Posts Tagged ‘Inflammation’

Grapes are the sweet way to health; for many Americans with high blood pressure and insulin resistance.

Grapes Health Benefits

The focus of a study at the University of Michigan Health system was to test the effect of grapes in reducing risk factors related to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

Researchers studied the effect of regular table grapes (a blend of green, red and black grapes) that were mixed into a powdered form and integrated into the diets of laboratory rats as part of a high-fat, American style diet. All of the rats used were from a research breed that is prone to being overweight.

The researchers performed comparisons between the rats consuming a grape-enriched diet and control rats receiving no grape powder. Researchers added calories, and sugars to the control group to balance the extra calories and sugars gained from getting the grape powder.

Findings from a new animal study was presented at the Experimental Biology convention in Anaheim, Calif., showed encouraging results of a grape-enriched diet preventing risk factors for metabolic syndrome. This is a condition affecting an estimated 50 million Americans and is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

After three months, the rats that received the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and reduced indicators of inflammation in the heart and blood than the rats who received no grape powder. Rats also had lower triglycerides and improved glucose tolerance.

Phytochemicals In Grapes

The key focus should be the phytochemicals in grapes. The emerging evidence is that phytochemicals offer protection from all diseases. People who want to lower their blood pressure, reduce their risk of diabetes, and help their weakened hearts retain as much pumping power as possible should eat a whole foods diet. This means a diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Grapes are instrumental in providing high levels of antioxidants, which are good for the heart. Emerging studies are proving that fruits and vegetables deliver what they promise, sweet goodness.

An aspirin a day is cause for concern for a few reasons.

People who take aspirin regularly for a year or more may be at an increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease, according to a new study by the University of East Anglia (UEA).The study led by Dr. Andrew Hart of UEA’s School of Medicine.

An Aspirin Is A Drug

Aspirins are so common that they are thought of a benign addition to a health plan. I am surprised that they are not included as a food group.

Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates. Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation in the body.

As a group, NSAIDs are non-narcotic relievers of mild to moderate pain of many causes, including injury, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Since the response to different NSAIDs varies from patient to patient, it is not unusual for a doctor to try different NSAIDs for any given condition.

Aspirin Crohn’s Disease Connection

There seems to be an aspirin Crohn’s disease connection. Crohn’s disease is characterized by inflammation and swelling by parts of the digestive system. It can put patients at risk for bowel cancer. There is some research that has shown that aspirin can have a harmful effect on the bowel. To investigate this potential link further, the UEA team followed 200,000 volunteers aged 30-74 in the Uk, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Italy. The volunteers had been recruited for the EPIC study (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) between 1993 and 1997.

The volunteers were all initially well, but by 2004 a small number had developed Crohn’s disease. When looking for differences in aspirin use between those who developed the disease, the researches discovered that those who took aspirin on a regular basis for a year or more were about five times more likely to develop Crohn’s disease.

Aspirin Causes Numerous Problems

Regular daily aspirin use has been linked to an increase in macular degeneration, a condition that causes blindness in older people. The long term use of aspirin this means 10 years or longer in associated with a 44% increase in a disabling form of cataracts, known as posterior subcapsular cataracts.

The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology found that GERD was a growing problem in children, especially teenagers. NSAIDS, which include aspirin, showed up as one of the primary factors leading to reflux problems. Half of those with GERD problems, also reported a higher incidence of Asthma symptoms. Acid reflux can trigger attacks that mimic Asthma.

Researchers at Tel Aviv Medical Center found that daily aspirin, in doses of 75 – 325 mg could have a significant adverse effect on renal (kidney) function in elderly adults. After only two weeks in a study of 100 elderly patients were placed on daily aspirin, researchers began to document decreased kidney function. In 72% of the patients, the urinary excretion of creatinine decreased and in 65% of the patients, uric acid excretion decreased. Both decreases are known signs of kidney impairment. After the aspirin was discontinued in these patients, kidney function began to improve but 48% of the patients experienced some residual impairment as much as three weeks later.

Taking aspirin has been associated with increased loss of vitamin C in urine and has been linked to depletion of vitamin C.

Aspirin

Aspirins are at best a short term solution for an acute problem. When taken for a chronic condition they are not a long term solution. Aspirins are not something you pop in your mouth for a health condition. They aren’t a substitute for a sound lifestyle; just because they give immediate relief doesn’t mean they solved the problem. On the contrary they could be the long term problem.

According to report in Gastroenterology celiac disease is on the rise. It is now 4 times more common in the U.S. than it was in the 1950’s.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is intolerance to the protein gluten, found in wheat, barley, and rye. Some times oats are included the list. When celiac patients consume gluten, they suffer an inflammatory reaction in the small intestines. This can manifest as abdominal pain, diarrhea, low weight, anemia, infertility, malnutrition, and osteoporosis. It can develop at any age, and is frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.

Other symptoms can also include irritability, abdominal bloating, depression, weight loss or weight gain and joint pain. With a list this long it is easy to see why this condition is hard to pinpoint.

Since this disease damages the intestines it can cause a host of problems over time. It is associated with Atopic Dermatitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Gastrointestinal Cancer, and even Behavior Problems.

Symptoms vary depending on a person’s age and the degree of damage to the small intestines. Adults could have the disease for a decade or more before they are diagnosed. The longer a person goes untreated the greater the chance for the development of other problems associated with this condition.

Celiac Numbers Climbing

There is no surprise that celiac numbers are climbing. Celiac disease is basically our bodies telling us that it is not meant to be fed a diet so high in gluten. There are no surprises here. We were not programmed to have a diet made up of processed food.

Although the rate of disease in on the rise, University of Chicago Celiac Disease Director Guandalini MD said “only about 5% of people with celiac disease know they have it.”

The problem with that is people who eat gluten with celiac disease injure the small intestines and affect the absorption of nutrients. Gluten is found in foods as well as everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, and lip moisturizers.

Gluten The Culprit  

There are some factors that influence the incidence of celiac disease. The length of time a person was breastfed, the age a person started eating gluten containing foods, and the amount of gluten containing food consumed.

Gluten is a hard-to- digest protein found in many whole gains and cereals. It is also hidden in processed foods as binders, starch, and fillers.

It is found in flavored coffee, artificial coffee creamer, imitation seafood products, flavoring, emulsifier, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy sauce, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and most processed foods.

To me it’s a wonder that majority of the population isn’t suffering from this condition. Probably most people have intestinal damage from the conventional diet. Most of the items that are listed above don’t even make the food category, let alone something that you can safely consume.

Gluten Free Diet 

A gluten free diet is one of the ways that this condition is treated. With that said a whole food diet, will more fresh vegetables, fruits, good protein, and low on the processed carbohydrates is the right way to proceed. Cutting out the wheat, barley, and rye is fine, but eating a nutrient dense diet should be part of the equation.