Study links body odour, confidence

Mumbai: Twenty nine-yearold engineer, Sanjay Sharma, worked to the best of his ability and tried to be on his best behaviour while dealing with colleagues and clients. Yet, each time he passed a co-worker's cubicle, he could see them suppress a squirm behind their smiles. The youth, whose superiors were all praise for his work, couldn't fathom his colleagues' behaviour.      One day, while flipping through a magazine, Sanjay chanced upon an article on body odour and suddenly everything fell into place. Sanjay started using a deodorant but couldn't be sure if his presence was a source of discomfort to those around him. This started affecting his confidence levels.  Sanjay, however, is not alone. A recent survey conducted by Centre for Health and Hygiene—an agency which works towards awareness of various health issues which are otherwise overlooked—has revealed that people with body odour are less confident. The survey was done on 800 people across Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore.  The survey revealed that 70% of people consider body odour a stigma, while 88% feel that it affects their confidence. "Many a time, people suffer from body odour not just because of lack of hygiene, but also due to increased metabolic rate, obesity or increased thyroid,'' said dermatologist Dr Satish Bhatia.  "In a humid city like Mumbai, fungal infections can cause body odour. Uncontrolled diabetes can also be a factor,'' said Dr Hemant Thacker, general practitioner, Jaslok Hospital. "But, it can be controlled."

PUTTING ON WEIGHT AT WORK?

BT tells you how to make sure that you don't let your office be the source of your weight problems You're working 12 hours a day at a stressful job, barely eating four meals and haven't lost an ounce. In fact, the weighing scale pointer tips further to the right every week! A recent study says that a worker in a sedentary career may end up with a      Body Mass Index 3.3 units higher than someone in a highly active job. But apart from the fact that you don't have much activity in your daily routine, there are several reasons why you are piling on the pounds:  You skip breakfast:  You have to get to work on time and you didn't turn in early last night. All you can manage in the morning is taking a bath, dressing up and making a dash for work. But skipping breakfast isn't an option. It won't help you with your diet either because those who miss breakfast tend to overeat the rest of the day.Health tip: Opt for an easy-to-prepare breakfast like cornflakes and milk or a brown bread sandwich. Or order breakfast from the cafeteria at work.  You have a late lunch: With all those meetings, your lunch gets postponed. This causes weight gain because your body gets the message that you're starving it and so it creates reserves for you by storing the food you eat as fat.Health tip: Try to accommodate a half an hour lunch break into your schedule somewhere between 12 and 1 pm. Or arrange a working lunch with colleagues.  Your meal time is too short: You need at least 15 to 20 minutes to eat your meal after which your brain gives a signal that you're full. If your eating time is too short, your body will still be in hunger mode and you will binge later on.Health tip: Get to work a few minutes early so you can spare a little longer time for lunch.  Your meal is too heavy: If you're tired of the canteen food, it's not an excuse to try out every new restaurant in town. Restaurants will do anything to make      their food tastier and couldn't care less about your weight. Health tip: FIf you've been eating out, try a healthy tiffin service for a change.  You drink one too many cups of coffee: By 4 pm you've started to feel drowsy after a heavy lunch and make a dash for the coffee machine. The caffeine may keep you awake but the sugar will only keep you from losing weight. Health tip: Often, lethargy and tiredness is caused due to lack of water. Make sure you have a bottle of water on your desk the moment you switch on your computer. The more water you drink, the less coffee you will need.      TNN (Above) Eat a healthy breakfast so that you don't binge during lunch. (Right) Caffeine may keep you awake but the sugar will only keep you from losing weight

VEGGIE SUPREME Many vegetables resemble certain body parts.

VEGGIE SUPREME Many vegetables resemble certain body parts. Dr Nupur Krishnan tells you how each one strengthens your system OLIVES  Correspond with: Female reproductive organs, especially ovaries How they benefit: Olives are rich in mono unsaturated fatty acids which are useful to raise good cholesterol, calcium and iron. The Vitamin E, hydroxytyrosol, and Oleuropein (all phytochemicals) present in olives are healthy for the female reproductive process. They help maintain healthy hormone levels and unobstructed blood flow to the pelvic area which is essential for sexual performance. Combine with: Cranberries. It will help prevent urinary track infections. Moreover, cranberries contain flavonoids that prevent forma tion of cysts in ovaries. KIDNEY BEANS  Correspond with: Kidneys. Its resemblance is all too obvious. How they benefit: Kidney beans contain flavonoids and glucosinolates that regulate the creatinine level in the kidney. It has also a trace of mineral called molybdenum which is responsible for detoxifying sulphides and help in management of creatinine.  Combine  with:  Black  urad daal. The daal helps the chemical content get absorbed fully in the body. FRESH FIGS  Correspond with: Male reproductive organs How they benefit: Figs, which are high in sugar content, give energy and vitality to the scrotal sac. They help maintain proper temperature inside the scrotal sac which is essential for sperm mobility, thereby leading to proper erections as well. Including figs in your diet helps battle fatigue and depression, a common reason attributed to poor performance in bed. Combine with: Pumpkin seeds that are a good source for zinc. Zinc is important for sex drive and is also needed by the body to make sperms. TOMATOES  Correspond with: Heart. A tomato has four chambers and is red. Ditto for your dil. How they benefit: Tomatoes have fibre and lycopene, a type of phytochemical which is a powerful anti-oxidant. They also have Vitamin K which regulates blood flow. Combine with: Lotus stem, which resemble arteries. Okra is a good combo too since it's known to purify blood capillaries. Tomatoes are best consumed through soups and sauces (without preservatives). While the raw form is healthy, cooked tomatoes are more advantageous as the heating process makes lycopene easily absorbable. WALNUTS  Correspond with: Brain. A walnut looks like a little brain, a right and the left hemisphere, upper cerebrum and lower cerebellum. Even the wrinkles and folds on the nut are just like the neocortex. How they benefit: Walnuts have Omega 3 poly unsaturated fatty acids. Among other things, walnuts contain polyphenols. These are compounds which have ellagic acid, tannic acid, caffic acid, chlorogenic acid and serulic acid, all of which regulate blood circulation and conduction of nerve impulses to the brain. They are useful for enhancing memory power. Combine with: With raisins and almonds. The Vitamin E present in walnut will get absorbed in the presence of raisins' phytochemicals. Hazelnut is another combination as it is a rich source of Vitamin E, fibre, copper, potassium, ellagic acid and fibre. AVOCADOS  Correspond with: Womb and cervix. Avocado is a fruit, basically the reproductive part of the plant. How they benefit: Contains good fat and are rich in two phytochemicas — beta-sitosterol and glutathione — that offer protection against cervix cancer. Combine with: Olives which are also healthy for the reproductive organs. ORANGES  Correspond with: Mammary glands How they benefit: Besides being an excellent source for Vitamin C, oranges contain bioflavonoids such as rutin and hesperidin which regulate blood flow to the breasts and retard tumour growth.  Combine with:  Small plant of methi in a salad form. The combination is great for protection of the mammary glands. ONIONS  Correspond with: Body's cells. How they benefit: Onions have Vitamin C, betacarotene and certain flavonoids which are known to reduce risk caused due to cancer. The sulphur compound in onions blocks carcinogens (cancer causinggenes). Combine with: Brussels sprouts (from the cauliflowercabbage family). They contain bioflavonoids that retard cancer growth. Dr Nupur Krishnan is a clinical nutritionist with Bio Logics clinic, Kandivli East. —CO-ORDINATED BY LEKHA MENON