1. food and drink

May - June 2015
Rs. 15
The Consumer’s voice
KEEMAT
Value for Price, People and the Environment
CGSI installs eco-friendly
Solar Power Plant!
Vol. 44 Issue No.3
Sender: Consumer Guidance Society of India, Block J,
Azad Maidan, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai 400001
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM AT CGSI OFFICE
A STEP TOWARDS CONTRIBUTING TO CLEAN POWER GENERATION, BADLY NEEDED BY OUR COUNTRY
Dr. M. S. Kamath, Hon. General Secretary, CGSI
We are pleased to inform that CGSI has
successfully installed a 5 Kilowatt, powergenerating system on our building at VT.
The project involves installation of Solar
Panels (consisting of Photovoltaic cells)
which draws its energy from the sun and
converts the same into Electric power, for
use in exactly the same way as the
conventional power available from the
supplying Utility – in our case BEST.
Reasons for CGSI going for this installation:
It will reduce the energy cost CGSI has
to pay to the Utility supplying power to
us – envisaged to be approximately 40%
of the present bill on a yearly average.
This system falls under the nonconventional
renewable
Energy
Generation Initiative supported by the
Central as well as the state government.
CGSI, through this initiative, believes
that this will become a model installation
for all to see and emulate.
CGSI will do its utmost to propagate the
message of use of solar power to reduce
the load on the conventional power
plants using coal as the main input,
which create enormous environmental
problems.
It adds to the Prime Minister’s efforts to
enhance the power generation capacity,
very badly needed, in our country.
In addition, for such projects there is a
subsidy provision by Maharashtra Govt.
and thereby reducing the overall capital
cost incurred by the user.
Further, CGSI can depreciate 80% of the
capital costs after the 1st year itself.
CGSI with active participation of the
Managing Committee Members completed
the project in a short span of 3 weeks. We
sincerely acknowledge the support of the
officials of the central government and the
state government who supported us wholeheartedly in this endeavor.
Energy conservation is a national movement. Nonconventional energy production is an important part of
such a drive, as it does not deplete natural resources like
coal or Gas, normally used in generating energy. CGSI
being a body, which guides and shows a path to people,
is the right channel to promote this. A project of this
nature will become an example, not only for individuals
or private businesspersons but also for other
Government / Semi Govt. Organizations to follow suit.
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
2
Healthy Diet – The Indian Scenario
A healthy diet can mean food
consumed during the day by a person,
which should be nutritious containing
carbohydrates, proteins, oils and fats,
vitamins and minerals. Before I touch
upon the present scenario, let us
examine the food consumed by Indians
about 50 years ago. People staying in
different regions
in
India
were
consuming cereals such as wheat,
maize, rice, jowar, potatoes and tapioca
as main ingredient, while vegetable oils
like, coconut, ground nut, mustard, til,
cotton seed from their regions were
used. The main source of proteins were
from milk and milk products, oil seeds
like til, ground nut, chana, mung,
black gram, horse gram, and other
pulses by the vegetarians while the non
vegetarians consumed eggs, meat and
fish. The vitamins and minerals source
was from vegetables, fruits, and
common salt. The traditional break fast
and snacks were idli, dosa, upma,
phowa, and wadas.
Vanaspati made by hydrogenation of
mixture of vegetable oils has high
content of trans fats, which is a health
hazard
and
was
banned
for
consumption long ago all over the
world. CGSI had taken up the issue
since several years and Govt. has now
directed to limit trans fat to 10% by
2016. Vanaspati consumption can lead
to obesity, CVD, and diabetes; hence,
its consumption should be deleted in
the healthy diet for the present
generation. The food habits of young
generation today with lucrative salaries
sit in front of computers during the
working hours have changed, as they
have to leave their home early and
commute at least 2-3 hours per day by
public transport. Many are unable to
carry their lunch box from home and
depend on street foods, even have tea
on the way to office to save time.
Let us examine the street foods. No one
can predict from where the food is
cooked. It is likely to be from hutment
dwellers or from chawls. Boiled
potatoes are brought and peel removed
on the footpath and smashed and the
Wada is fried in used oils from
restaurants. The Pav is brought from
the bakery and badly stored and
handled by naked unwashed hands
and made it into Wada pav, which falls
in the category of Junk foods. Tea on
the footpath is made from water of
questionable source and quality. The
public even educated are not aware
of health hazard by eating Junk foods.
The processed food items were not so
much consumed as of today. People
were happy to consume these items,
walked to the school and office nearby,
and kept good health, and heart
problems and diabetes were not
common. Elite class of the population
consumed ghee while others consumed
Vanaspati, which is a cheap substitute
of ghee for the poor. It was made by
partial hydrogenation of only ground
nut oil with addition of Vitamins A &
D. CGSI detected high nickel content
in Vanaspati and recommended ISI,
now BIS, to include limit for nickel in Best way is to create awareness is in
the Indian Standard Specification schoolchildren and this was done by
which was accepted.
members of CGSI addressing the
children, who in turn were asking the
Let me now consider the present speakers very intelligent questions.
scenario of Healthy Diet cherished by This must be a continuous process and
the young generation of the youth. could be implemented through the
Majority are not much attracted to schoolteachers. It is for the education
traditional idlis, dosa etc., made at ministry to do the needful and make
home due to breaking of joint family this awareness compulsory. CGSI,
tradition and couples employed have Mumbai played an important role in
no time to cook at home and attracted this direction.
to fast food and Junk foods, as also
hotel food. This situation is prevalent In March 2008, a study was conducted
in Mumbai and may be applicable to in 4 schools from Mumbai and Navi
other metro cities in India as well. The Mumbai covering about 2200 students.
introduction of computer education, The purpose was to fight promotion of
computer operation in offices, factories, Junk
foods
by
locals
and
and business has created employment multinationals. Junk foods affect the
of youth and their healthy diet is from health of children and lives of millions
hotels, tiffin delivery, street food, & of people. The tiffin boxes carried by
canteen food. The food may be tasty children were inspected during the
due to excess of fats, spices and lunch recess by CGSI volunteers. Each
common salt, which is tasty to the box was examined for quality, quantity,
tongue but may neither, be nutritive and nutritive value. This study
nor good for health and prone to revealed 60% junk foods, consisting of
obesity, which one can witness in cities Maida items, chips, and farsan while
in large numbers.
the
rest
were
chapatti/paratha
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
Dr. S. G. Bhat – Hon. Editor
and Bhaji,
egg
items and Indian
snacks.
