Anti-oxidant food supplements prepared for troops at high altitude

Leh, Apr 6 (ANI): The institute of Defence and High Altitude Research in Kashmir has come with a herbal anti-oxidant food supplement for the army stationed at high altitudes.

Medicinal plants from higher altitudes have been widely used in traditional system of Indian medicines since ages.

Deployed at high altitudes, army troops face impairment in their physical and mental performances.

Exposure to higher altitudes result in increasing oxidative stress due to various reasons like less availability of oxygen, increasing level of catecholamine, reductive stress, lack of fresh food availability and incomplete breakdown of exercise.

The Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) along with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) have jointly formulated herbal anti-oxidant supplements by using pulp of Sea-buckthorn and extracts of indigenous medicinal plants of high altitudes.

"The quantity of antioxidants is high in beverages which help fight with oxidative stress. Besides, it is rich in Beta-carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin E. These vitamins make this beverage unique and beneficial," said Sashi Bala Singh, Director, DIHAR.

Sea-buckthorn, already very popular in Tibet, Mongolia, China and Russia, is a rich source of antioxidants to inhibit the oxidative stress, mostly faced army troops stationed at higher altitudes. By Jigmet Vangchuk (ANI)