Malnourished and under nourished children in India-A reality check

Food, health and life are intricately interlinked and unless there is a balance and moderation in food intake, health is bound to be seriously affected adversely. An oft repeated question is whether the world to day is a better place to live compared to that which existed 5-6 decades ago? If the yardstick for measuring the quality of life is the health, definitely it is much worse than before. There is terrible inequality in accessing available food across the population with opulent countries enjoying a surplus of foods which are very often wasted ignoring the pitiable living conditions of millions of people spanning the three continents Asia, South America and Africa. The two aspects of food which are important to be kept in mind are quality and quantity. In many developed countries quantity of food available, if taken on an average, is more than sufficient to meet the calorie needs of their population. What is sorely missing is the quality of food consumed by them which leaves very much to be desired. Look at the health status of people in the US where more than half the population is over weight while almost one third is afflicted by obesity epidemic. This raises the inevitable question as to what constitutes a good diet and what happens if the diet is not based on factors that influence maintaining of good health.

As a thumb rule,human beings generally need about 2000 kCal, 50 g of proteins, 50 g of fat, 25 g of dietary fiber, 8 essential amino acids and two essential fatty acids which human body cannot make and vitamins and minerals. Water, though not considered a nutrient is also essential corresponding to an intake of 1 ml per calorie ingested. This is supposed to be a golden guideline for preventing development of many health disorders in life and can be easily met by judicial combination of natural food ingredients like cereals, pulses, milk, nuts, fruits, vegetables with or without animal based foods like meat, egg and fish. If the above assumption is correct why is that Americans eating rich foods including an abundance of highly nutritious animal based products still suffer from many diseases to day? Answer to this lies in the fact that the cereals they consume are highly refined devoid of practically all natural nutrients, most calories coming from highly refined white sugar or HFCS, heavy consumption of fat rich foods such as fried ones, baked goods etc and eating too much animal products. It is only recently that a scientific study in the US brought out the startling truth that eating even a small amount of whole grains about 33 g a day can reduce the chance of premature death very significantly! 

What about situation that is obtaining in India? Here again there are sufficient foods available in the country to meet the needs of every citizen but the access to these foods is constrained by economic factors. For many poor people constituting almost 40% of the country's population high quality foods like milk, pulses, egg and meat in sufficient quantities are beyond their reach. This problem is all the more intractable in the rural hinterlands of the country where most poor people live eking out a dreary existence. The highly unpredictable agricultural situation and lack of opportunities for engaging in income generation avocations make matter worse! The much touted Food Security Act does promise almost 1000 kCal of food in the form of very low priced cereals like rice and wheat, while other needs like proteins, fat and some of the essential nutrients are ignored in the scheme of things. All government programs designed so far and being implemented are just to keep hunger away among the poor people but do not bother about the quality of the food distributed under the social responsibility umbrella. 

The most recent circus government is doing under the FSA is giving away rice at Re 1 per kg and wheat at Rs 2 per kg for almost two thirds of the country's population whether all of them really deserve them or not based on economic criteria. The existing school feeding programs are also heavily loaded in favor of cereals. There are supposed to be about 7 lakh kitchens staffed by 26 lack cooks cum helpers serving about 11 crore children in thousands of schools across the country, probably the largest socially oriented scheme any where in the world. This is no doubt a tremendous feat worth appreciating and admiring. Unfortunately these numbers hide more than what they reveal. The program claims to provides about 300 kCal of energy and 16 g of protein for every kid though no one knows how far this target is fulfilled by cooking foods in these school kitchens out of cereals supplied by the government. Providing calories and proteins once a day may be theoretically adequate partially as far as nutrition is concerned but does it fill the tummy of the child who comes to the school hungry? Hardly! Many kids are reported to be coming to the school with empty stomach and wait eagerly till lunch time to get their share of meals cooked at the school. If this is so can the children be expected to concentrate on the lessons taught in the class rooms?

Some pundits have suggested that government should consider providing break fast also to the school kids besides the midday meals   May be a good suggestion but where is the end for such freebies , especially in a country like India not considered to be very rich to squander its resources? A honest citizen often wonders what is the role of the government in welfare of a citizen? A family which spawns a child has no responsibility to look after it and see through its adulthood and further till it can stand on its own legs? Look at India to day where there are government freebies for practically every thing from conception till the end whether they deserve them or not! If government has to give free medical service, child care service, educational service, housing service, subsidized transportation, special allowances for female children, heavily subsidized food grains, pension for old age population and widows, write off loans taken from government banks, provide subsidized fertilizers to farmers whether rich or poor and many other hidden economic help, what is the role of the parents? In this case if breakfast and lunch are provided at school, what else parents have to do? How can a child consider his parent as his own if they are not providing him with food at home? After all government is even giving jobs under NREGA for at least 100 days that puts about Rs 15000 in the hands of many laborers who declare that they do not have any other income.With Rice and Wheat being made available at Rs 1-2 per kg where is the problem in feeding the children at home? If low response to the NREGA scheme as reported in Karnataka is really true, poor people might be hard to find who are enamored by the Rs 15000 that can be earned by working for 100 days! May be there are a few genuine cases with extremely low income who must be identified  as targets for such freebie schemes.             

Many NGOs and international bodies are lamenting that 1 out of 3 children in India is malnourished and world's largest malnourished children live in India. It may sound shocking that 50% of childhood mortality is attributed to malnutrition and under nourishment. Similarly another stock claim is that 46% of children below 3 years of age in India have low Body Mass Index (BMI) which is supposed to be a manifestation of undernourishment and malnutrition. They further aver that inadequate food in quantity and nutritional quality during pregnancy, lactation and after birth are responsible for this sordid situation. One of the critical deficiencies being focused is essential fatty acids (EFA) like Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids which are necessary for proper development of brain, eyes and preempting onset of diseases like CVD, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's, dementia and others during growth later. Plant foods are not considered excellent sources of these essential fatty acids and well to do population derive them from fish and marine food sources. But two plant sources Soybean and Sunflower seeds can be significant sources of EFA , both Omega-6 and Omega-3 and all the programs presently running under the food service schemes must consider including one or more of these oil seeds in the meal recipes being followed.  

V.H.POTTY

http://vhpotty.blogspot.com

http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

What is the connection between Tobacco and Food?-A tenuous one?

Tobacco played an important role in the economy of some countries like the US which accounts for two third of the world's production and ever since its use is being frowned upon because of its association with cancer, those engaged in tobacco business have been looking for exiting the same for greener pastures. The tragedy of tobacco industry was so gigantic that no one wants this to be repeated again for the horror it created for millions of smokers who were addicts to this seemingly innocuous habit of smoking. If  WHO is to be believed 100 million people are supposed to have perished due to the smoking habit while it estimates another billion to die during the current millenium if smoking addiction is not reversed in time. In terms of economic impact the manufacturers of cigarettes containing tobacco had to suffer severe losses due to scientific findings that proved they cause cancer. A logical question that arises out of this punitive action on the tobacco industry is how culpable are consumers in this complex case which had become a land mark judicial judgement indicting the industry?

