Type 2 Diabetes and Healthy Living - Why You Need to Invest In Your Health Every Day
By Beverleigh H Piepers

Health advice is all around for a good reason. People are pushing their ideas because there is a demand for it. It is more than just interesting material to many people; often it is crucial information we all need to be made aware of.

Your health and well-being become a more relevant issue with each passing day. Nobody is getting any younger, and few of us are preparing for being older. You need to invest in your health every single day. A little goes a long way, especially when you consider the benefits you will gain and the health problems you will prevent.

It is not just about feeling better, being at the right weight, and having the freedom to eat whatever foods you like as opposed to being shackled by hypertension and Type 2 diabetes and their issues and inconveniences. It is about preventing what can...

• put you in a hospital bed,
• demand an emergency procedure, and potentially bring about an early death.

First, it starts with your weight. The majority of health problems affecting adults these days has to do with excess body fat. You may think it is trivial to consider as you only put on a "couple" of pounds in a year. The difference this makes may appear to be insignificant. However, at this pace, ten years causes quite a bit of damage. Poor nutrition and an inactive lifestyle add insult to injury.

Consider for the second half of this timeline you have elevated blood sugar, which may be due to prediabetes or perhaps your issue has progressed on to Type 2 diabetes. Now that is a lot of years of damage to your body. You are not getting any younger, and by neglecting your health in this manner, would also mean you will not enjoy good health in later life.

What has been mentioned above is an example, and only some of it may apply to you. Nevertheless, the principle remains. Will you take care of your well-being from today? You need to invest in your health, because if you don't, you may pay for it dearly...

• your kidneys,
• your liver,
• your heart, even
• your brain could suffer through a stroke or dementia.

Taking care of your health one day at a time will add up. Even a small detail like...

• taking the stairs at work instead of riding the elevator or escalator whenever you step outside your office or workplace,
• skipping your afternoon snack,
• parking your car towards the back of the car park at the shopping center and walking to the shops instead of parking close to the entrance, and
• cooking your dinner instead of eating processed food

will make a difference. You can count on it.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142
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6 Benefits of Cycling You Didn't Know
By Thom G Watson

More than half of the population in the world is so much into the corporate life that people forget to take care of themselves. It isn't their fault, but the responsibilities that drive them to that extent. Many suffer from various kind of health issues like depression, weight loss or gain, blood pressure and much more. People take appointments from top psychiatrists to check what's wrong with their schedule because everyone has to get going with it.

It's just the lack of physical exercises and fresh oxygen that an individual fails to adapt. Late night office, sleeping till nine or 10, incorrect breakfast timings are all the catalysts to unhealthy conditions leading to problems like depression, weight loss or gain, etc. To prevent such things, it is mandatory to get involved in physical exercises like cycling. The respective sport helps to maintain good health in an efficient way. Below mentioned are some of the perks that pedaling provides. Read on to know more.

It strengthens the Muscles - This activity involves the calf and thigh muscles which help in strengthening them. The core muscles are also benefited over here. It helps in toning the abs while also toughening up the arms.

Improves the cardiovascular system - The sport boosts the heart rate while giving a good cardio workout. People who are prone to cardiovascular diseases like stroke, high blood pressure, and heart attack can be highly benefited by the respective sport. It stimulates and improves the heart, lungs, and blood circulation while reducing the risk of the above-mentioned problems. It helps in strengthening the heart muscles while reducing the blood fat levels. A Danish study conducted over 14 years ago with 30,000 people aged 20 to 93 years found that regular cycling protected them from heart diseases.

Helps to control diabetes - Diabetes is one of the common reasons for heart attacks, kidney failures, and many other disorders. Pedaling helps in controlling diabetes as it converts the glucose in the body to useful energy. A research in Finland proved that individuals who did this exercises for more than 30 minutes per day had a 40 percent lower risk of developing diabetes.

Helps reducing the stress - Mental conditions like depression, stress, and anxiety levels can be reduced by the above activity practiced regularly. It keeps the stress levels in control which will help to keep the negative energy far from the focus.

It helps in weight loss - This physical exercise is a complete calorie-burner! Even one hour of cycling thrice a week will have help in shedding the extra flab and kilos in no time. The more you sweat, the more benefits you'll get. However, it is important to don the right style of men's underwear as sweating in crotch area can result in chafing which makes the wearer uncomfortable during the sport.

