Author: Deshwale Health Desk

India is a country where food carries emotion. A glass of milk before school, a plate of dal after work, a festival sweet shared with neighbours. These rituals feel ordinary, yet they hold deep trust. When food enters the kitchen, it carries an unspoken promise of safety. That promise has begun to feel less certain in recent months. In early 2026, a tragedy in Andhra Pradesh shocked the country. Several people died, and many others fell ill after consuming contaminated milk linked to a local dairy supply chain. Investigators later suspected the presence of toxic industrial chemicals that had entered…

भारतीय खाने की कहानी मसालों से नहीं, तेल से शुरू होती है। केरल की एक छोटी रसोई में नारियल का तेल धीरे-धीरे गर्म होता है। कड़ाही में कड़ी पत्ता डाला जाता है तो पूरे घर में एक हरी, हल्की ख़ुशबू फैल जाती है। कोलकाता में सरसों के तेल से मछली पकती है। धुएँ की तेज़ गंध से कोई खाँस पड़ता है, पर किसी को बुरा नहीं लगता। कोल्हापुर में मूँगफली के तेल में लाल मिर्च का तड़का लगता है। उत्तर भारत में घी में जीरा और लहसुन छौंककर दाल पर डाला जाता है और पूरी रसोई में वह ख़ुशबू भर…

The story of Indian food does not begin with spices. It begins with oil. In a modest kitchen in Kerala, coconut oil warms slowly in a steel kadai. Curry leaves crackle and release a bright green aroma. The scent is gentle but unmistakable. In Kolkata, mustard oil smokes briefly before fish touches the pan. The sharp smell fills the room. Someone coughs. That is normal. In Kolhapur, groundnut oil carries a fierce red chilli paste across a pan. The heat builds slowly and deeply. Elsewhere in North India, ghee melts into a ladle of cumin and garlic before being poured…

रमेश कुलकर्णी जब पहली बार डॉक्टर के पास गए तब उनकी उम्र ६१ साल थी। इसलिए नहीं कि किसी ने उन्हें जाँच करवाने की सलाह दी थी। इसलिए नहीं कि उन्होंने कोई अभियान देखा था, कोई पर्चा पढ़ा था या कोई सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य घोषणा सुनी थी। वे इसलिए गए क्योंकि आठ महीनों से चुपचाप खाई जा रही पैरासिटामोल से दर्द अब काबू से बाहर हो गया था। जाँच में प्रोस्टेट कैंसर निकला, चौथी स्टेज। ऑन्कोलॉजिस्ट ने उनके बेटे से धीरे से कहा कि अगर दो साल पहले पता चल जाता तो बात कुछ और होती। रमेश चौदह महीने बाद चले…

Ramesh Kulkarni was 61 when he finally went to a doctor. Not because anyone had told him to go for a check-up. Not because he had seen a campaign, read a pamphlet or heard a public health announcement. He went because the pain had become impossible to manage with the paracetamol he had been quietly taking for eight months. The diagnosis was prostate cancer, stage four. His oncologist told his son, gently, that if it had been caught two years earlier the conversation would have been very different. Ramesh died fourteen months later. His wife told a community health worker…

The Maharashtra Stroke Summit held in Mumbai on 6 March 2026 brought together policymakers, doctors and healthcare experts to discuss urgent steps needed to improve stroke care in the state. The summit was organised by the Indian Medical Parliamentarians’ Forum (IMPF) in collaboration with the European Business Group, with Medtronic serving as the knowledge partner. Stroke continues to pose a serious health challenge in India. It is currently the fourth leading cause of death and the fifth leading cause of disability in the country. Maharashtra remains among the top ten states with high stroke-related deaths and disability, highlighting the urgent…

India loves its families in many ways. The joint home, the noisy dinner table, the cousins who know more about you than you would like. And yet, inside these same homes, one of the most pressing health crises of our time continues to pass unspoken. Mental illness in India is not simply a medical problem. It hides well in a culture that prizes stoicism, family pride and the belief that difficulties are best managed within four walls. It is a family secret. And the keeping of it is making people sicker. The Numbers Are Hard to Ignore According to the…

Manipal, March 02, 2026: Researchers at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, have uncovered how the deadly airborne fungus Cryptococcus neoformans selectively attacks neurons in the human brain. The findings, published in Frontiers in Immunology, provide new insights into fungal meningitis and potential treatment approaches. A Hidden Threat to the Brain Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus that can cause life-threatening meningoencephalitis, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems. While it is known that the fungus releases a toxic molecule called glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) in the brain, the reason why certain brain…

In 2026, complexion trends have moved beyond simple glow goals and into a more layered conversation about texture, finish and skin health. Two aesthetics now dominate beauty discussions across social media, backstage at fashion weeks and in dermatology clinics alike: glass skin and cloud skin. While both claim to celebrate healthy skin, they approach it from very different angles. Glass skin, which emerged from Korean beauty culture, focuses on intense hydration and clarity. The goal is skin that appears almost translucent, smooth and reflective. Achieving this look usually involves layering lightweight toners, hydrating serums and moisturisers that support the skin…

In today’s digital age, it is very common for people to turn to the internet when they feel unwell. A simple search for symptoms like headache, fever, or fatigue often leads to lists of possible illnesses and treatments. While this might seem convenient, relying on Google or health websites as a doctor can be risky. Many people use online self-diagnosis to save time, avoid medical bills, or reduce anxiety. It can feel like a quick way to find answers without waiting for a doctor’s appointment. However, this approach has hidden dangers that most people do not consider. One of the…