Countries where drinking tap water is reality

The IT capital of Bengaluru might be reaching new heights with entrepreneurship and investments, but still seems to fall terribly short when it comes to the quality of water it supplies to citizens. Studies have shown that nearly 80% of the drinking water being supplied is unfit for human consumption.&nbsp;

Located at a height of about 1000 metres above sea level, sourcing drinking water for a rapidly growing city like Bengaluru has always been a challenge. With the degradation of the city's lakes over the years, Bengaluru has become increasingly dependent on groundwater.&nbsp;

Nearly 40% of the city makes it own arrangements for water supply, as they do not have BWSSB connections. While water availability is one issue, the bigger problem is that of water quality.

&nbsp;A study by a research scientist in Bengaluru's urban and peri-urban areas found that nearly 80% of the water is contaminated and unfit for consumption. The water was found to contain disease-causing pathogens like E-coli, Salmonella etc.

‘If at all the water is contaminated with E-Coli and thermotolerant Coliforms, then it is unfit for drinking. So, we collected water samples from source and house levels and a majority of the samples were found to contain E-Coli and other coliforms. E-coli is the fecal indicator and it shows the water is fecally contaminated’, says G Sheeba, a Research Officer with the Trans-Disciplinary University in Bengaluru who conducted the study.

The research was conducted in areas that were densely populated and frequently reported cases of gastroenteritis. Tests were conducted on samples from source level, as well as consumption level. Bengaluru's lone Epidemic Diseases hospital over hundred cases of Acute gastroenteritis every month. The hospital in Bengaluru received 118 cases of acute gastroenteritis in November this year, 222 cases in October and 81 cases in September. The numbers also fluctuate depending on the season.

‘There is definitely contamination of water. At least, 95% of the water is contaminated. That is the reason we tell patients to not drink water without boiling or filtering. Those who do not boil water, face these health issues’ says Dr Ansar Ahmed, Medical Superintendent of the Epidemic Diseases Hospital. &nbsp;

Though the presence of pathogens in the drinking water makes it unfit for consumption according to WHO standards, experts in the city feel that problem is much deeper. While filtering and boiling can rid the water of pathogens, increasing cases of chemical and metal contamination, especially surrounding lakebeds is proving to be the biggest challenge.&nbsp;

‘I have seen higher instances of kidney failure in the city. As per statistics about ten years back, one in one lakh people used to have kidney failure, but now it is down to one in five thousand people. If things don’t change, we might have to have dialysis centres set up at our homes’ says IISc Professor Dr TV Ramachandra, who has researched on Bengaluru’s water problems for over 25 years now.

The IT capital of Bengaluru might be reaching new heights with entrepreneurship and investments, but still seems to fall terribly short when it comes to the quality of water it supplies to citizens.

The IT capital of Bengaluru might be reaching new heights with entrepreneurship and investments, but still seems to fall terribly short when it comes to the quality of water it supplies to citizens. Studies have shown that nearly 80% of the drinking water being supplied is unfit for human consumption. Located at a height of about 1000 metres above sea level, sourcing drinking water for a rapidly growing city like Bengaluru has always been a challenge. With the degradation of the city's lakes over the years, Bengaluru has become increasingly dependent on groundwater. Nearly 40% of the city makes it own arrangements for water supply, as they do not have BWSSB connections. While water availability is one issue, the bigger problem is that of water quality. A study by a research scientist in Bengaluru's urban and peri-urban areas found that nearly 80% of the water is contaminated and unfit for consumption. The water was found to contain disease-causing pathogens like E-coli, Salmonella etc. ‘If at all the water is contaminated with E-Coli and thermotolerant Coliforms, then it is unfit for drinking. So, we collected water samples from source and house levels and a majority of the samples were found to contain E-Coli and other coliforms. E-coli is the fecal indicator and it shows the water is fecally contaminated’, says G Sheeba, a Research Officer with the Trans-Disciplinary University in Bengaluru who conducted the study. The research was conducted in areas that were densely populated and frequently reported cases of gastroenteritis. Tests were conducted on samples from source level, as well as consumption level. Bengaluru's lone Epidemic Diseases hospital over hundred cases of Acute gastroenteritis every month. The hospital in Bengaluru received 118 cases of acute gastroenteritis in November this year, 222 cases in October and 81 cases in September. The numbers also fluctuate depending on the season. ‘There is definitely contamination of water. At least, 95% of the water is contaminated. That is the reason we tell patients to not drink water without boiling or filtering. Those who do not boil water, face these health issues’ says Dr Ansar Ahmed, Medical Superintendent of the Epidemic Diseases Hospital. Though the presence of pathogens in the drinking water makes it unfit for consumption according to WHO standards, experts in the city feel that problem is much deeper. While filtering and boiling can rid the water of pathogens, increasing cases of chemical and metal contamination, especially surrounding lakebeds is proving to be the biggest challenge. ‘I have seen higher instances of kidney failure in the city. As per statistics about ten years back, one in one lakh people used to have kidney failure, but now it is down to one in five thousand people. If things don’t change, we might have to have dialysis centres set up at our homes’ says IISc Professor Dr TV Ramachandra, who has researched on Bengaluru’s water problems for over 25 years now.

