- A world free of medicines is the dream of many a doctors as many of the diseases seen today occur as a result of adverse side effects of various medicines.
- The popular notion is to opt for medicines and pills for any situations without considering the nature of the medical condition itself. The disease begins in the mind,
- Take the example of high cholesterol levels being considered as a medical condition. Cholesterol is a molecule required by our body for many important functions including:
- Formation of new cells.
- Signalling between cells
- Production of hormones.
- Production of bile acids – are essential for digestion, and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins,
- Formation of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve cells and increases the rate of propagation of nervous impulses.
- Functioning of the brain.
- Absence of cholesterol can result memory loss, reduction in bile juice and others severe complications which makes cholesterol an important molecule.
- The liver produces excess cholesterol only when required, say when excess steroid hormones, bile acids, myelin is required, or when the body is in a flight-or-fight mode to arouse the body’s defence mechanism and not on a chronic basis.
- Overeating increases the required levels of cholesterol and the body requires more bile for digestion. To counter this, the best option is to exercise daily and eat moderately as this will reduce the amount of cholesterol required by the body.
- Food, including fatty food, is only dangerous when consumed in excess. This not only reduces the pressure on liver to produce excess cholesterol, but also obliterates the need for anti-cholesterol drugs.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-openpage/a-world-without-medicines-could-be-a-boon/article6115905.ece
Exams Perspective: