Heart Health

Cardiovascular Disease on the Rise: Protecting Your Heart More Important Than Ever

Heart disease rates are declining throughout the world, while at the same time they are on the rise in the United States. In fact, heart disease is responsible for nearly one out of every four deaths in the U.S. This makes heart disease the leading cause of premature death among Americans, ranking higher than cancer and certain types of chronic respiratory illnesses. Even though living a healthy lifestyle has become a focus for more people than ever before, cardiovascular disease is still a growing problem.

The Dangers and Risks of Cardiovascular Disease

According to recent study published by the American Heart Association, almost half of all adult Americans live with some type of heart disease. The condition can lead to any number of serious medical conditions, including:

atherosclerosis
heart failure
heart attack
stroke
arrhythmia
heart valve malfunctions

Fortunately, many people have started taking heart health more seriously, and have reduced their participation in risky behaviors. For instance, cigarette smoking rates are the lowest they have been with more teenagers choosing not to take up the habit. In the 2015-16 school year, it was reported that as many as 95 percent of teens aged 12 through 19 did not smoke. By comparison, only 75 percent of teens in that same age group reported that they were not smokers in the 1999–2000 school year.

Even physical activity is on the rise, with more teens and young adults engaging in exercise more often. In a recent study, over half of U.S. teens reported engaging in moderate resistance training at least three times per week. Older adults also reported engaging in more exercise. The number of adults living sedentary lifestyles has dropped by a third over the past decade.

The news isn’t all good. Sleep deprivation is on the rise, and has many negative effects on the body. In particular, a lack of sleep inhibits the body’s ability to heal blood vessels and process excess blood sugar. When these processes are interrupted over a long period of time, overall heart health can be compromised, leading to problems throughout the cardiovascular system.

Obesity and being overweight are also contributing factors to the development of cardiovascular illnesses. By losing sleep, your body isn’t able to regulate the use of fat for energy as efficiently. Combined with excessive insulin production, this causes the body to retain more weight. Since being overweight also affects cardiovascular functioning, this is another way that a lack of sleep raises the risks of heart disease and related illnesses.

Tips for Improving Heart Health

You can control your risks of developing cardiovascular disease by changing your lifestyle. For instance, switching to a plant-based diet can give you the vitamins and nutrients you need to keep your cardiovascular system healthy. In addition to eating more plant-based foods, such as fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds, it’s also good to switch to whole grains and lean red meats. Eliminate processed foods that contain added sugar, trans fats and artificial preservatives.

Making sure you get the sleep you need will also help reduce risks of developing heart-related diseases. If you are having trouble sleeping, eliminate caffeine from your afternoons and evenings. You should also make it a rule to turn off all electronic devices at least one hour before bed. Instead, consider taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music or practicing yoga. Your ability to relax just before bed will better prepare you for sleep.

A new test may also help you to take precautionary measures by detecting whether or not you’re at risk of developing heart disease. This groundbreaking test involves detecting a certain protein released by the heart when the organ is injured to determine the likelihood an individual will develop heart disease at a later date.

Dr. Christie Ballantyne pursued a study to determine if that same protein, called troponin, would also indicate the risks of heart disease in someone without an injured heart muscle. The hope was that administering the blood test to healthy adults and seniors would produce the same indicators. After studying the test results of 8,121 subjects and comparing troponin levels to their risks of developing a cardiovascular condition, the research team did find a correlation. Dr. Ballantyne says the results of the study suggest that the blood test can be used to predict a future heart attack, stroke or heart failure within a 10-year time span.

Natural Supplements Help Maintain a Healthy Cardiovascular System

In addition to getting sufficient sleep and eating right, taking certain dietary supplements can also help protect your heart and cardiovascular system. For instance, taking a supplement that contains L-arginine may help protect against coronary artery disease, which is one root cause of heart attacks. L-arginine is an amino acid that helps keep the cardiovascular system healthy in other ways as well, so taking this type of supplement can have a positive effect on your overall heart health.

