Atkins and Sugar Cravings

Sugar is in every single place you look and it might pop up in some stunning places. Did you know that most whole grain breads have not less than one type of sugar in them? We now have a nationwide candy tooth epidemic. Even if you don’t eat a whole lot of sugary treats you could experience intense sugar cravings in the first few weeks of the Atkins diet. So many “healthy” carbohydrate meals have hidden sugars in them, your physique may be experiencing withdrawal.

The issue with sugar is that your blood sugar is tied into your energy levels and your total health. When your blood sugar is too low, you will experience intense cravings. Excessive blood sugar is a results of consuming high-sugar meals. Once you eat concentrated sugar, your blood sugar will elevate to excessive levels. Your pancreas thinks there is something fallacious and then it secretes insulin to lower the blood sugar. As this happens more, you possibly can create pre-diabetic conditions in your physique as your pancreas turns into worn out and ultimately can't secrete insulin.

Happily, getting started on the Atkins weight loss plan plan can put a stop to this cycle. However, this doesn’t imply that sugar cravings go away automatically. Sugar merchandise are everywhere and temptation is sometimes laborious to fight.

The easiest way to approach sugar cravings is with planning. For those who keep a steadiness of protein, fat and fiber in your each day weight loss plan you'll prevent blood sugar drops that lead to sugar cravings. Additionally, do not go too long between meals without eating. Snacks are an vital a part of retaining your blood sugar stable. Have some useful snacks like cheese, nuts, seeds and boiled eggs readily available with you so you'll be able to rapidly stabilize your blood sugar without turning to candy treats.

Sugar cravings can be a sign of a dietary deficiency. If you end up low on magnesium, you will crave chocolate and other sweets. Zinc and chromium can also stave off sugar cravings. In case you aren’t taking a superb multivitamin supplement with these minerals, begin immediately. If you're and you're nonetheless experiencing cravings, think about making an attempt additional supplements of those nutrients.

Another tactic is to brush your teeth. Many Atkins dieters find that brushing their enamel or using Listerine breath strips might help with cravings. Both methods will numb your mouth and prevent you from wanting to eat. Ingesting two giant glasses of water may also assist eradicate cravings. If your abdomen is full, then you definitely’ll be less likely to reach for a sugary treat.

Sometimes out of sight, out of thoughts is the best approach. If you end up overcome with cravings when you are at house, get outdoors and take a walk. The distraction can have you forgetting your sugar craving in no time. Calling a friend for support or logging into an Atkins help forum also can go a great distance towards stopping you from succumbing to sugar cravings.

Having a low-carb model of your favourite treat is another good idea. You're much less likely to feel disadvantaged should you can have a satisfying low carb treat. There are a wide variety of low-carb merchandise obtainable in the marketplace that can beat your candy tooth. Low-carb yogurt, chocolate, ice cream and sweet can all allow you to stay on the Atkins plan and nonetheless get one thing sweet to eat.

Sugar cravings are a actuality of following the Atkins plan, however the earlier tips will help you overcome them and keep dedicated to your weight loss efforts.

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Atkins Snack Choices

We reside in a society of nibblers. Long gone are the normal three square meals per day. At the moment, individuals eat at their desks, catch a snack within the afternoon and eat late evening goodies. Most, if not all, of these snacks are carbohydrate based and stuffed with sugar. This poses a challenge to people who are making an attempt to observe the Atkins plan. Snacking is a vital part of retaining your blood sugar up, but most packaged snack foods are forbidden on the plan.


Sweet snacks are high in energy, full of empty carbohydrates and supply no dietary value. However they certain are popular. There may be actually a Snack Meals Affiliation that tracks sales of packaged snack foods. It is estimated that People eat 3.1 billion pounds of chocolate. Snacking has increased more than a 3rd since 1988. Gross sales of snack foods gross over $30 billion a year.


When you’ve been a snack food junkie you’ve turn out to be used to consuming carbohydrates of the worst kind. Snack foods are made from highly refined carbohydrates like white flour, white sugar, corn meal and corn syrup. They are high in trans-fat (which is a contributor to clogged arteries). All in all, they're probably one of the worst meals decisions you may be making.


But there may be hope! You can conquer your love of snack meals by making Atkins-pleasant snacking choices. Before you can make the change, ensure to educate yourself. Perceive simply how harmful trans fats will be by studying up on them. Then learn the ingredients label of your favourite snack foods. You could be shocked to discover how many trans fats, artificial flavorings and preservatives that you're eating.


Subsequent, do away with all the snack meals in your house. If its not there, then you possibly can’t eat it. Junk food just isn't good for anybody in your house so ignore your family’s complaints and do what's greatest for the well being of everyone.


Now you’ll need to exchange those snack meals with some higher choices. Giving up your snack foods isn't the identical as giving up snacks. Snacks ought to be part of your day by day eating plan because it will help you from becoming too hungry and indulging in high-carbohydrate treats.


There are many low carbohydrate snacks which might be straightforward to make and simple to have around the house. String cheese sticks or small cheese rounds are very straightforward to keep within the refrigerator. Meat snacks are additionally a superb choice. You should purchase jerky strips and different meat products that maintain well for long periods of time. Once you buy cheese or meat sticks, make sure to learn the labels rigorously for hidden carbs.


There are low carb instantaneous soups available that are very easy to make and satisfying if you are craving one thing hot. Low carb soy chips and celery will help with “crunchy” cravings. Attempt adding peanut butter or cream cheese spread so as to add more protein to these snacks. Also, you may’t beat a handful of nuts for a excessive-protein, quick snack.


The entire beforehand talked about snacks are good for the initial phases of the Atkins food plan and beyond. If you're previous the induction phase, you'll be able to take pleasure in berries with cream as a snack. There are additionally many acceptable fruits that make good snacks for the pre-maintenance phase.

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Atkins and Diabetes

The Atkins diet rules lay the muse for a healthy, extra balanced manner of consuming than the usual American diet. Its emphasis is on using good carbohydrates in steadiness with enough protein. This is in stark contrast to what most Americans eat on a daily basis. The common American eats lots of processed meals that have hidden sugars and highly processed carbohydrates. This has put most People on the road to diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions. What is gloomy is that diabetes has a predictable set of levels and that they are often simply recognized.

The street to diabetes has to do with something referred to as the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are rated on this index as regards to the level of insulin response they produce. Foods that have a high glycemic index rating will trigger your pancreas to launch lots of insulin to interrupt down the quantity of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce excessive quantities of glucose). The refined carbohydrates and sugars that make up the overwhelming majority of the American weight loss program rank very high on the glycemic index.

We're capable of extra readily digest these foods as youngsters, because our bodies function more effectively in our youth. There could have been negative effects, like weight achieve and mood swings, but they didn’t stand out. As we age, nevertheless, these symptoms start to develop and develop into more prevalent. The nation-extensive weight problems epidemic is a results of high-carbohydrate diets and unstable blood sugar levels.

Many people who are chubby are also insulin resistant. Insulin resistance implies that the insulin will not be doing its job in removing glucose from the blood stream. The pancreas will get over worked and it releases large quantities of insulin, sometimes 20 occasions more than the body really needs. This leads to the blood sugar dropping to extremely low levels. This units off a chain reaction in the body that results in a release of adrenaline to correct the blood sugar problem.

With age, blood sugar and insulin difficulties turn into extra aggravated. The situation is called “hyperinsulinism” and is a precursor for type II diabetes. It is usually accompanied by hypertension and excessive triglycerides.

After years of utilizing a high-carbohydrate eating regimen, you will finally develop into fully diabetic. Insulin is the body’s major fat creator and extra kilos normally accompany late onset diabetes. Pre-diabetic situations, if not handled effectively, will lead to diabetes indefinitely.

Nevertheless, there are simply identifiable warning signs to diabetes that appear early. Your family physician can perform insulin degree checks that may let you already know if you are at risk for pre-diabetic circumstances, and studies present that low-carb diets like Atkins can help. Controlling your blood sugar is one of the most effective methods to controlling pre-diabetic conditions.

The Atkins eating regimen helps successfully management blood sugar. The mix of proteins, fats and good carbohydrates will keep your body glad without the roller coaster effect. Controlling carbohydrates in quantity as well as type will help restrict the insulin spikes. It will let your pancreas work in the way that it was meant to be, and it'll lower the probability of your creating pre-diabetic conditions. It’s a vicious cycle that, if left unchecked, can result in diabetes later in life. When the Atkins weight-reduction plan is adopted effectively it produces stable blood sugar all through the day and helps you keep off the highway to diabetes.

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Atkins Diet Foods

Atkins weight loss program meals are easy to find and available everywhere. There are lots of varieties to select from, whether or not you choose prepackaged low-carb weight loss plan foods or make your personal meals. No matter how you want to do the Atkins plan, there's a resolution out there for you.

