Diet & Nutrition

The Health Benefits of Losing Weight: Why Every Pound Counts

Most people want to drop a few pounds to look better in their swimsuits, but a new study indicates losing even just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can result in dramatic health benefits.

Obesity: A Modern Epidemic

Most people understand that weight control is a growing problem in the United States, particularly with the modern propensity to crave sugary, fattening or fried foods. On top of poor diets, Americans get far less physical exercise than they should, so their bodies have no way to burn that excess fat. This has led to nearly half of the population, or 160 million people, to struggle with being overweight. In many cases, people are clinically obese, which exposes them to the risks of developing diabetes, heart disease and many other health problems.

The problem isn’t limited to adults, either. As many as 30 percent of children in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Children struggling with obesity struggle with the same health risks as adults and may develop chronic illnesses sooner, because they live with obesity for a longer period. Including overweight children, these numbers rank the U.S. as the leader in total number of overweight people.

This has led many to become obsessed with fad diets and weight control treatments. Nearly 50 percent of Americans have reported an interest in losing weight and are willing to make lifestyle changes to do it. While most people can drop a few pounds in the beginning and may even reach their target weight, keeping those pounds off becomes problematic. It usually doesn’t take long to regain those pounds and return to the previous unhealthy weight.

Researchers Uncover the Health Benefits of Losing Weight

New studies back up the assertion of the American Heart Association (AHA) that losing up to 20 percent of excess body weight and keeping it off can lead to significant health benefits. Specifically, it can improve cardiometabolic health. Greg Knell conducted the study at the University of Texas Health Science Center and reported that losing just 5 percent of one’s total body weight can enhance metabolic health. The research team led by Knell looked at the responses of 7,670 adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which recorded data about each respondent’s cardiometabolic health. Some questions focused on topics of weight, waist measurements, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

After examining the data, Knell’s team discovered that losing between 5 percent and 10 percent of total body weight reduced the likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome by as much as 22 percent in adults. Metabolic syndrome is a blanket term used to describe a state in which the individual has a significantly increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

And the benefits were found to increase as more weight was lost. People who lost 20 percent or more of their total body weight were 53 percent less likely to develop metabolic syndrome. Greg Knell confirmed that supposition, commenting that the greater the weight loss percentage, the more cardiometabolic health improved. He added that losing just a few pounds can benefit those who are overweight or obese, even if losing 5 percent of their body weight seems like an impossible goal.

How Did Study Participants Shed Weight?

The University of Texas Health Science Center study also found that losing weight proved problematic for many participants in the survey. Of those who admitted trying to lose weight, as many as 62 percent reported that their efforts were unsuccessful. Nutrition experts suggest this type of weight loss failure has more to do with false beliefs about nutrition than with insufficient attempts.

For instance, people often assume maintaining a healthy weight means eating less food. To the contrary, nutritionists recommend adding more foods to your diet and simply changing the foods you eat. Replace prepackaged foods with fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. These foods can help you stay full without adding excess sugar and fat to your diet.

Avoid viewing physical activity as a chore, as well. Instead of trying to maintain a workout routine, it’s a better idea to engage in physical activities you enjoy. That can include going for walks, mountain climbing, swimming or taking a martial arts class. For the best results, fitness experts recommend doing a variety of activities, so you can work out different muscle groups and maximize the body’s ability to burn calories.

Another good recommendation for making dietary changes is to alter the ingredients in your favorite foods. For instance, eating more foods rich in fiber will help you feel full for longer and the fiber will aid in digestion. Switching to low-fat dairy products, low calorie drinks, and more natural foods can also help you lose weight without sacrificing taste.

Timing is Everything: Maintaining Healthy Weight with the Chronodiet:

If you’re eager to experience the healthy benefits of losing weight for yourself, the times you eat can be just as important as the foods you eat. Studies have found that chronobiology and the circadian rhythm play a part in the processing and digestion of foods, leading to the development of a system called the Chronodiet. Part of the Chronodiet involves eating bigger meals and less healthy foods at a time of day when the body can more easily break those compounds down.

