Natural Weight Loss Supplements Treat Obesity

(Article first published as Natural Supplements That Fuel Weight Loss by Switching Obesity Genes on Technorati.)

Our genes are continually in a state of flux and are regulated or switched by our food, physical activity and the environment in which we live. All of these factors play a part in how our metabolism is directed to burn calories as fuel or store them in our fat reserves.

To an extent we may inherit a predisposition to store calories as fat more quickly than others, but research with identical twins provides evidence that our destiny is not set in stone. Identical twins share the same DNA yet often will display very different body weight depending on external influences, stress, and diet. We are able to influence our own weight despite a genetic predisposition which encourages overweight or obesity.

Controlling Your Genes to Achieve Weight Loss

DNA is the building block of life and our genes play a critical key role in determining our health and how we store weight as well. According to information from a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, as many as 13 individual genetic alterations have been identified which predispose an individual to obesity from early childhood. These changes don’t actually alter the DNA sequence itself, but act to switch gene patterns on or off depending on external influences.

Environmental and Household Toxins Directly Influence DNA

While food has a significant influence on gene regulation, the environment can also weigh heavily on how our genes are switched toward weight gain or loss. Household chemicals, toxins and even personal hygiene products and cosmetics infiltrate our body through contact with the skin and exert a negative influence on our DNA. Fortunately, in addition to healthy diet there are several powerful nutritional supplements which have been shown to regulate the switching activity of our genes toward natural weight loss.

Supplement with Vitamin C

Everybody knows that a small amount of Vitamin C is required to prevent rickets, but few people understand the essential role this vitamin plays to stabilize blood glucose and metabolism. As blood sugar control begins to deteriorate with increasing body weight and poor diet, our Vitamin C reserves are reduced.

Information published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition demonstrates that individuals with sufficient Vitamin C burn 30% more fat when exercising than those with the lowest levels. Vitamin C is a catalyst which is needed by the body to burn fat and works by influencing our DNA at the genetic level. Many people are deficient in Vitamin C and need to supplement to reach optimal blood levels.

Pour a Cup of Green Tea

Green tea increases metabolism and promotes fat oxidation by influencing the genes which control our sympathetic nervous system. This means that we burn more calories when at rest, an important feat when trying to lose weight. This doesn’t mean that we should eat more to compensate, but it can provide a significant boost to dieters who may have reached a plateau or just need some additional help burning away extra fat.

Nutritional researchers have been able to reach a deeper understanding about how our diet, environment and essential nutrients impact DNA since the advent of genetic mapping over a decade ago. We now understand that our genes are continually being changed and that we have much more control over the deck of genetic cards we’ve been dealt. Natural supplements have been shown to boost fat metabolism and provide necessary support for weight loss management.

Black tea

The black tea is a variety that is more oxidized , has a stronger flavor and contains more protein .
The catechins and polyphenols it contains , provide antioxidant benefits act against free radicals, helping to reduce the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular , degenerative and even as prevention of cancers . ( 3-4 cups per day )

It has an astringent effect, being beneficial for diarrhea , since it has tannins , but we must keep in mind that these can cause digestive problems for constipation , irritable colon or stomach problems.
It has a diuretic effect , so it is indicated in diets, but their abuse , loss produce lots of electrolytes, which if not compensated with diet, can cause cramps.
As a stimulant drink, helps to improve alertness , learning and memory.
Should exercise caution in the consumption of black tea : children , people with nerves and anxiety or sleep disorders

I hope you find it helpful, comment and suggest . And do not forget to share !

Vengaya Vadagam Chutney Seasoned Onion Chutney

I have already told in one of my previous post that i wont hesitate a second to make variety of chutneys for our dinner as my H love to enjoy atleast his food with minimum two variety of chutneys if am serving idlis or dosas for his dinner.Obviously my space have so many variety of chutneys, when Sharmi posted herVengaya Vadagam Chutney i know ill be making this flavourful chutney coz this chutney was one of my grandmas signature dish, i still remember the flavour of this chutney and my grandma serves this chutney usually with soft idlies.