You’ll need to keep the Atkins food pyramid in thoughts if you make meals choices. The Atkins pyramid appears a lot completely different than the USDA Meals Information Pyramid. The base of the pyramid consists of protein sources comparable to eggs, fish, beef, rooster and tofu. On a daily basis, your weight loss program should consist primarily of those foods. The second tier has low glycemic greens like salad greens, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and spinach.

The third tier is made up of berries and avocado. Fruits ought to be used on an occasional basis after the preliminary levels of the Atkins diet. Vegetable and seed oils, cheese, dairy, nuts and legumes are used sparingly and in applicable portions. Whereas the FDA pyramid has oils and fats on the high peak, the Atkins pyramid places entire grain foods in this spot. Whole grain meals ought to be used very occasionally and don’t make up the mainstay of the Atkins diet.

Once you start the Atkins plan, you’ll need to make sure you perceive which foods are acceptable on your stage of the program. The Induction section is the most restrictive, nevertheless it only lasts two weeks.

You owe it to your dieting success to stay within the acceptable meals list. Among the finest ways to do this is to comply with the Atkins menu plans which can be printed inside the New Diet Revolution book. There are also Atkins cookbooks and cookbooks that are geared toward different low carb diets which are helpful in formulating meal plans.

It’s a helpful idea to make use of a cheat sheet of acceptable Atkins meals wherever you go. If you're out and about and hungry, the last thing you wish to do is to try to suppose again in your reminiscence to figure out what you possibly can and can't eat. Carrying a listing of acceptable meals with you will make finding a snack or meal whereas out on the run easy. You'll be able to’t at all times rely on “low carb” labels to let you know whether or not one thing is weight-reduction plan friendly. Ever since low carb became the new eating regimen craze, manufacturers have been leaping on the bandwagon to draw Atkins dieters. They label objects low carb to sell merchandise and don’t have your well being in mind. Relying on meals from your personal personal list is the best way to stay on the plan.

One other good useful resource for preserving track of the appropriate Atkins foods is a web-based weight-reduction plan program. There are a number of available. Some are free and a few have a small monthly fee. The applications require you to register after which they provide you with private weekly menu plans primarily based on your needs and your carbohydrate gram level. There are usually printable weekly purchasing lists that make choosing up your Atkins diet foods from the grocery store easy and quick.

Atkins weight loss program food is straightforward to seek out as soon as you realize what you are looking for. The books, meals pyramid and online sources may also help you make better food choices and stay on the food plan for the lengthy term.

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Atkins and Intestinal Problems

The foremost criticism of those who use the Atkins weight-reduction plan is the intestinal issues that are related to lowering carbohydrates. These problems can include constipation and diarrhea. These symptoms can happen to anyone in some unspecified time in the future, however those who follow a low-carb weight loss plan are particularly prone.

Mostly dieters will expertise diarrhea through the early days of induction. This is a results of the body eliminating excess carbohydrates. It additionally marks the start of the ketosis process. So surely, experiencing diarrhea at the beginning of the weight loss plan is a good thing. It indicates that you are on the street to turning into a fat burning machine.

Constipation is a facet effect of lack of fiber within the low carb diet. Whole grains, legumes and fruit are the traditional sources of dietary fiber, and they're all restricted on the Atkins eating regimen’s preliminary phases.

Nonetheless, you shouldn’t be scared off from the low-carb way of life because of these issues. There are simple options that may forestall and help with these signs and will let you proceed with staying on the weight-reduction plan plan.

The first tip is to make sure to include the correct amount of low-carb vegetables in your daily diet. In the induction section, you may eat up to 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. This is roughly equal to three cups of salad vegetables. Some persons are tempted to make use of their carbohydrate grams on cheese or artificially sweetened soda. Eating acceptable vegetables is an important a part of sustaining intestinal well being whereas following the Atkins plan. It’s additionally vital to drink a minimum of 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day and get exercise. Both of these steps might help with intestinal programs.

If you're experiencing constipation specifically, then there are many strategies for relief. When you switch from a eating regimen full of processed and refined sugar merchandise, your physique will need some time to adjust to this new manner of eating. You’ll want to verify to up your fiber intake with acceptable greens and fruits (certain fruits are allowed after the initial induction phase). You may also try a fiber complement like sugar-free Metamucil.

Be sure you are consuming enough fats and oils. Constipation is usually a result of too little fats in your diet. Adding tablespoon of olive oil or flax oil to salads or different vegetables will help your intestinal health. Also, try to incorporate quite a lot of vegetables in your salad. Pale iceberg lettuce does not have a lot fiber in it. Try dark inexperienced lettuces or have a serving of darkish green steamed veggies (broccoli, asparagus or spinach are good decisions).

If the following tips don’t work, strive cutting out all salt from your weight loss plan for a few days. This consists of pickles, mustard, diet soda, ham, bacon and bottled salad dressing. It will decrease your fluid retention and typically helps with bowel movements.

Diarrhea shouldn't be an issue after the primary week of the Induction plan. Nevertheless, on uncommon occasion, it does persist longer. First, analyze your diet. If you are consuming low carb protein bars or other sugar free products, eliminate them. They could include sweeteners like glycerine, sorbitol and malitol that are known to trigger diarrhea and gas. Homemade low carb desserts may additionally be a cause of problems. Most of them use maltodextrin, a man-made sweetener used in baking. Maltodextrin is created from corn and can cause problems for some people.

If you are not used to eating raw vegetables everyday, this may be a cause of diarrhea. Understand that your physique will modify to the greens and the intestinal unwanted side effects won’t last forever. Be sure to are chewing your raw greens thoroughly. Additionally, using calmly steamed greens fairly than uncooked is usually a solution to this problem.

Intestinal problems are common in the course of the first portion of the Atkins diet. Keep in mind, however, that these issues will go away inside the first few weeks of the new way of eating. If the issues persist, try the beforehand mentioned tricks to get relief.

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Atkins and Ketosis

The basic principle of the Atkins food regimen is that a state of ketosis will aid you burn your fat stores as energy. Many individuals, even those who are on low carbohydrate diets, don’t fairly perceive ketosis and why it works.

Most diets are calorie-discount diets. They aid you lose weight, however among the weight is from fats and a few of it's from lean muscle tissue. While you could look smaller on the size, your metabolism is definitely slowing down. The more muscle you lose the slower your metabolism will be. This makes shedding weight more difficult and gaining weight back even simpler.

The Atkins weight loss plan, alternatively, is carbohydrate restrictive. It creates a state of ketosis in your physique that burns only fats, and never muscle. The first supply of your energy in your body will likely be fat in the form of ketones. Your liver will convert fat into ketones and it cannot be transformed back. It is going to be excreted naturally.

Ketones are precise a normally and efficient supply of gas for the human body. They are created in the liver from the fatty acids that end result from the breakdown of body fat. These solely appear when there may be an absence of glucose and sugar. Within the Atkins food regimen, you reduce the amount of glucose and sugar that's in the bloodstream. Consequently, your body produces ketones for fuel. When your physique is creating ketones it's called ketosis.

There's a widespread false impression that following a ketogenic diet like Atkins is dangerous. The truth is that being in ketosis is a completely naturally state. The human body creates ketones to use as fuel within the absence of glucose.

In the Atkins diet book, Dr. Atkins suggests utilizing ketone-testing strips to find out your state of ketosis throughout dieting. These small plastic strips are held in the urine stream and include a particular chemically treated absorptive pad. This pad will change colour if ketones are present within the urine. With the presence of ketones, the strip will change various shades of pink to purple. There's a color scale on the label of the bottle that will aid you decide your ketone levels.

Ketone strips can be found in any pharmacy and could be found among the diabetic supplies. In some stores, they're kept behind the counter so you will have to ask for them. You won’t want a prescription to buy them though. Once you open a package deal of ketosis strips they have a shelf life of 6 months. It might be helpful to mark the opening date on the box.

Ketone strips will let you know in case you are progressing correctly on the Atkins diet. If you're following the Induction plan to the letter and aren’t seeing purple, don’t worry. Some individuals by no means show trace quantities of ketones or they might show just above the minimal line. As long as you are reducing weight and inches then you are efficiently using ketones. Also, for those who’ve simply exercised a few hours earlier than utilizing the strips, you may not see purple.

Some dieters could mistakenly consider that a dark purple consequence on the testing strips signifies that they are reducing weight faster. Actually, the darkest purple shade is an indication of dehydration. It means that your urine is too concentrated and that you must drink water.

Ketones come from fats within the bloodstream, whether or not it's fat that you just eat or fats that you simply burn. So for those who eat a meal heavy in fats and then instantly use a testing strip, you then’ll see a dark purple result. Use the strips as a guide, but don’t get hung up on the color.

Reaching a state of ketosis is vital to success on the Atkins eating regimen and it as simple as eliminating carbohydrates from the diet. Ensure to observe the consuming plan correctly and use the ketone testing strips as needed.

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Overcoming plateaus on the Atkins diet

In case you are experiencing a stall or plateau in your Atkins weight loss efforts, you are not alone. This occurs from time to time. However, you first must just be sure you have really reached a plateau point.

