Health and Beauty tips

You may consider it as bad news or a new motivation for dieting and workouts, but Dr. Yaiping Yang and his colleagues at the Lawson Health Research Institute affiliated with The University of Western Ontario found that abdominal fat tissue can reproduce a hormone that stimulates fat cell production. To put it simply, the extra fat we carry around our waist could be making us hungrier, so we eat more, which in turn leads to even more belly fat.

Dr. Yang identified that the hormone Neuropeptide Y (NPY), which previously was believed to only be produced by the brain, is reproduced by abdominal fat tissue.

Yang believes this novel finding will change in the way we think about and treat abdominal obesity.
The traditional view of the main reasons why overweight people consume more food is because their brains overproduce the hormone NPY, the most potent appetite stimulating hormone known, sending signals to the individual that they are constantly hungry. However, Yang, a Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Physiology & Pharmacology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario, has provided evidence that in obese rat models NPY is also produced locally by abdominal fat.

A fat cell is unable to replicate itself. But the researchers found NPY stimulates the replication of fat cell precursor cells, which then change into fat cells, thus increasing fat cell number.
Yang claims “this may lead to a vicious cycle where NPY produced in the brain causes you to eat more thus gaining more fat around your waist, and then that fat produces more NYP hormone which results in even more fat cells.”

Being overweight is universally acknowledged to be unhealthy. However, because of its anatomical location and its byproducts, abdominal fat is considered to be the most dangerous. People with the apple shape run an elevated risk for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and some cancers.
Next, the researchers are planning to investigate whether NPY produced by fat is released into the body’s circulatory system. If the researchers find that NPY is transported in the blood circulation then it may be possible to work out a simple blood test to detect increased levels of NPY. “If you can detect NPY early and identify those at risk for abdominal obesity we can then target therapy to turn off NPY. It would be much easier to use drugs to prevent obesity than to treat the diseases caused by obesity.”
These findings were reported in a recent issue of The FASEB Journal.

Washing fresh fruits and vegetables before eating is helpful to reduce the risk of food poisoning. But according to a new study by researchers in Pennsylvania, washing alone - even with chlorine disinfectants - may not be enough to kill parasites and destroy pathogens and insects in food.

Studies show that certain disease-causing microbes are out of reach for chemical sanitizers. These bacteria can get hidden inside the leaves of vegetables and fruit, where surface treatments cannot reach. In addition, microbes can organize themselves into tightly knit communities (biofilms) that coat fruits and vegetables and protect the bacteria from harm. Such biofilms can harbor various versions of infectious bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli.

Now, new findings suggest that internalized pathogens which are beyond the reach of conventional chemical sanitizers can be effectively killed by irradiation, a food treatment currently being reviewed by the FDA.

Scientists claim that irradiation, exposing food to a source of electron beams, disrupts the genetic material of living cells, inactivating parasites and destroying pathogens and insects in food, including E. coli and Salmonella.

When it comes to weight loss, there is a huge variety of diets, from low-carb diets to blood type ones. But regardless of the type of diet chosen, to lose weight, you must consume fewer calories than your body uses. Most people try to reduce their calorie intake by focusing on food, forgetting to pay attention to what they drink.

Healthy weight is defined as a loss of 1-2 pounds per week. Most people need to cut about 500 calories a day to lose one pound per week. This can be achieved by reducing the number of calories taken in through both food and drink.

Calories in drinks are not hidden (they’re listed right on the Nutrition Facts label), but many people don’t realize just how many calories they take in with beverages. Fortunately, there is good news: there are plenty of options for reducing the number of calories in what you drink, and one of them is substituting no- or low-calorie drinks for sugar-sweetened beverages.

Sweeteners that add calories to a beverage go by many different names and very often are not obvious to consumers. If the following ingredients are listed on the Nutrition Facts label of your favorite beverage, you are drinking a sugar-sweetened beverage: high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, syrup, corn syrup, dextrose.

