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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
From plate to gut: The silent threat of microplastics
This World Environment Day, the theme 'End Plastic Pollution' highlights a pressing issue: microplastics in our food. These tiny plastic particles, less than 5mm in size, have infiltrated our diets, posing significant health risks. Microplastics are minute plastic particles resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics. Due to their durability, they persist in the environment and have been found in various foods. Dr. Sharad Malhotra, Senior Consultant & Director of Gastroenterology at Aakash Healthcare, says, 'Microplastics are minute plastic particles formed by the decomposition of plastics, which are widespread in nature and hence damage both wildlife and people. They have been found in a variety of foods and can also be inhaled.' Microplastics enter the food chain through various pathways: Seafood: Marine animals ingest plastic debris, which then enters the human diet. Salt: Sea salt, in particular, is contaminated due to ocean pollution. Drinking Water: Both bottled and tap water contain microplastics. Honey and Sugar: Studies have detected plastic particles in these sweeteners. Fruits and Vegetables: Crops irrigated with contaminated water accumulate microplastics. Plastic Packaging: Leaching from containers during storage or heating contributes to contamination. Dr. Bir Singh Sehrawat, Program Clinical Director & HOD of Gastroenterology at Marengo Asia Hospitals Faridabad, explains, 'Microplastics consumed through food, water, or air may build up in the body, particularly within the gastrointestinal tract, raising the risk of certain health issues like gut inflammation, dysbiosis (imbalance in gut microbiota), and potentially increased risk of conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBS) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD). Microplastics may also give rise to systemic inflammation, leading to other chronic conditions.' The ingestion of microplastics has been linked to various health issues: Hormone Disruption: Chemicals like BPA and phthalates, associated with plastics, can interfere with hormone production. Immune System Dysfunction: Microplastics can cause oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to immune system dysfunction. DNA Damage: Long-term exposure may lead to genetic mutations and increased cancer risk. Dr. Mandeep Singh Malhotra, Senior Oncologist at Art of Healing Cancer, warns, 'They can also cause DNA damage leading to cancers. They can interfere in our endocrine systems, that is production of hormones. Our immune system also comes under excessive oxidative stress and inflammation, which causes it to dysfunction.' Some finds to microplastics are worrying. 'In one study, scientists found microplastics in human blood for the first time. In another, they found plastic particles in the placenta of unborn babies. People who eat a lot of seafood or work in plastic-related industries may be at higher risk. In extreme cases, long-term exposure has been linked to problems like breathing issues, hormone imbalance, and even organ damage,' says Samiksha Kalra, Dietician, Madhukar Rainbow Children Hospital. To mitigate exposure to microplastics: Opt for Fresh Foods: Choose fresh produce over packaged items. Use Alternative Containers: Replace plastic containers with glass or stainless steel. Avoid Heating Food in Plastic: Do not microwave food in plastic containers. Choose Personal Care Products Wisely: Avoid products containing microbeads. Dr. Bir Singh advises, 'Opt for fresh food and ditch plastic water bottles, using glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastics. Avoid heating food in plastic containers especially in microwave as the heat can cause the plastic to break down and leach microplastics into your food. Use glass or ceramic instead. Choose personal care products wisely as many face scrubs and toothpaste contain tiny plastic microbeads.'
India Today
12-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Beyond chemo: How a new approach to cancer recovery is changing lives
When Kamala, a 47-year-old woman from New Zealand, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, her hopes for recovery dimmed quickly. Kamala's case is one of only 17 known globally involving squamous cell carcinoma developing from mature cystic two surgeries failed to contain the aggressive tumour, her scans revealed metastases across the pelvic peritoneum, lymph nodes, and lungs. "There was nothing else left for me in New Zealand," she told when Kamala turned to an integrative approach to cancer care in India. At a private oncology centre in Gurugram, she underwent a mix of conventional and personalised therapies, including chemotherapy guided by genetic profiling, nutritional interventions, and the use of natural compounds like vitamin C and curcumin. Three months later, she was declared Kamala's story is extraordinary, it also brings up a growing question in the world of oncology: should more cancer patients consider integrative medicine as part of their recovery?WHAT IS INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY?Integrative oncology doesn't aim to replace conventional cancer treatment. Instead, it seeks to complement it by combining chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery with personalised nutrition, mind-body practices, and, in some centres, elements of traditional medicine such as ayurveda."We don't ask patients to skip chemotherapy or surgery. That remains the backbone of treatment," said Dr. Arpan Talwar, co-founder of Art of Healing Cancer. Integrative oncology doesn't aim to replace conventional cancer treatment. Instead, it seeks to complement it. () advertisement"But there are gaps that conventional medicine doesn't always address, like managing side effects, strengthening the immune system, or targeting mutations that don't yet have drugs. That's where integrative strategies come in," he to this approach is precision oncology, the idea that treatment should be guided by a patient's unique genetic profile."We customise everything, from chemotherapy drugs to diet, based on how the tumour's genes behave. If a tumour is feeding on protein, then a high-protein diet could do more harm than good," explained Roshika Tiwari, a Gurugram-based cancer genetic isn't just theory. European research in this area called Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs) - a multidisciplinary panel that guides treatment decisions based on genetic findings - is gaining European Society for Medical Oncology, in a set of guidelines published in Annals of Oncology, advocates for MTBs in hospitals to personalise care, monitor outcomes, and support decisions on off-label or investigational DOES SCIENCE SAY?There is emerging evidence to support parts of integrative cancer care. Precision medicine, for instance, has shown success in improving treatment response in various cancers by targeting actionable to the US National Cancer Institute, more than 400 cancer-related genes can now be matched to targeted therapies, though hundreds more still lack drugs. More than 400 cancer-related genes can now be matched to targeted therapies, though hundreds more still lack drugs. () Nutrition, too, plays a measurable role in recovery. "Malnutrition and muscle loss are linked to poorer outcomes. We've seen patients complete chemotherapy with fewer interruptions when their diet is personalised and closely monitored," said Shikha Singh, a nutritionist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute's department of hemato-oncology and bone marrow recalled a breast cancer patient who regained weight, energy, and mental well-being through a high-protein, calorie-dense diet tailored to their body's needs, allowing them to finish treatment on experts also warned against falling for fads. "There are plenty of myths, like cutting out all sugar or going vegan to cure cancer. Diet should always be evidence-based and supervised," Dr. Singh CAUTIONDespite some remarkable case studies, integrative medicine in cancer remains a grey area in mainstream natural substances being used, curcumin, antioxidants, ayurvedic herbs, lack large-scale clinical trials to confirm their benefits or interactions with chemotherapy. advertisementHowever, according to experts, the problem is not the idea, it's the lack of regulation. Combining alternative therapies with conventional treatment requires proper doctors also raise concerns about commercial clinics promoting unproven combinations of herbal remedies and dietary changes as "cures."While genomic testing is becoming more accessible, it remains expensive and largely confined to urban centres in India, and "there's a long way to go before we can democratise precision oncology," Tiwari said.A NEED FOR INTEGRATION, NOT POLARISATIONGlobally, integrative oncology is gaining recognition, not as a replacement but as a companion. Major cancer centres in Europe and the US are experimenting with yoga therapy, nutritional genomics, and stress-reduction programs, especially for patients in advanced Mandeep Singh, founder of Art of Healing Cancer, believes that the future of cancer care should be interdisciplinary. While genomic testing is becoming more accessible, it remains expensive and largely confined to urban centres in India. () advertisement"We already use substances like turmeric or vitamin C. The question is: can we use them in precise doses, backed by genetic science, alongside conventional treatment? That's what we're trying to figure out," said Dr. Singh. The expert suggested the potential of supportive care approaches such as nutrition and mental health in improving quality of life during cancer treatment. But clear, evidence-based frameworks are still missing for wider WE TURN TO INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE?For patients like Kamala, integrative medicine was life-changing. For others, it may be supplementary, or even real question isn't whether integrative oncology works for everyone, it's whether we're ready to design cancer care around the individual, not just the includes allowing for experimentation, as long as it's rooted in more large-scale studies emerge, experts recommend caution, collaboration, and clarity.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
All about liquid biopsy: How a simple blood test can spot cancer early
Early cancer detection is one of the only ways that the complex and stubborn disease can be treated soon. Once diagnosed, the treatment can involve a series of procedures that can be harrowing for both the patient and the one of the ways to trim the treatment process is by using liquid biopsy, a blood test that tells you which type of treatment is best suited for the IS A LIQUID BIOPSY? A liquid biopsy is a test that looks for signs of cancer in blood or other body fluids, like urine. Unlike traditional biopsies that require cutting or inserting a needle to remove a piece of the tumour, a liquid biopsy only needs a small blood to Dr Mandeep Singh, chief oncologist of Art of Healing Cancer centre, who frequently uses this test, "Liquid biopsy analyses cancer-related material present in body fluids, most commonly blood, to gather critical information about the disease."HOW DOES IT WORK?When cancer is present in the body, it often releases tiny bits of genetic material into the blood. These can be:Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) – fragments of DNA from the tumourCirculating tumor cells (CTCs) – whole cells that break off from the tumourCell-free DNA (cfDNA) – includes DNA from both normal and cancer cellsadvertisementBy analysing these markers, doctors can detect cancer at an early stage, choose the most suitable treatment, and even track how well a treatment is working over fact, liquid biopsy can sometimes pick up signs of cancer returning even before a scan ELSE CAN IT DETECT?The liquid biopsy test can also find genetic mutations like BRCA1 or TP53, which can increase a person's risk of developing certain cancers. So in some cases, it can also be used to predict cancer risk even before the disease researchers are now working on new technology that looks at how the immune system is reacting, rather than just trying to find cancer cells in the blood. Since cancer is made up of the body's own cells gone wrong, tracking changes in white blood cells (WBCs) could be another powerful way to detect cancer KNOWN LIMITATIONDespite its many advantages, liquid biopsy does have a drawback. It's not very useful for detecting brain tumours, because of the blood-brain barrier—a protective layer that prevents many substances (including cancer cells from the brain) from entering the research grows and technology improves, liquid biopsy could soon become a regular part of how we screen, diagnose, and monitor cancer.
