This is an interesting article about tangerines helping fight obesity and cholesterol as well. Read on:
Flavanoids called Nobiletin that are found in tangerines may help prevent obesity and related diseases, even among individuals who eat unhealthy diets, according to a recent study published in the journal Diabetes.
The researchers fed laboratory rodents food high in both fat and sugar. However, half of the subjects were also provided with regular servings of Nobiletin.
Results showed that animals in the first group had become obese, as anticipated, and showed signs of metabolic syndrome, which include high blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and glucose, as well as fatty liver. The investigators noted that people who have these symptoms are at an increased risk for becoming diabetic or developing heart disease.
However, rats that belonged to the fruit subset only gained small increments of weight and did not show any signs of insulin resistance or cardiovascular risk factors, according to the study's findings.
"In longer-term studies, Nobiletin also protected these animals from atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke," said lead researcher Murray Huff.
The scientist also noted that similar, though not as effective compounds, have been found in grapefruits.
More from here: http://www.drcutler.com/blood-sugar/certain-fruits-may-help-fight-obesity-and-negative-health-effects-800480377/
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Study finds statins reduce pneumonia death rates
Got to read this article linking statins to pneumonia treatment. Read on:
(Reuters) - Taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs such as Pfizer's Lipitor and AstraZeneca's Crestor could help prevent people dying from pneumonia, according to a study by British scientists released on Tuesday.
Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that the risk of death in the six-month period after being diagnosed with pneumonia was substantially lower among those who were already taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs than in those who were not.
Previous studies have suggested statins, which are also available as cheaper generics, may be linked to better outcomes after bacterial infection. These findings suggest the pills may help protect against death in patients with pneumonia.
Statins such as Lipitor, Crestor, and a generic called simvastatin are widely prescribed to lower so-called "bad" or LDL cholesterol -- a risk factor for heart disease -- and are credited with being among the most successful drugs in helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Separate research published in March found that lowering cholesterol levels could help the body's immune system fight infections, a finding that appears to be supported by Tuesday's study.
"Statins are safe, cheap, and an easy intervention in terms of delivery," said Ian Douglas, a lecturer in epidemiology at the LSHTM who led the research.
"Given the potential low number needed to treat to prevent a death suggested by this study, we believe that a strong case exists for randomized trials of statins in people with serious infection to determine if a simple and practical intervention at the point of diagnosis of pneumonia has a beneficial effect."
Douglas's team, whose research was published in the British Medical Journal, used data from computerized medical records of doctors' practices in Britain to identify statin users.
They then matched each statin user -- who was aged over 40 when first prescribed a statin between 1995 and 2006 -- with up to five non-statin users for comparison.
Patients with a record of pneumonia were followed for six months to see if they died, and the researchers found that 13 percent (109 out of 847) of statin users died compared with 20 percent (578 out of 2,927) of non-statin users.
Douglas noted that since this study looked at patients who were already taking statins when they developed pneumonia, a full randomized clinical trial was needed to find out whether starting a statin at the time of diagnosis has a similar effect.
More from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/us-pneumonia-statins-idUSTRE73413920110405
(Reuters) - Taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs such as Pfizer's Lipitor and AstraZeneca's Crestor could help prevent people dying from pneumonia, according to a study by British scientists released on Tuesday.
Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that the risk of death in the six-month period after being diagnosed with pneumonia was substantially lower among those who were already taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs than in those who were not.
Previous studies have suggested statins, which are also available as cheaper generics, may be linked to better outcomes after bacterial infection. These findings suggest the pills may help protect against death in patients with pneumonia.
Statins such as Lipitor, Crestor, and a generic called simvastatin are widely prescribed to lower so-called "bad" or LDL cholesterol -- a risk factor for heart disease -- and are credited with being among the most successful drugs in helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Separate research published in March found that lowering cholesterol levels could help the body's immune system fight infections, a finding that appears to be supported by Tuesday's study.
"Statins are safe, cheap, and an easy intervention in terms of delivery," said Ian Douglas, a lecturer in epidemiology at the LSHTM who led the research.