Now when you are aware about the difference a drink can make, here are some ways to make smart beverage choices:

• Choose water, diet, or low-calorie beverages instead of sugar-sweetened drinks.
• For a quick and inexpensive thirst-quencher, carry a water bottle, which can be refilled throughout the day.
• Instead of stocking the fridge with sugar-sweetened beverages keep there a jug or bottles of cold water.
• Serve water with meals.
• Water can be made more exciting by adding slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, or watermelon.
• Add a splash of 100% juice to plain water for a refreshing, low-calorie drink.
• If you do opt for a sugar-sweetened beverage, choose small size.
• Be a role model for your family by choosing healthy, low-calorie beverages.

Dieticians suggest that there are ten kinds of food to keep oneself trim, healthy and beautiful:

• Fruits Research proves that eating at least 5 portions of fruits each day reduces your risk of many medical problems, including cancer. One portion is about the size of the palm of your hand.
• Green vegetables. Green, leafy vegetables abound in vitamins A and E, as well as fiber and iron. Vitamin A retains the moisture in the eyes, the skin and the mucous membrane, while Vitamin E helps maintain the skin’s elasticity. On the other hand, fiber improves digestion, and iron is needed for the production of red blood cells.
• Vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts the immune system and makes the body less vulnerable to disease. Vitamin C also plays an important role in the body’s collagen production, collagen being a chemical that keeps the skin elastic and wrinkle-free. The body does not manufacture vitamin C on its own, nor does it store it. It is therefore important to eat plenty of vitamin C-containing foods daily. All fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C, but the highest sources of vitamin C are green peppers, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, turnip greens and other leafy greens, sweet and white potatoes, and cantaloupe. Other excellent sources include papaya, mango, watermelon, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, winter squash, red peppers, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and pineapples.
• Garlic. It is proved to be antiseptic, antibacterial, stimulating digestion, reducing high blood pressure, glandular regulator, diuretic and even cancer deterrent.
• Essential fatty acids (EFA), also known as the good fat, keep the cells of the body functioning properly. EFA are also beneficial for skin, hair and fingernails.
• Milk. Milk is the best source of calcium and vitamin D for the body, the combination of which is needed to keep bones and teeth strong. Milk is also rich in vitamins B2 and B12, which coaxes the body to produce more red blood cells. Red blood cells bring oxygen to the cells. Having a healthy supply of red blood cells in the blood stream keeps the hair and skin looking healthier.
• Yogurt. Aside from being a good source of calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B, yogurt contains friendly bacteria that help to reduce some of the symptoms of stress, assists in digestion, hydrates the skin and clears the immune system.
• Soy. Soy products are known to prevent or treat a variety of health conditions, including high cholesterol levels, osteoporosis, memory problems, high blood pressure, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. It also helps the skin retain its smoothness and elasticity.
• Green tea. Green tea is full of antioxidants that prevent cancers from developing in the body. It is also known for pumping up the immune system and lowering cholesterol levels in the body.
• Water. It keeps the body hydrated maintaining smooth and youthful skin. Hair looks healthier and the nails are stronger when there is enough water in the body. Water also flushes out the waste and toxins out of the body.

Studies have shown that vegetarians (following a well-balanced low-fat high-fibre vegetarian diet) have significantly reduced rates of obesity, coronary heart disease, hypertension, type II diabetes, diet-related cancers, constipation and gall stones.

In addition to being richer in fruits and vegetables, vegetarian diets tend to be lower in total fat, and vegetarians tend to eat proportionally more polyunsaturated fat to saturated fat compared with non-vegetarians. (Animal products are the major sources of dietary saturated fat).

Vegetarians avoid meat, poultry, game, fish, gelatine and animal fats. Their diet is based on fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, seeds and nuts. Most vegetarians consume dairy products and unfertilized eggs.

A balanced vegetarian diet should include:

• Grains and cereals: Wholegrain bread, brown rice, wholewheat pasta, muesli.
• Legumes, nuts and seeds: Soya beans, kidney beans, split peas, lentils, almonds, cashews, sesame seeds
• Fruit and vegetables – all variety of them
• Dairy or soya products- preferably low-fat or fat-free ones

A balanced vegetarian diet closely matches expert dietary recommendations for healthy eating, being low in saturated fat and high in fiber, complex carbohydrates, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Eating a variety of foods you will be getting all the necessary nutrients.

If the idea of excluding meat from your diet forever sounds frightening, try a couple of meat-free days each week and enjoy healthy vegetarian dishes, and your body will be really thankful to you.