TOOTH BE TOLD If your teeth are showing the first sign of decay, here’s how you can remineralise them naturally

You can brush, you can floss, but you can't escape tooth decay — or that's what you have been told. The truth though is that your teeth aren't designed to rot. Before you helplessly let bacteria drill cavities into your pearly whites, you can restore their strength, density and sparkle by remineralising them. 

TOOTH MATTERS 
Remineralisation refers to your teeth's natural healing mechanism; a process in which minerals are restored to the tooth's molecular structure. It is essentially the reversing of demineralisation — the first stage of tooth decay where your teeth lose minerals and become 'sensitive'. So if your teeth have chalky white discolouration or brownish black pits, you may just be in time to remineralise them. 
    Studies have shown that people who didn't eat modern foods had flawless tooth structure and virtually no tooth decay. Noted anthropologist Earnest Hooton once said, "It is store food that has given us store teeth." While modern foods are to be blamed — refined flour, refined sugar, fast foods and colas — the problem is compounded when the enamel isn't strong to begin with. 
    In 1883, Dr W D Miller, a pioneer in modern dentistry, said that a strong, dense tooth would "indefinitely resist" an attack from acid; be it from bacteria or food. The difference between Dr Miller's 130-yearold theory and today's dentistry is summed up aptly in Ramiel Nagel's book Cure Tooth Decay. "Dr Miller knew that the tooth's density and structure are what protected it against tooth decay, whereas today, dentists are taught that it is the bacteria by themselves that cause tooth decay," Nagel points out. 
REMINERALISE UP 
While conventional dentistry harps on what foods bacteria might be feeding off on, the solution lies in realising what food you might be feeding the bacteria. Dentist Dr Pooja Gunjikar says foods high in sugar and acidic content encourage plaque, setting off demineralisation. "For instance, eating chocolates makes your pH level drop, which causes formation of acids that erode the enamel of your teeth," she says. 
    Calcium and phosphorous are the most vital minerals for healthy teeth, followed by magnesium, copper, iron and manganese. "Calcium and phosphorous help form hydroxyapatite in the enamel, which replenishes the teeth's molecular structure," she says. 
FOODS THAT WORK 
Calcium-rich foods like dairy products, leafy greens, tofu, broccoli, almonds and sardines help boost teeth health. For your phosphorous fix, eat pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds and cheese. But it's the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K that are critical in helping our bodies utilise minerals. 
    Phosphorous, calcium and hormones need vitamins A and D for our cells to produce osteocalcin — the protein responsible for deposition of calcium and phosphorous into our bones and teeth. For vitamin A, you can pick from sweet potato, carrot, watermelon, eggs, spinach, oatmeal and chicken liver, while sunlight, seafood, raw butter and eggs are excellent sources of vitamin D. The best twoin-one option for teeth health is cod liver oil. 
    Both endocrine and pituitary glands, which play a big role in teeth health, can be regulated by eating a lowsugar diet. Moreover, a fluctuating blood sugar level is bad news for teeth, as it upsets the pH balance of your mouth and accelerates decay. Since cholesterol boosts hormone functions, include healthy fats in your diet. 
    Gunjikar recommends brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride-rich toothpaste. Ultimately, your tooth's self-healing ability depends on saliva — a supersaturated solution of calcium and phosphate which neutralises acids. "Sugar-free gum helps generate more saliva," she says.

In a first, Chennai doctor uses Google Glass to air ops live

Chennai: When the surgeon's scalpel drew a red line on the patient's abdomen, two blocks away a group of medical students leaned toward their screens. The procedure was a simple hernia operation, but the surgical team members were unusually upbeat as they turned to look at the latest gadget in the operation theatre—the Google Glass worn by their chief. 

    As the medical fraternity in the West debates the usefulness of the newest device produced by Google, doctors in India have joined the chorus with bouquets and brickbats, even as a surgeon in Chennai became the first in India to live-stream a surgery using the Google Glass. On Tuesday, Lifeline Hospitals live-streamed an upper gastro-intestinal laparoscopy on a 45-year-old man and a hernia repair on a 42-year-old woman to medical students two blocks away using Google Glass. 
    "It felt like I was glancing at my rearview mirror while driving. I was focusing on the surgeries and talking to my students at the same time. At one point, I stopped feeling it was an external device," said Dr J S Rajkumar, chief surgeon at Lifeline.Google Glass invites mixed reactions 
Chennai: In a first in the country, Chennai surgeon J S Rajkumar on Tuesday used Google Glass to live-stream two operations he conducted to his students sitting two blocks away. Google Glass is a wearable computer that has a frame similar to traditional eyeglasses. It follows voice commands to take photos and videos that show the viewpoint of the user. 
    The surgeries were livestreamed on Google Hangout as well. Doctors say the gadget is yet another step forward in opening the doors of the operation theatre. 
    "People need to know what is happening behind those doors. This is one more gadget towards that end. Students can see the surgical procedures through their seniors' eyes, quite literally. This is a phenomenal surgical tool," said Dr Rajkumar. He, however,added, "We did face some practical glitches like problems with wi-fi and the battery dying early." 
    Although the gadget is still to hit the market, Google distributed 2,000 of the gizmos earlier this year for testing before its release to the general public. Doctors say the technology could be used to view X-rays, MRI images and other medical information as they conduct surgeries and connect with doctors in far flung places. 
    While some doctors say the device could soon become a fixture in operation theatres, some see it as a distraction. "It's too early to celebrate this as a breakthrough in healthcare tools. Unless it is carefully vetted, it could be a disaster for patients," said Dr R Ravi Kumar, director, institute of cardiovascular disease, robotic surgery centre at Chettinad Health City.