Protect from Arthritis - Arthritis is one of the terrible pains that a person can suffer from. Many doctors suggest bike riding as it reduces the arthritis pain. It helps the joints and muscles to get stronger with the workouts. This also keeps the person fitter, as it motivates you to perform better.

Above are some of the perks of this physical activity that might help you.

In a nutshell, It can be seen that paddling protects an individual from serious diseases such as stroke, heart attack, depression, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis. Bike riding is a healthy habit that is applicable for all ages. It is easy to fit the exercise into the daily routine by riding to the shops, park, school,work or the other places.

It is important to don a breathable garments including the underwear. Men's jockstraps are crafted to provide the support and comfort down there during the sports activities. Some might also feel uncomfortable due to the minimum coverage that the attire provides. In such cases, the men's sports trunk can be a good option.The outfit provides the needed support while the fabric helps to fan away the sweat.

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Anti-Aging Foods

Anti-Aging Foods
By Andy Gibson

How old are you? No, we don't mean how many birthdays have you celebrated. That's your chronological age. But how good is the pacing of your heart, the density of your bones, the agility of your mind? Their status will tell us your biological age. Some people are chronologically 40, but biologically 60, while others are chronologically 60, but biologically 40.

It's your biological age that matters. When you're biologically fit, you can throw away the calendar, for your motor is humming well and there's life in your years!

Biological age, says Dr. James Fries, professor of medicine at Stanford University, is a measure of how much "organ reserve" one possesses. Organ reserve is defined as the amount of functional ability one has available in response to a stressor in the form of an illness, accident or major life trauma. As we grow older, we generally lose organ reserve. Our immune, endocrine, and nervous systems are altered. Not only are we at greater risk of contracting infectious diseases, but we are also more susceptible to auto-immune diseases such as arthritis.

In the 1950s, Dr. Denham Harmon, from the University Of Nebraska School Of Medicine, proposed that many losses of function associated with aging are due to what he termed "free-radical damage." Free radicals are highly reactive chemical substances produced in the body, not only as a consequence of exposure to pollution, drugs, and chemicals but also as a result of natural metabolic activities. Harmon proposed that accelerated free-radical reactions may act as molecular time bombs that destroy the body's cells and result in the loss of organ reserve.

Research indicates that increased free-radical damage is associated with diseases that cause death in the elderly, including coronary heart disease and heart attack, certain forms of cancer and adult-onset diabetes.

Fortunately, our bodies are equipped with a mechanism - the antioxidant defense system - that helps protect against free-radical damage. Antioxidants are specific substances found in all cells that defuse free radicals before they have a chance to do serious damage to the body. They include vitamin E, beta carotene, vitamin C, and a variety of essential nutritional minerals, such as zinc, copper, and selenium.

Vitamin E is one of the superheroes when it comes to battling free radicals. Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is attracted to cell membranes which have large amounts of fatty acids. Vitamin E prevents the oxidation of these fats by itself oxidizing and absorbing the free radicals.

Food sources of this vitamin include nuts, wheat germ, and sunflower seeds.

Vitamin C: Unlike Vitamin E, which works from the outside of cells, C does its antioxidizing job inside the cell, in its fluid (C is a water-soluble vitamin).

Food sources include: citrus fruits, amla (Indian gooseberry), strawberries, guavas and tomatoes.

Beta-carotene: Richly found in yellow-orange fruits and vegetables like mangoes, papayas, cantaloupes and carrots, beta-carotene converts to Vitamin A in the body. It is believed to be particularly effective against a highly toxic free radical called singlet oxygen.

Selenium: This trace mineral fights free radicals indirectly - by producing an enzyme which turns peroxides into harmless water. Best food sources are grains, fish, cabbage, celery and cucumber.

Zinc: another trace mineral, but this one works its effect in two ways: One, it acts as an antioxidant on its own; two, it forms part of an enzyme which protects cells against free radicals.

Good natural sources are liver, beef and nuts.

EAT RIGHT - STAY WELL!

Some of the major health-slackers and age-speeders (heart disease, osteoporosis) are often the result of faulty eating. In many cases you can reduce your disease risks as soon as you adopt good nutrition habits - even if you begin at 60.

REDUCE FATS: A high intake of fats is associated with obesity which, in turn, is connected with the onset of diseases like high blood pressure heart ailments, gall bladder problems, adult-onset diabetes and even certain forms of cancer.