As a general rule, you should eat heavier meals between noon and 2:00 p.m., because the body will store less fat during these times. Earlier in the morning and later in the evening, it’s much more important to be health conscious and eat more nutritiously. Additionally, snacks and sweets should be avoided entirely between meals and you should go 12 hours without any calorie consumption, between dinner and breakfast.

By watching what you eat, adding more physical activity to your routine, and timing your meals with better precision, your ability to lose weight will be improved. As you begin to shed pounds, you’ll feel better, but, more importantly, you’ll reduce the risks of developing metabolic syndrome. Dedicating yourself to losing weight can help you become healthier in addition to helping you look better.

Recent Breakthroughs in Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Sep 07 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Recent research has brought to light a few key factors that can significantly contribute to your risk of dementia. Here, we highlight some of the newest findings regarding dementia and cognitive decline.

A Healthy Brain Starts With a Healthy Heart: How Improving Your Heart Health Could Lower Your Risk of Dementia

In a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a team of researchers demonstrated that steps taken to improve heart health have the added benefit of lowering one’s risk of experiencing dementia or cognitive decline in late life. Using the seven heart health metrics defined by the American Heart Association, the team assessed a combination of modifiable health behaviors and biological components and their link to cognitive decline. According to the team’s findings, each individual parameter reduces the risk of developing dementia by 10 percent, for a total risk reduction of 70 percent if all metrics are kept in check.

Seven Steps to Improve Cardiovascular Health and Lower Dementia Risk

Eat a healthful diet.
Stay physically active.
Maintain a healthy weight and BMI.
Keep cholesterol levels under control.
Maintain a healthy blood pressure.
Reduce blood sugar levels.
Don’t smoke cigarettes.

While the authors admit the limitations of the study, it nevertheless demonstrates that steps taken to better heart health are strongly associated with a decreased risk of dementia and cognitive decline, and that addressing even one area positively impacts the risk of cognitive decline. INSERM’s Cécilia Samieri commented, “In practice, this objective appears more realistic, making it possible to reach a larger number of people and therefore have a greater impact. While health promotion is a collective challenge for public authorities and healthcare professionals, it also involves each individual taking ownership of their own health.”

Belly Fat Linked to Cognitive Decline: How Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio Impacts Your Brain

Bearing a direct impact on cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, a person’s body mass index (BMI) affects nearly all facets of cardiovascular health. In fact, obesity is one of the top risk factors for cardiovascular disease and, according to researchers from Trinity College in Dublin, cognitive decline as well. The study, which was published in the British Journal of Nutrition, examined the health data over more than five thousand Irish adults over the age of 60 and found that higher waist-to-hip ratios were associated with a decline in cognitive abilities.

With the number of obese people on the rise around the globe and the prevalence of dementia expected to increase to upwards of 80 million by the year 2040, these findings could have “significant implications” for many. Senior study author Conal Cunningham, an associate professor at Trinity College said in a press release, “While we have known for some time that obesity is associated with negative health consequences our study adds to emerging evidence suggesting that obesity and where we deposit our excess weight could influence our brain health. This has significant public health implications.”

How Pregnancy, Reproductive History, and Hormone Therapy Impact Cognitive Decline

New findings shared at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) drew attention to sex differences among dementia and Alzheimer’s patients over the lifespan. “More women than men have Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias; almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women,” said Dr. Maria Carrillo, the Alzheimer’s Association’s Chief Science Officer. According to the 2018 Facts and Figures Report published by the Alzheimer’s Association, 3.4 million out of 5.5 million elderly Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are women. Here are a few of the top findings on women’s health presented at this year’s conference.

A Woman’s Reproductive History is Linked to Dementia Risk

Researchers from Northern California investigating different facets of reproduction with regards to incurred dementia risk uncovered associations between the risk of dementia and numerous reproductive factors. “Possible causes of dementia in women, in particular reproductive factors, are not well understood,” explained Dr. Paola Gilsanz, a staff scientist at Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Division of Research. “In our study, we aimed to identify female-specific risks and protective factors impacting brain health, which is critical to diminishing the disproportionate burden of dementia experienced by women.”

