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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Does milk really make bones stronger? Experts debunk the myth but with a catch
The Calcium Connection And Its Limits You Might Also Like: Can a desi proposal to girlfriend with ghee and milk be romantic? Actor Jaideep Ahlawat did it and won her love Milk and Fractures iStock For years, milk was promoted for strong bones. Now, research questions this claim. Milk contains calcium and nutrients. But its impact on bone health is debated. Who Might Benefit More from Milk? You Might Also Like: Indian milk vs American milk: Which one tastes better? American woman shares surprising discovery Milk's Broader Nutritional Punch Why Moderation Matters For decades, school posters, TV commercials and celebrity 'milk mustache' ads told us one thing — a tall glass of milk was the secret to strong bones. But as modern research pours in, the once-unshakable narrative is now under experts say milk does contain valuable nutrients, but its role in bone health may not be as clear-cut as dairy marketing has made it seem. The conversation is no longer about whether milk has calcium — it's about whether you actually need it from milk at is essential for strong bones, healthy teeth, and crucial body functions like nerve signaling and muscle movement. A cup of whole milk offers roughly 300 milligrams, and U.S. dietary guidelines recommend adults get 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams Dr. Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told The New York Times that the belief in high milk intake for bone strength was largely built on short-term studies — many funded by the dairy increasing calcium intake in those deficient can raise bone density by up to 3 percent, Willett notes the gains are often too small to significantly lower fracture risk. And without ongoing high intake, these benefits tend to some populations with the lowest milk consumption also have the lowest rates of hip fractures, according to a 2020 review cited by The New York Times. Other studies have found no clear link between milk consumption and reduced fracture René Rizzoli, former head of the bone diseases department at the University Hospitals of Geneva, cautions that proving milk prevents fractures would require long-term, large-scale clinical trials — and those haven't been agree that certain groups may have more reason to reach for the milk carton — notably children between 9 and 18, when bones are rapidly developing, and adults over 50, when bone density one 2021 Australian clinical trial, older adults in care facilities who increased dairy intake to 3.5 servings per day saw a 33 percent reduced risk of fractures and an 11 percent drop in falls over two years. However, researchers couldn't confirm whether stronger bones alone explained these calcium, dairy milk delivers protein, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B12, vitamin K2 and, when fortified, vitamin D. Registered dietitian Julia Zumpano from the Cleveland Clinic calls it 'a nutritional rock star,' noting its 18 of 22 essential also a complete protein source, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids your body can't produce. This makes it especially useful for people who struggle to meet protein needs through other isn't for everyone. Over a third of Americans struggle with lactose digestion, and symptoms like bloating or cramps can worsen with higher research also links high dairy intake to increased risks of certain cancers, likely due to hormones found in milk fat. Whole and 2% milk are also high in saturated fat, which can raise LDL ('bad') cholesterol and increase heart disease flare-ups, such as acne, have also been reported by some when dairy is removed from their diet, though the link remains unclear. If milk doesn't agree with you, experts point to other calcium-rich foods like tofu, leafy greens, bony fish, fortified plant-based milks, and even fermented dairy products like yogurt and cheese. These not only offer calcium but also may be better tolerated by those sensitive to lactose.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Sorry state of affairs: Cadet judokas to miss World Championships
CHENNAI: Indian judokas, especially those competing in the cadet category, continue to suffer as they may be forced to miss the World Championships scheduled in Sofia, Bulgaria from August 27 to 30. The athletes in this category missed three international tournaments last year and the upcoming World Championship will be their fourth and the biggest miss. Notably, the Judo Federation of India (JFI) has been governed by an administrator appointed by the Delhi High Court since June 2022. The latest heartbreak in the series of misses for cadet judokas meant most of them would now be unable to compete in the next World Championships as they will turn 18 by the time the 2026 edition would be held. It was learnt that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) didn't sanction the tour citing selection policy which makes it mandatory for every national sports federation to hold selection trials to pick a team for an international tournament. The JFI selected judokas, who won medals at the Taipei Cadets Asian Cup held last month for the Worlds, but the SAI didn't approve the list and in turn directed the federation to hold trials. Interestingly, the JFI held ranking trials for the Asian Cadets Championships scheduled in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 11 and 12 last week but chose the judokas for the Worlds on the basis of their performances at the Taipei event. There were many judokas who won medals in Taipei and also the ranking trials and one among them is Rahi Ghelani. She won a gold medal each in the Tashkent Asian Cup held in May, Taipei Asian Cup and the ranking trials in the -44kg weight category and could be a medal contender at the World Championships if given an opportunity. Linthoi Chanambam created history in 2022 when she won a -57kg gold at the Cadet World Championships and became the first from the country to win a medal at the event across age groups. Next year, Oliviya Devi Huidrom clinched -44kg bronze at the event and Rahi could have continued the legacy in the 2025 edition. Incidentally, Rahi is from Bhavnagar in Gujarat and the union sports minister also hails from the same district. Besides, these cadet judokas will graduate to senior level by the time India gets ready to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics if their respective bids come to fruition.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Rajeev Ram reflects on his unique journey, tennis success, thoughts on doubles and mentoring young talent.
