Thursday, March 29, 2012

How Vitamin D-fortified Persian Yogurt Drink may Lower Risk of Heart Disease

What is Persian yogurt drink?



This is very easy to make. You need following ingredients

a) 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

b) 1 cup carbonated water

c) 1 teaspoon salt (you could put as much you like)

How to make…

1 First soften the yogurt and put it in the cup you want to use.

2 Then, add your desired amount of salt.

3 Finally add your carbonated water, and then mix with spoon until smooth.

4 Then it’s ready to drink and its usually served cold or with some ice cubes.

What is heart disease?


Your heart is a muscle that gets energy from blood carrying oxygen and nutrients. Having a constant supply of blood keeps your heart working properly. Most people think of heart disease as one condition. But in fact, heart disease is a group of conditions affecting the structure and functions of


 the heart and has many root causes. Coronary artery disease, for example, develops when a combination of fatty materials, calcium and scar tissue (called plaque) builds up in the arteries that supply blood to your heart (coronary arteries). The plaque build-up narrows the arteries and prevents the heart from getting enough blood.


Your best defence is controlling the risk factors that could lead to coronary artery disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and being overweight.

Here is more info about new research- How Vitamin D-fortified Persian yogurt drink may lower risk of heart disease



Daily intake of vitamin D-fortified dough (Persian yogurt drink) improved inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetics and extra calcium conferred additional anti-inflammatory benefits, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM). Inflammation is known to have a central role in the development of type 2 diabetes and its further complications like coronary heart disease and stroke. Vitamin D carries benefits for skeletal health but evidence of an anti-inflammatory effect from clinical studies in humans remains scarce.“Our previous research showed that improvement of vitamin D status by regular daily intake of a fortified yogurt drink resulted in lowered blood glucose levels in diabetic patients,” said Tirang Neyestani, PhD, of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran and lead author of the study. “The current study found that consuming a vitamin D-fortified yogurt drink also decreased serum substances like highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) which are known to have an inflammatory role.”

In this study, researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial over 12 weeks in 90 patients with type 2 diabetes. Study participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups to receive two 250mL bottles a day of either plain doogh, vitamin D-fortified doogh or calcium plus vitamin D-fortified doogh. Vitamin D levels, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers such as hsCRP, fibrinogen and adiponectin were measured in blood samples taken from study participants.

“Our study showed for the first time that adiponectin, a substance secreted by fat tissue that has an anti-inflammatory effect, increased when calcium and vitamin D-fortified doogh was consumed,” said Neyestani. “Our findings may offer interesting therapeutic options for diabetic patients.

(Source- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

How you can loose Weight with Green Coffee Beans

First question before start loosing Weight is how much should I weight?






To determine how much you should weigh (your ideal body weight) several factors should be considered, including age, muscle-fat ratio, height, sex, and bone density.



Some people suggest that calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI) is the best way to decide whether your body weight is ideal. Others say that BMI is faulty as it does not account for muscle mass and that waist-hip ratio is better.


Body Mass Index (BMI) a good measure

Your BMI is your weight in relation to your height.

BMI metric units: Your weight (kilograms) divided by the square of your height (meters)
e.g. Weight 80 kilograms. Height 1.8 meters.
1.82 meters = 3.24
80 divided by 3.24 = BMI 24.69.


Imperial units: Your weight (pounds) times 703, divided by the square of your height in inches.
e.g. Weight 190 pounds. Height 6 ft (72 inches)
722 = 5184
190 x 703 divided by 5184 = BMI 25.76
Health authorities worldwide mostly agree that:

People with a BMI of less than 18.5 are underweight.

A BMI of between 18.5 and 25 is ideal.

Somebody with a BMI between 25 and 30 is classed as overweight.

A person with a BMI over 30 is obese.

People can lose weight for many reasons, perhaps intentionally through exercise training for a sports event, for health reasons, just to look better, or unintentionally as may occur because of an underlying disease. Weight loss refers to the loss of body fat (adipose tissue), fluid and/or lean mass. Lean mass are parts of your body without fat, such as bone mineral deposits, tendons, connective tissue and muscle.

Here is new research on loosing Weight with Green Coffee Beans



Scientists report striking new evidence that green, or un-roasted, coffee beans can produce a substantial decrease in body weight in a relatively short period of time.
In a study presented at the 243rd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society, Joe Vinson, Ph.D., and colleagues described how a group of overweight or obese people who consumed a fraction of an ounce of ground green coffee beans each day lost about 10 percent of their body weight.


"Based on our results, taking multiple capsules of green coffee extract a day - while eating a low-fat, healthful diet and exercising regularly - appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to lose weight," Vinson said at the ACS meeting, being held here this week. He is with the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.


