Coffee Doesn't Just Kick-Start Your Day - It's Healthy Too

Coffee's distinctive smell and palatable taste are what help an estimated 100 million Americans pry themselves out of bed each morning. However, while its addictive flavor keeps us wanting more, you may find comfort in knowing the many hidden health benefits of consuming a daily cup of Joe. In truth, coffee is actually pretty healthy - it is packed with antioxidants and beneficial nutrients. What's more, studies show that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing serious diseases.

Read on to discover the 12 reasons you should wake up to a delectable cup of coffee:

1. It's great for the liver

In 2006, a study that included 125,000 people aged 22 and over found those who drank at least one cup of coffee a day were 20 percent less likely to develop liver cirrhosis - an autoimmune disease caused by excessive alcohol consumption that can lead to liver failure and cancer. Studies have also shown that consuming coffee regularly (four or more cups a day) may help prevent people from developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

2. It  Reduces Chances of Skin Cancer

..if you are a woman. A study conducted by Bringham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, followed 112,897 men and women over a 20-year period. They discovered that women who drank more than three cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop skin cancer than those who didn't.

3. Reduces your chances of  Type 2 Diabetes

 According to a study from the American Chemical Society, drinking coffee may reduce your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that people who drink four or more cups of coffee a day reduce their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by 50 percent.

4. It keeps your brain healthier for longer

 

Studies conducted on a group of people aged 65 and older at the University of South Florida and the University of Miami respectively found that those with higher levels of caffeine in their blood developed Alzheimer's disease two to four years later than those with lower levels of caffeine. The study's co-author and neuroscientist, Dr Chuanhai Cao, reported he firmly believed that moderate coffee consumption can appreciably reduce your risk of Alzheimer's or delay its onset.

5. It can make you more Intelligent

 

Coffee is renowned for its quick-fix energy-boosting effects. However, aside from giving you a much-needed jolt, coffee makes you sharper. According to CNN, coffee allows your brain to work in a more efficient and smarter way. It improves your reaction time, vigilance, attention and logical reasoning.

6. It reduces you risk  of Heart Disease

 

In a study conducted by Korean researchers, participants who consumed three to five cups of Joe a day were less likely to show the first signs of heart disease. However, it is important to consider other dietary factors too, as Koreans typically have a different diet to Westerners.

7. It reduces your risk of Multiple Sclerosis

 

Recent studies have shown that four cups of coffee a day may help protect against the development and re-occurrence of Multiple Sclerosis. It is believed that coffee prevents neural inflammation, which may lead to the disease.

8. It reduces your risk of Colorectal cancer

 

Consuming coffee can reduce the chances of developing colorectal cancer by 26 percent. According to one study, the more coffee you consume the lower the risk.

9. It contains more antioxidants that fruits and vegetables

 

A study conducted in 2005 found that nothing comes close to providing as many antioxidants as coffee. While fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants, the human body absorbs the most from coffee.

10. It can lessen the symptoms of Parkinson's

 

Studies show that people who consume caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinson's. It also stated that drinking coffee may help people with Parkinson's disease control their movement.

11. The scent of coffee can reduce stress

 

Research conducted at the Seoul National University examined the brains of rats who were stressed as a result of sleep deprivation. The study found that those who were exposed to coffee aromas experienced changes in brain proteins tied to that stress.

12. It boosts your mood

 

A study by the National Institute of Health found that those who drank more than four cups of java a day were less likely to be depressed. Coffee's mood boosting benefits do not occur due to the 'caffeine high', rather coffee makes you feel good due to its trusty antioxidants.

 

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    

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Unsafe Levels of Lead and Cadmium Found in 47% of Protein Powders Tested—Here's How to Minimize Your Exposure

 If you're using protein powder as part of a high protein diet, you may want to review your usage. New research from the Clean Label Project found disturbing—and unsafe—levels of lead and cadmium in nearly half of the most popular protein powder products on the market.

The research, published on January 9th, involved testing 160 protein powder products from the top 70 brands representing about 38% of the protein powder market. They were tested for a range of 258 different potential contaminants, including arsenic, mercury, and bisphenols. Of the products tested, 47% had higher levels of heavy metals than recommended under California Proposition 65 safety thresholds—with 21% of those testing more than twice over the Prop 65 threshold for lead.

 

What Does Lead and Cadmium Exposure Do?

Lead and cadmium are heavy metals that can have serious health impacts—and there are no safe levels of exposure, according to the FDA.

Lead can cause damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and blood. It's especially problematic when young children are exposed, as it can lead to slowed growth and development and lower IQs.

The metal cadmium will end up in your kidneys and liver, where it can remain for years as your body very slowly processes it into waste. But if you're eating or drinking too much cadmium, it can overwhelm and damage your organs. Cadmium can also damage your bones and your nervous system, in addition to your kidney and liver.

How Could Lead and Cadmium End up in These Products?

