Coffee consumption may reduce the risk of death from sedentary lifestyles.

Coffee consumption may reduce the risk of death from sedentary lifestyles.

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Getting plenty of exercise each day is a necessary component of living a healthy lifestyle. In order to keep their hearts healthy, adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of heart-pumping physical activity per week, according to the American Heart Association. Based on previous studies, leading a sedentary lifestyle can negatively impact one’s general health and raise the chance of several illnesses, such as high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, and heart disease. Regular inactivity has also been connected to mortality from cardiovascular disease and other causes.

According to recent research that was published in the journal BMC Public Health, coffee consumption may be able to mitigate some of the negative consequences associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Researchers at Soochow University in Suzhou, China, have found that compared to sitting for less than four hours a day, sitting for more than eight hours a day was associated with a higher risk of mortality from heart disease and other causes. But compared to those who did not drink coffee, those who drank the most seemed to have a lower risk of dying. Researchers examined information regarding daily sitting time and coffee use from over 10,700 adults in the United States who took part in the 2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for this study.

The corresponding author of this study, Bingyan Li, PhD, professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene in the School of Public Health at the Medical College of Soochow University in Suzhou, China, told Medical News Today that “in recent years, increased TV viewing and computer use, as well as less physically demanding jobs, have led people to become more sedentary in their daily lives.” “Even if people meet recommended levels of physical activity, prolonged sitting might have a negative impact on metabolic health. The risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, is linked to sedentary behavior, which is increasingly becoming recognized as a possible predictor of negative health consequences. Furthermore, the world is heavily financially burdened by these unfavorable health outcomes.

Li said, “Yet, due to the potent antioxidant qualities of coffee components, coffee is one of the most widely consumed drinks in the world and among Americans. Growing research also suggests that regular coffee consumption can reduce morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases.” “Therefore, coffee may have a significant impact on public health even if it has a small health-boosting effect.” Li and her research team found that compared to individuals who sat for less than four hours a day, sitting for more than eight hours a day was associated with a higher risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease as well as other causes.

As coffee intake was taken into account, researchers discovered that individuals who drank the most coffee had lower mortality rates from cardiovascular disease and all causes as compared to those who drank less. Additionally, those who did not drink coffee and sat for six hours or more a day had a 1.6-fold increased risk of dying from all causes compared to those who drank coffee and sat for less than six hours a day, according to research. According to one study, sitting for extended periods of time without breaks seems to worsen inflammation and affect glucose metabolism, Li added.

Because sedentary behavior increases proinflammatory markers while lowering anti-inflammatory markers, it is an important and independent predictor of inflammation. Furthermore, she noted that earlier research had demonstrated how sedentary behavior affects skeletal muscle metabolism and that metabolic risks rose by 39% for every hour spent sitting or lying prone during the waking hours. Compared to sedentary activity, coffee consumption has numerous advantages for boosting adult overall survival. Drinking coffee lowers the chance of developing metabolic syndrome, which exacerbates inflammation. Numerous studies have revealed an inverse connection between adult cardiovascular disease mortality and coffee consumption, both overall and by cause.

Yu-Ming Ni, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, advised readers to use caution when interpreting the study’s results after reading it. Since this is an association research, our goal is to determine how coffee and cardiovascular disease are related. However, when examining correlations, it can be challenging to determine whether coffee use is the cause of the decline in heart disease or whether there are other factors that the coffee drinker is doing to lower their risk of cardiovascular death. That, then, is most likely the key lesson to be learned from this.

“I think it’s critical that we acknowledge that lifestyle decisions are the cornerstone of optimal health. The eight lifestyle decisions and medical treatments that are most strongly linked to excellent health are known as the “Essential 8,” according to the American Heart Association. Furthermore, only a very tiny percentage of Americans adhere to all eight criteria. Therefore, in my opinion, there is always room to research healthy habits and behavior modification as a means of maintaining your health and lowering your risk of heart disease. And one of the behaviors that we have been researching for a while is the intake of coffee. They also discussed this study with Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, owner of Nutrition-In-Sight and registered dietitian nutritionist.

According to Richard, it’s critical to keep in mind that a variety of things can affect one’s ability to profit from coffee, tea, or any other beverage. “The bean’s origin, quality, processing method, additions (preservatives, cream, sugar), amount and frequency of consumption, and the person’s sensitivity to caffeine, present health (prescription drugs, high blood pressure, cardiac issues), and metabolic reaction to it,” she explained. “The current [recommended daily limit] is three to five 8-ounce cups per day, or approximately 400 mg of caffeine; however, tolerance may vary greatly among individuals.”

Looking at additional benefits of coffee consumption that people might find counteract the negative effects of being sedentary, Richard mentioned that caffeine from coffee may act on the central nervous system to increase alertness and may also have a feel-good, mood-boosting effect on an individual. She went on, “It might give mental acuteness and clarity.” But there are a few drawbacks to take into account as well. A few substances in coffee, particularly if unfiltered, have the potential to increase cholesterol, induce jitters, anxiety, GERD, GI problems, palpitations, or other cardio-metabolic markers including homocysteine levels. Richard offered the following advice to readers who might be thinking about consuming coffee for its possible health benefits:  Consult a licensed dietitian nutritionist to determine whether or not coffee is right for you.  If you’re not enjoying it already, don’t feel compelled to start adding it. The benefits of an unsweetened coffee with low-fat milk or no added sugar won’t come from a 32-ounce cold brew with extra vanilla and caramel syrup.  Assess your intake and ask yourself, “If I am sedentary for six to eight hours, how can I move more every hour, every day?

https://www.sciencealert.com/drinking-coffee-may-lower-risk-of-death-from-too-much-sitting
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-18515-9
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240423/US-study-links-extended-sitting-and-lack-of-coffee-to-higher-death-rates.aspx
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drinking-coffee-may-help-lower-death-risk-being-sedentary

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How a keto diet may improve mental and cognitive function as one ages

How a keto diet may improve mental and cognitive function as one ages

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A plausible mechanism supporting the benefits observed in aging male mice on ketogenic diets, or “keto diets,” has been identified by researchers. It has been shown that switching between a control and a ketogenic diet for male mice leads to an enhancement in the communication between brain synapses. One of the paper’s authors, John Newman, MD, PhD, previously published a proof-of-concept study demonstrating that feeding male mice a cyclic ketogenic diet decreased their risk of dying in midlife and avoided the typical aging-related deterioration in memory.

