HEALTH

DOC SPEAK
Avoid artificially coloured food items

DURING the festival season, the demand for sweets is very high. People like colourful sweets. However, most colourings contain synthetic chemicals. As colouring are used mostly in food items of low nutritional value, like candies and sweets, you should avoid all artificially coloured items. Colourings cause hyperactivity in some sensitive children. The use of colouring usually indicates that fruit or any other natural ingredient has not been used.

Hundreds of chemicals are used to mimic natural flavours. Many may be used in a single flavouring, such as for cherry soda pop. Most flavoring chemicals also occur in nature and are probably safe, but they are used almost exclusively in junk food. Their use indicates that the real thing (often fruit) has been left out. Companies keep the names of artificial flavours a secret. Artificial food colouring and flavouring can decrease your immunity power.

Avoiding toxins in your diet is an important initial step toward enhancing your health and lowering your risk of contracting a disease. Since food items represent a source of these toxins, let us look at the key additives that may undermine your health. Those with immediate effects may cause headaches or alter your energy level, or they may affect your mental concentration, behavior or immune response.

The additives which can pose a health risk are the following:

Artificial food colours — allergies, asthma, hyperactivity, possible carcinogenic.

Sugar and sweeteners —Obesity, dental cavities, diabetes and hypoglycemia, increased triglycerides (blood fats) or candida (yeast).

Artificial sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K and Saccharin)— Behavioral problems, hyperactivity, allergies, and possible carcinogenic. The government cautions against the use of any artificial sweetener by children and pregnant women. Anyone with PKU (phenyliketonuria a problem of phenylalanine, an amino acid ) should not use aspartame (Nutrasweet).

Artificial flavors —Allergic or behavioural reactions.

Hydrogenated fats — cardiovascular disease, obesity

Nitrites and nitrates —These substances can develop into nitrosamines in body, which can be carcinogenic.

Sulfites (sulfur dioxide, metabisulfites and others)— Allergy and asthmatic reactions.

MSG (monosodium glutamate) —Common allergic and behavioural reactions, including headaches, dizziness, chest pains, depression and mood swings; also a possible neurotoxin.

Preservatives (BHA, BHT, EDTA, etc)— Allergy reactions, hyperactivity, possibly cancer-causing ; BHT may be toxic to the nervous system and the liver.

Salt (excessive) —Fluid retention and blood pressure increases.

Olestra (an artificial fat ) —diarrhoea and digestive disturbances

Food waxes ( protective coating of produce, as in cucumbers, peppers, and apples)- may trigger allergies, can contain pesticides, fungicide sprays or animal hyproducts.

Plastic packaging — Carcinogenic (vinyl chloride), immune reactions, lung shock.

Dr Anil Dheer

Mental Health Day at CMCH
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 10
The College of Nursing, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), observed the World Mental Health Day at the main OPD reception area here today. The theme this year is “Emotional and Behavioral Disorders of Children and Adolescents”. The event was formally inaugurated by Dr John Abraham, Medical Superintendent, CMCH.

Dr Kamaljeet Gill said as per the statement of the WHO, the absence of good mental health early in life might lead to mental disorders with long-term consequences. It was estimated that 20 per cent of children and adolescents worldwide suffered from an impairing mental illness, with about 3 to 4 per cent requiring treatment.

Dr R.S. Derwal, Head of Psychiatry Department, CMCH, said the mental health of children and teenagers was influenced by displacement through war and catastrophe, stresses on family, economic adversity, the limitation on child rights and by the parents.

For many unfortunate children, who faced uncertain future, including those who are orphaned due to war or AIDS and those traumatised by natural disasters, the burden of serious emotional and behavioral disorders afflicted their lives.

Committing suicides among the youth was a pervasive mental health problem worldwide. It was also the third leading cause of death among adolescents.

The stress this year is on increasing public awareness worldwide of serious emotional and behavioral disorders of children and adolescents. The WHO has identified priority areas of concern i.e. anxiety disorder, depressive disorders, eating disorders, learning disabilities, substance abuse, teen suicides etc.