"Plants pick up heavy metals through the air, water, and soil and may remain in the product long after processing," says Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD, Spokesperson for the Academy of NUtrition and Dietetics. "Some heavy metal exposure can be from natural or industry sources—but most of the heavy metal pollution concerns come from human and industry sources."

When the metals are absorbed by plants, they can end up in the food supply, either in the produce we eat, or in the animals we eat, if they eat contaminated plants.

How to Choose Safer Protein Powders

If your protein powder habit is hard to shake, you're probably wondering which of the products failed the lead and cadmium tests. While the Clean Label Project doesn't name the products that exceeded lead and cadmium levels, they did provide a list of vetted protein powder brands, including Puori, Wicked, Needed, Nutrabox, Wellbeing, and Ritual. You can view the full list of products that tested well in their research.

But there are a few suggestions you can follow to reduce your exposure.

Opt for whey, collagen, or pea-based powders.

In the Clean Label Project study, whey, collagen, and pea-based powders were less likely to have lead levels over the California Proposition 65 levels. Only 28% of whey protein powders and 26% of collagen protein powders had high levels of lead. For plant-based protein, pea protein was least likely to be contaminated, but plant-based powders in general contained five times more cadmium than whey protein powders tested.

Avoid chocolate-based flavors.

In the Clean Label Project study, 65% of the chocolate-flavored protein powders had high levels of lead and shockingly high levels of cadmium—110 times more cadmium than vanilla flavors. That's probably not a huge surprise, as chocolate has made headlines in recent years for potential heavy metal contamination. There have been unsafe levels of lead and cadmium in other chocolate products on the market—especially dark chocolate, according to testing by Consumer Reports.

Choose non-organic powders.

Surprisingly, organic products had three times the levels of lead as their non-organic counterparts—and 79% of organic protein powders were over the Prop 65 safety threshold. So in this instance, choosing a non-organic protein powder may result in a smaller exposure to lead. "We need more research and a better understanding of farming practices to understand why certain organic foods may contain more heavy metals," Ansari says.

Look for third-party testing and other certifications.

Ansari recommends looking closely at the nutrition labels for the protein powders you have, and see what independent testing they may have undergone. "I generally recommend looking for products with third-party testing and certification such as NSF Certified/ NSF Certified for Sport," Ansari says. "NSF, for example, tests to ensure what's on the label is in the product and also tests to make sure the product does not have unsafe levels of heavy metals."

Healthy Alternatives to Protein Powders

Variety is the spice of life—and may be a way to help reduce your exposure. "Protein powder can be helpful, but not everyone needs to use a protein powder," Ansari says. "I always recommend a food first approach. Eating protein-rich foods from a variety of sources at meals and snacks can provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals that support health and that protein powder alone cannot provide."

If you've been using protein powder to supplement your diet—and want to reduce or stop using it to reduce your exposure to lead and cadmium, you may want to consider other easy-to-utilize, healthy high protein snacks.

Some high-protein snacks Ansari suggests include:

• Canned tuna (20-25 grams of protein in 3 ounces)
• Greek yogurt (10-18 grams of protein in 5.3 ounces)
• Chicken (21 grams of protein in 3 ounces)
• Eggs (18-21 grams of protein in 3 eggs)
• Tofu (22 grams of protein per cup)
• Edamame (18 grams of protein per cup)
• Steamed lentils (18 grams of protein per cup)
• Black beans (15 grams of protein per cup)
• Cooked quinoa (8 grams of protein per cup)
• Peanut butter (7 grams of protein per 2 tbsp)
• Cooked pasta (8 grams of protein per cup)

For a high-protein smoothie, you can mix in one of the following:

• Nut butters  (peanuts in particular have the highest protein levels)
• Silken tofu
• Greek yogurt
• Cottage cheese
• Chia seeds
• Flaxseeds
• Kefir

"When it comes to heavy metals, what we can emphasize with consumers is to focus on variety," Ansari says. "Emphasize whole foods in the diet, supplement when needed, and understand how to decrease exposure to heavy metals during the cooking process. When wanting to supplement with a protein powder, start by looking for products that are third-party tested." 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs

 

Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a form of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. During treatment, a machine rotates around your body, sending multiple energy beams of varying strengths to kill cancer cells and destroy tumors. It treats various cancers, including prostate cancer, lung cancer and head and neck cancers, among others.

What is volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)?

Volumetric modulated arc therapy, or VMAT, is a type of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)  healthcare providers use to treat cancer. With EBRT, a machine that never touches your body sends radiation to destroy tumors. VMAT is a newer form of EBRT that was introduced in 2007. With VMAT, the machine rotates around your body while you’re lying down, delivering continuous doses of radiation toward a tumor. No radiation source is placed inside your body, so there’s no concern of being radioactive during or after the radiation treatments.

VMAT is also a form of intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT). IMRT sends various doses of radiation toward a tumor across multiple smaller beams instead of using a single radiation beam. This technique allows healthcare providers to direct high doses of radiation toward tumors without exposing the surrounding healthy tissue to harmful amounts of radiation.

