arginine Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Support Coronary Health With THIS Amino Acid

AHA Publisher — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 08:00:48 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Every 34 seconds in the United States, somebody dies of heart disease. In fact, cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death in the nation, claiming about 697,000 lives in 2020 alone. In coronary heart disease – the most common type of heart condition – arteries can’t deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Lysine, a common amino acid, is believed to inhibit plaque build-up and promote heart health. Moreover, a this study suggests that lysine can lower high blood pressure – a known risk factor for heart disease. Let’s see what other health benefits this nutrient has to offer. Lysine Is a “Jack of All Trades” That Supports the Health of Multiple Systems First of all, what is lysine’s role in the body? A building block for proteins, it is vital for muscle growth and maintenance. And, as it helps to prevent the loss of lean muscle mass, it may be particularly beneficial in improving strength and mobility in elderly people. Lysine also helps to produce collagen – a protein needed for speedy wound healing, healthy skin, and flexible arteries. In addition, lysine contributes to bone health and wards off osteoporosis by supporting the absorption of calcium. It also supports the immune system by assisting the production of infection-fighting antibodies. As if that weren’t enough, this versatile nutrient is also involved in the creation of enzymes and hormones. One more surprising attribute of lysine is its ability to ease anxiety and lower levels of the “stress” hormone, cortisol. In one randomized, placebo-controlled study, a week of supplementation with lysine and arginine reduced anxiety and lowered cortisol in healthy adults with stress-induced anxiety. Finally, this amino acid is believed to help control outbreaks of “cold sores” resulting from the herpes simplex Type 1 virus. Clearly, when it comes to sustaining health, lysine “wears many hats.” Supplementation May Help Keep Blood Pressure in Healthy Range Some researchers maintain that lysine can reduce hypertension (high blood pressure) by preventing pressure buildup in the arteries. Recent research has shown that people with suboptimal lysine intake and high blood pressure experienced lowered blood pressure when supplemented with lysine. In a randomized, placebo-controlled study published in BMC Nutrition, 1,000 mg of lysine a day for 112 days significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (the top number, which measures the force of each heartbeat). In fact, this measurement dropped by an average of almost 20 points! The scientists concluded that the amino acid may be a “useful nutrient” when added to hypertension medications. Lysine May Promote Heart Health by Reinforcing Collagen Nobel prize-winning researcher Linus Pauling maintained that lysine may help promote heart health by strengthening collagen (“like steel rods in concrete,” in his colorful analogy), thereby helping to prevent collagen fracture and blood clots. When there are extra amounts of lysine and the amino acid proline in the blood, Pauling declared, the lipoprotein-a attachment sites are obstructed by lysine, creating a “Teflon-like” coating around the particles and preventing them from binding to the arterial walls. In this way, lysine is believed to prevent plaque buildup – reducing the threat of atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, these findings have been generally greeted with indifference by many conventional cardiologists. Mostly due to the ground-breaking work of Linus Pauling (and others, such as Dr. Sidney Bush), some natural health experts advise a combination of vitamin C and lysine to reverse atherosclerosis and help prevent heart attacks. For example, the Dr. Rath Health Foundation’s Cellular Recommendations for Heart Health call for 100 to 500 mg of the nutrient a day, along with other amino acids, bioflavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. Boost Dietary Intake With Meat, Beans, and Nuts Lysine is an essential amino acid, meaning it is not produced by the body and must be obtained through diet or supplementation. It is found in animal products, including grass-fed beef, dairy products, cage-free eggs, and wild-caught salmon or sardines. For vegetarians and vegans, no worries: lysine is also found in wheat germ, beans, lentils, amaranth, buckwheat, and nuts. While most people get enough lysine through diet, supplementation may be advisable. People recovering from burns or other severe injuries – and those who perform frequent, high-intensity workouts – may require a higher-than-average intake. Natural healers typically recommend amounts of up to 3 grams a day – but consult your own integrative doctor before supplementing. Capable of promoting stable mood, bone health, heart health, and better immunity, lysine is clearly too important to take for granted. Eating a healthy diet can help ensure that you are consuming enough of this health-promoting amino acid. Sources for this article include: MedicalNewsToday.com DrRathFoundation.org NIH.gov CDC.gov Healthline.com To read the original article click here.

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Why Does Fasting Reduce Seizures?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 07:00:03 +0000

Boston Children’s Hospital via Newswise – Calorie restriction has long been associated with reduced seizures in epilepsy. New research from Boston Children’s Hospital helps explain how fasting affects neurons in the brain and could lead the way to new approaches that would avoid the need for fasting or restrictive diets. The findings were published August 30 in the journal Cell Reports. “This study is the first step in understanding how dietary therapies for epilepsy work,” says first author Christopher J. Yuskaitis, MD, PhD, a neurologist with the Epilepsy Center and Epilepsy Genetics Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. “The mechanisms have until now been completely unknown.” DEPDC5, mTOR, and Fasting To connect the dots between diet and seizures, the researchers began with existing knowledge. They knew that the well-known mTOR cellular pathway is involved in many neurological disorders and had shown previously that over-activation of this pathway in neurons increases susceptibility to seizures. Studies by others had shown that mTORC activity is inhibited by acute fasting, though these studies didn’t look at the brain. Finally, Yuskaitis and colleagues knew that signaling by a protein called DEPDC5 acts as a brake on the mTOR pathway. That was intriguing, since mutations in the DEPDC5 gene have recently been found in many people with epilepsy. DEPDC5 mutations have been linked to focal epilepsy, infantile spasms, and sudden death in children. “When we used an animal model that knocks out DEPDC5 specifically in the brain, we found that we could reduce seizures by using an mTOR inhibitor,” says Yuskaitis. “That gave us the idea to explore the connection between DEPDC5, mTOR, and fasting.” Amino Acid Sensing In the new study, they showed in a mouse seizure model that mTOR signaling was reduced in the brain after fasting. Additional studies of cultured rat neurons in a dish suggest that this fasting effect is primarily driven by the lack of three amino acids (leucine, arginine, and glutamine). Going further, the team demonstrated that the presence of these nutrients is sensed by the DEPDC5 protein. When they knocked out DEPDC5 in the brain, mTOR activity was not reduced and fasting no longer protected the mice against seizures. “Amino acid sensing seems to be critical for the beneficial effects of fasting on seizures,” says Yuskaitis. “This suggests that patients with DEPDC5 mutations can’t sense the loss of amino acids and may not benefit from dietary manipulation. But patients who don’t have DEPDC5 mutations may benefit from a targeted dietary strategy.” This could take the form of diets with lower levels of the three amino acids, or medications or supplements that block absorption of those amino acids, he adds. Next Step: Ketogenic Diet This study is only a first step. Yuskaitis and colleagues now want to try diets in animal models that eliminate specific amino acids and observe the effects on seizures. They also want to explore how the ketogenic diet, a popular approach to treating epilepsy, helps curb seizures. No one currently knows why this low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet works. “We’re hoping this will hope us uncover additional dietary-based therapies other than ketogenic diet, which is sometimes difficult to follow long term due to side effects,” says Yuskaitis. Such work may also provide a new lens on neurologic disorders overall. “Using these rare genetic disorders, we are starting to gain fundamental insights into the role of nutrients in brain function,” says senior investigator Mustafa Sahin, MD, PhD, managing director of the Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center at Boston Children’s. “Findings from these rare disorders may open doors for better treatments of epilepsy in general.” To read the original article click here.

