Health> Diet, execercise and thyroid trouble

Text by: Tanya Munshi
In the earlier story, we looked at what a thyroid does. Here's more of what you need to know.

Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)
Many people with autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Graves or, in a few cases, Hashimoto's, develop TED. It is an autoimmune disease of the orbit (eye socket) and eye muscles, characterised by inflammation, swelling and possible scarring (rare/ occasional), with swollen eyelids and 'poppy' eyes. The treatment for TED may involve two parts � first treating the thyroid disorder, then possible eye surgery.

Thyroid nodules
These are lumps or abnormal growths on the thyroid gland, that are either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). They are generally asymptomatic (i.e. have no symptoms), although some people experience tenderness and pain in their thyroid. Treatment for such patients will vary on a case-to-case basis, depending on the doctor's advice and therapy.

Goitre
This is an enlarged thyroid gland that causes a large swelling in the neck. All people suffering from thyroid disorders can develop goitre.Treatment depends on the case, a doctor's advice and therapy.

Thyroid cancer
There are different types of thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, anaplastic, medullary, and lymphoma), the vast majority of which are readily treatable. Treatment for patients suffering from any kind of thyroid abnormalities will depend on individual cases, a doctor's advice and therapy. However, in all cases of thyroid abnormalities, it is imperative to control goitrogen food items in one's daily diet.

Causes of thyroid disease
These can be due either to an abnormal thyroid gland, inadequate levels of thyroid hormone replacement (the treatment for hypothyroidism), iodine deficiency disorder (IDD -- remedied by the use of iodised salt), not enough hormones released by the pituitary gland to the thyroid, or the treatment for hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer.

Some individuals are more likely than others to have a thyroid problem. These include those with high cholesterol, those who have lost or gained more than 2 kilos in 2-3 months, those who feel exhausted, those suffering from infertility, and those with a family history of thyroid disease. It affects 1.5 per cent of the population and its incidence is higher in women than men (4:1). Also, women in their reproductive age are more vulnerable. The menstrual cycle, pregnancy, delivery and related hormonal, immunological and other stresses make women more prone to these problems.Thyroid related diseases can also be hereditary. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Grave's disease may run in families.

Symptoms of thyroid disease
The signs and symptoms of thyroid problems can be wide ranging from person to person. Some that make doctors suspect thyroid problems are:
~ weight loss/ weight gain
~ hair loss, coarse/ dry hair
~ excessive dryness/ moist skin
~ anaemia, fatigue/ weakness
~ palpitations, tremors, extreme heat or cold intolerance
~ muscle cramps and aches
~ anorexia/ increased appetite
~ constipation/ increased bowel movements
~ abnormal menstrual cycles
~ decreased libido, infertility/ miscarriages,
~ exophthalmic eyes or a starting gaze (protrusion of the eyes in Grave's Disease)~ hoarse voice, deafness
~ high cholesterol levels
~ memory loss, poor concentration, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness and
~ family history/ thyroid problems
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Diet for thyroid patients
Goitrogens are naturally-occurring substances in food that can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland. There are two general categories of foods that have been associated with disrupted thyroid hormone production in humans: soybean-related foods and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, mustard etc. Other foods not included in these categories -- such as peaches, strawberries, peach, peanuts, radish, tofu, spinach and millet -- also contain goitrogens. Patients with hypothyroidism should avoid the intake of iodine containing foods such as red food dyes, iodine in multivitamins and metabolic boosters, dairy products, shellfish, and processed foods that can block iodine absorption.

Exercise for patients
Regular exercise is very important. Early diagnosis and subsequent weight loss programmes are also important for overweight hypothyroid patients. The longer it takes to diagnose hypothyroidism, the more weight an individual may gain. There are also lifestyle changes a patient may have to make.

For instance, toxins in cigarette and alcohol directly injure thyroid cells during their passage through the body. Immune system cells within the thyroid gland react to these compounds by producing thyroid antibodies or inflammation. People with Graves' disease who smoke are 7.7 times more likely to develop TED. By avoiding cigarettes and chemical additives, we can help restore immune function and thyroid health.

