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The occasional showers and chilly winds! And relief from the hot scorching heat. Monsoon has got all of it to make you crave for some delicious food items. Are you also yearning for a plate full of hot pakodas with your evening cup of tea on most of the days? Not minding to binge on fried foods? Well, rains are a good time to relish savoury meals, but they also necessitate eating healthy and clean food. Water stagnation and high moisture content in the environment can cause it to act as a season filled with infections and diseases. So, if you want to enjoy the monsoon, it is important to eat healthy and nutritious meals.Here are a few healthy tips for monsoon on how to keep your gut healthy and happy Do’s of Monsoon Diet Opt for seasonal fruits, such as litchi, Indian blackberry (Jamun), pomegranates, peach, and plum. While the seasonal fruits will impart the goodness of nature, non-seasonal fruits might be ripened through artificial techniques.     Eat steamed salads instead of raw vegetables. Wash vegetables properly before steaming. Improper washing can lead to various bacterial and viral infections.Certain digestive conditions can also cause rise in levels of liver enzymes. Any such rise may indicate inflammation or damage to cells in the liver. Track your liver health  with the help of a liver function test. Add desi Indian drinks such as Aam Panna, Sattu, Chach, in your daily diet. Refrain from sodas and cold drinks. They add calories with zero amount of other nutritional elements.     Include herbal teas in your daily diet. Green teas and herbal teas are a rich source of antioxidants that helps prevent cell damage. Antioxidants are required for repair of skin, hair and other body cells. Go for fermented dairy products like yogurt and curd in place of ice creams. They aid in digestion and reduce bloating. As per Ayurvedic experts, the best time to have fermented dairy products like these can be after lunch. Some people might catch a cold and cough due to consuming curd at night.   Don’ts of Monsoon Diet Say strict no to roadside food or meals prepared with low hygiene. These can harbor infection-causing germs and hamper your gut health. Save that spread of samosa, kachori, and pakodas for only some special times. Fried foods may appear very tempting but the high oil content can interfere with the normal functioning of your digestive system, might slow the movements of digestive organs, and delay gastric emptying. These can further cause bloating and heartburn.   Eating food that has high content of fats, specifically saturated and trans fats, can cause a rise in cholesterol levels  and raise your risk of several heart conditions. The first step to a healthier heart is to get your cholesterol and triglycerides levels checked periodically. A lipid profile test  is a panel of blood tests that screens your body for lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides. Avoid salty foods items or eat in moderation. Too much salt can cause fluid retention and uneasiness in the stomach. You need to take special care if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Eating meals that are uncovered or prepared with dirty unwashed hands may spread many germs. Always cover your food to save it being infected by flies. Wash hands with soap before preparing and eating every meal. Limit your intake of caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee. Too much of such beverages causes dehydration in the body. They can also interfere with the normal sleep pattern in some people, when consumed in late evening or nighttime.   Dehydration can cause your body to lose important electrolytes. Electrolytes include salts and minerals, such as sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate. An electrolyte imbalance can interfere with normal functioning of your body. Get Electrolytes Test Done here. Avoid eating seafood during the rainy season. It is very common for water bodies to be polluted with sewage, thus there are more chances of sea creatures being exposed to these pollutants. Also, monsoon is the breeding season for the fishes. You are not letting nature restock what you have been taking out. Most importantly, most fish sold in monsoon are pre-packaged or stored. Storing fish for longer periods can reduce its nutritional value. The last and yet the most important in the list is to not use contaminated water. Always ensure that your water should either be purified or boiled. Avoid Ice from non-distilled water, kulfis and golas to keep stomach upset and food poisoning at bay. Contaminated water can spread a plethora of infections, including hepatitis A and E viruses. These viruses cause swelling (inflammation) in your liver. The signs and symptoms of these liver conditions do not appear until the virus has passed 2-3 weeks inside the body. Doubt water quality in your area and have symptoms like fever, fatigue, or pain in the abdomen? Get tested for hepatitis now and seek medical assistance if required.    Following these simple healthy tips will help you limit your exposure to many germs that may give stomach infections. Keep nutrition always above taste.Hoping you and your loved ones have a happy and healthy monsoon with these monsoon diet tips.

