Vitamin D is a fat soluble nutrient, which is known to have potent effects on our body. For a country like India, which is gifted with plentiful sunlight, it was surprising to find that around 70 to 90 percent of the population is suffering from vitamin D deficiency. As per the findings of a new study, researchers found that majority of Indians are Vitamin D deficient and this condition was significantly associated with people suffering from Type-2 diabetes and hypertension.

This finding by P.G. Talwalkar, Diabetologist at Shushrusha Hospital in Mumbai, further confirms that Vitamin D deficiency leads to chronic diseases. "Pregnant women in India have up to 84 percent prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency, which also correlates with the level of Vitamin D deficiency in their newborns," said Srirupa Das, Medical Director, Abbott India, Mumbai. "In adults, Vitamin D deficiency is associated with low bone mass and muscle weakness, which results in increased risk of fractures and bone disorders such as osteoporosis," Das said.

The research was conducted on 1,508 individuals. As per the researchers, in Mumbai there is 88 percent prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in urban adults. They also revealed that 84.2 percent of Type-2 diabetes patients were Vitamin D deficient, as were 82.6 percent of hypertension patients.
"Our study also investigated co-occurrence of deficiency with hypothyroidism and obesity or overweight condition. A majority (76 per cent) of hypothyroid patients had low levels of vitamin D. Moreover, 82 per cent of patients were obese, indicating that there may be a link between the deficiency, its comorbidities and body weight," said Talwalkar.

"These findings highlight the need for routine screening to ensure early diagnosis and effective management of Vitamin D deficiency to help reduce the burden and risks associated with non-communicable disease," Talwalkar added.

There are various causes of Vitamin D deficiency in India. Most people do not receive adequate exposure to sunlight, as urban and sedentary lifestyles have resulted in less time spent outdoors for work or leisure. High levels of air pollution are also one of the reasons of Vitamin D deficiency in people.

Eat These Healthy Vitamin D-Rich Foods
Dairy products like milk and eggs are rich in Vitamin D. To overcome deficiency of this nutrient, eat the following foods regularly.

1. Yogurt
2. Cow Milk
3. Orange Juice
4. Oatmeal
5. Mushrooms
6. Egg Yolk

Try These Vitamin D-Rich Recipes At Home:
Try these easy recipes of meals containing vitamin D-rich foods

1. Masala Chaas
2. Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
3. Tofu Fruits Salad
4. Chilled Mushrooms and Capsicum

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition where the pressure of blood against the walls of vessels is persistently elevated. A blood pressure close to 120/90 is considered normal and is considered high when it crosses 140/90. There are millions of cases of hypertension reported every year and it can last for years or can even be life-long. What makes hypertension a serious condition is that it often has no symptoms, and if left untreated over a long period of time, it may lead to serious health conditions like heart disease and strokes. Hypertension patients have to take special care of their daily meals and follow a strict high blood pressure diet to manage symptoms of the condition. This season demands that BP patients include healthy summer drinks in their diet.

Adding certain foods and drinks to your daily diet may help regulate symptoms of hypertension. Ideally, high blood pressure patients should eat foods that are low in sodium and saturated fat content and rich in fibre. Eating low-calorie and low-fat nutrient-rich foods and drinks may work wonders for hypertension patients, and during summers, one such BP-friendly drink is coconut water.

Hypertension Diet: Coconut Water For High BP
Coconut water is one of the healthiest summer drinks out there. The translucent liquid that is collected inside a green coconut is widely consumed as a thirst-quencher around the world. However, drinking it daily may have special benefits for hypertension patients. Here's why:

1. Low In Calories
A 100 ml of coconut water contains just 19 calories (according to the United States Department of Agriculture) and no fat or cholesterol.

2. Rich In Potassium
One of the most important minerals for hypertension patients who normally consume salty diet is potassium, which balances out the negative effects of salt. Coconut water contains 250 mg of potassium per 100 ml.

3. Reduces Blood Cholesterol
Blood cholesterol and high blood pressure are linked, as the hardening of arteries can put a strain on the heart by pushing it harder to pump blood. This raises the BP. Coconut water is said to reduce levels of triglycerides and blood cholesterol, thus helping hypertension patients.

