Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
New Delhi: Restricting daily calorie intake could increase the risk of depressive symptoms in people, according to a research published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. The research specifically identifies that men and overweight individuals might encounter more significant mental health difficulties when following diet restrictions.Healthcare professionals explain that low-calorie diets are systematic eating regimens aimed at reducing daily calorie consumption mainly to manage body weight. These programmes typically recommend consuming 1,200-1,500 calories daily, based on personal requirements and health objectives. The diet focuses on lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, while limiting processed foods.The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) evaluated 14,329 adult women and 14,196 men between 2007 and 2018 and completed depression severity assessments. Approximately 8% (2,508 respondents) reported depression symptoms. The participants comprised 29% (7,995) at a healthy weight, 33% (9,470) classified as overweight and 38% (11,060) as obese.Priya Paliwal, chief dietician, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, said that several studies highlighted the negative effects of strict calorie restriction. Excessive dietary constraint disturbs the neurotransmitter balance and hormone levels, especially in males. Apart from men, individuals with higher BMI are at greater risk as a low-calorie diet can leads to stress, irritability, feelings of sadness and other mood disorders. It is necessary to address and monitor depressive symptoms before they increase.Describing the symptoms, Dr Pavitra Shankar, associate consultant on psychiatry, Aakash Healthcare, explained that drastically reduced caloric intake, especially in men or individuals with elevated BMI, can lead to psychological and physical symptoms. "These include feelings of depression and increased sadness, reduced energy levels and tiredness, emotional instability and irritable behaviour, anxious thoughts and restlessness, disrupted sleep patterns, poor concentration, diminished enthusiasm for activities, and heightened food cravings or irregular eating behaviours," said Shankar, adding that these arose due to inadequate nutrition (particularly deficiencies in B vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids and iron), changes in hormone levels and the psychological impact of following a restrictive diet.The researchers distinguished between the genders by highlighting that both glucose and omega-3 fatty acids play vital roles in maintaining brain health. "Diets low in carbohydrates (glucose) or fats (omega-3s) may theoretically worsen brain function and exacerbate cognitive-affective symptoms, especially in men with greater nutritional needs," they said.BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health's co-owner professor Sumantra Ray, who is chief scientist and executive director, NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, said, "This study strengthens the connection between dietary habits and mental wellbeing. It raises significant questions about whether limiting diets that are deficient in brain-beneficial nutrients, such as Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12, could trigger symptoms of depression."Dr Richa Chaturvedi, senior consultant, endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, emphasises that maintaining balance was essential for obese individuals following a low-calorie diet to avoid nutritional deficiencies and psychological stress. The recommended dietary approach should focus on incorporating whole, unprocessed foods, including lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beneficial fats, whilst steering clear of severe calorie limitations. "Professional guidance from a registered dietitian can assist in customising calorie consumption according to personal requirements, ensuring adequate intake of vital nutrients. A steady, maintainable reduction in calories is advised over drastic restrictions to support overall physical and psychological health," she said.Dr Sandeep Kharb, senior consultant (endocrinology), Asian Hospital, Faridabad, cautioned against adopting severe dietary restrictions whilst attempting to manage BMI or achieve weight reduction. His recommendation focuses on enhancing physical activity levels and improving the nutritional quality of meals. He emphasises that a well-rounded approach towards weight management can contribute to better mental well-being and reduce
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): The cost of home-cooked meals eased in June as compared to the same month last year, driven by a sharp correction in vegetable prices, according to the Crisil Intelligence report. In the monthly report titled 'Roti Rice Rate', the average cost of a vegetarian thali (Plate) declined by 8 per cent year-on-year (YoY), while the cost of a non-vegetarian thali was down nearly 6 per cent. The decline in vegetarian thali prices was primarily attributed to a significant drop in key vegetable prices, which had spiked the previous year due to adverse weather and crop d ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) YouTuber Samay Raina appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Delhi on Tuesday, months after he was summoned in connection with allegedly offensive and sexist content aired during his show "India's Got Latent", officials said. Raina was also among the five social media influencers who appeared before the Supreme Court in a case seeking action against them for ridiculing persons suffering from disabilities. Raina submitted his statement in response to the allegations to NCW officials. Officials said further steps will be considered after reviewing his ...Read More >