The study involved 16 overweight or obese people aged 22-26 years who took capsules of the extract or capsules containing a placebo, an inactive powder, for a total of 22 weeks. The subjects alternated between a low dose and a higher dose of the extract. The low dose consisted of 700 mg of the coffee extract, and the high dose was 1,050 mg. It was a so-called "cross-over" study in which people cycled through the two doses and the placebo, each for six weeks. Such studies have advantages because each person serves as his or her own "control," improving the chances of getting an accurate result.


All of the participants were monitored for their overall diet (calories, food eaten, etc.) and exercise over the study period. "Their calories, carbohydrates, fats and protein intake did not change during the study, nor did their exercise regimen change," Vinson said.

Participants lost an average of 17 pounds during the 22 weeks of the study. It included an average of a 10.5 percent decrease in overall body weight and a 16 percent decrease in body fat. Vinson noted that weight loss might have been significantly faster, except that participants received the placebo and the lower dose of green coffee extract for part of the study period.

Vinson pointed out that previous studies have shown weight loss with green coffee. But this was the first to use higher amounts of the coffee extract and the first to measure the response to various doses. Based on those studies, Vinson believes that green coffee beans' effects likely are due to a substance called chlorogenic acid that is present in unroasted coffee beans. Chlorogenic acid breaks down when coffee beans are roasted (usually at a temperature of 464-482 degrees Fahrenheit). Roasting gives coffee beans their distinctive color, aroma and flavor. Green coffee beans, in contrast, have little aroma and a slightly bitter taste.
(Source- National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society)

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

How Rubbing toothpaste on teeth a nice protection against decay and brushing twice and healthy heart

I usually do this when I have no time. So this research proves that rubbing toothpaste is also good for our teeth…

 


A visit to the dentist always ends with the same advice - brush your teeth twice a day and make sure you floss in the evening. Now scientists have suggested rubbing some toothpaste into your gums after lunch as well. A team from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, found the technique vastly reduced the risk of developing tooth cavities. Study leader Dr Anna Nordstrom said: 'Rubbing toothpaste onto your teeth increases the fluoride protection by 400 per cent.'


The researchers were testing the effect of high-fluoride toothpaste available without prescription in Sweden. They asked 16 volunteers to brush various numbers of times a day and also tested out the 'finger rubbing' technique. Dr Nordstrom said: 'This 'massage' method proved to be at least as






effective as a third brushing in increasing the amount of fluoride in the mouth. 'Rubbing the front of your teeth with toothpaste can be an easy way of giving your teeth a third 'shot' of fluoride during the day, after lunch for example.  Fluoride works by hardening tooth enamel 'But this should not replace brushing with a fluoride toothpaste morning and evening - it's an extra.'




She added that people should also avoid rinsing out their toothpaste with water after brushing.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that prevents decay by strengthening the protective enamel coating on teeth. However, just 10 per cent of England’s water is fluoridated compared to 60 per cent in the U.S. due to health concerns. Opponents believe fluoride could be a risk to general health with potential side effects including an increased risk of bone cancer in boys. But the British Dental












Association said fluoridation was a safe and effective way of reducing fillings and extractions. The latest research comes just a day after scientists revealed failing to brush your teeth properly could lead to potentially fatal heart problems. Bacteria that loiter in the mouth can cause life-threatening blood clots via bleeding gums, which could trigger the rare condition infective endocarditic, according to Bristol University.



How Brushing your teeth twice a day keeping your heart healthy


It's proven that mouth health is related to heart health, but how many people know that root canals are linked to breast cancer? Brush and floss and keep your mouth clean, not only will you have a lovely smile; you will help your health!


Failing to brush your teeth properly could lead to potentially fatal heart problems, scientists have found. Bacteria that loiter in the mouth can cause life-threatening blood clots which could trigger the rare condition infective endocarditis. Researchers will describe how the streptococcus gordonii bug can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums at the Society for General Microbiology’s





conference today. Once in the blood, the bacteria can prompt the blood to clot. Hidden inside the clots, the bacteria are shielded from the immune system and antibiotics. If the clots grow on heart valves, they can cause infective endocarditis – when the valve becomes infected causing serious and sometimes fatal damage. The scientists from Bristol University and the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin will tell the conference they hope to develop new drugs to prevent blood clots and infective endocarditis. A 2010 study found poor oral hygiene is linked to an increased risk of other heart conditions such as heart attacks or strokes.

Professor Damien Walmsley, of the British Dental Association, said: ‘The findings contribute to our understanding of the relationship between gum disease and heart disease. It also underlines the importance of brushing teeth twice a day.’