A number of studies conducted on the health benefits of coconut water have proven that the drink is not just deliciously hydrating and filled with electrolytes, but may also be quite healthy for high blood pressure patients. Adding chilled coconut water to your hypertension diet this summer may help you improve your BP readings.

Oats are one of the healthiest food grains out there. Also known by the scientific name Avena sativa, oat is commonly consumed as a breakfast cereal and is particularly recommended for those with high cholesterol or high blood pressure and blood sugar. Besides being rich in complex carbohydrates and fibre, oats are also rich in a range of nutrients. Oats are available in a variety of forms, depending on the level of processing that the product has undergone. They are consumed for their numerous health benefits with the least processed forms having low glycaemic indices. However, despite all its benefits, oat may not be the cereal of choice for many around the world, due to its neutral taste and mushy texture when cooked as oatmeal.

Oat Nutrition: Facts And Nutritional Values
Groats (unprocessed whole oats) and steel-cut oats are among the least processed forms of oats. These take longer to digest and to cook as well. There are other more processed forms like instant or rolled oats, which are more popular as these are easier to cook with. According to the data by United States Department of Agriculture, a 100 gram portion of oats contains 4 grams of beta-glucan, which is a soluble fibre credited with improving satiety by slowing down digestion. The same portion supplies 389 calories, with 11 grams of dietary fibre, 16.9 grams of protein and good amounts of a range of micro-nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and potassium.

Health Benefits Of Oats
1. Consumption of oats and other whole grains has been linked with lower risk of cardiovascular diseases as they help reduce levels of cholesterol in blood.

2. The beta-glucan present in oats regulates levels of blood sugar and insulin, by slowing down the process of digestion, and hence, it may prove to be beneficial for diabetics or for slowing advance of diabetes.

3. Oats are also said to aid weight loss by increasing satiety. This is due to the presence of soluble fibre, which binds with water and increases in volume in the gut.

4. Oats have also been credited with improving gut health by increasing gut microbiota, which happens when the soluble fibre breaks down in the gut.

Creative Ways Of Including Oats In Your Weight Loss Diet
1. Oat Smoothies
Adding oats to your morning fruit smoothies is a sure-shot way of making your breakfast fibre-rich and filling. All you have to do is blitz roll oats and then blend them with the yogurt, fruit and milk mixture to get delicious and filling oat breakfast smoothies.

2. Oat Bread
Ground oats can also be added to bread batter for healthy and nutritious oat bread. You can mix in some bananas and make sweet oat bread for a healthy tea-time snack. Here's a recipe for banana oat bread that you'll like.

3. Oat Granola/Snacks
Oats are commonly toasted along with a variety of nuts and then flavoured with honey, cinnamon, nutmeg among other things to make healthy, lose granola or granola bars for a high-fibre on-the-go snack. Here's a recipe for sugar-free oats that you'll want to try.

4. Oats Pancakes, Dosas, Uttapams And More
You can add rolled oats to batters of a number of flat-cakes, both Indian and otherwise. It's a simple way of adding some much-needed soluble fibre to pancakes, dosas, uttapams and more. Here's a recipe of cinnamon oatmeal pancakes that you can try out.

5. Homemade Oats Pizza
You can even make the crust of your homemade pizzas from oats! That's the most fun way of sneaking in the fibre in your meals. Not just that, you can even cook oats in the form of risottos, which would basically be savoury oatmeal with sautéed vegetables cooked in the style of this Italian favourite.

Once you get yourself to experiment with this superfood, sky is the limit. Which of the above-mentioned oat dishes are you preparing soon? Let us know in the comments section below! You may even experiment with other healthy ingredients of your choice.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages the world over. The concoction is enjoyed in numerous different ways in different parts of the world. The caffeinated beverage also has many different types, depending on the climate that it's manufactured in, the level of processing that the leaves are made to undergo, the season that the leaves are harvested in etc. Nowadays, caffeine-free herbal teas or tisanes have also gained popularity, especially among those who have been addicted to caffeine and who need to cut it down. Herbal teas are typically concoctions prepared by boiling a number of spices, herbs or other parts of the plant, like flowers, with water.

