Why we need vitamin D — and sun exposure isn't the only way to get it

Vitamin D is a real multi-tasker. It “helps your body absorb calcium, which is essential for strong bones and teeth and helps prevent rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults,” a registered dietitian tells. “Vitamin D also plays a role in supporting a healthy immune system and glucose metabolism and reducing inflammation.”

But 35% of Americans aren’t getting enough of it.

There are several reasons why — the main factors being lack of sun exposure (the body produces vitamin D when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet light), location, age and skin color, explains a registered dietitian. “The darker the skin tone, the harder it is to synthesize vitamin D from the sun,” she explains. According to the National Library of Medicine, the most at-risk populations for vitamin D deficiency are the elderly, obese people, nursing home residents and hospitalized patients.

But before you run out to pick up a bottle of supplements or start walking around without any sunscreen, here’s what experts want you to know about vitamin D.

Bone health isn’t its only superpower

Strong bones and osteoporosis prevention might be vitamin D’s claims to fame, but they’re not its only specialty. According to the National Institutes of Health, the nutrient helps your immune system fight off viruses and bacteria, which is especially timely for cold and flu season. Vitamin D also assists in regulating blood sugar and helps your brain manage mood. For example, some studies have found links between low blood levels of vitamin D and an increased risk of depression.

The sun isn’t the only way to get more vitamin D

Before stocking up on capsules from the vitamin aisle, evaluate your diet for vitamin D gaps. That’s right: The sun isn’t the only way to get this important nutrient. “Fatty fish like salmon, tuna and sardines are packed with vitamin D and egg yolks, beef liver and cheese contain smaller amounts,” says Rush. Many foods are also fortified or enriched with vitamin D, he adds, including milk, plant-based milk alternatives, cereal, orange juice and yogurt. “Checking the nutrition facts label is the easiest way to see if a food contains vitamin D,” he says.

More isn’t better when it comes to vitamin D

There is such a thing as vitamin D toxicity that can pose serious health risks. “Overdoing it on vitamin D, usually from high-dose supplements, can lead to elevated calcium levels in the blood known as hypercalcemia,” explains Rush. “This can trigger a range of symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion and even kidney stones. In severe cases, vitamin D toxicity can cause kidney failure, heart problems and in rare instances, death.”

The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 600 international units (IU) for people ages 1 to 70 and 800 IU for adults over 70. “However, your doctor may recommend a higher dose if you have a deficiency,” Rush says.

The supplement shouldn’t be taken alone

“Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it's absorbed best when consumed with fat,” says Rush. “Having a snack with some healthy fats, like avocado, nuts or seeds, can help your body absorb the vitamin D supplement more effectively.”

It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin K — another nutrient found in leafy greens — or if your doctor recommends it, taking a supplement with both vitamins (such as D3 and K2). That’s because vitamin K and D work together, with vitamin K helping to distribute the calcium produced by vitamin D.

It’s not an excuse to get more sun exposure

Low vitamin D doesn’t give you a free pass to a day of sun tanning. “Some research suggests that five to 30 minutes of midday sun exposure several times per week could be enough for most people to produce sufficient vitamin D,” says Rush. The proper amount of time varies depending on your skin tone, the amount of skin exposed to the sun, the time of day, the season and where you live, he adds.

Whether you spend five or 30 minutes getting your vitamin D fix, it shouldn’t be without sunscreen. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, “Clinical studies have never found that everyday sunscreen use leads to vitamin D insufficiency. In fact, the prevailing studies show that people who use sunscreen daily can maintain their vitamin D levels.” That’s because no sunscreen offers 100% protection from the sun’s UV rays so even with sunscreen, some of those rays will still reach your skin. “It’s important to protect your skin from sun damage to reduce the risk of skin cancer,” Rush says.

 

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Genetics play major role in the occurrence of moles

Have you ever looked at your body and wondered why you have moles or why they are placed on a particular part of the body? If yes, then a study has found answers to settle your questioning mind!

The study published recently  states that your genes along with exposure to the sun have a great influence on the number and location of the moles on your body.

In this study, researchers analysed a large group of 3,200 healthy twins, predominately female, and counted moles on their head and neck, back, abdomen and chest, upper limbs and lower limbs.

The findings from the study indicated that in women, the lowest genetic effect on mole count was on the back and abdomen (26 per cent), and the highest on the lower limbs (69 per cent).

The reason behind a larger number of moles on women's lower limbs is unlikely to be due to sun exposure alone but down to a sex-specific genetic makeup.

"We've known for some time that moles are a major risk factor for melanoma skin cancer. With this research we now know that not only the number but also the location of moles on the body is in large part due to genetics," said lead researcher.