"Given the potential low number needed to treat to prevent a death suggested by this study, we believe that a strong case exists for randomized trials of statins in people with serious infection to determine if a simple and practical intervention at the point of diagnosis of pneumonia has a beneficial effect."
Douglas's team, whose research was published in the British Medical Journal, used data from computerized medical records of doctors' practices in Britain to identify statin users.
They then matched each statin user -- who was aged over 40 when first prescribed a statin between 1995 and 2006 -- with up to five non-statin users for comparison.
Patients with a record of pneumonia were followed for six months to see if they died, and the researchers found that 13 percent (109 out of 847) of statin users died compared with 20 percent (578 out of 2,927) of non-statin users.
Douglas noted that since this study looked at patients who were already taking statins when they developed pneumonia, a full randomized clinical trial was needed to find out whether starting a statin at the time of diagnosis has a similar effect.
More from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/us-pneumonia-statins-idUSTRE73413920110405
Friday, April 8, 2011
New discovery in fight against Alzheimer’s
Here's another article for new breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease. Read on:
FAMILIES with relations suffering from Alzheimer’s disease have been offered hope by a breakthrough at a Welsh university.
A leading scientist at Cardiff University has identified five genes that increase the risk of developing the disease, which is the most common form of dementia and causes patients to suffering mood swings, memory loss and confusion.
Professor Julie Williams’ groundbreaking discovery means scientists are a step closer to pinpointing what goes wrong in Alzheimer’s sufferer’s brains and increases the prospect of developing treatment for the condition.
Professor Williams, of the University’s MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, said: “This study, plus our previous studies, means that we are beginning to piece together the pieces of the jigsaw and gain new understanding. We still have a long way to go – but the jigsaw is beginning to come together.
“If we were able to remove the detrimental effects of these genes through treatments, we hope we can help reduce the proportion of people developing Alzheimer’s in the long- term.”
Published in Nature Genetics, the study of around 20,000 sufferers and 40,000 healthy individuals confirms that Alzheimer’s disease remains a complex condition.
The scientists have been able to implicate a range of risk factors for the disease, including a sufferer’s immune system, the ways the brain processes cholesterol and lipids and for the first time a process called endocytosis, which, in normal healthy brains removes toxic amyloid-beta protein from the brain.
Professor Williams said: “What’s exciting is the genes we now know of, the five new ones, plus those previously identified, are clustering in patterns.
“So several genes are implicating the immune system, for example, and it’s telling us there’s something different about the immune system of people who go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease.”
This is not the first time Professor Williams and her team have made significant gene discoveries.
In 2009, she led the largest genetic investigation of Alzheimer’s ever conducted, which involved analysing the DNA from more than 16,000 individuals over two years which uncovered new genes closely linked to the illness.
Professor Chris Kennard, chairman of the MRC’s Neuroscience and Mental Health Board, called Professor Williams’ discoveries “very exciting”.
He said: “Using genetics to understand individual predispositions to disease is a major strategic aim for the MRC.
“We support research which addresses the big health issues which occur throughout life, so tackling Alzheimer’s disease is an extremely important area. These are very exciting findings which, in the long term, we hope will lead to the development of treatments for this debilitating condition.”
The study is being funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Assembly Government.
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “These findings are a step towards defeating dementia. We are yet to find ways of halting this devastating condition, but this work is likely to spark off new ideas, collaborations and more research.”
Dr John Williams, The Wellcome Trust’s head of neuroscience and mental health, said: “As our population ages, we will see more and more people affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
“It is distressing both to patients and their families and places a heavy economic burden on our society.
“Understanding the complex processes that underpin the disease will be essential to earlier diagnosis and to developing improved treatments. This interesting new study takes a step further along this path.”
Read more from: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/04/04/new-discovery-in-fight-against-alzheimer-s-91466-28452996/
FAMILIES with relations suffering from Alzheimer’s disease have been offered hope by a breakthrough at a Welsh university.
A leading scientist at Cardiff University has identified five genes that increase the risk of developing the disease, which is the most common form of dementia and causes patients to suffering mood swings, memory loss and confusion.
Professor Julie Williams’ groundbreaking discovery means scientists are a step closer to pinpointing what goes wrong in Alzheimer’s sufferer’s brains and increases the prospect of developing treatment for the condition.