A multi-vitamin may also be a wise addition to your daily routine. Specifically, a supplement that contains calcium, folic acid and B vitamins may help maintain cardiovascular health by providing your body with the nutrients it needs. Even if you are eating healthier foods, it’s unlikely that you’re getting enough of these vitamins to help improve the health of your cardiovascular system. Taking supplements can give your body the boost it needs.

Poor Diet Biggest Risk Factor for Early Death, Says New Study

Apr 25 by Ewcopywriting

According to a new study, poor eating habits are responsible for one-fifth of all early deaths on a global scale. In 2017, this rate was equivalent to 11 million deaths. While unhealthy foods may not directly cause those premature deaths, the researchers concluded that unhealthy diets exposed more people to noncommunicable diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease by inhibiting immunity strength. This new information suggests that simple lifestyle changes can have a prominent impact on overall health.

Diet Biggest Risk Factor for Early Death

A new study has identified poor eating habits as a top risk factor for early death worldwide, responsible for more deaths than even smoking. Conducted as a part of the Global Urban Disease Study, the research project examined the dietary habits of subjects in 195 countries for a 27-year period beginning in 1990, taking special note of the consumption of specific nutrients and foods.

While poor diet resulted in cancer and type 2 diabetes in some instances, a massive number of participants suffered from diet-related compromised cardiovascular health. In 2017, Uzbekistan ranked highest with 892 deaths per 100,000 people, and Israel came in last with just 89 diet-related deaths per 100,000 people. For perspective, the study noted that the United States was ranked 43rd with 171 deaths attributed to poor diet. Coming in at 23, the United Kingdom had 127 diet-related deaths in 2017.

In the study, the researchers paid particular attention to 15 food categories:

fruits
vegetables
nuts and seeds
legumes
whole grains
fiber
calcium
milk
omega-3 fatty acids
trans fats
polyunsaturated fats
red meat
processed meat
sugary beverages
sodium

Of this 15 items, it was discovered that specific foods, namely nuts and seeds, whole grains and milk, were especially lacking in most diets. In regard to nuts and seeds, the study found that the average intake was just three grams per individual — only 12 percent of the recommended intake. Milk consumption was lower than 16 percent, while intake of whole grains was only 23 percent of the ideal amount.

What the researchers found even more alarming than the absence of certain healthy foods was the high intake of unhealthy foods and ingredients. For example, the consumption of soda, juice and other sugary beverages was far too high. Intake of sodium and processed meat was also found to be excessive.

Can Adding Healthy Foods to Your Diet Help You Live Longer?

In plain terms, the study found that eating too few healthy foods may be more damaging to our health than eating too many unhealthy foods. While the most detrimental diets were found to be high in sodium, there were also low in several key areas. Specifically, these diets were especially low in whole grains and plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds). These diets were also very low in omega-3s, which is a nutrient most commonly found in wild-caught fish.

The study also attributed high-sodium diets which were also lacking in fruits and whole grains to one-half of 2017’s diet-related deaths. These diets were also responsible for causing two-thirds of the severe health problems in the years leading up to death.

What does this mean for the future? The head researcher, Dr. Christopher Murray, says the evidence points to a need to re-examine how we look at nutrition. In the past, the focus has been on getting people to eat fewer unhealthy foods. This new research suggests it may be time to shift that focus by placing greater emphasis on eating more healthy foods. In short, while ditching unhealthy foods is important, it’s more important to replace them with larger portions of foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients.

Lifestyle Changes to Ensure You’re Eating Healthier Meals

In light of the evidence that diet biggest risk factor in premature deaths, it stands to reason that we can each stay healthier and stronger by making simple diety-related lifestyle changes. In particular, these dietary changes can help to ensure you’re giving your body optimum levels of vitamins and minerals.