In a democratic country the citizen has the right to do any thing that does not "injure" the society at large though in constitutions of different countries reasonable restrictions are imposed, again for the benefit of the country as a whole. After all smoking a cigarette is a personal choice but smoking in the public can definitely harm others nearby and therefore any country will restrict smoking in public places. Even to day no country has totally banned cultivation of tobacco or manufacture of cigarettes, probably because of economic reasons. Same is true with Alcoholic beverages also and it is a part of history that "prohibition", famously coined to a situation where alcohol consumption is legally banned , never worked leading to illicit distillation and emergence of a "dangerous", substandard potions being distributed under the very nose of the government. The lesson to learn from these two examples is that human behavior is difficult to be controlled by any government and ultimately education and better awareness about ill effects of such habits can only work in the long run.

Coming to food industry, is there any similarity between this industry and tobacco industry?. Some legal pundits ascertain that damage to health due to high fat, high sugar and high salt foods being promoted by them, knowing well that they are addictive in nature like tobacco, cannot be condoned. There are a few scientific studies implicating these foods in creating addiction to them due to the physiology of humans and such addiction becomes irresistible over a period of time. Imagine almost a third of American population numbering more than 100 million are proved to be clinically obese causing that nation to incur a whopping medical bill of $ 147 billion annually. Obesity was declared as an epidemic in the US a decade ago and if adequate scientific data can be marshalled to link it up to foods they eat, sold to them by the food industry, could there be a case for a mass action suit for economic damages by the state, similar to the one that succeeded in the case of tobacco? 

As strange coincidence one can notice is the shifting of business interests during the last 15 years by many of the tobacco giants to food processing by acquiring many major companies with reputed brands of a diverse portfolio of packed foods. How can any body be blamed inference is drawn that they would repeat the strategy of making these foods as addictive as cigarettes which they did systematically in the last millenium? The indictment of tobacco industry was based mostly on the following counts: guilty of racketeering, conspiracy against the public by hiding about health dangers and the addiction quality of the products, secretly working to increase addiction power of their products for kids etc. Can these same counts be applied to today's food industry? Probably some of them may be applicable to foods also though more evidence has to come for conclusively proving them.

In discussions centering around obesity, some industry players are taking it more seriously and there are many instances when dangerous ingredients have been weeded out voluntarily. Similarly voluntary measures such as reduction of salt in food products is being achieved through persuasion and cajoling in some countries. On the other hand good intentioned measures to restrict serving size and jumbo packings to curb over consumption, are being resisted by the industry. So also is the innocuous demand by consumers to declare use of GMO foods which the industry does not want for reasons not very clear. Recent attempts by consumer activists to make food industry more transparent regarding the safety of hundreds of flavor chemicals used in thousands of products to make them more attractive, is also being resisted by the manufacturers who do not want any oversight by independent safety authorities. If such illogical practices continue, a day will come soon when the industry will have to pay a very heavy price if and when linkages are established beyond doubt to diseases like cancer, r high blood pressure, cancer, CVD etc. It is in the interest of the industry not to repeat the mistakes by the tobacco industry which hid the true data from the government and the consumer about the seriousness of health risks associated with cigarette smoking. Full cooperation with the government and a transparent relationship with the consumer will go a long way to preempt any situation in future that may cause huge financial damage to their business.. 

When we talk about punitive legal action in a country like India it may never work. Even in tobacco products the very same industry which forked out billions of dollars to smokers in the US who suffered from smoking, got away scotfree in India and we have not heard of any reparations paid to any Indian citizen so far. Therefore there may not be any possibility that citizens here will be benefited by such class action suits. Such a sobering thought should not make the food industry insolent and intractable to ignore genuine grievances of the consumer community. The fact that FSSAI is not functioning as efficiently as it ought to have been doing, should not be exploited by the industry to ignore the well being of the consumer through undesirable malpractices and less than optimal processing conditions. One redeeming feature of food industry in India is that majority of manufacturers are law abiding and will not do any thing that infringe on safety of the products they make. The biggest worry is the large number of players in the unorganized or informal sector who can play spoil sport due to ignorance, lack of assistance from public food technology agencies and limited market out reach. Ministry of Food Processing must wake up to address this reality if it has to serve any purpose for its dreary existence. 

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE-THE MIRACLE CHEMICAL THAT DESERVES MORE ATTENTION

Any chemical entity with some destructive potential is viewed with fear by humans and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is no exception to it. This is a chemical which can kill most bugs at optimum concentrations and cause grievous injury to human beings if not handled carefully. No wonder it is declared as a hazardous material when it comes to handling, storage, transportation and use. As it is not a stable chemical, tending to decompose into water and nascent oxygen at higher temperatures with high oxidizing potential, its concentration for different applications will require careful calibration for getting optimum result. Though it is historically established as a powerful disinfectant from time immemorial, only recently its use without any harm for applications in ensuring bacterial and viral disinfection is being appreciated. Probably its dirt cheap price is responsible for it being overlooked by the chemical and pharmaceutical industry which always go for high vale business! If H2O2 has been fully exploited, many of those expensive chemicals used to fight infections would not have been there at all, saving billions of rupees for the public!   

The atmospheric ozone is responsible for generating H2O2 through interaction with water and the so ubiquitous rain water which falls on the earth is, in fact, a solution of H2O2 that has many beneficial effects to protect environment and vegetation. It is believed, supported by some scientific studies, that rain water is much superior to irrigation water for better plant growth because of the H2O2 content in it. Interestingly rain water that falls through highly polluted atmosphere containing many chemical substances contains much less H2O2 because of its reaction with such oxidizable pollutants. Probably the practice by some progressive farmers to spray dilute solution of H2O2 (1000-2000 ppm)  on their plants is for making up the depletion this chemical in the rain water due to environmental pollution. It is suggested that even for house hold gardening, use of water containing H2O2 may be beneficial for better plant growth.

The fear of H2O2 is some what misplaced because it is a harmless chemical at levels less than 10% and pharma grade H2O2 is even used for infusion for treatment of some health conditions. Besides food industry also uses this chemical in the processing of cheese, egg and whey products. Aseptic packing technology depends heavily on use of 35% H2O2 in the process for cold sterilization of the carton material before filling with HTST treated products like milk, juice and other liquid products. H2O2 is globally available in different concentrations and qualities. While 3% solution of pharma grade is commonly available, others like 6% beautician's grade, 35% technical grade, 35% food grade and 90% rocket grade are offered for specialized users. 

