Health Wealth

What makes Indians unique? A lot of thoughts would pop up--our hospitality, culinary and cultural diversity, perhaps even how we manage to snake through heavy traffic. But the last thing one would think of is Indian faeces as a symbol of our uniqueness. Interestingly, however, that might well be true. Research has found an average Indian excretes more faeces than those in developed nations. There are also a large number of gut bacteria unique to Indians that protect us from several diseases, resulting in us having one of the lowest colon cancer and Irritable Bowel Syndrome incidences in the world.

In this episode, we learn how doctors are able to use the faeces of a healthy poop donor to treat diseases of the gut. Known as a faecal or poop transplant, this procedure has high rates of treatment success and is currently done by a select few doctors in India. Dr Avnish Seth, chairman of the Manipal Institute of Gastroenterology & hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Sciences, is one of them. His team shortlists healthy donors, harvests their poop in an ice-cream cup, mixes it in a blender and then strains it through a soup strainer before inserting it into a patient using colonoscopy.

Tune in to learn more about this unique procedure that has the potential to transform lives and hear why researching Indian feces is critical to improving treatments for not just gut ailments but a variety of other diseases.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Mixed by Kapil Dev Singh

Does old age have to mean a life of light food, loneliness and physiotherapy? Instead of being our ‘twilight’ years, can it not be just another phase of life (albeit one with less hair and wobbly knees)? A dementia village in Netherlands, The Hogeweyk, found that when seniors are encouraged to have an active lifestyle—going to shops, watching movies, cooking and dancing with friends—their health improved significantly. As caregivers, the idea of letting our parents or grandparents go about town can be frightening (what if they fall?). So how do we support active ageing while ensuring safety?

In this episode, Rajit Mehta, MD and CEO of Antara Senior Care, shares his own personal experiences with caring for elderly parents and how he and his family have ensured their wellbeing. The former CEO of Max Healthcare and a founding member of Max Life Insurance, he has experienced the unique physical and emotional needs of seniors in a variety of different situations. This is a discussion that is heartwarming and informative, leaving you with the wisdom needed to be an empathetic caregiver to anyone post-60. For someone who has already reached post-work life (and is wondering what to do when Google says 'no appointments scheduled'), this episode can offer a fresh perspective on finding companionship in new places with new people (are those happy smiley people in wheelchairs playing tambola at a senior care home real?).

Tune in to hear if India is ready to be elder-friendly, stories of seniors who still enjoy a bucket of cold mangoes every summer and discover if someone who has given multiple talks on ageing is keen on growing old himself.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Mixed by Kapil Dev Singh

How do you think people put on weight? By overeating, right? But what causes that overeating and why is it that despite all the endless studies and articles on the bad effects of obesity, losing weight for so many remains as difficult as ever? The truth is we have no social support structure for fat people to lean upon. Once you hit a certain number on the weighing scale, an ugly reality descends upon you—clothes don’t fit, dates are hard to find, elders begin to nag and doctors begin to list out the endless diseases you are halfway to getting. None of this results in weight loss. After all, when has isolation, shame and fear ever worked as healthy motivation for emotional control? And you need emotional control to lose weight in a world where stress and junk food is everywhere.

In this episode, we are joined by a diabetes and bariatric surgeon from Wockhart Hospital in Mumbai, Dr Raman Goel, discussing the realities of weight loss. Spending the central part of his day removing body fat, Dr Goel heads the bariatric surgery division at the hospital. His surgical interventions have improved the quality of many lives. While bariatric surgery itself is not new, its use for helping to improve diabetes management in obese or overweight patients is only just gaining ground.  From who can opt for bariatric surgery to preparation as well as post-surgery recovery tips, Dr Goel gives a wholesome guide to this procedure. But first, he explains, what on earth is bariatric surgery?

Tune in to hear a fat-loss surgeon’s perspectives on weight gain, fat shaming and the difficulties of saying no to relatives who haven’t quite understood that our bodies no longer need nine-course-meals (and that love doesn’t have to be sugar and butter. An emoji will do, thank you very much!).

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Mixed by Kapil Dev Singh

Have you ever fallen for the baby schema effect? It happens when human beings see cute baby animals—like a tiny bunny with fluffy ears and wide eyes. And you instantly feel like going, ‘Awww’. This isn’t because you particularly adore a creature that eats carrots and breeds as though the world would run out of rabbits if it didn’t produce enough offspring. But you feel a rush of gentle affection anyway. Research has shown that when we see baby animals, our brains release a neuro-transmitter called dopamine. Known as a happy hormone, dopamine is also released when you play video games, get a lot of love on Instagram or eat a chocolate chip skillet cookie straight from the pan.