Heart diseases rank among one of the top most causes of death globally according to WHO (World Health Organization). Deaths due to heart diseases have doubled in India, its 28% now as compared to 15% in 1990s, as per a report published in Lancet Journal. In the light of growing modern technology, not only the new and young “smartphone generation” but also everyone else is facing more devastating consequences due to their comfortable yet fast paced and stressful lifestyle. This is leading to spike in heart diseases and lifestyle disorders. And to further the situation is the fact that cardiovascular disorders are very unpredictable, they begin slowly but lead to sudden serious disturbances of heart and ill health. We cannot change the causative factors of cardiovascular diseases like family history of heart diseases, gender or age but that does not mean we should not do our best to bring about changes in our lifestyle that can help in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Proper lifestyle, diet, exercise with appropriate medical interventions can help delay the problem or even put a stop. Here are the pointers of the governance for a better Heart and actions to be taken: Stress One word, one cause that can be the root for different health disorders is stress. In times when technology and support was not abundant activities such as house cleaning, gardening, taking children and pets to play and walk, climbing stairs, doing household work manually were daily physical activities. These activities even though sedentary, were helping people to keep their body fit and also assist to reduce the occurrence of high blood pressure, high sugar levels, high cholesterol and thus, check the overall strain on the heart, to a certain level. Today’s fast moving lifestyle has literally reduced all these small yet essential de-stressing physical activities. Thus resulting in increase of oxidative stress and free radicals in the body that are detrimental for the heart. Coping with stress in unhealthy way like binge eating, eating at irregular intervals or anorexia nervosa causes further negative impact on heart health. The key is to find alternative ways of managing and reducing stress using various relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, pranayama, 30 minutes of physical activity preferably cardio exercise done 5 days a week, aerobics or brisk walking and more. These activities offer great benefits like increasing the oxygen levels in the body, enhancing blood circulation to all parts of the body, toning of muscles and nerves and much more resulting in better inner health of the body and the heart. Sleep Getting quality sleep for appropriate amount of time is missing in this generation where most of the population is addicted to mobile phones and laptops, working in night shifts, late night binge watching, hectic work schedules. Sleep apnoea, breathing troubles are conditions which if persist for a considerable amount of time lead to disturbance in sleep-wake cycle that can further lead to increase in the risk of heart diseases. Sleep is one of the major function during which the body goes into repair, maintenance and rest mode. Making sleep a priority in life and sticking to a schedule is the solution. Most adults need 6 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep daily to feel fresh, stay health and to wake up energised. Diet A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables devoid the person of the micronutrients and trace elements essential for body. Consuming too much sugar, salt, high-fat food, processed foods are a threat to heart health. Fast foods and ready-made foods are rich in trans-fats, hydrogenated and saturated fats. Food products like red meat, palm oil, crackers, chips, cookies, deep fried food, baked foods and all food types categorized as ‘junk food’ are detrimental in long run especially when consumed in excess or regularly. These can lead to accumulation of fat or sugar in the body and can lead to heart trouble. The increased exposure of chemicals and pesticides to the cultivated crops is also a major culprit for toxin build up. Substance misuse – Alcohol, smoking, consumption of drugs When it comes to these habits, occasional and moderate usage of Alcohol is fine, but smoking, substance misuse and excessive alcoholism are immensely detrimental to the cardiovascular (heart) health of your body and are direct causes of heart disease. Chemicals in tobacco damage blood vessels, causing plaques (fat deposition inside blood vessels). It also narrows the arteries leading to atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction (cardiac cell death). These symptoms have increased over the years and so has the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), even in non-smokers in last few years. Smokeless tobacco, low nicotine cigars, low tar cigar, second-hand smoke (passive smoking) can also be dangerous and increase the risk of heart disease even if it is social smoking only with friends. Especially Women are at a greater risk if smoking while consuming contraceptive pills. Getting regular health check-ups and medical consultation is advisable. As regular and early screening can help in detecting the diseases in time and hence can be better monitored and managed to reduce the risk to life. Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy Life. Take care. Check tests & Profiles for Heart here Contributed by Dr. Chaitra Avinash, an expert on lifestyle disorders, dietary intervention and hair-skin care.