H2O2 is a naturally occurring biological substance in human body, generated and decomposed through many biological reactions, all controlled by the body under different conditions. Primarily H2O2 is produced in places within the body, viz, Lungs, Gut and the Thyroid. Some of the enzymes involved in the body like D-amino acid oxidase and acyl-CoA-Oxidase produce this chemical through reaction with certain amino acids and fatty acids. Plasma amine oxidase and xanthine oxidase systems also generate H2O2. Since high production and accumulation can be dangerous to the tissues, H2O2 is contained in specialized cells in the organelles like peroxisomes which also contain H2O2 decomposing enzymes like Catalase in abundance. 

Human immune system is designed to be activated in response to infection by bacteria, virus and other transgressors when large amounts of H2O2 is produced by the white cells which, in turn kill the invading vectors, neutralizing their adverse consequences. If H2O2 concentration becomes too high it can cause grievous damage to the cell DNA and other critical proteins which many believe is responsible for serious diseases like cancer, diabetes etc.

Since extensive use of H2O2 for sterilizing water at home instead of chlorine has come to stay and as chlorine is not considered a safe chemical for domestic use, it is a question of time before this consumer friendly humble chemical becomes a universally accepted sterilizer for water, environment and food materials. A combination of H2O2, sugar and water is also reported to be an excellent pesticide spray that can destroy most of the field insects and pests at least cost with no residue left behind unlike the present day cocktail of poisonous chemical pesticides. Ease of using dilute solutions of H2O2 through conventional bottles with drop dispensing spouts make its use more convenient and as H2O2 solutions are stable for long at refrigerated temperatures or in domestic freezers a small stock of the product can always be kept for use after dilution through drop dispensers as when needed. 

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD INGESTION AND EFFICIENCY OF NUTRIENT UTILIZATION-THE IMPONDERABLES

According to nutrition science calories, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals required by the human body to grow and maintain good health need to be supplied through the food consumed. There are well laid down and universally accepted norms of nutrition vis-a-vis requirements of different nutrients. While carbohydrates in the food consumed provide bulk of the calories required by the body, fats account for about 30% of calorie needs. Proteins, though can supply energy, are used by the body mainly for building of tissues and generation of hundreds of enzymes that catalyze all the metabolic reactions in the body. Vitamins and minerals have their own roles to play in assisting various cellular functions. It is well accepted that a gram of carbohydrate and a gram of protein can supply 4 calories each under ideal conditions whereas a gram of fat yields 9 calories. A human being requires about 2000-2500 calories a day to maintain normal activity, about 50 gms each of proteins and fats besides recommended levels of micro nutrients and dietary fiber. 

What happens to the food after it is eaten is well known and even an elementary school student can elaborate on the sequence of changes that take place once food is ingested. Just to recap, the teeth are provided to chew the food and after mastication the fluid material goes through the stomach for protein break down, followed by further break down of carbohydrates and fats to simple molecules in the small intestine, suitable for absorption into the blood. The residue after "digestion" goes into the large intestine for resorption of water and fecal evacuation. Of course the entire digestion process is so complex that only those having necessary specialized knowledge about human anatomy and physiology can explain the same correctly and correctly. It is generally believed that 50% of the food passsing into the stomach is emptied in about 3 hrs time while 100% leaves in about 4-5 hrs. Similarly 50% of the content coming to the small intestine gets out in about 3 hours while it takes 30-40 hrs for the entire post digestion residue to transit through the colon. Having stated this, it has to be admitted that there are significant variations in these values from person to person and from food to food. Those who do not have regular bowel movement or others eating foods with low fiber may have fecal transit time as long as 48-72 hours.

One may ask why this interest now on an old topic like digestion in human body? Provocation comes from two recent scientific reports that the relationship between calorie content of a food and its actual availability to the body after it is consumed may vary enormously and the calorie content declared on front of the pack labels needs to be moderated to factor the individual variations in digestibility from person to person. For example it has been reported that when nuts like Pistachio and Almonds are eaten about 5-20% of the fat present in these nuts appear undigested in the feces indicating that human GI tract is not able to get the fat in some foods completely released for the same to be hydrolyzed and absorbed. There is a parallel one can find in protein utilization also and that is the reason why the terms like Biological Value, Protein Efficiency Ratio, Net Protein Utilization etc have been coined to reflect the extent of protein used from a food by the body. Similarly Glycemic Index values are useful in understanding the efficiency of carbohydrate utilization in human body though this parameter has more relevance to diabetic people with insulin insufficiency. 

While person to person variability, depending on many factors, is understandable, what complicates the issue is the nature of food consumed and the physical properties of the same. It is just common sense that food components in aqueous solutions are readily digested and absorbed fat, the process takes longer time and becomes more and more inefficient as the food eaten is under cooked or under processed putting more burden on the system. Food industry of modern days excel in making the product more and more GI tract riendly through the technologies used to process foods, most of them into ready to eat condition. Ultra mills, emulsifiers, homogenizers, grinders, extrusion cookers, pre-cookers, etc which are extensively used by the industry make the food readily digestible in double quick time. 
        

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD VS MINERALS-ARE THE NEW POLICIES SKEWED?

The present government is very keen to push through the so called food security bill under which food grains like wheat, rice and coarse grains are distributed practically free to three fourth of the population in the country under the skewed perception that people would be happy if they could access staple foods easily. What is forgotten in this populist program is about the logistics of production of required food to meet the new needs arising out of the commitment by the government. The long forgotten Green Revolution had run its course, ruining the fertility and health of the soil and it is unlikely that the same soil can achieve quantum jump in production unless reclaimed or rehabilitated. Such a program of rejuvenation is far from the minds of the policy makers as of now and probably this commitment will eventually lead to massive imports of food in future. Present happy situation with the grain stocks cannot continue for ever and if the rains fail the country a couple of times the present stock can "evaporate" in no time. Is any one at Delhi, including the "exalted" Planning Commission bothered about this precarious situation?

The new Land Policy now being orchestrated is intended to facilitate land acquisition for industry and real estate conglomerates, the only redeeming feature being increased compensation receivable by the land losers. But disappearance of agricultural land, especially smaller holdings owned by millions of farmers in the coming years will make a dent in food production and such a land policy will also contribute to increased food imports. There appears to be a perception in the government that self reliance is a "sin" when the country has subscribed to free trade policies under the WTO regime. Is food import a wise policy? Of course not because grain prices in the international markets are influenced by many factors and India has no influence on the same. Is the country prepared to pay any price to import food grains when food shortages become acute one day? Recent events have seen how a small drought in one exporting country can cause spiraling of grain prices in the global market and imagine the potential risk in the form of civil disturbances that can occur under scarcity conditions! 