You can safely reduce fats to 20 per cent of daily calories - 30 per cent is the outer limit. Of the three types of fats, saturated fats (from animal products and from vegetable sources like palm and coconut oils) are associated with the build-up of cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats (from ground nuts oil, nuts such as almond, cashews, peanuts, etc.), and polyunsaturated fats (from safflower oil sunflower oil, etc.) appear to have a cholesterol-lowering effect.

Animal fats also carry the added danger of cholesterol. One egg yolk, for instance, contains about 240 mg, which is more than most of us should consume in a whole day.

On the other hand, all fats are breeding grounds for free radicals. And the unsaturated fats are more likely to react with oxygen when cooked and form free radicals than the saturated fats. So, the bottomline is: limit all fat consumption. Try the following food swaps:

• Substitute skim milk for whole.
• Substitute egg whites for yolks, in omelets and other dishes.
• If you can't stomach the idea of being a pure vegetarian, substitute skinless chicken and fish for fat-marbled red meats, sausages and cold cuts.

Also, steam, bake or eat foods raw whenever you can. If you must fry, opt for stir-frying with minimal oil in a non-stick skillet, instead of deep frying.

BONE UP ON CALCIUM:

How well you "stand up" to aging is very largely a matter of how adequate your intake of calcium has been. If you've not been getting enough, bone loss can begin in the mid-30's, in women even as early as puberty. The result: osteoporosis, that brittle bone disease that hits elderly people.

Many people don't get enough calcium in their diet (especially hard-core vegetarians who don't even take milk/dairy products). Your daily requirement: 800-1000mg. Good calcium sources are: milk and milk products; fish like sardines (where you can chew on those tiny, edible, calcium-rich bones); green leafy vegetables. But the calcium from plant sources is not as well absorbed as that from animal sources.

Also, unfortunately, aging itself blunts calcium absorption. Certain foods like coffee, tea, colas and chocolates (all of which contain caffeine) as well as tobacco, if taken at the same time as calcium, can inhibit its absorption. So do phosphorus-rich drinks like sodas.

Remember, also, that your body requires Vitamin D for the intestinal absorption of calcium. If your diet is deficient in this vitamin, you can get some of your needs from sunlight. Food sources include: liver, egg yolk, milk, butter.

WHAT ELSE...

In the run-up to a healthy old age, there are a few other things you must do:

1. Limit salt intake to about one teaspoon a day. Excess salt consumption carries the risk of high blood pressure and its potentially fatal consequences: heart disease, stroke, kidney disease.
2. Avoid heavy alcohol consumption. It is associated with liver damage and increased cancer risk.
3. Give up smoking. It can cause a whole range of illness, from chronic respiratory ailments like emphysema to cancers of the lung, mouth and esophagus.

My firm belief is: "Finding a cause leads the way to find a cure". So, it is basically important to understand everything from its deepest core. And the best way to do so is: Keep on reading to develop and deepen your understanding on health and wellness at GrowTaller4IdiotsDS.com.

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Type 2 Diabetes - Link Between Nonalcoholic Liver Disease and Peripheral Vascular Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes - Link Between Nonalcoholic Liver Disease and Peripheral Vascular Conditions
By Beverleigh H Piepers

Type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for both nonalcoholic liver disease and peripheral vascular conditions. Scientists at Qingdao University and other research facilities in China have found a link between both conditions.

In July of 2017, the Internal Medicine Journal reported on a study of two thousand six hundred and forty-six participants who had been previously diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. They were all at least 40 years of age. Those who had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were at a high risk for peripheral vascular conditions. A total of 12.8 percent of the participants with the liver condition also had vascular conditions, compared with 7.8 percent of the participants without liver disease. When all other factors were taken into account, the difference was shown to be slightly significant. C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation, and measurements of defective metabolism were also higher in those with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

From the above information, the researchers concluded nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was partly to blame. Metabolic risk factors and inflammation were other risk factors. The complications of Type 2 diabetes appear to be related to the other risk factors. Keeping blood sugar levels and body weight under control is important to every body system. The early stages of Type 2 diabetes are not painful but prevention of the complications can prevent the pain of...

• peripheral artery disease,
• heart attacks, and
• strokes.

Peripheral vascular conditions frequently go undiagnosed. If ignored these conditions can lead to gangrene and amputation.

• gangrene develops from poor circulation.
• when the limbs do not get sufficient oxygen and nutrients, tissue can die.
• dead tissue can become infected.
• if antibiotics do not resolve the infection, then amputation becomes the next step in treatment.

Peripheral vascular conditions are the most common reasons for amputation.

If tingling and numbness occur in your hands or feet, then be sure to have them checked out, diagnosed and treated. Peripheral vascular conditions can be treated with medication and with regular walking (feet). Ways of preventing or treating peripheral artery disease...

• keeping your blood sugar below 100 mg/dL (5.5 mmol/L) fasting,
• not smoking,
• taking blood pressure medication when it is indicated by your doctor,
• taking cholesterol-lowering medication regularly when prescribed,
• taking medications to improve blood circulation - Plavix (clopidogrel) or daily aspirin prescribed to prevent blood clots, Trental, Pentoxil (pentoxifylline) prescribed to improve blood circulation, Pletal (cidistoprel) prescribed to improve circulation.
• surgery to replace damaged blood vessels with artificially-made tubes.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years, Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142
http://EzineArticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes---Link-Between-Nonalcoholic-Liver-Disease-and-Peripheral-Vascular-Conditions&id=9755403

The Link Between Cardiovascular Disease and Hearing Loss: A Growing Role for Audiologists
By Dr. Ha-Sheng Li-Korotky AuD, PhD, MD

A growing body of research is showing a significant correlation between cardiovascular disease and low-frequency hearing loss. Moreover, the studies underscore a growing need for Audiologists and Physicians to work in partnership for the best health outcome of patients.

Most of the studies focus on the consequences of decreased blood supply due to cardiovascular compromise, and the downstream negative effects on the inner ear blood vessel health. The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow, and there appears to be a strong relationship between the health of the cardiovascular system (heart, arteries, and veins) and hearing. These studies indicate that a healthy cardiovascular system promotes healthy hearing, but inadequate blood flow and resulting damage to the blood vessels of the inner ear can contribute to hearing loss.

A recent study, Audiometric Pattern as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Status: Development of a Model for Assessment of Risk, suggests that low-frequency hearing loss could be a marker for cardiovascular disease rather than a result of the disease, and low-frequency audiometric patterns can be used probabilistically to predict cardiovascular health. An underlying premise of the study is that vascular aspects (decreased blood supply) of cardiovascular disease show up as abnormalities in the condition of inner ear blood flow before they are revealed in the heart, brain, arteries, kidneys, or eyes, due to the inner ear's extreme sensitivity to blood flow.

Key findings in this study indicate that low-frequency hearing loss could be an early indicator of cerebrovascular disease (an indicator of stroke potential) or a predictor for developing cardiovascular disease. Findings were presented in 2009 at a Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting by David R. Friedland, MD, PhD., and published in The Laryngoscope (119:473-486, 2009).

Dr. Friedland summed up the important potential application of the study: "We propose that low-frequency hearing loss is a marker for cardiovascular disease rather than the other way around. Low-frequency hearing loss would thus represent a potential predictor of impending cardiovascular events or underlying disease. We suggest that clinicians may use the audiogram as a sensitive and reproducible screen for cardiovascular compromise".

Considering the strength of the evidence, researchers conclude that patients with an audiogram pattern of low-frequency hearing loss present a higher risk for cardiovascular events, and that appropriate referrals may be necessary, especially if they have no history of vascular compromise.

Audiologists commonly refer patients to Physicians when they suspect medical problems. These studies (and others which will be highlighted in future articles) should promote a call to action for physicians to refer more patients to Audiologists when they suspect hearing loss. Many Audiologists have AuD academic credentials, significant medical knowledge, and the advanced diagnostic equipment necessary to uncover the potential for underlying medical conditions. In any case, these and other studies suggest an increasing role for Audiologists to support the overall health of patients.

Dr Li-Korotky has AuD, PhD, and MD credentials. She is well respected as a researcher and clinician, with 20+ years of rich experience and more than 100 scientific publications.

The Doctor is particularly interested in medical aspects of hearing loss and the growing role for Audiologists to diagnose and predict the probability of underlying medical conditions.

Dr. Li-Korotky is the President of Pacific Northwest Audiology, http://www.pnwaudiology.com and her LinkedIn profile can be found here, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ha-sheng-li-korotky-aud-phd-md/4a/423/224

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What Sugar and Fat Have in Common - And Why You Should Care

Submitted by: Lorraine Matthews Antosiewicz

Holiday indulgences can result in more than gaining a few extra pounds. Fatty sweet cookies, pies, and candy as well as excess calories and alcohol can lead to a spike in your triglycerides. Why should this concern you? It may be putting you at risk for heart disease. Read on and learn how to avoid it.

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are a type of fat that come from food, and your body also makes them. They are the most common type of fat found in the body. Triglycerides are continually circulating in the blood ready to be metabolized to provide a source of energy when needed, but their main function is to store energy for later use. When you consume more calories than your body can use, it converts the excess into triglyceride and stores it in fat cells. Fat cells hold the triglyceride molecules until your body needs energy between meals. Hormones signal the fat cells to release the triglycerides for your body to use.

Why do triglycerides matter?

When present in excess, triglycerides can be stored as fat which may lead to obesity and related health conditions over time. Research suggests that high levels of triglycerides in the blood may increase the risk of developing coronary artery disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. According to the American Heart Association, young people with high triglyceride levels have a four times greater risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke than young people with normal triglyceride levels.

How are triglycerides measured?

Triglyceride levels in the blood are measured by a simple blood test. Your doctor will usually check for high triglycerides as part of a routine cholesterol screening called a lipid panel or lipid profile. Fasting for nine to 12 hours is required before blood is drawn for an accurate triglyceride measurement.

What is considered a normal triglyceride level?

The American Heart Association guidelines for triglyceride levels are as follows:

• healthy: below 100 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL)

• borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL

• high: 200 to 499 mg/dL

• very high: 500 mg/dL and above.

What causes high triglycerides?

Some people have a genetic predisposition to manufacture excessive amounts of triglycerides. Triglycerides can become elevated as a result of having diabetes, hypothyroidism, or kidney disease. Being overweight and inactive can also contribute to abnormal triglycerides. Dietary factors play a role as well.

How does diet affect triglycerides?

Eating too much of the wrong kinds of fats - saturated and trans fats - can raise your blood triglycerides. Triglyceride levels can also rise after drinking alcohol or eating foods that are high in carbohydrates especially sugary and refined carbs. This includes sugar, honey, agave and other sweeteners, soda and other sugary drinks, candy, baked goods, and anything made with white (refined) flour including white bread, cereals, pastries, white pasta, and white rice. Dried fruit and fruit juice contain high amounts of fructose which has a strong impact on raising triglyceride levels.

What is the recommended intake for sugar?

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons per day (25 grams) of added sugar for adult women and 9 teaspoons (37.5 grams) for men. While all individuals should limit sugar intake, it is especially important for those with increased triglyceride levels. Consumption of sugary low-quality refined carbs causes a sudden rise in insulin, which may lead to a spike in triglycerides.

About the Author: Lorraine Matthews-Antosiewicz, MS RD, is a food and nutrition expert specializing in weight management and digestive health. She is committed to empowering people through education, support, and inspiration to make real changes that lead to optimal health and lasting weight loss. Take her Free Self-Assessment and learn how you can lose 20 lb. - or more. Jump Start your weight loss today! http://njnutritionist.com/freeassessment. This article was originally published at http://njnutritionist.com/what-sugar-and-fat-have-in-common-and-why-you-should-care and has been syndicated with permission.

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Vitamin C: Why You Can’t Assume You’re Getting Enough

Submitted by: Steve P Smith

Many benefits of vitamin C have been identified since the consumption of citrus fruit was first recognised as the immediately effective cure and preventative for the scurvy which so dreadfully afflicted the long distance sailors of a few centuries ago.

Numerous studies have recognised the vitamin as a possible protector against coronary heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, hypertension and cancer, to name but a few, and it is possible that all of these effects stem ultimately from vitamin C’s acknowledged role as a powerful anti-oxidant, active in preventing the free radical damage which is a known cause of premature ageing and many chronic degenerative diseases.

So the absence of acute deficiency diseases such as scurvy in modern affluent societies should not be taken as implying that the typical Western diet contains an adequate intake of vitamin C for optimum long-term health.

The United States Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 90 mg per day for a healthy, non-smoking man and 75 mg for a woman. But these suggested requirements are increased to 125mg and 110 mg respectively in the case of smokers, a tacit acknowledgement of the increased requirement for this vitamin which increased toxic stress places on the body. But these RDAs nevertheless appear to be set at a level sufficient only to avoid outright deficiency disease.