A plateau means that you have gone an extended period of time with out reducing weight or inches. It’s important to take your measurements earlier than you start your weight loss plan, in addition to your weight. On some weeks it might not seem like you are shedding any in any respect on the scale. But a quick take a look at your measurements will prove otherwise.

On the Atkins diet you might be replacing fat with muscle, which is denser and heavier. You would possibly truly achieve just a little weight because you are constructing muscle to replace your fat. The outcome can be an increase on the scale, however a decrease in your inches. Your physique will likely be smaller and leaner, but you may weigh the same.

Before you start your program, measure your chest, waist, hips, upper arms, thighs and calves. You never know where you may be dropping inches, so it’s necessary to have these complete measurements to refer to. It is normal to undergo periods the place you body is readjusting. Bear in mind that you are reforming the composition of your body and this process will take some time. Test your measurements once every week, identical to your weight, and you can monitor your total progress.

There could also be intervals of 3 to four weeks where you could have a stall in weight loss, but a loss in inches. Or vice versa. Utilizing each strategies to trace your fats loss is the most effective assurance for an correct measure of your progress. These stall periods aren't a motive to stop or to give up. They're pure parts of the burden loss process.

Stalls could occur extra regularly if you're 5 to 10 kilos away from being at your aim weight. By following a low-carb, high-protein approach of eating you might have created much more muscle in your body. Your muscle-to-fat ratio is increased than ever earlier than, so your body could be resisting shedding anymore fat. It could be time to rethink your objective weight. Maybe your body is attempting to let you know something and its time to start sustaining your weight reduction quite than making an attempt to lose more.

There are some other possible causes of stalls and plateaus on the highway to weight loss. In case you’ve gone 4 weeks with no change in weight or measurements and you are nowhere near your goal weight, you can try just a few totally different methods to get yourself out of the rut. First, be certain your carbohydrate level is in check. If you're consuming too many carbohydrate grams per day, your weight loss will stall. Search for hidden carbohydrates in packaged meals, dressings and sauces to verify they aren’t the culprits in your plateau.

Verify your each day water intake. When you find yourself dehydrated, your physique will retain water and that may mimic a plateau. Water will also help flush ketones out of your system and make extra room for new fat burning ketones.

Undereating may also be a cause for weight loss plateaus. Be certain to not let yourself go hungry and eat smaller, extra frequent meals. Keep in mind, you are on a carbohydrate-restricted eating regimen, not a calorie-restricted diet. Be certain to have some protein with every meal and snack. Never go more than 5 hours with out consuming one thing (except overnight in fact). Also, eat freely from the suitable foods. Don’t try to rely energy or limit your calorie intake. When your body gets too few calories, it goes into starvation mode and will hold onto fats cells.

Increasing your train stage may also help get you through a plateau as well. As your muscle tissue get used to understanding at a certain level, you’ll have to extend the length or the depth with a view to maintain challenging your body. Add a new exercise into the mix, or strive rising weight in resistance training.

Making an attempt one in all these strategies will most definitely get your weight loss back on track. Do not forget that occasional stalls are normal, but they do not have to last.

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Common mistakes of Atkins dieters

The Atkins weight loss plan is one of the easiest weight loss plans to follow. Though the ideas are clearly set out within the books, there are some widespread misconceptions that occur for dieters. These errors could make a giant difference in the amount of weight you lose and effectiveness of the food regimen overall. If Atkins isn’t working for you, or you find yourself suddenly gaining weight after weeks of effective weight-reduction plan, be sure to aren’t making any of those frequent mistakes.

First, be certain to be affected person together with your weight loss. If you happen to lose 8 lbs per week on the Induction section after which decelerate when you enter ongoing weight reduction part, this is completely normal. The level of carbohydrate grams which can be acceptable on the Induction portion of the weight-reduction plan are not meant to hold you through the rest of your weight-reduction plan experience. Induction is supposed to interrupt you of carbohydrate cravings and detoxify your body from sugar. Beginning with the ongoing weight loss section, you'll start introducing small ranges of carbohydrate grams each week. This may slow down weight reduction a bit from the level it was at during Induction, however that is utterly normal.

Additionally, persons are totally different and react differently to the diet. Some folks drop some pounds in spurts, and other shed some pounds more steadily. A plateau can final for a few weeks and then voila, you’ve lost five kilos in a matter of a few days.

Be sure you are avoiding caffeine in all of its forms as well as aspartame, a typical artificial sweetener. Each of those chemicals can impact blood sugar levels negatively. Look out for caffeine in coffee and weight-reduction plan sodas. Be careful for aspartame in weight loss plan sodas and sugar-free gelatin. These can cause cravings for sugar and take your body out of ketosis after only one serving.

Watch your day by day consumption of cheese. Although cheese is on the acceptable meals record, it does have small amount of carbohydrates. Your finest guess is to restrict your cheese intake to four ozper day. You may have more on particular occasions, however it should not be used as your mainstay for protein. Meats, eggs and tofu are significantly better choices and don’t contain carbohydrate grams.

Remember to emphasize greens throughout Induction and beyond. Your carbohydrate grams must be primarily derived from leafy, green greens and other acceptable vegetable choices. Greens fill you up without spiking your blood sugar. They supply essential fiber and vitamins that assist your weight reduction efforts and overall health. After induction, it's best to have 3-four cups of salad and 1 cup of cooked greens every day. Make certain the greens you are using are on the acceptable foods list. Eliminating vegetables from your food regimen can shut down your metabolism and cause your weight loss to stall.

It's also essential that you simply eat regularly while you're on the Atkins plan. Never go greater than 5 waking hours without consuming a mixed snack of protein and fats. Two things happen when you skip meals. First, you cause a blood sugar drop that can have you craving carbohydrates like bread and sugar. Secondly, continued durations of not consuming will decelerate your metabolism and make it even harder to lose weight.

Finally, be sure you are consuming sufficient water each day. Water has a myriad of advantages for every human being, not simply these on the Atkins diet. Thirst can typically be masked as hunger, so staying properly hydrated will preserve you from craving foods you shouldn’t be eating. Water also helps you keep away from constipation, which is an occasional aspect impact of the Atkins diet. Consuming 8 eight ounce glasses of water per day will even allow you to flush out the toxins from your system which might be produced while you burn fat.

These common errors could make people frustrated with the Atkins weight loss plan when there isn't any have to be. In case you are simply beginning out on the weight loss plan, make sure to organize yourself for these mistakes. In the event you’ve been on the food plan for a while, evaluate your consuming habits and be sure you are following this system correctly.

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Atkins and Unprocessed Foods

When you first start on the Atkins program, it's possible you'll be tempted to take advantage of many of the low carbohydrate products in the marketplace today. There are a wide variety of packaged gadgets which are specifically manufactured to be low-carb. These embrace low-carb snacks, low-carb baking merchandise and low-carb substitutes (like pasta or bread). While it could be enticing to fill your procuring cart with all of these goodies, it’s greatest in your diet and to your well being to use them sparingly.

One of many key things to remember in regards to the Atkins eating regimen is its give attention to raw, unprocessed foods. The middle of weight loss program, as shown by the Atkins weight loss plan meals pyramid, is recent vegetables and contemporary meats. Added into the combination are pure cheeses, a selection of fruits and, eventually, complete unprocessed grains. There aren’t any packaged meats, canned vegetables or instant anything.

There is a motive that the Atkins meals pyramid reveals these foods of their raw states. There are great well being benefits in minimally processed foods. Uncooked, entire foods retain extra vitamins and vitamins than foods which have been through chemical and industrial processing. Manufactured foods usually tend to be tainted with chemical additives that may cause a complete host of problems.

Uncooked, recent meals substances provide the perfect foundation for a healthy diet. Many dieters rely on meals which are technically allowed on the plan, however not good for health. One example is bacon. Many people on the Atkins weight-reduction plan eat a number of bacon. In actual fact, many use it as a every day a part of their protein foods. However, bacon accommodates excessive amounts of sodium nitrite, an ingredient that's recognized to cause cancer. The extra bacon they eat, the extra they expose themselves to this chemical and lots of others.

The Atkins pyramid, and the Atkins weight loss program books, recommends unprocessed, unrefined and non-manufactured foods for a reason. If individuals follow these suggestions, they'll lose weight and experience health transformations. By eating fresh and natural foods you’ll be providing your physique with the nutrients that you might want to have optimum health.

Again to these packaged and processed low-carb foods. Technically, they're a part of the low-carb program. They can be utilized carefully as substitutes in your favourite carbohydrate heavy foods. In a pinch, low-carb bread and baked goods may also help you recover from cravings and add variety to your Atkins food plan plan. Nevertheless, one look at the labels of these merchandise reveals how chemically processed these items can be.

