Medical News

The bilberry plant is reputed to possess antidiabetic properties, and its berries and leaves (as well as those of other Vaccinium species) have been used for centuries to ameliorate the symptoms of diabetes. In a survey of 685 Italian herbalists, bilberry ranked fourth in a list of herbal remedies recommended for improvement of glycemic control.

The reported hypoglycemic effect of bilberry is a desirable effect for helping to prevent or control type 2 diabetes, which is a highly prevalent condition caused by insulin resistance and B cell failure (ADA 2010). Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and dyslipidemia, and is accompanied by an increased risk of CVD, cancer, and vision loss through cataract and retinopathy. The hypoglycemic effect of bilberry may be mediated in part by interference with enzyme action, especially α-glucosidase activity, and also by effects on insulin secretion and glucose transport. Anthocyanins were found to stimulate insulin secretion from cultured rodent pancreatic B cells, with cyanidins and delphinidins showing the greatest effect among different anthocyanins tested. In addition, low-bush blueberry, which belongs to the same family as bilberry, at 12.5 μg/mL was demonstrated to enhance glucose transport into muscle cells and adipocytes in the absence of insulin. In an animal study with a water–alcohol extract of bilberry leaves given to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice (3 g/kg/day for 4 days), a significant decrease (26%) was seen in plasma glucose. Blood glucose was significantly decreased (by 33% and 51%, respectively) after administration of a phenolic-rich extract (containing approximately 287 mg/g anthocyanin) and an anthocyanin-enriched fraction (containing approximately 595 mg/g) from a Vaccinium blueberry extract at a dose 500 mg/kg to diabetic (C57b1/6J) mice (Grace et al. 2009). In gavage treatment with pure anthocyanins (300 mg/kg), malividin-3-O-glucoside was found to have a significant hypoglycemic effect in these animals, but delphinidin-3-O-glucoside did not (Grace et al. 2009). As shown in Table 4.1, the malvidin-3-O-glucoside concentration of bilberry is 3.35% (Upton 2001). Significant decreases in serum glucose and fructosamine were shown in alloxan-induced diabetic mice at, respectively, 120 minutes and 7 days after being given a 20 mg/kg dose of “antidiabetis,” an herbal preparation that included bilberry.

Obesity is a strong predisposing factor for type 2 diabetes. Berry polyphenols may help prevent obesity by inhibiting digestive enzymes, such as lipase, thereby lowering fat absorption. Cyanidin-3-glucoside has been shown to suppress the development of obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet and to regulate human adipocyte function. Human preadipocytes were collected from subcutaneous adipose tissue, cultured, and differentiated into adipocytes before being treated with anthocyanins for 24 hours. Adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was upregulated, and there was downregulation of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and also of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1); the anthocyanin treatment also activated adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in adipocytes without increasing the AMP/adenosine triphosphate (ATP) ratio. Together, these changes indicate a role for anthocyanins in preventing metabolic syndrome, an increasingly common condition associated with insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia that often progresses to type 2 diabetes. In a follow-up study, Tsuda and coworkers reported that a bilberry extract added to the diet of diabetic mice (27 g/kg diet, which gave an anthocyanin content of 10 g/kg diet) lowered serum glucose and improved insulin sensitivity. There were no differences in body weight or serum adiponectin levels between the bilberryfed and the control animals, but the antidiabetic effects of the bilberry extract were associated with AMPK activation in white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle and liver, and were accompanied by increased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4) in white adipose and skeletal tissue and lower hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Although there are some published human studies of the hypoglycemic effects of berries (e.g., cranberry, chokeberry), strong evidence from human trials is lacking. To our knowledge, there are no published controlled human studies with bilberry on diabetes patients. The two published human supplementation studies with bilberry studied subjects at elevated risk of CVD, but they were not diabetic. It is unlikely that significant effects of bilberry would be seen in subjects with normal glucose tolerance No differences were seen in plasma glucose levels in 60 nondiabetic dyslipidemic subjects who took a mixed bilberry and blackcurrant anthocyanins supplement (120 mg/day anthocyanins) for 12 weeks. In the study by Karlsen et al. (2010), which investigated the effect of 4 weeks of supplementation with 330 mL/day of bilberry juice in subjects with at least one risk factor for CVD, no glucose data were shown.

Although we lack human data on the antidiabetic effects of bilberry, numerous in vitro and animal studies provide good evidence of a role for bilberry in treating or preventing type 2 diabetes. This could be a very rewarding area of future research given the huge socioeconomic problem posed by this highly prevalent disease. In addition to the clear benefits that would come from increasing insulin secretion and glucose transport, other effects of bilberry, such as its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering effects, would help delay the serious vascular complications of diabetes. Controlling obesity would help prevent many cases of type 2 diabetes. Also, there is increasing evidence of increased risk of cancer with hyperglycemia to hyperglycemia. The Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer (Me-Can) Project is a large prospective study of six European cohorts, with a total of over 500,000 subjects, and after an average follow-up of 10.4 years, results strongly support high blood glucose as a risk factor for incident cancer at many specific sites and for cancer deat. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and increased amounts of growth factors, including IGF-1, also increase cancer risk and are high in those with type 2 diabetes. The combination of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic effects of an herb or a functional food would bring significant long-term benefits, particularly to those with type 2 diabetes, and studies of bilberry focusing on these effects in this group are warranted.