According to their findings:

Women who have had three or more children are 12 percent less likely to develop dementia when compared with women who have had only one child.
Each incidence of miscarriage increases the risk of dementia by 9 percent when compared to women who have had no miscarriages.
Women who started their first period at the age of 16 or older are 31 percent more at risk of dementia than those who have their first period at the average age of 13.
Women who experience the onset of natural menopause at the age of 45 or younger have a 28 percent greater risk of developing dementia when compared to women who naturally enter menopause after 45.
The length of a woman’s reproductive period averaged around 34 years. Women whose reproductive periods span 21 to 30 years in length are 33 percent more at risk of dementia when compared to women whose reproductive periods span between 38 to 44 years.

Pregnancy History Affects the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Women

In order to investigate possible associations between Alzheimer’s risk and a woman’s reproductive history, researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles collected pregnancy histories and measures of dementia symptoms and found that the cumulative months of pregnancy could serve as a “significant predictor” for the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. According to their data, women who spend 12.5 percent more months pregnant than an otherwise identical woman are 20 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. The researchers believe that the body’s immune response during the first trimester of pregnancy may be the mechanism underlying the reduced risk.

“We are intrigued by the possibility that pregnancy may reorganize the mother’s body in ways that could protect her against developing Alzheimer’s later in life. These results also suggest that the story might not be so simple as being all about estrogen exposure, as previous researchers have suggested,” said Dr. Molly Fox, an assistant professor at UC Los Angeles.

Hormone Therapy is Not Always Linked to Cognitive Decline

Researchers reviewing recent studies regarding cognition and hormone therapy found that only under certain circumstances was hormone therapy associated with cognitive impairment. In particular:

Women who begin hormone therapy between the ages of 50 and 54 encountered no negative cognitive effects.
Women who start hormone therapy between the ages of 65 and 79, however, saw decreased cognition, impaired memory and reduced higher functioning.
Women with type 2 diabetes undergoing hormone therapy were found to have a higher risk of cognitive decline than either diabetic women not on hormone therapy or non-diabetic women who were on hormones.

Dr. Carey Gleason of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center commented, “These findings add to our understanding of the complex effects of hormones on the brain. These data are sorely needed to guide women’s healthcare during and after the menopausal transition and to help women make personalized and informed decisions regarding management of their menopausal symptoms and the prevention of future adverse health outcomes.”

A Woman’s Verbal Memory Advantage Could Mask the Earliest Stages of Alzheimer’s

Data suggests that, throughout the aging process, women possess an advantage when it comes to remembering words and verbal materials. Many of the current tests used for diagnosing Alzheimer’s rely on verbal memory and word recall, story recollection and other verbal items. Researchers hoping to form a better understanding of these sex differences in verbal memory in the aging brain found that, even though their brains presented moderate signs of Alzheimer’s degradation, women indeed maintained higher levels of cognitive performance in the earlier stages of the disease when compared to men, though the advantage diminished as the disease progressed.

“These findings may help to explain why women show a more rapid decline across a wide range of cognitive abilities after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. While the female advantage may be functionally beneficial, it could mask early stages of Alzheimer’s, resulting in a more severe burden of disease at the time of diagnosis, with more rapid deterioration thereafter,” said Dr. Pauline Maki, Senior Research Director at the University of Illinois’s Center for Research on Women and Gender.

The use of diagnostic tests based upon gender improved the accuracy of diagnosis in both men and women, which suggests a need for further research into alternative diagnostic approaches.

Painkillers Used to Treat Chronic Pain in Dementia Patients Can Triple Harmful Side Effects

Also presented at this year’s AAIC were a pair of studies highlighting the effects of opioid painkillers in people living with dementia and the potential mechanisms underlying these effects.

Approximately half of dementia patients in care facilities live with “clinically significant pain,” which is often mismanaged or even undiagnosed. Researchers found that the opioid-based painkillers commonly used to treat pain increased the negative side effects — like confusion, lethargy, and mood swings — by threefold in dementia patients.

