Walking is more than just a way to move from point A to point B—it may be a simple yet powerful way to boost your mental health. While it is constantly known to impact your physical well-being, research has found that it can also help you tackle depression. According to the study, adults walking 5,000 or more steps daily experienced fewer depression symptoms compared to those who walked less. Mental Health benefits increased with more steps. For instance, research participants, who walked over for at least 7,500 steps every day saw a 42% reduction in depression symptoms.

Interestingly, even a modest boost in daily steps made a difference. Adding just 1,000 extra steps daily was linked to a lower risk of depression. Another analysis from the same study highlighted that people who hit 7,000 steps or more each day were less likely to develop depression than those who walked less. Experts have said that walking may reliably reduce depression by measurable amounts while also potentially lowering the risk of developing depression.

For their research, experts reviewed data from 33 studies involving over 96,000 adults to explore the link between walking and reduced depression symptoms. The studies used wearable devices like pedometers and smartphones to measure participants' step counts, typically over a week. The meta-analysis found that walking not only reduced depression symptoms but also served as a practical, low-pressure alternative to structured exercise, especially for those who might find more intensive workouts intimidating.

However, the researchers acknowledged some limitations. People who walked more might already feel better, and the study didn’t explore other factors, such as the potential benefits of walking in nature or with others, which could further improve mood.

How Many Steps Should You Walk Everyday?

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Delhi’s air quality has taken a severe turn for the worse. As of Monday morning, November 3, 2025, the air across the capital officially slipped into the "Very Poor" category. Government data shows that the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 316 by 9 am, meaning the air is now considered a significant health risk. In fact, one private monitor estimates that breathing the air in Delhi is currently as harmful as smoking 7.8 cigarettes a day.

Researchers and healthcare professionals have explained how pollution not only affects our breathing and lung function, but it affects multiple organs. A 2024 study published in the Scientific Reports journal showed that PM2.5 pollution particles are linked with reduction in life expectancy by 3.7 years.

However, when it comes to organ functions, pollution affects different organs differently. Here’s how.

Why Does Pollution Affect Our Organ Health?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is when the air contains one or more harmful substances like dust, smoke, fumes, or gas for a long time as they hurt our health.

The main way these pollutants affect us is by being breathed in. When you inhale them, they cause damage throughout your body, leading to:

• Inflammation (swelling)
• Stress on your cells
• A weaker immune system
• Changes to your cells that can cause disease (mutagenicity)

What Organs Are Affected By Pollution?

Here is a list of organs that you may not know were affected by pollution.

Brain and Mind

According to UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center, these pollutants are small they can travel from your lungs directly into your brain. This toxic exposure is concerning for long-term brain health. It's been linked to a higher risk of developing severe conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It may also impact children, potentially affecting intelligence, and increasing the risk of disorders like autism. Research also shows a higher risk of stroke, depression, and anxiety disorders.

Air pollution doesn't just cause disease; it can also cause more immediate, subtle effects on healthy people, which is often called "brain fog" decreased productivity or trouble thinking clearly. Studies across various jobs, from farm workers to office workers—show that short bursts of high outdoor pollution lead to decreased work output.

Heart and Lungs

According to the WHO, the lungs are hit first, leading to immediate problems like asthma and long-term illnesses like lung cancer or emphysema. Once in the bloodstream, the particles tighten your blood vessels (arteries), which forces the heart to work much harder. This sharply increases your risk for life-threatening events like strokes and heart disease.

Skin

The Airly organization explains that your skin is naturally covered in a layer of helpful bacteria, fungi, and viruses—called the microbiome. Air pollutants (like smog) disrupt the size and variety of this helpful microbiome. When this balance is broken, harmful bacteria can grow out of control.

Being the body’s largest organ and completely exposed, shows damage from air pollution through signs like faster aging, more wrinkles, and rashes. Surprisingly, the internal effects go deeper: prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals found in pollution, such as PAHs and ozone, you face an increased risk of developing skin cancer.

Bone

According to a 2024 study published in the Current Osteoporosis Reports, growing evidence shows a link between air pollution and a higher risk of osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones weak. This is a major concern for our aging population, as severe bone fractures greatly increase death risk. While we don't know the exact pollutants or how they cause this, initial research suggests inflammation from dirty air may damage the bones. Identifying this pathway could lead to new treatments.

Kidney

According to the National Kidney Foundation, pollution adds a major toxic burden to your body's internal cleaning crew. A study of 2.5 million U.S. veterans found that breathing polluted air significantly increases the risk of developing kidney disease. The scientists estimated that over the course of the study, air pollution may have caused roughly 45,000 new cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and forced over 2,400 patients to start dialysis.

While the exact way air pollution damages the kidneys is still unknown, one main idea is that the tiny pollution particles you inhale travel from your lungs into your bloodstream. The kidneys then try to filter this contaminated blood, and in the process, the tiny particles directly damage the kidney cells.

Reproductive System

According to the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India pregnant people, pollution exposure increases the likelihood of miscarriages and can harm the developing baby, leading to health issues in unborn and newborn children. It threatens the future health of the population.

When a pregnant woman is exposed to pollutants, it causes an inflammatory reaction that can harm the pregnancy. This toxic exposure is linked to serious problems, including preterm labor, fetal growth restriction, death of the baby before or during birth.

Studies confirm that inhaling tiny pollution particles (PM) and nanoparticles (NP) causes excessive cell damage, leading to mutations in DNA and damage to fats and proteins in the body.

Digestive Health

According to the Northwell Health Organization, new research suggests that the tiny particles found in it contribute to digestive illnesses.