A woman juggles multiple roles and relationships in her life - a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, homemaker, professional - these are the traditionally accepted roles of women all over the world. Over the years, women are more determined to pursue education and follow their interests in the field of their choice. This new dimension adds to a woman’s responsibilities and tasks. Women are now into demanding jobs like managerial positions, head of institutions, administration, media, science, academics, research etc., but she also expected to be a good homemaker. Women drain themselves in maintaining a balance. In 2018 GCI Health launched the HealthiHer movement, conducting a survey which concluded that almost 97% of women experienced a moderate to high level of stress, citing family responsibilities and stress on the job as the two were the top contributing factors. Workload on Indian women is much more than their male counterparts. So, what do we do ladies? Give yourself up to the ‘Stress’ and expose ourselves to associated diseases?? Well...NO!! Put your Health on Priority. Neglecting your health exposes you to various diseases and risks and that is the last you want, right? Manage stress better – Plan in advance and learn to prioritize Meditate or practise yoga setting aside even 10 minutes leaves you calmer to start the next day Quit fad diets and sugars Eat fresh – Eat home cooked meals, avoid eating processed foods and junk meals Find at least 30 minutes per day to exercise or a cardio activity Attend menstrual discomfort/ irregularities. Consult a gynaecologist. Get enough sleep – to heal and repair your body Stay hydrated Do not skip meals Our special women's health check-up includes a list of comprehensive tests like Thyroid, Vitamin D, FSH and more for women of all ages to detect any onset of diseases. Avail the blood collection at home service to get a health check-up as per your convenience. Women must get medical tests /regular screening done on time. It is highly recommended that women must take the following medical screening tests once they have crossed 35 years of age: 1. Pelvic Examination 2. Breast Examination 3. Bone Density Test 4. Thyroid Test 5. Diabetes Screening 6. Lipid Profile Tests 7. Vitamin D Test 8. Heart-Health Test It is not a myth - women really are better than men at multitasking!! According to a research paper in the journal BMC Psychology, women were faster and better organised than men when switching rapidly between tasks in tests by UK psychologists. Let's keep this trend going the way it is, don’t let stress and neglect bring us down!!           For ore on Women's Health checkup, click here Contributed by Dr. Bhavana Sontakke, Gynecologist

Hello friends, today we are going to discuss importance of health check-up in old age. Firstly, it is important to understand that regular health check-ups help you to identify and prevent health issues on early basis. There are numerous common health issues that can affect one’s health which may go unnoticed due to negligence towards unusual changes in body. Advanced lifestyle has made our life so sedentary that we have become technological slaves. By adopting sedentary life, one has introduced all kind of medical problems which reflects in later age. Health problems due to poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, myths and doctor google in adulthood; consequences of which are most commonly faced in older age which you are unaware of till something wrong happens to your health. Most common and vulnerable health problems occurring because of lifestyle, genetics and food habits resulting in poor health and shortened life span are – High or low blood pressure Diabetes Osteoporosis Arthritis Back pain and neck pain Heart diseases Dyslipidaemia Vision loss, cataract Hearing loss Pulmonary disease Depression Loss of memory Many of these conditions are silent killers which reside quietly within your body, but their ill impacts are witnessed after few years or decades. Ageing gracefully needs regular monitoring of health, show your elders some LOVE and CARE. Preventive tests’ package from Metropolis Diagnostics With ageing, there is a decline in immunity and the speed and efficiency of body repair, maintenance also slows down. Health check-ups are equally important for healthy people as well as for those suffering from any medical condition – to keep tabs on their current condition and beware of any future health risk. For healthy people it helps to identify problems before they start and maintain sound health while in preventive case help to recover and manage disease from further progress on time. Many a time regular check-up protects you from upcoming life-threatening illness through early screening and examination. You don’t need to rely on others because of any physical challenges or medical illness. Seniors who maintain a good health and fitness even at older age can actively follow their passion, hangout with their buddies and spend quality time with their family and grandchildren. With help of regular annual health examination, taking proper treatment and balanced diet you can stay fit live longer and healthier and active life even in old age. Checkout Health checkup for seniors here Here’s to ageing gracefully! 😊 Wishing you a happy and healthy life. Take care. Contributed by Janki Chauhan – Dietitian

