If we live long enough, we begin to see cyclical changes in society. Yes, hang on to those outdated, old ties and skirts: they will be coming back. Medical/health issues are no different, especially when it comes to diet. Are eggs good or bad for you? What about Intermittent fasting? Well, after enthusiasm for it slowed down, we can see clearly that it is no better than simple calorie restrictions, and that it is stressful to the heart. It is not recommended for older people and those with heart conditions. See below. HR
Intermittent fasting and the heart
Healio Minute, February 01, 2024
“NBC News (3/18/24, Bendix) reports that an analysis presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific sessions “challenges the notion that intermittent fasting is good for heart health.” The Hill (3/18/24, Nazzaro) reports, “The analysis…found that people who limit eating food to less than eight hours per day had a 91% higher risk of fatal cardiovascular disease when compared with people who eat across 12 to 16 hours a day.” Additionally, “the increased risk of cardiovascular death was…observed in those living with heart disease or cancer, researchers noted.” Individuals “who had existing cardiovascular disease and ate between eight and 10 hours per day also had a 66% higher risk of death from heart disease or stroke, the analysis stated.”
Toddlers who grow up near nature are less likely to have emotional issues
“HealthDay (4/11/24, Thompson.) [This is true] even if the green space is just a park or a big back yard, a new study shows.” Investigators “examined data from more than 2,100 children in 199 counties across 41 U.S. states.” The researchers found that “the more green space there is within three-fourths of a mile from a child’s home, the fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression they’ll have between the ages of 2 and 5.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.”
Comment: Crazy Horse predicted Europeans would come to understand Mother Nature better. I hope this article helps getting us back to what is most important in our lives. I can’t help feeling sorry for those who are stuck in tenements far removed from nature. It is well-documented that poverty is the number 1 factor in determining health status and longevity.
Botanical, alternative treatments show promise in acne vulgaris treatment
Healio Minute, April 02, 2024 J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;doi:10.36849/JDD.8138.
“Acne vulgaris may be driven by underlying systemic, immune-inflammatory pathways. Addressing those underlying causes with lifestyle changes may mitigate disease severity. Utilizing alternative, botanical treatments for acne may target the underlying causes of disease and improve severity, according to a study. “A growing trend in acne management is for a more integrative systemic approach, driven by both patients and providers,” Cheryl Burgess, MD, medical director at Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery in Washington, D.C., and member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin of Color Society, and colleagues wrote. “In addition to the local inflammation at the pilosebaceous unit, there is now a growing body of evidence that suggests that acne vulgaris may be driven by underlying systemic, immune-inflammatory pathways.”
Comment: the most important factor is the microbiome.
Plastics in carotid artery plaque may increase risk of heart attack, stroke
“Reuters (3/6/24, Lapid) reports, “Minuscule pieces of plastic lodged in the fatty deposits that line human arteries may be linked with higher risks for heart disease, strokes, and death.” Researchers said “among 304 patients who underwent procedures to clear a major artery in the neck, 58% were found to have microscopic and nanoscopic ‘jagged-edged’ pieces of plastic in the plaque lining the blood vessel, including polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride containing chlorine.” Individuals “with plastic particles in their carotid artery plaque had a 4.5 times higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke or dying during the next three years.” Additionally, “patients with microplastics or nanoplastics in their plaque tissue…had high levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood that are known to play a role in atherosclerosis and heart failure.” The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.”
Comment: also, plastics are endocrine-disruptors. Messing with hormones damages every organ system, not just the heart. Eat more cruciferous veggies, and supplement I3C and Sulpharanes.
Blood–brain barrier disruption and sustained systemic inflammation in individuals with long COVID-associated cognitive impairment
J. Nature Neuroscience volume 27, pages421–432 (2024)
“Vascular disruption has been implicated in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis and may predispose to the neurological sequelae associated with long COVID, yet it is unclear how blood–brain barrier (BBB) function is affected in these conditions. Here we show that BBB disruption is evident during acute infection and in patients with long COVID with cognitive impairment, commonly referred to as brain fog. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, we show BBB disruption in patients with long COVID-associated brain fog. Transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed dysregulation of the coagulation system and a dampened adaptive immune response in individuals with brain fog. Accordingly, peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed increased adhesion to human brain endothelial cells in vitro, while exposure of brain endothelial cells to serum from patients with long COVID induced expression of inflammatory markers. Together, our data suggest that sustained systemic inflammation and persistent localized BBB dysfunction is a key feature of long COVID-associated brain fog.
Comment: unfortunately, politics poisoned the waters. The results? 10% of people who got COVID now suffer long COVID. It is characterized by a poor microbiome, clotting problems, inflammation of the lining of arteries (endothelium,) and Vagus nerve disruption. The list is sure to get longer. What can you do? Improve your immune-detox function by balancing your microbiome.
Ultra-processed foods linked to more than 30 health conditions
“The Washington Post (2/29, Pannett) reports, “A review of research involving almost 10 million people has found a direct association between eating too many ultra-processed foods…and more than 30 health conditions, including heart disease, anxiety and early death.” Investigators examined 14 review articles involving nearly 10 million people” and “found ‘convincing evidence’ that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with about a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48 to 53% higher risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% greater risk of Type 2 diabetes.” Also, “highly suggestive evidence…indicated that diets high in ultra-processed foods were associated with a 21% greater risk of death from any cause.”
Comment: they disrupt the microbiome, and its 4 key functions: metabolism, detoxification, immunologic, and genetic modulation
Acid-suppressive medications in infancy associated with food allergy risks
Healio Minute, March 18, 2024
“WASHINGTON — Infants who were exposed to acid-suppressive medications had increased risk for developing food allergy, according to an abstract presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting. Risks also increased for anaphylaxis, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis, Julia Tanzo, BS, student at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. Data were derived from Tanzo J, et al. Abstract 803. Presented at: AAAAI Annual Meeting; Feb. 23-26, 2023; Washington, D.C. “We found that early exposure to acid-suppressive medications was associated with five to six times higher risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis, with similar trends observed for antimicrobials,” Tanzo said in a press release.
Noting that acid-suppressive therapy has been associated with gut dysbiosis, which itself has been implicated in allergy development, the researchers hypothesized that these medications may increase the risks for allergy.”
Comment: when acid-suppressant were first introduced, they were closely monitored because doctors thought that shutting down acid could lead to nutritional problems. Well, now they are over the counter. Their main problem is disrupting the microbiome.
