Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu took a break from her career after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Myositis in 2022. Recently, she launched a health podcast channel named 'Take 20,' with her friend and Toronto-based fitness professional Alkesh, on health and wellbeing. In the first episode of the podcast, the duo delved into what autoimmune diseases are, why they are on the rise and the precautions that can be taken against them.
While Alkesh said that many people don't even realise when they have the condition, Samantha said she was surprised to know that the number of autoimmune cases has exponentially increased and the number of people with autoimmune conditions equals the number of patients with cancer, heart disease and diabetes put together.
Here are a few points they discussed in the podcast:
Why is there a rise in the condition?
According to Alkesh, it has to do with the modern lifestyle. “Autoimmunity happens when the balance between toxic input and the detox output within the body goes off. Due to our lifestyle today, the amount of environmental toxins that we have is high. They are present in our cookware, cosmetics, clothes, and air that we breathe. Most people ... (who are diagnosed with the disease) have toxins around them, but are not able to detox,” said the fitness expert.
While asking Alkesh what can be done to counter the situation, Samantha confessed that she has been taking drastic steps to counter her condition, by checking ingredients, using air purifiers and more, which are not practical for everyone. Alkesh said that the smallest and easiest step “is to do less.” It's not about the green juices or health challenges, he said. "Our bodies have inbuilt detox pathways like sweating, the lymphatic system, our organs like the liver and kidney. Your immune system tries to protect you from threats like toxins.
"An extremely stressful life, bad eating habits and prioritising work over health obstruct the process and result in the development of these conditions. Most of our detox happens when we are asleep. Nowadays it's a boon to have a restful sleep,” he said.
Samantha also confessed that the year before she developed the condition was a difficult one for her, during which she couldn't sleep well.
Takeaways
The takeaways from the first episode were:
1) Reduce the toxin input by eating a clean diet, avoiding processed food and eating good food in its primitive form.
2) Drink clean, filtered water, especially purified through reverse osmosis. At the same time, re-mineralise it with Himalayan pink salt. One pinch or even one-fourth teaspoon per litre would be enough.
3) Use clean personal care products – like deodorants and make-up kits - with quality ingredients. Expensive does not mean good for health.
4) Be in a good headspace, manage your stress by spending time with your loved ones.
5) Move more frequently.
6) Ensure a sound sleep.