Somehow i never prepared this chutney and i have completely forgotten about this fingerlicking chutney. My grandma usually goes for shallots aka chinna vengayam for this chutney,but i combined both shallots and onion. I simply followed Sharmis recipe and prepared this chutney for our yesterdays dinner. We just loved it,thanks to Sharmi for sharing this recipe. Sending to Tried & Tasted event guest hosted by me,event by Lakshmi.

10nos Shallots (sliced)

1no Onion (sliced)

1tsp Vengaya vadagam/Seasoned Onion

3nos Dry red chillies

1no Tamarind (blue berry size)

Flaxseed oil (for serving)

Few curry leaves

Oil for cooking

Salt

Heat the oil and fry the seasoned onions until they turns brown, add immediately the dry red chillies and fry for few minutes.

Add the sliced shallots,sliced onions and saute until they turns brown, finally add the tamarind,curry leaves and put off the stove.

Once it gets cool, grind it as bit coarse paste with salt and water.

While serving add the flaxseed oil,give a mix and serve.

Vengaya Vadagam - its a seasoning, every South Indian house will have this seasoning for making their kuzhambu aka tamarind based gravies.

This seasoning is usually prepared in huge batches during summer just like the fryums.

On the Invisibility of Selection Bias and Regression to the Mean in Population Health Management

A DMCB Vacation....

While the Disease Management Care Blog is neglectfully vacationing at the New Jersey shore, the spouse is slathering it and the spawn with SPF 100³.  Thats why the DMCB cant help but recall the recent advice of a media dermatologist: fear the sun.  Every melanoma patient he had ever cared for "recalled at least one severe sunburn!"

The population health management providers would be well advised to remember that skin doctors silliness.  While every patient we recall "got better" also ask yourself the simple question that should have been posed by the radio-show host:

"What about the patients you didnt take care of?"

Talk to any telephonic-coach nurse or any medical home care manager, and he or she will likely be able to rattle off dozens of HIPAA-protected encounters that started with an expensive clueless patient and ended with a less-expensive empowered patient. They and their manager-supervisor-vice-presidents are sure they had an impact. They see little reason to believe otherwise and see no need for "proof."

Theyre wrong.

Unfortunately, for both dermatology and PHM, it cuts both ways.  Plenty of patients have had severe sunburns and never had to see a dermatologist.  And there are plenty of patients who go from high to low intensity without the benefit of care management.

Of course, dont credit the DMCB for this example of selection bias with regression to the mean.  Skeptic Francis Bacon commented on the invisibility of drowned worshippers centuries ago.

The DMCB wont mention that problem to the spouse when it enters the surf.

Image from Wikipedia

Swine Flu Offers Extraordinary Super Immunity

Swine flu infection boosted immunity to surprising degrees

People who recover from swine flu may be left with an extraordinary natural ability to fight off flu viruses, findings suggests.

In beating a bout of H1N1 the body makes antibodies that can kill many other flu strains, a study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine shows.

Doctors hope to harness this power to make a universal flu vaccine that would protect against any type of influenza.

Ultimately this could replace the "best guess" flu vaccines currently used.

Such a vaccine is the "holy grail" for flu researchers. Many scientists are already testing different prototypes to put an end to the yearly race to predict coming flu strains and quickly mass produce a new vaccine each flu season.

Dr Patrick Wilson who led the latest research said the H1N1 swine flu virus that reached pandemic levels infecting an estimated 60 million people last year, had provided a unique opportunity for researchers.

This work gives us more confidence that it will be possible to generate a universal flu vaccine”- Dr Sarah Gilbert Flu vaccine expert at Oxford University

"It demonstrates how to make a single vaccine that could potentially provide immunity to all influenza.

"The surprise was that such a very different influenza strain, as opposed to the most common strains, could lead us to something so widely applicable."
Extraordinary immunity

In the nine patients they studied who had caught swine flu during the pandemic, they found the infection had triggered the production of a wide range of antibodies that are only very rarely seen after seasonal flu infections or flu vaccination.

