The image of acid conjures up bubbling test tubes and burning, but in reality, it is necessary to maintain healthy skin. Various acids like salicylic, glycolic, kojic, and ascorbic acids are often dubbed as keys to happy skin. Besides face acids, there are other acids that are naturally present in the skin and help resolve many skin concerns like hydration, and skin damage, and help slow down the aging process.

What are Amino Acids?

In simple terms, amino acids are molecules that come together to form proteins. They help maintain healthy skin and overall health. There are two kinds of amino acids—essential and non-essential. The non-essential amino acids are produced by your body, while the essential acids must be obtained through food and supplements.

Benefits of Amino Acids for Skin

Amino acids play a crucial role in maintaining skin health, with recent research highlighting their diverse benefits. Essential amino acids like glycine, proline, and lysine are vital for producing collagen and elastin, proteins that give skin its structure and elasticity. A decrease in these proteins accelerates skin ageing, so consuming foods rich in these amino acids can support youthful skin.

Amino acids also aid in wound healing. According to dermatologist Dr Ruben Bhasin Passi, they promote skin cell growth and tissue formation, which helps close wounds and minimize scarring. Additionally, amino acids act as natural moisturizers. They help draw and retain moisture in the skin's outer layers, preventing dryness that can lead to acne, irritation, and premature ageing, as noted in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Certain amino acids, like tyrosine, have antioxidant properties that protect the skin from UV damage by neutralizing free radicals, which are linked to premature ageing. Furthermore, amino acids such as arginine and glutamine possess anti-inflammatory effects that can alleviate conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne, reducing overall skin inflammation.

As Covid-19 cases see a modest rise in several parts of India, leading scientists and public health experts are urging caution—not alarm. According to Dr. Vineeta Bal, former scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, the new variants currently in circulation are not posing a serious threat.

Speaking to IndiaToday.in, Dr. Bal emphasized that while mutations and sub-lineages of the virus are still emerging, the current situation is significantly different from the devastating Delta wave of 2021.

“This Is Not the Virus of 2021”

Recalling the chaos of 2021, Dr. Bal explained, “Back then, the virus was new to our immune systems, and the population had not been exposed to it before. That led to widespread severe illness and a major public health crisis.”

Today, however, the circumstances have changed drastically. India’s exposure to the virus—through both natural infections and widespread vaccination—has helped build community-level immunity. “Most people have either had Covid or received at least one vaccine dose, if not both. That has made a big difference in how the body responds to the virus now,” she said.

Covid-19 Now Behaving Like the Flu

Dr. Bal likened the virus’s current behavior to that of seasonal influenza. “We are now continuously managing new variants as they emerge. This doesn't mean the virus is gone or harmless, but the level of threat is quite low,” she told IndiaToday.in.

Most of the fatalities currently being reported are among elderly individuals or those with pre-existing conditions. Some are also patients still facing lingering health issues from past Covid infections.

“Be Alert, Not Anxious”

While the newer variants may be more transmissible, they are not causing large-scale severe disease. “A new variant can still be virulent, but because our population has some level of immunity, the impact is much lower,” said Dr. Bal.

She urged people to remain cautious, especially when it comes to high-risk groups such as senior citizens, people with chronic illnesses, and those who were severely affected in previous waves. However, she reassured that there’s no need for panic.

Living with an Endemic Virus

Experts now agree that Covid-19 is entering an endemic stage. “If your community built immunity during 2020 to 2022, either through vaccination or infection, it is unlikely that any new variant now will cause major illness or high fatality rates,” Dr. Bal said.

This view is echoed by other leading health experts. In an earlier interview with IndiaToday.in, former AIIMS chief Dr. Randeep Guleria explained that Covid is now endemic and will behave similarly to the flu—circulating in the population with occasional spikes.

Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), also confirmed last week that the current rise in cases involves only mild symptoms. “People do not need to take any immediate action. They should follow normal precautions,” he stated.

The virus is still around—but the fear doesn't need to be. With vigilance, vaccines, and basic hygiene, India can manage this phase without falling into panic.

In an age of hyper-connectivity, concrete jungles, and climate anxiety, reconnecting with nature may be one of the simplest yet most powerful remedies for mental well-being. Green therapy—also known as ecotherapy, nature therapy, or Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)—is gaining attention as an effective and accessible form of healing that uses nature to support emotional and physical health.

According to Dr. Mayanka Lodhi, Chief Pathologist at Redcliffe Labs, “The connection between nature and well-being is deeply rooted in science. When we spend time in green, clean spaces, our bodies respond positively—stress hormones drop, breathing slows, and mood improves. That’s why we must treat mental health and environmental health as interconnected.”

The Science Behind Green Therapy

Green therapy involves engaging with the natural world—through walks in the park, gardening, or simply listening to birdsong—to reduce stress and enhance mood. The benefits are both physical and psychological: decreased cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and improved cognitive function.

A growing body of research backs this up. A 2021 study by Jimenez et al. found that regular exposure to green environments significantly lowers markers of stress such as heart rate and cortisol. “When you're surrounded by greenery, you're also surrounded by calm. The sights, smells, and sounds of nature activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body relax and recover,” Dr. Lodhi adds.

A Polluted Environment, A Polluted Mind?

This World Environment Day 2025, the focus is on plastic pollution. Often framed as a purely ecological issue, plastic waste has a quieter, more insidious effect—on mental health.

Urban spaces overflowing with plastic trash not only degrade ecosystems but also drain emotional resilience. Dr. Lodhi explains, “Imagine stepping into a park filled with wrappers and bottles—it disrupts the tranquility that nature is supposed to provide. Instead of peace, it may trigger helplessness or eco-anxiety, especially among the youth.”

She points out that mental wellness is compromised when we lose access to clean, natural environments. “Green therapy only works if the spaces we rely on for healing remain truly green—free from pollution and plastic.”

A Daily Walk Can Make a Difference

Even a short daily walk in a clean park or tree-lined street can work wonders. Studies have shown that just 10–15 minutes a day in natural settings can lead to:

• Reduced symptoms of depression
• Improved sleep quality
• Better focus and productivity
• A sense of groundedness and emotional clarity

Yet, these benefits are undermined in polluted environments. “When plastic takes over our parks and water bodies, it isn’t just a visual nuisance—it’s a psychological burden,” says Dr. Lodhi.

Redcliffe Labs through its Health for Earth initiative, the organization commits to holistic wellness by linking every test to a green action: planting one tree for every diagnostic test done. “We want people to understand that their health decisions also impact the planet,” says Dr. Lodhi.

Redcliffe is also pushing for a lower carbon footprint—saving over 3.76 crore A4 sheets through digital reports, which translates to saving 4,700 trees and preventing 188+ metric tons of CO₂ emissions.

“Whether it’s reducing plastic use, walking in green spaces, or joining a clean-up drive, each step we take for the Earth brings calm within us,” Dr. Lodhi reflects.

A Call to Action

As we mark World Environment Day, let’s reframe the fight against pollution as not just an ecological cause, but a mental health movement. Cleaner parks and greener neighborhoods can become sanctuaries for healing—if we care for them.

Because a healthier planet creates space for healthier minds. And in healing the Earth, we may also find a way to heal ourselves.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the United States, with substantial health and economic burdens. While traditional risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking are well established, emerging research increasingly highlights the critical role of psychological factors, particularly chronic psychological distress, in stroke risk. A recent study published in journal Cureus, titled Chronic Stress and Stroke Among the Adult Population in the United States, sheds new light on this association by analyzing data from a large, representative sample of U.S. adults over more than a decade.

Why Was The Study Conducted?

The study aimed to examine the relationship between chronic psychological distress and stroke incidence among adults in the United States. Utilizing data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), researchers analyzed responses from 284,497 individuals.

Psychological distress was measured using the K6 scale—a brief, standardized, and validated instrument known for its high specificity and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.89)—making it ideal for large population screenings.

What Did The Study Find?

The analysis revealed that individuals experiencing psychological distress had more than twice the odds of having a stroke compared to those without distress, even after adjusting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. This 117% increased risk emphasizes psychological distress as a significant, potentially modifiable stroke risk factor.

These findings align closely with prior international studies. Research from Australia and the United Kingdom has similarly demonstrated that elevated psychological distress predicts higher stroke risk. For example, a large UK prospective cohort found significant links between distress and stroke incidence, while Australian studies identified distress as a predictor of fatal ischemic stroke, particularly in men. Another Australian population study confirmed associations between psychological distress and cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and diabetes, measured by similar validated tools.

Further supporting evidence comes from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a U.S.-based longitudinal cohort, which showed that chronic stress, depression, hostility, and anger were linked to increased stroke or transient ischemic attack risk in adults free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline. Although MESA used different stress measures and focused on clinical stroke outcomes, its results complement the current study, underscoring the broader impact of chronic psychological distress on cerebrovascular health.

Role Of Obesity

An intriguing aspect of this study is its exploration of obesity’s interaction with psychological distress and stroke risk. Initially, obesity appeared to increase stroke risk in models unadjusted for cardiovascular factors. However, after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cholesterol levels, and smoking, obesity was associated with a 14% decreased stroke risk. This phenomenon echoes the “obesity paradox,” where obesity may confer protective effects in certain diseases, including heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

Previous work by the researchers has shown similar paradoxical trends in cardiovascular interventions and bone health, with notable differences across races and sexes. These findings challenge the simplistic view of obesity as universally harmful and support new obesity classifications that differentiate clinical risks. The World Obesity Federation and other scientific bodies have endorsed this nuanced understanding, emphasizing that not all obesity translates into worse health outcomes.

Public Health Implications and Future Directions

The study’s strengths include its large, nationally representative sample and use of the practical, validated K6 scale. The clear link between psychological distress and stroke risk suggests that addressing mental health could be a crucial strategy in stroke prevention efforts.

Given that stroke ranks fourth among causes of death in the U.S., and that stroke morbidity and healthcare costs are rising despite improved therapies, psychological distress stands out as an actionable target. The K6 tool’s ease of implementation in various clinical settings means healthcare providers can efficiently identify at-risk individuals and intervene.

The study highlights the importance of integrating mental health screening and management into cardiovascular risk reduction strategies. Addressing psychological distress offers a promising path to lower stroke incidence and improve overall public health outcomes.