Instant noodles bad or good for health?

Instant noodles are a packaged,instant type of noodles made from wheat flour,various vegetable oils and flavoring.These noodles are pre -cooked meaning they have been steamed and then air dried or fried to shorten cooking time for consumers .Instant noodles  are popular all over the world among young and old because they are easy to cook and inexpensive.  

  It should be noted that instant noodles are different from fresh homemade ramen noodles which are traditional Chinese or Japanese noodle typically served in soup form and topped with nutritious ingredients like eggs,duck meat and vegetables.

In spite of being a popular food item, frequent consumption of instant noodles is linked to poor diet quality and an increased risk of some negative health effects.Devoid of nutritious diet and solely depending on instant noodles is very bad.This diet is seen most common in young people.

      Let's have a look on instant noodles effect on one's body.Many of us know that instant ramen noodles is not good for health but studies have confirmed how harmful the pre packaged food can be.

  Effect on Body's Metabolism: Consuming noodles everyday will affect the metabolism of the body due to the accumulation of toxic substance.Those substance include food coloring,additives substance and food preservatives .Instant noodles seem harmless but they contain Tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ),which is a by product of the petroleum industry and food additive and being used frequently to preserve cheap processed foods.TBHQ is highly toxic in bigger doses but has been allowed in the food industry in small doses.

     A number of studies have shown that prolonged exposure to high doses of TBHQ may be carcinogenic.Long term exposure to TBHQ can also cause asthma,anxiety and diarrhea in some people.It can also adversely affect the liver and the reproductive organs. 

   Effect on Digestion: The high sodium content in instant noodles products is obvious but the main culprit is the noodles itself.In a study by Dr.Bradon Kuo director of the Gastrointestinal Motility laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University the doctor found unsetting results after testing digestion of the noodles. A minuscule camera was used to observe the effects of noodles on the digestive tract over 32 hours .The video revealed the stomach working hard, contracting back and forth to break down the noodles .The noodles remain undigested for a long time and severely strained the digestive tract .Furthermore,the retention of instant noodles in the digestive tract for so long time means you get overexposed to the toxic chemicals and preservatives like TBHQ and BHA.

 Metabolic syndrome:'Metabolic syndrome is defined as a group of symptoms that increase a persons chance of contracting heart disease having stroke and developing diabetes .Women who consumed noodles 2 or 3 times a week reported an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to a 2014 study published in The Journal of Nutrition.

     Furthermore,deep frying is a step in the production process of most  instant noodles.This further saturates the noodles with excess fat from the oil making it a greater risk factor for heart disease.This include  High Cholesterol,High  TG level,High Blood Sugar and increased abdominal fat.Noodles that are air dried skipping the deep frying are comparatively healthier alternative. 

  High Sodium Level: Sodium rich salt is the indispensable taste enhancer.However,too much of it is very harmful to one's health .Compared to moderate consumption high dietary sodium consumption was recognized as a major factor in high death rates in 23 case studies .Instant noodles are rich in salt and therefore rich in sodium.

          Excess sodium has been linked with high blood pressure (Hypertension) and in turn heart disease ,heart failure and strokes.

  A single serving(62 gm) of instant noodles contain 744 mg of sodium .However,if you eat the entire pack(100 gm) the amount reaches to 1200 mg of sodium .Again , there is evidence showing that high sodium intake may have a negative effect on certain people who are considered salt sensitive .Pregnancy already involves the risk of high blood pressure .The extra amount of sodium intake can affect baby negatively.So ,during pregnancy this kind of food must be avoided.

  Lack of Nutrients: Eating noodles too often causes lacking of nutrients on one's body .When the body is malnourished .It starts experiencing side effects like dizziness ,restlessness ,fatigue and loss of strength.Our body need sufficient amount of protein,calcium ,sugar ,vitamin A,C,E ,B and more.Noodles have extremely low content of those nutrient while some don't even have any at all.It is a bad news for those who consume  instant noodles as their daily meal in both morning and evening.

Propylene Glycol:Instant noodles contain propylene glycol an anti freeze which is an ingredient that is added to make noodles moist .If it accumulates in the body ,it leads to harmful effects to the body organs.Such as heart ,liver and kidneys .At the same time it also weakens the immune system which makes you get sick easily as well.Moreover, one's body easily absorbs this kind of ingredients very fast causing abnormalities and damage .

  MSG in instant noodles can have possible toxic effects:MSG or monosodium glutamate is another potentially toxic substance that is found in instant noodles but this is not found in all brands of instant noodles .This is a chemical called excitotoxin overexcites one's nerve cells. 

      The Experimental and Clinical Sciences Journal report that "MSG has been linked with obesity ,metabolic disorder,neurotoxic effects and detrimental effects on the reproductive organs.The journal also adds that 'although MSG has proven its value as an enhancer of flavor  different studies have hinted at possible toxic effects related to this popular food additive ".

  Clearly a packet of instant noodles won't kill you but no one can say with certainty what this processed food will do to you in the long run.

   When it comes in dealing with hunger, instant noodles are always the best savior .But,  there is controversy over whether or not they have adverse effects on the consumers.Taking all the evident side effects in consideration ,in a nutshell, it  can be said that instant noodles may be associated with higher intake of sodium,carbohydrate and fat plus a lower intake of protein,vitamin, fiber and minerals.  

  Many of us know that instant noodles are unhealthy, but even knowing that we take it on a regular basis as a cheap and easy to make food.But this poor diet plan can bring a long term health problems.So people depending too much on instant noodles and having it too often must be careful about health.

 How to select  the healthiest instant noodles :   1.Select noodles from whole grains as it increases fiber content and boost feeling of fullness.Noodles,having lower sodium is also available.Try to intake this kind of noodles to bring down your sodium intake.                                                                                                                                                 

2.You can add some fresh vegetables like peas,capsicums,tomatoes,potatoes and           ingredients containing high protein to enhance the nutrition profile of your instant noodles  .                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 If you are hopelessly devoted to instant noodles all hope is not lost.Dr.Frank B.Hu a professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard told The New York Times " having instant noodles once or twice a month is not a big deal".

But at the end of the day , remember that instant noodles are instant and junk food and it is best to avoid taking it too often.

Thyroid hormone,Hyper and Hypo thyroidism and Change of mood

Patients with hyper or hypo thyroidism usually feel very agitated ,out of control,angry and crying about things that could be ordinarily handle with ease.In this case,that is the thyroid hormone that can be blamed for this kind of behavior.                                                                                                                                                                          Thyroid disorders can  have noticeable impact on one's energy level and mood.Hypothyroidism tends to make people feel tired,sluggish and depressed.Hyperthyroidism can cause anxiety problem,restlessness and irritability.                                                                                                                                                                       
The link between thyroid function ,depression and anger has long been recognized. Patient's with thyroid disorders are more prone to develop depressive symptoms and conversely depression may be accompanied by various subtle thyroid abnormalities.                                                                                                                                    Imbalance of thyroid hormone:As blood flows through the pituitary gland, its cells detect if there are adequate T4 levels in the body.If the T4 level is adequate ,the pituitary sends the appropriate amount of TSH to the thyroid to maintain T4 levels in the normal range .If one's T4 level is too low,the pituitary sends more TSH out telling the thyroid to make more T4 .If one's T4 level is high,the pituitary sends less TSH out,telling the thyroid gland to make less T4.As easy way to remember how the thyroid works -think about supply and demand.As T4 level falls,the TSH rises .As T4 level rises ,the TSH falls.T4( Tyroxine) and  T3(Triiodothyronine) are the bound forms .fT4 and fT3 are the free and biologically active forms.And TSH is the thyroid stimulating hormone. 

                                                                                                                    
 Ranges of thyroid  hormone for thyroid function test:

             1.TSH -0.4mU/L(milliunit per liter) to 4.00 mU/L

             2.T4 is from 5.0 to 12 µg/dL (microgram per deciliter)

             3.T3 is from 0.8 to 2.0 ng/mL(nanogram per milliliter)

             4.fT4 is from 9.0 to 25.0 pmol/L (picomoles per liter)

             5.fT3 is from 3.5 to 7.8 pmol/L

             6.Anti TPO(anti thyroid peroxidase antibody): <34.0 IU/mL
             7.Thyroglobulin - 3 to 40 ng/mL 

             There may be  a slight variation in the reference range depending on the laboratory.                                            

         Test results that are not between the range: A high TSH level with a low fT4 :Hypothyroidism(under-active thyroid).A low TSH level with a high fT4 :Hyperthyroidsm (over-active thyroid).Abnormal TSH level together with normal fT4 level indicate the risk of developing a thyroid disorder.A low TSH  level together with a low fT4 level can indicate a disorder of the pituitary gland.Thyroid function tests can be influenced by medications and illnesses.If one's TSH is above the range with normal T4 this may prompt physician to test serum anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO ).If these antibodies are present ,it may indicate an auto immune thyroid disorder.

                         Thyroid function and change in mood:The mechanism underlying the interaction between thyroid function and depression remain to further clarified.Recently ,advances in biochemical,genetic and neuroimaging fields have provided new insights into the thyroid-depression relationship.

       Today,it is well recognized that disturbance in thyroid function may significantly affect mental status including  emotion and cognition.Both excess and insufficient thyroid hormones can cause mood abnormalities including depression that is generally reversible with adequate thyroid treatment.

     On the other hand,depression can be accompanied by subtle thyroid dysfunction .Overt thyroid disease is rare in depression 1 to 4% of patients with affective disorders are found to have overt hypothyroidism while subclinical hypothyroidism accounts 4% to 40% of this disorder.
Neuropsychiatric manifestation of thyroid disorder:In a research study it has been showed that primary thyroid disorder including both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may be accompanied by various neuropsychiatric manifestation ranging from mild depression and anxiety to overt psychosis.It has also been found that anxiety disorders occur in approximately 60% of hyperthyroid patients while depressive disorders occurred in 35% to 69% .On the other hand ,hypothyroid patient's frequently demonstrate features of depression ,cognitive dysfunction ,apathy and psychomotor slowing.
Association of depression with postpartum thyroid disease:The association of postpartum depression with postpartum thyroiditis(inflammation of thyroid gland) or with positive thyroid antibodies is still not well defined.In a study on this,higher frequency to moderate depression was observed in postpartum female subjects with positive antithyroid antibodies regardless of thyroid function .
Neuroimaging of thyroid and mood disorder:A few studies showed changes in cerebral perfusion and metabolism in patients with hypothyroidism particularly those with Hashimoto's thyroiditis  or status post thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma.Some have reported diffuse global hypoperfusion  while others demonstrated decrease regional cerebral blood flow.

                   Clinical investigations have long recognized the link between thyroid and depression ,while patient's with hypothyroidism commonly manifest feature of depression and hyperthyroid patient's with wider spectrum of neuropsychiatric symptoms both depression and anxiety .On the other hand ,most of the patient with primary depression have normal thyroid function.  

  So,people who have a thyroid gland that is not functioning properly are more likely to have bipolar disorder,panic disorder,OCD,major depression and wide range of mood disorder than the people in general.If hypo or hyperthyroidism left untreated ,this can lead to many complications including heart problem,nerve injury,infertility and in severe cases death .But besides these health issues the mental condition of a thyroid patient needs to be improved with proper treatment along with love,care and patience.As diseased people usually become mentally weak it can lead to severe catastrophic condition than the disease itself. So, family members and friends of any thyroid patient should try to keep the patient mentally strong,happy and stress free as much as they can.Cause sometime proper treatment is not the only solution of all kind of disease.But it is true that  proper treatment and medication has important role in the health and optimal function of thyroid patient's brain including cognitive function,the ability to concentrate ,mood ,memory ,emotions and ability to cope with life's stress.         

                           

PCOS-Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is PCOS?                                                                               

                Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is a hormonal disorder common among women’s of reproductive age(generally between 15 to 45 age).Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual period with the production of excess male hormone(androgen).The ovaries may develop numerous small collection of fluid (follicles) .

   

   The causes behind PCOS

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown.But it is predicted that hormonal imbalance(overproduction of androgen hormone) and genetic inheritance is one of the core reasons.If a family member specially mother or sister has PCOS it can increase the risk of having it.Moreover, overweight or obesity is a leading factor to PCOS.

        Symptoms

Ø Irregular,heavy or 

absent menstrual cycle

Ø Excess hair growth on

    face and body

Ø Weight  gain and difficulty in 

     losing weight

Ø Male pattern and baldness

Ø Excessive acne and dullness in the skin

Ø Massive hairfall

Ø Darkness in the neck                             

Ø Fatigue

       Complexity in health related to PCOS :

Ø Diabetes

Ø High cholesterol level

Ø Hypertension

Ø Breast Cancer

Ø Infertility

Ø Hypothyroidism

Ø Increased risk of endometrial cancer

       Required tests for diagnosis of PCOS

ü Ultrasound scan

ü Serum FSH/Follicle stimulating hormone( within the reference range or low in PCOS)

ü Serum LH/Luteinizing hormone(elevated in PCOS)

Image of left and right scans of
 PCOS patient’s right ovary.
The ovary is enlarged and there are
 multiple small an-echoic follicles

ü Serum testosterone level(higher in PCOS)

ü Fasting glucose level

ü Thyroid function test

ü Lipid profile

          Treatment   

1.     First of all with proper diet and exercise one should control the weight.Following BMI , one should keep her weight under normal range that will help her to control blood glucose level, maintain the hormonal balance and get a regular menstrual cycle.

2.     Those who are not thinking to be pregnant right at this moment, specially young  girls are prescribed contraceptive pill(progestin) .This will maintain the regularity of menstrual cycle and decrease the production of male hormone.Moreover,it will decrease unwanted hairs and acne problem.

3.     On the contrary ,women’s  who are interested to be pregnant at this moment they are prescribed clomiphene citrate by doctors.

4.     Metformin: Metformin can enhance ovulation and regulate menstrual cycle .It decreases the blood glucose level and hirsutism (excess  hair  growth).In many cases,metformin and clomiphene citrate  are prescribed together.

5.     Anti-androgen: Antiandrogen agents block androgen receptors which inhibit the effects of male sex hormones .It helps to get rid of excess hair and enlarged muscle.But this medicine is not prescribed to the women who are interested to be pregnant at this moment.                                                                                      

6.     Surgery: In this case ,doctor with the help of laparoscopy does ovarian drilling.

 Consciousness:

Pregnant women with PCOS can have miscarriage and delivery before the fixed time .During pregnancy a PCOS patient must follow required consciousness and consult with the doctor with a regular check up.

PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility.The complexity of PCOS will decrease if one detects the problem and takes appropriate medication and treatment as soon as possible.Women with PCOS can conceive naturally or with the help of fertility treatment.But it is a matter of great sorrow that 1 in 10 (upto 70%) of women with PCOS are undiagnosed.If the symptoms matches with one’s physical condition one should consult with doctor .As prevention is always better than cure females specially young girls should try to keep their weight under control  and follow a proper nutritious diet.

 

                                    Be healthy be happy!