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    HEALTH & WELLNESS                                                         JULY 24, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 44

               More People Turning to Ayurvedic                                                                            Doctors

                                Diet for Better Health                                                            Highlight Tests for
                                                                                                                   Early Detection of

               nterest in the Ayurvedic diet is                                                                            Disease
               steadily rising as more people seek
            Iholistic and preventive approaches                                                                         outine health check-ups that
            to health, prompting renewed atten-                                                                         focus on blood sugar and cho-
            tion to India’s centuries-old system of                                                               Rlesterol may not be enough to
            nutrition. Health experts say the di-                                                                 identify an individual’s long-term risk
            etary philosophy focuses on balancing                                                                 of  heart  disease  and  diabetes,  with
            the body’s natural constitution through                                                               medical experts now recommending a
            mindful  eating, seasonal  foods  and                                                                 more personalized approach using ad-
            lifestyle practices rather than calorie                                                               vanced biomarkers and imaging tests.
            counting or restrictive meal plans.                                                                       According to recent expert rec-
                Unlike conventional diets that                                                                    ommendations,  five  additional  tests,
            follow  a  one-size-fits-all  approach,                                                               fasting serum insulin, Apolipoprotein
            Ayurveda recommends food choices                                                                      B (ApoB), high-sensitivity C-reactive
            based on an individual’s dosha, Vata,                                                                 protein (hs-CRP), Lipoprotein(a)
            Pitta or Kapha believed to govern                                                                     [Lp(a)], and Coronary Artery Calci-
            physical and mental characteristics.                                                                  um  (CAC)  scoring,  can  help  detect
            The approach encourages consuming                                                                     metabolic and cardiovascular risks
            fresh, minimally processed foods, eat-                                                                years before symptoms develop.
            ing according to the seasons, and main-                                                               While these investigations are not
            taining regular meal timings  to sup-                                                                 meant for routine screening of every-
            port digestion and overall well-being.                                                                one, they can offer valuable insights
                Books and beginner guides on the                                                                  for individuals with obesity, diabetes
            Ayurvedic  diet have gained traction                                                                  risk, a strong family history, or other
            among readers looking to understand                                                                   cardiovascular risk factors.
            the principles of traditional nutrition.                                                                  Medical specialists note that
            These resources explain the funda-                                                                    fasting insulin can identify insulin re-
            mentals of identifying one’s body con-                                                                sistance well before blood sugar lev-
            stitution, selecting suitable foods, us-  ments are advised to consult qualified   als seeking long-term health benefits   els become abnormal, while ApoB
            ing herbs and spices to aid digestion,   healthcare professionals before mak-  over short-term weight-loss solutions.  provides a more accurate measure of
            and adopting sustainable eating habits   ing significant changes to their diet.  As awareness of holistic wellness   artery-clogging lipoprotein particles
            that align with daily routines.       The growing interest also re-  continues to expand, the Ayurvedic   than conventional LDL cholesterol.
                Nutrition experts, however, cau-  flects  a  broader  shift  towards  pre-  diet is emerging as more than a tra-  Similarly, hs-CRP detects chronic in-
            tion  that  while  Ayurvedic  principles   ventive healthcare, with consumers   ditional  practice,  finding  relevance   flammation  linked  to  heart  disease,
            can  complement a healthy  lifestyle,   increasingly prioritizing natural foods,   among modern consumers looking   and Lipoprotein(a), a genetically de-
            dietary changes should be tailored to   mindful eating and wellness-focused   for sustainable and personalized ap-  termined marker, can identify inherit-
            individual health needs. People with   lifestyles. Ayurveda’s emphasis on bal-  proaches to nutrition while integrat-  ed cardiovascular risk with a one-time
            chronic medical conditions, food al-  ance, moderation and  personalized   ing ancient wisdom with contempo-  lifetime test. A CAC scan, meanwhile,
            lergies or specific nutritional require-  nutrition has resonated with individu-  rary health goals.  detects silent calcium deposits in cor-
                                                                                                                  onary arteries and helps guide preven-
             Nearly Half of Dementia Risk Can Be Prevented: WHO                                                   tive treatment decisions in people at
                                                                                                                  intermediate risk.
                                                                                                                      Experts caution that these tests
                   p  to  45%  of  dementia  cases   ery year. The disease is the seventh   environmental hazards linked to   should complement, not replace, es-
                   could be prevented or de-  leading  cause  of  death  worldwide   cognitive decline. However, the   tablished screenings such as blood
            Ulayed by addressing lifestyle,   and a major contributor to disability   organization advised against rou-  pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c, lipid
            medical and environmental risk fac-  among older adults. While there is   tinely taking vitamin B or E sup-  profile, liver and kidney function tests,
            tors, the World Health Organization   currently no cure, experts say many   plements, omega-3  fatty  acids, or   and  ECGs.  They  stress that  test se-
            (WHO) announced on Wednesday      risks can be reduced through health-  multivitamins solely for dementia   lection should be based on individual
            while releasing its updated global   ier lifestyles and better management   prevention unless a deficiency has   health profiles and medical advice rath-
            guidelines on reducing cognitive de-  of chronic diseases.          been diagnosed, citing insufficient   er than routine full-body check-ups.
            cline and dementia.                   The updated guidelines rec-   evidence of benefit.                  Doctors emphasize that early
                The recommendations urge gov-  ommend  quitting  tobacco,  limiting   Health experts believe the re-  identification  of hidden  cardiovascu-
            ernments  and  individuals  to  adopt   alcohol consumption, staying physi-  vised  recommendations  reflect  sig-  lar and metabolic risks enables timely
            preventive measures throughout life,   cally active, maintaining social con-  nificant  advances  in  research  since   lifestyle changes and targeted treat-
            as dementia continues to affect mil-  nections, eating a balanced diet, and   the  WHO’s  first  dementia  preven-  ment, significantly reducing the like-
            lions worldwide.                  controlling conditions such as high   tion guidelines were issued in 2019.   lihood  of  heart  attacks,  strokes  and
                According to the WHO, more    blood pressure and diabetes.      They emphasize that adopting      type  2  diabetes.  Preventive  health-
            than 57 million people currently live   The WHO also highlighted    healthy habits across the lifespan can   care, they say, is about choosing the
            with dementia globally,  with  nearly   the importance of reducing ex-  improve brain health and reduce the   right test for the right patient at the
            10  million  new  cases  diagnosed  ev-  posure to air pollution and other   global burden of dementia.  right time.

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