It
was
gathered that large
number of mothers
gave their children
money
to
buy
midday snacks at
the school counter,
but the children
went to junk food
sections. Working mothers are busy in
the morning to prepare or pack home
made snacks. Creating awareness in
the minds of children may help to eat
healthy meals when they become
adults.
According to a clinical psychologist, the
nutritive value of food consumed in
childhood has an impact to play on the
onset of several illnesses in adulthood
including
OBESITY,
diabetes,
hypertension, respiratory disorders,
bone, and joint diseases. This study on
schoolchildren is a wake up call to
teachers, parents and the Government,
who are concerned about nutrition to
improve health. Evaluate what a child
eats at home or at school. The mid day
meal schools introduced in many Govt.
Schools is for this purpose of healthy
diet and for better nutrition.
Junk food is made tasty by adding
flavors, additives and preservatives,
which later on lead to craving for such
food. Chinese food is one example,
which may contain, MSG that is
banned but used by street food
makers. The tendency in recent times
to eat junk food among Indians is
rising with increase in per capita
income and urbanization. The trend is
alarming especially in the younger
generation as they eat a burger or pizza
rather than idli or dosa, which are
traditional and nutritious. With junk
foods like khari biscuits, farsan, potato
wafers and potato fries consumption,
one gets carbohydrates, repeatedly
heated frying oil or vanaspati, which is
a poison due to trans fats, banned for
human consumption all over the
World, but get no nutrition. Teachers
and parents can play an important role
in stopping this menace.
Edible oils contain saturated fatty
acids SFA, unsaturated fatty acids
UFA, and poly unsaturated acids PUFA
and WHO recommends a ratio of 1:1:1
of SFA:UFA:PUFA for good nutrition
for healthy diet. Hence, a mixture of
edible oils can be made; called Blended
Oils are available in the Indian market.
Alternatively, one can mix at home two
or more oils or rotate different oils
3
every week or month for getting good
nutrition for healthy diet. Coconut oil
due to the presence of lower carbon
fatty acids is not bad for health and is
good for frying purposes. In fact, in
Kerala, coconut oil is consumed for
centuries without any health problems
and now in USA, virgin coconut oil
capsules are taken as a medicine.
Palm Olein is good oil for deep-frying
and is used in processed foods
including biscuits in India. Sunflower
oil, Soybean oils that are high in UFA
& PUFA should be avoided for deepfrying as polymers are generated at
high temperature heating which are
toxic for human consumption. A recent
research finding by Prof. David Frisvoid
of the Univ. of Iowa, USA, has found
that breakfast programmes are an
effective tool to help elementary school
students from low-income families to
achieve more in school studies. This
analogy can be applied in Indian
schools by providing schoolchildren
with breakfast as many come to school
with empty stomachs. Govt. of India
through the Ministry of Education can
add this benefit in addition to the Mid
day meal scheme in vogue at present
for better nutrition to the children.
In conclusion, one can say that due to
urbanization and globalization, cities
are crowded. Migrants from other
states are without accommodation, and
consume street foods, junk foods and
hotel foods and deprived of healthy diet
resulting in under nutrition .While the
rich over eat nutritive food and become
obese, the poor are under nourished
and prone to sickness such as
tuberculosis, and anemia.
HEALTHY DIET thus, is at the
crossroads in India at present and
needs AWARENESS by public, Ministry
of Health, Government of India to be
tackled on war footing; otherwise, large
investments have to be made by the
Govt. of India, in the production of
more medicines and hospitals all over
the country.
The best solution is to provide Healthy
Diet by providing cheap food materials,
such as Wheat, Rice, Pulses, Edible
oils, Vegetables, Fruits, Sugar, and
cooking Salt, which a common person
cannot afford due to rising prices.
(Paper presented on 21 March 2015 on
the World Consumer Rights Day
organized by BIS and Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Government of
Maharashtra.)
Letters to CGSI
I have acted as per your guidance with regard to the refund due to me from ‘M/s Make My Trip.com’ for the cancelled
spice jet air ticket. Today I have received the refund from them. Thank you very much for your timely guidance and
courage given to me in my desperate situation. My special thanks and appreciation to madam Milan for her co-operation
and advice on the same. Kind Regards,
Saramma Oommen, Email: [email protected]
Greetings! I am glad to inform you that I have received my outstanding payment regarding the fixed deposit with Phadnis
Group Pune. I would like to thank Dr. Kamath for his time and guidance in the matter. I wish you all very best luck for
future and hope lot many consumers like me are benefited with your guidance. Best Regards,
Gandhali Shah, Email: [email protected]
HTC has sorted out my problem and has upgraded my phone to a HTC 820Q. I would like to thank Maharashtra
consumer helpline for the support. My problem has been resolved and I would like to close the said case. Thank you.
Sagarika Kochrekar, Email: [email protected]
Soon, norms for selling medicines online, E-commerce in India should be utilized well and freedom of selling
medicines online should not be abused - Digbijay Mishra, (Courtesy: Business Standard)
In the wake of the controversy over Snapdeal selling prescription drugs online, India's drug regulator is considering
bringing out guidelines for selling medicines on e-commerce portals. Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) G N Singh
told Business Standard the rising growth of e-commerce in India could not be overlooked, adding the regulator was
working on guidelines for companies in this segment to sell medicines online. "We won't be lenient on people selling
products other than OTC (over-the-counter) products online randomly," Singh said. The regulator had held discussions
with members of regulatory teams in the European Union, as this problem persisted there, too, he said. E-commerce in
India should be utilized well and freedom of selling medicines online should not be abused, he added.
On Friday, Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Snapdeal
chief executive Kunal Bahl and the company's directors at the Panvel police station in Raigad district. The FIR has been
registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements)
Act, 1954. The matter pertained to sale of prescription drugs online. It followed the FDA searching Snapdeal's office in
north Mumbai on April 16. While OTC products can be sold without prescriptions, many e-commerce companies following
the marketplace model are selling even prescription drugs online. Some online companies delivering medicines ask for
prescriptions while confirming orders through their apps or websites, experts often doubt the accuracy of such a process.
The reality in India today is that one can walk into any pharmacy and buy prescribed medicines without a prescription.
Sometimes the shopkeeper asks for the name of one’s doctor to fill in the blank, but not always. So why this action
against Snapdeal? Just, because it is easy to target it. More importantly, many pharmacies do not have a qualified
pharmacist, which is required under law. How many state and local health authorities carry out such checks?
Pradeep S Mehta, Email: [email protected]
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
4
HIGH LEVELS OF ARSENIC AND LEAD IN COSMETICS
Greetings from Consumer Education and Research Centre, Ahmedabad (CERC). Shockingly high levels of Arsenic and
Lead were found in lipsticks and kajal when we tested cosmetics for their safety against the BIS standards for lipsticks
and kajal. Arsenic as high as 9.59 ppm against the BIS Standards limit of 2 ppm was found in lipstick Coloressence
Mesmerising Lip Colour costing Rs. 175. Three other brands, 7 Heaven’s Super Matte, Tian Nuo, and MakeOver
Professional, were also much higher in Arsenic than the allowed limits.
The test results for kajal were even more disturbing. One brand of kajal, Rashmi Herbal Kajal, had Lead as high as 48.91
ppm against BIS Standards limit of 20 ppm. In many cases, labels did not show ingredients, manufacturer address or
licence number and other required details. Safety ignored-How can cosmetics with poisonous substances like Arsenic and
Lead are allowed to be sold in the market. In the absence of label information about ingredients, how does the consumer
know they are buying safe products?
LIPSTICK - TEST RESULTS FOR LEAD AND ARSENIC
Sr.
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Brand Name/ Manufacturer Name
30
50
20
50
240
399
Lead as Pb
mg/kg (ppm)
BIS limit
maximum
20 ppm
0.15
0.46
BQL (QL-0.08)
0.26
0.43
BQL (QL-0.08)
Arsenic as As
mg/kg (ppm)
BIS limit
maximum
2 ppm
0.18
BQL (QL-0.04)
BQL (QL-0.04)
BQL (QL-0.04)
BQL (QL-0.04)
BQL (QL-0.04)
475
0.28
BQL (QL-0.04)
550
0.29
BQL (QL-0.04)
175
2.96
9.59
200
2.58
8.28
120
90
2.68
4.97
9.28
9.22
Price
(Rs.)
T. Y. A. Herbal Lip
Kiss Beauty Lip stick, Taiwan
Passion, Shanghai, China
ADS Professional Lipstick, Jiangsu, China
Lakme Enrich Lipcolour, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
Maybelline New York, Imp & Mktd. – L’OREAL India Pvt. Ltd.
ColorBar USA Crème Touch Lipstick, Mfd-Aero Pharma Pvt. Ltd.,
Navi Mumbai, Mktd -ColorBar Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick, Imp & Mktd -Modi Revlon Pvt. Ltd.
Coloressence Mesmerising Lip Colour, Mfd – Natures Magic
World, Haridwar, Mktd -Naturals Essence Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
MakeOver Professional, Mfr-Viva Cosmetics, Thane,
Mktd –Makeover Tradings, New Delhi
7 Heaven’s Super Matte Lipstick
Tian Nuo
KAJAL - TEST RESULTS FOR LEAD
Sr. No
Brand Name/ Manufacturer Name
Price
(Rs.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Blue Heaven Indian Kajal, Blue Heavens cosmetic Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
Khojati Mumtaz Delux Kajal, Khojati Ayurved Pharma, Mumbai
Rashmi Herbal Kajal, Datu Manji Padamshi Surmawala, Mumbai
Jai Kajal, Western India Chemical Company, Mumbai
Niki Kajal, Bg Products, Mumbai
Ambar Kajal
Clarion Long wearing Matt Kajal/eye liner
ADS Kajal Pencil, Mfd in Jiangsu, China
L’oreal Paris Kajal Magique, Imp & Mktd –L’OREAL India Pvt. Ltd.
Lakme Kajal Black Eyeconic, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
20
40
20
13
12
13
10
20
245
200
11
Maybelline New York The Colossal Kajal,
Imp & Mktd –L’OREAL India Pvt. Ltd.
199
12
Himalaya Herbal Kajal Extra Smooth, The Himalaya Drug Company
45
Lead (ppm),
BIS limit
maximum 20 ppm
0.77
0.26
48.91
0.82
15.14
1.41
1.89
1.46
0.66
0.62
Below limit of
quantification
(LOQ – 0.08 mg/kg)
0.16
We have appealed to the Drugs Controller General of India to stringently enforce safety directives for cosmetic products in
the interest of safeguarding consumer health. We have also urged the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of
Indian Standards to support our Representation and persuade concerned Authorities to take necessary action to make
available safe cosmetics to consumers. Should you need any further information/clarification, do let us know.
Regards,
Pritee Shah, Chief General Manager, CERC, Email: [email protected]
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
5
A husband visited a
marriage counselor and
said, "When we were first
married, I would come
home from the office, my
wife would bring my
slippers and our cute
little dog would run
around barking.
Now after ten years it's all
different, I come home,
the
dog
brings
the
slippers, and my wife
runs around barking."
"Why complain?" said the
counselor. "You're still
getting the same service!"
