Immune cells rewire, repair brain while we sleep

Researchers have found that immune cells called microglia, which play an important role in reorganising the connections between nerve cells, fighting infections, and repairing damage, are also primarily active while we sleep.

Microglia serve as the brain’s first responders, patrolling the brain and spinal cord and springing into action to stamp out infections or gobble up debris from dead cell tissue.

“This research shows that the signals in our brain that modulate the sleep and awake state also act as a switch that turns the immune system off and on,” said study lead author Ania Majewska, Professor at University of Rochester in the US.

In previous studies, Majewska’s lab has shown how microglia interact with synapses, the juncture where the axons of one neuron connects and communicates with its neighbours.

The microglia help maintain the health and function of the synapses and prune connections between nerve cells when they are no longer necessary for brain function.

For the findings, researchers conducted the study on mice.

The current study points to the role of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that signals arousal and stress in the central nervous system.

This chemical is present in low levels in the brain while we sleep, but when production ramps up it arouses our nerve cells, causing us to wake up and become alert.

The study showed that norepinephrine also acts on a specific receptor, the beta2 adrenergic receptor, which is expressed at high levels in microglia.

When this chemical is present in the brain, the microglia slip into a sort of hibernation.

The study, which employed an advanced imaging technology that allows researchers to observe activity in the living brain, showed that when mice were exposed to high levels of norepinephrine, the microglia became inactive and were unable to respond to local injuries and pulled back from their role in rewiring brain networks.

“This work suggests that the enhanced remodeling of neural circuits and repair of lesions during sleep may be mediated in part by the ability of microglia to dynamically interact with the brain,” said the study's first author.

“Altogether, this research also shows that microglia are exquisitely sensitive to signals that modulate brain function and that microglial dynamics and functions are modulated by the behavioural state of the animal,” the first author said.

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Quitting Alcohol, will make you happy

Quitting alcohol can have numerous benefits on your physical health but it is now found that it can have positive effects on your mental health also. A study that was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal stated that quitting alcohol may have mental benefits. For the study a mix of non-drinkers and moderate drinkers was taken as a sample. Their mental and physical well-being were measured by scoring them on a scale of 0 to 100 and followed up to a four-year period. The results of the study showed that during the beginning of the study the highest level of mental well-being was among men and women who were lifetime abstainers. The results also showed that women who were moderate drinkers and had quit drinking during the study experienced improvements in mental well being. Their levels of mental well- being were found to be very close to the levels of lifetime abstainers. Putting down that glass can have more than just mental health benefits. They will lead to improvements in your physical health while ensuring fewer cardiovascular issues among others. So here are some health benefits that you can reap if you say no to alcohol.

Improvement in sleep: Drinking alcohol can disrupt your circadian rhythms and mess with your REM sleeping phase. Quitting it can improve your quality of sleep by ensuring a calm nervous system.

Glowing skin: Alcohol can dehydrate you and make your skin cells lose its lustre. Saying no to alcohol can help your skin get better.

Social confidence: If you are somebody who depends on alcohol at social gatherings, quitting can help you enjoy the company of the people around you in a much better way. You will be able to connect with them better and face the world with heightened confidence.

Enhanced fitness levels: Alcohol can affect your hydration, motor skills and even muscle recovery. Quitting can help you attain your desired body composition and better your muscle recovery process.

Elevated energy and uplifted mood: Consumption of alcohol affects the supply of vitamin B in your body. This vitamin sustains your energy levels. Ditching alcohol improves vitamin B levels which can rev up your energy quotient and also better your mood.

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Research unveils how dietary interventions can significantly enhance cancer treatment

Diet is already a key part of managing diseases like diabetes and hypertension, but new research adds to a growing body of evidence that it could help cancer treatment too. The study found restricting intake of an amino acid found in red meat and eggs significantly enhanced cancer treatment in mice, slowing tumour growth.

"These are very strong effects, and they are effects that are as strong as we would see with drugs that work," said the lead researcher.

"What this study is showing is that there are many situations where a drug by itself doesn't work, but if you combine the drug with the diet, it works. Or the radiation therapy doesn't work well, but if you combine... with the diet, it works well," he told.

The study focused on restricting intake of the amino acid methionine, which is key to a process called one-carbon metabolism that helps cancer cells grow. Methionine restriction has already been associated with both anti-aging and weight loss, but its importance to cancerous cells suggested it could also be a promising way to enhance cancer treatment.