To be sure of obtaining all the optimum benefits of vitamin C, the authoritative Linus Pauling Institute has recommended a daily minimum intake of at least 400 mg. This amount has been shown to achieve saturation levels of the vitamin within the body’s tissues in healthy young adults who are non-smokers. To get this in perspective, even the consumption of the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables may provide just 200 mg of vitamin C, whilst even commercial multi-vitamin supplements typically provide only around 60 mg.

But the real story’s actually even worse than this, not only because all too few people actually manage to consume the recommended quantities of fruit and vegetables, but because the nutritional quality of those that we do consume is poor, and getting worse.

As long ago as 1936, Senate Document 264 noted that the poor quality of American farm soils was leading to widespread nutritional deficiencies, and the 1992 Earth Summit reported that mineral concentrations in US farm soils were 85% lower than those of a hundred years ago.

Nor does the problem lie just in the soil. The modern Western diet’s preference for highly refined grains, and the treatment of fruits and vegetables with preservatives, dyes, pesticides and even radiation is a proven disaster for vitamin and mineral retention, as well as a significant toxic assault on the body.

Indeed, the problem for us in the twenty-first century is that our environment seems as though it might have been expressly designed for ill-health. Daily we’re exposed to a kind of toxic soup of pollutants such as industrial emissions, car exhausts, pesticides, herbicides, dyes and all kinds of everyday household chemicals. But as the liver works ever harder in an increasingly desperate struggle to detoxify the body, an unwelcome side effect is that it produces enormous quantities of the free radicals which are amongst the chief contributors to premature ageing and degenerative disease.

In these adverse circumstances it can only make sense to ensure that the body is as lavishly provided as possible with the top quality anti-oxidants of which vitamin C is certainly one of the most important.

Fortunately, high dosages of vitamin C are readily available as supplements and fortunately, too, it seems that the manufactured kind of l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is chemically identical to that obtained naturally. This is not in any way to deny the importance of healthy eating, or to suggest that it doesn’t make sense to try and eat the recommended five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, because these contain a myriad of trace nutrients which operate synergistically within the body, and which all need to be present for optimum health.

It does suggest, however, that to rely on diet alone, however apparently healthy, may well be to risk missing out on the vital anti-oxidant properties of vitamin C which may in time be reflected in chronic, degenerative, if not acute, disease. It should be noted as well, that as a water-soluble compound, any excess vitamin C is harmlessly excreted by the body. So with all the health benefits of vitamin C at stake, it surely makes sense to err on the side of taking in too much rather than too little.

About the Author: Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in direct marketing and with a particular interest in health products. Find out more at http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/VitaminC2.htm

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by

Joseph

Nearly six years ago, I published The Healthy Obese? Don't Bet Your Life On It which was a criticism of the extremely dangerous conception that people can be healthy and obese simultaneously. Six years later, new research shows that obesity can be quite deadly. Hopefully this will serve as a wake up call to anyone who still wants to believe that its physiologically healthy to carry around excess body fat.

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of approximately 10.6 million people residing on four continents, and published their findings in the Lancet. They learned that overweight and obese people suffered from all cause mortality. All cause essentially means that these people died from diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, obesity related respiratory disease, etc.

None of this should be taken lightly.

The research paper, prepared by The Global BMI Mortality Collaboration, sought to understand more about mortality in obese and overweight populations. Therefore they analyzed hundreds of studies involving approximately 11 million people across North America, east Asia, Australia, Europe and New Zealand.

Their findings are astounding. During nearly 14 years of follow up, more than one million people died. In an analysis of 237 studies involving 10 622 450 participants, the researchers noted that 1 601 774 people died from all cause mortality.

The results of 189 studies involving 3, 951, 455 participants, showed that approximately 400,000 of them passed away. At the time of their recruitment, those people had never smoked and did not suffer from chronic diseases, even though they survived the first five years of the study, 385, 879 of them eventually died.

In a word, that's pretty sad.

Obesity Is Going To Kill You Sooner Or Later

There is no doubt that obesity related illnesses killed those people.

The authors said their findings challenge conclusions that overweight (BMI 25.0 - < 30 kg/m² ) and slightly obese people (BMI 30 - <35.0 kg/m² ) were healthy.

