Oats are known to be a healthy food for the heart mainly due to their high β-glucan content. Besides, they contain more than 20 unique polyphenols, avenanthramides, which have shown strong antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. The polyphenols of oats have also recently been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-itching activity, which may provide additional protection against coronary heart disease, colon cancer, and skin irritation. Oats have been labelled as a functional food as they contain β-glucan, minerals, and antioxidants. Owing to their high nutritional value, oat-based food products like bread, biscuits, cookies, probiotic drinks, breakfast cereals, flakes, and infant food are gaining increasing consideration.

Aims: This study aimed present a comprehensive picture of trends in the consumption pattern of milk and milk products with the objective to determine the shift in their consumption through different decades and locations.  Study Design: Cross-sectional study Methodology: The study was conducted in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The sample population comprised of both male and female subjects between the age group of 15 years to 55 onwards. The respondents were categorized into three age groups range as- 15-35 years, 36-55 years, and above 56 years. Starting from the age of 5 years, each age group is also categorized decade-wise. Being descriptive in nature the study was carried out through a field survey method using face-to-face interviews.  Results: The results showed that during earlier decades, milk was consumed daily by the majority of the population depending upon the fact that it was produced by the domesticated cattle and easily available. However, a high frequency of daily consumption was observed among the 15-35 years of age group, though it was more of purchased from store or dairy. Curd, however, was earlier prepared by milk produced at home, now mostly prepared at home from milk bought from stores or dairy. The practice of preparing buttermilk and butter/ghee milk products daily from the milk produced by domesticated cattle is experiencing a great drop, especially in the rural areas. Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) has got popular in the past few decades, though its consumption is highly dependent upon the location and economic condition of the household.  Conclusion: There is a great need for promoting cattle rearing and dairy farming for increasing production and consumption of home-produced healthy products from milk. Making people aware of the dietary requirements of milk and milk products during various life stages is also of prime importance.

Globally, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is rising. To assess the trends in the age of occurrence of non-communicable, age-related diseases this study was performed in the three districts of Uttarakhand, in both rural and the urban settings. The study comprised of both male and female subjects between the age group of 15 years to 55 onwards. The respondents were categorized into three age groups range as- 15-35 years, 36-55 years, and above 56 years. Starting from the age of 5 years, each age group is also categorized decade-wise e.g. age group of 56 years and above was divided into six decades starting from the age of five years.  The present study showed that the occurrence of age-related diseases, among the age group 56 years and above, was seen during their 40s while in the other two age groups, occurrence was recorded in the 30s itself. Comparing the third decade, i.e., the 30s of all the three age groups, none of the subjects was suffering from age-related disease among 56 years and above while among 36-55 years of age, 0.57 percent and among 15-35 years of age, 1.35 percent of subjects suffered from hypertension. The occurrence of these diseases was more in the urban areas as compared to rural areas. These results throw an insight onto the necessity for government bodies to focus on key factors leading to this trend, improving health care quality, and emphasis on a healthy lifestyle.

Objective: The Food habits of the people are the outcome of the general beliefs and are deep-rooted in the minds of the people of any community. Home remedies coming from the kitchen are the basis of treating commonly occurring illnesses for a long time. The present study was aimed to study the long-established household practices that are followed for the cure of minor health problems in North India (Uttarakhand) and assess their usage trends over three generations. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was done in three districts of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, namely Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal and Haridwar. The respondents were categorized in three age group range as- 20-34 years, 35-55 years and above 56 years. A structured diet recall interview schedule was prepared for the collection of data. The subjects were asked about the previous and current practices followed for the cure of minor health problems. Results: A list of local food items used during various ailments like Cold/ Cough, Fever, Constipation, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Jaundice was prepared. A number of commonly used spices were used for the treatment along with few special recipe preparations. Among the age group above 56 years and 35-55 years, the percentage of respondents following traditional household practices during minor health problems and considering them better than medicine was more in rural areas while among 20-34 years of age group, the percentage was more for the urban population. It was noticed that the number of respondents following these practices slightly decreased through the generations, and are still practiced among the youngest age group interviewed (60.53% of rural and 66.67% of urban subjects). Conclusion: Documentation and validation of these household remedies is required so that they can be used for the low-cost treatment of many common ailments.

The present study aimed to explore the modifications in diet during pregnancy over three generations in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. For the selection of the sample, the respondents were categorized in 3 age groups: 20 to 34 years; 35 to 55 years; and ≥ 56 years. Structured diet recall interviews were scheduled for the collection of data. The subjects were asked about their dietary habits during pregnancy and food items that they included and excluded during that period. Most food items mentioned included were milk, fruits, and nutritional supplements. The exclusion of fruits like banana and papaya, of rice, and of leafy green vegetables (LGVs) was mainly observed. Among the age group of ≥ 56 years, the respondents with no changes in their diet during pregnancy were more from rural areas (92%) than from urban areas (62.26%), while in the age group of 20 to 34 years, 25% of the respondents with no change in their diet lived in rural areas, and 8.06% lived in urban areas. There has been an increase in the population with dietary modifications through generations; however, the overall changes are still not satisfying. The present study shows that there is a high need for nutritional education during pregnancy, especially in rural areas.