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
6
Santa Singh was having a tough time lugging his
lumpy, oversized travel bag onto the plane. Helped
by a flight attendant, he finally managed to stuff it in
the overhead bin. 'Do you always carry such heavy
luggage?' she sighed with a smile. 'Bas! Bahut hua!'
replied Santa. 'Next time, I'm riding in the bag, and
Banta can buy the ticket!'
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
7
KEEMAT: May– June 2015
8
Capitalizing – Consumer Confusion
Dr. Sitaram Dixit – Chairman, CGSI
OILS AND FATS
Today most people are aware that oils & fats create
blockages in our heart. We also keep hearing words like
trans fats (TFA), saturated oils, unsaturated oils, mono
unsaturated oil, hydrogenated fats (vanaspati), lipids,
cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or "bad”,
cholesterol, High-density lipoproteins (HDL) or "good"
cholesterol,
very
low-density
lipoproteins
(VLDL),
triglycerides (TG or TRIG), essential fatty acids, etc., with
little or no understanding from all and sundry.
nuts, walnuts, and groundnuts may be free of cholesterol
however, they are loaded with triglycerides.
Avoiding animal foods is one the best ways to prevent
excess cholesterol in our blood serum. In case of
vegetarians 70 to 80%, of their body cholesterol
requirement is from liver manufacturing and the
remaining is due to intake of milk and milk products.
Consuming skimmed milk is one simple option to
reduce cholesterol intake for vegetarians.
Oil manufacturing companies to sell their produce join the
clutter with their misleading advertisements claiming that
their product is superior to all others available in the
market enticing all of us to consume more and more oils
and fats. Medical experts, researchers, nutritionists, keep
professing their opinions basing it on the latest research
papers that crop up on a regular basis completing the
confusion on consumers. This paper, will try explaining
these medical terms in an easy to understand simple
language enabling us to take an informed decision.
The foods that we consume contain oils and fats. Oils and
fats in turn have cholesterol, triglycerides, and trans fats.
Excess cholesterol in our blood leads to the formation of
blockages in coronary arteries. Cholesterol, triglycerides
that are present in oils and fat, combine with proteins in
our body during our metabolism and form LDL, HDL, and
VLDL. It is important to note that none of our foodstuffs,
including oils and fats contains LDL, HDL, or VLDL.
CHOLESTEROL
Chemically cholesterol is a long chain fatty acid and plays
a very significant role in heart ailments. Excess cholesterol
in blood builds up the walls of our arteries causing
atherosclerosis Cholesterol buildup makes the arteries
narrow, blocking the blood flow to the heart muscles
eventually leading to heart disease. A normal individual
has 130-200 mg of cholesterol per 100 ml of blood serum.
Cholesterol increase in our blood serum is mainly due to
two reasons. One is through food intake and the other due
to its formation in our liver during metabolism. Animal
food like meat, fish, eggs, milk, and milk products largely
contribute our cholesterol intake.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance present in our body cells,
that is required by our body to make Vitamin D, hormones,
etc., and help in the digestion of food. Cholesterol plays a
major role in producing body hormones such as, estrogen,
testosterone, progesterone, aldosterone, and cortisone.
Cholesterol helps the body in producing vitamin D when
sunrays fall on our skin surface. Cholesterol produces bile
acids, aiding digestion, help absorption of vitamins, in
creation and maintenance of human cell membrane.
Vegetables and plant products do not contain
cholesterol they are all cholesterol free. Only animal
products contain cholesterol. This point is very
important to remember as some vegetable oil and nonanimal or plant produce manufacturers highlight the
absence of cholesterol in their product as a unique
selling point (USP) to make higher sales. This ‘zero
cholesterol’ promotion by unscrupulous food product
manufacturers is only to mislead the consumer to
consume more and more of the product they market.
Indiscriminate vegetable oil consumption may not lead to
increased cholesterol levels in blood serum, but it can
surely increase triglyceride content in blood serum to
unacceptable levels. Likewise, nuts like almonds, cashew
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
9
Human liver manufactures cholesterol from oils, fats and
other foods we consume. Liver produces cholesterol, as
much is necessary by our body. However, in some persons
liver produces cholesterol in much excess. Although the
exact reasons for this are unknown, it could also be due to
their family genes. Thus, people not consuming any animal
product may still have high cholesterol content in their
blood and end up in the high-risk category for getting heart
disease. In all these cases, an over working liver is the
culprit. Proper control and medication will only be able to
keep check of excessive cholesterol levels in the blood.
LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS (LDL) & HIGH-DENSITY
LIPOPROTEINS (HDL)
Cholesterol is a lipid and does not easily mix or travel very
freely in blood. Mainly due to this reason, some amount of
cholesterol picks-up proteins and phospholipids on the
way, forming complex lipoproteins (combination of lipid &
protein) to transport cholesterol through the bloodstream
to cells that need it for various functions.
Lipoproteins comprises of small structures made of fat or
lipids on the inside and proteins on the outside. The two
kinds of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol through out the
body are the Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol,
and High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol. Healthy
levels of lipo proteins in our blood are necessary to
maintain good health free from heart ailments. Although
LDL and HDL both play roles in transporting cholesterol
within our body, they have very different structures,
functions and effects on our health. See composition chart
below for details.
TRIGLYCERIDES
triglycerides because the base molecule is glycerol and it
combines with three fatty acid chains. Many types of
triglycerides exist depending on the fatty acid chains
present in them which again depends on the fat source.
The fatty acid chains are either saturated or unsaturated.
HDL & LDL - Composition
100%
21
50
22
50%
0%
Triglycerides
24
46
22
4
11
HDL
LDL
Cholesterol
Phospholipids
Protein
High-density lipoproteins (HDL) have little cholesterol and
can pick up more cholesterol from the arterial blockages.