In fact, analyses by The Global BMI Mortality Collaboration showed that morality was lowest among people with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 20.0 - 25.0 kg/m² but that the number of deaths increased "significantly" for those with BMI 18.5 - <20.0 kg/m² and throughout the range of overweight participants (BMI 25.0 - 30.0 kg/m² ). Participants with BMI exceeding 30 kg/m² were also highly susceptible to obesity related mortality.

The research team noted that mortality risk was greatest among younger participants compared to older people in each of the major regions they studied. But I wouldn't interpret that to mean that older people are less likely to perish from obesity. Quite the opposite - the reason why mortality decreased with age is because many of the participants died before they reached old age!

What can be said of this? Why is excess body fat so unhealthy?

In a nutshell, excess body fat has the potential to throw the entire system out of whack.

But that answer won't be enough to satisfy some folks. So I'm going to present you with supporting examples. Get ready for a shock.

Visceral body fat - the fat which accumulates in and around the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and other organs - can impede their function.

Fat cells release chemical messengers known as cytokines. These chemicals can trigger inflammation. Inflammation is painful. But even worse, inflammatory cytokines have the power to turn on uncontrolled cellular growth i.e. cancer.

Excessive body fat weakens bones. It also makes life very uncomfortable for arthritis sufferers.

Excess fat makes it incredibly difficult to breath. Sleep apnea, a physical condition wherein people intermittently stop breathing during sleep, is often correlated with obesity.

Obesity is also known to aggravate asthmatic symptoms.

Obesity and diabetes often go hand in hand. People who suffer from insulin resistance tend to be overweight or obese. The Global BMI Mortality Collaboration noted as much in their meta-analysis. But there is scientific data supporting a relationship between diabetes, air pollution and heart disease risk. Indeed research coming from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston found a connection between air pollution and increased risk of heart disease among diabetic women.

There are ample studies that show a relationship between obesity and heart disease. Allthough too numerous to discuss in this article, and important study from conducted by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity found that overweight and obese American teens were at risk for at least one cardiovascular disease factor; even worse, the heaviest teens were at greatest risk for cardiovascular disease.

Obesity also increases stroke risk.  Diabetes increases risk of stroke as does high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Obese and overweight people tend suffer from high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

You're beginning to get the picture. One way or another, excess body fat is connected to each of the aforementioned maladies.

Therefore, it's absolutely dangerous underestimate the risks that being overweight or obese can do to the human body.

What Can Be Done?

The safest and most effective means of shedding the excess pounds is to change lifestyle habits. Fat accumulation is often the end result of an energy imbalance. Quite simply, most folks whom are overweight or obese eat more calories than they expend. Choosing to eat healthy foods and participate in physical exercise will help most people.

But for other people, the problem may require greater intervention. Hormonal imbalances and even medicinal side effects can cause people to gain weight. In such instances, health care professionals will have to take other steps to help their patients lose weight.

Some people may even find weight loss surgery effective.

Regardless of the method, exercise, nutrition, surgery, etc. it is vital to seek medical advice before making any changes.

Based on the result of their findings, The Global BMI Mortality Collaboration said:"The associations of both overweight and obesity with higher all-cause mortality were broadly consistent in four continents. This finding supports strategies to combat the entire spectrum of excess adiposity in many populations."

I agree. Obesity is a global epidemic; if steps aren't taken to reverse the problem, we can expect millions more to be killed by it.

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." 1 Peter 3:14

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Article References

The Global BMI Mortality Collaboration (2016). Body-mass index and all-cause mortality: individual-participant-data meta-analysis of 239 prospective studies in four continents The Lancet DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30175-1

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"The Healthy Obese Is A Myth - Being Overweight Will Kill You" copyright © 2016 Living Fit, Healthy and Happy_(SM). All Rights Reserved.

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by

Joseph

Women who suffer from migraines might be at risk for heart disease, research suggests. According to a study published in BMJ, female migraine sufferers are also very likely to have heart problems. The findings of this study may help more women to recognize their risk for cardiovascular disease and may hopefully spur the development of new medicines to combat the deadly disease.

The findings are the result of an exhaustive study involving 115 541 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II; at the beginning of the study, all of the participants were between 25-42 years and free of cardiovascular disease or angina. Yet, a significant number of the women (17,531) reportedly suffered from migraine headaches.