However, unlike games, reels and sugar binges, a living creature also comes with its share of responsibilities which can overshadow the cute quotient rather quickly. The image of puppy or kitten for company sounds wonderful. But what happens when your mental support animal turns out to be nothing like the ones you saw on Youtube? What if your animal refuses to play the plastic cup challenge, eats your most expensive pair of shoes and only wishes to do his business at 2am? How do you ensure your companion animal brings to your home the kind of joy you imagined and none of the horrors of pet parenting? In this episode, we get to discover these answers with conservationist and co-founder of Wildlife SOS Kartick Satyanarayan. A parent to a variety of animals himself, Satyanarayan guides us through the skills and steps required to bond with any creature.

This episode is a comprehensive guide for anyone who wishes to reap the inherently peaceful effects of the natural world but without landing themselves into shit (pun intended). Whether you want to be a pet parent, already are one, or simply want to enjoy wildlife without having one in your own space—tune in and learn how to receive a whole lot of love without ever having to ask for it.

Produced By: Anna Priyadarshini

Sound Recording & Mixed By: Kapil Dev Singh


 

Doesn’t it feel great when you can fit into a size 12 dress again and the weighing scale assures you that your Body Mass Index is now perfect? But body fat is not always what is visible. You can poke your stomach and feel very little of that flabby softness which we associate with a Santa-claus-belly, but that does not mean there is no fat there. Various studies estimate that roughly 10% of human fat lies beneath the firm abdominal wall. This fat is called visceral or intra-abdominal fat found in the spaces around your organs.

So why should you care about this little bit of hidden fat? Research has shown that fat cells, especially visceral fat cells, are not just floating about inside of you but are biologically active. Some even equate a fat cell to an endocrine organ (the ones which secrete hormones to control various bodily functions). Visceral fat also makes more cytokines (remember all the hype around ‘cytokine storms’ from the Covid-19 years?). This fat already sounds bad for you. But it is all the more dangerous when it accumulates in your liver—the main organ responsible for digesting fat. But since fat can be reduced and a fatty liver reversed back to its normal state, all you need to do is hit the gym, and everything should be hunk-dory again, right?

In this episode, Dr SK Sarin, director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences and president of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, takes us into the highly misunderstood world of the human liver. He explains the multi-faceted importance of this single organ in ensuring a good quality of life. Unlike most health conditions, a fatty liver is not detectable through a simple blood test, and Dr Sarin gives a simple guide for on-time diagnosis. And even though cases of fatty liver disease are increasing at a worrying pace in India, particularly amongst children, this is a conversation that doesn’t aim to make you afraid. Instead, Dr Sarin’s solutions for health will do the opposite—empower you to make informed choices about your well-being.

Tune in to find out how many diseases a malfunctioning liver can cause, what can be done to keep visceral fat from building up, and how the country’s top liver specialist looks after his health!

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Sometimes, it is difficult to resist the allure of comfort. Who doesn't want to sink their heads into a giant fluffy pillow after a long day? And how do you remember to sit up straight when there are seven hours of your favourite murder mystery soap left to watch? The mind has so much to focus on that the spine is easily forgotten. And as long as there is no muscle pain, it should be fine, right?

In this episode, we discover the importance and significance of good posture. Starting from the spine and its natural curvature and then moving onto the impact of spinal issues on various parts of your body other than the back, Dr Vishal Peshattiwar, Head of the Spine Surgery Department at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, explains everything you need to know about spinal health. As we age, the spine naturally develops issues, and this episode is also a vital guide for emerging spinal treatments.

Tune in to discover if poor posture is the reason why you are feeling excessively bloated, what is the real cause of a stiff shoulder and how cement and screws saved a 95-year-old's ability to walk this year.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Who doesn’t love a good bargain? There is a particular kind of thrill that only finding a 50% sale on that pair of shoes you wanted can give. But if I offered you an iPhone 16 Pro for Rs 20,000, would you take it without thinking, "What’s the catch?”

We all have different price scales for different items. For some products, we readily accept that the price can only be so low before alarm bells start ringing. But for others, we need to check (perhaps even triple check) if it is indeed the ""best price"". It doesn’t matter if both items require the same measure of investment, we pay based on the perceived value of something. Nobody would bargain for a hospital bill. But we would for a tattoo. After all, poor quality healthcare can kill you. Tattoos are only for emotional expressions or external beautification, right?

In this episode, we enter the $2 billion tattoo industry in India with tattoo artist Lokesh Verma and discover how a tattoo gone wrong can impact your well-being. This is more than doodles on the skin; it is a permanent mark that, if done wrong, can lead to severe infections and scar your confidence and professional ambitions. Having worked as an artist for over two decades and founded one of the country’s most ethical and skilled tattoo studios, Devilz Tattooz, Verma is legendary. (Note: He will insist on the contrary. But I stand by my research. I'd insert a smiley face here, but won't that look unprofessional?)

For anyone who wishes to get a tattoo, this episode will answer it all—from safety concerns and preparation for your session to tattoo aftercare advice. For anyone who already has one and is worrying if they’ll get ripped apart in the MRI soon, this is a chance to discover how safe the ink put on you might have been. For all others, hear this discussion to go on an exploration of the inner self: how body art and other healing mediums like it can soothe the scars of grief, counter the damage done by bullies and help you make friends with your insecurities.

Tune in to discover why our tattoo industry is in desperate need of hygiene regulations, how to find an artist who will bring your wildest dreams to life and if you should be excited or deeply suspicious if someone offers you a tattoo sleeve for the special price of Rs 5000 only (GST included).

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Nitin Rawat

What do you imagine a psychiatric hospital looks like? Do images of the Joker locked up in Gotham City Asylum or people strapped to beds screaming in Hitchcockian horror pop into your head? Most people carry a less-than-pleasant idea of residential mental healthcare. These are places relegated purely for the treatment of ‘mad’ people. These are certainly not places to go to for insomnia, work stress, bad break-ups or that uncontrollable urge to snack on banana chips at midnight.

Poor demand leads to inadequate supply. India has one of the lowest numbers of mental health professionals and dedicated mental health hospitals in the world. Despite several studies indicating a growing need for mental health support, few still reach formalised healthcare providers for it. Part of the problem is simply a lack of awareness of how mental healthcare has evolved. A residential mental health hospital today looks more like a five-star hotel than the place we see depicted in every subsequent Batman film. And there are psychiatrists available today to address a gamut of mental health conditions from the trivial to the traumatic (although, regrettably, banana chip binges are yet to qualify as a doctor-level problem).

In this episode, Dr Navya Saluja, a psychiatrist with Sukoon Health, a pan-India chain of mental health hospitals, walks us through the reality of a modern psychiatric ward. From when to check in to what to check in for, what to expect as a patient or caregiver, and who decides whether you need to stay the night or simply visit the OPD, Dr Saluja lists out all that one needs to know before approaching mental health support.

Tune in to hear a psychiatrist play true or false on popular mental health beliefs and find out if your state of mind needs a visit to the doctor or simply a warm hug and a kind ear.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Nitin Rawat

Do you remember what the world was like before the smallpox vaccine? This one miniscule creature was responsible for the deaths of around 500 million people in the last 100 years, wiping out entire societies as it spread around the world. Now, its cousin—Mpox—is doing the rounds. However, unlike a century ago, viral outbreaks are no longer geographically separate for long lengths of time. It will take Mpox just as long to get from Africa to India as you and I (unless, of course, it forgets its transit visa). Unsurprisingly, within a few months of the more infectious Mpox strain, Clade 1, breaking out in Congo, the virus has reached here.

In this episode, infectious disease expert Dr Tanu Singhal from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai breaks down the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for Mpox into a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide. She also shares fascinating information about the creation of the smallpox vaccine and why some nations have millions of doses stockpiled for future use.

This episode is super helpful if you are wondering whether it is time to stock up on rice and sanitisers again (or worse, learn to smile through masks again!). It is also a particularly insightful guide for anyone who simply wishes to know more about viruses and their sneaky ways of keeping pace with modern medicine.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Nitin Rawat

What do doctors think when they meet their 30th patient of the day? Can coffee and the Hippocratic Oath really be enough to fuel 36 hours of duty? And do they remember their first loss against death? In the aftermath of the rape and murder of a young doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, the streets are flooded with equally horrifying stories of violence from all categories of healthcare workers.

On the one hand, we genuinely need people willing to learn about the 100 trillion cells, 206 bones, and 600 muscles that make up the human body. But on the other hand, we don’t seem to be providing them with the trust, safety, and patience required for successful treatment and their own well-being.

This episode is a celebration and recognition of the people who willingly sacrifice their own health to guarantee ours. Dr Mohammad Khan, at Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road in Bengaluru takes us on a journey from when the dream to be a doctor originates to the first patient who disrespects the process of modern medicine.

Tune in to discover what a day in the life of a healthcare worker looks like, how a coke addict is responsible for the gruelling work timings of residents, and why you must cooperate with your doctor for a faster recovery.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi