kidney disease Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Can Gout Increase Your Risk of Kidney Disease?

The AHA! Team — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:25:33 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – Did you know that 14% of people in the United States have chronic kidney disease? This health condition can be serious and incredibly life-changing, especially if a person requires dialysis for advanced kidney disease. And nobody wants to require dialysis – which is the use of a machine to filter your blood because your kidneys can no longer do the job. Keep in mind that dialysis is a time-consuming process that usually takes about 4 hours, 3 sessions per week! So, today, we’ll highlight ways to avoid a problem. Known risk factors for chronic kidney disease include diabetes, smoking, and high blood pressure. But now, research out of BMJ Open adds another risk factor to the list: gout. This finding aligns with a recent paper in Kidney International emphasizing that uric acid retention in advancing kidney disease contributes to gout and systemic inflammation, which are linked to higher cardiovascular risks. Millions of people currently require gout treatment. This new paper suggests that to relieve your gout symptoms and protect your kidney health, adopting a healthy diet for gout and kidney stones is more important than ever. Gout, a common inflammatory condition, is linked with an increased risk of poor kidney function Interestingly, the medical community has known for a long time that having kidney disease can increase your risk for gout. But it turns out that this relationship is bi-directional. A team of researchers from the United Kingdom analyzed the health data of nearly 69,000 adults with gout and over 500,000 adults without gout. After following these individuals for nearly 4 years on average, they discovered that having gout increased a person’s risk for chronic kidney disease by almost 30%. Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects at least 8.3 million Americans. The condition happens when a metabolic by-product called uric acid builds up in the blood. When this happens, crystals can form and lodge in joints throughout the body, especially the knees and big toes. The result? Painful, red, warm, and stiff joints. But high levels of uric acid aren’t just bad for joints. This study suggests that uric acid build-up caused by gout can harm your kidneys, too. By the way, there’s another condition that causes a build-up of compounds within the body: kidney stones. These are hard calcium masses in your kidneys that can cause severe pain. And while individual (tiny) kidney stones usually don’t cause serious damage, having them can increase your risk for kidney disease. Since it turns out that gout and kidney stones can increase your risk for chronic kidney disease, the natural next question is: How can I modify my lifestyle and diet to reduce my risk for gout, kidney stones, and kidney disease? And what does a diet for gout and kidney stones look like? Want to protect your renal function? Follow this diet for gout and kidney stones One of the greatest things about adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle is that it’s highly efficient – that is, a solid nutrition plan can protect you from many types of chronic diseases, including kidney disease. But if you’re specifically worried about gout and kidney stones, be sure to follow a sensible plan that includes: Eat plenty of locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables Drink clean, fresh (purified) water – on a daily basis Make your own homemade lemonade In addition to eating nutrient-rich foods, consider adding more lemon wedges to your filtered water (antioxidants + hydration) or taking a high-quality vitamin C supplement, which has been found to significantly reduce the risk of gout. Again, staying well hydrated is crucial for kidney health. So, be sure to drink clean, pure water – regularly. This will ensure that your urine color will not get too dark – which is a sign of dehydration. Lastly, knowing what to avoid is important, too. Talk to your doctor about cutting back on or eliminating foods like alcohol, factory raised (toxic) red meat, and shellfish, which have been shown to increase the risk of kidney stones and gout. And, of course, avoid as many other environmental toxins as you can. Purify the air you breathe at home; don’t buy toxic personal care or household cleaning products, and buy local (organic) foods – as much as possible. All of this will help to reduce the toxic burden placed on the kidneys – day to day. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Kidney.org BMJ.com Medicalnewstoday.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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11 Early Warning Signs of Kidney Disease

The AHA! Team — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 06:16:48 +0000

Olivia Cook via Natural News – Your kidneys play a vital role in keeping your body healthy but the signs of trouble are often subtle and easy to miss – until it’s too late. Kidney disease is a silent threat, creeping up unnoticed until it reaches a critical stage. However, catching it early can make all the difference. By recognizing the early warning signs and making lifestyle changes, you can protect your kidneys and potentially save your life. (Related: Cleaning the cleaners: Herbs that help maintain healthy kidneys.) Some of the early warning signs are easy to spot, such as your skin becoming sallow or taking on a more yellowish complexion, your lips darkening, your tongue turning a deep red shade with a bluish tint and thick wide coating, a strong odor of urine coming from your body and full-body swelling. Paying attention to what your body is telling you could help you catch kidney issues early before they become more serious problems down the line. Here are some of the other signs of kidney disease. Ammonia-like breath Ammonia-like odor on your breath could be a sign that your kidneys are not filtering waste effectively. When kidney function declines, waste products, including urea, can build up in the blood. Urea breaks down to form ammonia, which can cause your breath to have a distinctive, unpleasant odor. This symptom often appears as kidney function deteriorates. Blood in your urine Seeing blood in your urine is a serious signal or red flag that something might be wrong. Normally, your kidneys keep blood cells in the body when filtering out waste, but when their filters are damaged, blood cells can leak into the urine. Blood in the urine can be linked to kidney disease, as well as infections, kidney stones or tumors. Cold intolerance If you’re feeling unusually cold all the time, it could be related to kidney disease. Reduced kidney function can lead to anemia, which decreases your body’s ability to regulate temperature. Anemia, along with the overall metabolic changes that occur with kidney disease, can make you more sensitive to cold temperatures. Dry, itchy skin Your kidneys do more than filter waste – they also help regulate and maintain the balance of minerals and nutrients in your body, keep your bones strong and produce red blood cells. When kidney function is compromised and declines, your skin might start feeling dry and itchy due to imbalances in minerals and nutrients. This could be an early warning of bone and mineral disorders associated with kidney disease. Feeling more tired or foggy If you’re feeling unusually tired, low on energy or struggling to concentrate, it might be more than just a rough day, days or week. As your kidneys lose their ability to filter waste from your blood, toxins and waste products can build up – making you feel exhausted and mentally foggy. Kidney-related anemia is another factor that can contribute to this overwhelming sense of fatigue or general body malaise. Muscle cramps Frequent muscle cramps could be linked to kidney issues. Imbalances in electrolytes, such as calcium and phosphorus, which are managed by your kidneys, can lead to cramping, great discomfort and pain. Puffy or swollen eyes Waking up with puffy eyes that don’t seem to go away could be an early indication of kidney trouble. This puffiness can result from your kidneys leading protein into your urine – resulting to fluid retention around your eyes. Reduced appetite Losing interest in food can be caused by many things, but it is also a symptom of declining kidney function. As waste builds up in your body due to poor kidney filtration, you may find that you simply don’t feel like eating. Restless leg syndrome Characterized by an uncomfortable urge to move your legs, restless leg syndrome (RLS) is often accompanied by uncontrollable sensations. It is commonly associated with kidney disease due to the buildup of toxins in the blood, which can affect nerve function. RLS can disrupt your sleep and significantly impact quality of life – making it another important symptom to be aware of. Struggling to sleep Trouble falling or staying asleep might be a sign that your kidneys are not doing their job. When they are not filtering properly, toxins and waste products remain in your bloodstream, which can disrupt your sleep. There is also a connection between kidney disease and sleep disorders like sleep apnea – especially in people who are overweight. Swollen ankles and feet If your ankles and feet are swelling up, it could be due to sodium retention from reduced kidney function. While this symptom can also be related to heart or liver issues or problems with leg veins, it is a common sign of kidney dysfunction. By recognizing these early signs, you can take proactive steps to protect your kidney health. If any of these symptoms resonate with you, it is important to seek professional medical advice and address potential kidney issues before they progress. Taking care of your kidneys is essential for overall health and it can be as simple as staying active and fit, avoiding smoking, eating a balanced diet and regularly consulting with your trusted health care practitioner. Visit HealthScience.news for more stories about maintaining optimal health. Watch this video about nine early warning signs of kidney problems. Sources Include: TheEpochTimes.com Kidney.org Healthline.com Brighteon.com To read the original article,

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Glyphosate Exposure Linked to Increased Risk of Kidney Disease