The lead author of the new study on keto diets and aging, Christian Gonza lez-Billault, is a professor at the Universidad de Chile, the director of the Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), an adjunct professor at The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and he said, “We decided to study the effect of the ketogenic diet after reading two seminal papers published in 2017 that showed its beneficial roles in the overall health of aged mice, including brain performance.” He went on, “The authors demonstrated improvement in these two [prior] works in particular behavioral tasks that are routinely used in animal experimentation to evaluate memory and learning.”

Gonza lez-Billault, who worked with Newman on the most recent study, continued, “Such an improvement convinced us to go deeper into the molecular mechanisms that explain that positive response on one side, but also prompted us to include several other assessments at different levels, ranging from the whole organism level to the molecular functions, to understand why the diet was beneficial in aged animals.” The team’s most recent findings are published in Cell Reports Medicine. In order to explore the earlier results more thoroughly, the researchers maintained 19 male mice, which are considered to be of “old age” in mice, for 20–23 months. They were either fed a control diet or a ketogenic diet that alternated with the control diet every other week.

The mice’s metabolic parameters were examined for the first twelve weeks, and then they were kept on their diets and had behavioral testing for five weeks. The findings showed that in older animals, the ketogenic diet was linked to reduced blood sugar, enhanced memory, and enhanced motor function. Researchers observed that the hippocampal area of aged mice’s brains had more flexibility. Subsequent investigation revealed that the enhanced plasticity observed in mice maintained on a ketogenic diet and alternated with a control diet was caused by a ketone body, a molecule generated when glucose levels are low, activating a signaling channel between the synapses.

We concentrate on older mice since prior research indicated that the influence of diet on juvenile animals was less pronounced and occasionally did not differ significantly from a control diet. These earlier findings imply that preserving resilience in elderly mice and enhancing their physiological processes as they age would be among the diet’s advantageous effects, according to Gonzá lez-Billault. The distinction between lifespan—which is our entire vital trajectory from the moment of our birth until the day of our death—and healthspan—which is the portion of our vital trajectory free from chronic diseases—makes this idea crucial to the study of aging, the speaker said.

Small human studies have also revealed that the ketogenic diet may improve cognition in addition to animal research, especially in older persons with dementia. The mechanisms, which include reduced inflammation, enhanced blood sugar regulation, and the potential for ketones to boost brain function, may be similar to those observed in animal research. To validate these possible advantages, larger clinical trials are necessary, although the research is still in its early phases. A drawback of ketogenic diets, aside from the paucity of solid human studies, is that many people find it difficult to maintain their diets without including carbohydrates.  

Ketogenic diets are linked to lower intakes of plant-based foods because they drastically limit carbohydrate intake. This may lead to a reduction in the consumption of nutrients crucial for general health, such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Experts typically advise older persons to adhere to diets for good aging that are backed by more thorough human studies rather than the keto diet. Two of the most well-recommended and scientifically supported diets for good aging are the DASH and Mediterranean regimens.Trusted Source. To guarantee sufficient nutritional intake and the greatest possible health results, it is advisable for someone who is interested in trying a ketogenic diet to do so under the supervision of a doctor or qualified dietitian.

Both this investigation and earlier ones have focused exclusively on male mice. Because single-gender use improves the power of comparison and makes it difficult to examine the influence on the entire population—one of our study’s limitations—we chose to focus first on the intervention’s effects in male mice. Gonza lez-Billault clarified, “Yet, the results of this study call for additional analysis of the ketogenic diet’s effects on female mice. Given that women’s metabolisms digest fats differently than men’s, concerns have been raised in the past regarding the efficacy of ketogenic diets in this population. Research is now being done with this in mind.

But because the current research was done on mice, this means that the latest study is not only limited in its applicability to our understanding of ketogenic diets in humans, but it is also limited in terms of its applicability across biological sexes, as it was only conducted on males. Gonza lez-Billault concurred that more investigation into the findings is absolutely necessary.

“We plan to further investigate the molecular processes underlying the advantageous effects of food on elderly animals in our upcoming research. Our goal is to determine if the impacts we see in the brain are limited to the brain alone, or if some of the responses we assess are connected to broader systemic effects or the operation of other pertinent organs. Furthermore, we aim to gain a deeper comprehension of the metabolic alterations that enhance the brain’s cellular activities,” he informed us. While this study produced intriguing and surprising results, additional research in humans is necessary to validate these benefits, as other experts have also pointed out.

“This study suggests that repeatedly going on a short-term keto diet can have benefits to memory, motor function, and neuroplasticity, but doesn’t suggest any particular reason why,” said Catherine Rall, RDN, a registered dietitian based in Denver, CO, and a certified nutritionist at Happy V. Rall was not involved in the research. The fact that this study was conducted on male mice means that there is limited application of the findings to women and other human populations.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-keto-diets-may-help-boost-memory-brain-health-later-in-life
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/low-carb-ketogenic-diet-brain
https://neurosciencenews.com/keto-diet-memory-aging-26339/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9102882/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-keto-diets-may-help-boost-memory-brain-health-later-in-life

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The reason why people walk more slowly as they age is explained by new study.

The reason why people walk more slowly as they age is explained by new study.

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It is well known that as we age, our bodies naturally get slower in moving. A slower metabolism, loss of muscular mass, and a gradual decrease in activity level are a few possible causes. According to University of Colorado Boulder experts, older persons may move more slowly than younger adults because it takes them more energy to move. Researchers think that this new study, which was just published in the Journal of Neuroscience, may contribute to the development of novel diagnostic instruments for conditions including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. 84 healthy individuals were gathered for the study by the researchers, comprising older adults (66–87 years old) and younger adults (18–35 years old).

