Italy’s Emma Morano, the world’s oldest living person, marked her 117th birthday Tuesday, blowing out all the candles on her cake. Beaming at the attention, Morano took in the festivities for her milestone celebration sitting in an armchair in her one-room apartment in the northern mountain town of Verbania, joined by her two elderly nieces, a pair of caregivers and her long-time physician. She received a greeting from Italy’s president, read by an official, wishing her “serenity and good health,” and appeared for a brief live broadcast on state-run television. She happily accepted some gifts, including her favorite cookies, which she ate with some milk. Then she blew out the candles on her cake — not one for every year, but three numerals to show her age, 117 — and quipped: “I hope I don’t have to cut it!” To the assembled well-wishers, Morano said, “I am happy to turn 117,” and drew encouragement from her physician, Dr. Carlo Bava. “Who would have said it?!” the doctor remarked. “When you were young everyone used to say you were weak and sick.” “Yes, yes,” she responded. Another party, including a visit from the mayor and another cake, was planned for the afternoon, after a nap. Morano, who is believed to be the last surviving person in the world born in the 1800s, became the oldest living person in May. Italy is known for its centenarians — many of whom live on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia — and gerontologists are studying Morano, along with a handful of Italians over 105, to try to figure out their longevity. Bava has credited Morano’s long life to her genetic makeup and positive outlook. Morano was born on Nov. 29, 1899 in Verbania. She has lived on her own ever since she left her husband in 1938 because he beat her. In an interview last year, she attributed her longevity to her unusual diet: Three raw eggs a day (now two raw eggs and 150 grams of raw steak after a bout of anemia) — a diet she’s been on for decades after a sickly childhood. Morano’s sister, whom Bava cared for as well, died at 97.
Emma Morano, 117 years old, blows candles in the day of her birthday in Verbania, Italy. Emma is now the oldest person in the world and is believed to be the last surviving person in the world who was born in the 1899. (Source: AP)
Emma Morano, 117 years old, is kissed by her caretakers Malgorzat Ceglinska, right, and Yamilec Vergara, in the day of her birthday in Verbania, Italy, on Nov. 29, 2016. (Source: AP)
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Emma Morano, in her home. She has been living on her home since 1938 after leaving her husband because of physical assault. (Source: AP)
Thứ Tư, 30 tháng 11, 2016
World’s oldest living person celebrates 117th birthday in a humble way at her home in Italy
Thứ Ba, 29 tháng 11, 2016
China vows to cap water consumption, crack down on polluters
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China will keep national annual water consumption below 670 billion cubic meters (bcm) through to 2020, the state planning agency said on Wednesday, part of efforts to ease chronic regional shortages by cutting waste and boosting efficiency.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it would also aim to cap total water consumption at less than 700 bcm a year though to 2030.
China has long been worried about a water supply bottleneck that could jeopardize future economic development, with per capita supplies at less than a third of the global average.
Consumption last year stood at 635 billion cubic meters, up from 554.8 bcm in 2004, and China’s scarce supplies have been put under increasing pressure from growing demand for agriculture, energy and manufacturing, as well as a rising population and widespread pollution problems.
Despite commitments to crack down on polluters, the quality of water in rivers, lakes and reservoirs in several regions has deteriorated significantly, according to inspection teams reporting back to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
In a document published on Wednesday, the NDRC pledged to ensure that three quarters of its surface water was fit for human consumption by 2030, up from 66 percent last year, and it also promised to ensure that underground water extraction rates were sustainable.
It also included targets to improve soil quality, reduce overuse of pesticides and fertilizer, and tackle overgrazing on China’s grasslands.
China said in a five-year plan on water pollution published earlier this month that it would cut water use per unit of GDP by 23 percent over the 2016-2020 period, and would also “significantly reduce” the amount used in irrigation.
It also pledged to introduce tiered water pricing in urban regions in a bid to encourage conservation, and said it would also create a water usage quota system covering all major agricultural and industrial products.
