Health & Wellness Bangalore, November 14, 2010
HEALTHY CHEF Martha Rose Shulman
Tomato and Carrot Marinara sauce
Ingredients 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/2 pound carrots, peeled and finely diced (1/4 inch dice or smaller), or finely chopped in a food processor fitted with a steel blade (1 1/2 cups) 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 pounds tomatoes, seeded and grated, or peeled, seeded and chopped; or 1 (28-ounce) can chopped tomatoes, with juice 1/8 teaspoon sugar 1 sprig of fresh basil, if available Salt to taste 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (optional) Method: 1. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, wide nonstick skillet or saucepan. Add the carrots. Cook, stirring, until tender, five to eight minutes. Add the garlic. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds to a minute until the garlic begins to smell fragrant. Add the tomatoes and their juice, the sugar, basil sprig, salt, tomato paste and oregano. Stir, and turn up the heat. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, lower the heat to medium, and cook, stirring often, until thick and fragrant, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the basil sprig, and wipe any sauce adhering to it back into the pan. Taste and adjust seasonings. Yield: 2 1/4 cups (about eight servings). Advance preparation: The sauce will keep for four to five days in the refrigerator and freezes well. Nutritional information per serving (per rounded 1/4 cup): 65 calories; 4 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams cholesterol; 8 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 27 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 1 gram protein
JUST FACTS Anahad O’Connor
Always store vitamins in the medicine cabinet
8
One of the common early symptoms of diabetes is feeling thirsty.
H
is was a genius mind. But it was also a battleground. In early 1959, John Forbes Nash Jr (right) admitted to experiencing a few "mental disturbances". The nature of his psychological vexations was anything but what one could label normal. He insisted there was an organisation of men wearing red ties shadowing him. He spoke of characters like Charles Herman and William Parcher, who were putting him in jeopardy. He mailed letters to embassies in Washington DC declaring that they were establishing a government. Aliens, he said were trying to contact him through the New York Times. In Nash's perceived world he was soon a special messenger with supporters, opponents and hidden schemers. This bizarre condition of his cerebral faculty led him to a protracted struggle with a psychotic disease often misunderstood — schizophrenia. Despite decades of mental conflict with the illness, in 1994, Nash went on to win the Nobel Prize in Economics (along with John Harsanyi and Reinhard Selten) and between 1945 and 1996, he published 23 scientific studies. While the story of his mind — both its baffling psychosis and its superlative intellect have been explored in the book and the film A Beautiful Mind, the madness of his schizophrenia may as well be the story of every person struggling with the mental malady. "Among its characteristic symptoms are hallucinations and delusions. The person often admits to hearing one voice participating in a running commentary of the patient's actions or of hearing two or more voices conversing with each other [commentary hallucinations]. He or she is irrationally suspicious. The patient lacks empathy and may not be able to express emotions appropriately. Attention is deficient and speech can be disorganised. Often the patient is seen talking to oneself or smiling pointlessly," explains DR Gangadhar BN, Psychiatrist, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). And narratives of being watched, spied on, followed, etc, are quiet common, he adds. Dr BR Madhukar, senior psychiatrist, Martha's Hospital on average comes across three to four patients of schizophrenia each week and says that it is fairly common among mental illnesses. He agrees with Dr Gangadhar that a patient experiences "disturbance of thought", is unable to control thoughts and is completely out of touch with reality. However, he points out that schizophrenia is not the same as Multiple Personality Disorder or 'split personality' as it is often misunderstood. "This misunderstanding could be due to the fact that the word 'schizophrenia' with its Greek roots coined by Eugen Bleuler in 1908 roughly translates to 'splitting of mind'." The cause of the mental ailment, says Dr Madhukar, is multi-factorial or cannot be attributed to one particular factor alone. "Genetic, prenatal complications and substance abuse could predispose one to the illness. It occurs equally among males and females and can occur across all economic strata," says Dr Gangadhar. While Dr Madhukar explains that it typically appears earlier in men - the peak ages of onset are 20 to 28 for males and 26 to 32 for females. Early detection can go a long way in recovery. "But in India families and friends usually waste a lot of time and one comes to a psychiatrist only as the last resort. Superstition and denial cause delays. When an otherwise social person withdraws, becomes aloof and is uninterested, those could be very early signs," warns Dr Madhukar. Both mental health professionals believe
Understanding schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can be treated, it only needs to be understood, writes Elizabeth Soumya
MIND MATTERS
Schizophrenia is not the same as Multiple Personality Disorder
Famous people with
SCHIZOPHRENIA Jack Kerouc, Author Tom Harrell, Jazz Musician Vaslav Nijinsky, Russian Dancer Mary Todd Lincoln, Lincolin's wife Syd Barret, Musician
that the family plays a crucial role in the recovery of the patient. "It is proven through studies that support from family members could help in the speedy recovery of the patient. The recovery rate for the illness is also higher in India than in the West, which could be due to proximity to one's family," says Dr Gangadhar. He instructs the family to be careful not to be critical and emotional in front of the patient. They must be understanding and supportive. While it is but natural for the family to be stressed, it could keep itself healthy through yoga he suggests. If left untreated, it could lead to aggressive behaviour, patients can become incapable of coping with the world around, lose their skills and jobs and in rare cases even commit suicide says Dr Gangadhar. But he assures that