The AHA! Team — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 06:23:21 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – An epidemic has been growing around the world, yet it remains largely unacknowledged in the United States. This epidemic is chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). Countless individuals from South America to Asia have been affected, with many tragically losing their lives to this so-called “mysterious” disease. In El Salvador, CKDu has become a leading cause of death among men, surpassing other serious illnesses like leukemia, AIDS, HIV, and diabetes combined. Recently, a study published in Science of the Total Environment highlighted a concerning connection between glyphosate exposure and kidney injury, particularly in children living near farming areas. This raises important questions about the environmental factors contributing to CKDu and what we need to understand about this troubling health crisis. Western medicine fails to properly address chronic kidney disease Little has been done in the U.S. to combat the sudden surge of this deadly disease – which has only appeared in the past couple of decades. In fact, many American doctors still question whether it’s such a “big deal” or not. But, for the many people who have lost their loved ones to CKDu – the disease is very real. One man from Sri Lanka – Dr. Channa Jayasumana – worked with two colleagues to investigate the source of CKDu in his country. To start, the team recognized that CKDu is affiliated with kidney tubule damage, which is not normally found in patients with chronic kidney disease brought on by diet or conditions like hypertension. They also assumed that because the disease first appeared in the mid-1990s, a toxic agent must have been introduced to the country sometime within the previous 30 years to have led to kidney damage. Finally, the substance had to protect heavy metals in groundwater and safely transport them through the liver and into the kidneys. Their research led them to glyphosate, an herbicide that meets all the criteria for the offending agent and is used widely throughout Sri Lanka. First developed to remove mineral build-up in boiler pipes, glyphosate was never intended to be used in farming. It was only a matter of time before one company – Monsanto (acquired by Bayer) – discovered glyphosate’s “benefits” as a weed killer. Glyphosate has an ugly and destructive history Monsanto was quick to patent glyphosate as an herbicide in the 1970s. For decades, the company owned exclusive rights and sold it as a product called Roundup, now the most popular herbicide globally. Though widely touted as a “safe” herbicide, weeds have developed in recent years that are resistant to Roundup and, thus, require greater and more toxic amounts of herbicide. So, Monsanto created glyphosate-resistant GMO seeds that are resistant to the herbicide. Now, farmers can use extravagant amounts of this herbicide, destroying weeds without damaging the crops. Unfortunately, the farmers themselves seem to have suffered the repercussions of glyphosate toxicity, losing their lives to a disease that may have been prevented. Farmers are paying the ultimate price for ignorance Glyphosate is a substance that binds with metals in soils, such as arsenic. In the body, glyphosate is believed to protect metals from being metabolized by the liver, allowing them to become toxic within the kidneys. While genetically modified seeds resist glyphosate, there is no protection for the farmers who become ill after exposure to this substance as it binds with heavy metals. Unfortunately, dialysis and organ transplants aren’t as accessible in parts of the world most affected by CKDu, meaning most farmers with the disease caused by glyphosate toxicity will lose their lives to it. Editor’s note: If you’re looking for the science that proves how toxic glyphosate is, own the Fatty Liver Docu-Class, created by NaturalHealth365 Programs and watch the presentation with Jonathan Landsman and Stephanie Seneff, PhD. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Sciencedaily.com Truth-out.org To read the original article click here.

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WARNING: GMO Ingredient in Impossible Burger linked to Weight Gain, Kidney Disease

AHA Publisher — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 07:00:01 +0000