Professor Williams, of the University’s MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, said: “This study, plus our previous studies, means that we are beginning to piece together the pieces of the jigsaw and gain new understanding. We still have a long way to go – but the jigsaw is beginning to come together.
“If we were able to remove the detrimental effects of these genes through treatments, we hope we can help reduce the proportion of people developing Alzheimer’s in the long- term.”
Published in Nature Genetics, the study of around 20,000 sufferers and 40,000 healthy individuals confirms that Alzheimer’s disease remains a complex condition.
The scientists have been able to implicate a range of risk factors for the disease, including a sufferer’s immune system, the ways the brain processes cholesterol and lipids and for the first time a process called endocytosis, which, in normal healthy brains removes toxic amyloid-beta protein from the brain.
Professor Williams said: “What’s exciting is the genes we now know of, the five new ones, plus those previously identified, are clustering in patterns.
“So several genes are implicating the immune system, for example, and it’s telling us there’s something different about the immune system of people who go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease.”
This is not the first time Professor Williams and her team have made significant gene discoveries.
In 2009, she led the largest genetic investigation of Alzheimer’s ever conducted, which involved analysing the DNA from more than 16,000 individuals over two years which uncovered new genes closely linked to the illness.
Professor Chris Kennard, chairman of the MRC’s Neuroscience and Mental Health Board, called Professor Williams’ discoveries “very exciting”.
He said: “Using genetics to understand individual predispositions to disease is a major strategic aim for the MRC.
“We support research which addresses the big health issues which occur throughout life, so tackling Alzheimer’s disease is an extremely important area. These are very exciting findings which, in the long term, we hope will lead to the development of treatments for this debilitating condition.”
The study is being funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Assembly Government.
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “These findings are a step towards defeating dementia. We are yet to find ways of halting this devastating condition, but this work is likely to spark off new ideas, collaborations and more research.”
Dr John Williams, The Wellcome Trust’s head of neuroscience and mental health, said: “As our population ages, we will see more and more people affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
“It is distressing both to patients and their families and places a heavy economic burden on our society.
“Understanding the complex processes that underpin the disease will be essential to earlier diagnosis and to developing improved treatments. This interesting new study takes a step further along this path.”
Read more from: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/04/04/new-discovery-in-fight-against-alzheimer-s-91466-28452996/
Monday, April 4, 2011
The good fat
Posting this article from Manila Bulletin. It talks about different kinds of fat. Read on:
MANILA, Philippines – Fat has gotten a bad reputation lately and has been considered by many as public enemy number one, especially among the elders.
But does it fully deserve that reputation? Many people associate fat with overweight or obese. However, research has shown that some fats are beneficial, and cutting all the fat out of your diet may cause you undue harm.
Not all fats are bad
Fats, like carbohydrates, are sources of energy. The body needs fuel to function, and fats are the most concentrated source of food energy. Each gram of fat provides 9 calories, compared with only 4 calories a gram from carbohydrates.
Like everything else, there’s a good and bad side to fats. The general misconception that all fats are bad for you is simply not true. And the most maligned of all is cholesterol.
Practically everyone knows that cholesterol can be responsible for arteriosclerosis, heart attacks, a variety of illnesses, but very few are aware of the ways that it is essential to health.
Many people think of cholesterol as being a health villain, but actually, it serves a lot of important functions within the body. Cholesterol forms a major part of the membranes within the skin; cholesterol is changed by sunlight into vitamin D, which regulates the body’s use of calcium. It is converted in the liver into bile acids, which are needed for fat digestion. It is important for proper nerve function. It is used to create other hormones, such as cortisone, that control other bodily functions.
Types of fat
All foods contain some fat; even carrots. And your body needs some fat to function optimally, but how much and which kind?
All fats are made of the same basic elements —- carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.
These elements are arranged in molecules called fatty acids.
Saturated Fats. The type of fat found in meat, poultry, milk, cheese, butter, and tropical oils are saturated fat, a dense, solid fat, like the white fat in beef and pork, that doesn’t melt at room temperature, whose purpose in life seems to be to destroy your arteries.