Dehradun, Jun 6 (PTI) The Centre and Uttarakhand government are committed to making the state a national hub of horticulture, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday. Interacting with farmers at a Kisan Chaupal in Pavwala Sauda village under Doiwala block of Dehradun, the agriculture minister said, "The quality of fruits, grains and vegetables grown in Uttarakhand is unique and they have full potential to make a mark at the global level." "The Centre and the state government together will make Uttarakhand a national hub of horticulture," he said. During his visit, the ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
Bengaluru Power Cuts: Citizens of Bengaluru brace yourself for long hours of power outages from June 29 and June 30. More than 100 areas will be impacted as BESCOM undertakes its quarterly maintenance work in various of its division. Bengaluru Power Outages June 29: According to the update by BESCOM on its X handler, there will be power outages in Kittaganahalli, Palasandra, Saptagiri, Maruthinagar, Sankapur, Raghavendra Nagar, Goolarivee, Baddihalli, Kesaramadu, C.M Badawan, Kalalli and SKS village on June 29 from 10 am to 5 pm. BESCOM's executive engineer has appealed to consumers to coop ...Read More >
Kalpetta: DMO Dr T Mohandas advised caution in Wayanad after Nipah has been confirmed in Malappuram district. In the sample tests conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research in the previous years, it was found that the fruit bats in the district had developed antibodies against Nipah virus. However, caution has been advised as the risk of Nipah is more during the reproductive season of the fruit bats. The medical officer stated that all the health centres have been urged to observe the symptoms and report them promptly. Nipah symptoms Severe headache along with fever, throat pain, mu ...Read More >
The incident occurred around 1:30 am in Bengaluru's Veerabhadra Nagar. Bengaluru: The statue of the revered Lingayat seer Shivakumar Swami of Bengaluru's Siddaganga Mutt was vandalised on November 30. The accused, 37-year-old delivery executive Srikrishna, was arrested by the police, but his explanation for the act has left both the cops and the people of Karnataka bewildered. Srikrishna, a native of Andhra Pradesh, confessed to the crime during interrogation, claiming that he was "inspired" to ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 6 (ANI): Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday attended a 'Kisan Chaupal' event at Pav Wala Soda village in the Raipur block of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The programme was held as part of the 'Developed Agriculture Resolution' campaign aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector in the state. During the event, Chouhan interacted with local farmers and praised the success stories shared by them, especially in the areas of organic farming and coarse grain production. He also showed strong support for promoting Uttarakhand's organic produce at both n ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 27: In a significant boost to India's horticultural exports, the Centre's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the flagging off of the first consignment of one metric tonne of rose-scented litchi from Punjab's Pathankot to Doha in Qatar, according to an official statement issued on Friday. In addition, 0.5 metric tonne of litchi was also exported to Dubai, UAE, from Pathankot this week, marking a twin export achievement and reinforcing India's potential in global fresh fruit markets. This milestone initiative, undertake ...Read More >
New Delhi: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, currently riding high on the success of his latest film Sitaare Zameen Par, hosted a special screening of the movie at Rashtrapati Bhavan for President Droupadi Murmu. The event marked a significant moment in the film's journey, highlighting both its critical acclaim and social resonance. In a candid conversation with Filmfare, Khan delved into deeply personal territory, opening up about his family's battle with mental health, particularly his daughter Ira Khan's struggle with depression. "You feel far more for your children than you ever could for your ...Read More >
Mumbai: In a heartbreaking moment for TV fans, Shefali Jariwala, famous for the hit song Kaanta Laga and a popular contestant from Bigg Boss 13, passed away on June 27 due to a suspected cardiac arrest. She was only 42 years old. Her sudden death has sparked fresh talk of a so-called "Bigg Boss curse" -- a growing list of young contestants who've died unexpectedly. Here's a list of 8 former contestants who tragically passed away under the age of 45: Died of suspected cardiac arrest in 2025. Known for her performance in Kaanta Laga and appearance in Bigg Boss 13. Bigg Boss 13 winner. Passed ...Read More >