Patrick Tims via NaturalHealth365 – There is a common misconception that all vegan and vegetarian food products are nutritious. Listen to the mainstream media, and you’ll hear about how vegan fare is a net positive for human health and the environment. For example, Impossible and Beyond faux burgers have become quite popular in recent years, especially among tweens, teens, and twenty-somethings concerned with health and ecological sustainability. Cut to the truth of the matter, and you will find Impossible faux burgers are anything but healthy. Read through the list of ingredients of Impossible veggie burgers and other processed vegan food products, and you’ll find they contain a plethora of chemicals, GMO ingredient, and unhealthy additives. A recent study revealed that Impossible Burger contains an ingredient likely to cause weight gain along with kidney disease and other health problems. Why You Should Think Twice Before Eating an Impossible Burger Impossible Burgers, Beyond Burgers, and other faux meat options are marketed as healthy alternatives to animal flesh that supposedly benefit the environment and the greater good. Though vegan alternatives certainly have their merits, there are also some important drawbacks. Impossible Foods recently conducted an analysis of rats after consuming Impossible faux burgers. The study results were fairly surprising, especially from the perspective of Impossible executives, who likely assumed their products would have minimal or no impact on rats. The Impossible Foods’ rat study reveals the main ingredient within the faux burgers, soy leghemoglobin, spurred the onset of inexplicable alterations within rat biology. Impossible Foods’ soy leghemoglobin is genetically engineeredrather than natural. It is possible the genetic alteration of the soy is the underlying cause of the changes in rats’ weight and even alterations to blood composition that cause kidney disease, inflammation, and possibly worse. The study even revealed that soy leghemoglobin has the potential to trigger anemia. Why Soy Leghemoglobin (SLH) Is Detrimental to Human Health The GMO ingredient, soy leghemoglobin, is created from yeast. However, the yeast used for soy leghemoglobin is also genetically modified. In summary, Impossible Foods’ faux burgers contain a genetically altered variation of soy stemming from yeast that food scientists within laboratories have also altered. The resulting “Frankenburger” appears to be anything but healthy. Though the weight and blood composition changes identified in rats after consuming the Impossible Burger are not guaranteed to occur in humans after consuming the same food products, the study results are concerning. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows Impossible to sell its chemical-laden and genetically modified products throughout the country. Impossible’s brass obtained governmental permission to market the faux hamburger in the United Kingdom and the European Union after requesting clearance in 2019. Should Impossible Burger Be Available to the Public? Let’s shift our attention to what matters most: human health and nutrition in the societal push toward veganism that becomes more transparent by the day. Health experts, nutritionists, and government officials far and wide are pushing a narrative that a society-wide transition to veganism or vegetarianism will save the planet, reduce medical bills and extend human longevity. However, the above study makes it clear that concerns about the GMO ingredient SLH and other chemicals added to faux meat products are valid. The lesson from the scientific community’s analysis of processed vegan and vegetarian food offerings is that they should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism. It is widely known that consuming toxic red meat has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems, yet it is also clear that Impossible’s fake burgers have the potential to lead to even worse outcomes, including potential inflammation, anemia, kidney disease, and dreaded weight gain. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org To read the original article click here.

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Brazilian Material Scientist Develops a Novel Method for Early Detection of Kidney Disease

AHA Publisher — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 08:00:11 +0000

Technische Universitaet Dresden via News-Medical – Humboldt Research Fellow Dr. Maria Rita Ortega Vega from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil will be a guest at the Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry at TU Dresden. Here, she will work together with her host Prof. Stefan Kaskel on the development of novel electrochemical sensors for the salivary detection of kidney diseases. The kidneys are vital organs that clean the blood and influence many bodily functions. Many kidney diseases initially show neither pain nor symptoms. Often, it is only as a result of a random examination that proteins or only microscopically visible traces of blood in the urine indicate damage to the kidney. The Brazilian material scientist Dr. Maria Rita Ortega Vega would like to develop a completely new method for the early detection of kidney disease at the Technische Universität Dresden. To this end, she is collaborating with host Prof. Stefan Kaskel and his team as part of a Humboldt research stay. Kaskel is a professor of inorganic chemistry and is particularly involved in research into porous materials, e.g. for the energy transition or for environmental technologies. However, Dr. Ortega Vega wants to use these materials in her project “Nanostructured transition metal-based electrochemical sensor for salivary urea detection for kidney failure diagnostics” to detect and quantify urea in saliva using electrochemical techniques. “The presence and amount of urea in saliva can be an indicator of kidney problems. With such a sensor, patients and doctors can get reliable results quickly and without blood testing. For patients who are already in the chronic stage of the disease, this technology can help evaluate the performance of the dialysis process. We expect to jointly develop a specific and sensitive material for this application.” (Maria Rita Ortega Vega, Humboldt Research Fellow, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil) “I am delighted that we have been able to attract Ms. Ortega, a talented young scientist who is an excellent fit for our team, to TU Dresden. Her innovative research into new topics in biosensorics will certainly benefit decisively from the excellent research environment in Dresden,” states Prof. Kaskel. As a Henriette Heart Scout of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, he has the opportunity to identify three excellent and highly sought-after young scientists from abroad, to propose them for a Humboldt Research Fellowship and to bring them to the TU Dresden. Maria Rita Ortega Vega is the first fellow Kaskel has been able to recruit for his team in this way. “I liked the level of work of the team: there are many promising developments here with great opportunities for technology transfer and applicability. This is very important to me: doing science that can have an impact on society. I consider science as a democratic project, so studying systems and materials that are scalable to make them reach people by means of different applications and that can make life easier, “materializing” knowledge, is a huge motivation. I also liked the infrastructure, which is very different from the one in Brazil. TUD has different technologies and equipment that I am not used to and I’m looking forward to learning about them,” Maria Rita says about her motivation to accept Stefan Kaskel’s invitation to Dresden. To read the original article click here.

