Latest news with #MRCS
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Doctor shares why cranberry juice is the next big thing to improve your gut health
Good gut health depends on what's on your plate, and sometimes, what's in your glass. Superfoods that supercharge gut health have a new contender in the spotlight- and it's a tart, sweet drink, cranberry juice. UK-based Dr Karan Rajan, who regularly shares health and nutrition tips on Instagram, posted on May 30 his reaction to a video of a content creator, explaining how she's having cranberry juice for better gut health. He also broke down the surprising benefits of cranberry juice's pigment for the gut microbiome. A post shared by Dr Karan Rajan (MRCS MBBS BSc) (@drkaranrajan) Dr Karan Rajan breaks down the gut-boosting properties of a powerful compound found in cranberries, called polyphenols, in the clip. According to him, the gut microbiome benefits the most from cranberry juice, as it promotes the growth of beneficial bacterial strains. He explained, "When you drink cranberry juice, you get a dose of one of the most beneficial nutrients you can get from any diet, polyphenols. These are natural plant antioxidants which can help reduce inflammation and provide some more gut health benefits. The type of polyphenols found in cranberries, which also give it its vibrant colour, are called proanthocyanidins. These polyphenols help to reduce the growth of bad bacteria, leading to better gut health. In fact, there's growing evidence that cranberry polyphenols can act as prebiotics, basically food for the good bacteria. So they promote the growth of beneficial strains like Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus." The absorption of nutrients and overall efficiency also depend on how you consume the fruit. Additionally, gut health thrives with a diet that is diverse and contains a variety of polyphenols. Dr Ranjan added, "The benefits from eating cranberries or blending the fruit into a smoothie are far greater than just the juice because it lacks fibre. But occasionally, it's a convenient option for the boost of plant pigments. If you want to eat food with the highest concentrations of polyphenols, then just choose plants that are dark red, purple, or blue. If you eat a wide range of colourful plants, you maximise the chances of getting a variety of plant pigments and polyphenols. Different polyphenols each have a unique impact on the gut microbiome, meaning each one can help you support different microbes." ALSO READ: Gastroenterologist shares 5 juices he 'drinks as a doctor for gut and liver health': Pomegranate to cranberry juice Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
The Star
6 days ago
- General
- The Star
Humanitarian theme in MRCS parade
Ling (standing at podium) and Chua (right) watching the MRCS Sibu march-past in Tun Zaidi Stadium. THE Malaysia Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Sibu branch's Annual Inspection Parade 2025 held in Sibu town, Sarawak, carries on a proud community tradition. MRCS Sibu chairman Penghulu Chua Hiong Kee described the event as a celebration of the society members' discipline, unity and selflessness. 'The parade is a powerful symbol of our dedication to serving humanity. This lies at the very heart of MRCS Sibu,' he said. At the Tun Zaidi Stadium, members marched in precision and saluted beneath fluttering flags bearing the symbolic colours of the MRCS. Chua emphasised that these displays reflected a readiness to serve in hard times. 'These show our commitment to humanitarian services and our willingness to give selflessly in times of crises, without expecting anything in return. As long as there is a need, there will be someone wearing the Red Crescent emblem, and who is ready to serve, comfort and heal,' he added. Chua also explained MRCS Sibu's vision of nurturing young people through its ranks, with juniors becoming cadets and eventually graduating into the Voluntary Aid Detachment unit. This approach fosters lifelong contributors to the humanitarian sector, he noted. 'The impact of your good deeds is bigger than you will ever know. 'Let us move forward together with strength and purpose.' The parade highlighted this year's World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day theme 'On the Side of Humanity'. Chua said the theme symbolised the organisation's daily mission to put people first, act with compassion and serve all individuals regardless of background, status or belief. 'It is a call to stand firmly on the side of kindness and service,' he added. Sibu district education officer Ahli Chikba called on parents and community to continue to support the role of MRCS in schools. 'Encourage children to join uniformed bodies like MRCS, not just for Physical Activity, Sports and Co-Curriculum Assessment marks but to deepen the meaning of humanity and volunteerism,' he stated in his speech that was read out by his representative Jeremy Ling.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The 1 Sign A Coffee Expert Wants You To Look For On The Pack
Good news for coffee lovers – studies increasingly suggest the drink might be good for your heart, mind, and even gut health when drunk in moderation. Perhaps that's why GI surgeon Dr Karan Rajan, who has previously extolled the virtues of coffee for, er, regularity, spoke to coffee legend James Hoffmann on his health podcast Dr Karan Explores recently. 'If you were in the supermarket on the hunt for a good-quality coffee,' the surgeon asked, 'what things should you look for on the back of the pack?' James' answer relied on six (OK, or eight) digits found on the back, or bottom, of good coffee. 'In an ideal world, you'd want a 'roasted on' date,' the coffee expert advised. This tells you exactly when the people who roasted your beans did their jobs. 'Generally speaking, this will immediately tell you if it's a speciality coffee or not, because most commercially produced coffee will not have a 'roasted on' date; it'll have a 'best before' date.' Hoffmann added that he'd recommend buying whole beans and grinding them at home if possible. Abyss Coffee Roasters agrees, writing on their site that, 'The roast date should be stated clearly on any bag of speciality coffee.' They add, 'If you can't find it, ask the retailer or roaster – but that may be a red flag, since this is a basic piece of information that's important for knowing how fresh a coffee is.