Health 360: Delhi heatwave causes explained; truth about sunscreens revealed

23 minutes ago

This episode of Health 360 explores the severe heatwave conditions in Delhi and other urban centres, highlighting how the degradation of the Aravalli forests and the South Central Ridge contributes to rising temperatures.

Transcript

00:00This week, L360 team hit the ground to feel Delhi's heat.

00:05No kidding.

00:07How are people actually living in 45 degree plus temperatures?

00:12And why are our cities getting hotter?

00:15We found out.

00:16Well, the impact of heat waves on our minds and bodies.

00:21The campaign against sunscreen as well.

00:24What's going on here?

00:26Well, are mangoes for you if you are suffering from diabetes?

00:31Which is the best cooking oil for Indians?

00:35All the top trending health and wellness stories is what we've covered right here on Health360 this week.

00:43I'm Srinya Murdani.

01:15As you can see, it's burning hot right here.

01:19If these images were to show the temperature, you'd know that we are getting absolutely baked at this point in

01:26time.

01:26On my phone, the temperature is almost touching 45 degrees Celsius.

01:32Now, many of us don't have the luxury to stay indoors.

01:35So how do people in Delhi and other urban centres across the country and many other smaller towns also live

01:42in these brutal weather conditions when you're just getting baked?

01:46To get a sense of that and to also understand why it's getting just so hot now, we stepped out

01:55and tried to get an idea about why cities and otherwise also even rural centres for that matter, rural areas

02:02in the country are getting so hot.

02:04Well, my sense up until what we found is that it's got to do with us, it's got to do

02:12with humans and we're going to be telling you on what are the reasons why it's getting so insanely hot,

02:21on why India really, many parts of India are becoming absolutely unlivable.

02:27So the big question, why are cities getting hotter?

02:31Well, there are a dozen plus reasons why it is getting so hot, especially in urban India.

02:39Fewer trees and green spaces.

02:42There are glass buildings that reflect and trap heat.

02:45They look beautiful, but they don't really do much when it comes to cooling down our cities.

02:51Vehicle exhaust that releases heat.

02:54Air conditioners blow hot air outside.

02:58Factories and generators emit waste heat.

03:01Tall buildings block the airflow.

03:04Loss of lakes and wetlands reduce cooling.

03:07More paved and surfaces reduce evaporation.

03:11Construction removes natural ground cover.

03:15High population density increases energy use.

03:18Air pollution traps heat.

03:20Heat waves from climate change are, of course, becoming stronger.

03:24And poor urban planning creates heat pockets.

03:28The Delhi government has taken some steps, setting up cooling zones like these, offering some respite.

03:35And what is missing here is the larger plan to deal with the killer heat wave.

03:41So, we asked our experts on three urgent things that Delhi and other cities have to do urgently to counter

03:51heat waves.

03:52Well, I have heard, you know, we have not assessed what Delhi is actually doing, but we have seen Delhi

03:58has inaugurated cooling shelters for gig workers and outdoor workers.

04:03Delhi also has a heat action plan, which is a relatively new action plan.

04:08It was released last year.

04:09Hopefully, Delhi is implementing those action plans.

04:12But most cities in India, including Delhi, will have to do a lot more than what they are doing.

04:18And there are other measures that the Delhi government is taking, like heat stroke units in Delhi's Armin Hospital that

04:26have been activated.

04:27But the fact is that long-term measures are needed.

04:31So, I asked our experts on what are the things that cities like Delhi must urgently do to deal with

04:39heat waves.

04:40What about the long-term solutions needed to deal with this challenge of increasing temperatures?

04:46The long-term solution is to deal with climate change, global warming.

04:51There is absolutely no doubt that global warming is now becoming a runaway problem.

04:57This year, you know, there is an indication that there is a super Alino that is going to happen, which

05:07is going to, in fact, enhance heat wave further.

05:12So, the bottom line is address climate change.

05:16I start looking at how do we design and redesign our cities.

05:22There are no short and easy answers to deal with heat wave.

05:27They will require hard decisions as well as hard solutions.

05:32A 2025 analysis has found that Delhi's Aravalli forests are now the most degraded segment of the entire Aravalli system,

05:40with nearly 79% degradation.

05:44So, we stepped out in the national capital to get an idea about the various reasons why the city is

05:50just getting hotter by the day.

05:52And it looks like, clearly, that the problem is man-made.

05:55Now, right now, I am in Delhi's Basam Kunj area.

05:58This is the B1 area of Basam Kunj.

06:01And this has been in news for all the wrong reasons.

06:03The reason is because that the south central ridge here, right behind me, is completely destroyed.

06:10Now, the matter is in Supreme Court.

06:12So, this is something that I want to talk about at this point in time with the residents living in

06:17this area.

06:18What does the ridge really do?

06:20It's considered a part of the Aravallis, which prevents Delhi from becoming a desert, given a proximity to Rajasthan.

06:29Destroying a ridge, an area which is full of trees, then for construction reasons, is what is causing so much

06:37a problem to the people living in this area.

06:40Simply because we are cutting down trees.

06:43So, what does one do really when Delhi's lungs are getting destroyed?

06:47And this is the story of Delhi's lungs getting destroyed right behind me.

06:51Because this is the part of the south central ridge area, which had trees, which had greenery, and which had,

06:59you said, rocks.

07:00Yes.

07:00Which were of, like, you know, very, very old rocks.

07:03Yes.

07:04You say your claims are that there is illegal mining also that's happening right here.

07:08Yes.

07:09This is Mr. Johnson, who lives in the Basan Kunj area, right behind the south central ridge, which is now

07:16seen construction work that is getting done.

07:19So, basically, the ridge area has been completely destroyed, is what you're seeing.

07:24If one can hear the sound behind me, that is, the Aravallis getting destroyed as we speak.

07:29Since November 2025, there's been a blanket order for the four states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat not to

07:37have illegal mining.

07:38The plot behind me is approximately one and a half acres, and which the Supreme Court has certified to be

07:44the morphological ridge.

07:46Now, unfortunately, for the last three-odd months, what we have been seeing are that these rocks are being cut

07:52illegally and being taken out.

07:54Why is the ridge important for Delhi?

07:56The ridge is what protects the Delhi from getting desertified.

07:59We had so many trees on this plot which have been cut, trees which have been illegally even cut, and

08:05there are police station cases for having forced the signature of an Indian Forest Service officer for cutting those trees.

08:11You know, prevention methods have to be taken.

08:12This matter of U.S. is under litigation right now, but the construction work continues.

08:18So, what about that?

08:20We do not have a stay as such, but in environmental law, there's something called precautionary principle.

08:28You cut down trees.

08:29You plant a sapling, it takes 20 years for it to grow back.

08:33You cut down a forest, it's not easy.

08:35You cannot plant trees to replace a forest.

08:37You cut down a mountain, it's irreplaceable.

08:40These rocks are older than the Himalayas.

08:42Just to put things in context, Aravallis are older than the Himalayas.

08:46So, that helps you see things in perspective.

08:48What we are destroying is gone forever.

08:50So, why do the Aravallis in Delhi matter?

08:53Well, this is the Delhi Ridge.

08:55Essentially, Delhi's northernmost Aravalli extension.

08:59It acts as a dust barrier against a thar desert winds, a heat regulator, a groundwater recharge zone,

09:08and one of Delhi's last biodiversity corridors.

09:12Environmentalist worm that continued fragmentation could worsen AQI.

09:16We're seeing that already.

09:17Urban heat, that too is evident.

09:20Flooding and water scarcity in the national capital region.

09:25We asked India's top experts on what is the way forward then.

09:3195 of the world's hottest cities are in India.

09:34What are we doing wrong vis-a-vis our infrastructure and construction?

09:40What are we doing wrong and what are we doing right?

09:42Climate change is driving heatwave where everyone will have to work.

09:47We will have to reduce emissions.

09:49This is not only India's responsibility.

09:52This is a global responsibility.

09:54Countries will have to work together to reduce emissions.

09:56Do you feel that it is getting hotter by the day and cities are becoming hot air boxes?

10:03What you feel is known as the urban heat island effect.

10:08And make no mistake, cities recording 45 degree plus is actually man's own doing.

10:15Here's more.

10:16So let's tell you a little about the four common mistakes that all of us seem to be making in

10:21summer months.

10:22Well, peak heat exposure.