(Reporting by David Stanway; Additional reporting by Dominique Patton in BEIJING; Editing by Richard Pullin)
UK scientists discover hormone to curb alcohol cravings
Scientists in the UK have discovered a liver hormone which plays a crucial role in controlling the drinking limits of the body. The discovery of FGF21, reported in the ‘Proceedings in the National Academy of Sciences’ journal this week, could Professor Gunter Schumann, from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London said: “Our study reveals a “The results point towards an intriguing feedback loop, where FGF21 is produced in the liver in response to sugar and alcohol intake, which then acts directly on the brain to limit consumption. We cannot rule out the possibility that beta-Klotho acts by affecting neighbouring genes, so further genetic studies are warranted,” Schumann said. DNA samples were analysed from more than 105,000 people of European descent, who were also questioned about their weekly drinking habits. Although the effect that the gene had was small, the possible mechanism involved may lead to a target for drugs to help people to cut down on their drinking. What else is making news Co-author Professor Paul Elliott, from Imperial College London, said: “Our findings may eventually lead to new By looking at the genomes of the research sample, researchers found that even moderate drinking was increased by
The discovery of FGF21 could lead to a pill that could help alcoholics curb their cravings for alcohol. (Source: File Photo)
lead to a pill that could help alcoholics curb their cravings for alcohol.
previously unrecognised liver-brain pathway which regulates alcohol consumption in humans, and which could one day be targeted therapeutically to suppress consumption in problem drinkers”.
treatments for people whose health is being harmed by drinking.”
gene mutation.
Thứ Hai, 28 tháng 11, 2016
Kuwait plans to buy 28 Boeing F-18 jets: official
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Kuwait plans to buy 28 Boeing F-18 Super Hornets, a military official said on Monday, 10 days after the U.S. State Department notified Congress of the possible sale of 40 of the warplanes to the Gulf Arab state.
Major General Lafi al-Azmi, chief of the military’s Armament and Procurement Authority, also said Kuwait planned to return a number of outdated F-18s in its inventory as part of the purchase deal, the official Kuwait News Agency reported.
He added that details of the sale would only be disclosed after it is officially signed.
“Given Kuwait’s proximity to turbulent locations, we certainly need effective military equipment,” he was quoted as saying, in apparent reference to wars in Iraq and Syria.
The fighter aircraft are increasingly important to Kuwait amid rising regional tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, whose struggle for regional pre-dominance underpins wars and political tensions across the Middle East. Kuwait, an ally of Saudi Arabia, is also part of a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Boeing, Northrop Grumman Corp, Raytheon Co and General Electric Co are the prime contractors for the proposed sale.
(Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy and Reem Shamseddine; writing by William Maclean; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Hypertension top risk factor: In capital, 15% of strokes in people under 40, says AIIMS study
The average age for the onset of stroke in the capital is 55 years, as compared to 70 years worldwide, a study by AIIMS has revealed. Even more alarming is the fact that 15% of stroke cases in the capital are witnessed in people under 40, and 25% in people under 45. A stroke, which happens when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death, is the second most common medical emergency that leads to disability, after accidents. According to the AIIMS study, hypertension, diabetes and alcohol consumption are the main reasons for strokes. Watch What Else Is Making News The preliminary findings of the study, conducted by the Department of Neurology, found that 60% of people who suffered a stroke had a history of hypertension or high blood pressure. In 32% of the cases, it was linked to diabetes, while in 30% it was linked to alcohol consumption. The study has so far covered 1,400 patients, and will eventually cover 3,000. Apart from AIIMS, data is also being collected from RML Hospital, Army R&R Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, PGIMS Rohtak and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “Preliminary findings revealed that the number of young people who suffered a stroke is rising in the city. At 15%, it is thrice the global average. Moreover, strokes in Delhi are occurring 15 years earlier than the global mean age for onset of stroke, which is 70. Hypertension is the top risk factor. Other reasons are poorly controlled diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption,” Professor Kameshwar Prasad, head of the Department of Neurology at AIIMS, said. “Since only a third of the patients recover fully from a stroke, and a third recover but with disability, it is important to focus on timely treatment. Sudden numbness, difficulty speaking or severe headache are symptoms of a stroke. Spotting a stroke is critical. An easy way to remember it is FAST, which stands for face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty and time to call a doctor,” Professor Prasad said. The preliminary findings revealed that 75% of strokes were caused due to an abrupt blockage of an artery (ischemic stroke), while 25% were caused by bleeding into the brain tissue when a blood vessel bursts (haemorrhagic stroke). “Whether it is hypertension, diabetes or consumption of alcohol, strokes are linked to lifestyle or dietary habits in young people. In older people, it is mainly due to aging. Periodically checking blood pressure and following a strict diet is important in controlling strokes,” Professor Prasad said.
