The human gut is not “inside” you. Technically speaking. We’re basically a pipe- open at both ends. The lining of the gut is covered with what is called a mucosal layer. This mucosal layer is covered with microbes. Bacteria, fungi, viruses, phages. These microbes outnumber our immune cells 200,000 to 1. Not a typo. I […]
The Big Pharma
There’s no conspiracy. I will say that out straight away. There’s no single person or even a cabal that sits together and decides how to make while populations sick. It’s not possible for anyone to have that much control over us yet. Yet. Please don’t let it get to that stage. We need to stop […]
But, I *do* eat vegetables, Doctor!
No, you don’t! You’re eating a load of chapattis and a load of rice. And using vegetables as a side accompaniment. That’s not eating vegetables. That’s making a show of eating vegetables. That’s making excuses. Like when kids write half a page of their homework and say that they’ve done it when asked. In reality, […]
Food advertising.
Saw an advertisement on the back of a KSRTC bus this morning from the FSSAI (Food safety and standards association of India, I think) It said, consume (artificially) fortified foods to prevent deficiency diseases. This was accompanied by the typical ye old, school textbook type badly made painting of various colourful bottles and squarish packages. […]
Making progress while dieting.
The idea in any fat loss/weight loss diet would be end up in a place where weight loss is effortless to achieve and maintain. There is a spectrum based on difficulty, along which diets can be broadly classified. I’ve listed it out belowYou’ll probably have to enter somewhere in the first 3, and finally graduate […]
Viral whatsapp scaremongering
The below quote came through whatsapp. It turns up frequently and it irritates me no end. But I lost my cool when it finally turned up in a doctors group I’m unfortunate enough to be part of. Imagine, if doctors are forwarding this, imagine how bad the scaremongering is? “Infrared thermometers, which are held near […]
Breath is the key.
When I think of the word “core” I think of the deep center of an object or an idea. That word has been abused so mercilessly in the fitness industry that it is impossible to type it without cringeing a little. I’m forced to use that word a lot in this article, because it is […]
Chronic pain and myofascial chains.
You’ll have to Google myofascial chains to understand them better. Adding a description of those will turn this blog post into a book. Here is a link with more information. It is pretty dense for a layman, but can be read through with some effort. You’ll pick up just enough if you skim through and […]
Animal movement/primal play
There are two quadruped movements(bear and leopard) and two bipedal movements (bunny and ape)in the video. Some movement patterns mimicking animals, that you can practise daily. Some basic ideas to keep in mind when you try stuff like this. Will be more fun if done with the whole family, instead of turning it into another […]
Kettlebell swings and back pain.
First off, I’d like to state that far more people injure their backs getting up from the potty than they do swinging kettlebells or doing deadlifts. Most people who lift weights have a lesser incidence of back injury than the general population. Most injuries in lifters occur when they’re chasing big numbers, or if they’re […]