“Pain is a symptom that can cause huge distress and it’s important that we can provide relief to people with dementia. Sadly, at the moment, we’re harming people when we’re trying to ease their pain. We urgently need more research in this area, and we must get this dosing right. We need to establish the best treatment pathway and examine appropriate dosing for people with dementia,” commented the University of Exeter’s Professor of Age-Related Diseases, Clive Ballard.

While opioid painkillers are an effective treatment, dementia patients require smaller doses for pain relief and seem to more sensitive to negative side effects of the drugs. Research suggests that this may be because dementia patients’ bodies appear to overproduce its natural endogenous opioids.

Probiotic Supplementation Proven to Protect Bone Health in Women

Aug 21 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

As adults grow older, their bones become more brittle and, as a result, they can fracture more easily. While this phenomenon can affect both men and women, women are more at risk for bone loss as they age, suffering more commonly from conditions such as osteoporosis and osteopenia. Women over 80 years of age are at the highest risk for developing osteoporosis. Compounding the problem is the fact that osteoporosis is rarely identified until an actual bone fracture occurs.

Due to these alarming facts, a recent study, conducted at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Mölndal, Sweden focused on the effect that probiotics had on bone health in women. In the study, comprised of older women, subjects were divided into two equal groups. The test group received probiotic supplements, while the control group were given placebo replacements. When bone health of the women taking probiotics was compared to those who only received a placebo, the women taking the probiotics were shown to have experienced half as much bone loss, suggesting that probiotics protect bone health.

Probiotics Protect Bone Health in Older Women

The study looked at probiotics as a means of preventing fractures in elderly women. Researchers took a pool of 90 test subjects, comprised of women with an average age of 75, and administered either probiotics or placebos in daily dosages. During the year-long experiment, both researchers and test subjects were kept in the dark as to which women were receiving the probiotics.

CT scans were taken of each subject’s lower legs at the start of the study, and again after the 12-month term had concluded. When the scans were compared, researchers found that the women on the powdered probiotic supplement developed only half the bone degradation of the women taking the placebo. Additionally, researchers noted that the probiotics didn’t cause any negative side effects in the subjects.

Researchers are hopeful that the study’s findings will be used to benefit elderly patients. Previously, it has been noted that beneficial stomach bacteria helped protect the bone structure in mice, but this was the first time probiotic supplements were tested in humans. The results of the research may provide hope for preventing osteoporosis through regular doses of probiotic supplements.

Everyone Can Benefit from Supplementing With Probiotics

Through this study and other types of research, we have learned that probiotics protect bone health in a number of ways. They generally increase bone mass and prevent the breakdown of our bones, while also storing up higher levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Combined, these factors can have long-lasting benefits for the skeleton and the various systems in our bodies.

Boosting the level of probiotics in our bodies benefit us by:

helping our bodies absorb calcium and magnesium more efficiently
reducing lactose intolerance
minimizing the symptoms of leaky gut syndrome
alleviating food allergies
strengthening our immune system
inhibiting the activities of dietary phytates, which can negatively impact mineral absorption
allowing our bodies to process phytoestrogens more effectively

Are Probiotics Safe?

As a natural part of your gut’s microbiome, you already have some probiotics in your system. These “friendly bacteria” aid your digestive process and benefit bone health. The Sahlgrenska University Hospital study showed that women taking additional supplements didn’t suffer from side effects that weren’t experienced by the women taking the placebo. This indicates that a supplement shouldn’t negatively impact your health, if you choose to take one.

In fact, boosting your level of probiotics can benefit various health conditions. If you have a sensitive digestive system or an unusually weak immune system, introducing higher levels of probiotics can help strengthen those biological processes. Additionally, probiotic supplements can be taken to help alleviate uncomfortable symptoms of candida. A daily regimen that includes a high-quality probiotic supplement can help you resolve these types of concerns.

