Sleep, for your heart's sake

We all know the benefits of a good night's sleep, but did you know not getting enough sleep could do harm to your heart?
New study published in Circulation warns against possible risk of myocardial infarction if you suffer of prolonged insomnia.
We all know that even short term sleep deprivation can cause strong effect on general health, but this is one of the few prospective studies that investigated insomnia as risk factor for acute cardiovascular events in the long term.
The study was large, involving 50,000 adults who live in Norway. Partecipants have been followed for 11 years. By that time, 2,386 of them had had their first heart attack already.
Difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep and having a feeling of nonrestorative sleep were associated with a 45% increase in AMI risk.
This study keep in account some variables that are indipendent risk factors for IMA and that can rehinforce insomnia: Obesity, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),
A previous study published in JAMA in 2008 already showed that Longer measured sleep is associated with lower coronary artery calcification incidence independent of examined potential mediators and confounders. A good sleeper sleeps at least 7 hours at night. One out of four of those who slept less than 5-7 hours had coronaric calcifications...
Another Study of 2006, published in the journal Hypertension showed a link between low duration and quality of sleep and high blood pressure. Researchers followed 4,800 normotensive people for 10 years.. Of those who slept less than five hours a night, 24 percent developed high blood pressure compared to only 12 percent of those who got seven or eight hours of sleep a night.
THERE ARE FIVE TYPES OF INSOMNIA
1. Psycho-reactive Insomnia (your mind can’t stop working);
2. Endogenous Insomnia: This is caused by a discomforts or pathology-related pain;
3. Exogenous Insomnia: Causes come from the environment;
4. Use of drugs or caffeine;
5. Functional Insomnia: This is caused by a functional unbalances:

• Insufficient serotonine or melatonine production;


• Magnesium and other minerals deficiences;


• Thyroid Hormone Disorders


• Excess of adrenaline production


• Breathing disorders
  
  THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP:


• Try to maintain a steady schedule: rising and going to bed at the same time each day;


• Avoid distractions when it’s time to sleep;


• Try meditation or relaxing techniques;


• Keep the room as dark as possible – darkness triggers melatonin production;


• Try to stay sometime at sunlight during the day if the sun shine;


• Make regular physical exercise but not before going to bed.


• Have the last meal or snack at last 2 hours before bedtime.


• Consider a non-prescription sleep aid.
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Cancer and pH

5 new clinical trials have been presented yesterday at Italian Istituto Superiore di Sanità, italian health governative institution.
These trials are focused on alternative and complementary approaches to cancer treatment with chemotherapy.
What is really interesting (but not new) is that eventually science is considering as clinical target the pH modifications induced by cancer cells.
Usually cancer cells change the microenvironment of the tissues and this strong lowering of pH damages or kills normal cells.
The 5 studies developed by "International Society for Proton Dynamics in Cancer" (ISPDC) tested these alternative approaches in patients affected by melanoma and osteosarcoma, two very aggressive forms of cancer.
Results seem very encouraging.
So very soon we could see Sodium Bicarbonate (common baking soda)among anti-tumoral agents or included in protocols for cancer treatments.
All these therapies are based on molecules that target tissue pH:
- Inhibiting acid production (pomp proton inhibitors)
- Balancing tissue pH (Sodium Bicarbonate)
- Changing their state (Acridine Orange)

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From Pyramid to Circle: New Food Paradigms

From Pyramid to the Circle on Prezi

Potential use of IAP to regulate Gut Microbiota

Human-Bacteria interactions: IAP may regulate microbiota.

Scientists increasingly recognize the importance of microbiota for human health.
Billion of billion of “bacterias and viruses” (more in number than the human cells) live inside our gut and sometimes they are good guests sometimes not.
The good bacteria, called probiotics, can liberate nutrients from food, fend off pathogenic microorganisms, and help regulate metabolism.

Of course there are many kinds of interactions between gut cells and bacteria and some of them are stricly regulated by intestinal hormones and enzymes like
Intestinal alkaline phosphatase.
IAP is an enzyme produced by enterocites and it could play an important regulatory role in the Microbiota equilibrium.