Don’t Underestimate Variety

Nutritionists recommend choosing your fruits and vegetables by color, because each color provides different tastes, different vitamins and a vast range of phyto-nutrients. The best practice is to change up your food choices every three days, since this will help you to get the most out of the various nutrients in each food.

Add Nuts and Seeds to Your Meals

We typically think of nuts and seeds as snack foods, but, if recent research has shown us anything, it’s that just snacking on these foods isn’t good enough. They can and should be added to your meals as often as possible. Sprinkle seeds in your salad or on chicken. Similarly, you can mix nuts in with your salads, whole grain pasta dishes or rice.

Take a Daily Supplement

There are many vitamin formulas on the market, but this is one important area where it pays to take the time to choose wisely. Look for a high-quality daily multivitamin and multi-mineral supplement that’s specifically formulated for either men or women to get the most important vitamins and minerals for optimum health. While taking a daily vitamin and mineral formula can provide a powerful boost, it is still important to use these types of supplements in conjunction with a healthy diet to maximize your health.

The science is in: Eating healthier can help you live longer. And, more importantly, it will help you stay healthier well into your senior years. Making nutrition a priority can help to protect against the cognitive and physical decline that affects many people as they get older. As this research and previous studies have confirmed, enjoying more plant-based foods and whole grains just may help you live a healthier, higher-quality life.

Can Chili Pepper Compound Capsaicin Curb Cancer?

Apr 17 by Ewcopywriting

Capsaicin is the compound in chili peppers that give them their spicy kick, but ongoing research has found that it does even more than that. A new study confirms capsaicin slows cancer, backing up previous research indicating that this spicy compound may hold the key to more successful treatments. Specifically, researchers found that the compound has a powerful effect on adenocarcinoma, which is a condition that’s responsible for approximately 40 percent of all lung cancer cases. Previous studies have examined the powerful health benefits that capsaicin provides, but the latest research is the most promising.

When cancer develops, its ability to spread to various parts of the body (a process called metastasis) is what makes it so deadly and so difficult to cure. This is also one of the reasons it has been so challenging to come up with effective treatments. Thus, much cancer research centers on finding methods to negatively influence metastasis.

In a recent study out of Marshall University in West Virginia, it was found that the anti-metastasizing properties in capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers, worked to hinder the spread of cancer cells in earlier stages of the disease, before healthy cells were affected. These findings suggest that early diagnosis would be vital to the successful use of medications derived from capsaicin.

New Research Finds That Capsaicin Slows Cancer

The reason capsaicin has gained the attention of researchers in the United States is that there are lower instances of cancer in countries where spicy dishes are more common. Thailand and India in particular have lower numbers of lung cancer cases. Seeking to understand if there was a link between spicy foods and cancer, researchers began investigating and found that capsaicin seemed to be the common factor.

Working with mice, researchers in the study discovered that mice who were fed capsaicin manifested a lower number of metastasized cells than mice who were not fed the compound. It’s believed the compound works by preventing the activation of Src, which is a protein that helps cancer cells metastasize. The researchers involved in the latest study also found that capsaicin helps by making the lungs more sensitive to chemotherapy.

The next step for lead researcher Dr. Friedman and the rest of the team is to find a way to make capsaicin more palatable. They hope to dull the spicy sensation of the compound without diminishing its cancer-fighting properties. In its natural state, capsaicin can cause some extreme side effects, especially for those unaccustomed to spicy foods. Some side effects include burning diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea and vomiting, extremely teary eyes and reddening of the skin.

While capsaicin may not be a cure for cancer, it may be useful in helping to prevent the spread of the disease. In this way, capsaicin-based medication may become part of a broader treatment regimen, especially in treating lung cancer. However, Dr. Friedman cautions there’s still more research needed to determine if capsaicin can really serve as a beneficial treatment option.

What Else Can Capsaicin Do for Your Body?

As previously mentioned, this isn’t the first study to focus on the health benefits of capsaicin. There has been previous research on the chili pepper compound that has found it helps the body in a number of ways. Below are just a few examples of the benefits that this natural compound provides.