Knowing what is right and what is wrong for your body isn’t always easy. Knowing where you stand today in terms of health, nutrition, lifestyle, stress management, mental health, etc. becomes important due to the kind of lifestyle we have created for ourselves. Many health problems arise when you follow an unhealthy lifestyle, suffering from malnourishment and if/are addicted to smoking and drinking. Factors that usually attract health problems are - Stress Unhealthy food Lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle Depression, anxiety – negligence towards mental health Irregular sleep schedule, lack of adequate sleep Incessant alcohol consumption Smoking Consumption of drugs Obesity Males have apple shaped body, so they are more prone for fat deposition in their abdomen region. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disease condition which arises due to central obesity. Obesity kills more people in this world than any other disease. Unhealthy food eating habits leads to obesity. Stress is also one major cause of getting obese. How to prevent this: Follow a healthy diet with lot of nutritious foods Avoid starchy, canned, processed foods Know what triggers you to eat more and control that impulse Stick to eating healthy and not go off-wagon during vacations, festivals Indulge in your favorite food, but in moderation Diabetes India ranks as number 1 country with maximum number of people suffering from diabetes. Unhealthy lifestyle, stress, obesity and genetics are the causes that trigger Diabetes condition. If diabetes is not managed properly then many other health issues await you in the future. How to prevent this: Include foods rich in fiber and protein Control consumption of sugar-rich, carbohydrate-rich food Pay attention to your mental health 30 minutes of physical activity or any sort of cardio workout should be included in your lifestyle, at least 5 times a week Change your lifestyle to live happily and disease free Get best preventive health testing packages and comfortable sample collection service at your door-step with Metropolis India Heart diseases (Cardiovascular health) Incidences of heart diseases are increasing in India again owing to lifestyle related concerns. Heart diseases include cholesterol, stroke, heart blockage, etc. This becomes a club of different disease condition which is again due to unhealthy lifestyle and food habits. How to prevent this: Learn to eat everything in proportion wise Control and limit your intake of unhealthy fats Get engaged in a relaxing or recreational activity like sport, yoga, dance, music Include more of healthy fats in your diet No amount of tobacco is safe, so avoid completely Avoid too much of salt and sugar in your diet Liver Cirrhosis Cirrhosis is a liver disease caused due to heavy consumption of alcohol over a prolonged period. This fails liver and is irreversible condition and it leads to death ultimately. Men generally drink alcohol to socialize, for recreation or to cope with their stress. How to prevent this: Moderate or no consumption of alcohol, based on Doctor’s advice Medications can reduce the symptoms A healthy diet and exercise must be a part of your life Wishing you a happy and healthy life. Take care. Contributed by Kejal Shah - Founder of Nutrivity, Clinical Nutritionist and Diabetes Educator

I was once called a sexy-sleek woman with that Indian touch of sensuousness…..But now, not age, but a disease has mellowed me down in every such aspect of taking pride in being a women. My ovaries have many watery cysts, I have PCOD and I am living with it since 2003. Resultant effects are alarming. Enlarged ovaries, pressure on pancreas, zero control on menstrual cycle, fear of getting type-2 diabetes, dirty acne on face, mood swings like a pendulum…..so much for my grey cells to absorb!! Now, I can only call myself lucky, as I have been able to conceive with the help of acupressure & the third attempt of IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) treatment led to fertilization of a healthy 23 mm sized egg. I delivered a baby boy with a NORMAL delivery. Had undergone Garbh Sanskar Vidhi, an Ayurvedic treatment for first 3 months post which I underwent a tough diet & walking regime, as I was determined not to undergo a C-section. Determination has paid off in my journey so far, as I was gifted a handsome, healthy baby boy who is 6 