Health stories from BIMC.
Guidance on staying well in Bali, travel-health advice and updates from across the BIMC network — written by our medical teams.
229 articles
closeClear filtersBrown Rice versus White Rice: It All Started in Java
Bali’s neighboring island of Java is curiously where the benefits of brown rice over white rice were discovered in the 1890s by Dutch military physician Christian Eijkman who was assigned to try to grow the microbe responsible for beriberi,a disease that causes inflammation of the nerves and heart failure due to deficiency of vitamin B1.
2016: A Year of Amazing Medical Technology
Millions of people are living longer and in better health thanks to major advances in medical technology that have produced new high-quality, cost-effective therapies, from Microsoft to university researchers to a simple medical lab in Cuba. Clot Retriever for Stroke Victims Medical teams use clot-dissolving drugs to treat the most common type of stroke, but
Broga: It’s Yoga Dude
A new male-oriented exercise technique offers a workout that combines traditional yoga with functional fitness exercises and high-intensity interval training to improve core-strength, cardio and muscle tone while reducing stress and sharpening clarity. Can’t touch your toes? No worries mate. Broga is designed for guys who may have been heavily into sports but their bodies
Use your body or lose it also rings true with your mind and they both work together
A recent US medical study put over 100 elderly people on a brain fitness regimen for three months that included meditation training, cognitive behavior therapy, and education about the Mediterranean diet, exercise, stress reduction and proper sleep habits. At the end of the program, over 80% of participants said they experienced significant improvements in cognitive
Fat is Your Friend
One of the leading causes of the rising rate of obesity in SE Asia is the over consumption of fat resulting in heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol; what most don’t realize however is all fats are not created equal. There are three types of dietary fat: saturated, unsaturated and trans fat. While many are
A Fantastic Voyage: Nanotechnology
The 1966 movie, The Fantastic Voyage, starring Stephen Boyd, Raquel Welch, and Edmond O’Brien, has proven a storyline well ahead of its time. The film’s premise finds a comatose scientist with a blood clot in his brain and to save him, and here’s where the Jules Verne’s imagination of the 60’s comes into play, a
Vitamins: Shattering Another Myth
The global dietary supplements market combined, that is to say, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and other botanical ingredients, is expected to exceed $130 billion dollars in 2016with the vitamin segment on its own a major contributor to the steady revenue stream the past several decades. But are we really not getting the vitamins we
20 Healthy Restaurant Dining Tips
Here’s what you might not wish to hear: most restaurants don’t serve healthy food. They’re often loaded with processed crap and enough calories that could be spread over 3-4 balanced meals. And here’s the good news: it’s very possible to eat both healthy and delicious restaurant meals with the following Health-e guide: Tip 1.
Yoga’s BIG New Market: Overweight People
Many plus size people will say “not for me” when it comes to yoga although it might be time to have another look not only as a possibility but an opportunity to get in shape by way of one of the most natural physical disciplines available. For all sizes and certainly all levels of
The 60-Second Workout
A new study of interval training shows less is indeed more:a mere 60 seconds of strenuous exertion proved to be as worthy at improving health and fitness as 45-minutes of moderate exercise. A burst of exercise, basically a sprint followed by light exercise such as jogging or resting, then another sprint, more rest, and so
13 Food Myths Debunked
Even with such clear advancements in nutrition and science, the datedmyths on how we should eat are still in circulation. Health-e helps clear the confusion. Myth: Avoid eggs because of their cholesterol content. Eggs have gotten an underserved reputation. The latest research indicates that they don’t actually contribute to high cholesterol at all
Simple Medicine: Walk to Improve Blood Sugar Levels
We are upright walking animals that are meant to amble and not just on a treadmill. A healthy walk after a meal, especially dinner before you sleep, reduces blood sugar levels that play a major role in managing type-2 diabetes. The American Association of Diabetes (AAD) and other world diabetes association underscore exercise, even
Vitamin C May Lower Risk Of Cataracts: Report
According to a recent report from the journal Ophthalmology, a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables can help prevent cataracts regardless of genetic predisposition. The condition starts in the lens, which is the clear part of the eye that helps light travel into the back of the eye and create the things we see and
A World War Against Tobacco
“Thank you for not smoking, say no to cigarettes” reads a sign at the entrance to the Sulawesi village of Bone-Bone while another reads: “Please enjoy the scenery and fresh air in our village.” Are the anti-tobacco efforts in Indonesia working? Bone-Bone is an unlikely champion in the fight against smoking in one of
Indonesia’s Very Own Super Food
Heart healthy: Fermented soy foods namely, tempeh, have more bioactive peptides (breakdown proteins) than non-fermented soy foods and are broken down by molds, yeasts and bacteria into peptide fragments that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood pressure-lowering properties. Intake of soy foods (especially whole soy foods like tempeh) has been known to improveone’s levels of blood
Fitness Training the Functional Way
Over the years, we have witnessed a shift toward making training more functional, a concept originally used by physical therapists in rehabilitation exercises that mimic what patients did daily at home or work. This has proven to be highly beneficial so that patients can return to their lives or jobs after an injury or surgery.
Harmful Beverages
Much like the anti-tobacco movement over the decades, Asia’s soda-guzzling nations are stepping up and taking notice, preparing to impose taxes on fizzy drinks in an effort to curb health issues that come with consumption of these sugary beverages. The giant global soda industry is under attack for good reason as doctors and policymakers are
Taking out Processed Foods
If there’s a process involved in making the foods you eat they are probably not good for you. Here are the worst ingredients: Fructose corn syrup Consuming high-fructose corn syrup is the fastest way to trash your health. It is now known without a doubt that sugar in your food, in all its myriad of forms, is
2016 Consumer Health Wearables (Part 2)
iHealth has designed connected healthcare devices like blood pressure monitors, wireless scales, glucose-monitoring systems, and fitness trackers that are the best in the market. Their new iHealth Rhythm, a clever electrocardiogram that records heart activity and saves data to an iOS app, has proven popular as it is subtle and can be worn under clothing.
Keep Cancer at Bay by Starting 2016 with Life-Saving Screening
At what age is it best to do the right thing and get tested and what are the specifics? Age 20-29 At this age, a cancer-related check-up should be part of your periodic health exams and might include exams for cancers of the thyroid, mouth, skin, lymph nodes, testicles, and ovaries. A check-up
Get Healthy with Superfoods
Health-e takes a look at this category of nutrition found in nature and best of all many items grown or purchased right here in Bali. It’s no secret superfoods is the latest buzzword, with everything from chia seeds to goji berries now a regular presence in grocery store aisles. What many superfoods have
Holiday Drinking—What is Normal?
Many people think of December as “party time,” when friends, coworkers and family gather to celebrate the end-of-the-year holidays. And alcohol usually plays a role. So as we approach the end of the month and year, what’s the answer? Is it true that you can only have one or two drinks a day? It depends
Can Red Meat Cause Cancer?
The UN’s World Health Organization now says red meat can increase the risk of cancer, and so, too, hot dogs, bacon and processed meat. As is often true with such warnings, it is followed by the word “but.” Read on. What did the UN say? In October, the International Agency for Research for Cancer,
Smoking in Indonesia
The facts are grim. In general, the prevalence of smoking is declining in Northern and Western Europe, North America and the Western Pacific region, and on the increase in some countries in Asia, South America and Africa. It’s estimated that over the next 20 years, 70% of tobacco deaths will be in developing countries. About 80%