It is suggested that you use these merchandise sparingly. In some individuals, low-carb packaged gadgets trigger carbohydrate cravings. This will make staying on the weight loss program much more difficult. In case you discover that low-carb processed meals make you wish to binge on carb-heavy meals, then its greatest that you simply stay away from these products. These products may additionally have hidden carb counts that will enhance your each day carbohydrate degree with out you realizing it.

If you're experiencing a stall in your weight reduction on the Atkins plan, re-evaluate your commitment to unprocessed and unrefined foods. If you’ve been consuming too many low-carb processed foods, you may be consuming hidden carbs and consuming more than necessary. Attempt eliminating these products and refocusing your food regimen on unprocessed and unrefined meals, like those seen on the Atkins weight loss program pyramid. Whenever you go grocery buying, spend time along the outer rim of the shop where the fresh, unprocessed meals are. This can help you keep away from the temptation of packaged meals that may lead your weight loss program astray.

You could have to depend on packaged meats, greens and fruits from time to time. We lead busy lives and comfort foods are a part of life. It’s comprehensible that you may want to make use of some canned soup, bacon or canned vegetables in your every day life. However, make an effort to concentrate your dietary efforts on a wide variety of fresh, unprocessed foods. Your health and weight reduction efforts will be vastly rewarded.

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Atkins Induction

Atkins eating regimen meals are simple to find and accessible everywhere. There are many varieties to select from, whether or not you choose prepackaged low-carb weight-reduction plan meals or make your own meals. Irrespective of how you want to do the Atkins plan, there is a answer out there for you.

You’ll need to hold the Atkins meals pyramid in mind while you make meals choices. The Atkins pyramid appears much totally different than the USDA Meals Information Pyramid. The base of the pyramid consists of protein sources equivalent to eggs, fish, beef, hen and tofu. On a daily basis, your weight loss plan ought to consist primarily of those foods. The second tier has low glycemic vegetables like salad greens, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and spinach.

The third tier is made up of berries and avocado. Fruits must be used on an occasional foundation after the initial phases of the Atkins diet. Vegetable and seed oils, cheese, dairy, nuts and legumes are used sparingly and in acceptable portions. Whereas the FDA pyramid has oils and fats on the top peak, the Atkins pyramid locations whole grain meals in this spot. Complete grain meals ought to be used very occasionally and don’t make up the mainstay of the Atkins diet.

When you start the Atkins plan, you’ll have to be sure you perceive which meals are acceptable in your stage of the program. The Induction part is the most restrictive, nevertheless it solely lasts two weeks.

You owe it to your dieting success to stay inside the acceptable foods list. Probably the greatest methods to do this is to comply with the Atkins menu plans that are printed throughout the New Weight loss plan Revolution book. There are additionally Atkins cookbooks and cookbooks which are geared toward other low carb diets which are useful in formulating meal plans.

It’s a helpful idea to use a cheat sheet of acceptable Atkins foods wherever you go. If you're out and about and hungry, the very last thing you want to do is to try to think again in your memory to determine what you can and can't eat. Carrying a list of acceptable meals with you'll make discovering a snack or meal whereas out on the run easy. You possibly can’t all the time rely on “low carb” labels to tell you whether or not one thing is food regimen friendly. Ever since low carb turned the brand new weight loss program craze, producers have been jumping on the bandwagon to attract Atkins dieters. They label gadgets low carb to promote merchandise and don’t have your health in mind. Relying on foods from your personal private listing is the best way to stay on the plan.

One other good useful resource for keeping observe of the suitable Atkins meals is an online eating regimen program. There are a number of available. Some are free and a few have a small month-to-month fee. The programs require you to register and then they provide you with private weekly menu plans based mostly on your needs and your carbohydrate gram level. There are normally printable weekly buying lists that make choosing up your Atkins eating regimen meals from the grocery store easy and quick.

Atkins diet meals is straightforward to seek out once you know what you are looking for. The books, meals pyramid and online resources may also help you make higher food decisions and stay on the eating regimen for the lengthy term.

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Scoliosis: causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine which is seen more frequently among girls than of boys. Scoliosis appear especially during rapid growth during puberty, but there and forms that appear earlier.

Deviations of the spine can be divided into:
* Deviation of the spine in the frontal plane (scoliosis);
* Deviation of the spine in the sagittal plane (cifiza, lordosis).

Scoliosis is the deviation of the spine in frontal plane. This new position of the spine produces asymmetry of the shoulders. Spinal curves less than 10 degrees are considered normal. Many people have such deviations.

Experts believe that one of the main factors leading to illness is genetic. Other causes:
* Congenital diseases - spinal deformities;
* Progressive muscular dystrophy;
* Paralysis and postnatal (infantile encephalopathy disabling, poliomyelitis);
* Trauma;
* Infections;
* Tumors.

Risk factors. Factors that increase the risk for a person to develop scoliosis refers to:
* Gender: affection is found especially among girls;
* Age: if you are younger, the greater the risk of developing a greater curvature;
* Family history: if the mother has scoliosis, it is quite possible that her daughter developed the same condition;
* Tissue disorders related to the development of intrauterine: for children born with scoliosis (congenital scoliosis) is very likely that the disease becomes worse over time.

Symptoms. Because they do not feel pain (only about 3% of scoliosis feel some pain) many patients go to doctor when deformation is very high. Can be observed by parents:
* One shoulder higher than other;
* One hip higher than other;
* A blade that looks more prominent than the other;
* Tend to be bent to one side.

Types of scoliosis. Scoliosis may be classified according to several criteria:

Etiological criterion (depending on the cause that led to the disease) and by this they differ:

* Functional Scoliosis (attitude, position, job failure, muscle contractures, inflammatory myositis cases, compensatory deviations above or below the primary scoliotice curves etc.).
* Structural Scoliosis (congenital or neogenetice scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis, traumatic, genetic, idiopathic scoliosis by spinal tumors, scoliosis myopathic)
* Shaped scoliosis "C" - with a single curve;

Scoliosis is caused by pathological conditions such as: rickets, trauma of the vertebral body (vertebral wedge), polio, etc..

In terms of stages, we know three degrees:

* Grade 1 - is called scoliosis benign, may be confused, the easiest form of deviations of attitude.
* Grade 2 - in this phase of scoliosis, by bending movements with or without lateral push, we can obtain some straightening of the spine;
* Grade 3 - the deviations of spine and deformations can no longer be fixed by simple bending and twisting movements. In these cases, scoliosis is severe.

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Psoriatic arthritis (Part 2): complications and treatment options

Complications:
Psoriatic arthritis can be exhausting, painful and may make it difficult to meet their daily activities. Although untreated, psoriatic arthritis can cause joint erosion. Physicians may find difficult to establish who will aggravate the disease and who do not. Generally, people diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at a young age, female or those with sudden pain, are more prone to developing severe forms.

Treatment options:
There is still no cure for this disease, ofter are used drugs and rarely surgery, the doctor tries to control inflammation, thereby preventing pain and disability.

The information below are purely informative and do not replace a professional consultation. Do not administer medication how you like, but consult with your doctor!

Of the drugs commonly used to treat psoriatic arthritis include:

1. Nonsteroidale inflammatory drugs. Medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen can help control pain, inflammation and stiffness that you can feel the morning. But these drugs can affect the stomach and intestines and prolonged use can cause ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. They can worsen skin problems, but may be a good choice for patients with mild arthritis pain.

2. Corticosteroids. If you have a mild form of psoriatic arthritis, your doctor may recommend corticosteroids to control pain that sometimes occurs in the joints.

3. Antirheumatic drugs that modify the disease. Not only reduces pain and inflammation, but these drugs help to limit erosion of joints. But these drugs have a slow action and results are seen in a few weeks or months. For this reason your doctor may prescribe a painkill medication (aspirin).

4. TNF-alpha inhibitors. Your doctor may recommend inhibitors TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor) if you have a severe form of psoriatic arthritis. These drugs block an inflammation-caused by protein in certain types of arthritis. These include adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade) and etanercept (Enbrel). TNF-alpha inhibitors help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis. But these drugs shows significant side effects.

5. Surgery. Although rarely resorting to surgery, your doctor may recommend certain interventions, when other treatments do not work.

Home care guide. Here are some tips that may help you:

1. Have a healthy weight. A proper weight will reduce pain and will increase the amount of energy and mobility.

2. Exercise performed regularly. Physical activity is important for patients with psoriatic arthritis. Exercise can alleviate many of the symptoms of the disease (pain, fatigue).

3. Use appropriate techniques. Changing the methods by which you accomplish daily activities improve your quality of life.

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Psoriatic arthritis (Part1): general information

Psoriatic arthritis occurs in patients with psoriasis, a chronic skin disease that affects approximately 3% of world population (180 million). Psoriasis affects the skin and appears as a rash. A percentage of 10 to 30% of patients with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis commonly occurs in males and females aged between 30 and 50 years, but can also affect children.

Signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis often have the hands and feet similar to those found in rheumatoid arthritis, and painful inflammation of the tendon or arthritis in the spine.

Psoriatic arthritis is a combination of symptoms of psoriasis such as dry skin, skin exfoliate and redness areas, arthritis symptoms: pain and swelling in the joints. Joint pain can range from mild to strong. Common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include varying degrees of skin damage associated with the psoriatic plaque stiffness (stiffness), pain, joint swelling. They may reduce joint mobility to severe joint damage. Untreated, psoriatic arthritis can lead to progressive disability.

Causes. Like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which one human protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role in disease development. It seems as infection and trauma play an important role in triggering the disease. And favors the emergence of psoriatic arthritis. Approximately 40% of patients with psoriatic arthritis had a family event.

Risk factors. Is a greater risk to people with psoriasis to develop psoriatic arthritis. A percentage of 10 to 30% of patients with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.

Other factors:
* Cases in the family. Many people with psoriatic arthritis have a close relative with the disease;
* Age. Although anyone at any age can suffer from this disease, psoriatic arthritis is more common in people aged between 30 and 50 years;
* Sex. Occurs more often in women;
* Weight. Overweight people are more susceptible.

When you go to the doctor? If you feel a constant discomfort and swollen joints, go to the doctor.

How is it diagnosed? A simple test can not diagnosed psoriatic arthritis. The doctor will take into account all symptoms and determine if they are caused by psoriatic arthritis or other diseases (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis).

Here are some tests that can help the diagnosis:

* X-rays help the doctor to observe changes in the joints that occur in psoriatic arthritis;
* Joint fluid analysis. For this test, the doctor harvest a small sample of fluid from the joints (usually the knee);
* Rheumatoid factor test. RF antibody present in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This test helps your doctor to determine which of the two conditions is present.

Most people are first diagnosed with psoriasis and then begin to experience symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (Part 3): biological therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious condition that affects work capacity. Visceral lesions are responsible for shortening the average life of 5 to 10 years. Major consequence of this disease is disability. The loss of work ability is the most costly consequence of early rheumatoid arthritis.

Try to treat early rheumatoid arthritis. Despite major advances in the field of therapy, so far there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis, as neither prophylactic methods. Optimal treatment of disease require early diagnosis and timely use (ie early enough), to reduce the probability of irreversible joint injuries. It is very important to treat a patient early, when symptoms do not evolve more.

Progress in recent years in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of disease led to major developments necessarily to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Recognizing the central role of cytokines in particular TNF-alpha in rheumatoid synovium of hypothesis testing led to the control of rheumatoid arthritis by blocking TNF-alpha.

Biological therapy (anti-TNF agents)

Clinical studies in recent years have demonstrated that the TNF alpha blockers cause a rapid and significant improvement of the clinical disease (pain and inflammation), creating thereby a substantial improvement of life quality of patients treated, but also a unique effect of stopping the progression of radiological (joint structural damage) characteristic of the disease.

TNF blockers are indicated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, despite a complete and correct therapy. TNF blockers slow or even stop disease progression, if is used early (before the onset of osteoarticular lesions).

TNF blockers can be administered only under the supervision of an experienced physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, including evaluation:
* Disease evolution
* Efficiency and tolerance of immunomodulatory therapies.

Before initiation by setting specific goals for each patient. Your doctor will do a complete examination, including a Rg. chest to exclude any contraindications.

Contraindications. Use of TNF blockers is contraindicated in cases of acute or chronic infections (including tuberculosis) or recent cancer. Their appearance during treatment. require discontinuation, which will be resumed only after complete cure.

For monitoring the effectiveness of therapy:
* Assessing the number of swollen and painful joints;
* Determination of acute phase reactants (ESR and CRP);
* Global assessment of disease evolution by the physician and the patient (visual analogue scale or a scale with five degrees);
* Assessment of joint pain (visual analogue scale 100 mm);
* A functional assessment (such as Haq).

Based on understanding the molecular mechanism of disease, anti-TNF therapy opens a new era in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (part 2): symptoms treatment

The disease symptoms appear and disappear, depending on the degree of inflammation of the joints. When tissues are inflamed the condition is active and when not feeling joints inflamed, disease is inactive, can occur spontaneously or after treatment, and maylast several weeks, months or years.

During the liberation, the disease symptoms disappear and, in general, patients feel better. When the disease symptoms recur, reappearance of disease symptoms is called burst. When disease is active can occur tiredness, lack of appetite, fever, pain and stiffness in their joints and muscles. Rigidity of muscles and joints, usually occurs in the morning and after periods of inactivity.

During outbreaks joints are swollen, painful and sensitive. It happens so because joints become inflamed, resulting in excessive production of liquid. In rheumatoid arthritis, are usually more swollen joints in symmetrical fashion (the same body part). And small joints are involved, such as those in hands or feet. Thus, ordinary activities, daily, such as door handles or opening jars can become almost impossible during outbreaks.

Occasionally, only one joint is inflamed, and in this case can mimic arthritis joint inflammation caused by other forms of arthritis such as gout or joint infection. Chronic inflammation can cause damage to body tissues, and bones. This situation leads to loss of cartilage, bone erosion and weakening, resulting in joint deformation but also the destruction and loss of functionality.

In rare cases, rheumatoid arthritis may affect joints responsible for stretching the vocal cords, change the tone of voice, in this case is hoarseness of voice. Because rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, inflammation can affect organs, other than joints.

Swollen glands of the eyes or mouth can cause dryness of these areas, giving rise to Sjogren's syndrome. Rheumatoid inflammation of lung pleura causes chest pain with cough and difficulty breathing. Inflammation of the tissues that surrounds the heart (pericardium), called pericarditis can cause chest pain that typically changes in intensity when you rest or sit.

A serious complication that occurs over time after the onset of rheumatoid disease, is blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis). Vasculitis deteriorating tissues with blood supply, leading to their death.

Treatment. Rheumatoid arthritis treatment aims to reduce inflammation and joint pain. Aggressive treatment can improve function and can stop joint damage. Optional treatment involves a combination of medicines to rest, exercise, joint protection and patient and family education. Also, the treatment is prescribed depending on many factors such as your job, types of joint involved, general health, age and occupation of the patient.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (part 1): general Information

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation among joints, tissues around the joints and internal organs. Autoimmune diseases occur when body tissues are mistakenly attacked by its own immune system.
The immune system is a complex of cells and antibodies designed normally to "seek and destroy" invaders of the body, particularly infections.
Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that attack their own body tissues; they can be associated with inflammation. Because it can affect other organs, rheumatoid arthritis refers to a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
When rheumatoid arthritis a chronic, which means it can take years, patients may experience a long period of time with no symptoms. Typically, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease that has the ability to destroy joints.
A joint is where two bones meet to allow movement of body parts. Arthritis means joint inflammation. Joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, pain, stiffness and redness. Inflammation of rheumatoid disease can also occur in tissues around the joints, such as tendons, ligaments and muscles.
In some patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation leads to destruction of cartilage, bone and ligaments causing deformity of joints. Studies have shown that progressive damage to the joints does not necessarily correlate with pain, stiffness or swelling in joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a rheumatic disease three times more common among men than women. The condition can be triggered at any age but often occurs in people who have passed the age of 60 years.
The causes that trigger this disease are not yet known. Although infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria and fungi have been suspected as possible causes, this assumption proved to be false. Some researchers believe that infections or environmental factors may result that immune system to attack the body tissues, resulting in inflammation among several organs of the body, such as eyes and lungs.
Whatever the cause, the result is the same: an immune system that allows joint inflammation and swelling occasionally. Surrounding factors seem to play a role in causing rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, scientists reported that smoking increases the risk of developing the disease.
Degree of joint destruction of rheumatoid arthritis varies according to each patient. Patients suffering from a mild form of rheumatoid arthritis, occur after several years of activity, can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and some rest. In general, joint function are improved when the patient is treated early, with slow-acting drugs.

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Amputation results from diabetes

Mr. B, age 46 years, was a physician assistant who had worked for the same internist for 10 years. He and Dr. K had an excellent relationship. Their office was in an area with a high prevalence of diabetes, and many of their patients lived with the disease. Both practitioners had an interest in conducting public outreach about the condition.
Mr. B often conducted seminars and lectures in the local pharmacy, adult education classes, and the senior center in town. His lectures covered such topics as metabolic syndrome, coping with newly diagnosed diabetes, foot and skin care for people with diabetes, and understanding medications. He also discussed lifestyle modifications that could improve health, the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and how to properly monitor blood glucose. These seminars were generally well attended, and a number of people asked interesting and sometimes challenging questions. Mr. B found this community service to be very personally rewarding, and Dr. K was supportive of his endeavors.
Both Mr. B and Dr. K brought this educational attitude into the clinic as well. They stressed the value of empowering patients by helping them understand their conditions. Both practitioners found this strategy effective, although there were always some patients that just couldn't be reached in this manner.
One such patient was Mr. X, a 64-year-old African American who had been a patient for close to 15 years. Mr. X had diabetes, and despite numerous attempts to educate him on the importance of lifestyle modifications, medication compliance, and regular checkups, he was generally noncompliant and mostly disinterested. Not surprisingly, his diabetes was not well controlled. Both practitioners had tried unsuccessfully to convey the importance of controlling his blood glucose, but Mr. X seemed less interested in managing the diabetes and staying healthy than he did in waiting until there was a problem and then coming in for a “quick fix.”