Nobel Laureate John Nash, now 82, has struggled with schizophrenia for decades help is at hand. "One has all the treatment for the mental illness in our country and there's no need to look to the West for the 'latest' treatment," he says. Also among the patients of schizophrenia one-third usually recover after an episode of schizophrenia and a third suffer from a chronic condition and their response may not be as good. Therefore two-thirds of the patients can be treated and will recover. The tenure of their treatment may depend on how acute the condition is and in some cases one may require treatment for life. But what people should know is that "there is hope", says Dr Gangadhar. dnasunday@gmx.com Mind Matters aims at increasing awareness of mental health issues affecting our society
BR Madhukar senior psychiatrist, Martha’s Hospital
Genetic, prenatal complications and substance abuse could predispose one to the illness. It occurs equally among males and females and can occur across all economic strata
On World Diabetes Day, three people talk to Juthika Sinha about their battle with the disease The medicine cabinet may seem like an ideal place for keeping vitamins and supplements. But research suggests otherwise. In studies, scientists have found that the warm, moisture-rich conditions found in most bathrooms tend to degrade vitamins and other supplements over time. Researchers have found that this process, known as deliquescence, can reduce the potency of vitamin B, vitamin C and other watersoluble supplements — even rendering them useless. Airtight lids do not necessarily solve the problem, since opening and closing them allows humidity and moisture to get in. In a study published this year by food scientists at Purdue University, researchers measured the stability of different vitamin C supplements in various temperatures and levels of humidity. They showed signs of degradation above 80 per cent humidity, a level of bathroom humidity that the steam from a hot shower could produce. Other studies have found similar effects on thiamin, vitamin B6 and other watersoluble nutritional products exposed to humid environments. Humidity levels can spike in kitchens as well. For best results, try keeping vulnerable products — like multivitamins, children's vitamins or powdered health products — in a cool, dry area with little humidity, like your bedroom. If your vitamins soften or develop dark spots, it means they have already started degrading and should probably be discarded.
The bottom line Storing vitamins in a medicine cabinet and other humid areas can reduce their effectiveness.
W
ith four thousand cases diagnosed every day, diabetes — a chronic progressive disease with disturbed carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism due to lack of insulin or inadequate insulin secretion in response to glucose load — is tightening its grip on our country. According to Dr Mohan Badgandi, HOD and consultant, Diabetes and Endocrinologist, Manipal Hospital: "Type 2 diabetes is not very common in children, although we do see some developing Type 2 diabetes on account of increasing BMI, family history and physical inactivity." "We are not sure why some children develop Type 2 diabetes as opposed to Type 1 diabetes which is an auto-immune disorder or idiopathic, where insulin secreting cells in the pancreas are destroyed by our own defense system and as a result of childhood viral infections," he adds "Our ultimate goal is organ protection in diabetes and improving quality of life. Islet cell transplantation, pancreatic transplantation and renal transplantation are areas of interest. As donor organ availability is scarce, unaffordable and meticulous follow-up is required," says Dr. Badgandi. For Rajgopal Seshan, 57, his journey with diabetes began six years ago. An unquenchable thirst was one of the initial symptoms. Once diagnosed, a regular intake of insulin and a regulated diet has led to a healthy and happy life. "I have regular sugar level checks once in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening before dinner. There is a regular intake of insulin and other medications to keep the sugar level under control. I have to keep consuming edibles
Living with diabetes Vishnuji Keshri (left) and Rajgopal Seshan have learnt to make the right choices to cope with diabetes every two hours as the doctor has advised me not keep the stomach empty," says Seshan. "My diet includes coffee, wholegrain biscuits, butter milk or
sprouts and broken wheat. Yoghurt and egg whites are mandatory in my diet," he says. His family is well aware of his ailment and take due precaution in keeping him away
from fried food and sugars. Vishnuji Keshri, 62, was diagnosed with diabetes, but his healthy lifestyle meant that he has had a better time controlling it. "There is no strict diet as such that I follow. I even consume sweets from time to time. But having my meals on time has helped me greatly. I also avoid over-eating. Diet and proper medication have brought my sugar level down from 180 to 120," Keshri says. Abhin K Jose, 27, was diagnosed with diabetes 16 months ago. He had already lost 17kgs when doctors diagnosed diabetes. With varying sugar levels, finding the correct dosage for Jose was a challenge for the doctors. "Ayurvedic medicines were of no help. My sugar level shot up to 160. Intake of 90 units of insulin daily has controlled the sugar level. I try to stay away from sugar products. This makes it a lot easier. I may be missing out on a lot but a healthy life leads to a happy one," Jose claims. dnasunday@gmx.com
TYPES OF DIABETES Type 1 diabetes: results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin. Type 2 diabetes: results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. Gestational diabetes: is when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. It may precede development of type 2 DM.
THE NUMBERS
438mn
The number of people estimated to be living with diabetes by 2030
6.4%
Is the proportion of the global adult population suffering with the disease
70%
The proportion of cases in lowto middle-income countries. With an estimated 50.8 million people living with diabetes, India has the world's largest diabetes population, followed by China with 43.2 million.