"Our results add to previous evidence that indicates greater sun exposure alone is unlikely to be the reason why women have more moles on their legs," the researcher added.

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Novel microscope can non-invasively diagnose, treat diseases

Scientists have developed a specialised microscope that has the potential to diagnose diseases like skin cancer as well as perform precise surgery without making any incisions in the skin. According to the study, the microscope allows medical professionals to pinpoint the exact location of an abnormality, diagnose it and treat it instantly.

"Our technology allows us to scan tissue quickly, and when we see a suspicious or abnormal cell structure, we can perform ultra-precise surgery and selectively treat the unwanted or diseased structure within the tissue -- without cutting into the skin," said a researcher.

It could be used to treat any structure of the body that can be reached by light and requires extremely precise treatment, including nerves or blood vessels in the skin, eye, brain or other vital structures, researchers said.

"For diagnosing and scanning diseases like skin cancer, this could be revolutionary," said a Prof.

The study shows that the device allows imaging of living tissue up to about one millimetre in depth using an ultrafast infrared laser beam.

Researchers said that this microscope, however, is different from previous technology due to its capability to not only digitally scan living tissue, but also treat the tissue by intensifying the heat produced by the laser.

"We can alter the pathway of blood vessels without impacting any of the surrounding vessels or tissues," said the Prof.

The researchers also said that their aim is to make multiphoton microscope technology more versatile while also increasing its precision.

"We wanted to be able to identify what was happening under the skin from many different angles and to have the capability of imaging different body sites," said a Prof.

Developments of a miniature version of the telescope that could be used to perform microscopic examinations and treatment during endoscopy are also underway, researchers said.

"We are not only the first to achieve fast video-rate imaging that enables clinical applications, but also the first to develop this technology for therapeutic uses," said the Prof.

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A Comprehensive Guide to Abdominal Pain

Pain is your body’s way of signaling to your mind that something is wrong with it. And while teeth sensitivity most likely means that you should lay off ice cream, when it comes to your belly, things get way more complicated. The belly, also known as the abdomen, is where many of your essential organs sit. Pain in the abdomen could point to a variety of conditions: it might be that extra ice cream upsetting your stomach, or muscle pain after an intense ab workout, but it may also be an issue with your liver, cardiovascular system or reproductive organs. The location of the pain can tell you a lot about the possible underlying issue, which is why we have created this abdominal map that will help you understand the reason for that annoying belly pain.

 

Central Upper Abdomen

This is the part of your body where most of your stomach sits, so when you experience pain only in this part of your belly, it generally indicates a stomach issue. Many of these conditions produce very similar symptoms and require medical tests to be diagnosed.

• Gastritis is an inflammation of your stomach lining. The main symptom of gastritis is upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, loss of appetite and heartburn.
• Hiatal hernias are another stomach-related issue that makes you experience acid reflux and food “balling up” before entering the stomach, which causes abdominal and chest pains while eating.
• Though rare, gastroparesis may be another cause for upper abdominal pain, especially if you also feel full all the time, even though you didn’t eat for a while. Other symptoms include heartburn and constant nausea.
• Burning upper abdominal pain that improves after eating, and often starts after taking aspirin, drinking alcohol, orange juice, or coffee may be a symptom of a peptic ulcer.
• Pericarditis, unlike the other diseases we have discussed in this section, is a heart disease. Though not a main symptom, it can cause chest pain radiating into the abdomen and back that worsens when lying down.

Right Upper Abdomen

When you feel pain that starts in the right upper abdomen, it is particularly difficult to specify the reason, as it can indicate problems with the liver, gallbladder or the upper intestinal tract. The quality and persistence of the pain may hint to a specific condition.

• Cholecystitis (an inflamed gallbladder). The main symptom is a sudden sharp pain in the upper right side of your belly that can persist for hours. It has a tendency to spread toward the right shoulder. The painful area feels tender, and breathing deeply worsens the pain.
• Gallstones may cause pain after eating fried and fatty foods that often ceases after a few hours.
• Cramping, sudden abdominal pain, and tenderness in the right upper part of your tummy that worsens when you consume fatty foods or alcohol may indicate liver damage, which may due to different conditions, such as hepatitis, alcohol abuse or cirrhosis.
• The symptoms of duodenitis, the inflammation of the upper small intestine that is adjacent to the stomach are similar to that of gastritis, but the pain can also be experienced in the upper right side under the ribs.
  

  Left and Right Upper Abdomen

  

  
  
  When you experience pain in the top right and/or left sides of the abdomen and back, it is usually due to some lung condition, such as pneumothorax, pleurisy or pneumonia. It can be sudden and one-sided in pneumothorax, or constant, dull and aching in pneumonia and pleurisy. Abdominal pain is by no means the primary symptom of these conditions, however, shortness of breath, fever and fast heart rate are.

  Entire Upper Abdomen

  

  
  
  When the origin of pain is difficult to pinpoint, or it spreads throughout the entire upper part of your belly, it can be due to a variety of different conditions.
• Not an uncommon condition is intestinal obstruction. This a medical emergency that causes sudden strong cramps in the upper belly that come and go, which may be accompanied by swelling and bloating.
• Pancreatitis pain wraps around the upper belly and the back in a band-like fashion. It may be aggravated by eating, especially foods high in fat.
• A heart attack is generally associated with a squeezing chest pain, but it can spread to the abdomen and left hand.

Central Lower Abdomen

The central part of your belly and pelvis is another part of the abdomen where different systems meet and intertwine. Pain in this region can be caused by intestinal issues, problems with certain blood vessels and the urinary tract.

• Cystitis is a bladder infection, which can cause stabbing pains in the middle part of your pelvis, as well as burning sensations during urination and difficulty urinating.
• A rare symptom of thoracic aortic aneurysm, a disease of the largest blood vessel of the human body, is abdominal and back pain.

Right Lower Abdomen

• Dull pain on the right side of your navel which sharpens and shifts to the lower right abdomen is the first sign of appendicitis.

Left Lower Abdomen

• One of the most common reasons for pain in the left lower side of your tummy is diverticulitis, an inflammation in the large intestine, which causes sudden onset pain in the left lower abdomen, blood in stool and periods of constipation followed by periods of diarrhea.

Left and Right Lower Abdomen

If you experience symmetrical pain in the lower abdomen, or pain that fits the following descriptions on either side, it is usually due to an issue with kidneys or the reproductive system.

• Women can experience dull aching pain in either or both sides of the abdomen, as well as a feeling of heaviness, fullness, swelling and pressure in these areas may suffer from ovarian cysts.
• Salpingitis, the inflammation of the fallopian tubes, can also be accompanied by abdominal pain and lower back pain on either or both sides in women.
• Kidney Infection and kidney stones are the primary causes of lower back and abdominal pain after spine problems. Both of these conditions cause excruciating intermittent pain that starts from either or both sides of the groin and spreads upward in the direction of the back. Difficulty urinating, painful urination and urinary urgency are other symptoms of these diseases.
• Significant pain on either side of the belly in men can be caused by inguinal hernia, which presses on the intestine and can be very dangerous if not treated.

Entire Lower Abdomen

Some conditions can cause pain in any location of your lower abdomen, or cause pain in the entire area. These include endometriosis, PID, IBD, and intestinal obstruction.

• Women suffering from endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) feel mild to severe pelvic and lower abdominal pain, as well as sometimes pain during intercourse. Pelvic pain in women is a concern that shouldn’t be ignored.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) always causes abdominal cramps and spasms, as well as weight loss, anemia, and rectal bleeding.
• An intestinal obstruction can occur in the lower intestine, too, not only in the upper one. If that is the case, the lower part of the belly will hurt and the skin in that area will be oversensitive and swollen.

Please keep in mind that the information included in this article is just a general guide to abdominal pain and isn’t a diagnosis. If you feel pain in your belly that is strong, persistent, and/or interferes with your daily life we highly recommend you talk to your doctor, who will be able to make a proper diagnosis.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                
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Novel blood test may detect, locate cancer early

Scientists have developed a new blood test to detect cancer and locate where in the body the tumour is growing, an advance way to eliminate the need for invasive surgical procedures like biopsies.

Cancer blood tests work by screening for DNA released by dying tumour cells and detect traces of tumour DNA in the blood of cancer patients. 

However, these do not indicate where the tumour resides. 
“Knowing the tumour’s location is critical for effective early detection,” said Kun Zhang, professor at the University of California-San Diego in the US.  

When a tumour starts to take over a part of the body, it competes with normal cells for nutrients and space, killing them off in the process.

 As normal cells die, they release their DNA into the bloodstream, and that DNA could be used to identify the affected tissue, the researchers said. 

The new method screens for a particular DNA signature called CpG methylation haplotypes.  

Each tissue in the body can be identified by its unique signature of methylation haplotypes.

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If we integrate both cancer cell and other cells signals we could actually determine the presence or absence of a tumour, and where it is growing, Zhang explained.  

For the study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, the team put together a database of the complete CpG methylation patterns of 10 different normal tissues — liver, intestine, colon, lung, brain, kidney, pancreas, spleen, stomach and blood.  

They also analysed tumour samples and blood samples from cancer patients and looked for signals of the cancer markers and the tissue-specific methylation patterns.   

The test works like a dual authentication process — the combination of both signals above a statistical cutoff — is required to assign a positive match, the 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 
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