10:24That's something that we shouldn't be doing.

10:27Actually, avoid going out from noon to about 4 p.m.

10:32There are high UV rays that increase the risk of a heat stroke.

10:35It can cause dizziness and dehydration.

10:39Intense workouts.

10:40Well, everybody loves a good workout.

10:42But remember, the body heats up very quickly.

10:44It raises the risk of cramps and fainting.

10:47Extra strain on the heart as well during peak summer months.

10:52Heavy and spicy food.

10:53Well, it increases internal body heat.

10:56Can worsen dehydration.

10:59May cause acidity and fatigue.

11:01And low electrolytes.

11:03Remember, sweating removes essential minerals.

11:06Water alone is just not good enough.

11:08It can trigger cramps and headaches.

11:10So a good intake of electrolytes, the natural kinds, is the best.

11:15There's every reason why you should know and believe that heat waves are dangerous and fatal.

11:22Heat stroke can turn fatal many times.

11:25And the body cooling system may completely fail.

11:28Sweating can suddenly stop.

11:30Brain function gets affected quickly.

11:33There's a risk of a heart attack and stroke risk.

11:35Because heat puts extra strain on the heart.

11:39The blood pressure may fluctuate rapidly as well.

11:42Cardiac emergencies rise in extreme heat.

11:45There's a risk of severe dehydration.

11:48Excess sweating drains the body fluids.

11:51Electrolyte loss causes cramps and weakness.

11:53Severe dehydration may trigger confusion as well.

11:57Diabetics and elderly are at higher risk.

11:59Heat affects blood sugar.

12:01Elderly struggle to regulate body heat.

12:04Faster dehydration increases complications.

12:08Platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

12:11Some influencers are nowadays posting content saying sunscreens are toxic, overripe or even cause more harm than good.

12:18Others are claiming that ingredients in sunscreens are dangerous or that natural methods like diet or oils can replace SPF

12:28protection.

12:29This content is spread quickly and has created a viral anti-sunstreen narrative.

12:35But we dug deeper.

12:37Here's what we found.

12:48Every day, millions step into the sun believing they're making informed choices about their skin.

12:54But online, a new narrative is gaining momentum.

12:57One that challenges decades of dermatological consensus.

13:06Across social media platforms, content promoting sunscreens avoidance is spreading rapidly.

13:13Claims range from concerns about vitamin D deficiency to suggestions that sunscreens may be harmful.

13:19Millions are watching.

13:20Many are beginning to question established medical guidelines.

13:25So, what we are seeing is a shift in perception driven by misinformation.

13:32People are not just experimenting with lifestyle choices.

13:34They are abandoning sun protection altogether based on content that has no clinical foundation.

13:42I asked the doctor what the truth is.

13:45Scientific data clearly shows that certain amount of ingredients were found in blood,

13:52but they were not, number one, at toxic level.

13:55They were not at harmful level.

13:56And these were lab conducted studies where a lot of sunscreen was used and it was used on full body.

14:04In real life, we are using only on the face, max on hands.

14:09So, you are only protecting your skin and there is no other better protection.

14:15And nowadays, sunscreen is also having hyaluronic which helps in hydrating your skin

14:21and has antioxidant which quenches the free radical, oxidative free radical stress that comes on the skin with UVA, UVB

14:29exposure.

14:30Fact is, ultraviolet radiation or UVA and UVB penetrates the skin and contributes to cumulative DNA damage over a period

14:41of time.

14:42Decades of research show that regular use of broad spectrum sunscreen reduces UV-related skin damage and lowers the risk

14:49of skin cancer.

14:52Despite viral claims online, doctors continue to recommend daily sun protection as a cornerstone of skin health.

15:00It is easy to think, no sun, no sunscreen.

15:03But it is not like that.

15:05Whenever it's cloudy, it's not that bright.

15:09But the UVA, UVB do penetrate the clouds.

15:12They do penetrate the glass.

15:14And they are everywhere.

15:17So, UVB level is still less.

15:19But UVA is in huge amount.

15:22And you need to protect your skin from UVA because UVA is the aging wavelength.

15:29Surveys and public health observations suggest a growing number of young adults questioning daily sunscreen use in spite of long

15:37-standing consensus

15:39supporting the protective role of sunscreen against UV damage and skin cancer.