Participants in the study were required to use their right hand to grasp a robotic arm while reaching for a target on a screen. The robotic arm functioned like a mouse on a computer. Scientists discovered that, in contrast to younger adults, older adults altered their movements at specific moments to help conserve their more limited levels of energy by examining the patterns of how research participants conducted their reaches. Alaa A. Ahmed, PhD, professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder and senior author of this study, told MNT that as we age, our muscle cells may become less effective at converting energy into muscle force and eventually movement.

We may also become less effective in our movement patterns as a means of making up for our diminished strength. Therefore, in order to complete the same tasks, we must use more muscles, which uses more energy. Since the body releases less dopamine as we age, Ahmed and her team were also interested in investigating potential effects of aging on the brain’s “reward circuitry.” The task of moving a cursor on a computer screen with the robotic arm was given to the participants once more. Reaching a particular target on the screen was the aim. A “bing” sound was used to notify participants when they reached the target. Researchers discovered that when adults knew they would hear the “bing,” both young and elderly reached the goals more quickly.

Scientists claim that older persons improved their reaction times and began their reach with the robotic arm an average of 17 milliseconds sooner than younger adults, who simply moved their arms faster. Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, expressed his agreement with the study’s recommendation to exercise as we age, even if it requires more energy to accomplish the same activity as when we were younger. “As a neurologist, I always tell my elderly patients, ‘If you don’t use it, you will lose it!'” Segil went on. “I concur with the authors of this article that encouraging elderly patients to move has numerous health benefits.”

He continued, “To support the author’s claims, I would like to see a concomitant EEG (electroencephalogram) running on these study participants to determine if their brain activity does slow down or increase during these activities.” I also discussed this study with Ryan Glatt, CPT, NBC-HWC, senior brain health coach and director of the FitBrain Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California. He said, “I think more research on how an elderly brain adapts to the challenges of aging and moving would be fascinating to read and helpful to my aging patients.” According to Glatt, “(This) study on why older adults move slower offers an intriguing hypothesis linking slower movements to reward processing and energy conservation.”  But it’s important to understand the conceptual leap from observed behavior to underlying brain functions with caution. The findings are conjectural in the absence of concrete neurological data linking alterations in brain function brought on by aging to movement patterns.

REFERENCES:

https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/04/23/why-do-we-move-slower-older-we-get-new-study-delivers-answers
https://megadoctornews.com/new-research-helps-explain-why-people-move-slower-as-they-get-older/
https://scienceblog.com/543935/why-old-people-move-slowly/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/why-do-people-move-slower-as-they-get-older-study

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A month following stent implantation, stopping aspirin may not raise the risk of blood clots.

A month following stent implantation, stopping aspirin may not raise the risk of blood clots.

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Following a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat a heart blockage, physicians typically prescribe two antiplatelet medications or blood thinners for one year. According to a recent study, those blood thinners could be safely reduced in half in just one month. Research indicates that patients can safely stop taking one blood thinner after taking two for a month, and there is no increased risk of clots forming on the hardware implanted during percutaneous coronary intervention.

Blood thinners can cause bleeding, make it difficult for scabs to form over wounds, and cause other negative side effects, even though they provide significant protection against the formation of clots. Dual antiplatelet therapy, or DAPT, combines antiplatelet medications used after surgery. It usually contains a stronger P2Y12 receptor inhibitor (there are several), along with aspirin. The medication ticagrelor was used in the study. DAPT is recommended for a full year because there is a decreased chance of clotting beyond that time.

The research examined treatment plans and results for 3,400 Acute Coronary Syndrome patients at 58 facilities in China, Italy, Pakistan, and the U.S. K., from October 2022 to August 2018. Every research participant had undergone PCI. Once stable for a month following the procedure, they were randomized into one of two groups. The new DAPT consisted of ticagrelor and placebo for 1,700 patients. For the entire year, the remaining people took aspirin and ticagrelor.

After one month, 78 participants taking ticagrelor-aspirin experienced major or minor bleeding events, while only 35 participants in the ticagrelor-placebo group experienced such events. This equates to a 55% decrease in bleeding incidents. Significant cardiovascular events were statistically comparable in the two groups, indicating that the ticagrelor-placebo group’s stop of aspirin did not lead to a rise in unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes. There are two ways to address the issue of blocked arteries. The only procedure available to us back then was bypass surgery, in which a surgeon physically enters the body and reroutes all blood flow around the blockages.

Over the past three decades, percutaneous coronary intervention has been used. This minimally invasive technique involves threading small catheters through the groin or wrist to the heart, where doctors use wires, balloons, and stents to open up blocked arteries. Blood clots can form around these devices, which is why patients are often prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy to prevent ischemic events. Compared to bypass surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention is a much less invasive and more common procedure now.

Every hospital performs percutaneous coronary interventions daily, according to Chen. The study tackles a balancing act that has long been a source of difficulty for cardiologists. The problem was explained by Jayne Morgan, MD, a cardiologist and the Executive Director of Health and Community Education at Piedmont Healthcare Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia. She was not involved in the study. The main goal of DAPT is to prevent ischemic events, but as the risk-benefit ratio is considered, there has been some discussion about DAPT after PCI in patients with both acute and chronic coronary syndromes..

She stated it is obvious that the risk of more ischemia needs to be decreased. Morgan called the results compelling and expressed her anticipation for more data on the subject, but at what cost to increased bleeding and its inherent morbidity on the patient as well? According to her, Single Action Platelet Therapy with ticagrelor alone between months one and twelve seems to have produced a comparable rate of MACCE [major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events] with fewer bleeding complications.

This study answers a question that we were all curious about. Even though it’s unquestionably a safer strategy than what we’re all doing right now, it demonstrates that this approach is effective. Furthermore, it demonstrated that things weren’t worse. You were giving the two blood thinners, but it wasn’t leading to more clots forming on the stent. We really need to know that information, Chen said. He stated that things won’t change right away because the protocol of administering two blood thinners after PCI has been in place for decades. The American Heart Association, American Cardiology College, and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions are among the significant advisory bodies that update their recommendations yearly. Chen predicted that this would be a significant step toward future changes to these rules.

