Sunday, December 31, 2023

Children getting fatter

Following a downward trend from 2.1% in 2010 to 1.8% in 2016, severe obesity among children aged 2 to 4 years jumped back up to 2% in 2020

Among certain states and ethnic groups, rates were even higher; prevalence of severe obesity among 2- to 4-year-olds reached 2.8% in California as well as in Hispanic children

Severe early-onset obesity is linked with earlier and more severe chronic disease risk, including high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, prediabetes and early mortality


Duke University School of Medicine researchers described severe obesity in toddlers as a “canary in the coal mine for the health of future generations”

Top infant formulas are made largely of corn syrup and are associated with increased obesity risk in the first five years of life; breastfeeding is associated with a decreased risk of obesity
 

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Saturday, December 30, 2023

Sweating too, has a function

Coincidence doesn't exist.  Although we might not fully apprehend it,  organs & systems have been created for a reason.

When your body temperature rises, sweat glands release water at your skin’s surface, which quickly evaporates and cools your skin and the blood underneath

In traditional Persian medicine, sweating is used for both preventive care and disease treatment

Sweat glands secrete antimicrobial peptides that help restrict the growth of various microbes on the skin, potentially helping to reduce infection or atopic dermatitis 


Concentrations of the heavy metals nickel, lead and chromium may be 10 to 30 times higher in sweat than in blood and urine, and some toxins may be preferentially excreted in sweat

Sweating may offer support for chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory and joint diseases


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Boost your energy & health

Mitochondria are the structures inside your cells that produce about 90% of the energy generated in your body

Mitochondria are key to health and disease prevention; without mitochondrial health, your well-being and longevity may suffer 


Supplements you can use strategically to support your mitochondria include vitamin K2, glycine, coQ10, B vitamins and niacinamide, and PQQ

Eating right, timing your meals and exercising are additional strategies to support mitochondrial health
 

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Friday, December 29, 2023

Ear piercings damage health & skin

Ear piercing represents a catastrophic environmental disturbance, one that drastically changes the microbial communities living there

Microbial changes start when the skin is sterilized for the procedure, while piercing “reshapes the skin’s physical topology” and the insertion of jewelry further alters the microbes’ environment

Skin piercings create “hospitable niches” where bacteria can thrive
, including areas of increased moisture and nutrient retention 


Ultimately, piercings increased microbial diversity and ecological complexity

Piercings may also cause a shift toward moist skin microbiomes, resembling those typically found in areas like the nose, armpit and groin
 

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Thursday, December 28, 2023

Stay healthy with full-fat dairy !

Studies have repeatedly failed to find an association between full-fat dairy and cardiovascular events. Instead, full-fat dairy actually reduces your risk of cardiovascular events and deaths thereof. Dairy products are also associated with lower risks of Type 2 diabetes, liver disease and more

Whole-fat dairy contains the odd-chain saturated fats (OCFAs) pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) and heptadecanoic acid (C17:0), which have significant health benefits

OCFAs are found only in small amounts in certain foods, primarily dairy fat, and your body only makes C17:0. Researchers now believe C15:0 may be an essential fat, as your body cannot make it 


Higher circulating levels of OCFAs in the blood is associated with lower risks of obesity, chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, NASH, COPD, pancreatic cancer and all-cause mortality

OCFAs do not have an inhibitory effect on glucose burning because they are not converted to acetyl-CoA; rather, they enter the Krebs Cycle as succinyl-CoA. What this means in practical terms is that you don’t need to restrict your consumption of full fat dairy, as it won’t affect your ability to burn glucose
 

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Vitamin D reduces cancer

Vitamin D is involved in the biology of all cells in your body, including your immune cells. A large number of studies have shown raising your vitamin D level can significantly reduce your risk of cancer

Most recently, researchers found vitamin D and calcium supplementation lowered participants’ overall cancer risk by 30%


Having a serum vitamin D level of at least 40 ng/mL reduces your risk for cancer by 67% compared to having a level of 20 ng/ml or less; most cancers occur in people with a vitamin D level between 10 and 40 ng/mL
 

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Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Mushrooms & cheese support your heart

Polyamines such as spermidine, spermine and putrescine are derivatives of amino acids, found both in food and your gut microbiota, and are critical for cellular growth and
survival


Polyamines have potent anti-inflammatory activity, protect your DNA against free-radical damage and have been linked to longevity


In one study, those who had the highest spermidine levels had a 40% lower risk of heart failure
 

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