15:46Dermatologists warn that such messaging may carry real-world consequences.

15:51Reduced or inconsistent sun protection is associated with cumulative UV damage, pigmentation disorders, increased long-term skin cancer risk.

16:01Sun damage is about cumulative.

16:04Over the years, the repeated damage that the skin gets hit by UVA, UVB, the breakdown in collagen, the pigmentary

16:11changes, the burning on the epidermis, and the breakdown in the dermal layers is what happens.

16:18So, it's a best insurance policy, I would say.

16:21It's a best investment if you want your skin to be healthy over a long period of time.

16:28You must use your SPF regularly.

16:30Well, do you often wonder which is the best and healthiest oil to consume?

16:35What type of oil is best and the healthiest for Indian type of cooking?

16:41Also, it's mango season and many diabetics would be wondering if it is safe to consume mangoes.

16:49Well, I spoke earlier to Dr. Anoop Misra, a well-known endocrinologist and author of Smart Calories and Common Sense.

16:56Here's what he said.

16:58Mangoes are in, of course, the flavor of the season, the king of fruits.

17:03A lot of diabetic patients do feel that they can't even have a slice of a mango.

17:07What's the truth really?

17:08How much mango can they have if diabetes is under control?

17:12So, in 2022, we reviewed all the studies of mango and found that eight studies are there throughout, you know,

17:20if you take the global world literature, eight studies were there and six studies were in the United States.

17:26You know, a country that doesn't have mango as a central food or is not emotional about mangoes.

17:33All were Mexican mangoes.

17:36We started a study in 2022 with Indian Council of Medical Research Grant and in 2025, we published three papers,

17:44robust papers.

17:46What we did was, we replaced bread slices, you know, usually two bread is eaten in the morning, replaced with

17:56250 grams of mangoes.

17:58So, in short-term study, you know, just a couple of hours of study, we showed that there is no

18:04increase in the blood sugar with mangoes.

18:06Now, three varieties of mangoes were tried, you know, Langda, Vesheri and Safeda.

18:12Then we extended this study for seven days using a continuous glucose monitoring patch and found again the same thing

18:20that there is no increase in the blood sugar.

18:23In fact, there may be some decrease in the blood sugar once you replace bread with mangoes.

18:30Then we extended this study further to two months and found that not only the blood sugar decreased, but also

18:40weight decreased, waist circumference decreased and also the cholesterol decreased.

18:45So, multiple good effects of mangoes were seen if we are replacing it.

18:51That is the problem.

18:53People don't understand that.

18:54You can't have everything.

18:56If you want to enjoy a mango, you can, but then do away with something that is known to increase

19:02your blood sugar.

19:03Exactly.

19:03That's what you're saying.

19:04You cannot have your food and then on top of it, you eat 10 mangoes.

19:09You cannot do that.

19:10Moderation is the case.

19:11One mango for a diabetic patient if the diabetes is under control and if you're not having anything else.

19:17So, replace your two breads or two chapatis and have one mango.

19:22Best oil then.

19:23Should we have olive oil?

19:25What should be a medium of cooking?

19:26Olive oil?

19:27What type of olive oil?

19:29A dozen types available in the market.

19:31Or refined oil?

19:33I don't even want to ask that question, but I'm still asking for the sake of argument.

19:37Or mustard oil?

19:39You know, what's the evidence?

19:40Or ghee?

19:41Or butter?

19:42What do you think should be the way forward?

19:43So, there is no ideal oil, number one.

19:48The best oils are those where unsaturated, now I talked about saturated fat.

19:55Unsaturated fat is good.

19:58Unsaturated fat, wherever there is a higher amount of unsaturated fat in the oil, it is good.

20:04Now, olive oil has the highest amount of monounsaturated fat and it is shown to be good in various studies,

20:13whether you incorporate in the Mediterranean diet or you take otherwise in any other setting.

20:19But what type of olive oil, doctor?

20:21Yeah.

20:21Because we have pomace.

20:23Yeah.

20:23And then we have the other, you know, the lighter olive oil, which is maybe not ideal for Indian cooking.

20:29So, what type of olive oil is cooked?

