Environmental Health

Children, patients can breathe easier (The Times of India: 20171010)

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Children-patients-

can-breathe-easier-10102017003005

Docs Welcome Move As Elderly Often Leave City To Escape Pollutants

The Supreme Court order banning sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR has been welcomed by

doctors. Bursting crackers, they say , makes some happy but there are others -particularly

children and the elderly -who have to struggle to breathe during Diwali.

Many of them are either asked to move out of the city to avoid the distress or get admitted in

case of exacerbation of asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

“The SC verdict was expected and much awaited. Celebrations shouldn't be at the cost of

shortened life,“ said Dr Arvind Kumar, founder trustee, Lung Care Foundation.

Firecrackers contain chemicals like sulphur, mercury and lead. When burnt, particulate

matters (PM) and gases are released.

Doctors say inhaling air laden with them chokes the lungs. “The chemicals inhaled get

deposited in the lungs and affect the breathing process.For those with pre-existing lung health

problem, it gets deadly and they have to be rushed to hospital for mechanical ventilation in

rare circumstances,“ Dr Raj Kumar, the head of pulmonary medicine at V P Chest Institute.

He said V P Chest Institute witnesses nearly 20% to 30% increase in OPD rush post-Diwali.

“The incidence of pneumonia also goes up. This is because lungs damaged by exposure to

high levels of pollution become vulnerable to bacterial infections,“ said another doctor.

“We welcome the SC order.However, the pollution levels in north India are multiple times

higher than the national standards throughout the winter months, hence we also need to look

DAILY NEWS BULLETINLEADING HEALTH, POPULATION AND FAMILY WELFARE STORIES OF THE DayTuesday 20171010

at a stricter, comprehensive and time bound action plan to address all sources of air pollution

across India,“ aspokesperson of Greenpeace India said.

Burn injuries due to firecrackers are also common.Every year, more than 300 people with

burn injuries are brought to the city hospitals on Diwali. Injuries to the hand or face are most

common, say doctors. “People must practice self-restraint and understand why bursting fire-

crackers needs to be stopped,“ a senior doctor at AIIMS said.

Gender-neutral

DIFFERENT VOICES - Shift to gender-neutral French has purists up in

arms (The Times of India: 20171010)

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/index.aspx?eid=31808&dt=20171010#

A new gender-neutral version of the French language has caused anger among purists.

A member of the prestigious Académie Française has hit back at the adaption, which looks to

reduce the masculine domination of grammatical gender. The French Academy is France's

400-year-old voice of authority on language and its sole British member, Sir Michael

Edwards, has deemed the gender neutral words “gibberish“.

Known as “écriture inclusive“, the written style is quietly being adopted in academia and

political life as well as being backed by the state equality commission.

As reported by `The Times', the French government department responsib le for equal rights

said the masculine ending was a form of sexual tyranny.

Under standard rules, mas culine trumps feminine in plurals, meaning that a man and a

woman are described as “amis“ -a feminine “e“ is added to create “amies“ for two or more

friends only when no men are included.

Mid-punctuation is used in the new inclusive approach to split up words, which means the

plural for all friends becomes “ami·e·s“. L'écriture inclusive rep resents an attempt to turn the

language into an inclusive, mixed-gender form to avoid offending women and gay and sexual

minorities. It has offended swathes of traditionalists up and down the country , however.

President Emmanuel Macron's En Marche party even produced a logo for its parliamentary

group with the slogan: “Vos député·e·s en marche!“ A state body that promotes inclusion and

equal rights, Le Haut Conseil à l'Égalité, said the “language reflects society and its way of

thinking about the world“.

Next year, keyboards will be created with a new key to type the mid-point, which

campaigners hope will be adopted universally.

Drugs in chicken eggs

Japan scientists grow drugs in chicken eggs (The Times of India: 20171010)

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Japan-scientists-

grow-drugs-in-chicken-eggs-10102017025031

Japanese researchers have genetically engineered hens whose eggs contain drugs that can

fight serious diseases including cancer, in a bid to dramatically reduce the cost of treatment, a

report said on Monday .

If the scientists are able to safely produce “interferon beta“, a type of protein used to treat

illnesses including multiple sclerosis and hepatitis, by rearing the hens, the price of the drug -

currently up to 100,000 yen (approx. Rs 58,000) for a few microgrammes -could fall

significantly , said the English edition of the `Yomiuri Shimbun'.

Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

in the Kansai region kicked off the process by introducing genes that produce interferon beta

into cells that are precursors of chicken sperm, the newspaper reported.

They then used these cells to fertilise eggs and create hens that inherited those genes,

meaning the birds were able to lay eggs containing the diseasefighting agent.

The scientists now have three hens whose eggs contain the drug, with the birds laying eggs

almost daily , the report said. The researchers plan to sell the drug to phar maceutical

companies, halving its price, so the firms can use it first as a research material, the newspaper

said. Consumers may have to wait a while, as Japan has strict regulations concerning the

introduction of new or foreign pharmaceutical products, with screening processes that

routinely take years to complete. But the team hopes that the technological breakthrough will

eventually help drive down the cost of the drug to 10% of its current price, the newspaper

reported. Officials at the institute could not be reached for comment.

Mental health issues

Knitting a safety net (The Hindu: 20171010)

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/knitting-a-safety-net/article19829922.ece

Responsive social and care systems for mental health issues must be pursued relentlessly

Durga spent more than half her adult life battling mental illness. Driven by allegiance

towards her children, she seemed committed to recovery, following her first breakdown. Her

daughters, now married, remained unwavering in their support. She, however, felt like a

burden, and experienced a sense of alienation. Disheartened by seemingly inadequate

standards of responsiveness on emotional and pragmatic needs, she felt let down by her

family. Determined to die, rather than live a life bereft of the joy of mutually valued

relationships or dignity of self-reliance, she set herself alight, undaunted by the finality of her

decision.

One wonders if longer periods of institutional care or financial recourse could have saved her;

though irreconcilable experience of social distance seemed her primary disadvantage. Earlier,

even when confronted by grave adversity, she had doggedly pursued the goal of securing her

children’s safety and future, and fought social systems that ostracised her on multiple counts:

economic class, gender, status of a widow, and indeed her mental illness. Her focus on

achieving valued gains for her children gave her hope, purpose and meaning.

Today, 800,000 persons die by suicide globally and over 1,33,000 in India every year.

Among 15-29 year olds, it’s the second leading cause of death. Reasons attributed range from

family problems and ill health to mental illness, debt, unemployment, failure in exams and

relationships.

Those who have studied the nature and manifestation of such profound distress attribute it to

factors ranging from neural networks to unfulfilled expression of autonomy, affiliation,

dominance, etc. We align our views to three theories. The first by psychologist Thomas

Joiner, who posits that those who experience a ‘thwarted sense of belongingness’ and

‘perceived burdensomeness’ when coupled with a ‘sense of fearlessness’ are at highest risk.

The second, by Emile Durkheim, who links diminished and extensive social connections or

low and high integration with society, and suicide. The third, Marsha Linehan’s attributions,

which include one’s biological predisposition, trauma and deficits in emotional self-

regulation.

Why the distress?

We argue that multiplicity of seemingly intractable material and existential problems results

in turmoil, followed by confusion and apathy that invokes feelings of distance, unquietness

and feeling trapped. Inability to grapple with the complexity of economic and social pressures

of survival and conformity seem to result in an all-pervasive sense of hopelessness. While

this hypothesis needs testing, it is evident that a breakdown in safety nets augments social

vulnerabilities and builds insurmountable distress.

History shares with us the essentiality of social policies that support those in distress through

periods of economic lows. As accentuated levels of social suffering prevailed through the

Great Depression in the U.S., at the intersections of health and social domains, it was death

by suicide that showed significant increase in incidence, in comparison to most other ill

health conditions. States that maintained social equilibrium safeguarded essential interests of

the disadvantaged through uninterrupted investments in health, education and social sectors.

In this context, it may be important to note that 70% of persons who died by suicide in India

lived on an annual income of ₹1 lakh.

The way forward

As we better understand predictors of suicide, key harm reduction theories emerge.

Responsive health systems have to be pursued, unequivocally with a sense of commitment

and urgency. While debt and ill health-related issues feature as disparate pieces that

exacerbate distress, they come together in a vicious nexus to build despair. The injustice of

relative poverty or the anguish of perpetual and intergenerational distress resulting from

intractable structural barriers pose a form of uncategorised violence that result in passive

resignation, and worse still, a lack of optimism and a chronic and irrefutable state of

hopelessness.

The Bhore Committee had stated that every Indian should be able to access health care

“without the humiliation of proving their financial status, or the bitterness of accepting

charity”. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stand true even today.

In the case of the ultra-poor living with mental health issues, targeted social interventions

such as the disability allowance, an entitlement, that helps mediate struggles of deprivation,

and by extension, exclusion, mandated by the Mental Health Care Act and the Rights of

Persons with Disability Act, must be better streamlined, adopting an integrated single

window health and social care system that will minimise cumbersome bureaucracy.

At a societal level, widening gaps linked to power and control may have defeated values of

empathy and engaged compassion. Within families and across social groups, a mutual sense

of responsibility and affiliation towards each other must be reinforced, through rituals and

culture, social training or self-learning. Being kinder helps save lives and even as we

celebrate diversity and agency, values of interdependence have to be strengthened.

Finally, focus on personal meaning that motivates and goads one forward must be ardently

pursued. Caught in the quagmire of everyday struggle and social forces, personal aspirations

built on the foundation of dominant social norms may stealthily appropriate our authentic

core, as we realign our values and positions and conform. Maybe the liberty of expression,

that is considerate of heterogeneous social circumstances and yet free, will give us a fillip to

discover our truth and a vital strain of hope.

Vandana Gopikumar is Co-Founder, The Banyan and Professor, TISS, S. Parasuraman is

Director, TISS, and Sanjeev Jain is Professor, NIMHANS

Maternal and Child Health (The Asian Age: 20171010)

http://onlineepaper.asianage.com/articledetailpage.aspx?id=9156270

Clean Diwali

SC ban will help keep pollutants in check (The Tribune: 20171010)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/editorials/clean-diwali/479662.html

THE onset of winter makes the National Capital Region a fishbowl of toxic materials as

atmospheric conditions conspire to contain, indeed trap, particulate matter from all kinds of

polluting agents. During this period, there is not enough wind to disperse the smog and

pollutants, and thus the particulate matter count rises several times over the acceptable level;

it was 16 times last October. Indeed, a mix of several factors leads to this situation but a

major contribution is from the spike caused by firecrackers burst to celebrate Diwali.

The Supreme Court has now reinstated its ban on the sale of firecrackers in New Delhi and

the NCR till November 1 in order to observe “the impact of a cracker-free festivity”. On

September 12, the court had temporarily lifted its earlier order and permitted the sale of

firecrackers. The new order has the support of the Central Pollution Control Board, other

environmental protection bodies and NGOs. However, there has been a strong backlash from

social media, from individuals who interpret the order in a particular religious framework.

Then there is the issue of enforcing the ban as was the case with Jallikattu. Bursting

firecrackers has both environmental and health costs. There are always cases of people,

particularly children, maimed while bursting crackers during Diwali. It is improper to view

the ban through a prism of religious discrimination.

All communities and right-thinking individuals should join hands to find ways in which the

traditional dependence on firecrackers during festivals is reduced and other modes of

celebration, like diyas and sweets for Diwali, are promoted. Schools in the Capital, as also in

many other cities such as Chandigarh, are to be commended for raising awareness among

children, and by extension, their families. A perceptible change in attitudes has been noticed

on the ground, and this has made a difference. It takes concerted effort to change attitudes,

and sometimes an external nudge is necessary. The Supreme Court order, coupled with the

obvious gains in air quality that it will result in, ought to be treated as an opportunity for

facilitating change, and irrelevant political and parochial noise ignored.

Pollution

Delhi may finally breathe easy this Diwali ((Hindustan Times: 20171010)

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

CRACKER SALE BAN Year after year, the Capital’s air quality spirals out of control due to

the indiscriminate use of firecrackers after Diwali

The ban would ensure that the levels of air pollutants do not reach as high a limit as they did

last year around Diwali...

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court’s order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till

November 1 might just be the respite the capital needs.

Going by the current conditions, where the air quality has touched ‘very poor’ in many parts

of the city, the situation may spiral out of control if firecrackers are set off indiscriminately

during Diwali.

“The ban would ensure levels of air pollutants do not reach as high a limit as they did last

year around Diwali... The regulation is a step in the right direction,” Ajay Mathur, director

general of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) said.

Last year, Delhi witnessed its worst smog in 17 years, right after Diwali.

Although experts welcomed the SC order, they also said there was a need for a sustained

longterm solution for tackling the menace. “The air of Delhi is anyway saturated with

pollutants at this time of the season as paddy stubble burning starts and temperature drops,”

said Bhure Lal, chairman of the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority

(EPCA).

According to a report on the composition of firecrackers prepared by the Chest Research

Foundation, Pune, they produce extremely high levels of PM 2.5 over a short period of time.

The 24-hour prescribed average of PM 2.5, which are ultrafine pollutants, is 60ug/m3.

An IIT Kanpur study has also pointed out that around Diwali, particulate matter levels nearly

double from the average level and organic content of PM increases more than twice.

According to Dipankar Saha, head of Central Pollution Control Board’s air lab, this ban can

clean up the air if properly enforced. “This order can bring radical changes. The weather is

also good this time. If there is no drastic change in meteorological conditions, Diwali will be

a good one this year,” Saha said.

Through a report titled ‘Deepawali Festival Monitoring Report 2016,’ the CPCB revealed

how most of Delhi had noise and air pollution problems even on ‘normal days’ but it was

seen to spike on Diwali, especially last year.

In 2016, the PM10 level ranged between 203μg/m3 and 318μg/m3 in different parts of the

Capital before the festival. The acceptable standards are 100μg/m3. This spiked to over

1,000μg/m3 in areas such as Pitampura and Parivesh Bhavan in east Arjun Nagar on Diwali.

Data shows the situation has been getting worse over the years.

Environmental activists, however, stressed on citizens’ involvement to make this order a

success and make the city less polluted. “Ban on sale of fireworks was highly required for

Delhi but ban on burning them is more important... It’s up to us to make an educated decision

and celebrate Diwali without hurting others,” Verhaen Khanna, the founder of New Delhi

Nature Society, said.

Residents felt the ban should have been applicable not just in Delhi-NCR but not across

India. Other felt, such a ban should be extended to the entire year and occasions like New

Year’s Eve

“Why only for Diwali? Why not the entire year? How will pollution levels be controlled if

firecrackers are allowed to be sold for other occasions?” said Roshan Tiwari (25), an

engineering grad.

Dengue, malaria, chikungunya

Dengue, malaria, chikungunya cases in Delhi decrease over three weeks

(Hindustan Times: 20171010)

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

THE TOTAL DENGUE CASES IN DELHI HAS NOW REACHED 4,545, AS PER MCD

DATA

From page 03 NEWDELHI:The number of dengue, malaria and chikungunya cases have

started declining over the past three weeks, the weekly data released by the municipal

corporation of Delhi showed.

A total of 680 cases of dengue were reported by hospitals across Delhi, including patients

coming from neighbouring states for treatment, during the week ending on October 7. This

has taken the number of total cases of dengue reported this year to 4,545.

This is more than last year, when a total of 2,711 cases were recorded during the same period.

So far, the corporation has registered only 1 death due to dengue this year. Last year, 10

dengue deaths were recorded by the corporation.

“Even though the number of cases is high, the symptoms are milder and fewer people are

getting hospitalised this year. The reason is that the strain is a milder one DENV 3, which is

not associated with dengue haemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome, where internal bleeding

can lead to circulatory shock and death,” said a health official from the corporation.

The number of malaria cases has also gone down, with 37 cases recorded during the week

ending on October 7, as compared to 41 the week before and 85 during the week ending on

September

23. However, this year, the total number of malaria cases has been higher in Delhi.

A total of 1,032 cases have been registered during this year till October 7, compared to nearly

500 cases that had been registered during the same period for the last three years.

The corporation data also shows that a total of 638 cases have been recorded till October

7. This is in comparison to 5,424 cases that had been recorded during the same period in

2016, which was an outbreak year for Delhi. Only one case had been recorded year before

that during this period.

No deaths related to chikungunya and malaria have been reported by the Delhi civic bodies.

Dengue cases

Dengue cases cross 4000 mark in Delhi (Hindustan Times: 20171010)

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/dengue-cases-cross-4000-mark-in-delhi-4882550/

Until October 7 this year, the data revealed, the capital had reported 4,545 cases of dengue.

Of these, 53 per cent patients acquired the infection from outside the city.

Dengue cases in the capital have crossed the 4,000 mark this year — a 68 per cent increase as

compared to last year, according to the latest data by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi

(MCD).

Last week, Delhi reported 680 fresh cases of dengue — of which 335 were patients who

acquired the infection from outside the state, the data stated.

Until October 7 this year, the data revealed, the capital had reported 4,545 cases of dengue.

Of these, 53 per cent patients acquired the infection from outside the city. Last year, during

the same period, the capital reported 2,711 cases.

Areas under the jurisdiction of densely populated South Delhi Municipal Corporation

continued to report the maximum number of cases — 452 this year.

Besides, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation recorded 295 cases while the East Delhi

Municipal Corporation recorded 104 cases of dengue. As reported by The Indian Express, a

milder form of the vector-borne disease is dominant this year. Meanwhile, following a

chikungunya outbreak last year, the capital has now reported a 91 per cent decline in cases of

the vector-borne infection.

According to MCD data, 368 cases of chikungunya were reported till October 7 this year — a

steep decline as compared to the 4,120 cases reported last year during the same period. Last

week, however, 49 fresh cases of chikungunya were reported, of which 19 were patients who

acquired the infection from outside the city.

Malaria cases, however, continued to spike in the city. According to the data, 37 fresh cases

were reported last week. Also, 23 cases of malaria have been reported this week, where the

infection was acquired from other states. During the season, 1,032 cases of malaria have

been reported in Delhi — a 87 per cent increase as compared to last year.

Coughing children

It all started with concerned parents, coughing children (Hindustan Times:

20171010)

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/it-all-started-with-concerned-parents-coughing-

children-4882591/

In November 2016, the court banned the sale of firecrackers across Delhi-NCR. It was lifted

on September 12, 2017, and reinstated on Monday.

As parents, we noticed the air was getting worse, our children were coughing and developing

bronchial problems. And the governments were doing nothing about it. I have the right to life,

health and so do my kids. Why would I look elsewhere?” said Supreme Court advocate Gopal

Sankaranarayanan, after the court reinstated the ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR

Monday.

In 2015, the 40-year-old had moved the apex court on behalf of his six-month-old son Arjun

Gopal, in a plea to ban use of firecrackers.

Arjun is now two, and is one of the three petitioners, apart from two-year-old Aarav Bhandari

and three-year-old Zoya Rao Bhasin.

In November 2016, the court banned the sale of firecrackers across Delhi-NCR. It was lifted

on September 12, 2017, and reinstated on Monday. “This order prevailed during the year but

the impact and effect of this order remains to be tested during Diwali. Going by these

considerations, we are of the opinion that the judgment dated September 12, 2017 passed by

this court should be made effective only from November 01, 2017,” read the judgment.

“We are conscious that after the said order was passed, the police may have issued temporary

licences. Accordingly, those are suspended forthwith so that there is no further sale of

crackers in Delhi-NCR. Further orders can be passed on assessing the situation that would

emerge after this Diwali season.”

Also Read | SC bans firecrackers during Diwali: Experts welcome move, livid shopkeepers

say better ban nuclear bombs

Sankaranarayanan said that in the 2015 plea, apart from firecrackers, there are seven more

causes of pollution listed — from old diesel vehicles and construction dust to use of crude oil

instead of meeting Euro VI emission standards.

“Just three days of bursting firecrackers contributes immensely to the pollution in the city.

Even last year, after Diwali, schools were shut because the air quality had deteriorated so

much. It affects the children and the elderly most adversely,” said advocate

Sankaranarayanan.

Dementia

Dementia: Study helps to unravel the cause of brain cell death (Medical

News Today: 20171010)

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319690.php

Dementia arises as a result of brain cell death, which may lead to a decline in learning,

memory, and other cognitive functions, but precisely what triggers this process has been

unclear. Now, a new study helps to shed some light.

Researchers found that lack of a gene called lysine specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1)

triggers brain cell death, leading to cognitive abnormalities comparable to those seen in

people with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Study co-author David Katz, Ph.D., and colleagues recently reported their findings in the

journal Nature Communications.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for around 60 to 80

percent of cases. Around 5.5 million adults in the United States have the condition, of whom

around 5.3 million are aged 65 and older.

In Alzheimer's, brain cell death has been partly attributed to a protein called tau. This protein

can form "tangles" that interfere with the nerve cells' transport system, preventing them from

receiving the nutrients they need for survival.

FTD is a rarer form of dementia characterized by nerve cell loss in the frontal lobes of the

brain. This can lead to personality changes and mobility impairments, as well as problems

with language, speaking, and writing skills.

It is estimated that around 50,000 to 60,000 people in the U.S. are living with one of two

primary forms of FTD: behavior variant frontotemporal dementia or primary progressive

aphasia.

As with Alzheimer's disease, nerve cell loss in FTD has been attributed, in part, to tau

accumulation. The condition has also been linked to the buildup of a protein called TDP43.

The new research from Dr. Katz and colleagues furthers our understanding of the

mechanisms underlying nerve cell death in Alzheimer's disease and FTD, after uncovering a

crucial role for LSD1, which is also known as KDM1A.

Loss of LSD1 linked to Alzheimer's, FTD

For their study, the team deleted the LSD1 gene in adult mice. Their initial aim was to

determine whether or not the gene is involved in the generation of sperm, after a previous

study they conducted revealed that LSD1 is important in early embryonic development.

Their research took another direction. The team found that deleting LSD1 in the rodents

triggered nerve cell death in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of their brains, which led to

paralysis and deficits in learning and memory.

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On further investigation, the researchers found that the gene activity in the brains of these

mice was associated with alterations in cell metabolism, cell signaling, and inflammation

similar to those seen in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and FTD.

Interestingly, however, the LSD1-deficient mice showed no signs of tau or TDP43

accumulation in their brains.

"In these mice," notes Dr. Katz, "we are skipping the aggregated proteins, which are usually

thought of as the triggers of dementia, and going straight to the downstream effects."

How might LSD1 cause brain cell death?

Next, the researchers analyzed brain tissue samples from patients who had either Alzheimer's

disease or FTD.

They were surprised to find that LSD1 had accrued in the tau tangles of Alzheimer's patients,

as well as in the TDP43 aggregates of patients with FTD.

"In both diseases, the LSD1 protein was aberrantly localized in the cytoplasm, along with

these pathologies," says Dr. Katz.

"Since LSD1 is normally localized in the nucleus," says Dr. Allan Levey - director of the

Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, GA - "these findings

provided clues [as] to how it might be linked to the massive yet selective neurodegeneration

that we observed in the LSD1-deficient mice, in the same cortical and hippocampal regions

known to be vulnerable in these two distinct human neurodegenerative diseases."

Taken together, the researchers say that their results "indicate a potential link between the

loss of LSD1 and these human dementia cases."

The team also believes that LSD1 is needed in order to suppress other, potentially harmful

gene activity. They speculate that a buildup of protein aggregates in nerve cells causes LSD1

to be hidden away in the cytoplasm, which stops it from doing its job.

"Normally," the authors explain, "LSD1 maintains terminally differentiated neurons, and

prevents the activation of common neurodegenerative pathways, by continuously repressing

the transcription of inappropriate genes."

"As a result, the inhibition of LSD1 by the pathological aggregates in the aging neurons of

AD [Alzheimer's disease] and FTD brains creates a situation where neurons are subject to an

onslaught of detrimental processes. This results in neuronal cell death and dementia."

In future studies, the team plans to further unravel the role of LSD1 in Alzheimer's disease

and FTD, and they would like to test whether compounds that boost the function of LSD1

could help to treat these dementias.

Turmeric tea

Nine health benefits of turmeric tea (Medical News Today: 20171010)

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319638.php

Turmeric is a popular spice made from the rhizome or root of the Curcuma longa plant.

Turmeric is native to Southeast Asia and is a member of the Zingiberaceae or ginger family.

It has been used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years in Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese

medicine.

India grows 78 percent of the global supply of turmeric. In this article, we look at a range of

potential health benefits.

Contents of this article:

What is turmeric tea?

Nine potential benefits of turmeric tea

How to prepare turmeric tea

Fast facts on turmeric tea:

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin.

Curcumin gives turmeric its characteristic yellow color.

Curcumin is proven to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

What is turmeric tea?

turmeric tea

The most effective way to consume turmeric may be as a tea.

Curcumin has low bioavailability, which means the body has a hard time accessing and

absorbing the compound. For this reason, turmeric supplements, with their guaranteed high

concentrations of curcumin, are popular.

Turmeric tea, brewed using grated turmeric root or pure powder, is considered one of the

most effective ways to consume the spice.

There is no specific recommended daily intake of turmeric. Based on available research, the

suggested daily intake depends largely on the condition it is being used to treat.

