Soma is an Assistant Editor for the weekend supplement HT 48 Hours. She writes on lifestyle, art and culture.
Articles by Soma Das
Diabetes, obesity, weak heart are linked to one bad habit. Get rid of it
The three big lifestyle health problems - diabetes, obesity and heart health - have one common cause. Sedantary lifestyle, say researchers, is also linked to accelerated aging and cancer. Here’s what you can do about it.
Vitamin A diet: Eat these top 10 food sources for glowing skin, immunity
A diet rich in Vitamin A helps you ward off a number of health issues. Vitamin A in your diet can boost your vision, immunity, improve skin and reproductive health. Here are some of the other best sources of Vitamin A.
Is your period irregular? This lifestyle disease could be to blame
A new study shows that girls diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have a high frequency of menstrual irregularities, which can put them at risk of fatty liver disease, fertility problems and endometrial cancer. Here’s why.
Are you on antidepressants? It is linked to higher risk of dementia
Use of antidepressants could lead to dementia suggests a new study, though it could not conclusively say that the drugs were the cause.
Cure for seasonal cough and cold, from ginger tea to eucalyptus oil, more
Common cough, fever and cold are a result of seasonal changes. If you are shivering and sniffling this summer, here are some tried and tested home remedies recommended by medical experts for you.
Is there a cure for flu virus? Answers to your 10 most-asked questions
Common cold and flu is very debilitating and you have many questions around it. Can you get the flu from your pet, should you get flu shots, and how severe can it really be? We get an expert to answer basic questions about the shape-shifting virus.
Best exercise tip you’ll hear today, drink more water for better results
If you exercise regularly, and follow a strict diet plan, here’s something you can do to reach your weight loss goals faster: Drink more water, say experts. Research suggests that it will help you reap the full cognitive benefits of exercise and gain sharper intellectual ability.
Artificial sweeteners are not safe, can cause obesity and diabetes
Artificial sweeteners may be considered healthier alternatives to sugar, but this new study warns that it may be linked to obesity and diabetes.
Playing video games is one of the best ways to learn a new language
Playing Assassin’s Creed II helped a bunch of students learn Italian, according a new study. Here’s everything you need to know about the pros and cons of video games.
Insomnia can make you fat. Here are 12 science-backed ways to sleep better
Sleep influences every aspect of your health, from weight loss to digestion and detoxification. So, if you have trouble sleeping or suffer from insomnia, you need to make these 12 lifestyle changes right now.
Get moving. Intense exercise routines boost your immunity levels
A new study has debunked a nearly four-decade old myth that strenuous exercise such as marathon running suppresses the immune system. This study shows that such intense workouts may actually boost your immunity.
Watch that beer belly for heart’s sake. It is worse than being overweight
Do you have beer belly, but are otherwise not overweight? Beware, as experts say it is bad for the heart. Belly fat also reveals a sedentary lifestyle, low muscle mass, and eating too many refined carbohydrates.
Stay calm and meditate. It can reduce anxiety and boost heart health
Are you battling anxiety and stress? Meditation can be the cure for your mental state, and it can even keep your heart healthy.
Fitness for dummies, 10 small changes that make a huge difference to health
Fitness and weight loss is all about leading a healthy lifestyle. It does not require any major changes in your diet, and nor is it just about exercises or gym sessions. Small changes in your daily routine can get you leaner, healthier.
A dose of art therapy can ease pain and anxiety in cancer patients
Art therapy may help cancer patients overcome their pain and anxiety, and feel better, finds this new study.
Weight loss trick for summer, go on a watermelon detox diet for 5 days
Here’s one good weight loss trick to try this summer: Go on a diet of cool, refreshing slices of watermelon. Weight loss experts tell you the benefits of this diet and if it is the right choice for you.
For a healthy heart, add fatty fish, olive oil to your diet
To keep your heart healthy, eat fatty fish and camelina oil regularly. It increases amounts of good cholesterol and prevents heart disease.
Are you married? It can cut your risk of skin cancer death
Melanoma or skin cancer patients who are married have a distinct advantage over their unmarried counterparts. Here’s why.
Eat more and still lose weight with these 9 easy diet swaps
Losing weight doesn’t mean you eat less. The quality of your diet plays a big role in weight loss than the amount of food you consume. Here are simple diet swaps that ensure you lose weight without starving yourself.
Obsessed with the UK royal wedding? It can lead to mental health issues
Are you keeping track of all the developments in the upcoming royal wedding of Britain’s Prince Harry with actor Meghan Markle? You may want to rethink your obsession, as experts warn of its effect on your mental health.
The Danes know the secret to happiness. Now, they want recognition for it
Ever wondered why Denmark is one of the happiest countries around the world? Danes say their concept of ‘hygge’ is responsible for it. And now, they are seeking UNESCO recognition for it.
Best weight loss superfoods nutritionists say you must keep in your kitchen
If you are trying to lose weight, don’t be confused by diet fads and ‘superfoods’ flooding supermarket shelves. Two nutritionists reveal 12 healthy essentials in their kitchen that will help you reach your fitness goals and lose kilos.
William Dalrymple’s visual tribute to a Mughal emperor who fought East India Co rule
The Historian’s Eye is an exhibition of photographs shot by author William Dalrymple as he researched Mughal emperor Shah Alam’s valiant battle against the East India Company for his new book, The Anarchy.
Is your ‘healthy’ diet making you sick? Experts debunk 10 nutrition myths
Should you eat whole-wheat or multigrain bread, is fresh food better than frozen food, and does sea salt have less sodium? On World Health Day, we get nutritionists to reveal which foods are actually healthy for you.
10 exercise and weight loss myths you always thought were true. All of them debunked
Are longer workouts better? Is running bad for the knees? Does sweating more indicate greater fat burn? On World Health Day, we get two fitness experts to bust 10 myths about exercise, weight loss and fitness routines.
This Mumbai exhibition gives a contemporary spin to traditional Pichvai painting
An exhibition at Famous Studios in Mumbai traces the evolution of Pichvai textiles, which were originally hung behind the idol in Vaishnav shrines, and explores how the craft can be reinvented as wall art.
Should you eat microwaved food? ‘Human guinea pig’ Dr Michael Mosley busts health myths
Are deodorants harmful for your health? Should you eat microwaved food? Can you lose weight by altering meal times? UK-based best-selling author and television host Dr Michael Mosley gives the definitive answer to 10 such common questions, based on his research and experiments.
Artist Sameer Kulavoor’s Mumbai exhibition celebrates the chaos of urban living
Visual artist Sameer Kulavoor’s latest acrylic on canvas artworks highlight the multiple identities of cities and the crazy mix of urban dwellers who make it work.
This Italian photographer is chronicling the traditions of the Parsi community of Mumbai
Italian documentary photographer Majlend Bramo’s coffee table book, Like Sugar in Milk, puts the spotlight on the Parsi community of Mumbai, their unique history and culture, and how they manage to thrive despite the challenge of dwindling numbers.
Endometriosis: Is hysterectomy the only cure for pain in the pelvic organs for women?
March is celebrated as Endometriosis Awareness Month. The disease affects 1 in 10 women globally and most patients often take drastic measures to cope with the pain. While some, like actor Lena Dunham recently, opt for hysterectomy to treat the disease, experts say it may not work for everyone.