As one of the discerning critics has pointed out recently the present government seems to be more pre-occupied about mineral exports under the perceived impression that they can bring lot of money and this is the logic behind the enactment of the new Mining Bill. Though land acquisition for mining is not a pre-requisite as such lands rich in minerals are leased out for long time, fact still remains that land is lost for cultivation if minerals are found under the land, affecting again food production. Country seems to be forgetting the recent mining scams in states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and others which have rocked the nation and all these scams are politician-mining mafia driven causing huge losses to the exchequer. Look at places like Bellary where the environment is thick with red dust generated by inefficient and crude way of mining and mining barons are ruthless in destroying every thing coming in their way. Illegal mining and exporting appear to be taking place under the very nose of the government in spite of judicial intervention! A number of NGOs who espouse the cause of environment are doing a yeomen service to the nation by their relentless fight against over mining and unscientific practices of mining industry. 

The current year bumper harvest may embolden the government to push ahead with its illogical policies because with large stocks of food grains in the government storage depots, covered as well open, a false sense of food security is likely to prevail at least for another year. When one talks about mining and export of minerals from the country, it is forgotten that precious non-renewable resources are lost once for all irretrievably and will the present rulers be around to answer to the future generations about such a heinous deed? What prevents the government from linking mining leases with production outfits which can extract the valuable mineral contained and return the bulk of the wastes back to the place preventing unnecessary land destruction. Export of minerals containing 99% sand and traces of targeted mineral is nothing but a folly when country is talking about value addition, industrialization and employment generation. 

India will be remembered in history as a country going down under with wrong policies and priorities, if agriculture is not given the importance it deserves. Almost 70% of the population living in the rural backyard of this country should be applauded and encouraged for providing food to the 30% of those living in urban regions generating economic wealth through manufacturing and other industrial and commercial services. If rural India falters the country will falter and it is the duty of the government to provide rightful environment through economic and policy support with more commitment. Farmers in this country should not be allowed to wither away by a deluge of suicides taking place in different agricultural belts and if such wake up calls do not ring alarm bells in the appropriate quarters, nothing else will!

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

THE "INHUMAN" MAN-GENE, ENVIRONMENT OR FOOD TO BE BLAMED?

Many sociologists wonder from where the increasing trait of violence man has acquired during thousands of years of his existence has originated. Mind boggling violence being witnessed amongst human beings is some thing having no parallel in this Universe and the expression "inhuman" or "humane" has no meaning because animals rank much lower in the scale of violence than man. Look at the most recent mindless slaughter of hundreds of people in Nigeria on religious grounds or almost daily suicide bombers causing havoc in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan or the senseless killings by Maoists in India or the terrorists related loss of lives all over the world and the streak of cruelty is there amongst human beings. History is also replete with instances of mass murder for the sake of wealth, land or religion. How can one explain the cruelty often noticed amongst young children who do not have any sense of pity or kindness towards other smaller and harmless creatures? There are three distinct possibilities that can be relevant when the "cruelty" trait in humans are considered which include genetic make up, the environment that shapes one's life and the diet one consumes regularly.

Taking the connection between cruelty and genes, this is an area which has been researched for long without any consensus emerging amongst scientists. There are many theories based on limited studies and none of them can explain clearly this phenomenon. More recent studies are focusing on the gene that is responsible for expressing the crucial enzyme Monoamine Oxidase or MOA located in X chromosome in the humans which has the critical responsibility in deactivating excess levels of neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Melatonin, Norepinephrine and Epinephrine through oxidation into aldehydes and ammonia. The enzyme exists in two forms MOA-A and MOA-B, located in the outer membrane of cytochrome, found in neurons and astroglia. MOA-A has more specific role in dealing with the neurotransmitter amines. Lower as well as higher than than normal levels of neurotransmitters can cause depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, attention deficiency disorder, migraine etc and MOA Inhibition therapy through drugs is practiced in severe cases. But the critical question is whether this gene which must have been present in ancient man is preserved without mutation during evolution and the traits of violence, brutality, aggression, cruelty etc are more evident in people with this particular gene gone berserk due to reasons not yet clear.

Coming to the environment, the most important question is whether the behavioral pattern in humans can be changed by continuous exposure to hostility or through deliberate training in hostile behavior as is being attempted by many violent and terrorist groups. Stray studies do point out to the tendency of children brought up in a hostile environment becoming cruel adults with least sensitivity to sufferings to others. While hostile or retaliatory aggression can be attributed to low IQ, planned or predatory aggression cannot be explained away so easily. Organized butchering of billions of living creatures for supplying food to the population to day probably can make consumers of the foods from these sources some what insensitive to killing which after all is a product of aggression and cruelty. Using terminology like Prevention of "Cruelty" to Animals, People for Animal, Beauty Without Cruelty cannot hide the fact that these killings take away the life of hapless creatures for humans to live. It is for the human psychologists to answer whether one who kills an animal as big as a beef cattle will have any feelings about extinguishing any other form of life.

Food appears to be least connected with violence or aggression. The astronomical quantity of animal derived foods being consumed to day are providing more nutrition to people, almost like the pre-historic man who had to be aggressive for survival. Though there are not many peer reviewed publications on any link between food and aggressiveness, a few stray reports do indicate that some foods can make animals like dogs more aggressive while others make them docile. In one of the rare studies with prison inmates, it was found that providing nutrient supplements along with regular foods made them less violent, more rule abiding and cooperative. Blood sugar variations are also under the scanner as consumption of high sugar foods like confectionery amongst school going children have been found to be responsible for their aggressive behavior later in life. Thousands of additives that go into processed foods have also been blamed by some for the change in behavior of children noticed lately.

Mahatma Gandhi, the great apostle of peace and violence, probably believed that human beings can train themselves to be "humane" without recourse to cruelty or brutality and his ability to harness an entire nation for peaceful agitation to shake of the colonial yoke is a classical testimony to his conviction which stands vindicated.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT -INFLUENCE ON SOCIETAL BEHAVIOR

Arrival of Christopher Columbus in India, circumventing the Cape of Hope and overcoming tremendous logistical constraints typically illustrate the inalienable linkage between food and man. Food has been the major driving force for many historical wars and land conquests, whether thousands of years ago or in to day's world. If cash rich countries are buying up or leasing lands in other economically deprived countries, the intention is to ensure food security to their own people.

During thousands of years of evolution, man became a super intelligent creature in this planet and along with it came many societal practices molded by the necessities and the environment. From a hunting culture, the human society mastered the art of domestication of food crops and meat animals so that food is available all year round for leading a peaceful life. Civilizations like Maya in south American continent or Indus Valley in Indian sub continent or dynasties in Egypt or China had their own characteristic societal features and food habits nurtured for centuries before ending in total destruction. Food archeology is a fascinating subject but grossly neglected by modern man in pursuit of pleasure and exalted living styles. Lot can be learned by peeping back into history of foods and if only the rich lessons offered by the past was appreciated, many of the ills that plague the society to day could have been averted.