Saturated animal fats raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels; cause the blood to become sluggish and form clots, which predisposes you to heart attacks and strokes; disturb hormone levels; and increase risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Animal fats also increases the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which cause joint inflammation, as in rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, psoriasis, and clogged arteries.
Monounsaturated Fats. Fats, found primarily in olives and olive oil, are considered to be safe if they are not heated.
Polyunsaturated fat. The good fats. The polyunsaturated fats, such as corn, soybean, and sunflower oils are made up of fatty acids that have fewer hydrogen atoms. The fewer the hydrogen atoms, the more fluid the fat, hence it does not solidify in room temperature.
Trans Fatty Acids. A unique, man-made fat that is essentially detrimental to health is called trans fatty acid. This form of fat is created when liquid fats, such as corn oil, is changed into solid or semi-solid forms, also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats, the primary ingredient in margarine and shortening. Trans fatty acids cause a lot of problems: they make cell membranes inflexible, which makes it difficult for them to fight off invaders; they disrupt heart rhythms; promote production of “bad” cholesterol; and increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer.
Healthy Fats
Which foods contain healthy fats? Foods that will help keeps your immune system healthy include lower-fat foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Get the oil and fatty acids you need by eating raw whole seeds, nuts, avocados, and olives in moderate amounts. If you include fish in your plan, cold-water, oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines are good sources of omega-3-fatty acids.
Fats you can’t live without —- The essential fatty acids
The body can make most of the fatty acids it needs from the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms provided by food. These are called nonessential fatty acids because it is not essential for us to consume them in the foods we eat.
However, there are polyunsaturated fatty acids that the body cannot manufacture, and these are called essential fatty acids (EFAs). They are necessary for good health, but we can only get them from food. Essential fatty acids are aptly named because they are essential to your health.
There are two main groups of essential fatty acids: the omega “3” and the omega “6” refer to the place where the first link in the carbon chain or chemical structure occurs. Omega-3 is more polyunsaturated which mean that its more liquid than omega-6 at a given temperature.
The following list shows you some of the many ways your body uses these fatty acids:
To lubricate skin and tissues and allow cell membranes to function normally.
Your body’s cells depend on EFAs to function normally. A deficiency can lead to hair loss, dry skin, and skin rashes, heart disease, constantly feeling cold, easy bruising, joint inflammation, and repeated infections due to weakened cell, membranes that are more susceptible to virus penetration.
Modern research shows that your brain and nervous system need essential fatty acids in order to function properly. It can even affect your mood, and a shortage may increase your risk of developing a mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety.
It regulates the body’s use of cholesterol and triglycerides.
It helps in the production of substances that regulate nearly all other bodily processes.
It is used to prevent and to treat some of the following diseases and symptoms: Bronchial asthma, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, gastric ulcers, high blood pressure, inflammatory bowel diseases, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis; and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Natural sources of essential fatty acids
Nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils all contain various amounts of essential fatty acids. Don’t take cod liver oil or fish oil during pregnancy, because the high vitamin A content may not be healthy for a developing fetus. Eat fish like salmon, tuna, or sardines two or three times a week instead.
REMEMBER:
The bulk of our illnesses today are not medical problems but lifestyle and nutrition problems —- something you yourself can, and must, change.
More from here: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/310933/the-good-fat
MANILA, Philippines – Fat has gotten a bad reputation lately and has been considered by many as public enemy number one, especially among the elders.
But does it fully deserve that reputation? Many people associate fat with overweight or obese. However, research has shown that some fats are beneficial, and cutting all the fat out of your diet may cause you undue harm.
Not all fats are bad
Fats, like carbohydrates, are sources of energy. The body needs fuel to function, and fats are the most concentrated source of food energy. Each gram of fat provides 9 calories, compared with only 4 calories a gram from carbohydrates.
Like everything else, there’s a good and bad side to fats. The general misconception that all fats are bad for you is simply not true. And the most maligned of all is cholesterol.
Practically everyone knows that cholesterol can be responsible for arteriosclerosis, heart attacks, a variety of illnesses, but very few are aware of the ways that it is essential to health.