"IAP was discovered more than 50 years ago. Its role in fat metabolism is well documented; however, during the past decade, IAP has also been recognized for its role in maintaining the gut mucosa—the epithelial cell barrier that lines the GI tract—according to Hodin and co-authors. Hodin is currently funded by the NIDDK to delineate the mechanisms that govern IAP gene regulation to better characterize the dynamic physiological role this enzyme plays in metabolism and immune defense. Orally administered IAP might be an effective treatment for bacterial pathogenesis as well as a variety of disease conditions associated with dysregulated intestinal microbiota,” wrote the researchers. Other conditions associated with dysregulated intestinal microbiota include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), AIDS, and obesity."
The finding also provides clues to understanding and treating conditions such as Clostridium difficile-associated disease.
The role of IAP appears very important because it can imodify pH of the gut.
We know very well that every little change in gut pH immediately causes a change in gut flora composition.
It is too early to understand the real clinical potential of these research but for sure it can help us to better undestand the incredible world that we carry inside... Our Microbiota.

To read more about the study, visit NIDDK
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Weird suggestions on Salt Consumption

I love scientific research because if you browse on Pubmed you can find the most weird things, and things get worse when information is explained to people in general terms by scientific journalists.
Below I found a research from a Belgian group recently published on the Journal of the American Medical Association:
The title of the article is:

Fatal and Nonfatal Outcomes, Incidence of Hypertension, and Blood Pressure Changes in Relation to Urinary Sodium Excretion

The title became

SALT STUDY DISCOUNTS LINKS TO HYPERTENSION in a MedPage review.

Let's say something about the study:
Limits: Against all previous evidences, observational study, conducted in young people with very low cardiovascular risk.

DEVIL VOICE: Eat stack of salt because it does not hurt
ANGEL VOICE: Don't listen and limit daily salt intake to 1.500mg

CANDIDA: The white threat for our health

CANDIDA
Candida is a type of yeast which is classified in the same group as fungus.
Even when you are healthy, bacteria and yeasts, including Candida albicans, are present in your body. Normally, these micro-organisms exist on and in you without causing any harm.
Thriving in a dark, moist environment, Candida can be found in the mouth, digestive tract, vagina, or skin folds. Other areas of the body that may be colonized by Candida are the ears, dental cavities, groin, under the breasts or nails. When in correct systemic balance, Candida is not a harmful organism and will not cause troublesome symptoms.

But sometimes it became a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans.
Prevention is important, as treatment for Candida albicans can be unsuccessful and infections can become recurrent.
DIAGNOSING CANDIDA: Overgrowt can be diagnosticated as follows:
- Candida Immune Complex Assay Test;
- Stool Test;
- A Candida culture may also be tested with samples taken from your oral cavity (thrush) or during a gynecologic visit;
- Some modern lab test search for fungine cathabolites in urine or blood;

COMMON CONDITIONS RELATED TO CANDIDA
● Oral Thrush - A mouth infection caused by Candida that manifests with white sores or spots around the lips, on the tongue, gums, and inside the cheeks
● Esophagitis - Candida that spreads to the esophagus from the mouth
● Skin candidiasis - A diaper rash that is common in babies
● Vaginal yeast infection - A white, curd-like discharge occurs along with itching and severe burning while urinating or during sex
● Deep candidiasis - Candida spreads through the bloodstream to the entire body which causes fever, shock, and multiple organ failure.
COMON FACTORS THAT MAY HELP CANDIDA OVERGROWTH
- Unbalanced diet, with a predominance of fermented substances and
- refined carbohydrates;
- Stress and hardship, conditions that alter one's emotional responses
- Intestinal imbalances and Leaky gut syndrome;
- Insufficient intake of minerals and vitamins necessary to ensure intestinal equilibrium and to keep the defenses active;
- Use and abuse of drugs and toxic substances.
THERAPIES: Fungine infections always need a medical consultation to evaluate the importance and the kind of yeast or fungus that is attaking our body.
According to the age of the patient and the site of the infection, treatments could be started by the general pratictioner, pediatrist, dermatologist or gynecologist.
Physicians usually follow the “Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Candidiasis” 2009 Update by IDSA

But if we browse the guidelines we can find only indications
of anti-fungine drugs.
Not one word rearding diet, natural remedies or complementary approaches.
Not one word.


Now we will let the physicians to establish the best therapy and we will focus on what could be a complementary approach to the drug treatments.