Health benefits of cheese

 Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium. In fact, the calcium content in cheese is so high that it can help in keeping both your teeth and bones healthy and strong, thereby greatly reducing any risk of osteoporosis or weak bones. It can, however, disrupt your overall efforts to lose weight since it is high in calories as well as saturated fat. It helps in tissue growth and repair as well. Cheese is also high on sodium content, so if you're worried about your blood pressure, it is advisable to stay away.

Anxiety, depression bog down Mumbaikars, kill happiness Mental Illness Is A Cause For Misery, Says UN Report

Mumbai: If you walk on the road, you could be hit by a speeding car. If you are wearing a gold chain, you could be assaulted. If the rupee doesn't improve, your EMIs could touch the roof. Such constant, daily anxieties could be making Mumbai a sicker and unhappy place to live in. 

    It's not only the recent spate of rapes, murders and assaults; it's the underlying mental health problems—be it anxieties or depression — that are making Mumbaikars uneasy. The newly released United Nations Happiness Report underlines this overall picture of misery. India has been ranked 111th among 156 nations in the happiness survey. 
    The UN report has, for the first time, spelt out the rising burden of mental health as the major contributor to unhappiness. "Mental illness is a highly influential—and in the countries we have assessed, the single biggest—determinant of misery," said the UN Happiness Report, adding that 10% of the world's population at any one time is either depressed or suffering from anxiety disorders. 
    "Mumbai is the scene of chronic disaster syndrome," says psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty. "Women no longer feel safe on roads. There are not only accidents but reports about suicides, riots, thefts, murder and rapes that have to be digested." 
    Experts said the numbers in Mumbai could be higher at 12% given the daily stressors—the wait at railway stations, the queue for rickshaws, the lack of pavements, the overcrowding—that trigger anxiety disorders. "Your smile is broadest when on the bicycle, but it keeps decreasing as speed increases and the bicycle is replaced with a bike or car," adds Shetty. In other words, stress and anxiety increase as the reading on speedometers increases. "When peace is destroyed, happiness is reduced and stress increases. Worse, this triggers anxiety," he said. 
    Dr Kersi Chavda, psychiatrist with Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, said the World Health Organisation's 10 from mental illness are in receipt of treatment and care; in lower-resource settings, the situation is considerably worse. This is serious discrimination; it is also unsound economics.'' 
    Dr Chavda says the city's "creaking infrastructure, the high corruption factor'' make it a difficult place to live in. "There is overall frustration about good people getting shunted and, frankly, happiness goes well with wealth that is not possible for the majority.'' 
commonest causes for loss of manpower hours include four psychiatric reasons such as depression, alcoholism, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. "In India, it is worsened by the fact that there are an enormous number of people who need mental health interventions but there are only 4,000-odd psychiatrists to attend to them,'' says Dr Chavda. 
    The World Mental Health Report notes, "Even in rich countries, less than a third of people who suffer

The indefatigable actor doesn’t take a break from pumping iron or doing 400 crunches a day

HEAVENLY BODIES: GAUTAM RODE, ACTOR, 36

STOP ME IF YOU CAN

 Actor Gautam Rode's ridiculously chiselled abs and sculpted torso are a testament to his 20 years of unremitting hard work. Though most decide to work out in their 20s, the Saraswatichandra actor had diligently taken to the gym when he was in class 10. "My cousin Farhad, who is four years older than me, really inspired me. I hit the gym under his guidance and it has been the greatest high of my life," he says. A staunch vegetarian all his life, the five-feet-eight-inches-tall Punjabi actor says the only time he ate non-veg was when he was a child. "That was until I was five. But I gave it up while growing up, probably because mom never ate non-vegetarian food and hence never cooked it in the house. Being vegetarian makes me feel healthy," he says. Rode, who weighs 68 kilos, works out seven days a week, prefers skipping chapattis, likes gorging on brown rice and belting 400 crunches a day. Here, he breaks down his regimen: 