Obtaining Probiotics From Your Diet

If you’re still unsure about taking a supplement directly, probiotics can be found in a variety of foods. They’re commonly found in fermented foods, such as yogurts or pickled products. In fact, yogurt and kefir are some of the best sources of probiotics.

The following foods are also good sources of natural probiotics:

buttermilk
sauerkraut
olives
pickled ginger
kimchi
tempeh
miso
pickles
natto

Your doctor or a nutritionist may be able to give you a broader list of foods that contain probiotics. Alternatively, a supplement can be added to a healthy diet that includes these foods to maximize your intake of healthy bacteria. Beginning sooner may help you strengthen your bones before your first fracture occurs.

As these findings and additional research reinforce the idea that probiotics protect bone health, doctors will likely begin prescribing supplements to their older patients. That’s not to say an increased intake of probiotics won’t benefit individuals of any age. Bone strength varies from person to person, so some people may have weaker bones at younger ages. For those individuals, taking probiotic supplements may be just as beneficial in preventing fractures and further bone loss. While there are many ways to strengthen bones naturally, incorporating probiotics in your diet or taking a daily probiotic supplement may be the most promising method yet.

New Study Supports Connection Between Dietary Soy and Bone Strength

Aug 17 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Menopause brings with it a whole new set of health concerns for the aging woman. The impacts of menopause on bone and metabolic health can lead to a loss of bone density, reduced physical ability and weight gain, however, new research on soy and bone strength suggests that soy protein may help to curb some of these negative health effects.

What is Osteoporosis? Are You at Risk?

Our bones are actually living, continuously growing tissues. They are comprised mostly of collagen and calcium phosphate, the combination of which makes the bone material strong and yet flexible so that it is able to withstand stresses. Throughout our lives, old bone is reabsorbed by the skeleton as new bone is formed. As children and teenagers, the rate at which new bone is created far outpaces that which it is removed, resulting in larger and denser bones. Around the age of 30, our bones reach their maximum strength and density, after which point bone reabsorption gradually begins to outpace the rate of new bone formation.

For women in particular, the greatest amount of bone loss tends to occur in the first few years after the onset of menopause and will continue on into the postmenopausal years. It is estimated that, on average, women stand to lose around 20 percent of their bone density after reaching menopause. Osteoporosis develops when either bone resorption is happening too quickly or when bone formation is occurring too slowly. This loss of bone density can result in weak, brittle bones that may easily break.

Osteoporosis and bone weakness can affect both men and women, but it is much more prevalent in females. More than 53 million Americans are diagnosed or at high risk of developing osteoporosis. According to the CDC, nearly a quarter of women over the age of 65 live with the disease. Osteoporosis is more likely to develop if peak bone mass was not reached during the developmental years. Postmenopausal women are particularly susceptible due to falling estrogen levels, which can further speed up bone resorption rates. With this in mind, researchers wondered if foods rich in isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen, may be beneficial to the postmenopausal woman.

Soy Foods for Women’s Health?

For centuries, soy products like miso and tofu have been widely consumed staples of much East Asian cuisine, however, soy foods have not been nearly as popular in a Western diet until recently. An uptick in vegetarian diets and a rise in the amount of research regarding soy’s health benefits has seen an increased adoption of soy into non-Asian diets.

Women facing menopause must contend with a number of disruptive symptoms. Traditionally, most women have opted for hormone therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause, but research has raised questions about the safety of its long-term use. Alarming studies have shown that estrogen plus progestin therapy increases the risk and mortality rates for breast cancer, leaving many to seek out healthier alternatives. Because of the high content of isoflavones present, soy is considered by many to be one such healthful alternative therapy, and the research is starting to agree.

Studies have shown that the estrogen-like compounds in soy may be able to ease hot flashes in menopausal women, and there is evidence to suggest that soy products are good for the heart too. Soy foods, which are low in saturated fats and high in the good polyunsaturated fats, have been shown in clinical trials to lower cholesterol levels, inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis, and help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. It has even previously been suggested that isoflavones, such as those present in soy, could hold the potential of slowing bone loss, but until now, the research has been largely inconclusive.

Investigating Soy and Bone Strength: Women May See Improved Bone Health by Adding Soy Protein to Their Diet

Scientists from the University of Missouri recently set out to investigate how dietary changes — the addition of soy protein in particular — could affect bone health. Their findings have recently been published in the journal Bone Reports. In an animal model, the researchers examined the effects of soy proteins versus a corn-based diet on rats which were bred to have lower than average fitness levels. In order to mimic the hormonal changes of menopause, the ovaries of half of the rats were removed.

“Prior research has shown that these rats are good models, as average American women are relatively inactive both before, and especially after, menopause. As such, understanding how dietary protein sources, such as soy, can impact metabolism and bone health in these rats can help us better understand how such diets might impact women’s health across the lifespan,” explained co-author Victoria Vieira-Potter, an associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at the University of Missouri, in a press release.

The rats were fed two distinct diets, one soy-based and the other corn-based, which were comprised of the same amount of calories. The researchers then compared the impacts of the soy-based diet on the rats’ bone strength and metabolic health with those of the rats which were fed a corn-based, completely soy-free diet. The team analyzed blood samples, bone density and strength and also studied the body composition of the rats using EchoMRI technology, which is a method of imaging that is used to obtain accurate measurements of body fat and water mass in living creatures.

Their analysis revealed that soy seemed to be beneficial across the board. “Bottom line, this study showed that women might improve bone strength by adding some soy-based whole foods to their diet,” said the study’s leading co-author, Professor Pamela Hinton.

Soy Protein May Strengthen Bones and Improve Metabolic Function, Researchers Find

The team found that regardless of whether the rats still possessed their ovaries, the tibia bones of the soy-fed rats were stronger when they were compared to the rats who were part of the corn diet group. Furthermore, the researchers found that a soy-based diet also improved the metabolic health in all rats, whether they were with or without their ovaries.

“The findings suggest that all women might see improved bone strength by adding some soy-based whole foods, such as tofu and soy milk, to their diet. We also believe that soy-based diets can improve metabolic function for postmenopausal women,” said Hinton

The researchers believe their data to suggest that all women, whether premenopausal or postmenopausal, would find benefit in consuming even small amounts of soy from sources such as bean sprouts, soy milk, edamame and tofu. “Our findings suggest that women don’t even need to eat as much soy as is found in typical Asian diets, but adding some tofu or other soy, for example foods found in vegetarian diets, could help strengthen bones,” Hinton concluded.

New Research Suggests Green Tea Compound EGCG Fights Atherosclerosis

Aug 13 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

According to a new study funded by the British Heart Foundation, the green tea compound EGCG fights atherosclerosis, a condition which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

What is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a condition that occurs when fatty deposits build up inside the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood to the heart, brain and other parts of the body. Over time, these fatty materials, largely comprised of calcium, cholesterol and fats, harden into plaques that narrow the arteries and restrict blood flow.

Though atherosclerosis may present no symptoms, it is a serious condition with potentially deadly outcomes. The exact cause of atherosclerosis is unknown, but there are certain known factors that place one more at risk, such as unhealthy eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking or having a family history of heart disease.

EGCG Breaks Down Amyloid Plaques

In later stages of atherosclerosis, a protein called apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1) develops amyloid deposits. These amyloid deposits, which are structurally similar to the amyloid plaques that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, bind to the atherosclerosis plaques causing them to increase in size and decrease in stability, both factors which significantly increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. It was the amyloid plaques that drew the interest of researchers out of the UK’s Lancaster University and the University of Leeds.

Over the past few years, numerous studies with promising results have been conducted on natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. One compound in particular, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol found in green tea, has been shown to be a potential preventative measure and therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

According to the lead author of the study, David Middleton, a professor of chemistry at Lancaster University, “the health benefits of green tea have been widely promoted and it has been known for some time that EGCG can alter the structures of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.”

In their research, the team found that when combined with heparin, a polysaccharide produced naturally by the body that acts as an anticoagulant in therapeutic doses, EGCG binds itself to the amyloid fibers of the apoA-1 protein and converts them into smaller, more easily soluble particles that are less likely to cause damage to the vessels. Essentially, EGCG fights atherosclerosis by breaking down the amyloid plaques.

“Our results show that this intriguing compound might also be effective against the types of plaques which can cause heart attacks and strokes,” said Middleton.

Their findings have been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Further Research Needed on How EGCG Fights Athersclerosis

The team notes that drinking green tea alone is likely not enough to see the benefits of their research, as the quantities necessary could be “potentially harmful.” According to Professor Jeremy Pearson, the Associate Medical Director of the BHF and coauthor of the study, “our bodies are very good at breaking down EGCG so swapping your cuppa for green tea is unlikely to make a big difference with respect to your heart health.”

Further work is to be done to develop new safer and more efficient methods of EGCG delivery. “[By] engineering the molecule slightly, we might be able to make new medicines to treat heart attack and stroke,” said Pearson.

Coauthor Sheena Radford, who is the acting Director of the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology at the University of Leeds, concluded, “the findings of this round of studies are very encouraging. We now need to apply the best scientific techniques to find how we can take the molecular EGCG element from green tea, and turn it into a functioning tool to combat life-limiting health issues.”

Should You Add Green Tea to Your Diet?

In short? Yes! In its current form, green tea may not be today’s cure for atherosclerosis, but it still possesses a number of proven health benefits and is a rich source of highly beneficial antioxidants. Green tea has long been used in Ayurvedic practices and Traditional Chinese Medicine to aid digestion, promote wound healing, support heart health and soothe the mind, along with quite a few other uses. Green tea compounds can also be found in various other dietary supplements. Recent scientific studies have given weight to these claims by demonstrating green tea’s vast potential as a preventative and therapeutic agent.

Here are just a few of the potential health benefits of green tea:

Cancer. Drinking green tea may lower your risk for certain cancers. Research has shown the polyphenols in green tea may inhibit the rate of tumor growth, fight against cancerous cells and stop new ones from developing.
Cholesterol. Green tea helps to decrease the amount of bad cholesterol that resides in the blood, helping to promote a healthy ratio of good and bad cholesterol.
Dental Health. Green tea is thought to improve dental health, decrease halitosis, and increase oral immunity.
Diabetes. Green tea may lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Research has demonstrated that the antioxidant compounds in green tea lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
Mood and Focus. Green tea contains compounds that have been shown to provide the drinker with feelings of relaxation as well as a boost to their mental clarity.
Neurodegenerative diseases. Green tea compounds have demonstrated neuroprotective properties and have been linked to a lowered risk for developing Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
Skin Health. Green tea has been shown to improve inflammatory skin disorders. Studies have shown that green tea soothes inflammation and modulates the irregular growth of skin cells that accompanies skin diseases. Studies have also demonstrated that green tea soothes wrinkles and helps to fight acne breakouts.

Discovered: How the Immune System Promotes Friendly Gut Bacteria

Aug 09 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Scientists from Japan’s RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science and Kyoto University have uncovered how our guts secrete antibodies that promote good bacteria to flourish. According to their research, the immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies secreted in the gut alter gene expression in bacteria, which allows different species of bacteria to work with each other to form a bacterial community that helps to protect our bodies from illness. The team’s latest findings have been published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Immunoglobulin A and the Gut Microbiome

The immune system’s first line of defense, antibodies, also called immunoglobulins, are proteins that our bodies produce in order to protect against microbial pathogens. Previous research has indicated that antibodies played a role in gut health. In a 2002 study, after noticing that mice with low levels of the IgA antibody also possessed atypical microbiomes, the RIKEN team first proposed that IgA antibodies may play a role in the maintenance of bacteria in the body. Until now, however, scientists have been unable to pinpoint the exact nature of this relationship.