years old now, with well-developed features & brain too!!But my happiness was short lived when in spite of breastfeeding for 1.5 years, my hope to restore my hormonal balance failed. I have PCOD even in 2014 now & nothing is fine anymore. Neither my periods NOR my looks. Moral of the lesson: Preventing PCOD is better than cure. Ever since I knew from the internet that there is no cure to PCOD, I have had no options but to protect my body from its long-term consequences. Preventing PCOD is not easy task. Now I take Vit-B12, Vit-D3 tablets & calcium from natural food sources. I have stopped taking sugar. Initially, I started with sugar free natura but now I consume sugar from plant product like Stevia leaves. I have recently decided to detoxify my body with Virochan Ayurveda procedure & then attack inch loss, if not weight loss. After spending 40,000 rupees on herbal treatment, I am still striving hard to slim down. I have some more money going into Ayurvedic treatment these days. But to prevent permanent health issues, I am ready to do EVERYTHING. After my Ayurveda Panchkarma, Yoga & Treatment for hormones, face, hair, inch loss, I will meet you again with proof of any answers to what works & what doesn’t. Watch out!!! Contributed by Phani Trivedi – Founder at WasteEngage, Chairperson at Businesswomen Wing at Gujarat Chamber of Commerce

Forms of cancer that are specific to women are breast cancer (though few cases of male patients are also there), ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer. It is estimated that in India, about 160 million women aged 30-59 years are at risk of developing cervical cancer, and 77,300 new cases are diagnosed annually with 37,800 deaths, representing a whopping case fatality rate of 49 per cent. What is a cervix? Cervix is a fibromuscular tissue that is connects the genitals with the Uterus and is also called as the mouth/opening of the Uterus What is cervical cancer?                                  Cervical cancer is the cancer of the cervix, the opening of uterus. The cells on cervix begin to grow abnormally and sometimes if they are not treated, they can become cancerous. What are causes of Cervical Cancer? The main cause for Cervical cancer is getting infected with virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is sexually transmitted and could have been acquired years ago, from the time when it is finally detected. There are various types (strains) of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer. Who are susceptible to HPV infections? Women who are sexually active with multiple partners Women whose partner(s) have / had more than one sexual partner Women with any sexually transmitted diseases Women with immune system related problems Women have undergone any of the following are also likely to be susceptible -  Steroid medications  Chemotherapy  Transplanted organs Symptoms of Cervical Cancer to watch out for – Unusual discharge from vagina Blood spots or light bleeding even without periods Bleeding after menopause Bleeding during or after sex Anemia as a result of abnormal vaginal bleeding Ongoing pelvic, leg or back pain Urinary problems because of blockage of kidney or ureter Bleeding from rectum or bladder Unusual Weight loss If you witness any of these symptoms, a visit to the doctor for a check-up is must. How to detect cervical cancer? PAP smear test is commonly used for testing cervical cancer. This test assures strong sensitivity and specificity for detection of cervical cancer or pre-cancerous stages. If the results of the PAP test points towards cervical cancer, the doctor may advice for colposcopy/biopsy procedure for further confirmation before the right treatment is implemented for the patient. One of the most preferred method of cervical cancer screening for women between 30 to 65 years is PAP+HPV together (also known as Co-testing) to be done every 5 years. This method of testing is certified by ACOG (American College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologists) and American Cancer Society. Early detection and regular screening can save lives when it comes to cervical cancer. When to take PAP test and a Co-testing? The right age to do the first PAP test for screening is within first 3 years of becoming sexually active.  After age 30, you must repeat the test every 2-3 years after discussion with your physician/gynecologist Schedule your PAP when you’re not having your menstrual period Co- testing needs to be done every 3 years for the age group of 30-65 Talk to your doctor more about it, ASK QUESTIONS! But the GOOD NEWS is Cervical cancer is the only cancer preventable by Vaccination. Talk to a gynecologist for more information on cervical cancer vaccination for you and your female peers. Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy Life. Take care. Contributed by Dr. Anita Shukla, Leading Gynecologist and Obstetrician.