On the Holi Day, prioritizing health amid vibrant celebrations is crucial. Doctors stress protective measures like skin and eye care, hydration, food and water safety, respiratory health, and adherence to COVID-19 precautions. The HEALTH PIONEER reports

Holi & Desserts

Our fondness for Holi and the festivities makes it tough to resist a Gujiya, Laddoo or a Kaju Katli. And don’t we often find the festive season as an excuse to have one or more of these amazing sugary treats? That’s where the dilemma is, since you are already aware that sugar isn’t right for your body and health and yet you still want to have it.

Sugar is fine for you in small amounts but too much indulgence can affect your body and increase your risk of several serious medical conditions like –

Increases your risk of Heart Disease – Consuming too much sugar can increase your blood pressure causing hypertension and arterial complications like atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by fatty, artery-clogging deposits and stroke.

Increases your risk of Type 2 Diabetes – Diabetes is the leading cause of mortality and reduced life expectancy. Prolonged high-sugar consumption drives resistance to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance causes blood sugar levels to rise and strongly increases your risk of diabetes.

Affects your Skin — Binge-eating on the sugary treats can cause Acne, blemishes and pigmentation.

Weight Gain — Eating large amounts of sugar can contribute to weight gain and increased body fat. Obesity is often caused by excessive sugar consumption.

Enhances Cellular Aging — Telomeres are structures found at the end of chromosomes, which are molecules that hold part or all of your genetic information. Consuming high amounts of sugar has been shown to accelerate telomere shortening, which increases cellular aging.

Can lead to Fatty Liver  — A high intake of fructose has been consistently linked to an increased risk of Fatty Liver. Large amounts of added sugar in the form of fructose overload your liver, leading to Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a condition characterized by excessive fat build-up in the liver.

Impacts Dental Health — Eating too much sugar can cause cavities. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and release acid by-products, which causes tooth demineralization leading to cavities.

The best way to limit your sugar intake this Holi is to prepare your own healthy sweets at home. We should not let our guard down even when we are consuming sweets made from artificial sweeteners or if it's sugar free. We can use whole fruits as sweeteners as they are a much healthier option.

We have to be restrictive to a greater extent in order to avoid sugars and be mindful about consuming sweets on this and all the other festive seasons.

Holi & EYE care

To prevent any colour entering  your eyes, use protective gears like sunglasses. For small children, you can advise them to wear goggles so that the colour does not enter the eyes. Avoid using synthetic colours. Play with eco-friendly or organic or natural colours. In case any colour enters the eye, use clean water to clean it with splashing. But do not rub the eyes neither use any home remedies like milk or honey or oil into your eyes as these can aggravate the problem. Also do not use any random drops or eye drops.

These days, industry chemicals is being used extensively in colour formulation such as motor oil, diesel, mica, and alkalis that can enter into eyes.

Avoid playing in such groups. We would advise you to immediately consult nearest doctor or Ophthalmologist. If you wear contact lens then remove them before going out to play holi. Use glasses in such instances because contact lenses can trap the colours and damage your eyes.

(The writer is Dr PAYAL GUPTA, Associate Consultant-Ophthalmology Fortis Hospital Greater Noida)

Holi & pregnant women

In addition to colours, Holi is connected with bhang. However, a bhang overdose for pregnant women might result in major health issues. Bhang consumption can impact the foetus, neurological system, and brain in addition to raising blood pressure and heart rate.

It is essential that pregnant women avoid playing Holi at all; instead, they should stay indoors or, if they must go outside, do so in the company of reliable elders. Additionally, as we know, modern Holi colours are composed of chemicals. Certain hues can potentially cause cancer. Thus, nursing moms should use the same prudence as expectant mothers. When a pregnant woman uses these colours in an area where lead is present, it may cause an abortion or miscarriage as well as an underweight or premature birth. The reproductive and nervous systems may also be impacted. Have a glass of lemon detox water first thing in the morning, then eat something clean and healthful.

The writer is Dr Shobha Gupta, Medical Director, Gynecologist and IVF Specialist, Mother’s Lap IVF Centre, Delhi

Tips for hair & skin protection

• Apply a generous dose of high levels of SPF and Vitamin E before heading outside on the day of Holi, These works as a shield to block UV radiation.
• Before you begin playing, make sure your hair is well oiled. Olive and coconut oils are good choices for shielding your hair from strong colouring.
• Use oil on your nails, ear lobes, and behind your ears as well, as these are areas where the colour tends to settle more easily.
• After playing Holi, especially if you used chemical colours, stay out of the scorching sun while the colours are still on your body or face. As a result, the colours are more vibrant and challenging to remove. If you are outside, choose a shaded spot to sit.
• Make greater use of colours that are easily removed.
• Remember to apply waterproof sunscreen with at least SPF 30 or higher before spending a day in the sun.
• Dress mostly in coverings for your body and avoid bulky, difficult-to-dry materials like denim.
• Use a bandana or thick scarf to cover your head.
• Avoid wearing lenses when playing outside. Although the colours of Holi are irritating, lenses tend to absorb the colour, making the situation worse. Put on spectacles and make sure you clean them occasionally.

How to remove colours

• After washing, hair needs to be deeply conditioned in order to remove colour. Ensure that your hair is tidy. After two to three days, use a hair mask to repair the damage.
• Wash your face and hair after experimenting with colour. Use a cleanser rather than roughly rubbing the skin with soaps to wipe the face of gulal. Apply a tonne of moisturiser after this, paying special attention to products designed for sensitive skin.
• Refrain from using your fingernails to remove colour since they will leave ugly stains. To remove the colours, gently scrub the face and body with granulated sugar.
• The week after, refrain from bleaching, shaving, waxing, and getting a facial or clean-up. Allow your body and skin some time to heal from the injury.
• To remove stains, stay away from using kerosene, petrol and spirits as they will cause your skin to become dry.
• Use a solution of sea salt, glycerine, and a few drops of fragrance oil to rejuvenate your skin. This mixture has antibacterial and antifungal properties and can also remove artificial colouring.