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Nytol, Benadryl, Ditropan and Piriton among the medications identified by scientists as raising likelihood of dementia A report published online this week in JAMA Internal Medicine offers compelling evidence of a link between long-term use of anticholinergic medications like Benadryl and dementia. Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine. This substance transmits messages in the nervous system. In the brain, acetylcholine is involved in learning and memory. In the…

Whether you are a beginner at yoga or may have been doing yoga practice for a while, these simple guidelines by Divyayog can help you gain more benefit from your yoga practice. As shared with Savita Narayan. Yoga is a complete mind-and-body discipline that has been practised in India for centuries. Over time a huge body of work has developed on the theory behind its practice. As with any much-studied science, the masters have enumerated certain methods for the yoga practitioner to follow in…

The development and widespread adoption of so-called “antibiotics”—drugs that kill bacteria and thereby reduce infection—has helped billions of people live longer, healthier lives. However, the more we rely on antibiotics, the more bacteria develop resistance to them, which makes treating infections that much more challenging. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overuse of antibiotics by humans—such as for the mistreatment of viral infections—means these…

From protein supplements to high-protein diets, nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju tells you all you need to know about choosing the right proteins. Plus, protein-rich food combos for vegetarians.  1. Protein makes up 17% of our body weight. It exists in muscle, skin, bone and organ tissues. Proteins are also part of enzymes, antibodies, lipoproteins, hormones, haemoglobin, albumin and our body cannot function without it.  2. What is protein? Protein is composed of 20…

Keeping up with the carb-bashing can be tough. One day they’re in, the next day they’re on the chopping block.  A diet that includes whole grains may help protect your heart, finds new research published Monday in JAMA InternalMedicine. Every 28 gram-per-day serving of whole grains was associated with a 9% lower rate of death from cardiovascular disease and a 5% lower rate of death from any cause.  It’s best to remember the simple mantra: eat real food. We need…

Unnecessary surgery is not new in medicine. Stenting, knee replacements, hysterectomies are often found to be unnecessary on second opinion.  "We found that the discrepancy in opinions (between the patient's doctors and the second opinion-giver) was highest in heart problems at 55%," said Dr Shome. Knee replacements and hysterectomies were second at 48% while infertility was third on the list with 45% discrepancy in opinions. "We have doctors seeking opinions if they themselves are asked…

There’s no such thing as ‘detoxing’. In medical terms, it’s a nonsense. Diet and exercise is the only way to get healthy. But which of the latest fad regimes can really make a difference? This article looks at the facts. If toxins did build up in a way your body couldn’t excrete, you’d likely be dead or in need of serious medical intervention. “The healthy body has kidneys, a liver, skin, even lungs that are detoxifying as we speak,” he says. “There is no known way – certainly not through detox…

Tony Horton, of P90X and 10-Minute Trainer fame who, as of this summer, is now 56 says a better goal is to be in great shape, healthy, and very active after fifty. That's totally doable! This issue Horton says is, "sustaining the motivation and discipline" to stick to your plan. He says you need to have three things in place. First you need a purpose. If you want a better life, physical movement is the "on switch." Secondly he says you need to plan all your workouts in…

People who eat a high-protein diet during middle age are more likely to die of cancer than those who eat less protein, a new study finds. However, for people older than 65, a moderate protein intake may actually be beneficial, and protect against frailty, the researchers said. The researchers looked at more than 6,000 people ages 50 and older, and followed them for 18 years. They found that people ages 50 to 65 who ate a diet rich in animal proteins during middle age were more…

Yoga has roots as an ancient mind-body practice that incorporates physical, mental and spiritual elements. Originating in India, yoga has been proven effective in numerous studies to improve cardiovascular risk factors, with a reduction in the risk of heart attacks and strokes. When compared with no exercise, yoga was associated with significant improvement in each of the primary outcome risk factors measured: Body mass index (BMI) reduced by 0.77 kg/m2 (measured as a "mean…