According to the AIIMS study, hypertension, diabetes and alcohol consumption are the main reasons for strokes.
Chủ Nhật, 27 tháng 11, 2016
New HIV vaccine trial to start in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A new vaccine against HIV, to be tested in a trial to be launched in South Africa Wednesday, could be “the final nail in the coffin” for the disease if it is successful, scientists say.
The study, called HVTN 702, aims to enroll 5,400 sexually active men and women aged between 18 and 35 at 15 sites across South Africa.
It will be the largest and most advanced HIV vaccine clinical trial to take place in South Africa, where more than 1,000 people a day are infected with HIV.
“If deployed alongside our current armory of proven HIV prevention tools, a safe and effective vaccine could be the final nail in the coffin for HIV,” Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. government’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said in a statement released ahead of the trial.
“Even a moderately effective vaccine would significantly decrease the burden of HIV disease over time in countries and populations with high rates of HIV infection, such as South Africa,” he said.
The vaccine being tested in HVTN 702 is based on a 2009 trial in Thailand, that was found to be 31.2 percent effective at preventing HIV infection over the 3.5 years of follow-up after the vaccination.
The new vaccine aims to provide greater and more sustained protection and has been adapted to the HIV subtype that predominates in southern Africa.
“HIV has taken a devastating toll in South Africa, but now we begin a scientific exploration that could hold great promise for our country,”said Glenda Gray, chief executive officer of the South African Medical Research Council.
“If an HIV vaccine were found to work in South Africa, it could dramatically alter the course of the pandemic.”
Volunteers for the study, funded by NIAID, are being randomly assigned to receive either the vaccine regimen or a placebo. All participants will receive five injections over a year.
Participants who become infected with HIV in the community will be referred to local medical providers for care and treatment and will be counselled on how to reduce their risk of transmitting the virus.
South Africa has more than 6.8 million people living with HIV, but the country has had remarkable success in rolling out an HIV drug treatment program, which the government says is the largest in the world.
Life expectancy, which sank as the epidemic grew, has rebounded from 57.1 years in 2009 to 62.9 years in 2014.
Results of the vaccine study are expected in late 2020.