REFERENCES:
https://people.com/ozempic-like-drug-slowed-progression-parkinsons-disease-new-trial-8627473
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ozempic-like-drug-may-help-slow-progression-parkinsons-symptoms
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/04/drug-similar-to-ozempic-slowed-parkinsons-disease-in-small-trial.html

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Ozempic-like drug may help slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms

Ozempic-like drug may help slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms

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Scientists have found that a drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes can help reduce the development of motor skills deterioration in people with early-stage Parkinson’s, according to the findings of a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study, which was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, followed 156 participants in France whose diagnosis of Parkinson’s had been within the last three years, were on a stable regime of medication to treat symptoms, and who did not yet have marked decline in motor skills. The participants were either given lixisenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that is used to treat diabetes, or a placebo.

After 12 months, the 78 people who had been given lixisenatide showed virtually no further deterioration of motor skills that is commonly seen with Parkinson’s disease, while those who were given a placebo saw a worsening of those symptoms. Nearly half of the group who took lixisenatide reported nausea and 13% experienced vomiting. It is a fascinating study that is proof of concept that this class of medications may have some protective effect and be of advantage to someday treat Parkinson’s. It will be interesting to see if the results hold true for other newer GLP-1 agents like Ozempic/Wegovy and Zepbound, Gabbay said.

Parkinson’s is a disorder characterized by significant neurological decline that can manifest in tremors, motor control problems, and dementia. There is no known cause, but it is associated with a lack of dopamine in the brain. It is the second most common neurological disease after Alzheimer’s in the U.S., and it is believed that at least 500,000 adults in the U.S. have it.

Daniel Truong, MD, neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, told MNT that links between Parkinson’s and diabetes hinge on several common threads between the disorders: There is ongoing research exploring the potential links between diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Several studies have suggested that individuals with diabetes may have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, and vice versa, Truong said.

Chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress are common features of both diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Research suggests that inflammatory processes in the brain may play a role in the progression of Parkinson’s disease, and there is evidence linking inflammation to insulin resistance in diabetes. Studies have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in diabetes, while mitochondrial impairment is also a key feature of dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinson’s disease.

Emerging evidence suggests that alpha-synuclein pathology may also be present in peripheral tissues, including pancreatic beta cells in individuals with diabetes. Further research could explore the role of alpha-synuclein aggregation in diabetes-related complications and its potential link to Parkinson’s disease. GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists are part of a treatment regimen for people with type 2 diabetes. They can help reproduce or enhance the effects of a naturally occurring gut hormone that assists in the control of blood sugar levels, and they can also reduce appetite by working on brain hunger centers; this is one of the reasons drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been associated with weight loss.

Truong said that a drug like lixisenatide has neuroprotective effects, which would clearly provide some assistance for people with a neurological disorder like Parkinson’s. But he also pointed out how common traits in both diabetes and Parkinson’s can provide some insight into GLP-1 receptor agonists as a way to reduce Parkinson’s symptoms.

There is emerging evidence suggesting shared pathophysiological mechanisms between diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. For example, insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism have been implicated in both conditions. Therefore, drugs that target these mechanisms, such as GLP-1 RAs, might have beneficial effects in both diseases.
In some studies, the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease was lower among patients with diabetes who were treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, which increase GLP-1 levels, than among patients who received other diabetes medications.

Truong said that the study’s limitations warrant further research to establish several aspects of long-term treatment of Parkinson’s with GLP-1 receptor agonists: dose optimization, combination therapies, safety and tolerability, and effects on the non-motor symptoms. Parkinson’s disease is associated with a wide range of non-motor symptoms, including cognitive impairment, autonomic dysfunction, and psychiatric symptoms. Future studies should investigate whether lixisenatide has beneficial effects on non-motor symptoms in addition to motor symptoms.

Although the study suggested a potential neuroprotective effect of lixisenatide, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific neuroprotective mechanisms of lixisenatide in Parkinson’s disease, including its effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and alpha-synuclein pathology.

REFERENCES:
https://people.com/ozempic-like-drug-slowed-progression-parkinsons-disease-new-trial-8627473
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ozempic-like-drug-may-help-slow-progression-parkinsons-symptoms
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/04/drug-similar-to-ozempic-slowed-parkinsons-disease-in-small-trial.html

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=1_22_846

Can we leverage immunotherapy against Alzheimer’s disease?

Can we leverage immunotherapy against Alzheimer’s disease?

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The most prevalent type of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, affects approximately 32 million people worldwide. Experts predict that the number of dementia cases will rise to 152 million by 2050 due to an aging population. Alzheimer’s disease currently has no known treatment options and no cure. Because of this, scientists have been working to develop new treatments for this kind of dementia. Immunotherapy, a treatment that strengthens the body’s immune response to combat Alzheimer’s disease, is one possible avenue of treatment that researchers are investigating.

The journal Science Translational Medicine published one of the most recent studies on immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis conducted this study. Louis describes how to use antibodies to help the immune cells in the nervous system remove unnecessary debris that can cause Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease currently has no known cure and current treatments only provide symptomatic relief.

The FDA [Food and Drug Administration] has approved lecanemab and aducanumab, two monoclonal antibodies, for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical trials are being conducted on other monoclonal antibodies that activate the TREM2 receptor, thereby improving microglial responses to amyloid-beta pathology. However, more research is needed to determine how effective these treatments are. To improve overall efficacy, it is imperative to investigate alternative approaches that may prove to be more efficacious or serve as a supplement to currently available monoclonal antibody treatments.

The researchers used a mouse model to test their approach, which focused on proteins that control the activity of a particular type of immune cell in the nervous system called microglia. According to Colonna, microglia react to both activating and inhibitory cues from the surrounding tissue. Their main function is to eliminate poisonous substances that accumulate in the brain through phagocytosis, a process in which cells “consume” foreign substances. The signals that these toxins send cause microglia to engulf them.