20:31So, there are two types broadly.

20:32One is the virgin coconut oil, which is, sorry, virgin olive oil, which is put on the salad dressing and

20:40so on.

20:41Which is also not bad.

20:43I mean, if you put a couple of teaspoonful on the salad, which is also will be good for heart.

20:49But for cooking, Indian cooking, pomace olive oil.

20:53But isn't that the worst kind of oil, the residue of the oil, which is…

20:56Not at all.

20:57In fact, we used pomace olive oil in our patient, did the study for six months and found that those

21:06who are taking pomace olive oil have lesser fat in the liver.

21:11So, time and again, it has been proven to be pretty good.

21:14Now, there are, you know, dishes which are cooked in a very high heating point.

21:21That may be a problem.

21:23Sometimes, there's where you switch to mustard oil.

21:25Mustard oil has similar high unsaturated fatty acid.

21:30In addition, it has omega-3 fatty acid, which is another good fat.

21:34So, mustard oil has a high omega-3 fatty acid.

21:37Now, in between is somewhere canola oil.

21:40And there are some good points about other…

21:43Sunflour?

21:44Sunflour is also not bad.

21:45So, first three oils, according to me, is the…

21:49You know, olive oil, number one.

21:51Mustard oil, mustard oil, canola oil.

21:54And then other oils.

21:55Bad oils are ghee, coconut oil, palm oil…

22:01I'm not saying anything, you are saying it.

22:03And butter.

22:30And butter.

22:33People with a more positive outlook on life may have nearly a 15% lower risk of developing

22:38dementia, adding to growing evidence that emotional well-being and cognitive health are closely

22:44linked.

22:46The Harvard study says optimism improves brain health.

22:50How can optimism be linked to better brain health?

22:53What really is the science here?

22:55When you're optimistic, and your mental wavelength and your mental state changes the way your

23:02neuron functions and the way they communicate with each other.

23:06And by changing that, they change your neuronal neuroplasticity.

23:10They help your neurons to regenerate better, heal better, reduce oxidative damage, inflammation,

23:20and stress induced by cortisol in the brain.

23:23A study which follows thousands of older adults over several years suggests optimism

23:28may do far more than improve your mood.

23:31It may actually influence how the brain ages.

23:34A new study from Harvard THM School of Public Health suggests that people who are more optimistic

23:40take up a lower chance of developing dementia as they get older.

23:44The research was published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.

23:48It looked at more than 9,000 older adults who did not have any signs of poor memory or

23:54thinking problems when the study began.

23:56The researchers used data on optimism and dementia collected between 2006 and 2020.

24:02Every four years, adults answered questions about how hopeful and positive they felt about life,

24:08and researchers tracked how their brain health changed over time.

24:13Experts say chronic stress can quietly wear down the brain over time.

24:17Elevated stress hormones, especially cortisol, have been linked to damage in areas responsible for memory and learning.

24:24But people who are more optimistic often cope with stress better and are also more likely to maintain healthier daily

24:32habits,

24:32including exercise, better sleep, stronger social connections, and regular health care.

24:37How does chronic stress and a state of unhappiness wear down the brain?

24:44Chronic stress and negativity changes the way your brain and body function by upregulating the hypothalium-pituitary adenal axis for

24:53a flight-and-flight response.

24:54If this continues for a long time, chronic cortisol secretion leads to increased inflammation inside your brain, oxidative damage, free

25:04radical generation, and cell apoptosis, which means cell death.

25:08Chronic stress also leads to hypertension and increased blood sugar, which leads to vascular damage, giving rise to microvascular damage

25:17in the brain, leading to brain damage.

25:20While there is no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, experts say small lifestyle shifts may help build a healthier mindset,

25:27which is staying socially connected, practicing gratitude, spending time outdoors, reducing constant exposure to stress-driven content online.

25:35So from what we understand, our mind and what we feed our mind is equally important, isn't it?

25:43This is why there is huge importance in things like cognitive behavior therapy or psychological counseling,

25:49which retrain your brain to think positively, live mindfully, which allows a positive cascade inside your brain.

25:59Neurons fire together and wire together.

26:01If your neurons are secreting better neurochemicals, upregulating your happy hormones, increasing the endorphins, which actually increase the brain blood