They are therefore "good" cholesterol unlike Low-density
lipoproteins (LDL) or "bad” cholesterol, which already has
plenty of cholesterol in itself and so unable to pick up some
more cholesterol that may lead to arterial blockages. LDL
cholesterol, with elevated cholesterol, builds up in the walls
of our arteries, making them hard and narrow. If the
arteries that supply our heart with blood (coronary arteries)
are affected, we may have chest pain and other symptoms
of coronary artery disease. Most pathological laboratories
do not physically measure LDL, but mathematically
calculate it using the formula,
LDL = Cholesterol – (Triglycerides/5) – HDL.
TRIGLYCERIDES (TG or TRIG)
Triglycerides like cholesterol also cause arterial blockages.
Triglycerides are a different class of lipids. We call them
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
Triglycerides very similar to cholesterol travel alone as well
as in combination with proteins. We already know that
triglycerides are present in LDL and HDL. Closely packed
triglycerides in lipoproteins, better known as Very-low
density lipoproteins (VLDL) also travel along with
triglycerides in human blood. Similar to LDL pathological
laboratories calculate VLDL, mathematically as follows,
VLDL = Triglycerides/5
WHY EXCESS CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDES
ARE HARMFUL TO HEART?
Excess lipids like cholesterol, triglycerides, and their sub
products namely LDL & VDL over a period of 20-50 years,
deposit on the inner arterial wall of the heart causing
Atherosclerosis. This process starts with the White Blood
Corpuscles (WBC) in our blood mistaking the various above
lipids to be foreign bodies attacking and taking them inside
their cell structure. Slowly excess fat keeps increasing
within these WBC, forming foam cells, which then sticks to
the wall of the heart blood vessels creating blockages.
When foam cells leads to more than 80% blockages we call
this condition as Angina. When these blockages break the
covering membrane, it forms a clot leading to heart
attacks.
10
TRANS FATS (TFA)
Hydrogenated oils are saturated fats and could contain a
good amount of trans fatty acids, or trans fats (TFA) if
manufacturers for commercial gains carry out partial
hydrogenation of oils or polyunsaturated fats.
TFA leads one to having adverse health effects. TFA are
neither saturated nor unsaturated fats. Our body
recognizes TFA as saturated fats and it treats it likewise,
biochemically in the human body. TFA are as bad or even
worse for your arteries than saturated fats.
Studies show that TFA raise blood cholesterol levels,
similar to the cholesterol-raising effects of saturated
fats and provide little nutritional benefit to the body.
TFAs raise the levels of LDL that transports cholesterol
throughout our body.
TFA increases Lp(a) lipoprotein a type of LDL
cholesterol found in varying levels in our blood,
depending on our genetic makeup. TFA make Lp(a) into
smaller and denser lipid particles, which promote a
buildup of plaques in our arteries. Plaques, can reduce
blood flow through our arteries. If plaques tear or
rupture, a blood clot may form, blocking the flow of
blood or breaking free and plugging an artery
downstream. If the blood flow to one part of our heart
stops, we will suffer a heart attack. If blood flow to a
part of our brain stops, a stroke occurs. A high LDL
cholesterol level is a major risk factor for heart disease.
TFAs reduce levels of HDL that picks up excess
cholesterol and takes it back to our liver.
TFAs job of raising the bad cholesterol LDL and
lowering of the good cholesterol HDL in blood is double
trouble.
TFA increases triglycerides in our blood contributing to
hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) or thickening
of the artery walls, which increases the risk of stroke,
diabetes, heart attack, and heart disease.
TFAs may increase inflammation, which is a process by
which our body responds to injury. Researchers believe
that inflammation plays a key role in the formation of
fatty blockages in heart blood vessels. TFA appears to
damage the cells lining the blood vessels, leading to
inflammation. Studies show that TFA decrease the
body's ability to produce natural anti-inflammatory
prostaglandins.
TFA or hydrogenated fats may interfere with the ability
of the cells of the body to metabolize the fats that are
good, damaging cell membranes of the brain and nerve
cells leading to chronic, degenerative diseases.
Human brain and placenta have a biochemical way of
filtering most trans fatty acids that occur naturally in
some foods (meat and diary products) by metabolizing
these fats as energy sources before they have a chance
to do any cellular damage, and then use the good fats
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
(the essential fatty acids) as healthy nutrients for the
cells. However, this protection is incomplete if the diet
is overwhelmed with TFA.
Eating a diet high in nutritionally worthless
hydrogenated fats lessens a person's daily intake of
essential fatty acids that are important for growth and
function of vital organs, like the brain. This is
especially true in case of children whose daily diet is
high in processed and deep fat-fried foods and snacks.
TFAs links to other health problems as well, including
decreased testosterone, abnormal sperm production,
and prostate disease in men, overweight to obesity,
immune system depression, and diabetes.
Studies carried out by National Institute of Nutrition
(NIN) to evaluate the effects of TFA from Indian
Vanaspati in rats show that both saturated fatty acids
and TFA increase insulin resistance. Moreover, TFA
intake by mothers increases the susceptibility to
biochemical / metabolic alterations increasing the risk
of diet related chronic diseases.
WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT TRANS FATTY ACIDS?
TFAs form naturally
in the stomachs of
animals
such
as
cattle, sheep, and
goats and are stored
in their fat cells.
Products such as
milk, yogurt, cheese,
and meat from these
animals,
therefore,
contain TFA in the
form of conjugated
linoleic acid or CLA.
Natural TFA may
have either a neutral
effect or a moderating effect on LDL and no effect on HDL
cholesterol or triglycerides. In addition to not being
harmful, naturally occurring TFAs may actually be good.
SUGGESTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO)
suggest that diets should provide a very low intake of TFAs.
In practice, this implies an intake of less than 1% of daily
energy intake. As for saturated fats and total fats, the FAO
and WHO recommend an intake of less than 7-10 % and
15-30% of daily energy intake respectively. An individual
with a daily energy intake of 2000 kilocalories should
limit the daily intake of TFA to less than 2 grams,
saturated fats to less than 20 grams and total fats to
less than 60 grams. Studies confirm that rural India
consumes 20 grams Vanaspati fat daily and urban India
around 30 grams. Considering that only 10% TFA is
available in Vanaspati, still the person will derive 0.9 and
1.35 % energy from the TFA exceeding the 1% energy, limit
for TFA recommended by World Health Organization, WHO.
Cholesterol, triglycerides, trans fat, although important for
the normal functioning of our body, is extremely harmful
when in excess. We may be able to reduce TFAs, and TRIG,
in our body by limiting consumption of products high in
triglycerides and trans fats, but we cannot do this with
cholesterol, as it is our body, which produces it naturally.
11
Avoiding animal food totally and reducing oils and fats
consumption is an easy practical option.
Cholesterol-reducing drugs like,
„Statins‟ that lower the blood
cholesterol levels by slowing
down
the
production
of
cholesterol in the liver is one
such alternative. However, they
cannot neutralize cholesterol
that we consume through food.
„Statins‟ drugs are useful only if
we stop consuming cholesterol
rich
food.
Human
liver
produces bile juice that helps our body in digestion. Bile
juice contains a good amount of cholesterol. After food
digestion, the body recovers the cholesterol by reabsorbing
it back into our blood, when the digested food passes
through our intestine. „Ezetimibe‟ group of drugs stops
reabsorbing of this cholesterol in the intestines thereby
reducing overall cholesterol levels in our body. Limiting the
consumption or intake of products rich in oils and fats can
prevent triglycerides build-up in our body. „Fibric acid‟
group of drugs largely lowers triglyceride levels in our blood
and lowers cholesterol very slightly.
AS CONSUMERS WHAT CAN WE DO?
Avoid
hydrogenated
fats,
foods
containing
"hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oil.
Avoid using butter and ghee since these are higher in
saturated fat and cholesterol.
Look for labels that mean "saturated-fat free" or
“contains no cholesterol” or “TFA 0%,” etc.
Avoid eating commercially prepared baked foods, snack
foods, and processed foods, including fast foods. To be
on the safe side, assume that all such products contain
TFA unless known otherwise.
Avoid deep-fried foods, especially at fast-food joints
and restaurants.
Tropical oils, like coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils,
contain a lot of saturated fat that also raises our LDL.
Recent evidence indicates that coconut oil strongly
increases HDL cholesterol, which may make it a good
choice when a bit of hard fat is essential.
Fat is a major source of energy for the body and aids in
the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K. Fat is also
important for proper growth, development, and
maintenance of good health. A healthy diet should
include
some
fat,
but
well
within limits.
25-35 %
of our total daily
calories can come
from
fat
but
saturated
fat
should
account
only for less than
10% of our total
daily calories.
Aim for consuming less than 7% of fat calories from
saturated fats.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids viz., alpha-linolenic
(Omega 3) and linoleic (Omega 6) acids are important
components of cholesterol lowering healthy diet.
However, the benefits depend on the consumption of
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
an appropriate balance of these fatty acids. Replacing
trans saturated fats with mono unsaturated fats and
maintaining adequate intake with an appropriate
balance of Omega 6 and Omega 3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids is necessary.
Monounsaturated fat, found in virgin olive, groundnut,
sunflower, etc., is a healthier option than saturated fat.
Nuts, fish and other foods containing unsaturated
omega-3 fatty acids are other good choices of foods
with monounsaturated fats.
Try baking, steaming, grilling, or broiling instead of
frying.
Eat plenty of foods that are naturally low in fat, such
as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
It is important to realize that we cannot purchase good
cholesterol or HDL in the market as it is our body that
produces it. Daily exercise, eating green vegetables, only
can increase it in our blood. Maintain cholesterol below
130, triglycerides below 100. Higher the HDL levels in
blood the better. HDL above 40 mg/dl (1.03 mmol/L) for
males and above 50 mg/dl (1.29 mmol/L) for females is
best. In any case, HDL should be at least 25% of our
cholesterol level. Doctors call it the cholesterol HDL ratio.
This ratio should be below 4, meaning HDL is above 25%.
In addition, reduce systolic blood pressure (BP top number)
at or below 120 and diastolic blood pressure (BP bottom
number) at or below 80 mm Hg. Decrease fasting blood
glucose below 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L), HbA1c, less than
5.7%, and hs-CRP level below 1.0 mg/dl.
A trim waist circumference of less than 90 cm (35 inches)
in males and 80 cm (31 inches) in females, lowering the fat
or lipid consumption, totally avoiding trans fat, is good for
our blood, better for heart and best for our health.
Maintaining all this can go far to keep us healthy for long,
protecting us from any impending heart attack.
12
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
13
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
14
The Truth about Weight Loss Medicines
(Source: The Times of India-Health Me Up)
If you have ever watched late night television, you must have stumbled across endless
advertisements about magical weight loss pills. Each advertisement begins with the
wondrous promise of 'eat all you want, don't exercise, and still watch those kilos melt
away’, and with obesity on the rise the world over, the business of weight loss
medicines becomes more lucrative with each passing day. However, is there any merit
to these weight loss pills? Can healthy weight loss really be that simple? Today we are
looking at what the truth behind these weight loss medicines really is.
Claim to blind 'fat' cells: There are many weight loss medicines available out there,
most of which claim to shield us from the absorption of fat. Sold as pills that can cheat
our metabolism into thinking that the stomach is full, sadly, the truth is nowhere
close to what they 'guarantee'. Blinding fat cells is not a scientifically accepted method
or even description for healthy weight loss processes.
Most companies use legal loopholes to incorrectly, describe products, without focusing
on genuine, clear-cut product descriptions. Side effects of weight loss pills can be
increased heart rate, Undesirable interactions with prescription drugs you are taking,
Insomnia, Stomach irritation, Nervousness or irritability.
The truth behind fat burners: Fat burners are generally some combination of herbderived stimulants, essential fatty acids, chromium picolinate, pyruvate, and/or
hydroxycitric acid. They are meant to increase energy while leading to fat burning, only
when combined with exercise. However, their safety is a different matter altogether.
They lead to an elevation in blood pressure levels even after you stop using the drugs.
