<![CDATA[India Journal - Lifestyle_1]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 01:25:03 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Love to work with animals? It may up depression risk]]>Mon, 12 Aug 2019 18:04:14 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/love-to-work-with-animals-it-may-up-depression-riskNEW YORK - While it might sound like fun to work around pets every day, veterinarians and people who volunteer at animal shelters face particular stressors that can place them at risk for depression, anxiety and even suicide, says a study. "People who work or volunteer with animals are often drawn to it because they see it as a personal calling. 
However, they are faced with animal suffering and death on a routine basis, which can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue and mental health issues," said Angela K. Fournier from Bemidji State University in the US.  Veterinarians in particular are at high risk for death by suicide, according to a study from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, which found that from 1979 to 2015, veterinarians died by suicide between two to 3.5 times more often than the general US population.
While veterinarians who are dealing with mental health issues may exhibit symptoms common to all populations, such as sadness that interferes with daily activities or changes in appetite.
According to the researchers, increased medical errors, absenteeism, client complaints and spending too little or too much time at work are factors to watch for.
The research team believes there needs to be a paradigm shift in veterinary training to better prepare veterinarians not only for the animal-related aspects of their jobs, but the human elements as well. The researchers looked at employees and volunteers in animal shelters or rescues and animal welfare and animal rights activists, who are at risk for compassion fatigue and psychological distress. Over 2.4 million healthy cats and dogs are euthanised each year in the US, most often homeless animals in shelters, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
Shelter workers are then caught in a dilemma because they are charged with caring for an animal and they may ultimately end that animal's life. 
Research suggests that this causes significant guilt, which can lead to depression, anxiety and insomnia, as well as greater family-work conflict and low job satisfaction.
"Animal welfare agents may also hear gruesome stories of animal abuse or witness the consequences firsthand when they are rehabilitating the animals, which can cause a lot of distress and lead to compassion fatigue," Fournier said.
The study was presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association.
]]><![CDATA[Being socially active linked to lower dementia risk]]>Mon, 05 Aug 2019 17:22:05 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/being-socially-active-linked-to-lower-dementia-riskLONDON - Being more socially active in 50s and 60s is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia later on, a new research has found. "People who are socially engaged are exercising cognitive skills such as memory and language, which may help them to develop cognitive reserve - while it may not stop their brains from changing, cognitive reserve could help people...
cope better with the effects of age and delay any symptoms of dementia," said senior author Gill Livingston, Professor at University College London.
The research, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, used data from the "Whitehall II" study, tracking 10,228 participants who had been asked on six occasions between 1985 and 2013 about their frequency of social contact with friends and relatives.
The same participants also completed cognitive testing from 1997 onwards, and researchers referred to the study participants' electronic health records up until 2017 to see if they were ever diagnosed with dementia. For the analysis, the research team focused on the relationships between social contact at age 50, 60 and 70, and subsequent incidence of dementia, and whether social contact was linked to cognitive decline, after accounting for other factors such as education, employment, marital status and socioeconomic status.
The researchers found that increased social contact at age 60 is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing dementia later in life.
The analysis showed that someone who saw friends almost daily at age 60 was 12 per cent less likely to develop dementia than someone who only saw one or two friends every few months.
They found similarly strong associations between social contact at ages 50 and 70 and subsequent dementia. "Spending more time with friends could also be good for mental wellbeing, and may correlate with being physically active, both of which can also reduce the risk of developing dementia," added Livingston.
]]><![CDATA[Early menstruation linked to higher diabetes risk]]>Fri, 02 Aug 2019 18:48:11 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/early-menstruation-linked-to-higher-diabetes-riskNEW YORK -  Early onset of menstruation is associated with a higher risk of Type-2 diabetes, but body mass index (BMI) may mediate this link, says a study. Each year of delay in menarche age correlated with a six per cent lower risk of Type-2 diabetes, said the study published in the journal Menopause. "Earlier onset of menses (14 y) was associated with diabetes in later life, 
likely driven by adult BMI (body mass index)," said Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director, North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
"Other factors such as nutrition and BMI in childhood may also play a role in this association," Faubion added. Type-2 diabetes mellitus has become one of the most common diseases worldwide. In 2015, it affected nearly 8.8 per cent of people aged 20 to 79 globally, and by 2040, it is expected to affect 10.4 per cent. 
With so many people affected, it is not surprising how much research has been devoted to identifying determinants of the disease in order to prevent its development. Various lifestyle and environmental factors have already been confirmed, but there is also growing evidence pointing to some physiologic factors. This new study, analysing more than 15,000 postmenopausal women in China, has found that women who begin menstruating at an earlier age have a higher risk of developing Type-2 diabetes.
]]><![CDATA[Zomato introduces 'infinity dining' for Gold users]]>Mon, 29 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/zomato-introduces-infinity-dining-for-gold-usersNEW DELHI - Home-grown restaurant search and delivery platform Zomato on Friday introduced the "Infinity Dining" plan for its "Gold" subscribers that allows them to have unlimited buffet at partner restaurants. The plan has been introduced in partnership with 350 restaurants - with at least a 3.5 rating -- in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. 
While dining infinitely at bars, they get access to an open bar at a fixed price, Zomato said. 
"Dining out constitutes about 70 per cent of a restaurant's total business," Gaurav Gupta, Chief Operating Officer & Co-founder, Zomato, said in a statement. 
"While Zomato Gold continues to be instrumental in driving sales for restaurants and adding value to subscribers, we realise that the opportunities in this sphere are endless - welcome, Infinity Dining. It is a global first, as India becomes the first country to offer such a choice, at scale," Gupta added. Zomato said its Gold subscription programme has grown almost 100 per cent in the past eight months and now has over 1.25 million subscribers across nine countries- India, UAE, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Lebanon, Turkey, Philippines and Indonesia.
]]><![CDATA[Too much coffee during pregnancy bad for baby's liver: Study]]>Thu, 25 Jul 2019 21:01:17 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/too-much-coffee-during-pregnancy-bad-for-babys-liver-studyNEW DELHI - Ladies, limit your tea or coffee intake if you're expecting, as researchers have found that excess caffeine intake during pregnancy may impair baby's liver development and increase the risk of liver disease in adulthood. In a study on rats, it was found that pregnant rats, which were given caffeine, had offspring with lower birth weight, altered growth and...
stress hormone levels and impaired liver development.
Published in the Journal of Endocrinology, the study indicates that consuming 2-3 cups of coffee a day may alter stress and growth hormone levels in a manner that can impair development of baby's liver. "Our results indicate that prenatal caffeine causes an excess of stress hormone activity in the mother, which inhibits IGF-1 activity for liver development before birth. However, compensatory mechanisms do occur after birth to accelerate growth and restore normal liver function as IGF-1 activity increases and stress hormone signalling decreases," said study co-author Yinxian Wen from the Wuhan University in China.
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a hormone that plays an important role in childhood growth. "The increased risk of fatty liver disease, caused by prenatal caffeine exposure, is most likely a consequence of this enhanced, compensatory postnatal IGF-1 activity," Wen said.
For the study, the researchers investigated the effects of low (equivalent to 2-3 cups of coffee) and high doses (equivalent to 6-9 cups of coffee) of caffeine given to pregnant rats, on liver function and hormone levels of their offspring. 
"Our work suggests that prenatal caffeine is not good for babies and although these findings still need to be confirmed in people, I would recommend that women avoid caffeine during pregnancy," Wen said. Sweta Gupta, Clinical Director and Senior Consultant at Fertility Solutions, Medicover Fertility in Delhi, agreed that too much of caffeine could be harmful for the baby. "Pregnancy is a time of craving and mood swings. Some consider coffee for relief in such situations," she said.
However, according to Harshal Rajekar, Consultant Gastro Surgeon, Columbia Asia Hospital in Pune, there is hardly any evidence showing that caffeine is harmful for pregnant woman or her baby's liver though it's true that excess of caffeine can affect sleep and may deprive the mother of adequate rest during pregnancy, which can, in turn, harm both the mother and the child. 
]]><![CDATA[India Couture Week 2019: Amit Aggarwal opens show with 'Lumen']]>Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:34:35 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/india-couture-week-2019-amit-aggarwal-opens-show-with-lumenNEW DELHI - Ace designer Amit Aggarwal on Monday opened the India Couture Week (ICW) 2019 with his collection called 'Lumen', with Bollywood actress Kiara Advani walking the ramp as the showstopper. Known for engineering innovative designs, Aggarwal this time has used recycled material to make it into a new language of couture that vouches for environmental sustainability.
