Joys of Healthy Living

All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.

Dear Readers,

Thanks for your continuous support. Famous poet C F Alexander’s above lines speak eloquently about the joy that emanates from the biophysical diversity of microorganisms, flora and fauna that characterizes the creation. It is this understanding of the Nature’s bounty that leads to significant medical and pharmacological discoveries, culminating in potential treatments for many diseases and health problems.
The health consequences of not living in harmony with Nature are too frightening. Ultimately, health is wealth. If we are not healthy (do not feel in the state of physical, mental and social well-being), wealth means nothing to us. If one is not healthy, he/she would definitely suffer extreme difficulties in life instead of enjoying the beauty of creation. In order to maintain good health, we need to eat balanced food, do physical exercises daily, breathe fresh air, drink clean water, maintain good posture, have sound sleep and rest, maintain cleanliness, undergo regular medical check-ups, and follow the advice of our doctors, parents, and elders.
Keeping these things in mind, Double Helical’s cover story in this issue is on the vitamins, minerals, nutritional and herbal supplements (VMHS) market, which is growing at a tremendous pace in India. It is riding high on account of rising health consciousness, surging economic development with consumers having higher disposal income and expanding service class population, coupled with increasing endorsements of brands by celebrities, continuous investments on R&D activities, and rapid growth of the e-commerce market.
However, lack of clear regulatory framework has been a major challenge and consumers are interested in personalized online VMHS solutions. Close co-operation between regulatory bodies and industry will ultimately create greater consumer confidence in the safety and efficacy of VMHS products.
The global demand for meat and dairy product consumption is steadily on the rise today. The basic reasons are growth in demand for functional and nutritionally enriched processed food products, the prevalence of vitamin deficiencies, and food fortification. According to a report, the vitamins market is projected to reach USD 7.35 billion by 2023.
In another special story titled “A Slow Poison” we aim to generate awareness that consumption of smokeless tobacco leads to rising burden of mortality and morbidity, it calls for meticulous compilation and analysis of scientific studies on patterns and associated usage risks of the substance.
Tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease globally as well as in India. Widespread consumption of smokeless tobacco(SLT) in the form of gutka, khaini, paan masala, betel quid ((a mixture of areca nut, slaked lime, and tobacco wrapped in betel leaf), leads to oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), a devastating condition of oral cavity which may ultimately lead to oral cancer. India has always reaffirmed its position as the global leader in the area of tobacco control. Union Health Ministry claims to take concrete steps in advancing tobacco control initiatives at national, state and sub-national levels through National Tobacco Control Programme
The challenges before the nation are formidable, both in their number and in their complexity, especially, in view of the growing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and that too amongst disadvantaged people who live in rural areas. Therefore, it becomes imperative to take all social determinants of NCD into account, and to curb the use of tobacco at large. The monograph on Smokeless Tobacco and Public Health in India will bridge a very important gap in the area of public health, as it provides a comprehensive review on impact of smokeless tobacco consumption.
We should applaud the efforts made by the Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health; Public Health Foundation of India; World Health Organization (WHO); the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.A; National Cancer Institute, U.S.A., and other eminent organizations/experts in bringing out a comprehensive report with empirical evidences on smokeless tobacco.
There are many more stories based on intensive analysis and scientific research. Stay with us and enjoy reading your favourite magazine.

Thanks and regards

Amresh K Tiwary,
Editor-in-Chief