The healthy components of the brain, which send signals to inhibit microglial activity, must be protected at the same time by microglia, he continued. Blocking inhibitory stimuli or supplying activating ones will both improve microglial phagocytic function. Receptors that reduce microglial phagocytosis are the main target of our strategy. Microglia may be able to reduce neuroinflammation and remove the harmful buildup of proteins like tau and beta-amyloid, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to earlier research.

Colonna and his colleagues also investigated the potential role of the brain microglia-resident LILRB4 receptorTrusted Source in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Brain microglia contain the receptor LILRB4, which binds to ApoETrusted Source, a fat-transporting protein that is both widely distributed in the brain and a component of amyloid plaques linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease risk is elevated in certain human population variants of [the gene that expresses] ApoE. High levels of LILRB4 were first found on microglial surfaces in brain tissue samples from Alzheimer’s patients, according to research.

A mouse model that could express the human LILRB4 receptor was then employed by the scientists. It was demonstrated by their experiments that the microglia’s interaction with beta-amyloid plaques was interfered with by the LILRB4 receptor. Beta-amyloid accumulation in the brain was linked to behavioral changes in maze tests, but treatment with antibodies against LILRB4 resulted in decreased beta-amyloid levels in the brain and increased microglial activity.

We found that the ability of microglia to remove amyloid plaques is slowed down when ApoE binds to LILRB4, as Colonna explained. The capacity of microglia to remove these plaques is, however, increased when a particular antibody is used to prevent ApoE from attaching to LILRB4. This implies the possibility of amyloid plaque removal from Alzheimer’s patients treated with this antibody. Based on these results, we believe that administering this particular monoclonal antibody to patients with Alzheimer’s disease may aid in the brain’s removal of amyloid plaques and other toxic proteins that accumulate in neuron diseases. To improve the efficacy of other currently being tested treatments, this one may also be combined with them.

This study offers more proof of the potential of neuroimmunologyTrusted Source to treat and, eventually, cure Alzheimer’s disease, according to a board-certified neuropsychologist who was not involved in the research and who reviewed it for MNT. More evidence that monoclonal antibodies can disrupt the accumulation of beta-amyloid, one of the main disease biomarkers, comes from these research findings. She pointed out that we still don’t know how protection against cognitive decline and the progression of the disease is provided by reducing amyloid from this novel mechanism, anti-LILRB4 microglia signaling.

According to Sullivan, there will be a dramatic increase in the number of people with dementia as a result of the so-called “graying of the world.”. We must direct all available resources toward the treatment and medical management of these diseases because the substantial rise in the number of cases of neurodegenerative disorders has a huge financial and psychological cost. Toxins and other hazardous substances are kept out of the brain by the brain-protecting blood-brain barrier, which is maintained in part by microglia. This study outlines the potential consequences of disrupting these protective functions in the etiology (also known as the causal mechanisms) of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as potential treatments.

Effective Alzheimer’s disease treatment is still a goal of ours. One potential course of treatment would be to restore microglia function. The most prevalent type of dementia, affecting millions of people globally, is Alzheimer’s disease. Because of aging populations, it is anticipated that the number of cases will rise dramatically in the ensuing decades. It is a global public health emergency because it significantly increases the financial and caregiving load on families, communities, and society as a whole. According to the expert, there is currently no effective treatment that can halt or reverse the course of the disease. She continued, Our ongoing research suggests that multiple processes/risk factors may be involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Investigating different therapies that can halt or slow down the neurodegenerative process is therefore crucial.

REFERENCES:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-we-leverage-immunotherapy-against-alzheimers-disease
https://translationalneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40035-022-00292-3
https://molecularneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1750-1326-8-36

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_239

Severe mental health and metabolic symptoms may be ameliorated by a ketogenic diet.

Severe mental health and metabolic symptoms may be ameliorated by a ketogenic diet.

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In the United States, mental health disorders are thought to impact at least 578 million adults. Included in this are serious illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Antipsychotic drugs are sometimes necessary for the treatment of symptoms, but they can also have detrimental effects on metabolism, including weight gain and insulin resistance, which can make people feel worse about themselves and sometimes force them to stop taking their medications. To address these issues, Stanford Medicine recently conducted a pilot study to determine whether a ketogenic diet could improve the metabolic and psychiatric outcomes of patients with severe mental illness.

Diabetes, obesity, and mental health issues are just a few of the conditions that have been successfully managed by the ketogenic diet, which is high in fats, low in carbs, and moderate in protein. A 4-month ketogenic diet intervention may now dramatically improve symptoms and quality of life in individuals with severe mental illness and metabolic conditions when combined with standard medication and treatment, according to a pilot study from Stanford Medicine.

According to recent research, following a ketogenic diet that consists of high-fat, low-carb foods may help reduce weight gain and other side effects from the medications used to treat serious mental illness. Researchers at Stanford Medicine conducted a clinical trial in which they enrolled 23 patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and gave them dietary instructions to consume roughly 60% fat, 30% protein, and 10% carbohydrates. Researchers have found that drugs used to treat severe mental illness can have “major metabolic side effects,” like weight gain and insulin resistance. All of the patients in the study experienced at least one of these symptoms. Upon completing a four-month ketogenic diet, a significant improvement in psychiatric symptoms was observed in 79% of the participants.

Further research is required to ascertain whether dietary modifications can significantly, long-term benefit patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, given the small size and brief duration of the study. However, the results are part of an expanding body of evidence pointing to a strong connection between diet and brain health. Additionally, studies on the ketogenic diet have been conducted to treat epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. Theoretically, by addressing metabolic problems, the diet may lessen mental symptoms. The working theory, according to study lead author Shebani Sethi, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine, is that we’re giving the brain energy to get around these metabolic deficiencies.

Researchers are aware that a ketogenic diet can help the brain, but Sethi said it is still unclear how much the diet can specifically help with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Initial search strategies turned up a total of 32 experimental or observational studies, 14 of which satisfied the requirements to be included in this analysis. While the exact diet plans used in each study varied slightly, they all primarily looked at low-carb dietary intake to induce a ketotic state. According to the studies in this review, KD helped lower symptoms related to a range of psychiatric conditions.