Americans are fat. Obesity is associated with a slew health related problems and can increase your chances of developing heart disease, joint issues, diabetes, and various cancers. Those who think they know health effects of obesity related need to be aware that carrying excess weight is associated with oral health issues, especially for chubby children.

The Endocrine Society released a report at their annual meeting showing the case between childhood obesity and tooth decay. DentalPlan.com reports that analysts overseeing the case “association between unhealthy weight gain and poor dental care in 65 children between the ages 2 and 5.” According to the site the results “showed that 28 percent of the children who had tooth decay also had an unhealthy body mass index.”

For decades tooth decay has been a leading health issue among the nation’s children, and the problem of obesity of the young is growing in leaps, bounds and pounds. “America’s Health Rankings” have been studying the health patterns of the nation for 20 years, and over that time, American adults have gotten much bigger. The average Joe now carries an extra 17.1 pounds while the average Jane is hauling an extra 15.4 pounds than their forefathers. If the trend continues, the group estimates that by 2018 “43 percent or 103 million American adults will be considered obese.”

Weight gain is associated with a lack of physical activity as well as eating too much. Statistics have proven that parents are not managing the task well for themselves, and that failure is being passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately this trend is not just impacting the future for our children, it is also going to wreak havoc on the cost of both health and dental care. America’s Health ranking estimated that the nation’s annual tab for health care can grow to $344 billion by 2018 if the situation is not addressed properly.

Concerned parents should immediately take action to protect the physical and mental well being of those they love and care for.

Some steps that can help decrease your child of getting obesity related tooth decay include:

Eat more Fruits and Vegetables: Sugary snacks and empty calorie treats should be replaced with the right foods. Fruits and vegetables contain important vitamins and nutrients not associated with processed snack foods. Additional by encouraging your kids to chomp on options with high fiber content (I.E. apples and carrots) can actually help reduce plaque build up.

Exercise: No battle of the bulge was won by sitting down. Talking an evening stroll with your child or even having an impromptu dance off are fun and free ways to burn calories and sneak in a bit of activity.

Brushing and Flossing: Children need to be taught the proper way to brush and floss their teeth as they are they most essential behaviors for fighting tooth decay and gum disease.

Dental Check Ups: If your kid has already started to stroll down the wrong path, then an affordable dental plan can help make treating dental problems fit into your household budget.

One of the most effective and least savoury ways of making an obscene amount of money in a very short time is to position a product where it can play on the fears or desperation of a target market. And there are quite a few obscenely wealthy people out there who got that way by playing on people’s desperation to loose weight. This is evident in the plethora of “But wait, there’s more” sure fire, can’t loose, guaranteed weight loss programs, pills and potions that come and go on a daily basis.

The simple medical reality of this situation is that there is just no simple, quick fix style answer to obesity. The up side is that most cases of obesity can be successfully addressed in a sustainable manner. The key word is: sustainable. Loosing 50lbs in 3 weeks is not worth it to Jack if the next three are spent packing on 60 more. And in this simplistic statement lies the core philosophy of successful weight loss. Getting it off and keeping it off.

Obesity is sometimes caused by medical conditions for which little can be done. The vast majority of cases, however, are the result of simple grade school math. You take in 10, you burn 5, 5 goes straight to the spare tyre. In reality the catalysts for obesity are far more complex and the base of the cause and effect pyramid gets really broad (excuse the pun) very quickly. The basic principle stays basic though. If you absorb more calories than you burn daily then you are going to be shopping for clothes at Big and Tall. As callous and insensitive as that may sound it still remains true. Being politically correct does not count when it comes to facing up to and addressing obesity.

The causes of an excess of caloric content in your nutritional intake is where it starts to blur. These can range from a sluggish metabolism caused by a medical condition, lack of exercise or incorrect eating habits to regular 6 burger lunches. This is the point where professional intervention is essential in the battle of the bulge. Once the decision has been made to loose weight, a doctor and dietitian need to eliminate any medical causes for the obesity or any problems that may arise from a weight loss program and formulate a suitable calorie controlled diet. Once these parameters have been established the fun starts.

The focus at this point needs to be kept very simple. You now know how much you can eat and how much extra exercise it will take to keep the calories on the run, all you have to do is go for it. This sounds like a gross understatement of what is arguably one of the toughest battles one can engage in, and in a way it is, but that is the way it needs to be. The best plans are the simple ones.