Instead of the conventional zardozi and metal yarns work, the designer has used recycled polymer stripe to create abstract foliage patterns in a series of weightless gossamer tulle lace, organzas for the ensemble. The edgy silhouettes, blended with a lot of layering, were an amalgamation of the West and the East. The ensemble included sarees blended with a dress, sarees with two 'pallas' and dramatic structured trails, quintessential bridal lehengas that came with bustles at the back -- a Victorian influence. 
The colour palette was a blend of opaque colours with metallic tone and iridescent hue. Ranging from vibrant jewel colour palette of emerald, petrol, purple and plum, the hues moved into neutrals of gold, blush, silver and ivory with a mix of neon tones.
When it is Amit Aggarwal, there is nothing such as 'too much glitter'. Many glitters were used in most of the outfits but the designer has aptly used the materials to subdue them. 
Talking about it, Aggarwal said: "I don't really shy away from using something shiny. It is important how you use the materials and sub due them down. It is always important to push the limit of creativity and that was exactly what I wanted to do. The collection is what the millennials will like to wear." Kiara who closed the show for Aggarwal was seen wearing a red lehenga that connected to the blouse, giving it a slight saree look. For someone who looks from a distance, the outfits look like just another with exemplary work. But it was completely made out of recycled polyester stripes. The actress said: "I feel humbled to be opening the show for Amit. His collections have always been so elaborate and fun. I personally love his work. The outfit I am wearing today is what every bride looks out for. It's light and allows a bride to breathe and have fun on her D-Day."
For menswear, the collection brought sharp tailoring in classic styles with a touch of layering in bandhgalas and jackets. Modern three-dimensional hand embroidery fabricated in modern industrial materials, as well as jacquards, silks and handwoven geometric textiles.
]]><![CDATA[Aishwaryaa R. Dhanush invests in wellness startup]]>Fri, 19 Jul 2019 18:11:06 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/aishwaryaa-r-dhanush-invests-in-wellness-startupMUMBAI - After popular names like Jennifer Lopez and Shahid Kapoor, superstar Rajinikanth's daughter and director Aishwaryaa R. Dhanush is the latest celebrity investor to back SARVA, an Indian yoga and wellness startup. She will also be helping in the growth of Diva Yoga in South India alongside Malaika Arora and Sarvesh Shashi.
Conceptualised by Malaika and Sarvesh and started in November 2018, Diva Yoga, backed by SARVA, is a holistic wellness studio catering to women.
Aishwaryaa said: "Our modern lifestyle is a cesspool of illnesses and today, stress, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and obesity are the real monsters we fight daily.
"The world needs to be reminded of the importance of mindfulness and holistic wellness and this is my way of contributing to that larger goal."
Commenting on the development, Sarvesh, CEO and co-founder, SARVA, said: "I've always known Aishwaryaa to be a vociferous advocator of mental and physical wellness and I am proud to have her bolster Diva Yoga's operations in the South.
"From an overall business perspective, the last few years have been great for SARVA. We've grown 12X in terms of revenue in the last 3 years."
]]><![CDATA[Google Maps to now give Indian users dining offers]]>Thu, 11 Jul 2019 19:12:01 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/google-maps-to-now-give-indian-users-dining-offersNEW DELHI - Google Maps on Thursday introduced three new features for Indian users to help them discover local experiences and get recommendations that are personalised for better dining experience, including an "Offers" section to help users find deals and claim them at restaurants in 11 cities. Users will be able to find deals and claim them at restaurants across Delhi, 
Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Goa, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Hyderabad, Google said. The "Offer" feature is being launched in partnership with EazyDiner, where users can now find offers from over 4,000 restaurants, with more categories and partners coming soon, Google said.
To use this feature, users can simply tap the "Offers" shortcut in the "Explore" tab or filter for restaurants with offers. Starting from Thursday, Google Maps users will get exclusive access to EazyDiner Prime offers for 15 days, across over 1,500 restaurants, with a guaranteed discount of at least 25 per cent on all of them, Google said.
The other two new features introduced by Google Maps include a redesigned, India-inspired "Explore" tab and a new "For You" experience.
"We've heard that Indian Maps users prefer a more assistive and visual browsing experience that is easy to access. To reflect this, we have a redesigned, India-focused Explore tab, the For You feature, and dining Offers," said Krish Vitaldevara, Director, Google Maps.
"This will help Google Maps users discover a new side to their city, whether looking for things to do around town, getting offers on dining out, or getting recommendations that are personalized to their unique tastes," Vitaldevara added. 
The "Explore" tab has been a one-tap route to getting suggestions on dining, events, and things to do in the area being viewed in Google Maps. 