There are various theories regarding the application of KD to treat mental health disorders. The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to glutamate ratio in the brain is thought to be altered by the KD, favoring GABA. Theoretically, the imbalanced GABA levels in a person with schizophrenia could be compensated for by this increase in GABA, which would then lessen symptoms like delusions and hallucinations.

Additionally, it is believed that ketogenic diets reduce reactive oxygen species and raise levels of phosphocreatine, adenosine triphosphate, and other nutrients that enhance metabolic efficiency. This may be advantageous for people on medications that increase their risk of gaining weight. This may lessen brain inflammation, which could relieve symptoms in a variety of illness states, including Alzheimer’s disease. 7 There is also another theory that suggests ketosis limits neuronal excitability and apoptosis, which could account for the positive reports of KD in epileptic patients.

Due to beneficial changes in the gut microbiome, the metabolic alterations linked to seizure reduction may also have potential benefits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Acidic plasma is thought to stabilize mood in bipolar disorder by decreasing intracellular calcium and sodium. The KD improves daytime sleepiness by increasing the activation of orexin-containing neurons in narcolepsy patients by causing relative hypoglycemia. This systematic review aims to investigate the clinical effects of KD on different states of psychiatric illness. The examined research offers proof that the KD may help treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ASD, Alzheimer’s disease, and anorexia nervosa.

REFERENCES:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/04/02/ketogenic-bipolar-mental-diet/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8120987/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/a-keto-diet-may-help-improve-severe-mental-health-metabolic-symptoms

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Obesity and a high-fat diet may accelerate brain aging, lead to cognitive decline

Obesity and a high-fat diet may accelerate brain aging, lead to cognitive decline

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Globally, obesity is becoming a bigger problem for public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 16% of people worldwide suffered from obesity in 2022. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 41.9% of Americans were obese in 2020, indicating a significantly higher prevalence. Younger people are becoming more and more concerned about the condition; according to the WHO, 160 million children and adolescents worldwide will suffer from obesity in 2022. An individual who is overweight is more likely to experience health issues, and the risks rise with weight. Obesity raises the possibility of numerous illnesses, such as:

Obesity may also hasten brain aging and cause cognitive decline, according to a new study that will be presented at the American Physiology Summit in Long Beach, California, April 4–7. The study’s findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The body, including the cerebrovasculature, is known to be affected by a variety of systemic inflammatory reactions that are triggered by diet-induced obesity. The persistent inflammatory state that obesity produces is one of the main reasons it may cause senescence in the cerebrovasculature.

Obesity damages brain blood vessels: Research indicates that obesity is linked to a decline in cognitive function. Although the precise mechanism is unknown, inflammation, a known effect of obesity, may have an impact on cognitive function because being obese in midlife is linked to a higher risk of dementia and a decline in executive function when compared to a normal weight8,35. However, other studies have found that late-life obesity is associated with a lower risk of dementia and improved cognition. Obese people’s adipose tissue secretes a variety of bioactive substances, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can travel throughout the body and impact distant organs like the brain.

A high-fat diet consisting primarily of omega-6 and SFAs has been linked to poorer performance on a cognitive task in human epidemiological studies. Moreover, research indicates that a diet high in SFAs and TFAs is linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Several factors can age-related brain damage that results in cognitive impairments. These variables include head trauma, toxins like alcohol, too many stress hormones, cerebral ischemia, and the onset of degenerative dementias like AD. The average age of an overweight person’s brain was eight years older than that of a normal-weight person, according to research from the University of Pittsburgh, and overweight people had 4% less brain volume.

A retrospective study conducted in China found that a high energy intake of fat and protein and a low energy intake from carbohydrates are associated with cognitive decline in later life (23). Low levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fats in the diet may also be linked to memory loss. The main factor contributing to cognitive impairment is age. A person’s family history, lack of physical activity, and illnesses like diabetes, drugs, toxins, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, stroke, brain injury, and brain cancer are additional risk factors.

According to research, maintaining brain health may be aided by combining physical exercise, mental and social stimulation, and a healthy diet. Reading books, learning an instrument, and engaging in other activities have all been linked to the preservation of brain function, according to studies. Social interaction can help maintain mental health and slow the aging process. It can also make life more fulfilling. You may be able to perform better with memory training and other cognitive training.

These inflammatory signals can accelerate the aging of vascular cells and the onset of senescence in the brain, which makes it more difficult for the vessels to control blood flow and react to brain activity, the speaker continued. Numerous research findings indicate that individuals with obesity or a high body mass index (BMI) experience decreased cerebral blood flow, a finding that may be linked to compromised cognitive function, especially in the elderly. In this most recent study, the researchers examined the impact of obesity and a high-fat diet on mice’s brain blood vessels and cognitive function. They fed a 60 percent fat or 10 percent fat diet to novel transgenic mice (p16-3MR mice, which allow for the visualization and selective elimination of senescent cells).

Researchers compared the endothelial cells in the blood vessels of the mice on the high-fat diet to those on the regular diet and found that the former were more prone to senescence a condition in which cells cease to divide but do not die, releasing chemicals that may cause inflammation. The founder of Dietitian Insights and registered dietitian nutritionist Kelsey Costa stated, “The results of this animal study suggest that obesity and poor eating patterns lead to the build-up of blood vessel damage, which reduces oxygen delivery to particular brain regions and may ultimately result in cognitive decline.

In mice fed a high-fat diet, the radial arm water maze test revealed reduced cognitive function in addition to an increase in senescent endothelial cells. Researchers used Navitoclax/ABT263, a medication that specifically destroys senescent cells, on obese older mice fed a high-fat diet to examine the importance of these cells. The mice’s cognitive function improved after treatment. Even though the study was done on mice, it provides us with helpful suggestions regarding possible human outcomes. The removal of senescent cells improved the brains of obese mice, which is exciting because it suggests a potential treatment for brain issues associated with obesity. Navitoclax-induced senescent cell elimination in the brains of obese mice appeared to enhance brain vasculature, suggesting that this approach may be useful in treating obesity-related cognitive decline.

Obesity may accelerate the aging and senescence of brain blood vessel cells. If a connection is found between obesity and cellular senescence, this could lead to new research directions that address therapeutic approaches to stop or delay the onset of senescence and potentially improve the health problems associated with obesity, such as cognitive decline. The findings demonstrated that in comparison to normal-weight mice fed a standard diet, mice fed a high-fat diet had, after three months, increased cellular senescence and decreased density of healthy blood vessels in the brain, along with evidence of impaired learning in a maze test. Furthermore, by employing Navitoclax, an experimental cancer medication that targets and eliminates senescent cells specifically, the researchers were able to enhance the characteristics of the brain vasculature.

REFERENCES:
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240407/Obesity-and-high-fat-diets-linked-to-accelerated-aging-in-brain-blood-vessels.aspx
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159124002617?via%3Dihub
https://immunityageing.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12979-022-00323-7

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Blended antioxidant supplements may help boost memory and cognition

Blended antioxidant supplements may help boost memory and cognition

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By reducing an excess of unstable free radical molecules that can harm healthy cells, antioxidants aid in promoting cell health. Although free radicals are a normal part of life, an excessive amount of them can overwhelm healthy cells and lead to oxidative stress. An extensive array of health problems have been associated with oxidative stress. Molecules known as antioxidants can reduce or even stop cell damage in the body. Though synthetic antioxidants are also taken as supplements, they are mostly found in plants and some even occur in the human body.

The Japanese researchers employed Twendee X, a blended antioxidant product that is presently available for purchase in that nation. In the new study, 18-month-old genetically modified mice were given a blended antioxidant in water, which they were free to drink or not for a month. The antioxidant was created by Professor Haruhiko Inufusa of the Department of Antioxidant Research and contains eight different types of antioxidants.

In contrast to mice in the control group who were given plain filtered tap water, their spatial cognition and short-term memory improved during the test period as demonstrated by their performance in a Morris water maze and Y-maze. Running distance was found to have increased significantly more in the blended antioxidant mice by the end of the study compared to the normal control group of mice not taking blended antioxidants, according to treadmill tests.

No appreciable differences were observed between the two groups in subsequent attempts to train mice on the treadmills with additional supplement administration, indicating that while the combined antioxidant may not increase exercise capacity or strength, it may help prevent age-related muscle decline. Upon post-mortem analysis of the brains of the blended-antioxidant mice, the researchers noted a noteworthy reduction in total cholesterol levels and aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme indicative of muscle damage.

No appreciable differences were observed between the two groups in subsequent attempts to train mice on the treadmills with additional supplement administration, indicating that while the combined antioxidant may not increase exercise capacity or strength, it may help prevent age-related muscle decline. Upon post-mortem analysis of the brains of the blended-antioxidant mice, the researchers noted a noteworthy reduction in total cholesterol levels and aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme indicative of muscle damage.

The study’s first author, Kouji Fukui, PhD, responded to a question about the safety of blended antioxidants by pointing out that the supplement in question is already available for purchase. It is available for purchase by anybody. I also have a daily drink of it. Though combining them yields a greater impact than taking them separately, Fukui and Routhenstein both advised against creating one’s own concoction of antioxidants from pre-existing supplements. It is practically hard for average consumers to select several supplements and keep taking them. Overconsumption of certain vitamins may pose an issue. He mentioned that TwendeeX has amino acids in addition to vitamins, which is an intriguing combination in my opinion.

Routhenstein concurred, stating that there are safety issues with homemade antioxidant blends, including difficulties in determining dosage accuracy, possible drug interactions, contamination, and the possibility of toxicity from excessive consumption, particularly with fat-soluble antioxidants. Routhenstein noted that when blended antioxidants are prepared in precise dosages and administered using a clinically monitored and investigated protocol, it is simpler to evaluate their impact and compliance for research purposes. A person can consume a variety of foods that contain various antioxidants to safely mimic the blended effect.

There are plenty of antioxidant-rich foods to choose from. These consist of potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and carrots. More excellent sources include cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, and squash. Other foods high in antioxidants include spinach, okra, beets, dark chocolate, kale, raspberries, pecans, blueberries, and strawberries. The results of this study, which showed that combined antioxidants improved mice’s short-term and spatial memory, are not surprising as antioxidants have been shown to support cognition in numerous studies.

Fukui was taken aback, nevertheless, by the results of his investigation, which showed that they also appeared to halt the aging-related loss of muscle mass. Age-related declines in muscle strength are avoided by using our blended supplement. While the results are encouraging, it is still too early to extrapolate the findings to the human race. Antioxidants may help reduce the oxidative stress that exercise causes in the muscles, which may facilitate recovery and strengthen the muscles. To confirm these benefits of combined antioxidants in human trials, more investigation is needed, according to Routhenstein.

Extended COVID-19 can cause cognitive decline known as “brain fog,” which can drastically alter an individual’s quality of life. The post-coronavirus effects may also be effectively countered by [blended antioxidants], according to some research. They have an antioxidant effect, which is the fundamental idea, according to Fukui. In addition to preventing age-related health decline, antioxidants can lower oxidative stress. In mice given a mixed antioxidant supplement, recent research has shown significant improvements in short-term memory, spatial cognition, and a reduction in age-related muscle decline.

One of the biggest challenges facing the healthcare industry is the age-related decline in muscle and cognitive function. It is anticipated that in the future, the cost of healthcare will rise significantly to treat age-related cognitive decline and muscular weakness. Oxidative stress, or the progressive damage that oxygen-free radicals inflict on cells, is one of the main underlying mechanisms connected to the decline in health that occurs with aging.

