This morning mistake can silently hike your BP, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol, Apollo doctor warns SECTIONS This morning mistake can silently hike your BP, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol, Apollo doctor warns

Skipping breakfast might feel like a harmless morning shortcut, but your body has other plans. According to Apollo neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, habitually missing the most important meal of the day can quietly impact your waistline, blood pressure, sugar levels, and cholesterol levels. But before you panic, there’s nuance: structured intermittent fasting isn’t the villain here. Timing, balance, and lifestyle play a starring role. Let’s unpack what the latest research really says and how your mornings could make --- or break--- your metabolic health.

A meta-analysis in Nutrients, involving over 118,000 people, found that those who regularly skipped breakfast had a higher likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions including obesity, high blood pressure, raised blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol. The risk increase ranged from 10% to 30%, depending on the specific factor.

It’s important to note that the study only shows an association, not a direct cause-and-effect link. Researchers suggest that a balanced breakfast could offer some protection against long-term metabolic issues.

However, the risk mainly applies to people who skip breakfast in an unstructured way, often combined with poor sleep, low physical activity, or erratic eating patterns. Those practising planned intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating, with quality meals, may not face the same risks. A study published in the National Library of Medicine highlights research from the US and Japan showing that skipping breakfast is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as an increased risk of death from all causes.

For intermittent fasting followers using an 8-hour window, eating earlier in the day—say, 8 am to 4 pm—appears slightly better for metabolism. Early meals align with higher insulin sensitivity and circadian rhythm, allowing your body to process food more efficiently. According to Dr Sudhir Kumar, habitual breakfast skipping is linked to higher metabolic risk. He further pointed out that structured intermittent fasting isn’t automatically harmful, and when practising Intermittent Fasting (IF), it's best to prioritise an earlier eating window. Balanced meals, consistent sleep, and regular exercise remain essential.

 

 

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

Skipping breakfast might feel like a harmless morning shortcut, but your body has other plans. According to Apollo neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, habitually missing the most important meal of the day can quietly impact your waistline, blood pressure, sugar levels, and cholesterol levels. But before you panic, there’s nuance: structured intermittent fasting isn’t the villain here. Timing, balance, and lifestyle play a starring role. Let’s unpack what the latest research really says and how your mor ..

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/this-morning-mistake-can-silently-hike-your-bp-weight-blood-sugar-and-cholesterol-apollo-doctor-warns/articleshow/124738706.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

How Garlic Keeps Your Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Low

Adding some garlic to your diet has been found to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. A new meta-analysis, a research approach that combines data from many studies, revealed favorable findings on garlic intake.

Researchers from Southeast University and Xizang Minzu University in China examined 22 previous studies, which included 29 randomized controlled trials. Their findings suggest that frequent garlic consumption may be linked to lower blood sugar levels and lower amounts of certain cholesterol types.

Blood sugar and blood lipids, primarily glucose and cholesterol, are essential elements for human health. Glucose is the body's major source of energy, whereas lipids are the building blocks for cell membranes and hormones. However, modern dietary habits can contribute to an imbalance in these essential components, leading to an increased risk of various health issues. Furthermore, lifestyle choices other than diet can significantly affect blood sugar and cholesterol levels, such as alcohol consumption and exercise patterns.

Glucose and lipid metabolisms are meticulously controlled in healthy individuals, as noted by the researchers in their published paper. "Disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism can lead to a number of chronic diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetes and fatty liver disease," they add. 

 

Garlic has a long history of being associated with good health. Previous research, albeit conducted in isolation, suggested that it may have a role in regulating blood lipids and glucose levels. This new study builds upon this existing body of evidence. 

 

Analysis of the cumulative studies validated the benefits of garlic consumption. Individuals who incorporated garlic into their diet had significantly lower blood glucose levels, indicating better long-term control. They also saw an increase in HDL (good) cholesterol, a drop in LDL (dangerous) cholesterol, and a reduction in total cholesterol levels.

Interestingly, triglyceride levels did not appear to be considerably affected. However, it is important to acknowledge that the current evidence cannot conclusively prove a cause-and-effect connection. In other words, we can't say for certain that eating more garlic lowers the risk of heart disease. 

 

However, the association strongly suggests that including garlic in our diets might be a delicious way to manage glucose and cholesterol levels. Further research with more focused studies is needed to explain the precise mechanisms at play. The studies included in the meta-analysis used various types of garlic, such as fresh cloves, aged extracts, and powdered pills, with durations ranging from three weeks to a year. 

 

"The results showed that garlic has a beneficial effect on blood glucose and blood lipid in humans, and their association was statistically significant," write the researchers. 

 

The association between garlic consumption and improved cardiovascular health and blood sugar control is believed to be a result of the combined action of various active ingredients present in garlic. One important role is to reduce oxidative stress, which causes cellular damage and can lead to conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

Garlic also contains alliin, an antioxidant molecule associated with blood glucose, blood lipids, and the gut flora. The combined impact of these processes is likely responsible for the favorable results seen in the study.

The importance of diet in influencing health outcomes, both positive and negative, is undeniable. This new study provides further reasons to incorporate garlic into our diets.

 

“[The study] provides new ideas for the development of natural products against diseases related to glycolipid metabolism,” write the researchers. 

 

The research has been published in Nutrients.

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://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for infor on cancer and health related topics
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs. I'm going to add posts there, do give me your valuable feed back on my blogs. Thanks a lot, take care, be healthy and be happy.

From BP to BMI, these 5 numbers determine your heart health

Heart diseases claim millions of lives annually worldwide

The heart is one of the most delicate organs of the body and is associated with the highest risk. Very often we come across terms like heart attack, cardiac arrest, blockage, cardiac attack and similar terms.

​We love from the heart, but we neglect it the most!

Heart is the most talked about human body organ. Be it literature, poetry, a narration or a tale, we do talk about our heart, but when it comes to taking care of it we either lack proper knowledge or else ignore it completely.

Heart is the organ that keeps the body running. Without a healthy heart, it is almost impossible for a human body to function properly.

So if we can love from the heart, we should love the heart too!

Blood pressure

Among the 5 vital numbers which determine heart health, the first ranker is the blood pressure number. Medically, blood pressure is the force of the blood against the arteries. A typical blood pressure number comprises a systolic number and a diastolic number. Depending on the blood pressure of an individual it can be determined whether the person is having a high blood pressure or a lower blood pressure. The normal blood pressure is 120/80.

A blood pressure more than the normal range is considered to be lethal for the heart. It poses a greater risk for the heart as such high blood pressure puts a strain on the heart and the arteries while pumping the blood. This may weaken the heart in due course of time.

​Body mass index

Yes, the weight and body mass index of an individual is directly related to heart health. This is the reason why health experts always advise us to keep a check on our weight and not let it cross the threshold.

A body mass index of more than 25 is considered to be overweight and needs to be brought under control in order to ensure a normal heart health.

 

​Blood sugar level

You wonder how blood sugar level affects your heart? High blood sugar level damages the blood vessel and the specific nerves which help in the functioning of the heart.

Due to high blood sugar level a patient is also likely to develop conditions like high blood pressure which further elevates the risk for heart.

​Cholesterol level

By now, you must have understood how important it is to know the cholesterol level when it comes to heart health. A high cholesterol level will narrow down the passage of blood thus leading to high blood pressure. In due course of time, the fats will accumulate and clog the blood vessels posing a potential threat to the heart health.

​Number of hours you sleep

Sleep is directly related to the heart. The number of hours you sleep is actually the time when your heart is taken care of properly. An adult should sleep for 8 hours in a day. So do not engage in other activities during bed time and make sure to create an ambience for sleeping.

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