NEW DELHI : The idiom advising one not to compare apples and oranges is a cliché -- a figurative expression that a fruit lover can safely ignore. But anyone with an interest in the origin, spread, popularity, and market dynamics of a fruit or a vegetable can and must draw comparisons. In that spirit of enquiry, one may compare apples and mangoes, more so as they appear to be headed in different directions. Apples are vying for eternal glory, while mangoes are in tatters. Sample these numbers: In 2024-25, India's mango exports, including fresh fruit and pulp, were valued at just ₹1,150 crore. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) The Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.5 per cent in the current financial year, despite geo-political tensions and trade policy uncertainties, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Chairman S Mahendra Dev said on Tuesday. In an interview with PTI, Dev further said that domestic growth will be driven by low inflation, resulting from good monsoon and benign interest rate regime, triggered by three back-to-back rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India. "There are significant global headwinds like the twin shocks of geo-political tensions and trade ...Read More >
Hisar, Jun 5 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Thursday announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar to promote natural farming on a large scale in the state. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. Also Read | Delhi: High-Level US Team Arrives for Talks on Bilateral Trade Pact With India. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce gr ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jun 7 (PTI) A 26-year-old man allegedly beheaded his wife following a heated argument on the outskirts of Bengaluru after he suspected her of having an extra-marital affair, police said on Saturday. After killing Manasa, Shankar travelled with her severed head on his scooter to the nearest police station and confessed to the crime, they said. The man was later arrested, police said, adding that the incident occurred at Heelalige village, near Chandapura, Anekal taluk late on Friday. According to the police, the couple were married for over five years and have a four-year-old daug ...Read More >
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar suggests empowering rural youth to drive change in India's underutilized agricultural sector during his visit to Dr YS Parmar University. He advocates for direct subsidies to farmers, emphasizing the need for bridging the gap between production and market access and the use of AI for rural transformation. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has called for empowering rural youth to catalyze significant transformation in India's largely untapped agricultural sector. Dur ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
New Delhi: India has dispatched its first-ever consignment of rose-scented litchis to Qatar, marking a significant step in its push to expand exports of high-value horticultural produce, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Friday. The shipment, comprising one tonne of the premium litchis from Pathankot, Punjab, was sent to Doha on 23 June, with support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda). A smaller, half-tonne batch was simultaneously exported to Dubai. The fruit -- known for its delicate floral aroma and juicy sweetness -- has lon ...Read More >
Ratnagiri, July 1 ( UNI) The first Artificial Intelligence-powered agricultural e-library in Maharashtra has been launched at Sharadchandraji Pawar College of Agriculture, Kharvate-Dahivali. The web portal of the library was inaugurated in the presence of Chiplun Sangameshwar MLA Shekhar Nikam and the college's principal Dr Sunitkumar Patil today. With a single click, the platform aims to provide detailed information about crops, ornamental plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables to students through mobile phones. The experiment was carried out through the concept of Prof Prashant Pawar and f ...Read More >
"The data do not support any advantage in creative thinking for lefties," said Daniel Casasanto, associate professor of psychology. "In fact, there is some evidence that righties are more creative in some laboratory tests, and strong evidence that righties are overrepresented in professions that require the greatest creativity." Casasanto is the senior author of "Handedness and Creativity: Facts and Fictions," published in the Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. Casasanto said there are scientific ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dietary approaches like intermittent energy restriction, time-restricted eating, and continuous energy restriction can all improve blood sugar levels and body weight in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to a study. Although researchers identified improved HbA1c levels, and adverse events were similar across the three groups, the IER group showed greater advantages in reducing fasting blood glucose, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering triglycerides, and strengthening adherence to the dietary interventions. IER typically involves periods ...Read More >