In India practically no day passes without one or the other group of people agitating for favored status under the Constitution under the much debated reservation system. The basis of such action is that some segments of the society have been suppressed for too long denying them rightful opportunities for growth under the pernicious caste system prevalent in the country for centuries. True there was a rigid hierarchical caste based social structure where untouchability was conspicuous by its practice amongst various ethnic sections. There are views and counter views regarding the desirability of reservation based on castes and sub castes and this is not a place to debate on the issue. Caste system was, probably, relevant in ancient India though one can question the inhuman way lower caste people were treated. Personal hygiene and cleanliness only should determine whether a person is "touchable" or "untouchable" in modern India where there is no excuse for any one to be "unkempt" in spite of availability of soaps, detergents, lotions, washing aids etc with which one can keep oneself clean with no risk of spreading infection. Definitely birth does not decide who is untouchable.

If the younger generation is reminded of caste system, it is only because of the expediency of the political class, which in pursuit of vote bank, wants to perpetuate the same. There can only be one criterion for evolving all inclusive growth and development and that is the economic status of people. Western system has different cultural practices and with hygiene and cleanliness high on their agenda, hand shaking, kissing and hugging are common way of greeting and expressing affection and friendship. In contrast the Indian society evolved a totally different system involving greetings with folded hands which is relatively safe as far as spreading of infection is concerned. Kissing and hugging, being noticed recently, are prevalent amongst some who are exposed to western culture.

It is a debatable point whether under Indian living conditions practices such as the above are safe. High humidity, dusty environment, high temperature, critical shortage of water, indifferent personal hygiene, wide spread dormant infection amongst the population, too frequent crowd congregation for political, religious and other purposes, over crowded transport systems, unkempt walk ways and side walks, the toiletry practices at home, all make it unimaginable for adopting the western pattern of social interaction. It is well recognized that more than 40% of infectious diseases are spread through physical contact between unclean hands and other human parts. That Indians do not suffer as much as others in other parts of the world, probably due to their high immunity to most vectors, does not mean that there is no need for improving hygiene and sanitation. Imagine the consequences of unclean personnel managing catering services and food processing facilities on the safety of foods to the consumers!

Old traditional living style, which exists even to day in some parts of India, had given high priority to hygiene. This is evidenced by the regular washing of feet, hands and face when ever one returns home, removing foot wears before entering the house, use of cow dung slurry to keep the house clean, cleaning the teeth with neem stick or mango leaves, location of toilets away from regular dwelling area, popularity of plantain leaves and stitched dry leaves for eating food, fumigation of the house with traditional herbal preparations, fire wood based kitchen which generates smoke that can snuff out a variety of vectors and many other practices. Refrigerator which can be considered as the single most effective food preservation mode man has ever known is a luxury not affordable to a vast majority of Indian population, especially those living in rural areas where there is power cut for 22 hours in a day and refrigerator in these places is some thing like an innocuous good for nothing "box".

The message is loud and clear. Keep yourself clean through adhering to well proven daily hygienic practices, keep your house and environment clean and follow good societal norms for interaction with fellow citizens. That is the right recipe for avoiding an impression that you are "untouchable", literally!

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD OR DRUG?-HEALTH "CLAIMS" BY FOOD INDUSTRY

Imagine the FSSAI at Delhi issuing a notice to a manufacturer of food products for printing unsubstantiated health claims on the front panel of a food package to entice unsuspecting consumers to splurge on that product! Even if such a "rarest of rare" incidence happens what could be the consequences? Nothing! Most likely the notice would find its rightful place in the garbage bin of the corporate office of the company because every "culprit" in this country knows that FSSAI is a toothless tiger!. Look at the commotion created by serving notices to food giants like Nestle and 16 other major food processors in the US by the FDA questioning the validity of health claims made by them on the labels of their products. The response from these "violators" has been in double quick time promising full cooperation in complying with the regulations in the statute books fully

Nestle and Diamond Foods, two major companies in the US have been under the scanner of the authorities for making claims made on their packaging labels. After detailed scrutiny the FDA zeroed in on 22 food products that violated its claim guidelines. Others on the radar for labeling violations included Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream for for its Nestle drumsticks, Nestle Nutrition for its Juicy Juice products, and Diamond Foods for some of its nut products. The FDA is targeting health and nutrition claims that it says would cause the food products to be regulated as drugs. The offending companies are being booked for making claims over trans fat content, antioxidant advantages, and omega-3 benefits contrary to the existing guidelines. The violations include unauthorized health claims, unauthorized nutrient content claims, and unauthorized use of vague terms such as "healthy," including others that have strict, regulatory definitions.

It is tragic that some of these companies operating in India have double standards offering to the hapless citizens of this country same products marketed in the US but with much inferior standards of quality and safety. The breakfast cereals, chocolate products, snack foods, soft drinks, bottled water, oat flakes and many others marketed in India are distinctly inferior to their counterparts in the US. For this situation consumer will have to "thank" the FSSAI which does not seem to have any clue regarding what is happening in the market place.

A larger question that arises regarding the health claims is whether food processing industry is adequately equipped to design and manufacture food products which are healthier than normal foods as it requires tremendous resources and infrastructure facilities to launch specialty foods with proven health claims. Taking isolated published information and using it as support for any health claim cannot be accepted because such data apply only to specific conditions of experiment carried out by the authors of the studies quoted.

Some pundits in India are pedaling the concept of nutraceuticals or nutrifoods or pharma foods which does not have any scientific validity. Adding nutrients like vitamins, minerals and some others to foods during food processing must be restricted to the extent of "restoring" such nutrients lost due to severity of processing. This cannot be the basis for indiscriminate use of various synthetic or extracted substances with some hypothetical health promoting benefits in processed foods and claim they are superior to normal foods. GOI must clamp down such profit motivated efforts by a segment of the food industry in this country.