Antioxidants are certain substances found in food that can counteract oxygen-free radicals. Eating foods high in antioxidants is known to prevent cell damage and delay the deterioration of aging-related health issues. When a diet deficient in antioxidants is present, people frequently turn to antioxidant supplements, which provide equivalent or even more protective effects on health. Researchers led by Professor Koji Fukui of the Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) and including Dr. Fukka You of Gifu University have discovered that giving elderly mice a combination of antioxidant supplements enhances their short-term memory, muscle durability, and spatial cognition. The article was released on February 28, 2024, in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences’ special issue titled “Antioxidants in health and diseases.”.

The study found that supplement-treated aged mice notably enhanced their spatial learning capacity and short-term memory. Even with the effects of aging and associated increased oxidation in the body, long-term consumption of blended antioxidant supplements may be beneficial, according to Prof. the study’s principal investigator, Fukui. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the crippling illnesses that disproportionately affect the elderly and is linked to memory loss. Blended antioxidant supplements have been shown to enhance memory in mice, which implies that they might help prevent memory loss in people.

REFERENCES:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240402140321.htm
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/blended-antioxidant-supplement-may-help-boost-memory-cognition
https://neurosciencenews.com/aging-antioxidants-cognition-25846/

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Most people with heart disease consume excessive amounts of sodium, study finds

Most people with heart disease consume excessive amounts of sodium, study finds

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Many people, especially those who should limit their intake due to heart health concerns, consume more sodium than is advised daily. This is supported by a recent study that discovered individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) were ingesting more than twice as much sodium per day 1,500 mg—as is advised. The study participants consumed an average of 3,096 mg of sodium daily, with 89% consuming more than the recommended amount. The results will be presented from April 6–8 at the Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology. The findings are still pending publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

The American Heart Association (AHA) advises adults without a history of heart disease or those not suspected of being at risk to consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium daily. This is roughly the same as one teaspoon of table salt. This study’s average heart disease patient was over 1,000 mg above that threshold. 3,170 participants in the NHANES study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control provided data for the study. Men and women with a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease who were older than 20 were included in this sample. White people 65 years of age or older with less education than a high school diploma made up the bulk of this group. With an average daily calorie intake of 1,862, males, who made up slightly more than half of the subjects (56.4%), were overweight. Although it’s commonly believed that having fewer food options leads to excessive sodium consumption, this study challenges that theory.

Those with a college degree or above and those at the higher end of the income spectrum consumed the most sodium. The unexpected findings may have been influenced by the fact that people with greater incomes and educational backgrounds may have been more accurate in disclosing their sodium consumption, according to the study’s authors. Sodium chloride is the chemical name for table salt. In trace amounts, sodium, a naturally occurring mineral, is essential to human health. According to cardiologist Jayne Morgan, MD, clinical director at Piedmont Healthcare Corporation in Atlanta, GA, sodium helps to balance the water in your body. It even helps to maintain the healthy operation of nerves and muscles.

Your body’s blood volume rises as a result of salt. High blood pressure is the result of this. Due to the increased cardiac workload caused by the elevated blood pressure, you may eventually develop heart disease. Atherosclerosis and the hardening and stiffening of the arteries have long been associated with excess sodium, according to Dr. Morgan. Numerous studies have examined the reasons behind the widespread desire for salt.

According to registered dietitian nutritionist Michelle Routhenstein, MNT, “the consistent overconsumption of sodium across the socioeconomic spectrum suggests that factors beyond just access to resources may influence sodium intake.”. Routhenstein did not work on the project. According to Routhenstein, this might imply the marketing and general availability of processed foods that are easily accessed and high in sodium, cultural eating habits that value salty foods, and a lack of knowledge or instruction regarding the health risks connected to consuming excessive amounts of sodium.

This is a powerful illustration of how common the Western diet is and how much people crave salt and “flavor.”. It also illustrates how simple and readily available sodium is in a lot of grocery items, even when purchasing ‘healthy’ alternatives. According to her, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could establish a uniform food rating system that would enable everyone to know where a given food choice falls on a health spectrum. At that point, the customer can make an informed choice. The first step in lowering sodium consumption is to monitor your salt intake, but it can be challenging to determine how much sodium you’re really taking in.

Sodium is used in many food products for purposes other than just adding flavor. It has multiple uses, including baking, thickening, curing meat, retaining moisture, and serving as a preservative. A lot of sodium-rich foods don’t even taste salty. According to Routhenstein, people may unintentionally consume excessive amounts of sodium if they don’t actively read food labels and pay attention to sodium levels. Before even thinking about using a salt shaker, people might not be aware of how much sodium is in their food, according to Routhenstein. For instance, the recommended sodium intake for people with heart disease can be exceeded by the 2,000 mg or more found in a typical restaurant meal.

Using fresh ingredients when cooking at home, selecting low-sodium options, incorporating herbs and spices for flavor, reading labels, and being aware of hidden sodium in processed foods are all good ways to reduce your intake of sodium through diet. While eating out, people can choose heart-healthier, lower-sodium options by asking for dressings and sauces to be served on the side, choosing grilled or steamed food over fried, and asking for meals to be prepared without added salt. While [you’re] still enjoying delicious meals, these small changes can make a big difference in your overall sodium intake reduction. Routhenstein offered a variety of flavor-retaining salt substitutes, such as a small amount of lemon or grapefruit juice added to recipes.

Citrus fruits’ tart flavor can fool the palate into thinking food has more salt than it actually does, keeping food tasty even when it contains less sodium. Furthermore, Routhenstein promoted spiciness; add hot sauce or chili peppers to your food based on your personal preferences. You could also use a shaker of your favorite powder, like oregano or garlic powder, in place of the tabletop salt shaker (not garlic salt, which contains sodium). Seasonings such as Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, or dry mustard powder can give dressings, marinades, and sauces tang and depth. According to Routhenstein, adding mustard to rubs, sandwich spreads, and vinaigrettes provides a tasty variation without using a lot of sodium.

REFERENCES:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/most-people-with-heart-disease-consume-too-much-sodium#Common-substitutes-for-salt
https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2024/04/01/21/46/majority-of-people-with-heart-disease-consume-too-much-sodium
https://www.healthday.com/health-news/cardiovascular-diseases/most-folks-with-heart-disease-consume-too-much-salt

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