Five antibodies isolated by the team could fight all the seasonal H1N1 flu strains from the last decade, the devastating "Spanish flu" strain from 1918 which killed up to 50m people, plus a potentially deadly bird flu H5N1 strain.

The researchers believe the "extraordinarily" powerful antibodies were created as the body learned how to fight the new infection with swine flu using its old memory of how to fight off other flu viruses.

Next they plan to examine the immune response of people who were vaccinated against last years swine flu but did not get sick to see if they too have the same super immunity to flu.

Dr Sarah Gilbert is a expert in viruses at Oxford University and has been testing her own prototype universal flu vaccine.

She said: "Many scientists are working to develop a vaccine that would protect against the many strains of flu virus.

"This work gives us more confidence that it will be possible to generate a universal flu vaccine."

But she said it would take many years for a product to go through the necessary tests and trials.

"It will take at least five years before anything like this could be widely available."

The number of deaths this winter from flu verified by the Health Protection Agency currently is 50, with 45 of these due to swine flu.

Where healthier eating raw vegetables or vegetable juice drink

Where healthier, eating raw vegetables or vegetable juice drink? - Some people prefer to eat vegetables by means processed into juice for taste different flavors. However, some others consider eating raw vegetables is more healthy though sometimes it does not fit on the tongue. Really?

Vegetables really should be consumed two to three servings per day. Portion could even increase with the activities undertaken. However, for the affairs of the nutrients contained between raw vegetables and vegetable juices, you need to listen to the explanation first as reported by the Health Me Up below.

Digestion

Whole foods such as raw vegetables enjoyed it took a long time to digest. While the juice is much faster and easier to be processed by the body.

Fiber

Unfortunately, cultivate vegetables in juice form apparently eliminates fiber content. Though the function of one of them eating vegetables is to meet the needs of the body fibers.

Should stop drinking vegetable juice?

Not really. Vegetable juice can still be enjoyed if you really want to get the nutrients in a way that is easy and fast. But instead of fiber, try to eat other foods such as fresh fruit and grain.

Balance both

Good eating raw vegetables or vegetable juice drink has its advantages and disadvantages of each. But no need to choose one of them. Instead, enjoy them in an equal number.

In addition to be juice, vegetables can also be processed into smoothies if it did not particularly like the original flavor of the vegetable itself.

Why The Tipping Point for Health System Consolidation May Be Closer Than We Realize Lessons from Airline Mergers

Ready for take off

From time to time, the Disease Management Care Blog and other pundits turn to the airline industry draw lessons on the evolution of health care.  Integrated human-computer systems, safety check-lists, website-based Expedia-like price transparency, teaming and other such notions have infiltrated health policy PowerPoint presentations worse than Doritos bags in Seattle Hempfest crowd.

While the DMCB was mulling another lesson about the divide between coach (what vanilla insurance could turn out to be) versus business/first class (concierge-style direct pay), along came this interesting Wall Street Journal article by airline industry bad boy Robert Crandall about the American Airlines - US Airways merger.  He argues 1) mergers that lead to bigger are better (no surprise there) and 2) if some airlines are allowed to go big, the only way for others to compete is to go bigger also.

That latter argument is important, and may also hold lessons for health care. 

Mr. Crandall argues that once the furies are released and one or two regionally dominant service providers are allowed to populate the marketplace, smaller competitors are at a disadvantage.  As a result, they have no choice but to also seek alliances and mergers.  How well government reconciles consumer interests and business profitability will remain an open question involving lawyers, bureaucrats and politicians.

Ditto regional health care systems, accountable care organizations and integrated provider organizations. 

Once one of these behemoths is unleashed in a city or corner of a state, smaller neighboring provider systems will naturally circle the wagons and seek permission to consolidate so that, just like the airlines, they can compete. They make a good argument, because without the size, they could go bankrupt. 

As health reform continues, geographically large systems that can access capital, achieve economies of scale, become accountable and take insurance risk will grow in number and complexity. That will only fuel the further consolidation of small local hospitals and smaller physician practices.

In other words, the lesson from the airlines may be that that "tipping point" for nationwide health system consolidation may be much closer than we realize.

Image from Wikipedia