​Even small, everyday observations about our bodies are enough for a quick spiral into panic. One such scenario is spotting darker or more yellow urine and wondering if it signals something serious. With rising awareness around conditions like Type 2 Diabetes, many people tend to connect even minor bodily changes to larger health issues.. A similar query recently surfaced on Quora: “Is yellowish urine a sign of diabetes type 2?”—a question that reflects just how common this confusion is. To settle this doubt, we reached out to Dr Satish Chander Wasoori, a Senior Consultant in Endocrinology at Paras Health Gurugram.. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.. So, is yellow urine a sign of Type 2 diabetes?. Type 2 diabetes usually presents with a cluster of symptoms (Image: Freepik). According to Dr Wasoori, the short answer is no. “Dark yellow urine is more commonly a sign of dehydration rather than Type 2 diabetes,” he explains. In most cases, it simply means you’re not drinking enough water or that certain foods or medications may be affecting you.. While uncontrolled diabetes can lead to fluid loss and increased urination, its colour alone is not a reliable indicator of blood sugar levels. “People often misinterpret darker urine as a sign of diabetes, but in most cases, it simply reflects inadequate water intake or certain dietary factors.”. As per the endocrinologist, a change in urination frequency is a more “significant” symptom, as compared to colour, when it comes to Type 2 Diabetes.. Also Read | Canadian doctor lists four surprising things that can spike your blood sugar — even if you haven’t eaten anything. What are the early signs of Type 2 diabetes?. Instead of focusing on urine colour, it’s important to watch out for symptoms that are often subtle and easily ignored:. Story continues below this ad. Persistent fatigue. Frequent urination. Excessive thirst. Unexplained weight loss or gain. Frequent infections (especially skin or urinary). Slow wound healing. Blurred vision. Increased hunger. “These symptoms are often dismissed as lifestyle-related issues, which delays diagnosis,” says Dr Wasoori.. Additionally, individuals with risk factors — such as a “family history of diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, or age above 35” —should undergo regular screening, even in the absence of symptoms. “Early detection is key to preventing complications,” Dr Chander concludes.. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.. 📣 For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram. © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd  

 ​Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi hid their wedding for 4 years (Source: Express archive photo). Relationships don’t always follow neat timelines or socially approved paths. Many couples begin their journeys navigating secrecy, family resistance, and unspoken compromises, especially in cultures where marriage is deeply tied to identity, gender roles, and career expectations. This idea surfaced in a recent YouTube video shared by Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi, who first met in 1988 and have been together for nearly 38 years. The couple reflected on the early years of their relationship, revealing that they secretly married in 1992 and kept it hidden for 4 years due to family opposition and professional concerns. Even today, they continue to address each other’s parents as “uncle” and “aunty,” a habit formed during those years of secrecy.. Explaining how this tradition began, Archana said, “We still call them ‘aunty’ and ‘uncle’, and people ask why. He also called my parents uncle and aunty. We were seeing each other for 4 years, and for the next 4 years, we were secretly married. So for 8 years we continued calling them aunty and uncle.” What began as a protective measure gradually became part of their family dynamic.. Archana also spoke about why hiding their marriage felt necessary at the time, particularly for her as a woman in a public-facing profession. “We didn’t want anyone to know that we were married,” she said, adding, “So that uncle and aunty is still going on. And everyone is happy with it.” Today, Archana’s mother and Parmeet’s father live with them, reflecting a close-knit household shaped by years of adjustment and understanding.. But how do years of secrecy or hiding a relationship shape communication patterns and emotional safety between partners?. Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, “Long-term secrecy changes how couples learn to talk and how much they allow themselves to feel. When a relationship has to be hidden, partners become emotionally efficient. They communicate in shortcuts, glances, and pauses. This often creates strong emotional intelligence and mutual dependence, a quiet understanding that feels deeply intimate. But secrecy also normalises emotional restraint. Big conversations get postponed, conflict is minimised, vulnerability is rationed.”