Latest news with #DepartmentofNutritionandDietetics
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
With sports becoming a profession, youngsters should look for opportunities: Javagal Srinath
With sports gradually turning into a profession in India, youngsters should look for career opportunities in the field, said former international cricketer Javagal Srinath. Participating as a chief guest at the inauguration of a two-day national workshop on 'An integrated approach to athletic performance through nutrition, gut health, psychology, rehabilitation and anti-doping awareness' organized by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at JSSAHER's School of Life Sciences in Mysuru on May 26, Mr. Srinath recalled that information on training, nutrition, psychology was not as easily available when he was a cricketer in the earlier '90s. 'People used to hide information,' he said while claiming that they did not have any information about the training programmes for sports in the United States, England, Australia. 'We did not know what type of training was given for cricketers, more specifically for bowlers, in Australia, which has a sporting culture,' he said. Training for sports in India, which did not have a sporting culture, was 'incomparable' to the training in Australia, he said. While sportspersons like him in India were only practising on the field, besides lifting weights in the gym, their counterparts in other countries were undergoing advanced and in-depth training programmes, he said. However, with the facilities, opportunities and infrastructure for sports presently available for sports in the country, Indians can now aim for the top. Underscoring the importance of nutrition, Mr. Srinath said sports professionals should be able to guide aspiring sportspersons on what would go wrong if one messes up with nutrition, which is key for performance. Mr. Srinath cited the example of leading cricketer Virat Kohli, who he said watches 'every morsel of food he consumes' and 'its calories' based on whether it would slow him down or help him do better on the field. 'We should look up to such people,' he said. Mr. Srinath also emphasised the importance of psychology for every facet of life, including the performance of a sportsperson. Dr. Raveesha K. A., Dean of Faculty of Life Sciences, JSSAHER, said the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics was starting MSc programme in Sports Nutrition and Management at a time when India is aiming to host Olympics. Such facilities will help create supporting ancillary facilities to ensure there is sufficient manpower to hold such events. The two-day workshop will promote efforts to improve athletic performance of an individual through nutrition and other facets, like psychology, rehabilitation and anti-doping awareness, he said. He pointed out that it is not enough to provide proteins and other nutrients to an individual. It is equally important to customise it to an individual's physiology and biochemistry, as everybody does not come from the same genetic background. 'People come from different genetic backgrounds, cultures, food habits,' he said.
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Can inflammation be reversed with diet? Here's why ghee, jamun and blueberries are what you need
Mumbai-based Shirish, a 45-year-old entrepreneur, didn't know what was causing his itchy rashes, stomach ache, pain in the feet and low-grade fever. Being overweight, he had prediabetes and hypertension but nothing was alarming to cause these symptoms. That's when Khushboo Jain Tibrewala, diabetes nutritionist and inflammation specialist, asked him to take the Immunoglobulin E (IgE) test to identify allergies through the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream. He had elevated IgE levels, suggesting his body was overreacting to allergens or fighting off an infection, both of which can trigger inflammation. 'In his case, it had become chronic. We decided to lower it through his diet,' she says. While inflammation is the body's natural defence mechanism against injury or infection, chronic inflammation is a low-grade, persistent state that can silently affect our tissues and organs over time. 'In its acute form, it helps heal wounds and fight pathogens. But when inflammation becomes chronic, it can harm rather than heal. It has been linked to a wide range of health conditions, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, skin conditions like eczema, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. This accelerates disease,' says Dr Sonia Gandhi, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Fortis Hospital, Mohali. Certain foods are known to combat inflammation, while others may worsen it. 'Anti-inflammatory foods include fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants and fibre, fatty fish such as salmon and sardines with high levels of Omega-3, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, olive oil and spices such as turmeric and ginger,' shares Dr Gandhi. For Shirish, Tibrewala eliminated refined oils, maida, processed meats, eggs, nuts, gluten and nightshade vegetables (those which grow in the shade and night, including tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, bell peppers). 'Nightshade vegetables are nutrient-rich but they contain lectins, which are proteins that can interfere with nutrient absorption and potentially cause inflammation in those already affected. So, we focussed on whole, unprocessed foods, rich in anti-inflammatory properties,' says Tibreswala. After four weeks, Shirish's fevers stopped. His gut health improved and his rashes vanished. Both blood pressure and blood sugar levels returned to normal ranges. The team tested levels of C-reactive protein, a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation, and found them to be low. Use natural fats instead of processed oils. 'Add cashew paste, of course in moderation, to curries instead of oil or butter. Mix sesame (til) paste into thepla or roti dough to cut down oil use,' says Tibrewala. Make your plate colourful. Natural pigments in food act like antioxidants and suppress inflammation, including black foods like jamun, black gram, black soybean, karonda and blueberries. Include orange foods like carrots, pumpkin, papaya, rich in beta-carotene. 'Start your day with a teaspoon of ghee as it helps repair the gut lining and improve digestion. Include black seeds (kalonji) or its oil in meals as it is an anti-inflammatory ingredient,' says Tibrewala. According to her, one must avoid grains and meat after sunset, have an early dinner, reduce gluten and replace all refined and processed food with home-cooked meals. Of course, diet would be of no use without physical activity that releases anti-inflammatory compounds and helps regulate body weight.