Many people think of cholesterol as being a health villain, but actually, it serves a lot of important functions within the body. Cholesterol forms a major part of the membranes within the skin; cholesterol is changed by sunlight into vitamin D, which regulates the body’s use of calcium. It is converted in the liver into bile acids, which are needed for fat digestion. It is important for proper nerve function. It is used to create other hormones, such as cortisone, that control other bodily functions.
Types of fat
All foods contain some fat; even carrots. And your body needs some fat to function optimally, but how much and which kind?
All fats are made of the same basic elements —- carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.
These elements are arranged in molecules called fatty acids.
Saturated Fats. The type of fat found in meat, poultry, milk, cheese, butter, and tropical oils are saturated fat, a dense, solid fat, like the white fat in beef and pork, that doesn’t melt at room temperature, whose purpose in life seems to be to destroy your arteries.
Saturated animal fats raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels; cause the blood to become sluggish and form clots, which predisposes you to heart attacks and strokes; disturb hormone levels; and increase risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Animal fats also increases the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which cause joint inflammation, as in rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, psoriasis, and clogged arteries.
Monounsaturated Fats. Fats, found primarily in olives and olive oil, are considered to be safe if they are not heated.
Polyunsaturated fat. The good fats. The polyunsaturated fats, such as corn, soybean, and sunflower oils are made up of fatty acids that have fewer hydrogen atoms. The fewer the hydrogen atoms, the more fluid the fat, hence it does not solidify in room temperature.
Trans Fatty Acids. A unique, man-made fat that is essentially detrimental to health is called trans fatty acid. This form of fat is created when liquid fats, such as corn oil, is changed into solid or semi-solid forms, also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats, the primary ingredient in margarine and shortening. Trans fatty acids cause a lot of problems: they make cell membranes inflexible, which makes it difficult for them to fight off invaders; they disrupt heart rhythms; promote production of “bad” cholesterol; and increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer.
Healthy Fats
Which foods contain healthy fats? Foods that will help keeps your immune system healthy include lower-fat foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Get the oil and fatty acids you need by eating raw whole seeds, nuts, avocados, and olives in moderate amounts. If you include fish in your plan, cold-water, oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines are good sources of omega-3-fatty acids.
Fats you can’t live without —- The essential fatty acids
The body can make most of the fatty acids it needs from the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms provided by food. These are called nonessential fatty acids because it is not essential for us to consume them in the foods we eat.
However, there are polyunsaturated fatty acids that the body cannot manufacture, and these are called essential fatty acids (EFAs). They are necessary for good health, but we can only get them from food. Essential fatty acids are aptly named because they are essential to your health.
There are two main groups of essential fatty acids: the omega “3” and the omega “6” refer to the place where the first link in the carbon chain or chemical structure occurs. Omega-3 is more polyunsaturated which mean that its more liquid than omega-6 at a given temperature.
The following list shows you some of the many ways your body uses these fatty acids:
To lubricate skin and tissues and allow cell membranes to function normally.
Your body’s cells depend on EFAs to function normally. A deficiency can lead to hair loss, dry skin, and skin rashes, heart disease, constantly feeling cold, easy bruising, joint inflammation, and repeated infections due to weakened cell, membranes that are more susceptible to virus penetration.
Modern research shows that your brain and nervous system need essential fatty acids in order to function properly. It can even affect your mood, and a shortage may increase your risk of developing a mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety.
It regulates the body’s use of cholesterol and triglycerides.
It helps in the production of substances that regulate nearly all other bodily processes.
It is used to prevent and to treat some of the following diseases and symptoms: Bronchial asthma, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, gastric ulcers, high blood pressure, inflammatory bowel diseases, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis; and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Natural sources of essential fatty acids
Nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils all contain various amounts of essential fatty acids. Don’t take cod liver oil or fish oil during pregnancy, because the high vitamin A content may not be healthy for a developing fetus. Eat fish like salmon, tuna, or sardines two or three times a week instead.
REMEMBER:
The bulk of our illnesses today are not medical problems but lifestyle and nutrition problems —- something you yourself can, and must, change.
More from here: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/310933/the-good-fat
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