Published in Rediff.com, on March 9, 2007
Link: D:\Tanya Munshi\Rediff_Published_Articles_Mumbai\Diet, exercise and thyroid trouble.htm

Travel> Kerala> Thekkady/ Kumily/ Periyar

Image: Planters house at Connemera Tea Garden, Thekkady
Image by: Anil R

Text by: Tanya Munshi

One of the most picturesque locations in Kerala, a trip to Thekkady, Kumily and Periyar is ideal for a long weekend. It is one of my personal favourite destinations in Kerala. I had visited Thekkady, Periyar and Kumily during a school vacation, several years ago. Monsoons are the best time to visit Kerala as that's the time the state looks even more beautiful.

About the place

Set amidst the beautiful Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is an ideal setting to spot some wildlife on a boat safari with fellow tourists. We spotted from the Asiatic Elephants, Monitor Lizard, Bisons and a herd of Chittal or Spotted Deer during our boat safari. In such cases, keeping a high zoom lens camera in hand is ideal to be able to capture the fauna in the wild. While Thekkady is known for its spices, Periyar is known for its most beautiful man-made lake, set amidst the forest.

Thekkady also offers amazing nature trails and trekking with the help of tour guides from the forest lodges that you put up in. While on the trek, you must visit the Cross Mountain, as it is so named of the only cross present here and from here you get to see one of the most breathtaking views ever.

Apart from the safari, you can also visit the spice gardens and tea, coffee and cocoa plantations nearby. Making a trip to the Mangladevi Temple and the Mullaiperiyar Dam are also a good idea if you have enough time. Not to forget that in Kumily you can visit their market for tourists that offer handloom, spices, rosewood and sandalwood, batiks, silks and antiques.

How to get there
By road, it is about 115 km from Kottayam and 185 kms from Kochi. You can hire private vehicles from your tour operator, the airport or contact local private taxi operators in Kochi.

Cochin to Kottayam will take you around 2 hrs by road and then to Thekkady a couple of hours more hours on road. The second part of your travel may take a little longer due to the ghat section.

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Hotels

http://hotels.kerala-tourism.org/thekkady-hotels.html

http://www.thekkady.com/htm/hotellist.php

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Websites

http://www.thekkady.com/htm/loc.htm

http://www.periyartigerreserve.org/

Recipe> Chicken in cumin flavour

Image: Jeera Chicken
Image by: Charles Haynes

Text by: Tanya Munshi

This is something worth trying out. It’s a lot different than the usual curry, and tastes amazing with a dal and chapatti combination. In fact, this can even be had as a starter if you have small bite size pieces.

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Ingredients:
Chicken – 500 gms (depending on the number of people)

Ginger – 2 teaspoons, finely chopped

Garlic – 2 teaspoons, finely chopped

Jeera (Cumin seeds) – 2½ teaspoons

Salt – to taste

Cooking oil – 1 tablespoon

Fresh coriander leaves- ½ cup, finely chopped

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Things you need:
Large non-stick wok

Wooden ladle

Mixer grinder

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Method:

1. In the wok, add 1½ teaspoon of cumin seeds and roast them. After it turns dark and let’s out an aroma, take it off and set aside. Once cooled, you need to grind it into a powder form.
2. In the same wok add oil, the remaining cumin seeds, garlic and ginger. Sauté till brown and you can smell the aroma.
3. Add in the chicken and mix well. Mix the salt in it and cover it with a lid. Allow the chicken to cook in the steam.
4. After about 2-3 minutes, when the chicken changes colour and texture, add the ground roasted cumin seeds and mix well. While cooking, keep checking for doneness.
5. Once the chicken is done, pour it in a serving dish, serve hot with fresh coriander leaves.