In India, around seven to 20 per cent children from ages 4-12 years suffer from psychiatric disorders.

The ratio is still higher in the western countries where around 21 per cent school going children suffer from such disorders.

A poster exhibition was also held to educate public on the various aspects of emotional and behavioral disorders among children and teenagers.

SPORTS

Ludhiana register maiden victory
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 10
Hosts Ludhiana recorded 5-wicket win over Patiala to keep hopes alive for the title in the 3rd Punjab State Cricket Tournament for the Deaf and Dumb being played at the Punjab Agricultural University ground here today. Earlier in the inaugural match of the tournament, last year’s losing finalists, Ludhiana, had lost the battle rather tamely against defending champions Jalandhar.

Patiala won the toss and elected to bat first. In their quota of 25 overs, Patiala could muster only 119 runs after losing 8 wickets. Ludhiana achieved the target in just 16.1 overs losing five wickets.

Brief scores: Patiala 119 for 8 (Amarpreet 18, Mukesh 25; Manjeet Singh 2 for 16 and Sunil Dutt 2 for 18); Ludhiana 122 for 5 (Satish Kumar 22, Rohit Makhija 22 n.o; Amandee 2 for 16 and Manjit 2 for 23).

In the second match, Chandigarh routed Patiala by 123 runs. Batting first, Chandigarh hoisted a huge total of 212 runs for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 25 overs with main contributions coming throuhg Vinay and Kuldeep who scored 80 and 60 runs respectivley. The pair shared a 162 runs partnership for the fifth wicket. In reply, Patiala were skittled out for a meagre total of 89 runs after 19.2 overs.

Brief scores: Chandigarh 212 for 5 (Vinay 80, Kuldeep 60 n.o; Amandeep 4 for 30); Patiala 89 all out (Somesh 4 for 21, Kulbir 3 for 14 and Vinay 2 for 9).

Yesterday, in the match played between Ludhiana and the current champions, Jalandhar, the former failed to put up any resistence as they lost by six wickets.

Brief scores: Ludhiana 88 all out (Amit 15, Rajesh 10; Arvind 2 for 15, Harvinder 2 for 3); Jalandhar 90 for 4 (Aman 23, Deepak Arora 19; Manjeet 3 for 13).

Annual sports festival

The annual sports festival at the Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College Hospital and Research Institute, Ludhiana, got off to a colourful start. Baba Jaswant Singh, chairman of the institute, declared the festival open.

Speaking on the occasion, Baba Jaswant Singh congratulated the faculty members and the students on recognition of the college and hailed the decision to organise the sports meet. He said sports inculcate spirit of discipline, obedience and self restrain. On playground, one learns team work, sense of duty, cooperation and will to win, he further said.

Exhibition matches between faculty and the students in volleyball, badminton and table tennis were also conducted to mark the inauguration of the festival. Competition will formally start formally on Monday and continue till October 18.

Other dignitaries present at the inaugural function included Mr Kirpal Singh, vice-chairman, Dr O.P. Nar, Principal, and trustees — Mr Piara Singh, Mr Dalbir Singh, Dr Veena Kataria and Dr Suresh Kataria.

Dream start by GNP School cagers
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 10
Girls of Guru Nanak Public School, Ludhiana, had a dream start by thrashing Gobindgarh Public School 43-6 in the inaugural match of Sahodya Schools Complex Basketball Championship that got underway at the GNP School Courts, Sarabha Nagar, here today.

In another match, girls of Guru Nanak Public School, Mullanpur, prevailed over BCM Arya Senior Secondary School 10-8.

In the boys’ section, Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, defeated CFC School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, 26-14; Gobindgarh Public School of Gobindgarh outclassed BCM Arya Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh road, 25-18; DAV Public Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar, Ludhiana, drubbed Nankana Sahib Public School, Ludhiana, 32-10; Guru Nanak International Public School, Ludhiana, got the better of Green Land Public Senior Secondary School, G T Road, beat 29-17 and Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Gobindgarh, demolished Bharatiya Vidya Mandir School, Ludhiana, 32-1.