Most of us have a tendency to hunt out “superfoods” or particular diets, both to shed these additional few kilos, resolve current well being points, or put together our our bodies to battle antagonistic environmental situations and construct a robust immune system.
Whereas the intention is sweet, sadly, most of us fall prey to social media — particularly Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp forwards. And the outcomes are the worst.
This version of Well being Issues relies on my interactions and interviews with nutritionists and physicians to delve deeper into this difficulty.
This column is a file extension earlier article I’ve written about how Instagram reels and DIY movies depart customers with broken pores and skin that in the end wants skilled intervention.
Self-prescription tales and harms
Pattern this: A 44-year-old man was dropped at the emergency division of a hospital in Bengaluru. The explanation: an impending coronary heart assault.
It was handled instantly with stent placement within the LCX artery. He had diabetes since he was 10 years previous, however when he approached the hospital his HbA1C was 14 p.c — greater than double regular ranges. HbA1C measures the quantity of blood sugar (glucose) sure to hemoglobin.
Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy, senior interventional heart specialist at Sakra, participated within the case examine Globalism Hospital, Bengaluru, on Twitter.
Veeramachaneni or VRK weight loss program recommends consuming 100 grams of ghee in a single meal. The affected person was impressed by social media. There are numerous YouTube movies about this VRK weight loss program,” Krishnamurthy tells me of the weight loss program usually known as the “daisy” model of the keto weight loss program.
Not solely Krishnamurthy, however many docs are dealing with an analogous drawback as social media customers ignore the truth that the “one measurement matches all” method doesn’t work in the actual world.
In one other, a 40-year-old man with kind 2 diabetes who was taking remedy selected intermittent fasting and a low-carb weight loss program sponsored by an influencer.
He adopted it with none medical supervision. Because of this, he developed extreme hypoglycemia. At some point, he handed out at work and harm his again badly,” Dr. Subhasree Ray, who has a PhD in scientific vitamin and well being skilled, tells me over a WhatsApp chat.
Tales like these are countless now.
In Kerala, a fruit known as Averrhoa Bilimbi, generally often known as Bilimbi, is used to make a refreshing fish curry. Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, former president of the Indian Medical Affiliation (IMA), advised me that the WhatsApp attacker made it well-known for reducing levels of cholesterol.
“This bilimbi drink development has change into hell,” he added.
Individuals thought it was a fast repair, put it in a blender and drink the juice. Nonetheless, these folks ended up with irreversible kidney harm, and lots of wanted a kidney transplant as a result of the juice acted like Fevicol to the kidneys—the filters of the human physique—and blocked the pores.
“The kidneys have been clogged with oxalate crystals. This fruit is a taste enhancer and secure for human consumption provided that eaten in minimal quantities.”
One other standard fad is consuming soaked fenugreek seeds (methi), particularly amongst diabetics. Nonetheless, individuals who took fenugreek decoction acquired into hassle.
Massive doses of fenugreek seeds skinny the blood and may trigger harmful bleeding in folks with or with no medical historical past.
Social media inspiration is far increased within the put up covid world
Taking preferrred weight loss program or weight loss program recommendation from influencers on Instagram or social media could be dangerous as a result of they might not be certified to offer dietary recommendation and should promote fad diets or fast fixes that aren’t sustainable or wholesome in the long run.
Based on Dr. Varsha Gauri, Senior Medical Dietitian and Head of Diet at Apollo Hospitals (Navi Mumbai), the affect of social media has change into extra aggressive as a result of outbreak of Covid-19.
“Throughout the occasions of COVID-19, there was a better affect of social media on folks the place all of the sudden good well being is the prerequisite for survival,” she famous.
“Due to the identical, 8 out of 10 sufferers are actually taking a look at social media to design or modify their weight loss program plans reasonably than approaching any physician or specialist.”
Influencers usually current a extremely modified and formatted model of their lives, which might create unrealistic expectations and physique picture points.
Specialists inform me there are lots of examples of individuals experiencing unfavourable well being penalties from following fad diets and quick-fix weight reduction plans promoted by unqualified people on social media. This will embody malnutrition, nutrient deficiencies, and an elevated threat of continual illness.
As soon as Dr. Ray is visited by a younger woman (depicted above) who suffers from extreme dietary deficiencies resulting from her self-chosen restrictive weight loss program plan.
She was consuming solely 600 energy a day. “She grew to become malnourished, torpid, had issues with common menstruation, sleep and temper issues,” Rae stated, including that there are lots of examples like her.
Why do you have to go to a nutritionist or docs
Everyone seems to be completely different and one weight loss program plan is not going to work for everybody.
Aside from many different features, dieticians want to contemplate anthropometric measurements, preferrred physique mass index (BMI), biochemical parameters and scientific situations whereas planning a person’s weight loss program.
Anthropometry is the scientific examine of the measurements and proportions of the human physique, whereas the biochemical parameters embody urea, creatinine, potassium, glucose, albumin, sodium and different vital particulars of physique functioning and stability.
It will be dangerous to suppose that “superfoods” don’t have any uncomfortable side effects. Each meals can have a dangerous impact reasonably than a profit if eaten inappropriately.
Whenever you go to a medically educated skilled, a weight loss program plan is made based on your scientific historical past. For instance, one might have a low potassium weight loss program associated to diabetes, kidney illness, or associated to poor coronary heart operate.
“We take a look at the finer issues. The concept is to give you a well-balanced weight loss program primarily based in your weight and medical historical past,” Dr Payal Sharma, a dietitian at Dharamshila Narayana Tremendous Specialty Hospital primarily based in Delhi, tells me.
Within the occasion that an individual requires a protein-based weight loss program, the plan goes like this.
In case you have a perfect physique weight, then you have to eat 1 gram of protein per kilogram of weight. In case you’re obese, 0.8g protein/kg, and when you’re underweight, I’d assign 1.2 to 1.3g protein/kg, including: “This protein might be divided into two classes primarily based on the affected person’s decisions – vegetable protein similar to soy and protein animal like rooster or eggs.”
Briefly, you will need to be essential of any dietary recommendation you obtain, particularly when it comes from an unqualified or untrained supply.
It’s at all times greatest to seek the advice of a certified healthcare skilled, similar to a registered dietitian or doctor, for personalised and secure dietary recommendation.
In any case, your well being is vital.
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