Fruit-infused teas have also gained popularity. These beverages cannot be categorised as 'teas' technically as they don't contain tea leaves, but are instead prepared by boiling an assortment of dried or fresh fruits in water, along with spices. Fruit-infused teas may contain some water soluble vitamins and nutrients that may get seeped into the water that the fruits are being boiled in. Although such fruit-infused teas may actually have limited health benefits, they serve as great alternatives for caffeinated teas. They are delicious as they contain the delicate flavours of the fruits and you can drink these anytime of the day including late into the night, without worrying about staying awake.

How To Make Fruit-Infused Tea
We have the perfect recipe for a fruit-infused tea that is suited for hot summer days. The infusion is completely free of caffeine and contains the relaxing chamomile tea that is known to have a number of health benefits. Here are just some of them:

1. May help fight insomnia and help improve the quality of sleep.

2. May fight digestive issues like diarrhoea and stomach ulcers.

3. May boost heart health, due to the presence of flavones that have antioxidant properties.

4. May help soothe anxiety.

The recipe also contains the calming and soothing earthy flavour of ginger. This recipe uses a variety of Vitamin C-rich fruits like oranges, berries, along with chamomile tea, mint leaves and ginger. It's very easy to make the tea and all you have to do is wash all your ingredients thoroughly and then boil them in water and then pour the filtered water out into cups. You may add honey as per your taste.

Veganism is gaining steam all around the world, against the backdrop of growing health concerns against processed foods and their repercussions on health. The added chorus against climate change and the impact of animal rearing on the environment may also be a contributing factor in the rise of popularity of veganism and vegan food. Food allergies, religious convictions and specific health reasons may also prompt people to go the vegan way. Veganism is a diet that shuns meat and meat products, dairy and dairy products, as well as all refined and processed foods, in the favour of more natural, plant-based and organic food products. Vegans consume foods that are mainly derived from plants and are free of animal products. But if you are someone who has been planning to go vegan or has to make the switch for health reasons immediately, you may want to be ready for some common hassles.

A lot of people may find that adapting to a vegan lifestyle isn't very easy, not the least because vegan foods and food products are expensive. Veganism also requires a whole lot of planning and prepping, as well as some research. This is because vegan products, especially those that guarantee quality, may not be very widely available. Take sweeteners, for example. Vegans may not have a lot of options available when it comes to sweetening their foods and beverages, but there are some natural alternatives to refined sugar that vegans may choose from.

Healthy Vegan Diet: Best Vegan Sweeteners
1. Dates or date syrup
One of the best sweeteners that vegans can use in their desserts and dishes is the date syrup. Although it's not technically syrup, this is made by simply grinding de-seeded dates in lukewarm water. Dates are rich in dietary fibre, as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium. Date syrup can be added to all your desserts for a sweet taste and it makes for the safest, most nutritious vegan sweetener, as it is made at home from a dried fruit.

2. Maple Syrup
This natural sweetener is derived from the sap of the maple tree and most of the world's maple syrup comes from Quebec in Canada. Depending on when the sap is harvested, the colour of the maple syrup may vary and the products are categorised as per their colour. Maple syrup is said to be healthier than refined sugar due to the presence of antioxidants and minerals present in it. Maple syrup is extremely rich in manganese and it also contains some amounts of potassium, calcium, zinc and iron.

3. Coconut Sugar
It is touted to be lower on the glycemic index as compared to regular sugar and may be a good natural alternative to refined sugars. Coconut sugar is derived from the coconut palm tree, by collecting the liquid sap inside the coconut flower. The sap is subjected to heat until all the water is evaporated. Coconut sugar is said to even retain some of the nutrients of coconut palm, most notably, potassium, calcium, zinc and iron.

4. Brown Rice Syrup
This sweetener made from brown rice is prepared by breaking down starch present in the grains, which results in easily digestible sugars. Brown rice syrup may be considered better than normal sugars, due to the absence of fructose.

Vegans must consult their nutritionist or a certified dietitian about which sweetener is the best for them, or for their particular health condition and then make the right pick.