Researchers first discovered the IgA antibody around 50 years ago. Approximately two to five grams of the antibody is produced by our intestines every single day. It’s long been believed that the sole role of antibodies is to seek out and destroy bacteria, but we’re now learning that in some cases, antibodies actively work with bacteria, and vice versa, to promote balance in the body. For instance, a 2016 study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe showed that the bacteria in our guts releases by-products during the metabolic process that actually boost the body’s production of antibodies, highlighting the complex nature of this two-way relationship.

The human body is home to trillions of microorganisms that bear a direct impact on our health and wellbeing. Over a thousand of species of bacteria reside in the gastrointestinal tract alone. They play a critically important part in everything from brain function, hormonal regulation, and nutrient production to disease resistance and immune response.

Immunoglobulin A Promotes Beneficial Bacteria Growth

As well as being the immune system’s most effective defense against pathogenic bacteria, new research has demonstrated how IgA also promotes the growth and maintenance of the gut’s “good” bacteria. A study conducted by Caltech earlier this year and published in the journal Science sought to uncover the methods by which specific strains of bacteria take up a near-permanent residence in our guts and found that IgA was actually responsible for helping certain bacteria to colonize and thrive in our guts.

“It is surprising to find that an immune response actually helps beneficial bacteria to thrive, which in turn helps the host thrive. The study of immunology has mainly been in the context of pathogenic bacteria. But there are trillions of bacteria in the gut, and most of the time none of them are making you sick. Our study shows that there is active immune recognition of these bacteria, but it helps rather than hinders them. This suggests that the immune system is more than just a defense system and antibodies are more than just weapons,” said Gregory Donaldson, study lead.

With the importance of gut health clear, scientists continue to try and unpack the impossibly complex relationship we share with our bacterial guests.

Immunoglobulin A Shapes the Gut Microbiome by Altering Bacterial Gene Expression

In their latest work, researchers from the RIKEN center set out to further study just how IgA promotes healthy bacteria. Antibodies typically respond to “bad” bacteria after recognizing certain proteins that exist on the bacteria’s surface, however, the team found that IgA antibodies were also responding the healthy bacteria in the gut and that one common bacteria found in the gut, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B. theta), was “particularly susceptible” to coating by IgA.

The team discovered that being exposed to IgA causes B. theta to upregulate two proteins, which the team called Mucus-Associated Functional Factors (MAFFs), that help the B. theta to grow in the mucous membrane of the GI tract as well as producing metabolites that promote the flourishing of other beneficial bacteria as well.

“We knew that immunoglobulin A contributed in some way to gut health, but it was exciting to discover this new mechanism, the MAFF system, that actually promotes symbiosis among the bacteria that inhabit the mucous membrane of the gut,” said lead author of the study Keiichiro Suzuki in a press release.

The team hopes that their findings will help pave the way for new treatments for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. According to Suzuki, “the MAFF system is also present in humans so it is an interesting target of research, but there is still much to be investigated. We need to identify its molecular target and find out how its expression is regulated along with neighboring genetic elements, with the hope that answering these questions could lead to the development of new methods for therapies or prophylaxis of inflammatory bowel disease.”

Tips to Promote a Healthy Microbiome and Boost Immunity

There are a number of simple, natural ways to promote a healthy balance of friendly gut bacteria for optimal immunity:

Eat a diet rich with a variety of fermented foods. Fermented foods like yogurt, tempeh, sauerkraut, and kombucha contain a healthy blend of beneficial microbes and are a safe, natural way to promote healthy gut bacteria.

Consume high-fiber natural prebiotics and daily. Prebiotics are types of dietary fiber that help to feed the good bacteria in the guts. A few rich natural sources of prebiotics are raw garlic, onions, dandelion greens, jicama and bananas.

Consider a probiotic supplement. Probiotic supplements contain the live bacteria and yeasts that are beneficial for a healthy gut. The best sources of probiotics are natural, fermented foods, but if you feel you aren’t getting enough probiotics, or especially after a course of antibiotics, taking a probiotic supplement — especially one that also provides prebiotics — can help to repopulate good bacteria and promote a healthy, balanced gut.