Health Bulletin 19/ April/ 2024

In yet another incident of the FedEx courier scam, a woman doctor in Delhi was duped of Rs 5 lakh by fraudsters who posed as FedEx personnel and Mumbai Police cyber crime officers.

In the labyrinth of baby-food choices, parents navigate with utmost care, seeking products that promise wholesome nutrition and optimal health for their little ones. Yet, a recent investigation into Nestle's baby-food brands in India unveils a troubling revelation: while caregivers across developed nations trust in sugar-free formulations, those in India unknowingly feed their babies products laden with added sugars. This stark contrast not only raises red flags about the health implications for infants but also ignites a broader conversation about transparency and ethical practices in the food industry. As caregivers, we entrust these products with the well-being of our children, assuming they uphold the highest standards of nutrition and integrity. However, the veil of hidden sugars shrouds our understanding, leaving us grappling with unforeseen risks to our babies' health. The absence of clear labeling exacerbates this issue, leaving consumers in the dark about what they're truly feeding their little ones. The repercussions extend beyond immediate health concerns, echoing into the future dietary habits of our children. The insidious cycle of sugar addiction, initiated in infancy, poses a grave threat to their long-term well-being, predisposing them to obesity and chronic diseases in adulthood.

Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist, cautions against the belief that daytime sleep can make up for a poor night's rest. Contrary to this notion, he emphasizes that daytime sleep disrupts the body's natural sleep-wake cycle and may even heighten the risk of dementia and psychiatric issues.

Daytime sleep, he explains, is lighter and doesn't sync with our internal body clock, failing to fulfill the essential functions of sleep. Studies on night shift workers corroborate this, showing associations with stress, obesity, cognitive impairments, and increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases.