Brushing Your Teeth Is Good For Your Heart

How could your dental and heart health ever be connected? Well, according to new research conducted in England, there is a rather strong connection between the ways you care for your pearly whites and your chance of suffering a heart attack.

The study, conducted by the Scottish Health Survey, examined over 11,000 individuals of all ages to identify a possible correlation between dental and heart health. Along with information on their dental bill of health, the subjects were asked to provide information about their other lifestyle habits, such as smoking, physical activity, and health routines. 

 

Of the group, about 62 percent said they visited the dentist every six months, and another 71 percent said that they brushed their teeth twice a day. This information lead the researchers to conclude that those that admitted to brushing their teeth less frequently had an extra 70 percent risk of heart disease or heart attack.

"Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease," says Richard Watt DDS from the University College London. According to the researchers, the results of the study were not entirely surprising, but rather confirmation of a decade-long hypothesis on the connection between dental diseases and cardiovascular health. 

 

In yet another study conducted in the United States, it was found that as people's gum health decreased, so did the rate at which plaque built up in their arteries. This study showed that the chances of contracting a dangerous condition called atherosclerosis, or the narrowing of the arteries around the heart, decreased when subjects brushed their teeth and had a clean bill of gum and oral health.

But scientifically, how are gum disease and heart disease connected? The bacteria that develops in your mouth when you have gum disease contributes to atherosclerosis in that it adds to the level of inflammation of the arteries and triggering a biological reaction that narrows space these important passage ways. Once you have atherosclerosis, your chances mild to certain that you will experience a heart attack and possibly even stroke. 

 

So the next time you worry about your visit to the dentist, or need a reason to floss your teeth, remember that caring for your oral and gum health properly could dramatically decrease your chances of heart disease and other serious conditions. Make brushing and flossing a regular habit, and you are sure to be on the way to a heart-healthy and happy self!

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

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Here Is How Sugar Addiction May Lead To Depression

All of us feel a little blue at some point. When we are feeling a little extra down, though, a lot of us crave eating something sweet, don’t we? Having that candy, a bar of chocolate, an ice cream, or maybe even a little muffin does lift our spirits momentarily. While eating these sweets occasionally is fine, having too much sugar can have long-term implications on mood disorders.

Complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and grains have natural sugars that are healthy. However, it is also present in refined food items, such as cakes, pasta, baked goods, candy, and bread. While regular intake of sugar can lead to a variety of health issues, it has also been found to increase your risk of depression and mood disorders. Since the brain depends on an even supply of glucose, sugar’s involvement in aiding anxiety and depression isn’t altogether surprising.
Here we list some of the possible connections between sugar and depression.

1. The link between depression and refined carbohydrates

A study by Columbia Medical Center in 2015 noted that a diet high in refined carbohydrates may become a risk for depression, especially in postmenopausal women. Highly refined carbohydrates include items like white bread/pasta, white rice, crackers, cookies, and soda. These products increase blood sugar and may set off a hormonal response in the body to reduce blood sugar levels. These responses may also lead to changes in mood and cause fatigue.
Researchers also observed that a diet with a higher intake of dietary fiber, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit can lower the risk of depression for middle-age people. Thus, a healthy diet that is low in refined carbohydrates could well be a preventive measure for depressive episodes.

2. Sugar can be more addictive than cocaine

In a study that was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the authors mentioned that sugar could act as a gateway to alcohol and other addictive substances. They added that sugar is refined from plants to produce pure white crystals, much like stimulants, such as cocaine and opium. According to the researchers, this process significantly adds to sugar’s addictive properties.
“Consuming sugar produces effects similar to that of cocaine, altering mood, possibly through its ability to induce reward and pleasure, leading to the seeking out of sugar,” the study states.
Cassie Bjork, R.D., L.D., founder of Healthy Simple Life, further illustrates the point: “Sugar activates the opiate receptors in our brain and affects the reward center, which leads to compulsive behavior, despite the negative consequences like weight gain, headaches, hormone imbalances, and more.”

3. Too much sugar could increase depression risk in men

Recent research has indicated that men who consume more sugar run an increased risk of depression. Researchers from University College London (UCL) studied the sugar in the diet and common mental health problems of a large group of men and women. They discovered a greater link between consuming higher levels of sugar and depression in men. The study claims that men who consumed more than 67g of sugar a day had a 23% increased risk of suffering from a common mental disorder after 5 years than those who had less than 39.5g of sugar.
“This study is important because it is the first to be able to show that an increase in risk of about a quarter in common mental disorders – mostly mild anxiety and depression – in men who eat the most sugar cannot be explained by those who were already anxious or depressed using sugar as a form of comfort,” says Rob Howard, professor of old age psychiatry at UCL.
However, more studies are needed to confirm this theory.