Research shows protein-carbohydrate combo good for gut health
Dietary combination of protein and carbohydrate may help promote good gut health as such a diet encourages cooperation between ourselves and bacteria in our gut, suggests new research. “There are many different diet strategies that claim to promote gut health, and until now it has been very difficult to establish clear causality between various types of diet and their effect on the host’s microbiome,” said led author Andrew Holmes, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney in Australia. “This is because there are many complex factors at play, including food composition, eating pattern and genetic background,” Holmes said. In this study, the researchers found that the availability of intestinal nitrogen to microbes in the gut plays a key role in regulating interactions between gut microbes and their host animal. “This research really lays the groundwork for future modelling by setting out the rules for a general model of how diet shapes the gut ecosystem,” Holmes said. “The simple explanation is that when we eat in a way that encourages cooperation between ourselves and bacteria we achieve a good microbiome, but when we eat in a way that doesn’t require cooperation this lets bacteria do whatever they want — and mischief can ensue,” Holmes explained. Despite the huge diversity of gut bacteria, two main response patterns emerged in the study — microbe species either increased or decreased in their abundance depending on the animal’s protein and carbohydrate intake. “The largest nutrient requirements for our gut bacteria are carbon and nitrogen in the foods we eat. As carbohydrates contain no nitrogen but protein does, the bacterial community response to the host animal’s diet is strongly affected by this diets’ protein-carbohydrate ratio,” Holmes said. “The fact that this same pattern was seen across almost all groups of gut bacteria indicates that the makeup of the microbial ecosystem is fundamentally shaped by a need to access nitrogen in the intestinal environment,” Holmes added. This new research — published in the journal Cell Metabolism — is the latest in a series stemming from a study in which 25 different diets composed of different amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fat were systematically varied in 858 mice. The researchers said their new model suggests that while high-carbohydrate diets were the most likely to support positive interactions in the microbiome, such benefits were relative to the protein intake of the host animal.
Despite the huge diversity of gut bacteria, two main response patterns emerged in the study — microbe species either increased or decreased in their abundance depending on the animal’s protein and carbohydrate intake. (Source: Thinkstock images)
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Thứ Sáu, 25 tháng 11, 2016
Depression may affect stomach, and anxiety the skin
Researchers have found that depression in young people is often followed by arthritis and diseases of the digestive system, while skin diseases are common after anxiety disorders. The findings suggest that mental disorders are antecedent risk factors of certain physical diseases in early life, but also vice versa, according to the researchers. Also watch: “Our results expand the relevance of mental disorders beyond mental to physical health care, and vice versa, supporting the concept of a more integrated mental-physical health care approach, and open new starting points for early disease prevention and better treatments, with relevance for various medical disciplines,” the study said. The research group led by Marion Tegethoff in collaboration with Professor Gunther Meinlschmidt from the University of Basel in Switzerland examined the temporal pattern and relationship between physical diseases and mental disorders in children and young people. They analysed data from a representative sample of 6,483 teenagers from the US aged between 13 and 18. The researchers noted that some physical diseases tend to occur more frequently in children and adolescents if they have previously suffered from certain mental disorders. Likewise, certain mental disorders tend to occur more frequently after the onset of particular physical diseases. Affective disorders such as depression were frequently followed by arthritis and diseases of the digestive system, while the same relationship existed between anxiety disorders and skin diseases, showed the study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Anxiety disorders were more common if the person had already suffered from heart disease. A close association was also established for the first time between epileptic disorders and subsequent eating disorders. The results offer important insights into the causal relationship between mental disorders and physical diseases.
Mental disorders are antecedent risk factors of certain physical diseases in early life, but also vice versa, according to the researchers.
Thứ Năm, 24 tháng 11, 2016
China sends environmental inspection teams to seven more regions
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China has dispatched another seven environmental inspection teams to check how its anti-pollution rules are being implemented throughout the regions, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said late on Thursday.
The teams will visit the capital, Beijing, the financial hub of Shanghai and the manufacturing center of Guangdong, the ministry said. The huge southwestern municipality of Chongqing and the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Hubei are also on the list.
China’s environment ministry was given authority earlier this year to investigate regions and enterprises without prior warning, and it was also empowered to summon any local government or company official to account for their actions.
A previous round of investigations into eight Chinese regions led to more than 3,000 officials being disciplined and 198 million yuan in fines being handed out for environmental violations.
The results of the investigations, published by the ministry last week, revealed that improvements had been made in the treatment of air pollution across the country, but water quality in some regions had become significantly worse.
The investigation also accused companies of expanding steel capacity in violation of the country’s strict overcapacity rules, and of encroaching upon nature reserves and other vulnerable ecological zones declared off-limits for development.
The new round of inspections is expected to be completed before the end of the year, the ministry said.
(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Richard Pullin)
Write poetry to boost daily well-being
Everyday creative activities like writing poetry or making new recipes can boost well-being as well as creativity in young adults, new research has found. “Engaging in creative behaviour leads to increases in well-being the next day, and this increased well-being is likely to facilitate creative activity on the same day,” said lead researcher Tamlin Conner from University of Otago in New Zealand. In their study, the researchers asked 658 university students to keep a daily diary of their experiences and emotional states over 13 days. After analysing the diaries the researchers found a pattern of the participants feeling more enthusiasm and higher “flourishing” than usual following days when they were more creative. Flourishing is a psychological concept that can be described as increasing positive growth in oneself. While the current study did not specifically ask the university students to record the nature of their creative activity, the researchers had collected such information informally in an earlier study. They found that the most common examples reported were songwriting; creative writing (poetry, short fiction); knitting and crochet; making new recipes; painting, drawing, and sketching; graphic and digital design; and musical performance. “Overall, these findings support the emerging emphasis on everyday creativity as a means of cultivating positive psychological functioning,” said the study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology.
Engaging in creative behaviour leads to increases in well-being the next day, and this increased well-being is likely to facilitate creative activity on the same day.
Thứ Tư, 23 tháng 11, 2016
Green tea may ease kidney damage caused by cancer drug: AIIMS study
Green tea is effective in reducing the kidney toxicity and damage caused by cisplatin — an anti-cancer drug, the AIIMS researchers have revealed. The research study has evaluated the usefulness of ECG, a polyphenolic compound obtained from green tea in preventing the damage of kidneys induced by the cisplatin. Side effects of cisplatin may include nephrotoxicity and life-threatening damaged kidney. Watch What Else Is Making News The study by AIIMS Professor Jagriti Bhatia from the Pharmacology Department was published in journal ‘Laboratory Investigations’ recently. “If this research progresses, it may lead to a new drug which can combat the ill effects of cisplatin,” said Bhatia. Approximately, 30 per cent of the treated patients may develop nephrotoxicity after receiving an initial dose of cisplatin. Cisplatin causes production of free radicals inside cells in kidney which leads to oxidative stress and inflammation. 
Among other benefits, green tea can boost your metabolism and help regulate your glucose levels. (Photo: Thinkstock)
Thứ Ba, 22 tháng 11, 2016
Probiotics help reduce stress, anxiety
A study has found that probiotics, used to keep digestive tract in sync, could reduce stress levels and thus improve health and well being. Researchers at the University of Missouri, using a zebrafish model, determined that a common probiotic sold in supplements and yogurt can decrease stress-related behavior and anxiety. Studying how gut bacteria affect behavior in zebrafish could lead to a better understanding of how probiotics may affect the central nervous system in humans. Their results were recently published in Scientific Reports, a journal of Nature. “Zebrafish are an emerging model species for neurobehavioral studies and their use is well-established in drug-screening,” said Aaron Ericsson, director of the MU Metagenomics Center and a research assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. “Our study has shown that simple probiotics that we normally use to keep our digestive tract in sync, could be beneficial to reducing our stress levels as well.” In a series of studies, researchers tested how zebrafish behaved after doses of Lactobacillus plantarum, a common bacteria found in yogurt and probiotic supplements. In the first study, scientists added the bacteria to certain tanks housing zebrafish; other tanks of zebrafish received no probiotics. Then, the researchers introduced environmental stressors to both groups, such as draining small amounts of water from the tank and overcrowding. “Each day we introduced a different stressor — tests that are validated by other researchers and cause higher anxiety among zebrafish,” said Elizabeth Bryda, professor of veterinary pathobiology in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. “These are common environmental stress patterns, such as isolation stress and temperature change, so it made the tests relevant to humans as well.” By analyzing the gene pathways of both groups of fish, the research team found that zebrafish that were given the supplements showed a reduction in the metabolic pathways associated with stress. “By measuring the genes associated with stress and anxiety, our tests were able to predict how this common probiotic is able to benefit behavioral responses in these fish,” said Daniel Davis, assistant director of the MU Animal Modeling Core. “Essentially, bacteria in the gut altered the gene expression associated with stress- and anxiety-related pathways in the fish allowing for increased signaling of particular neurotransmitters,” he added. To test their theory further, the researchers measured the movements of fish in their tanks using sophisticated computer measuring and imaging tools. Previous studies of fish behavior have found that fish that are stressed tend to spend more time at the bottom of their tanks. Once the fish were administered probiotics, they tended to spend more time toward the top of the tanks — the change in behavior indicating they were less stressed or less anxious. “Using zebrafish, we’ve developed a relatively inexpensive platform for testing of other species of bacteria and probiotics and their potential benefit on different systems of the body,” Ericsson said.
Probiotic drinks can help anxiety. (Source: Thinkstock Images)
Thứ Hai, 21 tháng 11, 2016
Vaccine against HIV infection closer to reality
In a significant progress towards the development of a vaccine against HIV, scientists have developed a new approach to help the immune system actively fight the virus in the body. For the first time, researchers showed that a combined approach – using a common cold virus to introduce a vaccine into the body, as well as an injection of a DNA-based vaccine – may help protect against HIV in the gut and bodily cavities. Watch What Else Is Making News “With sexual activity being one of the primary methods of HIV transmission, it is necessary to try to protect those parts of the body that are most likely to encounter the virus first,” said Branka Grubor-Bauk, from the University of Adelaide in Australia. “A possible reason why previous HIV vaccine trials have not been successful is because of this lack of a frontline protection,” Grubor-Bauk said. The laboratory studies, conducted so far in mice represent an important step forward in attempts to introduce a first line of defence against HIV at the site of infection. “In mice, we delivered a rhinovirus (or common cold virus) inside the nose, and this virus had been altered to include HIV proteins,” Grubor-Bauk said. “At the same time, the mice also received an injection into the skin containing a DNA-based vaccine. This approach resulted in very specific responses in the immune system,” she said. “This vaccine approach encompasses two different arms of the immune system: white blood cells that attack the HIV virus, and specific antibodies that recognise and shut down HIV-positive cells,” she added. “There is an element of HIV known as Tat that helps the virus to replicate quite rapidly,” said Eric Gowans, professor at University of Adelaide. The antibodies inhibit the Tat effect, preventing HIV from replicating itself, Gowans added. “Overall, we found that infection was considerably reduced in the mice we studied,” he said. The study appears in the journal Scientific Reports.
“A possible reason why previous HIV vaccine trials have not been successful is because of this lack of a frontline protection. It is necessary to try to protect those parts of the body that are most likely to encounter the virus first.”
Chủ Nhật, 20 tháng 11, 2016
App to help diabetic patients with ayurvedic medicines
Soon, people with diabetes will be able to find out what ayurvedic medicines to take to check their rising blood glucose levels. As part of its ‘Mission Madhumeha’ launched last month, the government is set to launch a mobile app which will suggest ayurvedic medicines for diabetic patients. The app will be meant for use by both practitioners of ayurveda as well patients. It will help in identifying the type of diabetes a patient is suffering from as well as recommend which ayurvedic medicines can be administered to a patient, says Manoj Nesari, Adviser to AYUSH Ministry. The app is based on a set of guidelines issued by AYUSH ministry last month called “Protocol for Prevention and Control of Diabetes through Ayurveda”. These guidelines are meant for treating diabetes through ayurveda. They will be sent to various state governments, which will further circulate them across various medical institutions. The protocol also includes a list of fruits and vegetables a diabetic patient should or should not eat. It also recommends an active lifestyle, physical exercise, yoga in order to avoid falling prey to diabetes. There is also an assessment tool which has been developed to help a diabetic person know if it is time to visit a doctor for a checkup. A national protocol for treating diabetes through ayurveda was unveiled last month on National Ayurveda Day observed on October 28.