The US is reportedly working towards an interim trade deal with India, potentially setting tariffs below 20%, a favorable position compared to other Asian nations. This arrangement allows for continued negotiations, aiming to resolve outstanding issues before a broader agreement expected this fall. The US is working toward an interim trade deal with India that may reduce its proposed tariffs to below 20%, people familiar with the matter said, putting the South Asian nation in a favorable positio ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jan 31: Online gambling has become a growing menace in Kashmir, driving several families into severe financial distress and emotional turmoil. The easy accessibility of online betting platforms has lured many, particularly youth, with the illusion of quick financial gains. However, this often results in heavy monetary losses, debt and psychological suffering. According to details obtained by the news agency -- Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a youth from south Kashmir initially won Rs 10,000 in online betting within a few days. Encouraged by this, he borrowed lakhs of rupees from neigh ...Read More >
Hisar, Jun 5 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Thursday announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar to promote natural farming on a large scale in the state. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce grown using natural and organic farming practices. The Chief Minister made these announcements ...Read More >
Hyderabad - Synchrony is a leading consumer financial services company providing customers with innovative savings and premium credit solutions. Synchrony has been ranked #2 among India's Best Companies to Work For™ 2025 by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture. This prestigious recognition, revealed at the awards ceremony on June 25, 2025, solidifies Synchrony's standing as a top employer of choice in India, underscoring its ongoing commitment to creating a high-trust, high-performance workplace culture that champions innovation, flexibility, and employee well-being. ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): With food prices lagging seasonal trends and driving headline Consumer Price Index-based retail inflation below 4 per cent since February 2025, Union Bank of India has revised downwards its 2025-26 headline inflation forecast from 4 per cent to 3.6 per cent (largely aligned with the RBI' forecast of 3.7 per cent). The June retail inflation data is due early next week. In a report, the bank said June 2025 retail inflation will be at 2.3 per cent, with the worst seems to be over for now. According to them, July figures would be the near-term bottom. '...in ou ...Read More >
Gandhinagar: In households in Gujarat's cities, cereals may take up less space in the grocery bill, but they still dominate the dinner plate. A new Union govt report shows that cereals, while accounting for just 3.8% of household spending, supply 35% of total calorie intake in cities. In villages, their role is even more dominant, making up 43% of calorie consumption while accounting for 4.5% of total spending.Cereals also account for a major portion of protein intake for people in Gujarat.These insights come from the Centre's latest "Nutritional Intake in India" report, which tracks food patt ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) has condemned the 'reckless and unfounded insinuation' that pilot suicide might be the cause of the tragic crash of the Air India 171 flight in Ahmedabad on June 12, following the preliminary investigation report on the accident. Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, 'any speculation, especially of such a grave nature, is unacceptable and must be condemned,' the ICPA said in a statement. According to the preliminary report submitted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) In a significant boost to horticultural exports, India flagged-off the first consignment of one metric tonne of rose-scented litchi from Pathankot, to Doha, Qatar. Additionally, a separate consignment of 0.5 metric tonne of litchi was also exported to Dubai, UAE from Pathankot, marking a twin export achievement and India's growing presence in the global fresh fruit market, an official statement said. The initiative was facilitated by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry in association ...Read More >
New Delhi: India has exported 1.5 tonnes of litchi fruit, for the first time, from Punjab to Doha and Dubai this month, the commerce ministry's arm, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said on Friday. To boost India's horticultural exports, APEDA has facilitated the flag-off of the first consignment of 1 tonne of rose-scented litchi from Pathankot in Punjab to Doha on June 23, and 0.5 tonne of the same fruit to Dubai, it said in a statement. This initiative was facilitated by the authority in association with Punjab's Department of Horticulture and ...Read More >