Reducing the Risk of Heart Disease in Obese Children
We are well aware that obesity is on a rise in children due to the unhealthy lifestyles we are following: lack of exercise, sedentary day and the fat rich diets we are consuming. It is essential to design a diet plan for obese kids, which reduces their cholesterol and the chance of developing cardiac ailments.
A breakthrough study was published this month in the Journal of Pediatrics. Researchers found that obese children who begin a low-fat, plant-based vegan diet may lower their risk of heart disease. This primarily occurs through improvements in weight, blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
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Microbes: Powerful Nutritional Allies
Oh really! Is that possible? Were some of the reactions we received. But yes as shown by a latest research, this is true. Now, a study by scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) sheds new light on a surprising and critical role that microbes play in nutritional disorders such as protein malnutrition.
Microbes, small and ancient life forms, play a key role in maintaining life on Earth. Life is impossible without microbes. To study the basic mechanism of how these microbes help metabolism, fruit fly-Drosophila melanogaster was used, as it is simple and easy to study.
Smoking May Affect Back Pain Treatments
The ill effects of smoking on health are not unknown to us. Newer research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases is now throwing light on how smoking impairs the treatment process of inflammatory arthritis affecting the lower back, known as axial spondyloarthritis. Interestingly, quitting smoking may help reduce your lower back pain!
The chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a disease affecting millions all over the world, increases
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Vegan Diets May Reduce Cancer Risk
The health benefits of an all vegetarian diet are numerous. In a new study of Seventh-Day Adventist men and women, published online by JAMA Internal Medicine, investigators concluded that a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of developing colorectal cancer as compared to a non-vegetarian diet.
Colorectal cancer, or colon cancer, rectal cancer or bowel cancer, is the development of cancer in the large bowel.
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How to Detect a Serious Back Injury
Accidents leading to injury and trauma can happen to anyone [1, 2]. Many times, injuries can be asymptomatic especially if they are deep, so we tend to ignore them. We barely pay attention to medically important signs called ‘red flag sings’ by doctors, such as experiencing pain when lifting a bucket or not being able to walk properly. This can be extremely dangerous especially as the neck and spine (back) are involved. Most people will have a minor back problem at some point of time in their lives [3]. The question remains though- when do we know if a back injury is serious? This article will help you to gain a deeper insight into the seriousness of back injuries.
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Oranges for Health: to Eat or Drink?
Science confirms that oranges are a rich source of vitamin C which has healing properties, acts as an antioxidant and boosts your immune system. Vitamin C also possibly has cholesterol lowering benefits, protects against heart disease, protects against rheumatoid arthritis, stomach cancer, kidney stones and aids in good respiratory heath. So there is no doubt that oranges are great for your health!
Apart from vitamin C, oranges are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, vitamin A, folate, calcium, copper and potassium. But whether should you eat the fruit or drink its juice is the burning question today. In your morning breakfast, after the gym, or as a serving to a guest, orange juice is an all time favorite. We always carry the guilt of not eating the fruit in its natural form and depriving the body of essential dietary fiber though. Is there a need to feel guilty at all? We have always heard from grandmothers and nutritionists that eating oranges is better than opting for a serving of squeezed juice.
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Vitamin D Winter Woes? Beat them Now!
We all love white winters and enjoy the season indoors with warm food, loved ones and television. We also associate winters with skin troubles like dry skin, chapped lips, etc. But the health problems that this cozy season can lead to are far more serious than this. During winter minimal amount of sunlight reaches us. The ultraviolet rays that are part of sunlight are essential for production of vitamin D in our skin. Vitamin D is a very crucial vitamin for our bodies, for bone development and growth, to maintain healthy bones, for absorption of calcium depends on vitamin D. For a healthy, fracture-free life we need our daily dose of vitamin D. The richest natural source of this is sunlight which is robbed during winters.
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Direct vs Computed Radiography
If you've ever suffered from a fracture, you've probably received at least one X-Ray. X-Ray technology has improved tremendously over the years. Long gone are the days when most x-rays were taken and processed in dark rooms full of dangerous chemicals. Now, various systems compete to provide the highest quality x-rays in the least time and at the lowest dose. See our previous article on the advantages of direct radiography for an explanation of the technological differences. Onto Orthopedics has taken a large step into the future by adopting a latest generation direct radiography x-ray detector.
How apparent are these image quality improvements in the final x-ray image? When using the latest generation direct x-ray detector, image quality is usually so much better that even an untrained viewer will notice! Even better, this image quality can often be realized with the same or less dose of radiation when compared with a computed radiography system. Direct radiography systems are also typically much faster- getting you your diagnosis quicker than ever.
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Milk: The Universal Superfood
Milk is an indispensible component of most of our daily diets. Milk is a complete food. It was the original super food. Milk has found its place in different religions, traditions and culture. Throughout the world be it in the east or west, its availability cannot be denied. Milk and dairy products like cheese, butter, etc are part of our daily meals. Different sources of milk are humans, cows, goats, sheep, camels, etc. Nowadays, a number of alternatives are available like soy milk, almond milk, and more for people with lactose intolerance. But have you ever given a thought as to how much milk can benefit your health?
- The backbone of your Health: Milk is a rich source of calcium, and it contains nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin B12, carbohydrates, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, protein, zinc and riboflavin. These vitamins, minerals and trace elements fulfill vital roles in various metabolic functions of the body. Calcium promotes healthy bone growth in children and maintains bone strength in adults. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and protein are very important for healthy bone formation, growth and development. The functioning, durability, and repair of our bone and skeletal system are all dependent on them. Calcium maintains bone mineral density preventing fractures. Read more
Stomach Infection? A blessing in disguise!
Scientists and researchers are forever on the lookout for newer therapies and are developing better drugs for patients with chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Now, research published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases says that recent gut and urinary tract infections may reduce your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis. This is extremely exciting news and has great potential to develop targeted therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in the future. You may be curious to know if this is even possible! And if so, then how?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto immune disorder in which one’s own immune system attacks the joints and other organs. Painful joints, swelling, disability and deformities over time are common features of rheumatoid arthritis. Women are affected more than men by rheumatoid arthritis. Millions of people worldwide suffer from this painful disease.
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