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Creamy Broccoli Soup Recipe

AHA Publisher — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 07:00:06 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN – This creamy broccoli soup recipe is not only delicious, but it’s full of healthy fats from coconut oil and coconut milk, along with fiber and antioxidants from broccoli and other greens. Whether you’re searching for a healthy soup that will fill you up and support you in losing weight, or just one’s that’s tasty, rich and comforting, you’ll love this simple “cream of broccoli soup” recipe made with entirely nutrient-dense, healthy ingredients. Key Ingredients Here’s a bit more about some of the benefits associated with the ingredients in this creamy broccoli soup recipe: Broccoli — Broccoli is a popular type of cruciferous vegetable that contains isothiocyanates, sulforaphanes and indoles, all of which are strong antioxidants and stimulators of detoxifying enzymes. These are thought to help protect cells and the structure of DNA, potentially having cancer-fighting abilities and other benefits such as managing inflammation. Broccoli also provides you with many other nutrients such as glucosinolates, carotenoids, chlorophyll, phenolic compounds, vitamin E, vitamin K, potassium and calcium. Coconut oil/coconut milk — Coconut oil has many health benefits, such as helping to provide you with MCFAs (medium-chain fatty acids) that are easy to digest, can support a healthy metabolism and can even aid in weight loss (especially if you consume it while on low-carb, keto diet). Coconut oil adds creaminess to this recipe without the use of milk, making it a great option for those who are dairy/lactose intolerant or on plant-based diet. Greens (such as kale, spinash, swiss chard or collards) — Greens such as kale and spinach boast a wide array of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, such as vitamins K, A and C, fiber, manganese, calcium, isothiocyanates and others. Eating greens is correlated with support for detoxification, help protecting against cancer and metabolic syndrome, and decreasing inflammation and free radical damage. Garlic — Garlic benefits include the fact that it’s high in sulfur compounds (responsible for garlic’s strong scent and taste), as well as flavonoids, oligosaccharides, amino acids and allicin. These protective compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, meaning they may help to support the immune system, cardiovascular system and fight oxidative stress. Chicken bone broth — Real, chicken bone broth (whether homemade or made from bone broth protein powder) is rich in nutrients like collagen, gelatin and amino acids such as glycine, arginine and proline. These can be helpful for protecting and healing your gut lining, and for supporting skin health and joint comfort/function. Nutrition Facts One serving of this creamy broccoli soup contains about: 250 calories 22 grams fat 12 grams carbohydrates 7 grams protein 4 grams fiber 4 grams sugar 428 milligrams sodium 641 milligrams potassium (14 percent DV) 2 milligrams iron (13 percent DV) 92 milligrams calcium (7 percent DV) How to Make Serving four, expect to spend about 30 minutes making this soup. In large soup pan over medium heat, melt the coconut oil and sauté the green onions and garlic for 1–2 minutes, until translucent. Next, stir in the chopped broccoli. Sauté until the broccoli turns bright green, stirring frequently. Add the basil and additional chopped greens. Cover and steam-sauté for 3–4 more minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a food processor or blender. If using a blender, process in two batches. Add a little coconut milk and process until smooth. Lastly, transfer the pureed vegetables back to the pot and add the remaining coconut milk and the chicken bone broth, salt and curry. Reheat gently over medium heat and stir. Serve. Other Creamy Soups Looking for other ways to make healthy, creamy soups? Here are some simple recipes that feature similar ingredients: 49 Sensational & Healthy Soup Recipes Thai Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe Borscht (Hearty Vegan Beet Soup) Easy, Blended Pea Soup Recipe Creamy Broccoli Soup Recipe DESCRIPTION This creamy broccoli soup recipe is not only delicious, but it’s full of healthy fats from coconut oil and coconut milk, along with fiber and antioxidants from broccoli and other greens. INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons coconut oil 2 medium green onions, coarsely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 large head fresh broccoli, chopped 1 tablespoon dried basil 2 cups chopped spinach, kale, turnip greens, collards or swiss chard 1 can coconut milk 3 cups chicken bone broth ½ teaspoon sea salt 1 tablespoon curry powder INSTRUCTIONS In large soup pan over medium heat, melt the coconut oil and sauté the green onions and garlic for 1-2 minutes, until translucent. Stir in the chopped broccoli. Sauté until the broccoli turns bright green, stirring frequently. Add the basil and additional chopped greens. Cover and steam-sauté for 3-4 more minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a food processor or blender. If using a blender, process in two batches. Add a little coconut milk and process until smooth. Transfer the pureed vegetables back to the pot and add the remaining coconut milk and the chicken bone broth, salt and curry. Reheat gently over medium heat and stir. Serve. To read the original article click here.

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