For Indian tennis fans, Rajeev Ram at once seems a close cousin and a distant relative. The 41-year-old's parents were from India and his biggest doubles successes — Australian Open 2020 and a hat-trick of US Opens from 2021 to 2023 — have resonated in the sub-continent. But he is also proudly American, and is mentoring the next generation there. He sat courtside as fellow Indian-American Nishesh Basavareddy, then 19, took on Novak Djokovic in the first-round of the 2025 Australian Open. Incidentally, Rajeev and Venus Williams beat Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza in a close semifinal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and Rajeev [with Joe Salisbury] also overcame Bopanna [and Matthew Ebden] in the 2023 US Open final. The six-time Grand Slam champion and two-time Olympic medallist spoke to The Hindu on his tennis journey, the state of doubles, the mixed doubles rejig at the upcoming US Open and more. Excerpts: ALSO READ | Open and shut case: Jaiswal and Rahul making headway as a partnership at the top How do you assess your year so far? In professional sport, it's a lot of up and down. My results this year haven't been what I've gotten used to over the last few years. But I'm 41 and have been very fortunate to have played at a pretty high level for the better part of 20 years. So, I'm taking it in my stride. The US Open is my favourite tournament, so I am really looking forward [to it]. What has kept you going for so long? I played singles as a priority until 2017. We, as tennis players, begin with aspirations to play at the top level in singles. I'm very proud of the fact that I became a top-60 player and won two titles on the Tour. My doubles-only career started in 2017, and even though it was much after I turned pro, it still was fresh when Joe and I won the Australian Open in 2020. It's a lot about attitude. The thing that's always been important is consistently trying to improve. If you have that attitude, you can sometimes take even losses as a positive. As heartbreaking as some of them are, sometimes they're the biggest motivators. I used them as fire and fuel. I've actually had to be more aware of myself when I've been winning a lot because you get a little bit satisfied. How has the doubles game evolved? It's changed a lot. When I started, players, especially those who transitioned from singles, would try to develop their net game a bit more. In the last three or four years, I've seen a big shift where that's really not the case. Most teams now have at least one player who serves and stays back all the time. There's more comfort from the baseline. A lot of the players don't really worry about serving and volleying anymore. From the returner's perspective, it's a lot more about pace, being aggressive and trying to get a hold on the point straight away. Whereas, when I started playing, there was a little bit more feel, more finesse. Doubles is very entertaining and popular as a recreational sport. But it doesn't get good broadcast slots or matches on the show courts, especially in the first week of a Major. Are these hindering the growth? Absolutely. Anything that is put on the back-burner in terms of promotion and marketing is going to be treated that way by people who watch it. I'm not saying by any stretch that it needs to be at the same level as singles. But there are definitely stories that could be marketed a lot more. Like Rohan having so much success at such a late age [World No. 1 and 2024 Australian Open title]. Croatia's Mate Pavic won the French Open last year and completed the career Golden Slam [along with Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold]. But I don't think it got the push that a truly rare achievement in our sport should have got. Next is to highlight the partnerships. There could be quite a bit more of that, just to get to know the players at the personal level. ALSO READ | Sai Sudharsan: 'It was clear that we were in England to create history' In such a scenario, how does the move by the US Open to completely transform its mixed doubles feel? It is being played in the week before the Slam and has more singles players than doubles. It's two parts for me. I applaud their idea to innovate. As much as doubles was on the back-burner, mixed doubles was behind even more. So putting it in its own week, with fanfare, is great. Tennis could use mixed doubles as the flag-bearer, as men and women play men and women for Olympic medals and Grand Slam titles. But they [US Open] made it such that doubles players couldn't even enter. You can't unless you have a singles ranking. That's where I feel opposed. They should [have] just let everybody enter. A lot of the players that got in from singles would have still gotten in. It would have been a bit more legitimate to give a Grand Slam trophy for. If you were in a position of power, what would you do to increase traction for doubles? I mentioned Rohan winning so late. Joe and I won three US Opens on the trot. So the stories are there. They just need to be told. Secondly, social media is such a big part of our world. We have exciting points happening every day. They don't need to be necessarily in the main stadiums or even on TV. If we could do a better job of showcasing them, people would be drawn to the game. Most of those who are watching are doubles players themselves and they can have a little bit of a relationship there. The third thing is to just tell the story of the partnerships. Joe and I played together for six years. We can do a little bit more of getting outside tennis and highlighting the personalities. ALSO READ | Injuries are a part of cricket; injury substitutes are unnecessary You have been mentoring Nishesh, among the brightest talents to emerge from the United States. What do you think India can do to develop such a player? I wish there was some magic recipe. Nishesh and I… our relationship is unique. Of all the places in the US, he moved to the little town that I'm from [Carmel, Indiana]. We have the same coach, Bryan Smith, and I have to give him a lot of credit. He not only teaches us to be good tennis players but also teaches us to give back to the next group. It was always something I was going to do for him [Nishesh] and a few others. Also, coming from the exact same background as I have, an America-born kid with Indian heritage… a lot of pieces came together. What India can do… I think it is very important for a player to feel that he or she is not alone and not feel like they have to reach a certain level for it to be successful. Just the effort of trying to be the best you can be is success in itself. I was really lucky that my dad had the foresight to realise that in the US, sports can actually open doors. I would have never gone to the colleges that I went to if I wasn't a tennis player. So, maybe, just a slight shift in mentality for what it really means to be a high-level athlete and what success really is [can help India].