Tobias Kurth of the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin Institute of Public Health and his colleagues at Harvard University, and Washington University's School of Medicine followed the women from 1989 through June 2011. During that time an additional 6,389 women were diagnosed with migraine.

Kurth et al noted that migraine sufferers tended to exhibit the following:

• family history of heart attack
• body mass index (BMI) above 30
• smoke
• high cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• use aspirin, acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Women, Migraines and Heart Disease

A certain portion of the participants passed away as a result of heart disease. Kurth et al found that 1,329 myoccardial events occurred (678 heart attacks, 651 strokes, 203 angina/coronary revascularization procedures performed) of which 223 died. 

Migraine sufferers were 50 % more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than women who did not experience migraines.

That migraine could be seen as a potential heart disease marker is astounding. The team pointed to several studies that also found associations between heart disease and migraines in women.

For example, a Taiwanese study of 11,541 young women between 18 - 45 years of age, found a higher incidence of heart disease among patients newly diagnosed with migraine.

Kurth and his colleagues said there are not currently any mechanisms that can help explain the increased risk of cardiovascular disease deaths among women with migraine. They call for further investigation which would look at whether statins and vitamin D could lower the risk of heart disease.

This is logical. Statins are a class of drugs that are used to control cholesterol. High cholesterol is a culprit in heart disease. Vitamin D is also believed to play a role in controlling fat accumulation.

Interestingly, though, research has also shown a relationship between statin use and increased diabetes risk.

Considering that type 2 diabetes is also a risk factor for heart disease, it is my opinion that future studies should also take this into account. Future research must look for relationships between migraine and type 2 diabetes. If such a relationship exists and if those diabetic patients had been taking statins prior to developing diabetes, that would have implications in and of itself.

Due to the prevalence of migraine in the general population, Kurth and his colleagues recognize need to understand the biological processes involved and to "provide preventative solutions to patients."

Hopefully that will happen.

God never grows weary in caring for His children. May God grant us strength to endure hardship and glorify His holy name.

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Article References

Kurth T, Winter AC, Eliassen AH, Dushkes R, Mukamal KJ, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Manson JE, & Rexrode KM (2016). Migraine and risk of cardiovascular disease in women: prospective cohort study. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 353 PMID: 27247281

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"Female Migraine Sufferers Have High Heart Disease Risk" copyright © 2016 Living Fit, Healthy and Happy_(SM). All Rights Reserved.

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Cardiovascular Disease And Women

Submitted by: Amanda Baker

Cardiovascular disease, also known as CVD, is the number one killer of men and women of all ethnic groups in the United States. Cardiovascular diseases include such ailments as high blood pressure, arrythmia, valve disease, congestive heart failure and stroke. Though worries of more "high profile" diseases such as breast cancer are on the forefront in many women's minds, the hard truth is that one in four women are affected with some form of cardiovascular disease.

Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are things such as high blood pressure, obesity, abnormal blood glucose, and even the use of tobacco, among other factors. When caught at an early age, these risk factors can sometimes be muted to help prevent manifesting themselves as cardiovascular disease later on.

Altering your lifestyle can help to lower your chances for cardiovascular diseases. Such alterations as eating a diet that is low in fat and cholesterol, adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, drinking enough water daily, and exercising for half an hour a day are all ways that physicians suggest can assist in lowering your chances for cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are known as silent killers, as they often have no symptoms. If you think you may be having any symptoms of heart disease, you should speak to your doctor about the many tests available. Doctors often begin with simple tests, the results of which can lead to tests that are more complex.

In connection with cardiovascular disease are "extra" heartbeats, which typically happen when there is an irritation in the lower part of the heart's pumping chambers. They interrupt the normal heart rhythm, which can feel like a missed beat. This can actually be a harmless "quirk" of your body's functions, or can lead to problems that are far more serious.

If a woman has these palpitations or any other symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, or shortness of breath, she should contact her doctor right away. A complete medical history, physical exam, and other tests will be run to determine the cause of these behaviors, which can be anything from stress-related behavior to something far more dangerous. The advice and consultation of a physician where heart disease is concerned is the only way to go.

This article is for information purposes only. If you have or think you might have any health condition, contact your primary care physician for proper diagnoses and treatment.

About the Author: Amanda Baker writes for To Be Informed: http://tobeinformed.com - a site for health, fitness and wellness. She also writes for http://allthingspondered.com - All Things Pondered.

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