Now, based on top queries and the way people interact with Google Maps in India, seven new shortcuts have been added to the Explore tab: restaurants, petrol pumps, ATMs, offers, shopping, hotels, and chemists. Using Machine Learning, Google Maps automatically identifies the top suggestions across these categories in every city.
Users can now explore popular neighbourhoods in their city by simply tapping the arrow beside "Explore Nearby" and making a selection. 
Apart from exploring their own city, users can also look up other Indian cities by searching the city name. The 'For You' tab serves users information on new restaurants, trending places, and personalised recommendations tailored to their interests. 
This feature also uses the 'Your Match' score, which uses Machine Learning to combine what Google Maps know about millions of places with the information a user has added like restaurants rated, cuisines liked, and places visited. 
The first time a user launches this feature they can select areas/localities they are interested in, and get more personalized and relevant recommendations over time.
Users can now also follow a business and get relevant updates, news on events and stay on top of offers they post to the For You tab. 
The "For You" tab offers a simple, assistive experience to help discover the city with a single tap -- and it will continue to improve over time, Google said. 
]]><![CDATA[Veggies also transmit superbugs to human gut: Study]]>Sun, 23 Jun 2019 18:05:19 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/veggies-also-transmit-superbugs-to-human-gut-studySAN FRANCISCO - Not just animal meat but plant-based foods are also serving as vehicles for transmitting antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the gut microbiome of humans, warn researchers. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that of the two million antibiotic-resistant infections per year in the country, 20 per cent are linked to agriculture.
This estimate is based on patients who directly acquire antibiotic-resistant superbugs from eating meat. "Our findings highlight the importance of tackling food-borne antibiotic-resistance from a complete food chain perspective that includes plant-foods in addition to meat," said Marlene Maeusli from Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
To reach this conclusion, the researchers developed a novel, lettuce-mouse model system that does not cause immediate illness to mimic consumption of superbugs with plant-foods.
They grew lettuce, exposed it to antibiotic-resistant E. coli, fed it to the mice and analyzed their faecal samples over time.
"We found differences in the ability of bacteria to silently colonize the gut after ingestion, depending on a variety of host and bacterial factors," said Maeusli.
"We mimicked antibiotic and antacid treatments, as both could affect the ability of superbugs to survive passage from the stomach to the intestines."
Little has been done till date to determine how eating plants contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs from plants to humans is different from outbreaks of diarrheal illnesses caused immediately after eating contaminated vegetables.
Superbugs can asymptomatically hide in or "colonize" the intestines for months or even years, when they then escape the intestine and cause an infection, such as a urinary infection.
"We continue to seek the plant characteristics and host factors that result in key microbial community shifts in the gut that put us at risk for colonization and those that prevent it," said the researchers at the meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
]]><![CDATA[Key to good health: 2 hours a week with nature]]>Fri, 14 Jun 2019 19:57:05 GMThttp://www.indiajournal.com/lifestyle_1/key-to-good-health-2-hours-a-week-with-natureLONDON - If you are looking for that elusive secret to good health and wellbeing, your search may stop now as a new large-scale study has found that spending just two hours a week in the neighbourhood park may do wonders for your mind and body. People who spend at least 120 minutes a week with nature are significantly more likely to report good health...
and higher psychological wellbeing than those who do not visit nature at all during an average week, said the study published in the journal Scientific Reports. "It's well known that getting outdoors in nature can be good for people's health and wellbeing but until now we've not been able to say how much is enough," said lead researcher Mat White of the University of Exeter Medical School in Britain. "The majority of nature visits in this research took place within just two miles of home so even visiting local urban green spaces seems to be a good thing," White said.
However, no such benefits were found for people who visited natural settings such as town parks, woodlands, country parks and beaches for less than 120 minutes a week.
The study used data from nearly 20,000 people in England and found that it didn't matter whether the 120 minutes was achieved in a single visit or over several shorter visits. 
It also found that the 120 minute threshold applied to both men and women, to older and younger adults, across different occupational and ethnic groups, among those living in both rich and poor areas, and even among people with long term illnesses or disabilities.
"There are many reasons why spending time in nature may be good for health and wellbeing, including getting perspective on life circumstances, reducing stress, and enjoying quality time with friends and family," said study co-author Terry Hartig of Uppsala University in Sweden.
"The current findings offer valuable support to health practitioners in making recommendations about spending time in nature to promote basic health and wellbeing," Hartig said.
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