As a policy measure GOI must lay down guidelines regarding addition of any nutrients to a food and should not allow any one to print any health claims on the label even indirectly. Such foods which are made using external nutrients, not natural to them, must not be given permission for manufacture or marketing by the food industry. This responsibility may be assigned to the pharma industry which can do a better job in designing such products and exercising the quality and safety responsibilities with its established infrastructure. Even when it comes to nationally mandated nutrification programs like iodine in salt, Vitamin A and D in milk, iron in salt or tea etc food industry can be given specific permission for manufacture of such foods under direct monitoring by the Health Ministry of GOI. The "free for all" situation that exists to day for any "tom, dick and harry" to sell health foods must be stopped in the interest of consumers in the country.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

THE 'TWINS" BOOM- ROLE OF FOOD

Women amongst some tribals in Nigeria have been known to deliver twins in large numbers and precise reasons for this phenomenon are still obscure. Several questions remain unanswered as to whether the environment has any thing to do with it or whether local water sources are responsible or what role food plays in perpetuating this freak developments. One of the most guessed reasons is that these black women have high levels of follicle-stimulating hormones which could lead to multiple births. Why this happens is still a mystery. Same phenomenon has been reported in some parts of Spain with white women. In all these cases the twins are of dizygotic types or fraternal twins where 2 eggs get fertilized by two sperms each developing in separate sacs in the ovary. As against this monozygotic types result from one egg fertilized by one sperm and splitting into two eggs early in the gestation period within 12 days of conception, both the eggs developing in a single sac. Chances of identical twins are one in 285 and that for fraternal twins is one in 80.

Generally it is believed, though not scientifically proved, that consumption of ovulation-inducing drugs cause multiple births though these are confined to a minority of cases. Many theories, most of them not proven conclusively, float around amongst the fertility experts for explaining this freak phenomenon. Seasonality, maternal age, social class all are supposed to influence the chances for twins. For example In January least number of twins are born while it is highest in July in a country like USA. In some studies consumption of high levels of Vitamin A has been linked to multiple births. Excess consumption of vitamins and minerals by women of child bearing age is also cited as one of the causes. In the Togiak region of Alaska Cow moose are known to be giving birth of twin calves, almost 7 out of ten when they had access to plenty of foods and the rate of twin births declined when food became limited. Folic acid is another Vitamin which, whenever found in high levels in the blood, was implicated in twin births. Diets rich in estrogen like phytochemicals are also suggested as a possible contributing factor by nutritionists as this hormone has a vital role in conception.

If phytoestrogen contents do play a role what could be the make up of a diet ideal for giving birth to twins? There are many estrogen rich foods like yams, barley, some varieties of beans, flax seeds, oats, sesame seeds, soybean, rye, clover, millets, some herbs which are consumed but their relative levels in the regular diet may be the critical factor that may influence conception. It is time that this aspect is given more attention by multidisciplinary scientists so that the role of food is precisely brought out with least ambiguity.

High multiple births reported in Kodinhi, a village in Kerala caught the attention of many media persons and the reason for the presence of 150 twins in a population of 14600 is suspected to be the environment, though no absolute conclusion was possible with practically no scientific investigation. What lends credence to this assumption is that people migrating from other places to this village also showed tendency to conceive twins. Another reports some time back identified a village near Allahabad called Mohammad Umni where there were 33 pairs of twins amongst a population of just 600! According to some scientists who conducted limited studies here that a combination of food, living conditions and high consanguineous marriage could have resulted in such high twin births in this village.

Food scientists, nutritionists and fertility experts must put their heads together to bring out the role of food if any in this phenomenon. If definitive factors are known probably women can decide to go for two children in one go by choosing the right mix of foods instead of undergoing the trauma of child birth twice for the famous "we two and ours two" goal.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/

'CORNY' FOOD, 'CORNY' FUEL AND THE 'CORNY' COUNTRY!

If food, clothing and shelter are considered the fundamental pre-requisites for decent living, industrialized world has added another fundamental need in the form of gasoline without which their population cannot manage their life. The quality of life is intimately dependent on automobiles and cheap gasoline. The over dependence on fossil fuel and the oil shocks of sixties and 2008 when crude oil prices registered uncontrolled escalation made the world think of alternate energy options with renewable potential. One of the alternatives was use of ethanol as a substitute or supplement to fossil fuel so that the over dependence on the latter can be brought down progressively. Ethanol can be made from a number of carbon sources like sugar cane, cereals like corn or cellulosic substrates through bio-tech route.

Corn, also known as Maize is one of the most commercialized crops in the history of mankind and its cultivation is universally practiced in all the continents. World-wide production is estimated at around 770 million tons with US alone contributing about 40%. While it is used both as a human food as well as animal feed, it has many other non-food uses which makes it unique in some way. The US society is so dependent on corn even small price fluctuations in the commodity market can reflect on the lives of the citizens. Nearly all the chickens and 93% of beef reared in USA are fed corn exclusively. Hamburger, chicken sandwich and french fries have corn connection. Almost all sweetened beverages are based on High Fructose Syrup derived from corn solids. Corn starch is an important food adjunct that finds hundreds of uses in food as well as non-food industries. French fries are made using corn oil as the frying medium. The over dependence of the US food industry on corn is reflected in the fact that three major food chains Wendy's, McDonald's and Burger King, account for more than half the restaurants in the country with sales of more than $100 billion a year and their main menu is built around hamburger, chicken sandwich and fries. A customer who consumes a combination of the above three items in any fast food outlet derives 50% of daily calories, 80% of carbohydrate, 75% of protein and 100% of fat requirements a day!

Though solar energy, wind power, wave energy, geothermal energy, ocean current energy etc have been often talked about as renewable energy options, practical constraints make their global adoption beset with logistical and economic road blocks. Nuclear energy is lately coming into play and can be a potential source of unlimited energy but the problem of radiation hazard posed by the spent fuel is yet to be fully addressed. The dual use of atomic reactors and fuels for both energy and nuclear bombs poses further restrictions on their application world-wide. Most popular choice so far has been ethanol that is used in blends with gasoline. Brazil uses 100% sugar cane derived ethanol in 50% of the automobiles in that country while others run on flexi engines which can use both blends and as well as ethanol alone. In USA and many other countries 10% ethanol blended gasoline is progressively replacing 100% gasoline in order to reduce the dependence on non-renewable petroleum fuels. In 2004 USA used 3.5 billion gallons of corn ethanol for fuel blending and mandated the petroleum industry to use 9 billion gallons in 2009 and 36 billion gallons by 2022. Since 2004 corn production increased globally by 51 million tons of which 98% was used up for producing ethanol for automobile industry. The paradox was that food demand during the same period increased by 30 million tons causing significant supply demand distortions in global markets.

What is galling is that energy dynamics do not favor corn as an efficient converter as energy yield in the form of ethanol from this food grain is less than one third of the energy input needed to raise, process and convert it to energy! It is unfortunate that at a critical time in the fight for survival by the mankind, a few nations indulge in such profligacy and ostentatious wastage. But for the massive subsidy provided to the rich farming communities, corn would never have been able to exert the influence it enjoys to day in deciding on the destiny of nations like USA and push the world to the brink of a disaster that is waiting to happen.