There is also an assessment tool which has been developed to help a diabetic person know if it is time to visit a doctor for a checkup. (Source: Thinkstock Images)
Thứ Sáu, 18 tháng 11, 2016
Note to employers: Healthy food leads to efficient workforce
Samosas, bread pakoras, patties, burgers, chowmein and other oil-laden artery-clogging food in cafeterias and vending machines stocked with calorie dense beverages such as colas or the sugary tea and coffee. This is pretty much the standard array of food in workplaces, churned out by food contractors with questionable hygiene standards. There is little attention paid to food in offices both by the employer and employees. Too often, the workplace meal programs are an afterthought, characterised by high calorie, high fat, high sugar and high salt food, leaving employees with no healthy options. Many employers believe adults are responsible for their own health, while workers also feel the pressure to skip lunch, the so called desktop dining or SAD (stuck at desk) café phenomenon. A missed or incomplete lunch, however, lowers productivity, increases stress and leads to unhealthy afternoon snacking. The truth is that neglecting workplace eating choices are virtually a recipe for disaster. Numerous studies indicate that food at work can impact not only employee health but have far reaching impact on the company’s health.Obese workers are twice as likely to miss work. It seems that the workplace, instead of facilitating or even accommodating healthy food choices, has become a hindrance to good health. It is ironical as the quality of what we eat and drink at work directly impacts the quality of work and our productivity. Snacking on sugary food and drinks, which the body digests quickly, cause a short surge in energy but ultimately leave the body more fatigued. The connection between nutrition, fatigue and drowsiness is well known. Fatigue or lack of energy, is often due to overwork or nutritional deficiency, most commonly that of iron but also of B vitamins. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world (about 80 per cent of the world’s population may have some level of iron deficiency). It not only reduces work capacity but can become a serious block to economic development. Besides sluggishness, it results in low immunity, low endurance and a decrease in work productivity for mental and physical tasks, which can drop to as much as 30 per cent. We become sleepy after a big meal while smaller mid-day meals keep us alert and awake. Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, can result both as a result of a large meal or if one skips a meal. It can shorten attention span and slow the speed at which individuals process information. Major industrial accidents, including the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, have been partly attributed to errors made by fatigued night-shift workers. In China and India, lost productivity due to diet related diseases amounted to 0.5 per cent and 0.7 per cent of GDP in 2001. In developing countries, governments are often burdened by the treatment of malnutrition, infectious diseases and parasitic infestations. The double burden appears to be more challenging in these countries as heart disease, diabetes and other such diseases are increasing in the younger age groups. Populations are exposed to new food and lifestyles and what happened in the West over 200 years is occurring in just over two decades here. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity have assumed epidemic proportions in developing countries. Consumption of high fat, dangerous fat like trans fats, high sugar coupled with decreased physical activity, poor exercise habits and passive entertainment have a direct impact on development of these conditions. Considering that employees spend the better part of their waking hours at work, the workplace represents a logical place to ensure proper nutrition through healthy meal provision. It is also an ideal setting to educate employees on proper nutrition and hygiene, the effect percolating to families and entire population at little cost. The solutions and intervention also boost employee morale, reduce the number of accidents and sick days, save on long term health care costs, promote the employer’s image and increase national GDP. Clearly, a healthy organisation is a wealthy organisation. WHO has noted that adequate nourishment could raise national productivity by 20 per cent. Nobody says that the workplace alone is enough to make a change; rather it is the most essential and the best place to make a start. From multinationals to small scale enterprises, everyone can benefit from improved attention to food at work. Changes whether through improved cafeterias or mess halls, or introduction of healthy meal options, provision of safe and hygienic food and drinking water are well within the reach of any business, even the smallest ones. Good nutrition is good business!
Major industrial accidents, including the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, have been partly attributed to errors made by fatigued night-shift workers.
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