4. Frequent consumption of commercial baked goods can increase the risk of depression

Various commercially prepared baked goods like muffins, doughnuts, croissants, and pastries may taste incredibly good but aren’t good for your mental health according to Spanish researchers. They found that participants who ate the most baked goods had a 38% higher risk of depression compared to those individuals who ate less baked goods.
Too much consumption of commercially prepared baked goods was never good for health anyway. Now that they may have a detrimental effect on depression risk, it is important to be cautious before having these products regularly. 

5. Depression, sugar, and inflammation

A diet that is high in refined carbs may promote inflammation. In fact, researchers at the University of Kansas found that inflammation was an essential physiological effect of dietary sugar intake.

“Added sugars have a profound effect on inflammatory processes within the body and brain, and inflammation may serve as a key mediator of sugar-induced depression onset,” says one of the researchers from the team.

Interestingly, many symptoms of inflammation are also common with depression, e.g. loss of appetite, changes in sleep patterns and heightened perceptions of pain. Furthermore, some studies have reported that inhibition of inflammatory pathways can improve mood. Thus, depression may very well be an elemental sign of inflammation-related issues. 

6. Sugar causes a serotonin crash

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a chemical produced by nerve cells and is found in three parts of the body — the brain, the lining of the digestive tract, and in blood platelets. It is a vital neurotransmitter known as the “happiness molecule” because of its key role in maintaining a positive mood.

When we are feeling low, we often tend to go for sugar and other processed carbs. This generally gives us a serotonin boost or basically helps lift our mood. However, that feeling is short-lived. For instance, candy and sweets, which are simple carbohydrates, will have the greatest impact on your serotonin, but that effect will only last one to two hours before it comes crashing down. This will eventually make you feel worse. Thus, reduced quantities or activity of serotonin in the brain may influence depression.

Do note that the above-mentioned theories are hypotheses and several more studies still need to be conducted to understand how sugar contributes to depression. That being said, it's possible to suggest that high-dose sugar intake can unsettle various metabolic, inflammatory, and neurobiological processes and many of these effects are of particular significance to the onset of depressive illness. Whatever may be the case, it is always good to be careful about your sugar intake for a healthy lifestyle. 


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

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Is Skipping Breakfast Bad? Here’s Why a Doctor Says You Should Not

What did you eat for breakfast today? Is one of the most common question that many people ask.

My mother and I agree to disagree on many subjects, and the pros and cons of eating a good hearty breakfast is one of them. After yet another heated discussion on this topic, we decided that the best resolution would be to get an expert’s opinion on the matter.

Use these gluten-free rolled oats to make granola, overnight oats or simply, cook them in milk for a super healthy and filling breakfast!

So, here is  a Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator  who helps put this argument to rest once and for all.

What is breakfast?

Derived from the phrase ‘breaking the fast,’ breakfast literally means the first meal of the day. Given that during our sleep at night, the body does not get any food, it remains in a state of fasting.

Most of us believe that it is crucial to eat a good breakfast because it helps the body and mind replenish itself after a period of rest. But is that true?

“We often hear that we should eat breakfast like a king and dine like a pauper. But research now is questioning this. With the rising popularity of fasting diets and the claims that these fasting diets make, our old theory of eating a good breakfast seems to be under a lot of scrutiny.”

What is Dr.’s view?
Dr. says, “I always advocate the importance of eating a good and wholesome breakfast. One must never skip it,” she says. Explaining further, she mentions the following points:

1. Skipping breakfast will lead to a decrease in metabolism

Dr Batra says, “Eating a good breakfast helps increase the metabolism. It’s often thought that if you don’t eat breakfast and fast for long hours, your body goes into a phase of scarcity and starts depositing more fats. In fact, many studies say that if you have some food within half an hour of waking up, it kick-starts the metabolism and even aids in weight loss.”

2. Skipping breakfast will lead you to over-eat

Dr. explains, “If you have a hearty and nutritious breakfast the chances of overeating later in the day are less, and again that, in turn, will help you in controlling your weight.”

Begin your day with a combination of whole grains and proteins with or without dairy. Remember that protein is really significant to keep you full for longer and avoiding cravings later during the day.

“An ideal breakfast would be stuffed paneer onion chapatti with mint chutney/curd or an egg omelette with veggies and one open sandwich or a cheela (pancake) made out of besan/moong dal along with a glass of milk,” she mentions.

If you want to a variety in our breakfast, you could also make whole-wheat pancakes with chopped fruits or grilled chicken sandwiches. Another breakfast dish very popular in the West is called overnight oats, which is made out of oats, yogurt, almond milk (or regular milk), and superfoods like chia seeds and nuts etc.

3. Skipping breakfast might lead to a spike/dip in blood sugars

“A recent research shows that those who have diabetes, even if they don’t overeat at lunch or/and dinner after skipping the first meal of the day, it causes major damages to the beta cell functions (cells that releases insulin),” says Dr.

Therefore it becomes even more imperative for those who have diabetes to have a good healthy breakfast.

She goes on to say that research shows that our body uses energy at night for growth and repair. So, eating a good breakfast helps and is essential to keep the energy levels pepped up.
What about the diets that promote fasting, especially the ones that encourage Intermittent Fasting (IF)?

Explaining this, Dr. says, “Carbs are broken down into glucose, which is then utilised for energy. If we don’t use all of this glucose (a form of sugar), it is stored within the body in the form of fats. Insulin (a hormone that the pancreas makes) ensures sugars enter cells to be utilised as energy and also pushes sugar into our fats cells and keeps it there. If we give long gaps between meals, as in intermittent fasting, our insulin levels go down, and our fat cells release their stored sugar to be used as energy. So, basically, we do lose weight.”

So, does this mean that skipping breakfast is a good idea?

The answer is NO.

Dr. clarifies, “If you are skipping your breakfast and have had an early dinner, that would still be alright for the body. However, a late dinner combined with no breakfast isn’t a good idea as it can lead to gastric issues leading to regurgitation and acid reflux and can even lead to even more weight gain.”

Dr. emphatically says that those who have diabetes or have a predisposition to developing diabetes must not skip breakfast at all.

In conclusion, she says, “I have personally seen many clients developing very high cholesterol levels after having followed these kinds of fasting based diets. The bottom line is that if you want to try an intermittent fasting diet / or any other fasting diet, approach it with caution and mindfulness.”

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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Burnout Syndrome can lead to heart related-disease

A major study published in the European Cardiology Bulletin found that Burnout syndrome that makes people feel overly tired, energy-free, demoralised and irritable can lead to a possibly deadly rhythm of the heart. 

Dr Parveen K Garg, who is the author of the study said: “Vital exhaustion, commonly referred to as burnout syndrome, is typically caused by prolonged and profound stress at work or home. It differs from depression, which is characterized by low mood, guilt, and poor self-esteem. The results of our study further establish the harm that can be caused in people who suffer from exhaustion that goes unchecked.”

Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of heart arrhythmia, which increases their risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. Yet, what causes atrial fibrillation is not fully understood.

Psychological distress has been suggested as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, but previous studies showed mixed results. In addition, until now, the specific association between vital exhaustion and atrial fibrillation had not been evaluated.

The researchers in this study surveyed more than 11,000 individuals for the presence of vital exhaustion, anger, antidepressant use, and poor social support. They then followed them over a period of nearly 25 years for the development of atrial fibrillation.

Participants with the highest levels of vital exhaustion were at a 20% higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation as compared to those with little to no evidence of vital exhaustion.

While further study is needed to better understand the observed relationship.

Dr Garg noted that two mechanisms are likely at play.

He further mentioned that Vital exhaustion is associated with increased inflammation and heightened activation of the body’s physiologic stress response. When these two things are chronically triggered that can have serious and damaging effects on the heart tissue, which could then eventually lead to the development of this arrhythmia.

No connections were found between anger or poor social support and the development of atrial fibrillation.

“The findings for anger and social support are consistent with prior research but two previous studies did find a significant association between antidepressant use and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Clearly, more work still needs to be done,” said Dr Garg.

“Further research is also needed to identify concrete actions for doctors to help patients with exhaustion,” he added.

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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Researchers explain why cancer risk is higher in males

DNA differences between men and women may explain why cancer risk is higher in males, according to a new study.

In findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers have reported that loss of function in certain genes of the sex-determining Y chromosome, which is present only in men, may cause them to have an elevated risk for cancer.

Using data from 9,000 individuals, the researchers studied Y-chromosome gene function in patients with various types of cancer. The findings showed that cancer risk increases with loss of function of six key Y-chromosome genes in various types of cells.

“Recent studies have shown that complete loss of the Y chromosome, which is essential to foetal sex differentiation, occurs, with aging, in the cells of some men,” said study author Juan Ramon Gonzalez from Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Spain.

“Although the loss of the Y chromosome has previously been associated with higher incidence of cancer, the causes of this association are poorly understood,” Gonzalez added.

These six Y-chromosome genes are involved in cell-cycle regulation, the failure of which can lead to tumour development.

According to the study, understanding the biological differences between men and women in cancer is crucial for the development of personalised lines of treatment and prevention.

“Men are not only at higher risk of cancer than women, they also face a worse prognosis. In fact, these differences partially account for the lower life expectancy of men,” Gonzalez added.

According to the researchers, although men may be more exposed to carcinogens due to the type of work they do and at higher risk because they are less likely to consult a doctor, the study has shown that there are also biological factors that increase cancer risk among men.

“In fact, it seems that one of these factors can be found in the Y chromosome, the very essence of maleness,” said study lead author Alejandro Caceres.

Suppression of the Y chromosome can occur as a result of loss of function in the chromosome, which would explain previous findings, or as a result of other mechanisms mediated by the chemical (epigenetic) inactivation of the same regions, the research said.

“Certain environmental exposures, for example to tobacco or other harmful substances, could affect chromosome function and lead to epigenetic modifications,” Gonzalez said.

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