Iron deficiency anaemia by Dr Harold Gunatillake Iron deficiency anaemia is quite common among women especially during child bearing age, among rich and the poor equally. It is difficult to explain why the rich and the affluent classes also should suffer from iron deficiency when they could well afford to buy foods rich in iron. The poorer classes suffer from malnutrition and iron deficiency due to poverty and the unhealthy environments they dwell. Another reason why young women, including the teenagers become anaemic is due to irregular excessive uncontrollable menses. Doctors call this ‘menorrhagia. The simplest way to control this problem is to go on the contraceptive pill which automatically regulates the menses. ...

Bundled up health material, social events, cookery demos, and much more by Dr Harold Gunatillake   ...

Traffic Delays in the cities is a major risk factor for heart disease Dr Harold Gunatillake Known risk factors for heart disease are obesity, stress, consuming fatty and starchy meals, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, genetic factors and so on. We forget to realise that the worst risk factor for heart disease is the frustration of road traffic hold- ups, or as we call it ‘bumper to bumper’ situation on the main city roads in Colombo and outskirts If you drive on Galle Road from Wellawatte to Mount Lavinia during office hours you could take over an hour to get to your destination, which normally should take 15 minutes. You get annoyed, frustrated, angry, fatigued and disappointed when you can’t reach your destination in time, as a daily repetitive occurrence. Most car owners can’t afford to have drivers, and you need to self- drive to work every day. No person in ...

Cookery Demonstrations on tele’ channels, in Sri Lanka – by Dr Harold Gunatillake I was amazed, shocked to watch a most unhealthy cookery demonstration on one of the TV channels in Sri Lanka The whole program was focussing how tasty to cook food with a particular kind of cooking oil, obviously being a product sold by the sponsors of the programme. The chefs demonstrated how peeled cut potatoes, fish fillets and green peas were deep fried in a particular variety of oil to produce a tasteful display. The potato segments were mixed with corn flour, (if needed to add wheat flour), then deep fried in a pan filled with one whole bottle of clear processed oil from a labelled bottle. ...

Gluten Intolerance And Sensitivity by Dr. Harold Gunatillake – Health writer people suffer from intolerance or sensitivity to gluten containing foods? In Sri Lanka this condition is unknowingly common due to consumption of processed white bread daily as accepted breakfast, lunch or dinner – a quick way to feed your hunger replacing rice and curry as main meals. In most situations when both bread-winners work, may be compelled to eat bread and curry, which include school-going children, too? The most popular curry that goes well nutritiously with bread is lentil curry. Fortunately lentils are gluten-freeNow what are gluten containing foods? They include foods made from wheat flour, Rye and Barley. Eggs, meat, fish have no gluten. Oats have no gluten but may cause bloating, pain and diarrhoea. ...