Pain Relief

We experience pain because our nerves carry pain messages to the brain. This process is aided by the release of a chemical called substance P. It has been found that capsaicin helps exhaust the supply of substance P, making it more difficult for your nerves to carry those pain messages back to the brain. To prove this effect, researchers administered 2.5 grams of capsaicin to heartburn sufferers on a daily basis. Initially, the heartburn pain worsened, but it improved significantly after the first few days.

Weight Loss

In another study, subjects were given 10 grams of red pepper with their meal. Following the meal, the subjects’ energy levels were monitored. Researchers found that those who consumed the red pepper exhibited a hike in energy expenditure. As a result, the study’s authors concluded that consuming capsaicin on a regular basis could help burn up to an extra 50 calories each day.

Hypertension

If you have high blood pressure, eating more chili peppers may help. Research has found that eating foods rich in capsaicin helps maintain blood pressure levels already within healthy ranges. It’s believed that the compound activates TRPV1, which is a receptor responsible for reducing vascular tension and maintaining healthier blood pressure levels.

Digestive Health

There are a few ways capsaicin helps boost your digestive health. It helps by buffering the digestive tract during gastric secretion and prevents the damage caused by alcoholic beverages. Additionally, it may help heal gastric ulcers, since capsaicin does inhibit the secretion of acids in the digestive tract.

Research continues to uncover more health benefits provided by capsaicin. This is good news for those of us who love our spicy foods. For the rest of us, it may not be long before we see mild capsaicin supplements available in concentrated capsule form. In addition to helping to promote cellular health, capsaicin could have a bright future in helping to alleviate a number of other health concerns.

Inflammation: The Missing Link Between Heart Disease and Depression

Apr 10 by Ewcopywriting

Studies have found that people who suffer from depression are far more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who do not have this mental illness. Conversely, individuals who experience a cardiovascular event are more likely to develop depression. While it’s difficult to say which condition may cause the other, the fact remains that there is a clear relationship between the two. Now, a new study suggests that heart disease and depression may both be caused by excessive inflammation, which can result from increased levels of stress and certain lifestyle factors.

The Link Between Heart Disease and Depression

Recent studies have found that the majority of individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease also suffer from depression. Since the two conditions commonly occur together, it seems very likely that there may be a causal link between them. Depression adversely affects quality of life, a situation which can lead to less interest in proper personal care. Someone suffering from depression is less likely to engage in healthy lifestyle choices, or to follow a doctor’s recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. This could be one way in which depression influences the development of cardiovascular disease.

An alternative explanation suggests that cardiovascular disease comes first. An event such as a heart attack most definitely affects a patient’s state of mind, increasing the possibility of depressive episodes. Faced with the recovery time and physical rehabilitation that follow a heart attack, it’s not uncommon for sufferers to become despondent and depressed. In fact, hospitals recognize the likelihood of this situation and provide behavioral and psychological counseling alongside the physical therapy necessary for the recovery of a cardiac arrest patient.

Inflammation: The Key to Explaining Link Between Heart Disease and Depression?

Heart disease and depression are both very serious issues throughout the world. While heart disease is responsible for the most deaths in the U.S. and abroad, depression is the leading mental health cause of disability in the world. Since the links between the two conditions are so strong, researchers at the University of Cambridge decided to look for a possible connection.

The research team accessed the UK Biobank system to review the medical records of 370,000 individuals ranging in age from 40 up to 69. The first phase of the research project looked at whether those with cardiovascular disease in their families had an elevated risk of developing depression. It was determined that having heart disease in the family did indeed increase the risk of developing major depression. In fact, in cases where an individual lost at least one parent to a cardiac event, the risk of depression was 20 percent higher.

Further research sought to identify common genetic markers for heart disease and depression, but none were found. Since genetics didn’t seem to play a factor in linking the two conditions, the team began looking for environmental factors. This phase of the research involved examining 15 biomarkers that boost one’s risk of heart disease and determining if those same biomarkers also increased the risk of depression. In this phase, researchers found three such biomarkers: triglycerides, CRP, and IL-6.

CRP and IL-6 are proteins that produce inflammation when activated by physiological factors such as an infection, emotional stress, a lack of physical activity or substance abuse. People with depression often exhibit high levels of inflammation, as well as heightened levels of the CRP and IL-6 proteins.

This research indicates that the heart and brain are both affected by the same biological functions. By raising the levels of certain proteins through unhealthy lifestyle choices, people might just open themselves up to multiple health problems at once. Alternatively, by taking action to reduce inflammation, it may be possible to improve both mental health and heart health.

Healthy Ways to Reduce Stress and Inflammation

Physical Activity

Getting more physical exercise can help reduce stress and inflammation simultaneously. As you exercise, your body releases endorphins, or “feel good” neurotransmitters, that elevate your mood. This reaction combats and reduces levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in your brain. Additionally, physical activity reduces inflammation even when it doesn’t result in weight loss. You can lower the levels of inflammation in the body simply by staying active.

Eliminate or Reduce the Use of Harmful Substances

By “harmful substances,” we mean alcohol, caffeine and nicotine as well as recreational drugs. These substances actually contribute to overall stress levels, even if you think they’re helping you relax. The chemicals found in these products inflame your blood vessels and raise blood pressure levels, so reducing your use will help you feel better and you’ll be healthier in the long run.

Get Better Sleep

Getting seven to eight hours of sleep is essential for a number of reasons, including the reduction of stress. As you sleep, your body recharges and your brain resets itself, allowing hormone levels to balance out. By getting enough sleep to relieve some of that pent up stress, you’ll also be reducing your internal inflammation levels.

Take Up a Hobby

Finally, find your own way to de-stress and recharge. The biggest cause of inflammation is stress, so, if you can find something enjoyable that relaxes you, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s an activity you enjoy. It can be anything from hiking in the woods to doing crossword puzzles in your bedroom.

While further research is needed, we do know that depression and cardiovascular disease are linked and that inflammation may be the causal factor for both. Even without confirmation of this connection, we do know that relieving stress and inflammation through lifestyle changes is a great way to stay healthy. Engaging in frequent exercise and making sure your body is getting enough of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it needs will help you stay physically and mentally fit for a lifetime.

New Gut Bacteria Research Finds Link Between Gut Health, Stroke and Cancer

Apr 04 by Ewcopywriting

The gut microbiome is filled with bacteria and other microbes that assist in the digestion of the foods we eat. While there are some bacteria that are harmful to us, many of the bacteria in our digestive tract are beneficial, helping to withdraw nutrients and vitamins from our foods through the digestion process. In addition, these bacteria help to boost immune function and can even influence other aspects of our health.

In a study that was released in 2014, researchers revealed that each person’s DNA actually influences what kinds of bacteria are able thrive within his or her microbiome. Furthermore, for each individual, the population of bacteria in the gut is different, a fact which scientists now believe may play a role in determining which people are likely to become obese or overweight. Other recent studies have found that the health and diversity of the gut microbiome may even influence how the immune system fights cancer or stroke.

The Changing Microbiome

The process of populating the microbiome begins with the development of the fetus. As the fetus develops, the digestive tract is exposed to the microorganisms from the mother’s gut microbiome, as well as bacteria from the immediate environment. This mixture of microorganisms comes together to form a unique microbiome in the infant’s digestive tract. Even after birth, the baby’s microbiome is still developing. This is why there’s more bacteria in the digestive tract of a breast-fed baby than in the digestive tract of a formula-fed infant.

