2019 was a tumultuous year; in politics, in business and in health. We started new conversations about health, started using new technology, and then found out that some of the new fangled stuff was actually bad for us. It was not all bad news; we became more conscious about sustainable lifestyles, and more conscientious products and practices gained popularity. So, in 2019, what were we talking about when we spoke about health?
The Menstrual Cup became mainstream
International websites announced in 2019 that the menstrual cup is now popular enough for multiple brands to start making them. Thanks to this, they are much more affordable and far more accessible to women. Many Indian brands too have joined the fray. It’s promise of being more environment-friendly, and a safer alternative to plastic-heavy options like sanitary pads and tampons, is attractive to many women who want to make sustainable lifestyle choices.
Keto diet was one of the most searched terms on the internet
“What is keto?” was one of the most searched questions on Google this year, according to a CNN roundup. The low-carb, high-fat diet has been hailed as the holy grail of weight loss and good health.
We started talking about the health effects of climate change on Indian children
The climate change-induced apocalypse may still be far away in the future, but according to studies, it affects our health today. Children in India will be particularly vulnerable to the ill effects of climate change such as the worsening air quality, higher food prices and a rise in infectious diseases, warns a new study published in the journal The Lancet.
Climatic suitability for the Vibrio bacteria that causes cholera is rising 3 per cent a year in India since the early 1980s, said the report.
PCOS remained a topic of conversation
A 2019 study found that one in 5 Indian women suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, that is 20 per cent of the population in the reproductive age. With that came conversations about how to treat it, including diet, exercise and hormonal therapy.
CBD products became mainstream
Cannabidiol oil’s purported health benefits are reportedly vast; from helping relieve chronic pain to undoing the damage caused by cancer. In 2019, CBD and Hemp became buzzwords in the wellness industry.
We finally started addressing the scope of mental health struggles
India’s mental health crisis finally got the attention it needed. India is in the midst of an unchecked mental health crisis, which reportedly affects 1 in 6 Indians, according to WHO. With celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt starting the conversation, Indian media followed suit too.
We learned about the presence of microplastics in our food chain
A study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology says it’s possible that humans may be consuming anywhere from 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles a year.
Vaping lost its ‘healthy’ edge
E-cigarettes were supposed to be the cooler way to get your nicotine fix, without messing up your lungs. 2019 burst that bubble with a slew of deaths, reportedly caused by a chemical compound found in the vaping oil.
Image Credit: TOI and iStockphoto.com