Health> A recipe for good health

Text by: Tanya Munshi
While you are busy working hard and partying harder, your health may slowly take a beating.
Lifestyle-related disorders such as stress, high blood pressure, heart ailments and diabetes are on the rise. So, it is advisable that those in the age group of 20 and above have a routine health check-up every year. This will help you keep a tab on your health.

This would consist of a basic or advance form of blood, urine and stool test. Advance tests can be conducted for those with specific requirements as recommended by their doctors, in case you have diabetes, thyroid problems etc.

According to Dr Sailesh B Mehta, MBBS, a general physician, who manages his own practice in Mumbai, a routine check up should be done annually even if no problem persists. If you suffer from a particular condition, a check-up every six months is ideal.
He continues, "Ailments, diseases or deficiencies if present can be detected at an early stage, and corrected."
Here is a list of basic tests, many of which can be conducted in any good pathological laboratory or specialist clinics.

i. Urine test: To detect any urinary tract infection, which is more prevalent amongst women.
ii. Stool test: To detect infections or worms in the stomach, causing low absorption of food in the body.
iii. Blood test: To check the level of haemoglobin or Complete Blood Count.

A blood test further involves:
~ CBC or haemoglobin count: Some of the major reasons for conducting blood tests can be to detect if a person is a thalesemia minor or major, to check his/her CBC, as well as his/her haemoglobin levels. For an adult female, the normal level of haemoglobin should be between 11.5 gm per cent to 15 gm per cent, where as for an adult male, the normal hemoglobin level should be between 14 gm per cent to 18 gm per cent.
Note: These haemoglobin levels are as per Indian standards.

~ Sugar: This involves two tests, a test after a 12-hour fast (preferably first thing in the morning) and a test two hours post lunch.

"Due to the current lifestyle, stress, unhealthy eating habits and increased consumption of junk food, the rate of occurrence of diabetes is on the rise. This test can detect if a person is suffering from diabetes. Borderline cases if detected early can be controlled," says Dr Sanjay V Desai, a clinical pathologist, who has his own clinical pathological laboratory in Mumbai.

~ Lipid profile: This test helps to detect the cholesterol level in your body and is done preferably 12 hours after dinner. It also helps to check stryglycerides in case of those who lead a stressful lifestyle.The normal cholesterol levels range range between 120 and 200. "For instance, if your cholesterol level is around 220, it is still okay and can be controlled, but if it reaches 300, one has to seek medical help soon," says Dr Desai.

~ Creatinine or kidney function: The basic test is conducted to check the presence of urea in the blood. Such tests also help detect kidney malfunction, diabetes or high blood pressure.

~ Thyroid test: This can be conducted for men/women of any age group, especially if you have suddenly gained or lost weight. It does not feature in the routine test, but can be done if recommended by your doctor.

~ Alkaline phosphatase test: Both men and women can undergo an alkaline phosphatase test to detect the bone density in their body. This should ideally be done after the age of 50. This can help detect osteoporosis in women at an early stage.

iv. Abdominal sonography: "In medical terms, we call it the Pandora's box, as nobody knows what's happening inside the human body," says Dr Mehta. Abdominal sonography will reveal any abnormalities in important organs such as the liver, pancreas, stomach, gall bladder, intestine, kidney, spleen. It can detect diseases or cancers of the ovaries, uterus and the prostrate.
"In case of early detection of any disease or cancer, it can be treated from an early stage," concludes Dr Mehta.

v. Chest X-ray: It is detects any abnormalities in the chest/lungs. In India especially, such tests are conducted to detect tuberculosis.

vi. Mammography and pap spear test: Women should get their breasts examined once a year. This can be done either at home after consulting their doctors on how to do it or get a check up by their doctors. Married women especially should visit a gynecologist. They should also undergo a pap smear test which can help detect any infection or uterine cancer at an early stage.

vii. Electro Cardio Gram or ECG: A cardiac test which includes ECG and Echo Cardiograph (especially for men and women above the age of 40) to check for heart diseases, or blocks. Echo cardiograph helps to detect whether the pumping action of the heart is weak or normal.

viii. Anti-natal profile: While conducting tests for anti-natal profile ie for pregnant women apart from haemoglobin levels and blood groups, other tests such as Hepatitis B and HIV are also conducted. Mostly an HIV test can also be conducted if the person has undergone any minor or major surgery.

Health trend
Dr Desai who has worked in the field of clinical pathology for the last 25 years observes, "There definitely has been a rise in mostly two kinds of ailments that we have tested on people till now. They are diabetic/sugar problems and calcium deficiency."

Price ranges
1. A routine test that includes urine, stool, CBC and ESR, sugar (fasting before and after meals), kidney function (basic test), liver function (basic test), and lipid profile (basic test) can cost about Rs 900. 2. For urine, stool, CBC and ESR, it can cost about Rs 240.
3. A routine urine and stool test may cost about Rs 100.
4. Thyroid test can may cost about Rs 310. 5. HIV test: Rs 270

Note: These charges may vary from clinic to clinic.

Published in Rediff.com, on March 23, 2007
Link: D:\Tanya Munshi\Rediff_Published_Articles_Mumbai\A recipe for good health.htm

Recipe> Sweet 'n' Tangy Potato

Image: Fresh garden potatoes

Image by: Hemmert

Text by: Tanya Munshi
This is an all time snack. You can complement your evening drinks or a meal with these sweet 'n' tangy potatoes. It’s simple to make and can liven up even the most boring meals cooked for that day!

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Ingredients:
3-4 medium sized potatoes
1-2 Green chillies
¼ tsp methi (fenugreek) seeds
½ tsp jeera (cumin) seeds
A pinch of Hing (asafoetida)
¼ tsp Chaat masala
¼ tsp Red chilli powder
¼ tsp Turmeric Salt – to taste
¼ tsp Sugar
¼ squeezed Lemon juice
Fresh coriander leaves – a few strands chopped finely for garnishing
1-2 tbsp Cooking oil
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Things you need:
A pressure cooker
A wok/ kadai – preferably a non-stick cookware with a lid
A wooden ladle
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Method:

1. First - pressure cook the potatoes. Then peel them, cut into cubes and set aside.
2. In a wok, heat the oil. Add fenugreek and cumin seeds and bring them to a slight splatter.
3. Then lower the flame and add the cubed boiled potatoes and gently toss them in the seasoning.
4. Then add the spices one by one – asafoetida, chaat masala, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, chopped green chillies (optional), sugar and salt to taste. Mix all of them together (again) gently with the potatoes.
5. Cover the lid and let it cook in the steam for 3-4 minutes.
6. Remove the lid, toss the mixture well and finally add juice of ¼ slice lemon and the freshly chopped coriander leaves and mix again.
7. Serve hot with cool drinks, or dal and chapattis.

Note:
Remember to gently mix the potatoes. Since these are boiled potatoes they have a tendency to break or mush easily. If serving as a snack, serve with toothpicks or cocktail forks. This snack tastes best when served piping hot. So keep the ingredients ready and you can prepare the dish just when your guests arrive.

Europe Travel> How to find a good travel website

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Getting the cheapest airfare for travel can be the hardest part. That's where a thorough online research will help you find the cheapest airfare and discounts. And how do you go about this hunt? A range of travel portals will give you options of itinerary and its respective fares. But then again, you are faced with another dilemma as to which is the best travel portal!

Here are some tips to help you find reliable websites that will offer you a good deal on airfares.

1. Check if the travel website is registered under any authoritative body – such as the Better Business Bureau.
2. Some travel websites have a tie-up with several universities and only specialize in student traveling. These websites are worth a try.
3. Read up testimonials for the given website to give you an idea about the feedback of the service and fares offered by that site.
4. Remember, you need to be a student to avail of special airfares, so try not faking any details. Usually the travel website will verify your details from your school for further processing.
5. Reconfirm the special discount rates that are offered to you are inclusive all taxes.
6. Student travel websites should offer valuable inputs and updated travel information to its readers.
7. Ideally, the travel website should offer you flexible options such as – date change, one way fares, and open tickets etc.
8. The travel website should be able to provide you with links to other local/ international travel agencies, hostels and hotels in Europe for you to make prior bookings once you reach there.
9. And yes, don’t forget to bookmark the sites that you have short listed.
10. Popular student travel websites worth checking out are –
    www.studentuniverse.com
    www.statravel.com
    www.travelcuts.com

Personal Grooming> Colouring your hair? Read this

Image1 - Greek God - Hritik Roshan

Image2 - Pretty Kareena
Image courtesy - Rediff.com

Text by: Tanya Munshi
Feel like going blond? Of course you can! But, is the colour right for you? Well, leave it to the experts. Ideally a good hairstylist from a reputed salon should recommend what colour will suit you best.
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Krishma Gala Rajput from H20 (Hair 2 Order), Pune says, "It depends on your complexion, the colour of your eyes, profession and your lifestyle." For instance, if you're in the hospitality industry, which stresses on grooming, you may need to revamp your look more often as opposed to, say if you worked in a more conservative profession, like law.
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According to Rajput, the hot colours right now are warm, subtle browns, auburns and dark chocolate. Copper and brown suit men and women with dusky skin tones while blonde and ash (pale blonde) look good on fair skin tones.
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Highlights or all the way?
"The cost of colouring your hair depends on the length of your hair and the style," says Krishma.
Colouring all the hair (gobal hair) is slightly costlier than adding highlights ie colour added to sections of hair.
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Men
The cost of highlighting the crown (top part of the head) should be around Rs 350 without a pre-lightener (a type of bleach that acts as a cleanser to clear the already existing colour or henna deposits). With a pre-lightener the cost would come up to Rs 500. Global colouring on the other hand costs Rs 750.
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Women
Highlighting the crown would cost up to Rs 800, half the head for Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,500, and for shoulder length hair Rs 2,850 to Rs 3,000. "If it's a combination of highlights and a global colour, for example chocolate colour with blond highlights, then the cost would come to Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000," says Krishma.
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How long does it last?
Colour tends to fade after three to four months. "Ideally hair colour should last until you cut off the coloured portion, or re-colour your hair, but no colour will come off totally in a single wash," says Krishma. Men with short hair tend to go for regular trimming, so they lose the colour faster. 7
It's advisable to wait six months before colouring hair which has undergone henna treatment as the latter tends to make the hair dry and could affect the colour.
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How safe are they?
It is important to get your hair coloured at a good hair salon, says Krishma. Make sure that the hairstylist is using a branded product like L'Oreal, Sunsilk Pro Colour or Garnier Nutrisse.
Do not use a product if you have never heard of the brand. According Krishma, those so called 'herbal hair colour', as long as the product leaves a colour on the hair, then it surely has some chemical component in it. Using these products over a period of time can lead to drying of the hair as they contain no conditioning agents to help soften the hair.
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Caring for coloured hair
Follow your hairstylist's recommendation with regard to hair type and colour and what shampoo and conditioner will suit you best. It is always advisable to use shampoos meant for coloured hair.
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Brands like Schwarzkopf (Rs 425 for 250 ml of shampoo, Rs 425 for 200 ml of conditioner) and L'Oreal (Rs 390 to Rs 500 for 250 ml of shampoo and Rs 390 for 150 ml of conditioner) are available in salons.
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Other shampoos available in department stores, chemists etc include Sunsilk - Brilliant Shine and Vibrance for Coloured Hair (Rs 100 for 200 ml), Lakme Hair Next (Rs 120 for 200 ml) and Garnier Fructis (Rs 99 for 200 ml).
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If your hair is dry or damaged, get it conditioned at a hair salon. The treatment basically consists of a shampoo, conditioner and serum (to smoothen hair and give it shine). As far as possible, keep your head covered with a scarf or cap when venturing outside.
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Published in Rediff.com, on March 5, 2007
Link: http://specials.rediff.com/getahead/2007/mar/05sld1.htm