Most research in adults supports the safe use of 400 to 600 milligrams (mg) of pure turmeric

powder three times daily, or 1 to 3 grams (g) daily of grated or dried turmeric root. Grating

the turmeric yourself is the best way to ensure a pure product.

Nine potential benefits of turmeric tea

Drinking turmeric tea is believed to bring about several benefits, nine of which are described

in more detail here.

1. Reduces arthritis symptoms

As an anti-inflammatory, curcumin may help reduce the most prominent symptoms of

arthritis.

A 2017 study found that out of 206 American adults with self-reported rheumatoid arthritis,

63 percent used non-vitamin supplements to manage their symptoms, with turmeric being the

most popular product that was taken.

2. Boosts immune function

Curcumin is proven to improve immune function with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,

antiviral, and antibacterial properties.

Curcumin has also been shown to act as an immune modulator, helping regulate immune cell

function against cancer.

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3. Helps reduce cardiovascular complications

Several studies have shown curcumin to have beneficial heart health properties by acting as

an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

A 2012 study found that taking 4 g per day of curcumin 3 days before and 5 days after

coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, reduced the risk of acute myocardial infarction or

heart attack by 17 percent.

4. Helps prevent and treat cancer

One of the most clinically established therapeutic properties of curcumin is its anti-cancer

action.

As an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, curcumin is thought to lower the risk of cells in the

body becoming damaged, reducing the risk of cell mutations and cancer.

Furthermore, numerous studies have shown that curcumin has anti-tumor properties, limiting

the growth of tumors and spread of cancerous cells.

According to a 2014 medical review, more than 2,000 articles have been published using the

keywords "curcumin" and "cancer." The use of curcumin as a cancer treatment alongside

chemotherapy and radiation therapy is currently being investigated.

5. Helps manage irritable bowel syndrome or IBS

Curcumin has long been used in traditional medicines as a treatment for many digestive

conditions.

Several studies have found that curcumin may help reduce the pain associated with IBS and

improve the quality of life of those people with the condition.

A 2012 study in rats found that curcumin helped decrease the time it took for food to empty

from the stomach to the small intestine, otherwise known as gastric emptying.

6. Prevents and treats Alzheimer's

Studies have shown that curcumin may help reduce the chances of several neurodegenerative

conditions. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers are thought to reduce cellular

damage, inflammation, and amyloid deposits or plaques that occur with these conditions.

Curcumin may also be able to slow down or prevent some of the age-associated protein

changes linked to neurodegeneration.

7. Protects against liver damage, gallstones, and manages liver conditions

Several studies have shown that curcumin can protect against liver damage. Potential liver

and gallbladder benefits of curcumin include increasing production of the digestive fluid bile

while also protecting liver cells from damage from bile-associated chemicals.

8. Helps prevent and manage diabetes

Traditional medicines have used turmeric for diabetes for thousands of years. Several studies

using animal and human models have shown that curcumin supplementation may have anti-

diabetes properties.

9. Helps treat and manage lung conditions

Researchers suspect that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin may

help reduce the symptoms of chronic or long-lasting lung conditions.

A 2017 medical review concluded that although the clinical evidence is limited, curcumin

might help treat asthma, pulmonary and cystic fibrosis, lung cancer or injury, and chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

How to prepare turmeric tea

turmeric powder on a plate

To make a turmeric tea, a person can add ground, grated, or powdered turmeric to boiling

water.

Turmeric tea can be prepared from either pure turmeric powder or grated or ground, dried

turmeric. Fermented turmeric preparations, commonly sold as tea products, claim to have

higher concentrations of biologically available or absorbable curcumin.

The steps to follow for making turmeric tea are:

boil 4 cups of water

add 1 to 2 teaspoons of ground, grated, or powdered turmeric

allow the mixture to simmer for approximately 10 minutes

strain the tea into a container and allow it to cool for 5 minutes

Many people put additional ingredients into their turmeric tea to improve the taste or help

with its absorption. Common additives include:

Honey, to sweeten the tea and give the mixture more anti-microbial properties.

Whole milk, cream, almond milk, coconut milk, or 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or ghee

(unclarified butter) to help with absorption, as curcumin requires healthy fats to dissolve

properly.

Black pepper, which contains piperine, a chemical known to help promote curcumin

absorption, and that can add a spice flavor to the tea.

Lemon, lime, or ginger, to enhance antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in the mixture a

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