“Why do I think that beer is beneficial for health?” – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com Although it is commonly believed that alcohol consumption should be avoided for health reasons, data shows that there is not a significant difference in life expectancy between countries with high alcohol intake and those with low consumption. The Czech Republic remains the leader in per capita beer drinking for the 29th year. In 2021, the average Czech drank more than 184 litres of beer. The life expectancy for Czechia in 2023 was 79.85 years, a 0.18% increase from 2022. If your family doctor is a teetotaler, he will advise you to stay away from alcohol entirely. However, if your doctor enjoys a drink, he may suggest you consume it in moderation. This story is about the conflicting reports that arise in the media from time to time about whether alcoholic beverages are beneficial ...

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How does salt affect your health? – By Dr Harold Gunatillake www.Doctorharold.com As much as 85 percent of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy, rather than being added during cooking or eating. Table salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), is a naturally occurring mineral essential for animal life. Salt is one of the most widely used and oldest forms of food seasoning. Saltiness is one of the five basic human tastes in addition to sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and umami (a savory, meaty taste, such as that of cooked mushrooms, cheese, or soy sauce). It is estimated that we need about 500 mg or 6 grams. of sodium daily for vital functions. But did yo know that, on ..average, working-age adults in England consume 8.4g a day – that’s 40 percent above the national guideline? In Sri Lanka, the National Population Salt Consumption the survey estimated the salt ...

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Men’s Health: It’s not all about the Prostate – By Dr. Gihan Gunawardena Source: Brisbane Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – June 2022 Men unfortunately bare more disease burden (54% of all diseases) vs 46% by women but more so with cardiovascular and endocrine (mainly diabetes) diseases – 20% more than women and even though the total number is less, men account for 70-75% of all suicides. The leading 5 causes of death in Australia are: 1) Heart disease 2) Dementia 3) Stroke 4) Lung cancer 5) Other chronic lung diseases including asthma/ COPD. Males dominate in all except Dementia. Your lifestyle is the main determinant of your long-term general health. Starting from maintaining your weight between BMI 18.5 – 25 and lowering your cholesterol with a healthy balanced diet (Low carb / Low fat / high in fresh fruit / vegetables / fish and minimising processed food) are key ...

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