There was a time when affluent countries like USA used to ridicule small countries depending on one or two commodities for survival and the term "Banana Republic" was liberally used to club these countries. Probably countries like Malaysia (Palm Oil), Philippines ( Coconut and Pineapple), Colombia(Coffee), Ivory Coast (Cocoa), Mauritius (Sugar) etc all fall into this category. It is the sign of changing time that USA to day has joined this club by its over dependence on corn, deserving the epithet " Corny Country". India and China are fortunate in having a diversified basket of agricultural, horticultural, livestock and fishery commodities, not too much depending on one or the other and enjoying the position in the top five producers of the world. The food consumption habits are also so diversified that the staples are based on a variety of cereals, pulses and oil seeds, fruits and vegetables and others produced within the country.


V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/

THE ETHANOL DILEMMA

Ethyl Alcohol has often been touted as the bio-fuel that can challenge the fossil fuels in future. This assumption has driven many countries like Brazil, USA, and others including India to go for use of blends of petrol and ethanol in varying proportions hoping to reduce their dependence on imported crude oil progressively. It is amazing how in Brazil, more than 50% of the automobiles are run on 100% ethanol while rest use flex fuels containing up to 25% ethanol blended with petrol. While in USA corn is the source from which alcohol is produced by saccharification and yeast fermentation, in Brazil sugarcane provides the carbon source for alcohol fermentation. There are many issues which confront the world when considering large scale switch over to ethanol and there does not appear to be any consensus on them with divergent views being being expressed by the scientific as well as the policy makers.

Probably one of the critical issues is the desirability of diverting food materials like corn, sugarcane and others for non-food uses with its attendant consequences. A wide variety of carbon sources can be used with appropriate technology to derive alcohol. These include besides corn and sugarcane other feed-stocks like bagasse, sugar beet, sorghum, switch grass, barley, hemp, kenaf,potatoes, cassava, sunflower, fruits, molasses, many food grains, straw, cotton etc. Recent spurt in food grain prices, in sympathy with crude oil prices has been attributed to greater demand for alcohol for blelding with gasoline resulting in 15-20% more production in USA alone diverting increased corn into this stream. Many oppose use of food materials like corn for alcohol production because it is blamed for harming the environment, prompting food riots in many parts of the world and wasting public money on thoughtless subsidies which otherwise could have been better utilized to evolve truly renewable energy systems through research and development. Massive subsidies at the crop level first to corn growing companies and then to petrol companies for blending alcohol later only can sustain alcohol as a bio-fuel. If these subsidies are stopped ethanol as a bio-fuel may not be a viable proposition in many countries.

Use of non-food resources like cellulosic wastes such as grasses, bagasse, straws etc is another approach being considered for ethanol production though commercialization of the technology may take some time. The advent of ambient condition processing technology may yet make the technology energy efficient compared to the conventional elevated temperature saccharification-fermentation technology. Some experts feel that bio-fuels from agriculture wastes are more energy efficient and have a smaller impact on environment pollution and food prices. The allegation that 10% addition of alcohol reduces mileage and consequently such an approach will call for import of 11% more crude oil needs to be looked into. While hydrated alcohol can run a car engine designed for 100% alcohol fuel, flex fuels call for using only anhydrous alcohol with less than 1% water in cars that run on such blends with possibly increased VOC emissions. It is irrefutable that ethanol consumption will be 51% more than gasoline to get the same mileage since energy per unit is 34% lower in ethanol.

Some proponents feel that instead of bio-conversion, a more economic and environment friendly approach will be direct burning which yields more net energy than the bio route. Even with corn, pyrolysis of whole plant is considered more desirable than using only the kernel. Corn growing and processing into ethanol is alleged to be consuming 29% more energy than what it can yield as a a bio-fuel while others require up to 57% more fossil fuels with negative net energy yield. It is difficult to find where the truth lies in this on going debate regarding bio-fuels and their role as effective alternative to fossil fuels.

Bio-diesel mostly based on soybean is another area beset with problems of clarity. If edible oils like Palm oil, Soybean oil and others are diverted for non-food uses, it can have disastrous consequences on the availability and prices of these scarce food source, especially in the third world countries. Besides the large quantity of glycerol generated as a by-product will have to find economic use. Recent reports regarding the development of a technology to convert glycerol to ethanol using anaerobic fermentation with a special strain of E.coli may provide a solution to this problem if and when it is commercialized. Current production of about 250 million gallons of bio-diesel has generated 25 gallons of glycerol and the figure is likely to go up to 100 million gallons when the bio-diesel production is slated to cross the one billion gallon mark soon. Bio-diesel proponents claim that it reduces pollution by 41% as compared to fossil fuels.

The dilemma facing the world is how the emerging fossil fuel crisis can be averted by finding alternate environmentally viable options without losing further time. While food crops must be spared from their use as a renewable energy source through the alcohol route, a world-wide action program needs to be launched to increase the efficiency of many of the currently known alternatives like solar, wind, wave, geothermal and other energy systems and look out for other new economically and environmentally viable technologies for providing clean energy to meet the aspirations of future generations.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/