. Hiding milestones offers safety, and careers remain intact, families are managed, and public scrutiny is avoided. (Source: Express archive photo). Over time, he adds, this can make emotional safety “conditional rather than expansive.” The relationship feels protected, but not always fully expressed. If secrecy is later acknowledged and consciously unpacked, it can deepen trust. If it becomes an unexamined habit, it risks turning intimacy into containment.. Psychological trade-offs of hiding major milestones. The trade-off is between external stability and internal expression, notes Raj. Hiding mile  

 ​This week, I spent two days at a beautiful palace on the way to Jaipur. Patan Mahal is not only a balm for the senses—given that we were there in the middle of the week and there was no one in sight—it is also a great place to ease your taste buds into the world of Rajasthani cuisine.. While I became well-acquainted with vegetarian Marwari cuisine because I lived in Calcutta and had friends in the right places, Rajasthani cuisine was something I encountered only when I travelled to the state for the first time in my teens. Rich, earthy, and exotic – thanks to the desert vegetables that form a part of the daily fare – it also boasts of some of the most delicious meat preparations I have ever had. This trip was no different.. Traditional Rajasthani cuisine embodies the hardships of living in a desert and the desire to eat tasty food. I want to start with one of my favourite preparations, the underrated Safed Maas. Everyone talks about Lal Maas, but the subtlety of Safed Maas is not to be dismissed. Unlike Lal Maas, which is fiery in appearance and which I will discuss later, Safed Maas is cooked in a nutty, creamy sauce and has a slight sweetness that acts as a perfect foil to the spice. Slow-cooked, velvety, and rich, this is as celebratory as it gets.. For the more herbivorous inclined, the Ker Sangri is a must-try. This dish is innovation at its best. Rajasthanis prepare a sturdy, hearty vegetable using dried sangri beans and ker berries that grow in the desert. No European or even non-Rajasthani vegetable resembles the sangri bean’s thick, grass-like structure. It is cooked in a yoghurt gravy or as a dry vegetable with potatoes and berries. Easily available in the desert, this is a staple in Rajasthani homes.. Rajasthanis prepare a sturdy, hearty vegetable using dried sangri beans and ker berries that grow in the desert. (Wikimedia Commons). Another common preparation, and quite the delicacy, is Gaanth—a porridge made from wheat, milk, and sugar. Breads are usually made from makki (corn) or bajra (pearl millet), and generously slathered with butter or ghee, and topped with mushti khand, a raw, unprocessed sugar unique to the region that tastes of honey and caramel.. Even the ingredients used in Rajasthani cuisine are evocative of the desert they come from and the one they survive in. Mathania red chillies impart flavour and colour but very little heat, kachri powder made from dried and powdered wild melon—used to tenderise meats—fresh cumin, turmeric root, aniseed, and coriander seeds carry the stamp of the desert.. Another popular Rajasthani preparation is Gatte ki Sabji, where soft gram flour dumplings are simmered in a lightly flavoured yoghurt gravy. The gram flour is mixed with spices, oil, and yoghurt.. Story continues below this ad. A dessert I tried for the first time on this trip was the Rajasthani Lapsiisa. It resembled a finer version of the Bengali Bondey, but was made with daliya (broken wheat), ghee, and jaggery (o  

 ​Understand the risks of pesticide residues in produce. (Source: AI Generated). Fruits and vegetables are a key part of a healthy diet, but concerns about pesticide residues have made many people question how safe their everyday produce really is. In a recent Instagram video, Mumbai-based orthopaedic surgeon and health educator Dr Manan Vora highlighted certain commonly consumed fruits and vegetables that are more likely to carry pesticide residues.. He clarified that this does not mean people should stop eating them, but rather take simple steps to reduce exposure. Explaining why some produce is more vulnerable than others, he said, “The first is spinach, because these leaves have a large surface area, and pesticide sprays can easily stick to the surface. Food monitoring programs have detected multiple pesticide residues in spinach, including compounds like permethrin, which is considered a neurotoxic insecticide (sic).”. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.. He also pointed to strawberries as another example, noting the challenges in cleaning them effectively. “The second is strawberries. Their skin is very delicate and cannot be peeled, which is why pesticide sprays can remain on the fruit’s surface.” Grapes were also highlighted due to the way they grow. “The third is grapes. Grapes grow in tight clusters where pesticide sprays can accumulate on the surface. Studies show that over 90 per cent of conventional grape samples contain multiple pesticide residues.”. Beyond these, Dr Vora drew attention to a broader category often referred to as the “Dirty Dozen,” which includes produce known to carry relatively higher pesticide loads. “It is not just these three; on the global monitoring list, strawberries, spinach, kale, apples, peaches, nectarines, pears, grapes, cherries, blueberries, and bell peppers are collectively called the ‘Dirty Dozen’.”. So, from a food safety perspective, how significant is this risk for the average consumer?. Dr Palleti Siva Karthik Reddy, MBBS, MD general medicine, FAIG, consultant physician at Elite Care Clinic, tells indianexpress.com, “From a clinical and public health standpoint, the risk exists but needs to be understood in context. Certain foods, such as spinach, strawberries, and grapes, tend to retain more pesticide residue due to their surface characteristics and cultivation methods. However, for the average consumer, the risk is not immediately alarming if dietary habits are balanced and produce is cleaned properly.”. He notes that the larger concern “arises with long-term cumulative exposure,” especially in vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immunity. What is important is awareness and consistent food hygiene practices, rather than avoiding these foods altogether, as they are nutritionally es  

 ​In an interview with Tweak India, Samantha Ruth Prabhu spoke about moving away from elaborate skincare routines and embracing a “less is more” approach. Reflecting on her journey with skincare trends, the actor shared that while she once followed multi-step regimens, she eventually realised that a handful of reliable products often work better than constantly experimenting with new ones.. “I also used to follow the many-step skincare routine, but I realised that less is more actually,” she said, adding that finding a few products that genuinely work for one’s skin — and sticking to them — can be more effective in the long run.. “Somehow I feel that these trends fade away and there are just few products that stand the test of time. You don’t have to do a 7-8 step routine, a few products will do,” she further added.. Prabhu also revealed that, “Because of my age, I definitely would put retinol there. Younger skin doesn’t need it,” and that a good serum and sunscreen are also her non-negotiables.. Dermatologists say this philosophy aligns closely with what science recommends for healthy skin.. Why a simpler skincare routine can work better. According to Dr Sunita Naik, Head Medical Advisor – Western Region, Kaya Limited, an overly complicated routine can sometimes do more harm than good.. “From a dermatological perspective, a simplified skincare routine can often be more beneficial than an elaborate multi-step regimen. The skin barrier functions best when it is not overwhelmed by too many active ingredients,” says Dr Naik.. Story continues below this ad. Layering multiple products containing potent ingredients — such as acids, retinoids, or vitamin C — may lead to irritation, redness, dryness, and even damage the skin barrier.. “Over-layering actives can compromise the skin barrier and trigger sensitivity, breakouts, or even contact dermatitis. Consistency with a few evidence-based products is usually far more beneficial than constantly switching products,” she explains.. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine. The core pillars of a good skincare routine. Samantha’s mention of sunscreen, serums, and retinol as key products also reflects what dermatologists consider fundamental skincare elements.. Story continues below this ad. “Sunscreen is the most important skincare product because it protects the skin from ultraviolet damage, premature ageing, pigmentation, and even skin cancers,” says Dr Naik.. Serums, meanwhile, are designed to deliver concentrated active ingredients that target specific skin concerns. “Serums can contain antioxidants, vitamin C, or hyaluronic acid, which help address concerns such as dullness, dehydration, or uneven skin tone,” she adds.. Retinol, which Samantha recommends primarily for mature skin, is also one of the most extensively studied ingr