The answer to this problem is as simple as the problem itself. It does not require a diet plan gleaned from the eating habits of some obscure rain forest tribe or a $5000 wiz bang machine. It just takes commitment to losing weight and sensible adherence to the principles of balancing calorific intake and expenditure.

In today’s environment of increasing obesity, it is more important than ever to maintain a daily health regimen, and part of staying healthy can include drinking tea daily to supplement other healthy activities. When combined with regular exercise and a healthy diet, the health benefits of tea can help improve one’s appearance and general health, due to tea’s many unique properties.

Foremost among it’s abilities to assist a health programme is its caffeine content. Caffeine can help with regular exercise by increasing the amount of caloric energy spent while working out, providing more effective results than a similar amount of exercise without the added health benefits of tea. Additionally, tea itself is low in calories, which means that these benefits will not be offset by its own caloric content, unlike other sugary caffeinated beverages such as sodas.

Caffeine is not the only component of tea which can help one burn calories. Polyphenols in tea help to increase the rates at calories are burned during exercise. Tea also increases the tolerance to glucose and raises insulin sensitivity, which can help control one’s figure when combined with a proper diet in a fitness programme. Drinking tea also increases the base metabolic rate at which one breaks down food into nutritious components, and assists the body in processing fats faster, which would help augment both a healthy diet and a workout schedule.

As stated above staying healthy goes beyond simply drinking tea daily. One must work to formulate a health plan which will work for them in order to slim their figure and gain or maintain a healthy appearance. An excellent first step would be to substitute tea as a snack beverage for other higher calorie or overly sugary beverages, especially sodas and sports drinks with an abundance of artificial sweeteners. Even adding milk to one’s tea can help protect the cardiovascular system for a healthy heart and arteries.

Second would be to estimate the amount of calories consumed in ones daily meals, and attempt to regulate caloric intake and lower the fats in one’s diet. Thirdly, one must engage in a regular exercise program, especially aerobic exercises such as jogging, at least three times a week in order for the health benefits of tea to really manifest themselves.

Much of tea’s beneficial properties, such as helping to prevent cardiovascular disease, increasing caloric metabolism, and making use of a higher metabolic rate, only become apparent in ones appearance after they are combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, when all these pieces are put together, an individual will find themselves not only feeling healthier, but looking better, thanks in part to the health benefits of tea.

When most people think of what causes obesity, we think that people become obese by eating too much of the wrong foods and not getting enough exercise. Believe it or not, there are other causes of obesity that everyone should be aware of. Not only does this awareness afford some level of understanding for obese people, but it also helps people who are not obese to avoid the problem in their own lives.

First, you should be aware that there are actually several health problems that can cause a person to become obese, such as Hypothyroidism – a condition where the thyroid gland isn’t producing enough hormones that are needed to control weight. Some heart diseases can also cause rapid weight gain. Other health conditions that can cause obesity include pituitary conditions, diabetes, and numerous different syndromes.

Of course, overeating still causes obesity as well, but sometimes, the overeating is a symptom of an underlying mental condition, such as an eating disorder. Depression can also cause weight gain, as can many other mental conditions. Usually, when the condition is properly treated, the person who is obese is able to regain control of their weight as well.

Age can cause obesity. As we age, we become heavier – and there is nothing that we can do to stop this. However, the natural weight gain from age typically isn’t dangerous in any way, and the weight gain is usually just five or ten extra pounds. However, in some cases, the weight gain can get out of control, and this is usually the result of a separate health condition.

As we age, our metabolic rate also decreases, and what this means is that we don’t need as much food as we once did – in terms of calories. If we do not adjust our food intake as we age, and as our metabolism slows down, we will become obese.

Finally, some people really are born to be overweight. Genetics plays a huge role in how our weight is controlled, and if a person is born into a family that is largely overweight, they will need to be extra cautious about weight gain – most likely for their entire lives. It is vital that these people learn to eat right and get plenty of exercise.

Again, some people are overweight because they eat too much of the wrong foods and they don’t get enough exercise – but many people are overweight because there is an underlying condition. In most cases, when the condition is properly identified and treated, obesity can easily be combated.

Obesity has become a very large problem in the United States, and around the rest of the world. More and more adults are being classified as obese. Over two thirds of the United States population is considered obese but the most shocking part is a large amount of kids are being considered the same. Obesity effects the health and well being of a person so dramatically yet obese people either do not feel the need, or do not have the will power to do something about it.

Obesity also puts a big strain on a nations health system. Obesity causes many physical ailments. As a result obese people are flooding hospitals and doctors offices costing the health system millions and tying up health care professionals.

Health problems related to obesity include but are not limited to high blood pressure, heart disease, general heart problems, intestinal problems and many many more. But problems associated with obesity are not limited to physical problems. Mental problems are also caused by obesity. Self esteem is effected as well as confidence. It is not often you see an obese person that is happy. They are largely not happy with their lives. Sometimes this is due to their physical size, but other times it is caused by hormonal imbalances caused by obesity.

Overcoming obesity really is a struggle for many. Especially those that are morbidly obese. But in the end losing weight is something everyone can achieve. Moderate exercise and a nutritious diet will do wonders for those that actually want to do something about their obesity.

With so many weight loss supplements on the market, no wonder a potential weight loser finds himself or herself in a dilemma what to choose. Some of those products and the documentations that come with them are so confusing that you have to be a new Einstein in order to understand what it’s all about. First there are so many approaches to losing weight and the approaches do not depend on individual wish or option but on the sources.

I mean sources because you have to know exactly what the cause of obesity is in the first place then you go on and tackle the problem right from the root. In this article, I will try to demystify and clarify the steps one by one.

Causes Of Obesity:
This is the most important factor if you want to fight obesity. Knowing your enemy and from where he comes make defeating him an easy task.

Many people put on extra weight because they just can not refrain from putting anything that spells food into their mouth. They nip on peanuts, cookies, and all sorts of junk food just to be happy. In Eastern Europe, people much away on fried sunflower seeds which is very very addictive. The question is, are they really happy? This mania is in a layman’s dictionary simply called food craving. They are not hungry nor do they lack the necessary nutrients to keep the body going but they just must munch. This may be due to psychological factors which are not in the scope of this article. Stay tuned for that in my later articles.

OK we have found our first enemy now what?
There are many ways to combat food cravings. If you have ever heard of the term “self discipline”, this is where you can put it to task. A good way to determine whether you are self disciplined or not and this phenomenon is not peculiar only to weight loss but to almost every other aspects in life. The most successful people have a high degree of self discipline no matter in what arena. A little bit of philosophy there.

First the hardest part is to refrain. Try as hard as you can to take your eyes off those things you love to eat. 3-5 seconds are enough to break your defense. If you can get your eyes off and stay off then you’ve just made your first step towards defeating food craving.

Next, if you are the working type, direct your thoughts only to your work. Don’t if you can afford it engage in those work place gossips as in the meantime a colleague may offer you something you will find hard to refuse.

Don’t keep coins and changes in your wallet. Yes, at the office, there is that slot machine just by the entrance. If you have quarters etc. you will be tempted to slot in and then you have fallen.

As a last resort. If you have expended all your efforts to quit munching and not enough will power to refrain fro food cravings, then there are the options of organic products that can help you curb those food cravings.

Most people who decide they need to lose weight are aiming to improve their appearance, but the health benefits of good nutrition and a sound exercise program are ultimately far more valuable.

Study after study has demonstrated that obesity is a significant threat to longevity and good health, but many people are not even aware that they are medically obese – the generally accepted definition of obesity is over 25% body fat for men, and over 32% body fat for women. An estimated 20% of American adults fit this profile.

The problem only gets worse with time: The average American adult puts on about a pound a year after the age of 25, meaning that by middle-age many people have put on 25 pounds or more. To make matters worse, your metabolism naturally slows down as you age, while at the same time, sedentary adults tend to lose one pound of lean muscle mass every year from inactivity, depressing metabolism even more.

The dangers of excess body fat range from insulin resistance and diabetes to heart disease and cancer, and the cause-and-effect relationship is not difficult to understand: If you are overweight, your heart has to work that much harder to supply fresh blood to the body, making everything from moving around to simple breathing more of an effort. Over time, this extra effort takes its toll, resulting in damage to the heart muscle.

Obesity also comes with a greater risk of high cholesterol, which can increase the chances of developing arteriosclerosis, in which the blood flow in the arteries is slowly choked off by plaque deposits, depriving internal organs of adequate blood supply and forcing the heart to pump harder, raising blood pressure. A full 25% of heart problems today can be traced directly to obesity.

While many people may be aware that obesity can damage the heart, few are aware that it can also result in a higher risk for cancer – in men, being overweight comes with a higher risk of prostate and colon cancer, while in women the risk of uterine and breast cancer is significantly higher. It is believed that excess body fat serves as storage for carcinogenic toxins in the body, and these toxins can leach from fat packed around the internal organs.

The good news is that by losing weight you can undo much of the damage caused by excess body fat and reduce your risk factors for cancer and heart disease – in fact, studies have shown that losing just 10-15% of your body weight can improve your overall heart health and cholesterol levels even more than prescription drugs in many cases.

Those who lose weight and exercise regularly have proven to be eight times less likely to die of cancer and heart disease, and 53% less likely to die of other diseases.

Even if it takes you several years to implement a healthier way of life, the results over the long term will be more than worth the effort.

Would you like to discover the best times to eat normal foods to help you burn fat?