The researchers first tested methionine restriction in healthy mice to confirm it was having the desired effects on metabolism and then moved to testing it in mice with colorectal cancer and soft tissue tumours known as sarcomas.

They found that a low dose of chemotherapy, which on its own had no effect on colorectal cancer, led to "marked inhibition of tumour growth" when combined with methionine restriction. Similarly, combining methionine restriction with radiation therapy in the case of the soft tissue sarcoma reduced tumour growth.

"You're starving the cancer cells of certain nutrients, at a very basic level," explained the researcher. He cautioned that the results should not be extrapolated beyond the cancers tested so far, and that the research was far from being tested in humans.

"This is certainly not a be-all, end-all to cancer. This is not some panacea," he said. Independent experts also warned against reading too much into the study just yet.

"Before drawing any conclusions about the potential for dietary restriction as an approach to treating cancer, human studies are needed," said  a professor of Cancer Epidemiology.

The researchers extended the research by testing a methionine-restricted diet in six healthy humans, and found that the effect on human metabolism appeared similar to that seen in mice. That suggests that the diet could have a similar effect on certain tumours in humans, though he warned it was far too early to draw any definitive conclusions.

And a professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics, warned that "there is no evidence from this study to suggest following a vegan diet will help patients with cancer." The Prof. said he hoped to eventually test the research in humans with cancer, but noted that nutrition research often struggles for funding because it proposes treatments that are not obviously profitable.

Still, he said the work adds to a body of research that suggests diet may play an important role in cancer treatment. Last year, a study showed one type of chemotherapy drug was more effective in combination with a diet low in sugar and high in protein and fat. Other cancers appear to be better combated in combination with low-sugar diets alone.

"Research like this can lead to studies in people," said a professor of cancer medicine and oncology. "How dietary interventions influence cancer... is likely to be really important in years to come."

The researcher agreed, calling the field a "really exciting area right now... where we're seeing that diet has a huge effect on human health." He hopes for a future where doctors will eventually be able to advise cancer patients to follow specific diets to assist their treatment. "We're not there yet, but the goal is to eventually get there."

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5 Powerful Benefits Of Garlic Tea

Garlic has been popular for its medicinal properties. For years it has been used for adding flavor to food, and for treating digestive distress. Besides this, garlic is known for its abilities to fight infections and controlling blood pressure. Now you can add grated or diced garlic to your food, but there's another way of including garlic in your diet. You can drink garlic tea. Yes, drinking garlic tea every day is another great way of making the most of its benefits.
For preparation, here's what you need to do.

• Boil a glass of water
• Add a few chopped or minced garlic cloves to it
• You can also add some grated ginger to it
• Now let it cook for 20 minutes
• Turn off the heat and rest it for 10 minutes
• Now strain this drink, add some honey and lemon juice to it to enhance the flavor

Adding lemon and ginger prevents bad breath so you can enjoy this beverage without the fear of developing an unpleasant odor. Drink it every morning on an empty stomach to make the most of its health benefits.
Here's a list of the 5 most powerful health benefits of drinking garlic tea every morning. Take a look.
1. Weight loss
This refreshing beverage is a great way of losing weight. Garlic tea dissolves extra fat from all parts of your body. Besides this, garlic tea has metabolism-boosting properties. This induces passive weight loss and suppresses your appetite as well. Drink this tea first thing in the morning to make the most of its weight loss benefits.
2. Improved heart health
Garlic is known for its benefits in controlling cholesterol. Drinking garlic tea every morning improves blood circulation and lowers bad cholesterol levels as well. This way, it prevents plaque from blocking your arteries, thereby lowering the risk of heart diseases. Multiple studies have linked the properties of garlic with lower blood pressure. It also lowers serum cholesterol levels. This way, it lowers the risk of heart diseases.
3. Improved respiratory system
Respiratory ailments can be treated with the help of garlic tea. This beverage has the properties of curing a cold, cough, fever and congestion. Just one cup of garlic tea is good enough for clearing congestion and reducing inflammation in the respiratory tracts. It fosters the healing process and removes underlying bacteria, thereby treating respiratory infections.
4. Natural antibiotic property
Why take pop antibiotics each time a small infection hits you? Those annoying bacterial infections can be treated easily with the help of garlic tea. The natural antibiotic properties of garlic were recognized in the ancient years when Greek soldiers drank it to cure infections.5. Boosts immunity
Garlic is packed with anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. One such property is allicin. This compound gives an additional boost to your immune system and helps it fight infections in a better way. You can get the most of its benefits by ingested garlic with your food.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       