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Phosphate ALERT: Why Heart Damage Is Triggered By Fast Food Choices

AHA Publisher — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:00:39 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – Published research reveals how phosphate additives have been linked to higher blood pressure and heart disease. Phosphates, also called phosphorous additives, are customarily added to processed meats, processed cheeses and various types of soda to increase shelf life and intensify flavors. They also appear at high levels in fast food. In a study published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, researchers found that large quantities of added phosphates cause the body to produce a hormone known as fibroblast growth factor 23, or FGF23 – responsible for controlling the excretion of phosphate through the kidneys. When phosphate levels are too high, FGF23 levels go up as well, in an effort to excrete the excess phosphate. If even more phosphate additives are ingested, the effect is akin to that of throwing fat on the fire: levels of both phosphate and FGF23 increase even more – a vicious cycle that can lead to serious health problems, including damaging effects on the cardiovascular system. WARNING for Fast Food Lovers: Phosphates Diminish Our Ability to Balance Vital Minerals FGF23 also controls the excretion of sodium through the kidneys. When phosphate levels are too high, this process is impaired, and blood pressure can spike as a result, putting strain on the heart. High phosphate levels present a particular threat to people with kidney disease, as they often have high blood pressure and elevated levels of phosphates and FGF23 to begin with. In fact, so important are FGF23 levels in kidney patients that researchers say they can serve as an indication of life expectancy. As if adversely affecting blood pressure, FGF23 and sodium levels weren’t damaging enough, high phosphate levels also cause an increased uptake of calcium, which can lead to ventricular calcification. Research teams in earlier phosphate studies warned that even healthy young men are at risk of coronary calcifications if high phosphate levels are present. Don’t Phosphates Occur Naturally in Food and the Body? Yes, to both. Our bodies need a certain amount of phosphorous to maintain the health of teeth and bones, and many foods – including dairy foods, beans, grains and nuts – contain this mineral naturally. However, researchers tell us that naturally-occurring, organic phosphates pose no health threat, as they are broken down entirely differently by the body, with only 40 to 60 percent being reabsorbed. Commercially added – or “free” – phosphates, on the other hand, have a reabsorption rate of almost 100 percent. (not good!) Although this study explored the link between phosphate levels, FGF23 and coronary disease, it is by no means the only study to point out the dangers of phosphates. In fact, credible scientists and researchers worldwide have been trying to warn us for years. German researchers sounded an emphatic alarm in 2012 with a landmark article in Duetsches Arzteblatt. The team stated that excessive phosphate consumption causes higher mortality rates in patients with kidney disease, increases risk of heart disease in otherwise healthy people, damages blood vessels and induces the aging process. They urgently called for labeling to identify phosphate additives, as well as the need for alerting both physicians and the general public to the dangers of phosphates. In 2011, researchers in the UK showed a link between a high phosphate diet and atherosclerosis, noting that high phosphate consumption causes increased cholesterol deposits and subsequent narrowing of the arteries. The scientists called for reducing phosphate in the diet, and suggested the possible development of binding agents that could stop phosphate from being absorbed. In a study published in 2010 in The FASEB Journal, one of the world’s most cited biology publications, phosphates were found to be toxic to mice, drastically reducing their lifespans. Remarking that phosphates caused accelerated signs of aging and worsened age-related diseases, the research team called for the public to avoid phosphate toxicity by eating less phosphate-laden foods. Low Income Groups Are Disproportionately Affected As earlier as 2010, one study showed that high levels of these toxic additives are more than twice as common in low-income groups as in higher-income groups. Due to limited food choices and access, low-income groups consume a disproportionate amount of the country’s fast food; as a result, they experience higher serum levels of phosphate, along with more kidney disease. How Can I Avoid Phosphate Additives? To keep ingestion of free phosphates to a minimum, you should avoid or sharply reduce your consumption of fast food, baked goods, processed meats – such as sausage and ham – and processed cheeses. Choose food that is fresh, organic and additive-free whenever possible. Phosphates added to food are often added in the form of polyphosphates, which means you may see them listed as potassium (or calcium) phosphate and triphosphate. Be wary of buying “enhanced” fresh meat or poultry … because these foods are sometimes injected with polyphosphates – a fact not always indicated on the label. In a 2009 study, products labeled as “enhanced” had an average phosphate concentration that was between 28 and 100 percent higher than that of additive-free foods. Simply put, with an abundance of research documenting the dangers of phosphates, it’s time to give these harmful substances the gate. Chances are – we’ll live a lot longer and better. Sources for this article include: Sciencedaily.com, Sciencedaily.com, Sciencedaily.com, NIH.gov, Sciencedaily.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Blood Sugar Help: Research Reveals Multiple Benefits of Garlic for Diabetics