Bengaluru gets dirty drinking water, 80% unfit for human consumption

By Kacie Dickinson*, Jodi Bernstein**

We hear regularly from health organisations and experts that we should eat less sugar. But we&rsquo;re also told we should eat more fruit.

All types of sugar will give us the same amount of calories, whether they are from fruit or soft drink. But the health risks of eating sugar are related to consuming too many &ldquo;free sugars&rdquo; in the diet, not from eating sugars that are naturally present in fruits or milk.

Types of sugar in food

Sugar in food and drinks comes in various forms. Sugar molecules are classified as monosaccharides (single sugar molecules such as glucose and fructose) and disaccharides (more complex structures such as sucrose and lactose).

Fruit contains natural sugars, which are a mix of sucrose, fructose and glucose. Many people have heard that sugar is bad, and think that this must also therefore apply to fruits.

But fructose is only harmful in excess amounts, and not when it comes from fruit. It would be incredibly difficult to consume excessive amounts of fructose by eating whole fruits.

It&rsquo;s much easier to consume excess sugar from foods and drinks that contain &ldquo;free sugars&rdquo;.

Free sugars include these same sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), but in this case they have been removed from their naturally occurring source (rather than being eaten as natural parts of fruits, dairy products, and some vegetables and grains). This includes sugar that is added to food and drinks by food companies, cooks or consumers.&nbsp;

Health risks come from free sugars, not fruits 
Evidence shows that the health risks from sugars, such as tooth decay and unhealthy weight gain, are related to consuming too many free sugars in the diet, not from eating sugars that are naturally present in fruits or milk.

For this reason it is recommended that no more than 10% of your daily calories come from free sugars. For the average adult, this is about 50g or only slightly more than the amount of sugar in a can of regular soft drink or soda. It&rsquo;s estimated that Australians get around 60% (65g) of their sugar intake from free sugars.

Foods that are sources of free sugars, such as juices, soft drinks, biscuits and lollies, are often high in calories and have little other nutritional value. It is often easy to consume more of them compared with fresh fruit and they also may be replacing other nutritious foods in the diet.

Consider a bottle of fruit juice &ndash; you would have to eat six whole oranges to get the same amount of sugar you consume in the juice. And because the fruit is in juice form, it counts towards your daily limit of free sugars.

Calories from drinks that contain sugar often become an addition to the calories you are eating from food, which may lead to weight gain over time.

Eating large amounts of dried fruit is also not a good idea if you are limiting your sugar intake. Through the process of removing water from the fruit, nutrients are concentrated, such that dried apricots, for example, contain about six times as much sugar (40g per 100g) as fresh apricots (6g per 100g).&nbsp;

We need to eat fruit

Unlike many foods that are high in free sugars, fruits are packaged with lots of nutrients that help provide us with a balanced diet for good health.

For starters, fruit is an excellent source of fibre. An average banana will provide 20-25% (6g) of your recommended daily fibre intake. Getting enough fibre in the diet is important for protecting against bowel cancer. There is clear room for improvement in our fibre intake &ndash; adults in many countries consume only about half of the recommended amount each day (25g for Aussie women and 30g for Aussie men).

The fibre in fruit, which is often absent in many foods and drinks with free sugars, may also help to fill you up, which means you eat less overall at a meal. It&rsquo;s not clear exactly why this is, but it could be related to the volume of the food (especially compared with liquids) and the chewing involved.

Fruit is also a good source of other nutrients such as potassium, which can help lower blood pressure, and flavonoids, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.

There is evidence that eating whole fruits (alone and in combination with vegetables) reduces your chances of dying from cancer, obesity and heart disease.

Despite this, only about 50% of Australians eat at least two pieces of fruit per day.

Most national dietary guidelines encourage eating fruits and vegetables, with an emphasis on the vegetables. To try and eat your recommended two pieces of fruit per day remember that a piece could be a banana, apple or orange, or two smaller fruits like plums or apricots, or a cup of grapes or berries.&nbsp;

When it comes to other sources of sugars, try to choose foods that have little or no sugar listed in the ingredient list, and drink water instead of sugary beverages when you are thirsty.