Exposure to pollution also stresses your body. This chronic, pollution-induced stress leads to an overload of inflammation and cell damage (oxidative stress) in the digestive system. This can contribute to common conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Breathing in things like fine particles, fumes, and gases can cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Long-term exposure to dirty air is linked to higher risks of GERD and IBD.

Experts and social media users are warning people about the herbal drink ‘Feel Free’ and other products containing kratom, a compound that acts in ways similar to opioids, according to NBC News. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also raised concerns, noting that kratom-based items—derived from a plant native to Southeast Asia—are being sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and vape shops across the United States. This growing availability has sparked questions: What exactly is kratom, and why has it been banned in several U.S. states?

What Is Feel Free?

‘Feel Free’ is a small blue-bottled herbal tonic made by a company called Botanic Tonics. Its key ingredients are Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) and Kava (Piper methysticum), plants with long histories of traditional use, kratom in Southeast Asia and kava in the South Pacific.

Though often marketed as natural mood boosters, experts caution that their effects on the brain and body are complex and potentially risky. When taken together, kratom and kava can produce sensations of calm euphoria or mental clarity, but they may also trigger side effects and dependency over time.

What Is Kava or Kratom Found in Feel Free Drinks?

Kava- and kratom-based drinks are often promoted as energy or mood-enhancing beverages, yet some users say they can be habit-forming. Kratom works as a stimulant in smaller amounts and acts like an opioid at higher doses, while Kava produces calming, sedative effects, making it popular for easing anxiety or stress.

Although kava is not known to be physically addictive, using it frequently or combining it with alcohol has been associated with liver damage. Many regular consumers of ‘Feel Free’ report needing multiple bottles daily to function normally or to prevent fatigue and irritability. This growing tolerance and dependence echo patterns seen in other substance use problems.

FDA Does Not Approve Kava or Kratom

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the FDA has not approved kava for treating any medical condition. It is available only as a dietary supplement, and in 2002 the agency issued a warning linking kava-containing products to serious liver injury, including liver failure. The FDA recommends speaking with a healthcare provider before using any kava-based supplement.

So, Is 'Feel Free' Safe to Consume?

Botanic Tonics, the company behind Feel Free, told The Independent that the NBC News story contained “false and misleading statements” and that it had received no reports of severe addiction from customers. In 2023, however, the company agreed to pay $8.75 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing it of not disclosing kratom-related riskswithout admitting any wrongdoing.

While the product is sold legally in many health food shops and gas stations, that does not mean it’s risk-free. Because neither kratom nor kava are regulated or approved by the FDA, there is little oversight on their safety or how they interact when combined in drinks like Feel Free. Some countries have completely banned kratom, and several U.S. states and cities have restricted its sale. Still, public awareness remains limited, and many consumers—particularly younger people, may not realize they’re consuming ingredients that could lead to dependence.

‘Feel Free’ might look like a typical energy drink, but the blend of kratom and kava carries genuine health risks, especially for people who rely on such products to cope with stress or boost focus. That short burst of energy or calm may come at a far greater cost in the long run.

Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) Level Today, 03 November 2025: Delhi’s air quality took a sharp downturn on Monday, slipping deep into the “very poor” category as pollution levels surged across the capital. At 9 a.m., the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 316, according to data from the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS).

Forecasts suggest that the air quality will stay “very poor” on November 3 and 5, and could worsen to “severe” on November 4. Experts expect this trend to continue throughout the week. With Diwali week behind us, the question now is, what is driving this sudden decline in Delhi’s air quality?

Delhi Air Quality Worsens

The air in Delhi and the wider NCR has been deteriorating steadily since Diwali ended. On Monday, November 3, the national capital recorded an overall AQI of 324 at 6:05 a.m., according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app, keeping it in the “very poor” range. The Air Quality Early Warning System predicts this pattern will continue for several more days, with the AQI possibly dipping into the “severe” category on November 4. Despite the festivities being over, pollution levels remain high, raising concern over what’s causing the continued decline.

Farm Fires Add to Delhi’s Pollution

The Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality management has not updated its latest data, but its October 30 forecast showed that farm fires were responsible for roughly 9% of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution, with Haryana’s Jhajjar district contributing the most at about 10.66%. Earlier in the season, Delhi’s PM2.5 contribution from stubble burning had stayed below 1%, but in early November, it climbed to around 2%. This rise shows the usual seasonal spike in farm fires, which typically peaks in early November.

Other Factors Behind Delhi’s Falling Air Quality

Delhi’s poor air is not caused by one source alone. Vehicle emissions, construction and demolition dust, and industrial discharge all play major roles in making the air toxic. Seasonal triggers such as stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana and leftover Diwali fireworks make the situation worse. Winds blowing from the northwest carry smoke from these fires directly into Delhi. According to EWS data, wind speeds dropped below 5 kmph on the night of November 2, allowing pollutants to stay close to the ground rather than dispersing.

Why Delhi Suffers More During Pollution Season

Delhi’s geography makes it especially prone to pollution build-up. The city sits in a low-lying plain surrounded by hills and plateaus, forming a basin that traps smog and fine particles. As winter sets in, the cooler air and frequent temperature inversions make the problem worse, preventing pollutants from rising and dispersing into the upper layers of the atmosphere.

Starting November 1, the Delhi government began enforcing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directive across the NCR and nearby regions.

The rule bans entry of commercial vehicles that are either not registered in Delhi or fail to meet BS-IV emission norms. Only vehicles powered by CNG, LNG, electricity, or those compliant with BS-VI standards are allowed into the city.

According to official data, October ended on a worrying note for Delhi. The city’s average AQI for the month stood at 223, ranking it in the “poor” category and marking it as the second-worst October for air quality in the past five years.