Even throughout adulthood, we believe the gut microbiome continues to change or evolve in accordance with changing diets, environmental influences and lifestyle choices. This is good news, because it suggests that we can consciously alter our gut microbiome through changes in lifestyle habits and diets. Why would we want to alter the bacteria in our guts? The reasoning lies in recognizing that, when it comes to overall health, certain bacteria affect specific risk factors. For instance, we know that the bacteria called Christensenellaceae minuta is more often found in the guts of people with low body weight. Similarly, a deficiency of Prevotella, Veillonellaceae and Coprococcus is common in children with autism. If we can learn more about the bacteria in our microbiome and how they affect overall health, it may be possible to manipulate the gut microbiome to live healthier lives.

Gut Bacteria Research Finds a Link to Stroke

A stroke is a common occurrence in modern times, and the Center for Disease Control estimates that a stroke affects someone in the U.S. every 40 seconds. This is a particularly unsettling statistic, when you stop to consider how severely a stroke affects the human body. While a stroke is considered to be a cardiovascular event, it primarily affects the brain by cutting off the flow of oxygen-rich blood. This means the brain isn’t getting the oxygen it needs to feed cells, causing cell die-off.

In addition to the potential for brain damage, new gut bacteria research indicates that the population of bacteria in the digestive tract may also be affected by stroke. Working with rodents, test subjects were divided into two groups. The first group of mice were subjected to ischemic strokes, while the second group consisted of healthy mice. The researchers evaluated the health of the mice in each group at regular intervals.

The research team found that, unlike the healthy group of mice, the group of mice subjected to strokes had elevated levels of a specific bacteria called Bifidobacteriaceae. The presence of Bifidobacteriaceae was found at 14-day and 28-day intervals, suggesting the increase in these bacteria was a long-lasting result of the stroke. Bifidobacteriaceae is a member of the Bifidobacterium family and is considered a healthy probiotic that enhances gut health. The presence of Bifidobacteriaceae may also precipitate better recovery in those who’ve suffered from a stroke.

The news wasn’t all good. The team also found heightened levels of bacteria belonging to the Helicobacteraceae family; a group of bacteria which have been linked to poorer health outcomes. Additionally, the mice that had suffered from strokes exhibited a significantly higher Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio. This type of imbalance has been linked to a greater risk of inflammation, obesity and diabetes. Finally, researchers noted changes in the intestinal tissue of the stroke subjects which could cause poorer absorption of nutrients, thus also hindering recovery.

The discovery of negative effects in the intestinal tract of subjects who had suffered from a stroke open the door to the possibility of encouraging recovery from stroke by manipulating bacteria in the gut. The research team hopes to continue their studies, focusing on a way to treat the symptoms of a stroke by focusing on the health of the gut microbiome.

Can a Healthy Gut Microbiome Help Fight Cancer?

In another study, which was conducted at the University of Chicago, researchers found that 11 strains of bacteria in the gut help slow the progression of tumors in the body. Using mice as test subjects, the team found that the UPR, or unfolded protein response, served as a link between the gut bacteria and the immune system’s tumor-fighting capabilities. Since UPR is responsible for keeping cells healthy and clean, its presence can indicate which patients are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy treatments.

The study used a test group of mice that lacked the RING finger protein 5 (RNF5), which helps cells identify improperly folded proteins. The mice in this group were more successful in fighting off melanoma, provided their immunity and gut bacteria was also healthy. The researchers also discovered that housing these mice with RNF5-rich mice inhibited their ability to fight off the tumors.

In another phase of the experiment, the 11 strains of bacteria were transplanted into mice that had been previously free of the bacteria. Once transplanted, the new strains turned on the tumor-fighting capabilities of the immune systems in these mice. This suggests that the 11 strains of bacteria identified in the study may boost the immune system’s cancer fighting capabilities.

The team concluded the study by suggesting that UPR may be useful as a biomarker in determining which individuals are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. Additionally, there’s hope that further research will help uncover the anti-tumor molecules produced by those 11 strains of bacteria. In the future, the research may lead to more effective customized cancer treatments.

Skin Health and Disease: Could Moisturizing Your Skin Reduce Your Risk?

Mar 28 by Ewcopywriting

In order to study how skin health and disease are related, researchers had to first understand why disease causes us to experience inflammation. When it comes to physical injuries, inflammation is a necessary part of the healing process because it builds a buffer around the wound to protect it. Even though we try to reduce the swelling around the wound, it’s actually the inflammation that helps the area heal. Once new skin grows around the wound, the inflammation usually subsides on its own.

Inflammation is characterized by a few mild to severe signs, depending on the nature of the medical condition. When damage to tissue occurs, the first thing most people notice is that the affected area is painful. Chemical compounds are released in the body to stimulate the nerves so pain messages can be delivered to the brain. This prevents you from touching the area, since pain is stronger with physical contact. The area will also appear redder than your normal skin color, because the capillaries in that part of the body are carrying a higher concentration of blood. The increased blood flow will also make the affected area feel hotter and more sensitive.

At this point, physical swelling may begin. While this happens to protect the affected area, it also causes a reduction in mobility. The swelling builds a physical barrier that inhibits the free range of motion you usually experience. Trying to push, or force, motion of that area often triggers a more intense sensation of pain.

Some people think that inflammation is the result of an infection, but this isn’t necessarily true. What does actually happen is that the smallest arteries in the affected area will enlarge to allow maximum blood flow. This allows the capillaries to move more easily between cells and the blood, attracting proteins as they move through the arteries. Finally, white blood cells called neutrophils are released and they begin consuming the foreign microorganisms in the affected area. This immune response is what triggers inflammation.

Research Uncovers a Connection Between Skin Health and Disease

The skin is the largest organ of the body, so it only makes sense that it plays a major role in how we’re affected by disease. Previous research has found that inflammation of the skin can be linked to diseases like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. As the largest organ in the body, even the smallest levels of inflammation can affect the body in significant ways.

As people age, they experience increased dryness, irritation and itchiness of the skin. Researcher Dr. Mao-Qiang Man believes this to be a sign of inflammation in the body, prompted by heightened cytokines. The cytokines released into the blood supply help younger skin heal more easily, but older, dryer skin is less resilient. As a result, inflammation becomes chronic and the body has more difficulty filtering out pathogens.

In the new study, designed to examine the effects of skin treatments on disease, Dr. Theodora Mauro reveals that skin conditions, particularly psoriasis and dermatitis, can increase the risk of heart disease. If skin health could be restored, Dr. Mauro surmised that inflammation and the risks of disease could also be affected. In this case, keeping skin moisturized might be an effective way of fighting degenerative diseases.

Is Skin Moisturizer an Effective Weapon Against Disease?

The researchers for the pilot study chose 33 older adults, ranging in ages from 58 to 95. Since cytokines are good indicators of internal inflammation, the researchers started the 30 day study by measuring cytokine levels in each of the participants. Throughout the study, each participant rubbed moisturizer into their skin from head to toe, twice each day.

There are different types of cytokines that can inhabit the body, but three in particular are responsible for age-related degenerative illnesses. They are tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6. When a moisturizer containing ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids was applied twice daily, there was a noticeable drop in those cytokine levels. The levels dropped low enough that the participants’ cytokines were similar to those of people in their 30s.

This was the first study of its kind, linking skin health to inflammation and the risks of degenerative illnesses. While it laid the groundwork and established that there is a connection, more research will have to be conducted. As future studies confirm the correlation between disease and skin health, there will likely be greater emphasis placed on keeping skin moisturized and healthy.

Skin health has always been a major concern, particularly in terms of the damage caused by the sun’s rays. In addition to moisturizing twice per day, it’s important to always wear sunscreen outdoors and to avoid direct sunlight at the hottest times of the day. Using a natural supplement designed to nourish the skin from the inside out by delivering crucial nutrients may also be beneficial. A dermatologist can recommend more skin care tips, so you can keep your body’s largest organ healthy and youthful into old age.