Preservative used in popular foods may harm immune system

A food preservative used to prolong the shelf life of Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats, Cheez-Its and almost 1,250 other popular processed foods may harm the immune system, a new study suggests.

The findings showed that the preservative tert-butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, has been found to harm the immune system both in both animal tests and in non-animal tests known as high-throughput in vitro toxicology testing.

TBHQ is a preservative that is pervasive in processed foods. It has been used in foods for many decades and serves no function besides increasing a product’s shelf life.

Using new non-animal test results, the team found that TBHQ affected immune cell proteins at doses similar to those that cause harm in traditional studies.

“The pandemic has focused public and scientific attention on environmental factors that can impact the immune system,” said researcher Olga Naidenko from US-based Environmental Working Group.

“Before the pandemic, chemicals that may harm the immune system’s defense against infection or cancer did not receive sufficient attention from public health agencies. To protect public health, this must change,” Naidenko added.

For the study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the researchers used data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxicity Forecaster, or ToxCast, to assess the health hazards of the most common chemicals added to food, as well as the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, which can migrate to food from packaging.

They analyzed all publicly available studies that show how PFAS migrate to food from packaging materials or processing equipment.

Earlier studies have found that TBHQ might influence how well flu vaccines work and may be linked to a rise in food allergies.

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

 

Coronavirus can harm your body even if you’re asymptomatic

• Asymptomatic patients can spread the coronavirus, several studies have shown. The SARS-CoV-2 virus multiplies within and can harm the body of a person who has been infected, even if no signs of the disease are visible.
• While patients might be unaware they’ve been infected, bloodwork and CT scans could provide proof that the body is fighting off an infection.
• The studies have shown that CT changes consistent with COVID-19 pneumonia can be observed in asymptomatic patients, as well as mild damage to the immune system.

---

One of the worst things about the way the novel coronavirus spreads is that a portion of the people who get the disease do not develop symptoms that would prompt them to get tested, seek advice, and stay in isolation. World Health Organization (WHO) officials fumbled remarks about asymptomatic patients a few days ago, having to walk back claims that they’re not contagious. That’s the kind of statement that could make matters worse. Thankfully, the WHO corrected its guidance, and other experts chimed in, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who made it clear that asymptomatic patients are very much infectious.

It’s important to also note that people who contract the novel coronavirus but don’t show any visible signs do develop an infection. The virus does spread inside the body, and harms it in the process, even if that person can’t tell that anything is wrong. Various studies looked at health parameters of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 and found evidence in blood-work and CT scans that the body of asymptomatic patients still fights the infection.

Researchers from Wuhan, China, published a paper comparing the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 symptoms and without. The scientists found that asymptomatics fared better than people showing evident signs of the infection, but testing showed that there was still damage done to their bodies:

Our finding of less consumption of CD4+T lymphocyte in asymptomatic infections suggests that damage to the immune system in asymptomatic infections was milder compared with symptomatic infections. Although patients who were asymptomatic experienced less harm to themselves, they may have been unaware of their disease and therefore not isolated themselves or sought treatment, or they may have been overlooked by health care workers and thus unknowingly transmitted the virus to others. 

The study noted that asymptomatic patients had a lower proportion of liver injuries than symptomatics and showed faster lung recovery in CT scans. That means the lungs in asymptomatic patients are fighting off the infections themselves. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is replicating inside their lungs to a certain degree. Even if they don’t experience coughing or have trouble breathing, CT scans would still be able to pinpoint where the virus may be multiplying.

Separately, researchers from Honk Kong published a study  a few days ago that focused on virus shedding (transmission) and seroconversion (the appearance of antibodies) of patients who were infected aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

They also found that asymptomatic patients will develop lung injuries consistent with a COVID-19 infection, including ground glass changes in high-resolution CT scans ”consistent with interstitial pneumonia.” The researchers concluded the asymptomatic patients could carry the virus:

Despite the positive clinical findings, six of the nine patients remained asymptomatic throughout the 14-day quarantine after leaving the ship (ratio of symptomatic to asymptomatic patients 1:2). If the cruise ship epidemic is a microcosm of the community outbreak scenario, then individuals with or without pneumonia could carry the virus for a long period but remain asymptomatic.

 Asymptomatic patients with few or no comorbidities could spread the disease, whereas symptomatic patients represent only a small, but visible, proportion of total cases.[…] Transmission from asymptomatic individuals could explain in part the rapid increases in numbers of new cases in high-incidence countries such as the USA, Russia, the UK, Brazil, and European nations.

Finally, a third study that was also published, looked at the clinical characteristics of 104 people infected with the novel coronavirus aboard the same cruise ship. 33 were asymptomatic throughout the observation period. Ten others were believed to be asymptomatic initially but started showing signs during observation.

The purpose of the study was to identify signs that could help scientists predict cases that would worsen. The Japanese researchers also found that 52% of asymptomatic patients developed various patterns of abnormal lung findings in CT scans, consistent with COVID-19. The doctors concluded that “chest CT might also be a useful diagnostic tool for asymptomatic and symptomatic people with SARS-CoV-2 infection.” The patients did not develop severe pneumonia, however.

The researchers noted increased LDH concentration in the serum in asymptomatic patients who eventually developed symptoms compared to the 33 who stayed asymptomatic throughout the study. “Our results indicate that increased LDH concentrations might also reflect lung tissue damage by COVID-19 and might be considered a predictor of symptomatic illness among people infected with SARS-CoV-2,” they said.

