The dangers of tuberculosis may seem like the thing of the past; however, its effects still remain. The World Health Organization has speculated that TB has returned to being the leading cause of death all around the world after 1.25 million people died of it in 2023. In the same year, an estimated 10.8 million people fell ill with TB with 6 million men, 3.6 women and 1.3 million children. The surprising fact is that the TB present in all these countries, is curable.

There are many factors that affect how well a country tackles TB with. A study funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has shown that better nutrition can significantly reduce tuberculosis (TB) cases and deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized these findings and included them in its updated global guidelines for controlling the disease.

The main goal of the study was to see how giving nutritional support to people living with TB patients would affect whether they got the disease themselves.

What Are Some Factors That Can Help Cure TB?

Researchers worked with 2,800 TB patients and their families in four districts of Jharkhand, India. The study, published in the medical journal The Lancet, noted that in India, TB and poor nutrition are very common at the same time, especially among patients and in the general population.

In the study, all TB patients received food for six months. However, only the families in the "intervention group" received monthly food packages and micronutrients. The researchers followed up with all participants to see how many new TB cases appeared over time.

How Does Nutrition Impact TB?

The study, which ran from 2019 to 2021, found that giving nutritional support to families of TB patients led to a significant drop in new TB cases. This was the first study of its kind to show that nutritional help can substantially reduce the spread of TB within a household.

The study concluded that this approach, which combines medical and social support, could help speed up the fight against TB in communities where both TB and poor nutrition are big problems.

Nutrition and Tuberculosis: Why Does It Impact So Many People?

According to a 2025 study published in the Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, looked at how nutrition programs for people with tuberculosis (TB) are working in India. Researchers talked to TB patients, their family members, and healthcare providers in five different states between August 2023 and April 2024. The goal was to understand their experiences and thoughts on getting nutritional help.

Understanding Nutrition

Patients and their families understood that good nutrition is important for treating TB. However, they faced challenges in getting the right foods.

Changes in Diet

While many tried to eat more protein, they often struggled with food insecurity—meaning they didn't have enough food because they were poor.

Issues with Financial Aid

The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) program, which gives money directly to people, had problems. Participants felt the money wasn't enough and that there were gaps in how they could access it.

Preferred Delivery Method

People preferred getting food and support directly from TB treatment centers. They were less keen on using other systems or middlemen to get their nutritional help. Based on these findings, the study suggests a few changes to improve the program:

• Provide more protein-rich food and increase the financial support to better meet people's needs.
• Fix the problems with the DBT program to make sure people can easily get the money they are given.
• Consider giving ready-to-eat food directly to patients at TB treatment centers.

Magnesium supplements are everywhere. Whether you see it on pharmacy shelves or wellness blogs and social media where influencers who swear by them. You’ve probably heard someone claim that a daily magnesium tablet can help you sleep better, ease muscle cramps, or boost your mood. But do you actually need one, or is this just another wellness trend gone too far?

What Is Magnesium and Why Do We Need It?

Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps regulate muscle and nerve function, supports a healthy immune system, builds protein, maintains blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and aids in energy production.

Because the body doesn’t produce magnesium on its own, it must come from external sources such as food or supplements. The recommended daily intake varies: 310–420 mg for adults and 30–410 mg for children, depending on age and sex.

The good news? A balanced diet can easily meet these requirements. Magnesium-rich foods include nuts and seeds, leafy green vegetables, legumes, seafood, whole grains, and meat. Even dark chocolate can help, 100 grams of dark chocolate contains around 146 mg of magnesium.

Who Is at Risk of Magnesium Deficiency?

Most people get enough magnesium from food, but certain groups are more vulnerable to deficiency. These include people with gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease or coeliac disease, those with type 2 diabetes, people who consume excessive alcohol, and older adults.

If you’re low on magnesium, you might notice symptoms such as muscle twitches, spasms, fatigue, low appetite, nausea, or an irregular heartbeat. However, the only way to confirm a deficiency is through a blood test prescribed by your doctor, which, in most cases, is covered by Medicare.

Can Magnesium Supplements Really Help?

Magnesium supplements are often promoted as a solution for muscle cramps, migraines, and insomnia. But do they actually work?

While magnesium deficiency can lead to cramps, most cases of muscle cramps are not due to low magnesium. Research shows limited evidence that supplements prevent cramps, especially in older adults.

The link between magnesium and better sleep is also unclear. Some studies found it helped people fall asleep faster, while others found no significant difference.

When it comes to migraines, evidence is stronger. Studies suggest that taking 122–600 mg of magnesium daily for 4–24 weeks may reduce the frequency and severity of migraines in some people.

Are Magnesium Supplements Safe?

In general, magnesium supplements are safe when taken in the recommended amounts. However, too much can lead to nausea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, because magnesium draws water into the intestines.

Taking extremely large doses (around 5,000 mg daily) can cause magnesium toxicity, which is dangerous. Always check with your doctor before starting supplements, especially if you take other medications.

Different Forms and What to Watch Out For

Magnesium is available in tablets, powders, and even topical forms like creams and bath salts. While these skin-based products may raise magnesium levels slightly, they’re less effective than oral supplements or food sources.

When buying supplements, check the label carefully. Most tablets contain 150–350 mg of magnesium, but formulations vary widely. Some also include additional nutrients like vitamins B6, C, or D, and minerals like calcium or manganese.