 

Monday, March 26, 2012

Which Snack Has Higher Antioxidant Levels than Fruits and Vegetables

What are Antioxidants?


Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.


Antioxidant substances includes

Beta-carotene
Lutein
Lycopene
Selenium
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E

Antioxidants are found in many foods. These include fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains, and some meats, poultry and fish.

Antioxidant Food Sources/ Antioxidant Content/Activity

Blackberry (51.53 )

Raspberry ( 43.03 )

Olive (black) ( 39.99 )

Strawberry (wild)   28.00

Olive (green)  24.59

Strawberry (cultivated) ( 22.74 )

Orange ( 20.50 )

Blueberry ( 18.61 )

Pineapple  (15.73 )

Plum (red) ( 12.79 )

Grape (black) ( 11.09 )

Clementine ( 8.88 )

Apple (red Delicious) ( 3.84 )

Grape (white) ( 3.25 )


Popcorn's reputation as a snack food that's actually good for health popped up a few notches as scientists reported that it contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols" than fruits and vegetables. They spoke at the 243rd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.


Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a pioneer in analyzing healthful components in chocolate, nuts and other common foods, explained that the polyphenols are more concentrated in popcorn, which averages only about 4 percent water, while polyphenols are diluted in the 90 percent water that makes up many fruits and vegetables.
In another surprising finding, the researchers discovered that the hulls of the popcorn - the part that everyone hates for its tendency to get caught in the teeth - actually has the highest concentration of polyphenols and fiber. "Those hulls deserve more respect," said Vinson, who is with the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. "They are nutritional gold nuggets."


The overall findings led Vinson to declare, "Popcorn may be the perfect snack food. It's the only snack that is 100 percent unprocessed whole grain. All other grains are processed and diluted with other ingredients, and although cereals are called "whole grain," this simply means that over 51 percent of the weight of the product is whole grain. One serving of popcorn will provide more than 70 percent of the daily intake of whole grain. The average person only gets about half a serving of whole grains a day, and popcorn could fill that gap in a very pleasant way."
Vinson cautioned, however, that the way people prepare and serve popcorn can quickly put a dent in its healthful image. Cook it in a potful of oil, slather on butter or the fake butter used in many movie theaters, pour on the salt; eat it as "kettle corn" cooked in oil and sugar - and popcorn can become a nutritional nightmare loaded with fat and calories.
"Air-popped popcorn has the lowest number of calories, of course," Vinson said. "Microwave popcorn has twice as many calories as air-popped, and if you pop your own with oil, this has twice as many calories as air-popped popcorn. About 43 percent of microwave popcorn is fat, compared to 28 percent if you pop the corn in oil yourself."



Likewise, Vinson pointed out that popcorn cannot replace fresh fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and other nutrients that are critical for good health, but are missing from popcorn. Vinson explained that the same concentration principle applies to dried fruit versus regular fruit, giving dried fruit a polyphenol edge. Previous studies found low concentrations of free polyphenols in popcorn, but Vinson's team did the first study to calculate total polyphenols in popcorn. The amounts of these antioxidants were much higher than previously believed, he said. The levels of polyphenols rivaled those in nuts and were up to 15 times greater than whole-grain tortilla chips.

The new study found that the amount of polyphenols found in popcorn was up to 300 mg a serving compared to 114 mg for a serving of sweet corn and 160 mg for all fruits per serving. In addition, one serving of popcorn would provide 13 percent of an average intake of polyphenols a day per person in the U.S. Fruits provide 255 mg per day of polyphenols and vegetables provide 218 mg per day to the average U.S. diet. Michael G. Coco, an undergraduate chemistry student at the University of Scranton who participated in the study, said he benefited in several ways.
"From working on this project with Dr. Vinson, I've gained experience and many insights in doing scientific research," said Coco. "Besides the obvious things like learning how to use instrumentation and perform analyses, I've also learned that research is extremely satisfying, especially when you discover or think of something no one else has thought of.

Popcorn, one of the most popular snacks foods in the world, is known for being a high fiber, healthy food. Research has found that popcorn contains significant amounts of the class of antioxidants known as polyphenols. Being a popular snack food, polyphenols from popcorn are possibly part of a large portion of the polyphenol dietary intake. Popcorn without any oils is also a 100% whole grain food, whose consumption is recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Free and total polyphenols for 40 different kernels and ingredients have been quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu and FRAP assays. The identity of the polyphenols have been identified using UV/Vis HPLC and LC-MS. Ferulic Acid has been identified as one of the major components. By quantifying and identifying the polyphenols in popcorn; some predictions about their bioactivity can be made. (Source- National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS)
 

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