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Fermented Food Is Healthier Than You Think

Fermentation is a process as old as cellular activity. This chemical process involves the consumption of carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen to create organic acids, gases or alcohol, depending on the type of sugar.
And this process is widely used in our food as well and as per archaeological findings, has been in use for 7,000 years.

And what country has a long history of people and food? Why India, of course. And India has an exquisite cuisine that involves fermentation.

From the south to the north, Indian cuisine sees fermentation in foods from idlis, dosas, rotis among others! And who can blame, fermentation gives a unique taste to the food and also aids in preservation.
Not only that, fermentation has various health benefits that one cannot get from regular foods. One of the popular fermented food items is curd, which is known to add good bacteria to the gut. That good bacteria arises out of fermentation.

It also adds micronutrients, especially vitamin B and eliminates anti-nutrients like phytic acid which interferes with the body’s process of absorbing nutrients.

With this rich history in fermentation and such inevitable benefits, we decided to look into exotic Indian dishes that you can make involving fermentation.

AMBALI

Ambali is a finger millet or ragi-based fermented semi-liquid beverage, native to the south Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Preparation of ambali is quite easy. Few grams of the powder mixed with hot water stirred till the required texture should be let to ferment for a while.

There are different variations of ambali where a few are consumed without fermentation, a few add buttermilk, and some add onions and chillies.

No matter what, ambali has its benefits. When it is let to ferment, it increases the concentration of thiamin, riboflavin, and tryptophan and bioavailability of minerals.
It also consists of a high amount of calcium and is also endothermic, meaning it cools the body and will be beneficial for consumption during hot Indian summers!

ENDURI PITHA

Enduri pitha is a flavoured cake, native to Odisha, prepared during the Prathamastami festival. A fermented batter of parboiled rice and black gram is applied onto a turmeric leaf. The leaf is then folded mid-vain and cooked gently over the steam.
Not only do the turmeric leaves have beneficial antibiotic properties, but the fermentation enhances the nutritional quality of the black gram and rice.

And since it is steamed, the food is very light to the digestive process and hence can be consumed by members of all ages.

DHOKLA

Dhokla is an indigenous probiotic breakfast food found mainly in Gujarat. Dhokla is prepared from the fermentation of Bengal gram and rice.

The method of preparation is the same as idli, but it is steamed openly rather than covered. The fermentation aids in the acidity and gives it a unique taste. And the yeast in it produces folic acid which is a major source of Vitamin B9.

Here, the fermentation process also increases the antioxidant property of the food which is known for curing age-related diseases and oxidative stress-induced degenerative diseases like diabetes!

HAWAIJAR

Hawaijar is an alkaline-fermented soybean product consumed as a source of protein, native to Manipur. The dish is characterised by its unique flavour and stickiness.

The dish has a natural cocktail of microorganisms which promote fermentation. One of the main organisms involved in the fermentation of this product is Bacillus spp, which regulates inflammation in the body.
Preparation of hawaijar uses bamboo baskets, banana leaves, or healthy fig leaves which help in fermentation and result in a better quality of the product. Hawaijar consists of a high percentage of soluble proteins, ranging from 26% to 27%.

Although the dish hails from Nepal, it is widely found throughout the North-Eastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Gundruk is simply fermented leafy veggies, commonly used as an accompanying dish.
A side dish, Gundruk is not meant to be underestimated. The leaves in the recipe come from mustard, mustard green, radish and cauliflower, which are accumulated in large quantities during harvest region. These leaves are allowed to wilt and then shredded, after which they are compressed, packed, sprinkled with water and kept in sunlight.
Packed with calcium, sodium and potassium, Gundruk’s fermentation in sunlight allows good micro-organisms to thrive, which acts as a good source of acetic and lactic acid.
Pair this with white rice, and you will a have yourself a tasteful lunch.
Rice or rice flour is soaked overnight in cold water, and then water is decanted. Soaked rice is pounded using a wooden mortar and pestle. The rice is then mixed with wheat flour, sugar, butter, and condiments such as cloves, cardamom, coconut, nutmeg and cinnamon. 
So go ahead, try your hand at one of the ancient processes in the world and if you know any other such awesome dishes, do share them with us!