During VMAT, you receive customized doses of radiation as a machine encircles your body in one or more rotations, or arcs.

What is VMAT used for?

The precise dosage and delivery volumetric modulated arc therapy provides makes it a good option for treating oddly shaped tumors or tumors close to vital organs. For example, your cancer provider, or oncologist, may recommend VMAT if you have a tumor wrapped around an organ.

VMAT is a common form of radiation therapy used for prostate cancer, head and neck cancers, and lung cancers, among many others, including:

• Anal cancer
• Brain cancer
• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Lung cancer
• Nasopharyngeal cancer
• Oropharyngeal cancer
• Many others.

What type of radiation does VMAT use?

Volumetric modulated arc therapy uses photons (X-rays) generated by a medical linear accelerator. This machine is called a LINAC. The machine aims small beams of varying intensities at a tumor as it rotates around you.

Procedure Details

How does VMAT work?

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivers the maximum radiation dose to the cancerous tumor without exposing healthy tissue to harmful radiation levels. As the machine rotates around you, it continually adjusts the shape and strength of the radiation beams directed toward the tumor. High doses of radiation reach the tumor and destroy cancer cell DNA, causing these cells to die.

What happens before VMAT?

Treatment planning is an essential part of VMAT. As part of your diagnosis, your cancer care team generates 3D images (usually using CT scans or MRI and/or PET scans) of your body. They use these images to identify the tumor and nearby organs that need to be protected from the radiation. They determine the radiation dose required to destroy the tumor.

During a planning or mapping session called simulation, or “sim,” your care team will position you on a treatment couch. They’ll line you up in relation to the LINAC machine so that the radiation will strike your tumor at the precise location once it’s time for your treatment session. You may receive:

• Temporary or permanent markings (like a small tattoo) on your body that show the tumor’s location.
• Special accessories like a mold or mask that hold your body in place during treatment sessions.

Sim may take place during a single session. Or it may take a few visits for your care team to design radiation beams that conform to your tumor’s shape and location exactly. VMAT radiation beams can be as small as 2.5 x 5 millimeters, roughly the size of a pencil tip.

What happens during VMAT?

A healthcare provider called a radiation therapist will position you as you were during the mapping session (or simulation). They’ll operate the LINAC machine from a separate room. You’ll be able to communicate via a two-way microphone.

During the treatment session, the machine will rotate slowly around you. As it moves, radiation beams of varying shapes and dose intensities target your tumor. You won’t feel the beams. The radiation therapist will monitor your treatment in real-time to ensure you’re receiving the right amount of radiation in the right spots.

This precise delivery method usually only requires a rotation or two per treatment session for you to receive a full radiation dose.

How long does VMAT treatment take?

Treatment sessions take about 20 minutes. Most of that time will involve the radiation therapist positioning you for treatment. It takes approximately two minutes for the LINAC machine to deliver the radiation.

Depending on your diagnosis, you may need daily VMAT treatment sessions for several weeks. Ask your oncologist about your treatment schedule.

What happens after VMAT?

You’ll be able to leave the treatment facility that same day and resume your regular schedule.

Risks / Benefits

What are the advantages of VMAT?

The main advantages of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) are precision and speed.

• Precision: VMAT focuses the radiation on the tumor while sparing healthy tissue.
• Speed: Each VMAT treatment takes around two minutes — often less. Faster treatments improve the accuracy of radiation delivery. They also reduce the time you have to lie still for treatment and take less time out of your day.

What are the side effects of VMAT radiation?

Because VMAT spares healthy tissue from harmful radiation, you’re less likely to experience cell damage. This leads to reduced side effects. Still, some cell damage is unavoidable. Most side effects following VMAT affect the part of your body that received direct radiation.

Side effects depend on the area that’s getting treated and may include:

• Fatigue (most common).
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Hair loss
• Skin irritation (itching, dryness, redness, swelling or peeling skin).

Recovery and Outlook

What is the recovery time?

Everyone’s experience is different. You may experience side effects and feel better shortly after treatment ends or you may need a few months to recover completely.

Ask your oncologist what to expect based on your health and treatment plan.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

You’ll need follow-up appointments to check on your progress after VMAT. Keep all scheduled appointments. Come prepared to ask questions about your treatment response and report any symptoms or side effects you’re experiencing.

Additional Common Questions

What is the difference between VMAT and IMRT?

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a type of IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy). Both treatments destroy tumors by sending customized doses of radiation that kill cancer cells without exposing healthy tissue to harmful radiation levels. The biggest difference is that while VMAT uses a machine that rotates continuously around you to send the beams, IMRT doesn’t.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a newer form of radiation therapy that customizes radiation treatment to target tumors without exposing healthy tissue to harmful radiation. Members of your cancer care team work hard behind the scenes to design multiple energy beams that target your tumor precisely. Although you’ll likely need multiple treatment sessions, the actual treatment time is quick. It only takes a few rotations of the machine (a few minutes) to deliver the optimal radiation dose to kill cancer cells.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs