Are bananas good for health? There seem to be contradictory views on this.

Bananas have a lot of benefits as they contain Vitamin C and magnesium. They boost immunity. Magnesium helps with muscle pain and soreness. They provide healthy calories without sugar and cholesterol. They help maintain electrolyte balance, provide an energy boost and help with proper gastrointestinal motility. If you eat too many bananas (more than two a day), however, you will put on weight.

Tackle cholesterol

I don’t particularly appreciate taking medication. Can I correct my lipid profile without medication?

You can try to correct your lipid profile without medications by exercising 150 minutes a week aerobically. This means walking, running or cycling. You can also reduce oil consumption to 500ml per family member per month. Avoid snacks. Reduce stress by doing yoga at least three times a week. After three months of sincere effort, if there is no improvement, please go back to your medications.

Toe turn

I am 56 years old. I do not havediabetes, hypertension or arthritis. Both my big toes have started turning inwards. So much so that it is difficult to put on footwear.

Buy toe separators online and use them regularly. After two months, if that does not help, consult an orthopaedic surgeon. Eventually, you may have to go in for surgery if the deformity makes walking difficult.

Exercise in pregnancy

Do I need need to exercise during pregnancy? My friends say I should take rest.

Exercise during pregnancy will help with cardiovascular fitness, increase endurance and strengthen your leg muscles so that you can withstand the rigours of prolonged labour. Thirty minutes of fast walking regularly is usually all that is required. That means walking at a speed at which it is possible to carry on a conversation. Intensive exercise may take the blood flow away from the uterus.

Antenatal exercises and yoga will also help with a smooth and fast delivery. It will help you tolerate the pain. Please consult your obstetrician first. Your doctor may have found a contraindication for exercise, such as bleeding during pregnancy, prolapse or some other complication.

Barefoot run

Is running barefoot healthier than running with shoes on?

Barefoot running is better, and now they also have barefoot running shoes. The biomechanics is better as it promotes the front foot strike instead of the heel strike. The problem with barefoot training is that the roads may have stones, thorns, cow dung and foreign objects. This may result in injuries. Also, you may tend to overuse your calf muscles.

TV time

The only way to keep my one-year-old quiet and get him to eat is switching on the TV. I read that TV viewing is not good for children. How much can a child watch safely?

A child should have no TV or mobile time before the age of two years. After that, they can watch one hour of TV a day. Mindlessly eating in front of the TV is not healthy. If you can manage without this, it is better and healthier.

Thunder thighs

I have thunder thighs. The rest of me is fairly normal.

Spot reduction is a myth. You must lose weight with a healthy diet, aerobic exercise and strength training. If you exercise your thighs alone, the muscles will become well-defined, but an overall reduction in weight is needed to reduce the fat and size.

The writer has a family practice at Vellore and is the author of Staying Healthy in Modern India. If you have any questions on health issues please write to yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in