THE GASOLINE- FOOD NEXUS

The spiraling prices of gasoline across the world seem to be having ripple effects on many other fronts also. The inflationary tendencies witnessed in many Asian and African countries are attributed to the petroleum prices going north, at one time almost touching $150 a barrel. With many countries including those who were net exporters of oil are dependent on oil produced in the Middle East, Russia and South America. Most dramatic case is that of Indonesia, one of the major producers of oil becoming a net importer since 2004 because of increased consumption and production declines to the extent of 40% as the sources of oil are drying up. India has always been an importer of oil meeting 70% of its needs by imports and naturally the consequent escalation in the cost of imports is bound to be felt in all spheres of life. The rise in inflation from 4% just a year back is approaching 12% now causing severe strains on the national economy and untold miseries to the less affluent section of the society. If staple foods like rice, wheat, pulses and edible oils are becoming costlier by more than 50-70% compared to the prices prevalent last year, one can imagine the plight of population in the country whose income rise is way behind the inflation.Though this is a global phenomenon the effect is more dramatic and debilitating to developing countries whose capacity to withstand the inflationary monster which challenges their right to survive, is practically nil. On one hand the rise in oil prices is being attributed to rabid speculation associated with forward trading, but many economists feel it is simply a situation responding to the classic demand-supply distortions in the world market. As a support to the latter argument, it is pointed out that practically all commodities including food, cement, steel and a host of others have been climbing the price ladder independent of the rise of oil prices during the last one year. Interestingly, a critical analysis of demand profile for oil during the last few months indicates that more than 90% of the consumption of increased oil production originated in developing countries like India and China where automobile density is increasing faster than before and purchasing power is growing significantly with GDP rises of 8-10%during the last few years. The moot question is who should curb oil consumption if the exhaustible energy sources like petroleum are to be conserved? The developing countries with very high per ca pita income or the less fortunate fellow countries coming under the umbrella of developing world with larger aspirational goals to achieve? It is a valid case for some to argue that the huge petroleum subsidies being doled out in many developing countries in Asia and Africa do not discourage consumption and if the the market price distortion is set right demand for oil could go down. Even the subsidized kerosene distribution in countries like India is being held responsible for rise in Aviation Fuel prices. However if Kerosene prices in these countries are to reflect market realities, the alternative would be massive deforestation in many countries to meet the need for cooking fuel in the form of firewood, an ideal recipe for environmental disaster that will not recognize any mundane national boundaries in spreading chaos and misery all around. According to Al Gore the Nobel Laureate and a passionate advocate of renewable energy tapping of solar and wind energy can alleviate most of the ecological disasters that the world is facing to day if only adequate attention and investment is made. Where there is a will, there is of course a way out for any thing and every thing man confronts. The resources are there, technologies are there, money is there but what is lacking is the conviction and the will to look for changes that are earth-friendly. Brazil had set the earliest example of using renewal energy by using ethanol; from sugar cane in the gasoline blend to extend the available fossil fuels.Use of spent plant oils in Europe was another welcome initiative as long as virgin palm oil and other edible oils were not diverted for use in automobiles. The mandated use of ethanol in gasoline in USA has already diverted 20% of its corn crops, a valuable edible material sufficient to ward off hunger and keep alive millions of human beings, for producing ethanol exclusively for blending automobile fuel. It is cruel for George W Bush, the President of USA, to blame countries like India and China for the escalating prices of food grains and edible oils in the world market because of small increases in food consumption in these countries due to marginally higher per capita income, implying that aspiring to eat better and more nutritious food is a crime! He can only ignore at his peril that almost 30% of the population in his country is courting disaster day by day by becoming obese due to food over-consumption, 50-200% more than that required by a normal human being for a healthy life. If only 10% of what is wasted in USA is spared, it can feed 30 million famished people on the earth besides influencing global food prices in a positive way. Globalization will lose its meaning and relevance if it exposes more and more people, especially in developing countries to the pangs of hunger with each passing day, widening the already existing wide divide between the haves and the have-nots. . .

V.H.POTTY

IN SEARCH OF THE ELIXIR OF LIFE

These days every one is concerned about the quality and safety of life in this planet besieged by pollution, indifferent foods and sedentary living. No one seems to have an answer as to how best one can lead a good quality life with extended longevity. Every one also knows that foods and their consumption pattern have lot to do with the health and consequently the longevity. The anxiety becomes more acute as one retires, finds no fixed avocation and starts ageing with lot of leisure time available. It is in this context that many people try to propound their own 'recipe' for a 'ripe', life though there is no unanimity as to the meaning of ripe life which differs from person to person. One of the most recent reports very pompously declares that the best way to ensure a good quality life is to choose good genes from good parents! Though there is some truth in this claim it poses more questions than an answer. Obviously we have an option on the types of
genes we acquire from the parents and it must be a cruel joke to tell any one about the quality of genes already inherited on which off springs have no control. Having said this one will be tempted to question what guarantee the inheritance of good genes can confer on the off spring a good quality life as the environment, physical, mental and food consumption can adversely affect even the good inherited genes due to mutation and other factors. Another suggestion is keeping away from news papers and electronic media to avoid getting agitated by the horrid stories of murder, rape, burglary, political jugglery, violence, riots etc which form the staple of the media. Of course one can try as it will not do do any harm at least. Some others swear to the fact that if one is not irritated so often during the day to day chores, longevity is assured. It is debatable whether such an ascetic behaviour is feasible in to day's fast moving 'dog eating dog' society one
lives in. Especially in a society like that in India where 'crab in the basket' behaviour is widely prevalent, it is doubtful whether even a hermit can be a silent spectator without reacting to the environment. More over conquering the demon that resides in all human beings, the 'ego' is a challenge by itself. Staying in good company is supposed to prolong life as good company is presumed to be engaged in only happy activities without raising the tempers. could the spouse be best company? Opinions differ but there seems to be a majority view that spouses can be the biggest source of tension driving many to seek avocations keeping the partners separate and engaged in their own avocations for at least some time during the day.Similarly cultivating friends and expanding the family network are considered useful in dissolving family tensions to varying extent but it is mute point as to how many people have adequate time to engage in social activities in a world that lives on a fast pace. Physician is always an integral part of the health of a family and regular consultations, it is said could ensure good health to the entire family. But what is disturbing the paucity of physicians who are true to their Hippocrates oath and have the interests of their clients upper most in their mind. With the cost of medicines sky rocketing every day, the hospitalisation beyond the reach of most middle class families and the cost of health insurance increasing exponentially each year excluding more and people from the health coverage, it is only a pipe dream that regular consultation can be the route to achieve longevity. Other commandments to lead a healthy and long life include avoiding liquor and cigarettes and doing regular exercise which of course can contribute to longevity. But views, however, differ as to whether one can indulge in moderate consumption of alcohol and still stay healthy, though 2 drinks per day have been reported to be beneficial. Similarly doing exercise means different things to different people. Walking, the simplest form of exercise, can do a lot of good to keep one fit, the extent of walking that is ideal still defies unanimity. Walking three times a day for 10 minutes each is claimed to be adequate by some, many others insist on 40-60 minutes walk every day, necessary to cause sweating to ensure good health. Obesity, a very common 'disease' in many affluent countries, definitely cuts down the span of life considerably besides affecting adversely the quality of life one leads during the life time. Why is obesity a major scourge in the world. Simply stated obesity is often caused by excess calorie intake, more than that demanded by the body for leading a particular life style and uncontrolled food consumption, driven more by the desire to eat and consequent palate satisfaction rather than the body requirement. Both the quality and quantity of foods consumed influence the development of obesity. The desire to eat is universal but if the food is not balanced and the quantity is not related to the level of physical activity one performs, the result would be higher BMI leading to over weight/obesity. It is generally agreed that one can always put up with an over weight of 5-6 kg but beyond that weight reduction should be one of the goals to avoid obesity and consequent onset of diabetes, cardiac problems, hyper tension etc. Extreme diets such as Atkins and others are not desirable and any weight reduction effort must aim at reduced calorie and fat consumption accompanied by exercise like walking. It is a fallacy to think that doing exercise alone without cutting on food consumption will achieve weight reduction. Both are necessary. As for quality of food, a healthy diet should focus more on monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats confining saturated fats to less than 10% of fat consumption.The ICMR recommendations are based on Indian conditions and can be helpful in maintaining sound health. but as a universal practise, increasing vegetables in the diet as much as possible should the governing guide for better health. Recommendations of 5-8 servings of fruits and vegetables are frequently made as ideal situation for normal as well as many health compromised populations world over.

V.H.POTTY