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication. Mousumi Dutta shares her stirring narrative about bringing up her daughter, Aria who is on the Autism Spectrum with remarkable fortitude, dignity and unwavering optimism.  http://www.patientsengage.com/personal-voices/autism/my-special-…

Did you know an individual gains an average of 2-5 Kgs in winter? Winter is a season of indulgences pushing us often to have food loaded with calories. Dietician and diabetes educator, Ujjwala Baxi tells us how to enjoy the winter without gaining weight. Come winter, the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, and we tend to gear up for both warm clothes as well as those mouthwatering season-specials that make every nippy evening worth its while. We throw our calorie-consciousness to the winds…

What to do when the munchies strike and you feel like snacking? Hear it from Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator Ujjwala Baxi. One of the questions I ask my clients is: How often do you snack and what do you choose to snack on? A client, Mrs. Juneja (name changed) complained of weight gain of 5 kg in 2 months since starting her job. On interviewing her, it became clear that more than her main meals, her snacks, along with her sedentary desk job, were contributing to her weight problem.…

Are eggs off-limits? How to make sense of the numbers on ‘low-cholesterol’ packaged foods? Is extra virgin coconut oil all it is made out to be? These and other questions answered by nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju  Does our body need cholesterol? The surprising answer is Yes! Cholesterol, a fatty substance that circulates in the blood is an important component of human cells. It is often viewed as an all-out villain, but our body needs some amount of cholesterol to…

3 Key takeaways on this topic: Is Coconut Sugar or Coconut Palm Sugar more nutritious than Regular Sugar? Yes, it is. But while Coconut Sugar is more full of nutrients, it also has the same amount of calories as regular sugar.  Does it have a lower glycemic index than table sugar? While it has a lower glycemic index compared to glucose, it has not been tested against table sugar. Does it have less fructose than regular sugar? Coconut sugar supplies almost the same amount of fructose as…

Or is it sometimes the fall guy for other allergens? Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi tells you what to do if you think you are gluten-sensitive. First tip: Do not rush into a gluten-free diet plan. I first heard about gluten sensitivity during my college days when I was studying nutrition. During my year of internship in a 1,000-bed government hospital in India, I heard of only 3 gluten sensitive cases that were referred to the dietary department for a specific meal plan. This was 10 years back. Now, in…

As the temperature plummets, asthma attacks and pneumonia cases rise. Family practitioner and paediatrician Dr Gita Mathai tells you why this is so and how to protect yourself.  Asthma What is asthma? Asthma refers to a condition that causes shortness of breath with a whistling sound from the chest. It is also called "reactive airway disease".  What causes asthma symptoms? The whistling sound is caused by the narrowing of the tubes through which the air passes…

6 signs that you may be iron-deficient – exhaustion, thumping heart… and what to do about it. Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju tells you what to eat to manage iron-deficiency anaemia. According to a World Health Organisation study, 40% of non-pregnant women in South-East Asia and and 50% in India suffer from anaemia.  What is anaemia  Anaemia is a condition in which the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin. Iron is a vital mineral used to…

By Poshan Cure Thru Diet A great alternative to meat cutlets, especially if you are trudging your way to vegetarianism. These cutlets can be eaten by themselves or as a patty in a burger. Have them on a winter evening with cream cottage cheese and go light on the dinner!  Red Beans Cutlets (Makes 8 - 10) Ingredients  Red beans – 1 cup  Raw bananas – 2 (cooked) Bread crumbs – 3 tbsps Onions – 1  Green Chillies – 2  Ginger – 1 inch piece (grated) Garlic – ¼ tsp (minced)…