Be cautious with vitamin B6, high intake can cause nerve damage over time. If you already take a multivitamin containing B6, avoid magnesium supplements that also include it.

Milk is one of the most common items found in every household and is considered a wholesome food packed with calcium, protein, and vitamin D.

It plays an important role in maintaining strong bones, building muscles, and supporting overall health. Because of its nutritional richness, milk is often called a complete food. However, it is essential to ensure that the milk you consume is pure and free from adulteration. Contaminated or diluted milk can lose its nutritional value and even harm your health. Fortunately, there are simple methods you can try at home to find out whether your milk is pure or adulterated.

What Is Milk Adulteration?

Food adulteration is the intentional act of reducing the quality of food by mixing or replacing it with inferior substances, or by removing essential components. The same applies to milk. While contamination of food can happen accidentally during storage, transport, or distribution, adulteration is done deliberately for profit.

Milk adulteration involves adding materials such as water, urea, detergent, or other chemicals to increase volume or extend shelf life. This practice reduces the nutritional value and can pose serious health risks to consumers.

How To Check Milk Adulteration at Home

There are a few simple ways to check for adulteration using common items at home:

• Water Test: Pour a small amount of milk onto a slanted surface. Pure milk flows slowly, leaving a white trail, while milk mixed with water flows quickly and leaves little or no mark.
• Detergent Test: Shake equal parts of milk and water. Pure milk forms a light foam, whereas adulterated milk creates thick, soapy froth.
• Starch Test: Add a few drops of iodine solution to the milk. If it turns blue, starch has been added.
• Urea Test: Mix a small amount of milk with soybean powder and dip red litmus paper into it. If the paper turns blue, it indicates the presence of urea.

What Happens When You Consume Adulterated Milk

Regularly drinking adulterated milk can cause several health issues from short-term stomach discomfort to severe, long-term illnesses. The exact effects depend on what substance has been added, ranging from diluted water to harmful chemicals.

Immediate Health Effects

• Digestive problems: Contaminants like urea, detergent, or unclean water can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
• Irritation and burning: Strong alkaline substances such as caustic soda may burn the mouth, throat, and digestive tract, damaging body tissues.
• Allergic reactions: Some chemical additives and impurities can trigger allergies, leading to rashes, itching, or breathing difficulty.

Long-Term Health Consequences

• Kidney damage: Chemicals like urea overwork the kidneys, increasing the risk of long-term damage or kidney failure.
• Liver problems: Preservatives such as formalin (formaldehyde) used to prolong milk’s freshness can harm the liver over time.
• Cancer risk: Long exposure to toxic compounds, including formalin and certain pesticides, has been linked to cancer.
• Heart disease: Artificial fats or vegetable oils added to milk can raise bad cholesterol, contributing to heart problems.
• Hormonal imbalance: Cattle injected with hormones like oxytocin can pass traces into milk, disrupting natural hormone levels in humans.
• Weakened immunity: Consuming impure milk regularly can weaken the immune system, making you more prone to infections.
• Nutritional deficiency: When milk is diluted or its nutrients are replaced with cheaper additives, it loses its health benefits. This is especially harmful for children, as it can affect their growth and development.

A common vegetable has been found to help reduce blood pressure in older adults, according to a new study. Beetroot juice can lower blood pressure in people aged 60 and above by targeting certain potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth. Researchers at the University of Exeter studied how younger and older adults responded to beetroot juice, which is rich in dietary nitrates. These nitrates are converted by the body into nitric oxide, a compound that relaxes and widens blood vessels, helping to lower blood pressure.

How the Study Tested Beetroot Juice on Younger and Older Adults

The study included 39 adults under the age of 30 and 36 adults in their 60s and 70s. For two weeks, each group received shots of beetroot juice. After a two-week break, during which participants used antiseptic mouthwash daily, they were given a placebo juice without nitrates for another two weeks.

Researchers analyzed the bacteria in participants’ mouths using gene sequencing. In both groups, the oral microbiome—the community of microorganisms in the mouth—changed after drinking nitrate-rich juice, though the effects were different depending on age. In older adults, there was a reduction in common bacteria that can sometimes cause infections and an increase in bacteria that support health. The older participants also showed lower blood pressure after two weeks of drinking the nitrate-rich juice.

Professor Andy Jones of the University of Exeter said, “This study shows that nitrate-rich foods can change the oral microbiome in ways that may reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure in older adults. This opens the door for larger studies to examine how lifestyle factors and biological sex affect responses to dietary nitrate supplements.”

Can A Person Drink Beet Juice While Taking Blood Pressure Medication?

It may be possible to drink beet juice while taking blood pressure medications. However, it’s important to consult a doctor before making any changes to a treatment plan for high blood pressure.

A doctor can advise whether combining beet juice with blood pressure medication could lower blood pressure too much. If this happens, a person may experience symptoms such as:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Blurry vision
• Fainting
• Confusion
• Weakness or tiredness
• Headache
• Back or neck pain
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea

Low blood pressure (hypotension) can be serious. If someone experiences severe symptoms that do not improve when sitting or lying down, they should seek immediate medical attention.

Does Eating Beets Lower Blood Pressure?

Eating beets may help reduce blood pressure, but most research has focused on beet juice rather than whole beets.

Currently, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to confirm that eating beets has the same effect as drinking beet juice.

If someone wants to explore dietary changes to manage their blood pressure, it’s best to consult a doctor before making adjustments.