&nbsp;

*Kacie Dickinson is an accredited practicing Dietitian; Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, Flinders University

**Jodi Bernstein&nbsp;is a PhD Candidate in Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

When it comes to other sources of sugars, try to choose foods that have little or no sugar listed in the ingredient list, and drink water instead of sugary beverages when you are thirsty.

By Kacie Dickinson*, Jodi Bernstein** We hear regularly from health organisations and experts that we should eat less sugar. But we’re also told we should eat more fruit. All types of sugar will give us the same amount of calories, whether they are from fruit or soft drink. But the health risks of eating sugar are related to consuming too many “free sugars” in the diet, not from eating sugars that are naturally present in fruits or milk. Types of sugar in food Sugar in food and drinks comes in various forms. Sugar molecules are classified as monosaccharides (single sugar molecules such as glucose and fructose) and disaccharides (more complex structures such as sucrose and lactose). Fruit contains natural sugars, which are a mix of sucrose, fructose and glucose. Many people have heard that sugar is bad, and think that this must also therefore apply to fruits. But fructose is only harmful in excess amounts, and not when it comes from fruit. It would be incredibly difficult to consume excessive amounts of fructose by eating whole fruits. It’s much easier to consume excess sugar from foods and drinks that contain “free sugars”. Free sugars include these same sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), but in this case they have been removed from their naturally occurring source (rather than being eaten as natural parts of fruits, dairy products, and some vegetables and grains). This includes sugar that is added to food and drinks by food companies, cooks or consumers. Health risks come from free sugars, not fruits Evidence shows that the health risks from sugars, such as tooth decay and unhealthy weight gain, are related to consuming too many free sugars in the diet, not from eating sugars that are naturally present in fruits or milk. For this reason it is recommended that no more than 10% of your daily calories come from free sugars. For the average adult, this is about 50g or only slightly more than the amount of sugar in a can of regular soft drink or soda. It’s estimated that Australians get around 60% (65g) of their sugar intake from free sugars. Foods that are sources of free sugars, such as juices, soft drinks, biscuits and lollies, are often high in calories and have little other nutritional value. It is often easy to consume more of them compared with fresh fruit and they also may be replacing other nutritious foods in the diet. Consider a bottle of fruit juice – you would have to eat six whole oranges to get the same amount of sugar you consume in the juice. And because the fruit is in juice form, it counts towards your daily limit of free sugars. Calories from drinks that contain sugar often become an addition to the calories you are eating from food, which may lead to weight gain over time. Eating large amounts of dried fruit is also not a good idea if you are limiting your sugar intake. Through the process of removing water from the fruit, nutrients are concentrated, such that dried apricots, for example, contain about six times as much sugar (40g per 100g) as fresh apricots (6g per 100g). We need to eat fruit Unlike many foods that are high in free sugars, fruits are packaged with lots of nutrients that help provide us with a balanced diet for good health. For starters, fruit is an excellent source of fibre. An average banana will provide 20-25% (6g) of your recommended daily fibre intake. Getting enough fibre in the diet is important for protecting against bowel cancer. There is clear room for improvement in our fibre intake – adults in many countries consume only about half of the recommended amount each day (25g for Aussie women and 30g for Aussie men). The fibre in fruit, which is often absent in many foods and drinks with free sugars, may also help to fill you up, which means you eat less overall at a meal. It’s not clear exactly why this is, but it could be related to the volume of the food (especially compared with liquids) and the chewing involved. Fruit is also a good source of other nutrients such as potassium, which can help lower blood pressure, and flavonoids, which may reduce your risk of heart disease. There is evidence that eating whole fruits (alone and in combination with vegetables) reduces your chances of dying from cancer, obesity and heart disease. Despite this, only about 50% of Australians eat at least two pieces of fruit per day. Most national dietary guidelines encourage eating fruits and vegetables, with an emphasis on the vegetables. To try and eat your recommended two pieces of fruit per day remember that a piece could be a banana, apple or orange, or two smaller fruits like plums or apricots, or a cup of grapes or berries. When it comes to other sources of sugars, try to choose foods that have little or no sugar listed in the ingredient list, and drink water instead of sugary beverages when you are thirsty. *Kacie Dickinson is an accredited practicing Dietitian; Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, Flinders University **Jodi Bernstein is a PhD Candidate in Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: If sugar is so bad for us, why is the sugar in fruit ok?

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