TOO much or too little sleepexposes you to a greaterrisk of developing type-2 diabetes. The risk is 250 per cent higher for people who sleep less than seven hours or more than eight hours at night, Laval University researchers concluded after analysing the habits of 276 people over a sixyear period. Type-2 diabetes symptoms are increased thirst and frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing sores and frequent infections.
Researchers determined that over this time span, approximately 20 per cent of those with long and short sleep duration developed type-2 diabetes as against only seven per cent of subjects who were average sleepers. Even when the effect attributable to differences in body mass were taken into account, the risk of diabetes and insulin resistance was still twice as high among those with longer and shorter sleep duration than average sleepers.
The researchers also point out that diabetes is not the only risk associated with sleep duration. A growing number of studies have shed light on a similar relationship between sleep and obesity, cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. The authors observed that among adults, between seven and eight hours of night time sleep seems to be ideal to protect against common diseases and premature death, said a Laval release.
However, it seems that fewer and fewer people sleep the optimum number of hours.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Raw tomatoes are hard to digest
Tomatoes eaten raw might not be so healthy, says a new study, because our digestive tract can only process a tiny amount of lycopene, an antioxidant found abundantly in tomatoes.
Antioxidants are dietary substances found in beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium. They prevent damage to the cells in our body or reverse damage after it has been done.
The study found that although around 75 per cent of the total antioxidants were released, this included only four per cent of the lycopene found in the raw tomato.
"Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene in the human diet, as well as containing other antioxidants essential for health," said nutritional bio chemist Carolyn Lister of Plant and Food Research (PFR).
"However, the human digestive tract is not able to release the majority of lycopene from raw tomatoes, so only a small amount would be made available for the body to use."
"Processing tomatoes has been shown to make lycopene more bio available, so as well as eating raw tomatoes for their nutritional value, we should eat tomato sauces to get the goodness of the lycopene," said Lister.
Antioxidants are dietary substances found in beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium. They prevent damage to the cells in our body or reverse damage after it has been done.
The study found that although around 75 per cent of the total antioxidants were released, this included only four per cent of the lycopene found in the raw tomato.
"Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene in the human diet, as well as containing other antioxidants essential for health," said nutritional bio chemist Carolyn Lister of Plant and Food Research (PFR).
"However, the human digestive tract is not able to release the majority of lycopene from raw tomatoes, so only a small amount would be made available for the body to use."
"Processing tomatoes has been shown to make lycopene more bio available, so as well as eating raw tomatoes for their nutritional value, we should eat tomato sauces to get the goodness of the lycopene," said Lister.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Stem cell therapy to cure blindness
British scientists have developed the world’s first stem cell therapy to cure age-related macular degeneration, which is the most common cause of blindness.
The treatment, for which a clinical trial is due to be within two years, could be available for patients within six or seven years, according to the Sunday Times. Laboratory trials have demonstrated that stem cells can prevent blindness in rats. They have also successfully tested elements of the technology in pigs.
The treatment has been developed by scientists from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital. It involves replacing a layer of degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. These stem cells are transformed into replicas of the missing cells and are then placed on an artificial membrane which is inserted in the back of the retina.
Last year, a team of British researchers from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital for the first time in world demonstrated that use of gene therapy can improve the eyesight of people who suffer from inherited blindness.
The treatment, for which a clinical trial is due to be within two years, could be available for patients within six or seven years, according to the Sunday Times. Laboratory trials have demonstrated that stem cells can prevent blindness in rats. They have also successfully tested elements of the technology in pigs.
The treatment has been developed by scientists from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital. It involves replacing a layer of degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. These stem cells are transformed into replicas of the missing cells and are then placed on an artificial membrane which is inserted in the back of the retina.
Last year, a team of British researchers from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital for the first time in world demonstrated that use of gene therapy can improve the eyesight of people who suffer from inherited blindness.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Vegetable juice could help you shed weight
Drinking at least one glass of low sodium vegetable juice daily can help the obese shed weight. The maximum benefit will be to the obese with metabolic syndrome, which is defined by a number of risk factors including excess body fat in the midsection, high blood pressure (BP), high blood sugar and abnormal blood lipids.
A study, conducted by Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), found that participants who drank at least eight ounces of low sodium vegetable juice as part of a calorie-controlled DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet lost nearly two kg over 12 weeks. In contrast, those who followed the same diet sans juice lost less than half a kg.
If left uncontrolled, metabolic syndrome increases risk for heart disease, stroke or diabetes. An estimated 47 million Americans have some combination of these risk factors and are often overweight or obese.
Participants in the study were primarily African-American and Hispanic adults, populations that typically have a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome.
Each group followed a DASH diet that emphasised eating lean meat, lower fat dairy, whole grains, vegetables and fruit daily. Saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and sodium were kept in check.
Two of the groups were given low sodium V8 100 per cent vegetable juice and instructed to drink one or two cups daily for 12 weeks, while the third group was not given any vegetable juice.
Vegetable juice drinkers significantly increased their intake of vitamin C and potassium, while decreasing their overall carbohydrate intake, said a release of the Behavioral Medicine Research Centre (BMRC).
"What this study shows is that by tak ing simple, proactive steps such as drinking low sodium vegetable juice while watching calorie intake, people can begin to control their weight, which helps reduce the risk of long-term health implications," said John Foreyt, study author and director of BMRC.
A study, conducted by Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), found that participants who drank at least eight ounces of low sodium vegetable juice as part of a calorie-controlled DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet lost nearly two kg over 12 weeks. In contrast, those who followed the same diet sans juice lost less than half a kg.
If left uncontrolled, metabolic syndrome increases risk for heart disease, stroke or diabetes. An estimated 47 million Americans have some combination of these risk factors and are often overweight or obese.
Participants in the study were primarily African-American and Hispanic adults, populations that typically have a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome.
Each group followed a DASH diet that emphasised eating lean meat, lower fat dairy, whole grains, vegetables and fruit daily. Saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and sodium were kept in check.
Two of the groups were given low sodium V8 100 per cent vegetable juice and instructed to drink one or two cups daily for 12 weeks, while the third group was not given any vegetable juice.
Vegetable juice drinkers significantly increased their intake of vitamin C and potassium, while decreasing their overall carbohydrate intake, said a release of the Behavioral Medicine Research Centre (BMRC).
"What this study shows is that by tak ing simple, proactive steps such as drinking low sodium vegetable juice while watching calorie intake, people can begin to control their weight, which helps reduce the risk of long-term health implications," said John Foreyt, study author and director of BMRC.
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