BODY BASICS 
I have a pretty high metabolism rate. So I tend to lose muscle mass if I am not working out. 
FLASHBACK 
I was a runner in Delhi's Army Public School. I started running when I was in class four and became the fastest sprinter in school and zone competitions by the time I reached class eight. I mostly participated in 100 metre sprints and 4 x 100 metre relays. Two years later, I started going to the gym. 
GYM JAM 
I shoot for at least 10 hours a day and find time to work out only after 10 pm at my building gym in Kandivali West. When I get very late, I go to a 24-hour gym in Malad called Snap Fitness at 12 or 1 am. 
    Because I am constantly shooting, I don't get to spend more than 45 minutes to an hour at the gym. On the rare days when I am a little less tied up, I spend at least oneand-a-half hours pumping iron. I am big on doing weights and focus on one body part a day; such as biceps, back, triceps, legs, or chest and shoulders. I do eight to 12 reps of three-four sets each for all body parts and lift weights ranging from 18-27 kilos for biceps, and 55-82 kilos for chest. I do abs religiously — approximately 400 crunches every day. I am not much of a cardio person but I run for about 40-55 minutes at a stretch, every once in a while. 
EAT CODE 
To keep my metabolism healthy, I eat seven-eight meals a day, every two hours. I wake up at 7 am and start my day with a cup of green 
    tea. After half an hour, I have a scoop of whey protein with skimmed milk, a bowl of muesli with a mixture of flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and six almonds. Seeds are terrific at maintaining cholesterol levels and keeping the blood pressure in check. 
    After two hours, I have an apple and a pear. An hour later, I sip on green tea again. My lunch, at 1 pm, consists of brown rice with vegetables like bhindi (okra), lauki (bottle gourd) or chana, and daal along with salad. 
    I avoid eating potatoes and paneer because I find them to be heavy carbs. To my mother's displeasure, I do not eat chapatis at all. I believe the quality of carbs of brown rice is richer than chapatis and therefore, I prefer to stick to the former. 
    After two hours, I have a scoop of whey protein with lots of veggies like cabbage, capsicum and cucumber. Before sunset, I have an apple along with another cup of green tea again. My evening snack is mainly brown rice poha made in olive oil and tossed with veggies like carrot, broccoli, capsicum and baby corn. 
    Before I hit the gym at night, I eat a light dinner, which includes a bowl of muesli and soya milk, or boiled sprouts with lemon juice, onions and tomatoes, or sautéed vegetables and tofu. 
MY CRAVINGS 
I am addicted to caffeine and I like to have a double shot cappuccino from an international coffee chain, twice a day. It is my only indulgence. I do not drink or smoke. 
BODIES I ADMIRE 
I really admire Brad Pitt's body in Fight Club (1999). It's lean and muscular, and speaks of all the hard work that the actor put in sculpting it. 
IDEA OF FITNESS 
Building a good body is not about taking steroids or lifting heavy weights. It's about conditioning your mind and eating right. If you follow this principle, 65 per cent . job is done by your diet and 35 per cent by exercise.

Lifestyle diseases to cost India $6tn: Study Will Reduce Productivity, Lead To Early Retirement

New Delhi: India's march towards being an economically stable nation is threatened not just by global financial issues. Poor health indicators pose an equally big threat.      The Harvard School of Public Health has, in a study on economic losses due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), estimated that the economic burden of these ailments for India will be close to $6.2 trillion for the period 2012-30, a figure that is equivalent to nearly nine times the total health expenditure during the previous 19 years of $710 billion.      NCDs, chiefly cardiovascular diseases (including heart disease and stroke), diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, are defined as diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. They are the major cause of adult mortality and illness worldwide.      The Harvard report, which is based on WHO projections of the mortality trajectory associated with NCDs, says ischemic heart disease is going to be the single most costly non-communicable disease in India (causing an output loss of about $1.21 trillion over 2012-30), followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).      China, the report adds, is estimated to face output losses of $27.8 trillion for 2012-30 – which is more than 12 times the total health expenditure during the previous 19 years of $2.2 trillion. "The economic impact of NCDs is estimated higher in China than in India mainly because of China's higher income and older population," said David E Bloom, the lead researcher.      According to Dr K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, NCDs can impact the economy in multiple ways. "Most of the non-communicable diseases, for example diabetes or heart disease, affect the person in the productive years. They cause reduced productivity and early retirement. Also, they put immense pressure on public health expenditure as in most cases the treatment costs are higher compared to communicable diseases," he said. Reddy added that the increasing burden of NCDs could rob India of the 'demographic dividend' it is projected to reap on account of a predominantly young population. A recent report published by IRIS Knowledge Foundation in collaboration with UN-HABITAT states that by 2020, India is set to become the world's youngest country with 64% of its population in the working age group.      The WHO has suggested 'best buy' interventions (policy measures) for reducing NCDs that include increasing tax on tobacco products and alcohol and ban on their advertising. It also proposes interventions, such as reduced salt intake in food, counselling and multi-drug therapy for people with a high risk of developing heart attacks and strokes, and hepatitis B immunization to prevent liver cancer.      "The implementation of these 'best buy' interventions for reducing NCDs in low-andmiddle income countries (LMICs) could lead to a 10-15 percent reduction in premature death from NCDs (and in their economic costs)," the Harvard researchers have pointed out.