Eating too much salt is bad for us?

Salt is made up of about 40% sodium and 60% chlorine.  Human body requires a small amount of sodium to conduct nerve impulses, contract and relax muscle and maintain the proper balance of water and minerals. It is estimated that we need about 500 mg of sodium daily for these vital functions. We also need salt to flavor food. But eating too much salt (sodium) is bad for us.

In most people, the kidneys have trouble keeping up with excess sodium in the blood. As sodium accumulates, the body holds onto water to dilute the sodium. This increases both the amount of fluid surrounding cells and the volume of blood in the bloodstream. Increased blood volume means more work for the heart and more pressure on blood vessels. Over time, the extra work and pressure can stiffen blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. It can also lead to heart failure. There is some evidence that too much salt can damage the heart, aorta and kidneys without increasing blood pressure, and that it may be bad for bones, too as it can also cause calcium losses, some of which may be pulled from bone. 

The American Heart Association recommends 1500 mg of sodium a day for most adults to stay healthy.

Monk Fruit: A Nature’s Sweetener

Monk fruit, or lo han guo, is a small green melon native to southern China. The health benefits of the fruit have been well-known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for decades.

 Health benefits of monk fruit:

1. Safe for diabetes

Monk fruit gets its sweetness from natural compounds called mogrosides, which are also powerful antioxidants.

It is generally safe to sweeten foods and drinks using monk fruit for those with diabetes and anyone who wants to limit dietary sugar because it does not increase blood sugars. 

According to research studies, monk fruit may improve insulin response and does not affect blood sugar levels the way natural sugars do. This means it can provide the sweet flavor without the damaging side effects.

The fruit had been used as an antidiabetic by the Chinese for centuries. As a sweetener with a low glycemic index, it is also antihyperglycemic (which helps bring down the blood glucose levels in the body).

2. Promotes weight loss

Monk fruit has no calories, carbs, or fat. 

3. Anti-inflammatory properties

The fruit’s mogrosides are said to be anti-inflammatory, and may help prevent cancer. It has long been regarded as the “longevity fruit”.

There is evidence suggesting that the seeds and extract taken from this fruit have anti-carcinogenic effects. Monk fruit extract has displayed an ability to inhibit skin and breast tumor growth and to provide proteins that have anticancer abilities.

Throughout history, it was used medicinally as an expectorant, cough remedy, treatment for constipation and as a remedy for clearing heat/fevers from the body. Monk fruit has been used in TCM to make hot drinks that relieve sore throats and reduce phlegm.

Ozempic for weight loss: Does it work?

Many people are now using the diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss as weight loss can reduce the risk for many other serious health conditions, such as heart problems. But Ozempic is intended for use in adults with type 2 diabetes. Weight loss is only a side effect. And it is also designed to be taken long-term.

Ozempic is a weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more insulin. Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone, telling the brain you are full. It also slows digestion by increasing the time it takes for food to leave the body.

If you start taking the drug for weight loss, your body may get used to it, establishing a new normal. This can cause your weight to plateau. Research has shown that if you stop taking Ozempic, it is likely that you will gain back the weight you lost.

Experts recommend that people avoid using Ozempic unless they have type 2 diabetes. Instead, people should make lifestyle changes to help their weight loss, such as eating right and exercising.

Moreover, Ozempic is not safe for everyone. People with the following conditions should avoid using Ozempic:

• Pancreatitis
• Type 1 diabetes
• Under 18 years of age
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Problems with the pancreas or kidneys
• Family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), an endocrine system condition

Health Benefits of Lentils

 

Lentils are one of the world's oldest health foods.

Health Benefits

Lentils are rich in protein. Protein is a building block of bones, muscles and skin. It can also curb your appetite because it keeps you feeling full longer than other nutrients do.

Fiber also fills you up. Lentils have plenty of it. A single serving meets 32% of the fiber you need each day. It can lower cholesterol and protect against diabetes and colon cancer. A daily dose of fiber pushes waste through your digestive system and prevents constipation, too.

The potassium, folate, and iron in lentils also provide lots of benefits. Potassium counters the bad effects of salt and lowers blood pressure. Folate protects your heart and supports your body in forming red blood cells.

WHO Declares Loneliness as a Global Health Threat

 

Loneliness has been officially recognized as a global public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO has initiated an international commission on loneliness, emphasizing its adverse effects on health, which can be as severe as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

This 15-cigarette equivalency arose from observations that experiencing chronic loneliness can increase the risk of a suffering a range of different chronic medical conditions. Studies that have found poor or insufficient social connection to be associated with a 29% increase in the risk of heart disease, a 32% increase in the risk of stroke, and increases in the risk of anxiety, depression, dementia, respiratory illness, and viral infections.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with its disruptions to economic and social activities, has exacerbated loneliness levels. Now, one in four older people globally experiences social isolation.

The consequences of loneliness are far-reaching, affecting both older adults and young people. In older adults, loneliness is linked to a 50% increased risk of developing dementia and a 30% increased risk of coronary artery disease or stroke.

What Is Konjac?

 

Konjac is a plant that has been used for centuries in Asia as food. It is known for its starchy corm, a tuber-like part of the stem that grows underground. The corm is used to make a rich source of soluble dietary fiber known as glucomannan.

The high fiber content of konjac has many health benefits:

Its soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels. A 2008 systematic review found that konjac may help lower total cholesterol, LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides.

Konjac has been shown to lower blood sugar levels. It may slow the absorption of sugar, so people with diabetes can monitor their blood sugar.

Researchers thus concluded that glucomannan could be an adjuvant (additional) therapy for people with diabetes and high cholesterol.

As konjac lowered LDL cholesterol and so it was recommended to use to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A 2008 study also found that glucomannan may help prevent constipation.  Moreover, as fiber is filling. Eating it regularly helps keep you fuller longer, so you are less likely to overeat or snack between meals. Konjac also expands in the stomach to help keep you full, hence it can be used to reduce body weight.

However, as with any high fiber product, it may cause digestive problems such as bloating. Consult a qualified natural health practitioner or your doctor for advice especially if you take glucomannan fiber as a food supplement.