Some can also lead to unexpected dizziness and stomach problems.
Sameer Malik Heart Care
Foundation Fund is a one of
its kind initiative by the
Heart Care Foundation of
India instituted in memory of
Sameer Malik to ensure that
no person dies of a heart
disease because they cannot
afford treatment. Any person
can apply for the financial
and technical assistance
provided by the fund by
calling
on
its
helpline
number or by filling the
online form.
1) Madan Singh, SM Heart
Care Foundation Fund, Post
CAG, 2) Kishan, SM Heart
Care Foundation Fund, Post
CHD Repair, 3) Deepak, SM
Heart
Care
Foundation
Fund, CHD TOF.
Absorption of fat cells becomes a problem: One of the dangers of diet pills is with the
absorption of fats. Diet pills, if taken in regular doses create a deficiency in vitamins A, D, E, K, and Beta-carotenes. Many
diet pills can also create symptoms of pruritus, rash, urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis. Dietitians generally
recommend that people, who absolutely must take diet pills, should increase their multivitamin supplementation to
ensure adequate nutrition.
The bottom-line: Even dietitians or nutritionists who advocate weight loss medicines are of the opinion that they can only
work well with regular exercise and a proper dietary routine. Whether or not these products can actually speed up your
efforts of getting in shape is up for debate, but never and in no way can they ever do so without a balanced diet or
exercise. Besides, dietitians and nutritionists are not meant to prescribe drugs, since their field of healthcare practice
does not cover such expertise.
Shoe Hygiene by Dr. K. K. Aggrawal (Raichur)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Avoid poorly fitting shoes.
Diabetic patients should avoid walking bare feet.
Shoes that are too tight can cause pressure ulcers.
High heels are okay for occasions but if you wear them all the time, significant foot pain and other problems can
develop. These problems can range from bunions, corns and calluses to more complex problems like misshapen
hammer toes or worsening excruciating pain in the ball of the foot.
Whenever you wear shoes that are tight, they will cause foot pain.
Whenever you wear shoes that constrict the natural shape of the foot, it is bound to cause foot pain.
Women, who regularly wear high heels, walk with shorter, more forceful strides and require more muscles to walk.
Shoes can be classified under following three categories: (A) Good shoes or low risk shoes: athletic and casual
sneakers, (B) Average mid-risk shoes: hard or rubber–soled shoes – special shoes and work boots, (C) Poor or highrisk shoes are the ones that do not have support or structure such as high heels, sandals, sleepers.
Pointed toed shoes are equally bad as they disrupt the natural shape of the feet.
If you love to wear heels, then choose heels that are not higher than 2" and are wide.
It is always better to buy shoes in the evening as the foot swells up by evening. If you buy them in the morning, the
shoes may feel tight in evening hours.
Always wear the shoes that are wider than your foot. The selected shoe should be wider than broadest part of the foot.
Always try both shoes, as one foot may be smaller or larger than the other one in some people. The actual size of the
shoe may vary between manufactures.
Narrow shoes with heels should only
be used for a function, dinner or a
formal party, specially a party where
you do not have to stand for a longer
time.
Your foot tends to become longer and
wider as you age, check the size of
your shoes every two years.
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
15
Cough Hygiene by Dr. K. K. Aggarwal (Raichur)
When you cough or sneeze, you tend to expel out respiratory
waste, which can be droplets (larger than 5 micron), or
airborne droplets less than 5 micron; both have a different
implications. Droplets remain suspended in the air only for a
limited period. A distance of less than 3 feet is usually required
for human-to-human transmission of droplet-borne respiratory
organisms. In flu, this distance can be up to 6 feet. The
sources of droplet infections are patients with meningitis,
influenza, rubella etc.
No precaution need to be taken, by a person who is 6–10 feet
away from the patient but if a person is sitting or working even
3–6 feet distance the non-coughing person should wear masks.
In contrast, airborne droplet nuclei carrying respiratory
secretion smaller than 5 micron remain suspended in the air
for an extended period and can cause infections to people who
are standing even more than 10 feet away. Examples of
airborne droplet nuclei infections are TB, measles, chickenpox
and SARS. These patients should be placed in an isolation
room; all healthcare personnel looking after these patients
must use a safe N95 mask.
Usually, in houses with their windows open, there is a
constant exchange of air, which prevents spread of infections,
but in AC setups with no air exchange, the infections can
spread from one person to another. When sitting in an airconditioned atmosphere, the AC setting should be such that
the same air is not circulated and fresh air is allowed to
exchange. Split ACs, are more dangerous than the window
ACs. In an office with split AC, if one of many employees is
suffering from any of the droplet nuclei, disease can transmit
infection to others. Therefore, patients with confirmed TV,
measles, chickenpox and SARS should not be allowed to work
in areas with split AC.
The Legacy of Health
All of our problems erupt from a bad life style, long working hours, unhealthy food habits and bottling up of unwanted stress.
Surprisingly we are all well aware of these facts, but keep on ignoring them, until things go out of hand and make us just too weak to
work. That is the time when we rush to doctors. Doctors cannot cure completely; they can only treat the problem. Health is wealth, it
needs all the attention all the time; it must be our topmost priority. The worst part is that wealth may or may not be hereditary, but
health is. So, if we are not healthy, how do we pass on the wealth of our health to our children for them to enjoy? Yesterday life was
difficult and living was easy but today life is easy and living is difficult. We, as Indians, have a rich cultural lineage that enables us to
lead a healthy and subsequently a wealthy life under all conditions, lest we believe in exporting our culture to western countries, to be
approved by them, and only then, we put it into use. Let us preserve it for our future generations or else it will be destroyed. This can be
only done if we inculcate them, in our own daily lives, and pass them on to our children by leading a self-disciplined routine life, with a
positive outlook, strong moral ethics and values. Controlling and channeling the negative into positive, works wonders for our mind, body
and soul. Like food, exercise of any kind, be it, yoga aerobics or even simple walking is compulsory. Taking care of one's own self is not
being selfish or self-centered. Pamper yourself by taking good care of your body. It is said a healthy body inhabits a healthy mind. When
one is in good health, only then can one take care of his loved ones and enjoy the pleasures of life in all ways possible. The legacy of
health has no substitute for our future generations to come.
Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength - Charles Spurgeon
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
16
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
17
CONSUMER GUIDANCE SOCIETY OF INDIA (CGSI)
Block J, Azad Maidan, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai 400001. Tel: 2262 1612, Fax: 2265 9715, Website: www.cgsiindia.org; E-mail: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]; Toll Free Helpline: 1800 222262
Printed at Emkay Printers, Gala No: 47/57, Bharatbazar Industrial Estate, D. S. Road, Worli, Mumbai 400018. Tel: 2492 4094.
Published from Block J, Azad Maidan, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai 400001.
Printed, Published, & Edited by Dr. Subraya Giridhar Bhat on behalf of CGSI
LAUGHTER THE BEST MEDICINE
Once Pappu was holding ice in his hand and watching
carefully. Someone asked him, ―What are you watching?‖
for which Pappu replied, ―I am watching as to from where
the water is leaking‖.
A man checks into a hotel. Seeing a computer in his room,
he decides to send an e-mail to his wife. Accidentally he
types a wrong e-mail address, and without realizing, the
error e-mails the message. Meanwhile….somewhere in
Houston, a widow has just returned from her husband’s
funeral. The widow decides to check her e-mail, expecting
condolence messages from relatives and friends. After
reading the first message, she faints. The widow’s son
rushes into the room, and finds his mother on the floor,
and seeing the computer screen he reads,
To: My Loving wife
Subject: I have reached.
Date: 28 May 2015
I know you are surprised to hear from me. They give
computers here, and allow us to send e-mails to loved
ones. I have just reached and checked in. I see that
everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. I
am looking forward to seeing you SOON! Bye!
A student encloses a 100-rupee note with his answer sheet,
and writes ―1 mark 1 rupee‖. When he gets the corrected
answer sheet, the student finds 66 rupees, his answer
sheet and a note, ―You have got 34 marks‖, hence, we are
returning 66 rupees.
A man is trying to insert the dog’s tail inside a pipe. A
passerby tells him, ―Are you become mad. Don’t you know
that, you cannot straighten the dog’s tail?‖ The man says I
know that, ―I am trying to bend the pipe.‖
Doctor: You wife’s operation will cost a lot. Are you sure,
you want me to go ahead?
Husband: Whether you cure her or kill her, you will sure
get your money.
However, the wife dies after the operation.
Doctor: I am sorry this happened but you will have to pay
me for the operation.
Husband: Did you cure my wife?
Doctor: No.
Husband: Did you kill my wife?
Doctor: No, not at all.
Husband: Well, then why should I pay you?
Little Harold was practicing the violin in the living room
while his father was trying to read in the den. The family
dog was lying in the den, and as the screeching sounds of
little Harold’s violin reached his ears, he began to howl
loudly. The father listened to the dog and the violin as long
as he could. Then he jumped up, slammed his paper to the
floor and yelled above the noise, "For pity’s sake, can’t you
play something the dog doesn’t know?"
Two employers are talking. Says one ―I fear that the young
man I employed last week as a cashier is dishonest.‖ Oh,
replied the other, ―You shouldn’t judge by appearances.‖
―I am not. I’m judging by disappearances‖
A man comes with a bucket to a doctor and tells her, ―This
bucket has a hole, what can be done.‖ Doctor asks, ―Why
are you asking me‖. The man replies, ―I heard that, you are
a famous Plastic Surgeon.‖
James: I would like some Vitamin for my son.
Pharmacists: Sir, Vitamin A, B or C?
James: Any will do, my son does not know alphabets’ yet.
KEEMAT: May – June 2015
Two elderly men, Mike and Joe, have been friends all of
their lives. When it is clear that Joe is dying, Mike visits
him every day. One day Mike says, ―Joe, we both loved
rugby all our lives, and we played rugby on Saturdays
together for so many years. Please do me one favor, when
you get to heaven, somehow you must let me know if
there’s rugby there.‖
Joe looks up at Mike from his deathbed, ―Mike, you’ve been
my best friend for many years. If it is at all possible, I will
do this favors for you. Shortly after that, Joe passes on. At
midnight a couple of nights later, mike is awakened from a
sound sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice
calling out to him, ―Mike—Mike.‖, ―Who is it?, asks, Mike
getting up suddenly from sleep. ――Mike—it’s me, Joe.‖
―You’re not Joe. Joe just died.‖ ―I am telling you, it’s me,
Joe,‖ insists the voice.‖ ―Joe! Where are you?‖ ―In heaven‖,
replies Joe. ―I have some really good news and a little bad
news.‖ ―Tell me the good news first,‖ says Mike.
―The good news,‖ Joe says,‖ is that there is rugby in
heaven, better yet, all of our old friends who died before us
are here, too. Better than that, we are all, young again.
Better still, it is always springtime and it never rains or
snows. And best of all, we can play rugby all we want, and
we never get tired.‖ That’s fantastic,‖ says Mike, ―It’s
beyond my wildest dreams! So what is the bad news?
―You’re in my rival team from this Saturday.‖
A man is driving home late at night. A police officer on
patrol stops his car and asks him to produce his car
documents. Finding no fault with the documents, he
questions, "My friend, do you realize that you committed a
criminal offence by driving alone in this car at late night?"
The man becomes angry and responds: "How could you say
that? God the father, the son and holy spirit, Prophet
Elijah, Angels Michael & Gabriel are all with me in the car."
The police officer replies, "You mean, all these people are in
this small car? I charge you for overloading!"
:
,
:
(
:
)
?
:
,
:
:
!
,
:
:
?
,
–
,
,
:
?
!
,
:
:
?
:
:
:
,
Moral -
,
18
Interesting
Information
from the press
KEEMAT: March – April 2015
19