Chocolate before meal is healthier than after

If you have any health queries, mail them to health.dtnext@dt.co.in, and we will get them answered by specialists

By :  migrator
Update: 2017-02-22 09:03 GMT
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Chennai

My children are addicted to chocolates. I heard that they cause cavities in teeth. Is there a way to stop them from consuming it completely and inculcate good oral hygiene among them? Niveditha, T Nagar

You can always begin by demonstrating brushing your teeth in the night along with them. Night brushing is more important as your mouth is idle for the next few hours and there is no saliva movement in the mouth. Children pick up what they see better than what they are old. It is okay to let them eat chocolates occasionally. Also, let them have chocolate before a meal rather than after it because the food that they eat subsequently will negate the sweetness that breeds bacteria. When had after a meal, chocolate stays in the mouth for a longer time. 

Dr B Lakshmi, Orthodontist-Cosmetologist, Tamara Dental and Cosmetic Clinic 

I have frequent spells of dizziness and decreased energy during the day. Could it be anaemia? What are the long-term effects? Ashok TV, Little Mount

Iron deficiency or anaemia goes undetected because we ignore symptoms like decreased energy, pale skin, shortness of breath, palpitations or irregular heartbeats, weakness and light-headedness. 

They seem to be minor ailments, curable with a temporary rest. But they could lead to organs being damaged in whole or in parts and pave the way for the onset of an acute anaemic condition. Extreme case of anaemia can cause chest pain, angina and heart attack. Other extreme cases could be jaundice, spleen enlargement, dizziness and fainting spells.

Dr B. Sesikeran MD, Former Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad

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