Lead’s health effects

Lead, a metal found in natural deposits, is commonly used in household plumbing materials and water service lines. The greatest exposure to lead is through drinking water (the major sources of lead in drinking water are corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits. Lead enters the water through contact with the plumbing), or breathing in lead paint chips and dust.

 

It has long been known that lead in drinking water is highly toxic and recent developments have increased the level of concern. Contamination of drinking water with significant levels of lead is much more widespread than previously believed and levels that were once considered safe are now known to be health threats.

 

 Lead is a toxic substance. Even low levels in drinking water, when continuously ingested, will cause a deterioration in health.

Infants, children, pregnant women and fetuses are more vulnerable to lead exposure than others because the lead is more easily absorbed into the sensitive tissue of actively growing bodies. An equal concentration of lead is more destructive in a child than in an adult. Pregnant women should also be especially cautious about lead exposure, because it can cause premature birth, and reduce the birth weight of babies.

 

Lead is considered the number one health threat to children, and the effects of lead poisoning can last a lifetime. Not only does lead poisoning stunt the growth of a child, damage the nervous system and cause learning disabilities, but it is also now linked to crime and anti-social behavior in children (the Wisconsin State Journal, February 7, 1996: "Researchers using a new test that looks for lead in the bones instead of the blood say exposure to the toxic metal may contribute to crime and anti-social behavior in children"). Children six years old and under are most at risk because this is when the brain is developing.

 

Exposure to lead is cumulative over time. High concentrations of lead in the body can cause death or permanent damage to the central nervous system, the brain, and kidneys. This damage commonly results in behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), memory and concentration problems, high blood pressure, hearing problems, headaches, slowed growth, reproductive problems in men and women, digestive problems, muscle and joint pain.

 

Health Benefits of Maple Syrup

One of the popular sweeteners today is maple syrup.

It is a 100% natural sweetener that is claimed to be more nutritious and healthier than sugar.

Maple syrup is made in 2 steps:

Step 1: A hole is drilled in the maple tree. Then the sugary circulating fluid leaks out and is collected into a container.

Step 2: The sugary fluid is boiled until most of the water evaporates, leaving a thick sugary syrup, which is then filtered to remove impurities.

Health Benefits of Maple Syrup

1. Antioxidants

Maple syrup has various minerals and antioxidant properties that are essential for healthy living. 100 grams of maple syrup contain:

§  Calcium: 7% of the RDA.
§  Potassium: 6% of the RDA.
§  Iron: 7% of the RDA.
§  Zinc: 28% of the RDA.
§  Manganese: 165% of the RDA.

It is the function of the manganese mineral present in the maple syrup to supply the superoxide dismutase which is an oxidative enzyme. This enzyme helps in disarming the dangerous free radicals.

2. Healthy Heart 

As maple syrup contains zinc, it can protect and prevent against various cardiovascular disorders. Zinc enhances the performance of the endothelial cells by protecting them against damage due to the existence of excess cholesterol, together with other oxidized lipids. A low level of zinc exposes the inner lining of blood vessels to injuries, which in return can affect the normal operations of the heart.       

3. Male Health

It helps in maintaining male reproductive health. This is because certain minerals found in maple syrup are useful for a healthy reproductive system, particularly the prostate gland. Reduction in the levels of the minerals increases the risk of disorders, such as prostate cancer. 

4. Immune System

A lack of zinc and manganese in the body could easily lead to a reduction in the number of white blood cells, which affects the response of the immune system.

But even though maple syrup does contain nutrients and antioxidants, it is also high in sugar content. And so consuming it in excess can lead to obesity.

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Does milk cause cancer?

Estrogen in the fat of dairy products may fuel cancers that are hormone related, including cancers of the breast and prostate, research suggests.

In one study of breast cancer patients, women who ate more than one serving daily of high-fat dairy products were about 50 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than other patients.

The link may be due to estrogen. This hormone is soluble in fat, so it is found in higher concentrations in high-fat dairy products. And some types of breast cancer have estrogen receptors and are fueled by estrogen.

However, a healthy, well balanced diet is more important to prevent cancers. A healthy diet should also be high in fibre and include at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. And it is best to avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake.

Are you hungry?

How do you know you are hungry?

Leptin is a very important hormone produced in the fat cells. It tells your brain when you are full, triggering the feeling that you need to stop eating. If you have too much leptin, your sensitivity to it can decrease and this leads to more hunger and cravings, and eventually obesity.

No food contains leptin. But some foods can help increase our sensitivity to it. This means our metabolism can then go up, cravings go down. These foods include leafy greens and fiber-rich foods. They can also help keep your body feeling full. These foods spark the sensitivity that your body needs in order to respond appropriately to leptin. For even more regulation of that sensitivity, it needs to get a good allotment of fish in your diet. 

Benefits of Green Tea

The bioactive polyphenolic compounds found in green tea account for the benefits of drinking green tea. Its predominant polyphenols are the catechins and include epicatechin, epicatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).

Studies show that green tea can increase our metabolic rate and greater use of fat.

This is because the catechins in green tea inhibit the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine (a chemical released from the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress, also referred to as a stress hormone) so that its biological effect (e.g., increased metabolic rate, increased fat breakdown, etc.) are prolonged.

Further, green tea causes a preferential use of fat over carbohydrate. A study shows that green tea is an effective in shedding fat, particularly in the mid-section. It has a great effect on reductions in subcutaneous and visceral fat in the abdomen, a region associated with higher risk for many chronic diseases.

The increased metabolic rate and greater use of fat amounted to an increase in energy expenditure ranging from 65 to 200 kcal/day. This extra fat burning translates into about 0.7 to 1.5 pounds of fat loss over a month period.

Green tea may also act to reduce food intake and inhibit the main enzymes involved in fat storage.

In addition, several lines of evidence point to green tea as an effective preventative and therapeutic agent in heart disease and cancers.

Green tea lowers cholesterol levels in the blood and is positively associated with a lower incidence of different forms of heart disease. This could be due to improved antioxidant capacity in the blood after intake of green tea and lowering of oxidized LDL. Green tea can also prevent a variety of different cancers.

And it may be used as a nutritional supplement for atherosclerosis, blood sugar control, HPV virus infection and neurodegenerative diseases. 

Weight loss effect of Chili

Chili contains capsaicin which makes it spicy hot. When applying it to the skin, it may help relieve pain. But for the current discussion, its important lies in the area of helping weight loss.

Capsaicin can speed up metabolism and reduce fat tissue, as well as curb overeating by taming appetite.

1) Appetite

 

According to a 2009 study from the journal Clinical Nutrition. a combination of capsaicin and green tea led subjects to feel less hungry and take in fewer calories. In another study, it was found that capsaicin may help decrease ghrelin (a hormone involved in promoting hunger).

 

2) Metabolism

 

A number of studies found that capsaicin may help rev up thermogenesis (a biological process involved in burning calories) in animals. However, there is currently a lack of studies testing capsaicin's ability to boost metabolism in humans.

 

3) Body Fat

 

Capsaicin may help fight the buildup of body fat. Capsaicin can help promote the release of fat burning hormones - norepinephrine.This hormone can stimulate fat oxidation process and help lose weight.

• An increase in our heart rate - this pumps more blood around our body, helping our muscles work faster and more efficiently.
• An increase in glucose (or sugar) release - this additional sugar gives our muscles something to 'feed on,' which helps them work better and faster.

 

Although increasing capsaicin intake by eating chili peppers or chili-pepper-based sauces may be beneficial to our overall health (partly also due to its antioxidant property), intake capsaicin supplements is another issue. This is because in that case capsaicin is no longer capsaicin. It is only a chemical compound and so may have side effects (such as stomach irritation and aggravation of ulcers and heartburn). In addition, capsaicin supplements may interact with certain medications (including aspirin and blood-thinning drugs).