AHA Publisher — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 08:00:00 +0000

Edit Lang via NaturalHealth365 – According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, in the U.S. alone, over 34 million people live with diabetes, and another 88 million with prediabetes. Add the two numbers together, and you end up with a “public health crisis.” It’s not a coincidence that the medical community often refers to diabetes as the “silent killer.” Interestingly, the disease takes years to develop with the majority missing the early warning signs. Tragically, when diagnosed, most people are shocked to learn they have the disease. Late diagnosis can lead to a host of unwanted complications like, heart disease, stroke, kidney and nerve disorders, vision loss, and other health issues. While medications are the primary way to reduce diabetes-related complications, research suggests that adding garlic to your prescription protocol offers additional benefits against diabetes-related adverse health effects. Of course, whenever possible, the best case scenario would be to work with a qualified (integrative) healthcare provider that can help you to eliminate the need for toxic medications. Garlic Lowers Blood Glucose Levels, Studies Show In a clinical study, researchers put garlic extract to the test to see how effective it was in improving blood sugar control. They also assessed its cholesterol-lowering ability in type 2 diabetic patients. While the trial was smaller-scale and only included 60 patients, the findings were notable. The trial included patients with Fasting blood glucose (FBG) of at least 126 mg/dL A1C over 6.5% Once enrolled, the study authors divided patients into two groups: Group 1 received: metformin only (two or three times a day) Group 2 received: metformin (two or three times a day) plus 250 mg garlic extract twice daily At the end of 12 weeks, the group taking the garlic extract saw a more significant FBG reduction than the group taking metformin alone. A meta-analysis of seven other trials with 513 patients also confirmed garlic’s favorable effect on fasting blood sugar. Improved fasting blood sugar was not the only benefit of adding garlic to metformin. The metformin plus garlic powder group also experienced a greater reduction in postprandial glucose (PPG) levels. Garlic REDUCES Cholesterol Levels and Slows Down the Progression of Heart Disease in People With Diabetes Having to face the increased risk of severe adverse health effects is one of the most challenging aspects of living with diabetes. To reduce the risk of heart disease, people with diabetes should pay close attention to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Once again, garlic demonstrated its cholesterol-lowering effect in the same 12-week study. Adding garlic to metformin yielded: greater reduction of total cholesterol, triglyceride level, and LDL (bad cholesterol) more substantial increase in HDL (good cholesterol) Dozens of studies on garlic confirm similarly impressive results. Evidence also shows that garlic can slow and stall heart disease. One study compared garlic powder tablets to placebo for three months. Interestingly, while the placebo group got worse, heart disease progression slowed in the garlic group. But Wait, That’s Not All! Garlic Reduces Inflammation and Lowers Blood Pressure Sadly, garlic rarely gets credit for all the goodness it offers. It improves our health in countless ways and guards against various diseases. Most people do not know that garlic has medicinal properties and is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C, vitamin B6, and minerals such as selenium, iron, and calcium are all part of this medicinal plant. Likely the most remarkable compound of the plant is allicin that is produced when you crush or chop garlic. Allicin is the major biologically active component of garlic that reduces inflammation and offers antioxidant benefits. Researchers also believe that garlic’s ability to lower cholesterol and blood pressure is also due to its allicin content. As a side note: wouldn’t it be wonderful if we saw more researchers comparing the results generated from groups of people only taking natural substances compared to their “medication groups?” I guess the pharmaceutical industry wouldn’t be too happy about that kind of work. Super Simple Ways to Reap Garlic’s Benefits for Diabetes If you enjoy the intense taste of raw garlic, eat 1 to 2 cloves daily to get its health benefits. You can enjoy garlic in various ways. But, for maximum benefit, it’s best to eat it raw and fresh. You can mince or press garlic and sprinkle it on top of your salads or veggie dishes. Try flavoring your rice and quinoa dishes with garlic to make it a regular part of your daily diet. While raw garlic is best, garlic can also offer benefits when cooked. Add it to soups, steamed, and stir-fried recipes. There are several other simple ways to consume garlic. One is by blending it into your favorite salad dressing or mixing it into your hummus and salsa recipes. However, if garlic’s strong flavor does not appeal to you, consider odor-free garlic capsules as an alternative. Sources for this article include: CDC.gov, NIH.gov, NaturalHealthResearch.org, NIH.gov, NIH.gov, NIH.gov, NIH.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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New App Tracks Nutrition Data in Kidney and Heart Disease Patients

AHA Publisher — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 08:00:21 +0000

University of Connecticut via News-Medical Net – The best way to manage conditions like kidney and heart disease is to manage one’s diet in accordance with medical recommendations to limit the intake of certain nutrients. However, many patients struggle to comply with these recommendations without a simple way to track their nutrition throughout the day. To answer this challenge, Dr. Ibrahim Elali, a nephrologist and assistant professor in the UConn School of Medicine, has developed DecideDiet. DecideDiet is a smartphone app aimed at alleviating the burden of monitoring these diseases. It’s not about the healthy population, it’s about targeting people living with chronic diseases.” Dr. Ibrahim Elali, Nephrologist and Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut School of Medicine DecideDiet is a free app that allows patients to simply scan a barcode or manually enter the food they are going to eat. The app will automatically evaluate the sodium and potassium content of the item and rate it either green, yellow, or red. Users should try to eat at least 75% of their foods in the green and avoid foods in the red. This system will help users not only day-to-day but over time by learning to avoid foods with high sodium and potassium. “We can’t reprogram our taste buds in five minutes,” Elali says. “It actually takes on average 6 months to get used to a low salt diet.” The “basket” on the app will keep track of all the food entered over the course of a day, month and three-month period. DecideDiet can potentially facilitate conversations between patients and their health care providers about their diet when they have all their nutrition data in hand and the ability to easily share data between devices. This app fills a niche in the market as most nutrition apps are focused on counting calories and weight loss. Even the few other existing apps for disease monitoring lack DecideDiet’s simplicity and many of its features. Elali saw a need for an app like DecideDiet from his interactions with his own patients. “I saw a need for something better than a paper to give to my patients,” Elali says. Normally, doctors can only provide patients with a pamphlet about dietary recommendations and rely on the patients to read food labels and track everything themselves. Since 81% of adults are smartphone users, DecideDiet is an accessible tool for most people living with chronic renal and heart disease. “We’re taking a step toward a more digital approach which will help us manage and engage the patient in their care and hopefully make an impact,” Elali says. DecideDiet allows patients to take ownership of their treatment and feeling involved in it rather than simply being told what to do. One challenge for DecideDiet and patients with these diseases in general is a lack of data about the phosphorous content of foods. Phosphorous is another restricted nutrient for renal disease patients. Phosphorous is commonly used in preservatives, but the FDA does not require companies to report it on nutritional labels as it does with sodium and potassium. The next step for Elali is to conduct a clinical trial of the app to see if its use has a measurable impact on patient health. This would be the first such clinical trial of any app on the market for renal patients. He has worked with venture development experts in UConn’s Technology Commercialization Services group to move the project forward. Physicians already know diet has a tremendous impact on patients’ health outcomes. Proper dietary management can increase the quality of people’s lives and reduce the incidence of disease-related hospitalizations. A simple, innovative tool like DecideDiet has the potential to change how physicians and patients approach their care. “Physicians talk about diet a lot, but we don’t have the tools,” Elali says. “Too often we leave diet behind in treatment when we know how important it is in prevention and maintenance.” To read the original article click here.

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Study Identifies Underlying Illness and Additional Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 or Death

AHA Publisher — Mon, 25 May 2020 07:00:30 +0000

BMJ via Newswise – Age, male sex, obesity, and underlying illness have emerged as risk factors for severe covid-19 or death in the UK, according to the largest cohort study to date published by The BMJ today. The risk of death increases in the over 50s, as does being being male, obese, or having underlying heart, lung, liver and kidney disease. As the largest prospective observational study reported worldwide to date, it provides a comprehensive picture of the characteristics of patients hospitalised in the UK with covid-19 and their outcomes. Because the study is ongoing, it has now recruited over 43,000 patients. The findings will help health professionals learn more about how the illness progresses and enable us to compare the UK with other countries, say the researchers. Studies in China have reported risk factors associated with severe covid-19, but studies describing the features and outcomes of patients with severe covid-19 who have been admitted to hospital in Europe are lacking. To address this knowledge gap, a team of UK researchers analysed data from 20,133 patients with covid-19 admitted to 208 acute care hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland between 6 February and 19 April 2020. This represents around a third of all patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 in the UK. The average age of patients in the study was 73 years, and more men (12,068; 60%) were admitted to hospital than women (8,065; 40%). Additional Risk Factors Besides increasing age, and underlying heart, lung, liver and kidney disease – factors already known to cause poor outcomes – the researchers found that obesity and gender were key factors associated with the need for higher levels of care and higher risk of death in hospital. At the time of publication, just over a quarter (26%) of all covid-19 patients in hospital had died, 54% were discharged alive, and a third (34%) remained in hospital. Outcomes were poorer for those requiring mechanical ventilation: 37% had died, 17% had been discharged alive, and 46% remained in hospital. The pattern of disease we describe broadly reflects the pattern reported globally, say the researchers. However, obesity is a major additional risk factor that was not highlighted in data from China. They suspect that reduced lung function or inflammation associated with obesity may play a role. Learning to Manage Future Cases This is an observational study, so can’t establish cause, and the researchers point to some limitations that may have affected their results. Nevertheless, they say this is the largest study of its kind outside of China and clearly shows that severe covid-19 leads to a prolonged hospital stay and a high mortality rate. “Our study identifies sectors of the population that are at greatest risk of a poor outcome, and shows the importance of forward planning and investment in preparedness studies,” they write. These results have already been shared with the UK Government and World Health Organisation, and are being compared with data from other countries around the world. At the outset of the covid-19 pandemic, it was natural to focus first on the people with severe disease who might need potentially scarce resources in hospital and intensive care, write US researchers in a linked editorial. Cohort studies of such patients are important, they say, and this study is a testament to good planning and preparation before, and implementation of data collection during a pandemic. But they add that if we are going to be managing covid-19 for the next several years, “we need to understand and optimize care before, during, and beyond the hospital.” To read the original article click here.

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