DIET: Candida lives of sugars and carbohydrates. So you need to limit as much as possible sugar intake (included sugar –added foods) during treatment. These substances foment candida and encourage insulin overproduction, thereby favoring inflammation and immune system intervention. Food intolerances must always be kept under control (in the case of candidiasis, there is often the presence of a yeast intolerance), because they uselessly occupy the immune defenses with food. This will results in an unbalanced diet but it is necessary for the period of treatment. You should always be followed by a nutritionist when starting unbalanced diets.
NATURAL REMEDIES WITH ANTI-FUNGINE ACTIVITY
Many natural products are known for their anti-fungine activity. The list include
- Berberine (Hcl or plant extract like Coptis (Coptis chinensis) root & rhizome or Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium);
- Blak Wallnuts;
- Cat’s Claw;
- Caprilic Acid;
- Essential Oils (Melaleuca, Tee Tree, Lavender, Rosmary, Sage, Oregano);
- Garlic estracts;
- Grapefruit seeds extracts;
- Melissa Officinalis extracts;
FUNGICIDE ROTATION
You’d better rotate these natural fungicide to obtain a better result, since our undesidered guest easely adapts itself to the treatment.
RESTORE INTESTINAL BARRIER
Intestinal barrier integrity is a key factor to stop fungine antigens before they get in. Fungine antigens can prompt inflammation and auto-immune responses.
Even if the inflammatory response can activate some kind of cell mediated activity, it will be not enough to contrast the parasite and it will create troubles to the guest.
To restore your intestinal barrier some ingresients could help:
- L glutamine
- Prebiotics that are not potential food for the yeast;
It works feeding the cells that form the interior lining of the instestinal tract. These cells use a lot of energy for cellular division. We change the inerior lining every 2-3 days.
REINOCULATION OF GOOD BACTERIA
Repopulation of the gut with good bacterial is essential.
In nature no space is left free. Every niche of our intestines is colonizated by bacteria, viruses or yeasts. Supplementing bacteria with probiotic activity can shift the equilibrium of the intestinal flora toward health.
IMMUNE SYSTEM REPAIR
The strongest is your immune system the harder will be for candida albicans to stay with you.
Some natural products can rehinforce your immunity:
- Vit D
- Pantotenic Acid
- Molibdenum
- Zinc
- Selenium
HELP YOUR LIVER DETOX ACTIVITY
You can help your liver detoxify from Candida catabolites with
- N acetylcisteine (NAC)

- Glutatione
DONT FORGET YOUR MOUTH AND ANUS
Re-infections from mouth and anus are very common.
Furthermore infections can reach the genitourinary tract creating more troubles.
You should use flourinated tooth paste and take care of your igiene.
PREGNANCY AND BREAST FEEDING
Some of the remedies listed above should not be used during pregnancy or pbreast feeding because they are counterindicater (greapefrout seeds) or they can alter milk taste and force the baby o stop breeding (garlic extracts). In generar if you are pregnant or are breast feeding do not start any action before a medical consultation.

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SugarStacks

Would you eat 10 tea spoons of sugar one after the other?
I don't think so..
But this is what we do everytime we drink a can of soft drinks like Coke.
Here we can know more about sugar content of many foods, drinks and snaks that we usually eat.
It is true that carbohydrates (and sugar is one of them) are an essential components of any balanced diet (that should have a percentage of carboidrates of about 30%), but it is also true that:
- A regular refined carbohydrates and sugars abuse causes overweight, obesity and many chronical diseases like tipe II diabetes;
- Regular use of sugar-added soft drinks, fruit juices and flavoured milks should be avoided particularly during meals when we usually eat enough carbohydrates.
- We should not encourage children to start using sugar-added drinks because they induce addiction;

Added sugars in soft drinks, fruit juices and flavoured milks contains empty calories.These calories are called empty because they carry energy but not nutrients (like minerals and vitamins) and they have an high Glicemic Index.

GLICEMIC INDEX
The glycemic index is found by measuring the increase in glycemia that is produced when a subject is given 50 grams of sugar extracted from a food. Therefore, the glycemic index tells us how quickly the sugar concentration in the blood rises and is expressed in relation to the increase produced by 50 grams of pure glucose.
This means that the index doesn't depend upon the sugar content of each single food. Let's look at an example: melon has a very high glycemic index but this doesn't take into consideration the fact that in order to reach 50 grams of sugar a person would have to eat 6-7 melons at one time. This explains why we can't only consider this parameter when we evaluate the body's response and especially the insulin response.
GLICEMIC LOAD
The glycemic load, on the other hand, is determined by multiplying the glycemic index by the quantity of sugar contained in the foods that are consumed. By introducing the variable of the amount of carbohydrates ingested in every single food that is eaten, we can reach a more precise evaluation of its affect upon the body

Whole grains provide calories with a lower Glicemic Index and they respect our metabolic paths not charging too much on our metabolic response.

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