Also, they noted that 27% of asymptomatic patients developed lymphocytopenia, a drop in lymphocytes consistent with the Wuhan research. That’s to say, the immune system of asymptomatics can be affected after infection with the novel virus, even though they don’t develop any clear signs of the disease. “Comparing the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines between patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 might help to understand the mechanism of lymphopenia,” the researchers wrote. A different study from the UK revealed a few weeks ago that a low lymphocyte count could be indicative of severe  COVID-19.

All three studies indicate that people who do not manifest any of the known COVID-19 symptoms, but have been infected, do experience the disease without knowing. The virus will spread to the lungs, it will multiply, and it will affect the immune system. And these patients could infect other people, which is why social distancing and face mask use is so important during the pandemic.

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

Avoid high protein diets

 An actor was on a protein-heavy diet in order to get the body of an athlete. Many actors follow similar diets to bulk up for a particular role.

However, according, to new studies from the Netherlands and Korea, published online in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, a high-protein diet may harm kidney function, and this is why doctors recommend kidney patients a low-protein diet. The high-protein culture (Atkins, Zone, South Beach, and Ketogenic diets) involve daily protein intake of 20% to 25% or more of the total daily energy intake.

Without protein, our bodies would be unable to heal from injury, stop bleeding or fight infection. That’s why eating protein is so important to staying healthy. “The average person needs between 40 to 65 grams of protein each day,” says a Senior Consultant Nephrologists & Transplant Physician,  and adds, “Ideal protein for chronic kidney disease patients who are not on dialysis is 0.6 -0.8 grams and for Dailysis dependent patients is 1.2 grams.”

When protein is ingested, protein waste products are created. Healthy kidneys have millions of nephrons that filter this waste. It’s then removed from the body in the urine.

Unhealthy kidneys lose the ability to remove protein waste and it starts to build up in the blood. “Those with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) will benefit with a low protein diet, as low as 0.8 grams per kg body weight. It has been now found that a vegetarian source of protein is better than animal sources in CKD,” says  Sr. Consultant – Nephrologist & Complex Kidney Transplant Expert.

Protein and the stages of CKD

The five stages of CKD are defined by the glomerularfiltration rate (GFR), a measure of how well your kidneys are functioning. “Although stage four indicates a severe decrease in kidney function, you’re still able to live without dialysis.

Because there’s no cure for kidney disease, the primary focus is keeping you nourished and reducing protein waste build up. Excess protein waste can cause nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, taste changes and itching. If you’re in stages 1, 2, or 3, your protein intake may be limited to 12 to15 percent of your calorie intake each day. This is the same level recommended by the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for a healthy diet for normal adults. If you’re in stage 4 of CKD, your dietitian may advise you to reduce protein to 10.percent of daily calorie intake,” says a Dr.

Are some proteins better than others?

High protein foods like meat, milk and eggs can be high in fat and cholesterol. “If you have high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease, your doctor and dietitian may recommend eating more heart-friendly proteins. Good choices include fish, chicken breast, and low-fat soy products as well as low-fat dairy products.

Phosphorus is a mineral that builds up in the blood as kidney failure progresses. You may be advised to reduce high protein foods that are high in phosphorus, if your level goes above normal. Milk, yogurt, cheese, dried beans and peas, nuts and seeds, peanut butter and some soy products are high in protein and phosphorus,” says the Dr.

How is protein managed?

To make sure one is getting the right amount of protein, Dr. says, “Speak with your  dietitian to get specific guidelines regarding your protein intake. This number will depend on your CKD stage, lab results, body size and other health conditions. If you’re prescribed a low protein diet, your portions of protein containing foods will be smaller than usual.”

If not protein, then what?

Although diet may be limited in high protein foods, one can still eat a variety of foods, such as eggs, milk, meat, poultry, fish,fruits, vegetables and grains. “Eating adequate calories is important to prevent muscle breakdown and weight loss. It is advised to eat more healthy fats, such as olive oil, or take supplements to help  get enough calories,” says Dr.

Doctors also have concerns about the long-term effects of maintaining a high protein diet. “One should have have a balanced diet consisting of carbohydrates, fat and proteins. Restrict supplemental proteins and minimum intake is 0.8 gm to maximum 1.2 gm per day. It is proved beyond doubt that vegetable proteins are safe and has more advantages,” says a lead consultant.

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     

E-cigarettes can harm fertility in young women

Researchers have found that e-cigarette usage may impair fertility and pregnancy outcomes in young women.

Many young and pregnant women are using e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking, but little is known about its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcomes.

“We found that e-cigarette usage prior to conception significantly delayed implantation of a fertilized embryo to the uterus, thus delaying and reducing fertility (in mice),” said study author.

“We also discovered that e-cigarette usage throughout pregnancy changed the long-term health and metabolism of female offspring – imparting lifelong, second-generation effects on the growing foetus,” she added.
 
For the study, the researchers used a mouse model to examine whether e-cigarette exposure impairs fertility and offspring health.

After exposure to e-cigarette vapour, female mice showed decreased embryo implantation and a significant delay in the onset of pregnancy.

Female offspring exposed to e-cigarettes in utero also failed to gain as much weight as those of control mice.

“These findings are important because they change our views on the perceived safety of e-cigarettes as alternatives to traditional cigarettes before and during pregnancy,” the author added.

E-cigarettes are driving increases in tobacco product use among youth, researchers noted.

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