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr Karan Rajan (MRCS MBBS BSc) (@drkaranrajan) Hoffmann has spoken about the issue before on his YouTube channel, suggesting that supermarkets 'hate' roasting dates on their packs as they might shorten the products' shelf life in the eyes of some customers. Still, he shared in the same clip, fresher is not always better, especially if you're making espresso. 'As final guidance for whole bean coffee, anything that's a kind of light, medium roast, I think is generally fine fout to six to eight weeks after roasting,' he says. 'If it's a darker roast, I would say maybe for to six weeks maximum.' I Added 2 Cupboard Staples To My Coffee And I Can't Get Enough Of It I Asked Coffee Experts How To Make Café-Level Cuppas At Home (Without Fancy Tools) The 1 Spice You Should Add To Your Coffee For Better Health
Borneo Post
11-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Tiong lauds MRCS Bintulu for humanitarian work, youth engagement
Mohidin (third left) presenting a memento to Kong. BINTULU (May 11): The Malaysia Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Bintulu Chapter is not only active in disaster relief and health crises but also plays a vital role in public education through its awareness programmes, said Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. 'I am especially proud of the involvement of MRCS Cadet Units in schools, which have successfully instilled leadership and humanitarian values among youth,' he said in a Sarawak Public Communications Unit report. The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture said this during the 'Get To Know' dinner held in conjunction with the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day at a hotel here yesterday. Organised by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Bintulu Chapter, the event gathered over 200 attendees including committee members, teacher advisors, school cadet units, and volunteers to honor their dedication and service in helping and saving lives in the community. The Bintulu MP's special officer Steven Kong Kai Seng, presented tokens of appreciation to the volunteers. Tiong emphasised that the celebration was more than a social event, saying it symbolised deep respect for those who serve the community selflessly. Meanwhile, MRCS Bintulu Patron Datu Mohidin Ishak praised the volunteers as the backbone of community preparedness during emergencies such as floods and accidents. He called on more young people to join the humanitarian movement as part of a balanced and socially responsible lifestyle. Mohidin also revealed that Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming had approved a special allocation for upgrading the MRCS Bintulu Chapter's building and facilities. He expressed confidence that the upgrades would enhance the chapter's operational capacity and effectiveness. Earlier, a successful CPR and first aid training programme involving schools around Bintulu was held, underscoring MRCS's continued commitment to community education and preparedness. The MRCS Bintulu Chapter called on the public to continue supporting their humanitarian mission through volunteerism, donations, or programme collaborations. awareness programmes malaysian red crescent society Tiong King Sing
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Woman warns 'don't take beauty supplements unless you want to end up in hospital with organ failure'; UK doctor reacts
UK doctor Dr Karan Rajan, an NHS surgeon and content creator, posted an Instagram video on May 1, in which he reacted to a woman who shared her experience and warned people against taking vitamin supplements. Before we find out what Dr Rajan said about how supplements can potentially affect liver health, let's find out what the woman actually said in the original video she posted. Also read | Woman shows rubbing banana peel on face works like Botox for brightening skin: But does it really and is it safe? She said: 'Do not take hair, nail and skin multivitamins unless you want to end up like me in the hospital with organ failure, yellow as a f***ing minion.' Reacting to her, Dr Rajan said, 'If you take supplements and want to avoid liver injury, there are a few things you should know.' He went on to explain: 'Supplements aren't evil and I even take a fair few myself, from omega-3 and vitamin E to even fibre (psyllium husk). But when it comes to supplements, even the 'natural ones', we need to realise that many of them involve liver metabolism, meaning they go through the liver's biochemical sorting hat and get processed by liver enzymes. This can affect how hard your liver is working.' A post shared by Dr Karan Rajan (MRCS MBBS BSc) (@drkaranrajan) Dr Rajan added, 'If you want to make sure that your supplements are not frying your liver, do these few things.' He said: 1. Use LiverTox, a database of supplements and drugs that have been implicated with liver injury across multiple case reports. If it is listed under grade A, B or C, then be extra cautious about the dose and what you are taking. 2. Look for third-party testing seals. None of these guarantee safety, but they could help to confirm what is actually in the capsule. 3. Stick to clinical doses; more is not always better. If you are taking prescription medications, such as statins, blood thinners, anti-epileptics, and antidepressants, check for drug interactions with your pharmacist or doctor before starting any supplement. 4. If you are taking multiple herbal supplements, make sure the active ingredients of each one don't significantly overlap. You are not making a smoothie for your mitochondria. You are creating a pharmacological cocktail with unknown synergy. He concluded, 'I am a fan of supplements that can provide you with a specific function – just don't turn your liver into a science fair project gone wrong.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
