Apr 2006 Newsletter
New at COiN:
COiN has started a new weekly clinic in Kendriya Vihar. We have also published a preventive care handout for the age group 50-70.
What the world eats
by Dr. S. Datta, COiN Staff
I recently came across a book called the "Hungry Planet" by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Alusio. The book presents a photographic study of 24 families from around the world, revealing what people eat during the course of one week. One of the most capivating theme of this book is portrait of the entire family surrounded by the whole week of groceries.
Among other things, I noticed the changes in the dietary habits all across the world e.g., presence of beverages such as coke and pepsi, fast food items such as ramen/maggie noodles, and increased frequency of eating out at restaurants.
A somewhat more troubling site in the book was the sheer volume of food for families in the developed countries. I was specifically concerned by the amount of packaged food items - ones that come wrapped in cardboard boxes, plastic and metal containers. The preservatives in these packaged foods cannot be good for anybody. The amount of garbage generated appears to be simply phenomenal.
Yet another interesting aspect that caught me eye was the list of condiments for these various families. For example, for a refuge family in Chad, the list contained sunflower oil, sugar, salt, black pepper and ginger. A middle class Italian family's condiment list included vegetable oil, olive oil, cooking wine, vinegar, mayonnaise, cherry jam, pine nuts, raisins, sugar, salt, tomato paste, baking soda and black pepper. A middle class Indian family's condiment list included soybean oil, sugar, salt, pickles, ketchup, cumin seeds, fenugreeek seeds, mustard seeds, black pepper, garlic, ginger, mango powder, corinader and mint leaves, red chili powder, fennel seeds, turmeric, asafetida, and cloves. It makes me wonder if the average Indian meal is far more flavourful than anywhere else in the world.
Hungry Planet by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio, published by Material World Books and Ten Speed Press, covering 30 families, 24 countires and 600 meals.
Celadrin: A new supplement for arthritis
One of the newest, most effective, natural anti-inflammatory is Celadrin, a blend of special fatty acids, which is available in capsules, tablets, or as a cream. It is a proprietary form of cetylated fatty acids. It works like - but much more dramatically than - the essential fatty acids in fish oils. The fatty acids in Celadrin have pronounced anti-inflammatory effects, including inflammation of endothilial cells, which line the inside of some body cavities, and decreasing cartilege breakdown, which triggers cell death.
Results of double blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled study, published in Journal of Rheumatology ,found that Celadrin, taken orally, improved joint and motility problems. Celadrin has been approved for use as a drug in India to help reduce pain and inflammation in patients with joint conditions. Look for Celadrin under Dr. Reddy's products. For availablity in your area, check with your medical professional or pharmacist.
Soothing Sciatica
by Dr. Andrew Weil
Sciatica is pain in the lower back or hip that radiates down into a buttock and the back of a leg, often the result of a "slipped" or herniated vertebral disc pressing on the sciatic nerve. The pain can take a number of forms - it may feel like a cramp in the leg, may worsen when you sit, sneeze or cough, and may show up as numbness, burning, tingling or a pins-and-needles sensation in the leg.
Fortunately, sciatica usually goes away on its own within a few weeks (only 10-25 percent of all cases last more than six weeks and 80-90 percent of all people with sciatica recover, in time, without surgery), but there is a lot you can do to lessen the pain. You can apply heat or ice right away. Over-the-counter NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can help, too. Beyond that, I would recommend the following treatments: Acupuncture, Therapeutic Yoga, and Physical therapy.
Dr. Andrew Weil, M. D. is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. He combines a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine to provide a unique approach to health care which encompasses body, mind, and spirit.
Footnote
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