Most of us look for ‘superfoods’ or special diets, either to shed those few extra kilos, to address existing health problems or to help our body fight off bad environmental conditions and build a stronger immune system. Let’s prepare for.
While the intention is good, unfortunately, most of us fall prey to social media – especially Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp forwards. And the results are the worst.
This edition of Health Matters is based on the many conversations and interviews with dieticians and doctors that I conducted to understand the issue in depth.
this is an extension of column a previous article I wrote about how Instagram Reels and DIY videos are leaving users with damaged skin that ultimately requires expert intervention.
Stories of self-prescription and damage
Take this sample: A 44-year-old man was brought to the emergency ward of a hospital in Bengaluru. Cause: an impending heart attack.
He was treated immediately by placing a stent in the LCX artery. He had diabetes since the age of 10, but when he turned up at the hospital, his HbA1c was 14 percent – more than double the normal level. HbA1C measures the amount of blood sugar (glucose) attached to your hemoglobin.
The case study was shared by Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru, on Twitter.
“The Veeramachaneni or VRK diet recommends the consumption of 100 grams of ghee in one meal. The patient was motivated by social media. There are countless YouTube videos on this VRK diet,” Krishnamurthy tells me about the diet that is often dubbed as the ‘desi’ version of the keto diet.
Not only Krishnamurthy, but many doctors also face a similar problem as social media users ignore the fact that ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work in the real world.
In another example, a 40-year-old man diagnosed with type 2 diabetes opted for intermittent fasting while on medication and a low-carb diet sponsored by an influential person.
“He followed it without any medical supervision. As a result, he developed severe hypoglycemia. One day, he fainted at work and seriously injured his back,” Dr Subhasree Ray, PhD in clinical nutrition and wellness expert, told me over a WhatsApp chat.
Such stories are now endless.
In Kerala, a fruit called avaroha bilambi, better known as bilambi, is used to make tangy fish curry. Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, former president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), told me that a WhatsApp forward made it famous for lowering cholesterol levels.
“This trend of drinking Bilimbi juice has become an inferno,” he said.
People considered it a quick fix solution, put it in a blender and drank the juice. However, these people ended up with irreversible kidney damage and many needed kidney transplants because the juice acted like fevicol for the kidneys – the filters for the human body – and blocked the pores.
“The kidneys were clogged with oxalate crystals. This fruit is palatable and safe for human consumption, if taken in moderation.
Another common fad is the consumption of soaked fenugreek (methi) seeds, especially among diabetics. However, people consuming decoction of fenugreek have run into trouble.
Fenugreek seeds in large quantities thin the blood and can cause dangerous bleeding events in people with or without a medical history.
The motivation of social media is greater in the post-Covid world
Taking tips on dieting or an ideal diet from Instagram Influencers or social media can be harmful as they may not be qualified to provide nutritional advice and they may promote fad diets or quick fixes that are not sustainable or healthy in the long run are not.
According to Dr. Varsha Gore, Senior Clinical Dietician and Head of the Department of Dietetics at Apollo Hospitals (Navi Mumbai), the influence of social media has become very aggressive due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
“In the times of Covid-19, there was a greater influence of social media on people as good health suddenly became a vital necessity for survival,” she pointed out.
“Because of that, now 8 out of 10 patients are turning to social media to design or modify their diet plans instead of going to a doctor or specialist.”
Influencers often present a highly edited and curated version of their lives, which can lead to unrealistic expectations and body-image issues.
There are many examples, experts told me, of people experiencing negative health consequences from fad diets and quick-fix weight loss schemes promoted by unqualified individuals on social media. These may include malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies and an increased risk of developing chronic diseases.
A young girl once went to Dr. Ray (cited above) with a severe nutritional deficiency due to her self-chosen restrictive diet plan.
She was consuming only 600 calories a day. “She became malnourished, lethargic, had regular menstrual problems and had problems with sleep and mood,” Ray said. He said that there are many examples like him.
Why you need to see a dietitian or doctor
Every person is different and one diet plan is not suitable for everyone.
In addition to many other aspects, dieticians need to consider anthropometry, ideal body mass index (BMI), biochemical parameters, and clinical conditions while planning an individual’s diet.
Anthropometry is the scientific study of measurements and proportions of the human body, while biochemical parameters include urea, creatinine, potassium, glucose, albumin, sodium and other important details of our body’s functioning and balance.
It would be harmful to assume that ‘superfoods’ have no side effects. If taken inappropriately, every food can have harmful effects rather than benefits.
When you visit a medically trained professional, the diet plan is made according to your clinical history. For example, someone may need a low-potassium diet related to their diabetes or kidney disease or poor heart function.
“We look at the little things. The idea is to give you a balanced diet based on your weight and medical history,” Dr. Payal Sharma, a dietician at Delhi-based Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, told me.
If a person needs a more protein-based diet, then the scheme is as follows.
“If you have an ideal body weight, you need to take one gram of protein per kg of body weight. If you are overweight, 0.8 grams of protein/kg and if underweight, I recommend 1.2 to 1.3- grams of protein/kg. Plant-based proteins like soy and animal-based proteins like chicken or eggs.”
In short, it’s important to be critical of any dietary advice you receive, especially when it’s coming from an unqualified or untrained source.
It is always best to consult a qualified healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian or physician, for personalized and safe dietary advice.
After all, your health matters.
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