Another famous South Indian recipe is adai- there are 2 versions of this, one made with parboiled rice, coconut and peppercorns ground together, fermented and made like dosa, thicker, batter being thick, it is spread normally with wet hands.
2nd version - rice , with different dals- tuvar, chana, urad, masoor, peanuts, green chilies, ground fermented and made to make it healthier with drumstick leaves and curry leaves finely chopped. The former is loaded with calcium the latter leaves is rich in Vitamin E.

For the recipes of adai, then the earlier recipes mentioned, kindly view my recipe blog. 



THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       

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The Science Behind Healing With Sound

The Therapeutic Effect of Music

In the realm of healing techniques, sound work inhabits a curious space. It has been used for thousands of years—think of overtone chanting from Central Asia, for example—yet, it’s also on the frontiers of modern neuroscience.

Joshua Leeds, an expert in the field of psychoacoustics, the study of the effects of sound on the human nervous system, explains how sound works by:

--creating a frequency and vibration for someone that’s conducive for him or her to heal. Sound healing is trending up. It’s like where yoga was 15 years ago. People are realizing that sound is a viable medium to address distress, enhance learning, even work with an autistic child.

Brain-wave Entertainment

Much of the current work is based on the early 70s research of biophysicist Gerald Oster. Oster showed that when a tone is played in one ear and a slightly different tone is played in the other ear, the difference causes the brain to create a third, internal tone, called a binaural beat. The theory is that this syncs the brain waves in both hemispheres, a process dubbed “brain-wave entertainment”.

An another expert says: When the brain is in synchronicity, there’s more focus. Our sleep titles help drop you into the deep delta waves. Electrical activity in the brain gets slowed down.

Recovery from Serious Illness

Some of the products are designed to help people recover from a stroke or surgery, deal with chronic pain, or become more relaxed while undergoing chemotherapy.

You might envision the drugs as a love potion, rather than poison.

She describes it as creating a state where you can say, ‘This is coming into my body to heal me, not to do damage to me’.

The Synchronicity of Sound

Brain-wave entertainment isn’t without its skeptics, but some research supports it. In 2008, the journal published a review of 20 studies of brain-wave entertainment and patient outcomes. The conclusion was that brain-wave entertainment is an effective tool to use on cognitive functioning deficits, stress, pain, headaches, and premenstrual syndrome.
The studies also suggest that sound work can help with behavioral problems. Another expert says- 
Different brain-wave patterns affect emotions.

Raising the Vibration
His system uses sounds like rain and crystal bowls—there’s no beat or melody—with a pulsing tone underneath. He also uses custom affirmations, which people record in their own voices.

You’re practicing going into a brain-wave pattern. It causes the brain to organize at a more complex level. It takes what you can handle emotionally and intellectually and pushes it higher. I’m not claiming this cures cancer. But it does have a profound effect on people’s physical health. A lot of people come to us for chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis, things that are exacerbated by stress.

Music for Healing

Sound can increase immunity and treat insomnia, according to a Los Angeles-based sound healer. She says that:Most people come to me for stress and anxiety.

For woes like pulled muscles, colds, and headaches, she uses tuning forks on acupuncture points, and also combines gong performances with yoga classes.

I’ve seen back muscles that are spasming completely relax using this vibration. Recorded music is fine, but with live music you can feel it. The floor is vibrating. The sound waves are bouncing all over the place.

Elevating with Frequencies

Jeffrey Thompson, founder of the Center for Neuroacoustic Research, says different frequencies target the various densities in the body. He uses a vibroacoustic sound therapy table.

As the frequencies slow down, from 500 to 400 hertz (a hertz is one cycle per second), you feel it more in your muscles, then your joints, then in your bones. We can give a vibrational massage, down all the way to your cells. I can do cranial work with sound, work on organs. You’re finding frequencies to elevate the body’s cells to a super-healing state, rebuilding more tissue.

According to Leeds, the future of sound will be frequency medicine:
There’s more on sound science than ever before. We know what is happening molecularly. What we think of as sound healing will be called frequency medicine.


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