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Once-monthly treatment for arthritis

Product: Actemra
 
Company: Genentech 

Pharmacologic class: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitor 


Active ingredient: Tocilizumab 20 mg/mL; solution for IV infusion after dilution; preservative-free. 


Indication: Moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. May be used with methotrexate or disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). 

 
Pharmacology: IL-6 is produced by monocytes and lymphocytes in the bloodstream and by synovial and endothelial cells in the joints, leading to systemic and local production of IL-6 in patients affected by inflammatory processes such as RA. Tocilizumab binds specifically to both soluble and membrane-bound IL-6 receptors and has been shown to inhibit IL-6-mediated signaling through these receptors. 


Clinical trials: The efficacy and safety of tocilizumab was assessed in five randomized, double-blind studies in patients >18 years with active RA. Tocilizumab was given every four weeks as monotherapy (Study I), in combination with methotrexate (MTX) (Studies II and III) or other DMARDs (Study IV) in patients with an inadequate response to those drugs, or in combination with MTX in patients with an inadequate response to TNF antagonists (Study V). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved an American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response at Week 24. In all studies, patients treated with tocilizumab 8 mg/kg had statistically significant ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 response rates versus MTX- or placebo-treated patients at Week 24. Patients with inadequate response to DMARDs or TNF antagonist therapy treated with tocilizumab 4 mg/kg had lower response rates compared with patients treated with tocilizumab 8 mg/kg. 


Adults: Give once every four weeks as a 60-minute IV infusion. Initially 4 mg/kg, may increase to 8 mg/kg based on clinical response. Do not start if absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <2,000/mm3, platelets <100,000/mm3, or alanine transaminase/aspartate transaminase (ALT/AST) >1.5 upper limit of normal (ULN). Reduce dose to 4 mg/kg if elevated liver enzymes, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia occur (see literature). 


Children: Not recommended. 


Precautions: ANC <500 mm3, platelets <50,000 mm3, or ALT/AST >5 ULN: not recommended. Monitor neutrophils, platelets, liver function tests every four to eight weeks. Active hepatic disease or impairment: not recommended. Hepatitis B or C virus or infection. Increased risk of serious or fatal infections (e.g., TB, bacterial sepsis, invasive fungal). Active infections: do not give therapy. Chronic or history of recurring or opportunistic infections. Conditions that predispose to infection. Travel to, or residence in, areas with endemic TB or mycoses. Test for and treat latent TB prior to starting therapy. Monitor closely if new infection develops; discontinue if serious or opportunistic infection or sepsis develops. Monitor lipids four to eight weeks after initiation, then every six months. Immunosuppression. Central nervous system demyelinating disorders. Malignancies. Elderly. Pregnancy (Cat. C). Nursing mothers: not recommended. 


Interactions: Increased risk for infection with concomitant immunosuppressants (e.g., TNF antagonists, IL-1R antagonists, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, selective co-stimulation modulators). Avoid live vaccines. Caution with CYP3A4 substrate drugs (e.g., oral contraceptives, lovastatin, atorvastatin). Monitor warfarin, cyclosporine, theophylline, other drugs that are CYP450 substrates with narrow therapeutic indices. 


Adverse reactions: Upper respiratory tract infections, nasopharyngitis, headache, hypertension, increased ALT; infusion reactions, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal perforations, increased lipids. 


Containment: Single-use vials (80 mg/4 mL, 200 mg/10 mL, 400 mg/20 mL)—1, 4


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Role Of Gene That Causes Early Onset Alzheimer's Revealed

Researchers in the US have discovered how mutations in the presenilin 1 gene that causes early onset familial Alzheimer's Disease disrupt an essential process for recycling protein, thus allowing toxins to build up and kill brain cells. They hope their discovery will spur new treatments for both the early onset and the more common late onset form of Alzheimer's, a brain-wasting disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

A report of the study, led by Dr Ralph Nixon, professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Cell Biology at New York University's (NYU's) Langone Medical Center, appears in the 10 June online issue of the journal Cell.

15 years ago, scientists discovered that the presenilin gene was commonly associated with the early onset familial form of Alzheimer's, which can strike people in the 30s, but little was known about how it worked until this study, when Nixon and colleagues found that presenilin 1 plays a key role in "macroautophagy", a process that digests and recycles unwanted proteins and is essential for neuron survival.

Nixon, who is also director of the Center for Dementia Research at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and director of the Center of Excellence on Brain Aging and the Silberstein Alzheimer's Institute at Langone, told the press that:

"In mouse models of Alzheimer's disease and in skin cells of patients with Alzheimer's disease caused by presenilin mutations, we observed that the ability to break down and reuse normal proteins and to remove potentially toxic damaged proteins and organelles is severely impaired."

He said this disruption kills nerve cells, whose loss does not appear to depend on the plaque build up of beta amyloid protein that is normally found in the brains of patients.

"Most of the drug development for Alzheimer's has been focused on removing amyloid from the brain," explained Nixon, who said their findings strongly suggest there are alternative target pathways:

"For example, therapies could be aimed at repairing the cellular mechanism that eliminates toxic proteins before they damage the brain," he added.

Ongoing observations at the Nathan Kline Institute suggest a similar disruption of cellular protein recycling occurs in late onset Alzheimer's, said Nixon, suggesting that other factors could also be involved.

So far, scientists have discovered over 160 rare mutations of presenilin 1 and two other genes cause the early onset familial form of Alzheimer's, but have only found a few genes linked to the late onset form.

Nixon said there were currently no treatments to slow or prevent the progression of Alzheimer's and he urged us to regard the disease as "multi-factorial and to approach the treatment from that perspective".

"Lysosomal Proteolysis and Autophagy Require Presenilin 1 and Are Disrupted by Alzheimer-Related PS1 Mutations."
Ju-Hyun Lee, W. Haung Yu, Asok Kumar, Sooyeon Lee, Panaiyur S. Mohan, Corrinne M. Peterhoff, Devin M. Wolfe, Marta Martinez-Vicente, Ashish C. Massey, Guy Sovak, Yasuo Uchiyama, David Westaway, Ana Maria Cuervo, Ralph A. Nixon.
Cell, 10 June 2010
DOI:10.1016/j.cell.2010.05.008

Source: NYU.

Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD

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Choline reduces Down syndrome dysfunction, guard against dementia

Barbara Strupp, professor of nutritional sciences and of psychology. (Credit: Alexi Wenski-Roberts)

ScienceDaily (2010-06-03) More choline during pregnancy and nursing could provide lasting cognitive and emotional benefits to people with Down syndrome. The work indicated greater maternal levels of the essential nutrient also could protect against neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

The findings, published June 2 in Behavioral Neuroscience, could help lead to increasing the maternal dietary recommendations for choline (currently 450 milligrams a day during pregnancy, 550 milligrams for lactation), a nutrient found in egg yolks, liver, nuts and such vegetables as broccoli and cauliflower. "We found that supplementing the maternal diet with additional choline resulted in dramatic improvements in attention and some normalization of emotion regulation in a mouse model of Down syndrome," said lead author Barbara Strupp, professor of nutritional sciences and of psychology. The researchers also found evidence for "subtle, but statistically significant, improvement in learning ability in the non-Down syndrome littermates." In addition to mental retardation, Down syndrome individuals often experience dementia in middle age as a result of brain neuron atrophy similar to that suffered by people with Alzheimer's disease. Strupp noted that the improved mental abilities found in the Down syndrome mice following maternal choline supplements could indicate protection from such neurodegeneration "in the population at large." Strupp and her co-authors tested Down syndrome model mice born from mothers fed a normal diet and those given choline supplements during their three-week pregnancy and three-week lactation period, as well as normal mice born from mothers with and without additional choline. The choline-supplemented mothers received approximately 4.5 times more choline (roughly comparable to levels at the higher range of human intake) than unsupplemented mothers. At six months of age, the mice performed a series of behavioral tasks for about six months to assess their impulsivity, attention span, emotion control and other mental abilities. In addition to dramatic improvements in attention, the researchers found that the unsupplemented Down syndrome model mice became more agitated after a mistake than normal mice, jumping repeatedly and taking longer to initiate the next trial, whereas the choline-supplemented Down syndrome model mice showed partial improvement in these areas. "I'm impressed by the magnitude of the cognitive benefits seen in the Down syndrome model mice," Strupp said. "Moreover, these are clearly lasting cognitive improvements, seen many months after the period of choline supplementation." Strupp noted that the results are consistent with studies by other researchers that found increased maternal choline intake improves offspring cognitive abilities in rats. However, this is the first study to evaluate the effects of maternal choline supplementation in a rodent model of Down syndrome. This is also one of the few studies that has evaluated offspring attentional function and effects in mice, rather than rats, Strupp noted. Previous studies of humans and laboratory animals have shown that supplementing the diets of adults with choline has proven to be largely ineffective in improving cognition. "Although the precise mechanism is unknown, these lasting beneficial effects of choline observed in the present study are likely to be limited to increased intake during very early development," Strupp said. The study, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was part of the dissertation of Jisook Moon, Ph.D. '06. Other Cornell collaborators included Myla Strawderman, research associate in nutritional sciences; David Levitsky, professor of nutrition and of psychology; May Chen '07 and Shruti Gandhy '07. Strupp and collaborators have received additional NIH funding to study the neural mechanisms underlying the positive cognitive effects of perinatal choline supplementation observed in this study.

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Brush teeth to 'prevent' heart disease

People who fail to brush their teeth twice a day are putting themselves at risk of heart disease, research suggests.

The Scottish study of more than 11,000 adults backs previous research linking gum disease with heart problems.

The researchers said more work is needed to confirm if poor oral health directly causes heart disease or is a marker of risk.

A charity added that oral hygiene was just one factor in good heart health.

Data, published in the British Medical Journal was collected on lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking, physical activity and oral health routines.

Participants were also asked how often they visited the dentist and how often they brushed their teeth.

Then nurses collected information on medical history and family history of heart disease, took blood pressure and blood samples.

Overall, six out of 10 people said they visited the dentist every six months and seven out 10 reported brushing their teeth twice a day.

Over the eight-year study there were 555 "cardiovascular events" such as heart attacks, 170 of which were fatal.

Cause and effect

Study leader Professor Richard Watt, from University College London, said future studies will be needed to confirm whether the link between oral health behaviour and cardiovascular disease "is in fact causal or merely a risk marker".

Judy O'Sullivan, senior cardiac nurse at British Heart Foundation, said: "If you don't brush your teeth, your mouth can become infected with bacteria which can cause inflammation.

"However, it is complicated by the fact that poor oral hygiene is often associated with other well known risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking and poor diet."

She added: "Good personal hygiene is a basic element of a healthy lifestyle.

"But if you want to help your heart, you should eat a balanced diet, avoid smoking and take part in regular physical activity."

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, added it was still unclear whether there was a definite cause and effect between oral hygiene and heart disease.

"Whatever the true position is, we can say with certainty that if people brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, visit the dentist regularly and restrict sugary snacks to mealtimes; that this will go a long way towards keeping the teeth and gums in a healthy state for life."

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New hope for better treatment for a rising cancer

Poor diet, too much alcohol, smoking and increasing obesity could be leading to an epidemic of oesophageal and upper stomach cancer, according to a leading UK team of specialists at The University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals.

The Nottingham Gastro-Oesophageal Cancer Research Group has been carrying out intensive research over the past five years to try to improve the treatment of this cancer. A major part of the research is published today in the British Journal of Cancer. The work has been prompted by a large increase in the incidence of cancer of the oesophagus (gullet) and upper stomach over the past 40 years.

According to Cancer Research UK statistics, rates of oesophageal adenocarcinoma and gastro-oesophageal (GOJ) adenocarcinoma have been increasing in the UK. Since the 1970s the incidence of this cancer has increased by 50 per cent in men and 20 per cent in women. Indeed the reported rates for white men in the UK are now the highest in the world.

Doctors believe changes in diet and lifestyle are the key factors behind the rapid rise in the number of cases. This new research is aimed at providing a better treatment and prognosis for a cancer that is historically not survivable past five years from diagnosis. Current standard treatment for potentially operable cancer consists of a 12 week intensive course of powerful chemotherapy, followed by surgery if the tumour is operable, and then a second 12 week course of chemotherapy. This prolonged, intense course of chemotherapy treatment is potentially toxic, impacts on quality of life and is likely to be beneficial only in those patients who respond to chemotherapy.

The Nottingham-based research using molecular cancer pathology and DNA protein expression techniques on tumour samples from around 250 patients after surgery has shown that only between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of these adenocarcinomas actually respond to the chemotherapy. The research has effectively tested a very promising monitoring test during treatment so that doctors can assess whether and how far the tumour is regressing during chemotherapy. In addition, the research has also identified a promising protein marker involved in DNA repair in cancer cells that predicts resistance to chemotherapy in tumours.

The new information could empower doctors to decide whether to recommend a second course of powerful chemotherapy after surgery. The research also paves the way for wider and more specialised clinical trials for this cancer which will monitor patients in real-time, rather than using past samples, and which could lead to new combinations of chemotherapy, including the new breast cancer drug, Herceptin, which has recently been proven to be effective in gastro-oesophageal cancers.

Dr Srinivasan Madhusudan, Clinical Associate Professor & Consultant in Medical Oncology at Nottingham University Hospitals and the University’s School of Molecular Medical Sciences, said: “Recent scientific advances have given real hope for patients with gastro-oesophageal cancers. The Nottingham Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Group is a multidisciplinary research team consisting of Oncologists, Surgeons, Pathologists and Radiologists. We aim to exploit the ‘new science’ for patient benefit. This study published online today in the British Journal of Cancer provides evidence that it may be possible to tailor gastro-oesophageal cancer treatments based on ‘new’ biology. We are planning a larger prospective multicentre study to confirm these findings and we believe will have major clinical impact on how we treat these aggressive tumours in the future.”

Source:http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/News/

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Unravelling the health-giving properties of fruit and veg

Scientists at The University of Nottingham are to use their share of a unique £6.5m research award to discover which genes control the health promoting properties of fruit and vegetables.

As part of a cross-channel partnership to enhance international collaboration in Systems Biology Graham Seymour, Professor of Plant Biotechnology, and Charlie Hodgman, Director of the Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, will be working on a systems biology approach to understand the metabolic networks underlying health based quality traits in tomato fruit.

With their award of nearly £300,000 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) the bio-scientists will be working in collaboration with Royal Holloway University of London, the National Scientific Research Centre, Paris (CNRS) and the Plant Genomics Centre, INRA, Evry, near Paris.

Professor Seymour said: “The health promoting properties of diets rich in fruit and vegetables has been attributed to the synergistic effects of various phytochemicals in food such as vitamins, flavonoids and carotenoids.

"This project aims to study an experimental model tomato that has very high levels of these health-related compounds. The researchers aim to use a systems biology approach to integrate information at many different levels about the tomato and to produce a predictive model of how the formation of these phytochemicals is controlled.”

Professor Hodgman said: "The long-term intention of the Centre for Plant Integrative Biology which is funded by the BBSRC and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is to apply work and techniques developed on model plant organisms to crop species. This tomato work is a very welcome first step."

BBSRC and ANR, the leading public life-science funding agencies in the UK and France, are funding a total of 10 new projects involving 22 different universities and institutes in the UK and France.

Each project has at least one UK and one French partner institution and the initiative aims to build European collaboration in Systems Biology. BBSRC has already invested over £70m in UK and European Systems Biology initiatives and the UK is one of the world leaders in this new and growing approach to tackling bioscience problems.

Systems biology is a revolution in the way bioscientists think and work. It brings together researchers across different disciplines, combining theory, computer modelling and experiments. Systems biology will make the outputs of bioscience research more useful and easier to apply in the real world, as well as advancing our understanding of biological processes.

The new projects will give the researchers involved access to complementary expertise and skills and will help develop the field of Systems Biology by coordinating BBSRC and ANR resources.

Mr Steve Visscher, BBSRC Interim Chief Executive, said: “Systems Biology holds great promise for delivering real, practical advances in healthcare, biotechnology and environmental research much faster than traditional biology. Collaborative initiatives with international partners enable us to increase the impact of our funding and the impact of the research being done by our scientists.

“We have been pleased to see that not only has the partnership between BBSRC and ANR resulted in a successful initiative but that the range and quality of the projects funded is also broadening the areas being studied by Systems Biology.”

Mrs Jacqueline Lecourtier, ANR General Manager, said: “As a young agency created in 2005, this was the first bilateral call undertaken within the Health & Biology Department. By answering this call, Systems Biology growing communities showed that they were ready to share their views and expertises. Moreover, this initiative allowed BBSRC and ANR to fund high quality and cross-disciplinary proposals, which is one of our missions.

“ANR and BBSRC cooperation was very successful on both levels, management and scientific. Future collaborations involving additional countries are already on their way through the ERANET ERASysBio.”

Source:http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/News/

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Do chemicals in the environment affect fertility?

The amount of chemicals absorbed is thought to be so minute that they would be difficult to discern through testing. However, through a process known as bioaccumulation, chemicals can become concentrated in individuals over a number of years, stored mostly in fat tissue. Though these chemicals may not be directly harmful to these individuals, if they are passed on — for example, through gestation in the womb or through the food chain — they might have consequences for human health.

“One of the concerns of bioaccumulation is that when the fat is broken down and passed on — for example during the breast feeding process — the offspring are exposed to a concentration of chemicals that the mother has built up over the years,” said Dr Sinclair.

Colleagues in Aberdeen have provided precise measurements of specific chemicals in the environment and in animal tissues. These often take the form of chemicals which mimic hormones.

“These chemicals come from a variety of sources including plastics, pesticides and industrial waste and many of these persist in the environment for a long time — albeit at very low levels,” said Dr Lea. “The problem is even low levels can still have an effect.”

The three-year study will look at how chemicals are passed on from mother to foetus, and how this impacts on the foetus. It is thought that, although this generation of animals may have no problems getting pregnant, the next and future generations could have fertility problems stemming from exposure to environmental chemicals in the womb.

Dr Lea said: “Though male fertility has been the subject of studies in recent years, this will be the first time that female fertility has been examined. Currently, less is known about the effects of hormone-like chemicals on the developing female foetus, so the consequences for reproductive development in females may be greater than in males.”

“We're not talking about obvious congenital defects here, but tiny changes caused by exposure to chemicals that have an impact on reproductive function — changes over generations rather than immediate effect,” added Dr Sinclair.

The inaugural meeting of the REEF consortium will take place in Copenhagen on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 May to formally launch the project.

Source:http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/News/

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New insights into mushroom-derived drug promising for cancer treatment

A promising cancer drug, first discovered in a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine, could be made more effective thanks to researchers who have discovered how the drug works. The research, carried out by The University of Nottingham, was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

In research to be published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Dr Cornelia de Moor and her team, in the School of Pharmacy, investigated a drug called cordycepin, which was originally extracted from a rare kind of wild mushroom called cordyceps — a strange parasitic mushroom that grows on caterpillars (see image and notes on use of image) — and is now prepared from a cultivated form.

Dr de Moor said: “Our discovery will open up the possibility of investigating the range of different cancers that could be treated with cordycepin. We have also developed a very effective method that can be used to test new, more efficient or more stable versions of the drug in the Petri dish. This is a great advantage as it will allow us to rule out any non-runners before anyone considers testing them in animals.”

Properties attributed to cordyceps mushroom in Chinese medicine made it interesting to investigate and it has been studied for some time. In fact, the first scientific publication on cordycepin was in 1950. The problem was that although cordycepin was a promising drug, it was quickly degraded in the body. It can now be given with another drug to help combat this, but the side effects of the second drug are a limit to its potential use.

Dr de Moor continued: “Because of technical obstacles and people moving on to other subjects, it’s taken a long time to figure out exactly how cordycepin works on cells. With this knowledge, it will be possible to predict what types of cancers might be sensitive and what other cancer drugs it may effectively combine with. It could also lay the groundwork for the design of new cancer drugs that work on the same principle.”

The team has observed two effects on the cells: at a low dose cordycepin inhibits the uncontrolled growth and division of the cells and at high doses it stops cells from sticking together, which also inhibits growth. Both of these effects probably have the same underlying mechanism, which is that cordycepin interferes with how cells make proteins. At low doses cordycepin interferes with the production of mRNA, the molecule that gives instructions on how to assemble a protein. And at higher doses it has a direct impact on the making of proteins.

Professor Janet Allen, BBSRC Director of Research, said: “Research to understand the underlying bioscience of a problem is always important. This project shows that we can always return to asking questions about the fundamental biology of something in order to refine the solution or resolve unanswered questions. The knowledge generated by this research demonstrates the mechanisms of drug action and could have an impact on one of the most important challenges to health.”

An image of cordyceps mushroom growing on a moth pupa is at: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/releases/2009/091223-new-insights-mushroom-derived-drug-for-cancer.html.  Please note that you are permitted to use this image to accompany this story only. Additional usage is not permitted under the associated licence.

The research is due to be published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry and is available via early online publication at: http://www.jbc.org/cgi/doi/10.1074/jbc.M109.071159

Source:http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/News/

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Helping smokers with mental illness

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have won government funding to improve the services which help people living with serious mental illness to tackle their tobacco dependence.

The grant is part of a £1.2 million package of funding from the Department of Health to the UK Centre of Tobacco Control Studies which is coordinated at the University. The funding will drive   six pilot projects across the country all aimed at improving ‘quit smoking’ services for vulnerable sections of the population. 

The researchers at Nottingham will be involved in all six projects and lead on one project focusing on mental health.  They will be working with the local mental health Trust, (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust), and Nottingham’s Stop Smoking Service, New Leaf, to assess and improve the support given to smokers with severe mental illness who are trying to quit or need encouragement to stop smoking.
Patients diagnosed with mental health problems are up to three times more likely to be smokers than the general population. For example around 70 per cent of people with schizophrenia are smokers. Mental illness sufferers as a group are much more likely to be heavy smokers with severe nicotine addiction. The disproportionately high rates of smoking have also been found to cause a higher level of tobacco-related diseases and death rate among mental health patients. They also tend to need higher doses of antipsychotic medication because components of tobacco smoke speeds up drug metabolism.

The research programme is co-ordinated by Ann McNeill, Professor of Health Policy and Promotion at The University of Nottingham, and led by Dr Elena Ratschen who said:

“This project is vital to address the historical culture of tolerance of smoking in the mental health sector. It’s a largely neglected area with smoking being deeply embedded in the culture of treatment centres and largely condoned by clinicians and psychiatric staff. Despite the smoke-free policy, smoking in and around treatment settings is still the rule rather than exception, and often a not only accepted but expected (and reinforced) standard. We will introduce procedures that we hope will help to address the smoking culture and that will make sure smokers with mental health problems are offered the same support as smokers without mental health problems, if they so wish.”

Garry Bevis from the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust said:

“We are delighted to be involved in offering the smoking cessation service to our inpatients as well as those in the community.  As a trust, Nottinghamshire Healthcare is committed to supporting our service users in leading healthier lifestyles and given the high proportion of smokers with mental health problems this is an issue that we are keen to further develop.”

Researchers from five other universities are involved in the other pilots which will focus on children’s services (University College, London), prisons (Stirling and Central Lancashire), relapse prevention and smokeless tobacco use (Queen Mary, London), and pregnancy (Bath University). The programme is expected to last from April 2010 to September 2011.

If the research and resulting pilot schemes are successful and have a positive effect on quitting rates in these areas of the population, the new services will be implemented across the UK.

Source:http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/News/

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BUDGET CUTS MEAN WORSE CARE IN VIRGINIA NURSING HOMES

I hate to say it, but nursing home care may get worse in Virginia.

With our state in a serious budget crisis, Medicaid spending will likely be cut.

For illustration purposes only, lets say the following is true:

Granny, age 72, needs skilled care because she is diabetic and has lost her right leg below the knee. Granny needs to stay in a nursing home and because she has no assets, she qualifies for Medicaid.

The nursing home will take care of Granny but charges $145 a day. Medicaid agrees to pay Granny $145 a day. At this rate, there are 4 nurses on the night shift, meals cost the facility $3 a day to prepare, and the building has not been painted in years. Everyone wishes there was more money to fix up the place, but not this year.

Budget cuts roll in, and Granny's Medicaid will now only pay $115 a day. If all the other residents (104 of them) have the same coverage with Medicaid, then the nursing home will be down $1138800 a year. (My math - $30 less a day, 104 people x 365 days in 1 year).

YUP - a $30 a day payment cut means the NH will have decreased income of $1,113,800 a year. How will they continue to operate? Where will they cut costs? Simple. They will have to cut
STAFFING.

Your night nurses just went down to 1 full time and 1 part time. This will happen because there are NO minimum staffing requirements in Virginia nursing homes. Granny's meals will now be cut to $1.25 a day - and her care will get WORSE AND WORSE.

Sad but true folks. Budget cuts in Virginia will almost guarantee more nursing negligence and malpractice for those who are not private pay.

This is not a judgment, or even a political argument. It is just a fact.

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ADVICE ON HELPING A LOVED ONE FIND A NURSING HOME

Dan and I represent victims of medical neglect and abuse in Virginia long term care facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

We see what happens when your loved one is neglected, forgotten about, does not receive proper care, does not receive proper attention etc.

You don't want to know what can happen in a nursing home - trust me. To that end, we often give advice to people on how to chose a facility. While not all neglect is preventable, there are some things families SHOULD do in the beginning that can help along the way.

For more detailed information on the subject, you can read many articles on nursing home abuse, how to chose a facility, .

1. Visit before you select a facility.

2. Ask family members of current residents what they think.

3. Ask to meet the CNA's (Certified nursing assistants) that will be providing most of the hands on care.

4. Get to know the DON - Director of Nursing.

5. Get a copy of EVERY document you sign and sometimes you can ask an attorney to negotiate the admissions contract on your behalf.

6. Attend Care Plan meetings and other meetings re: your loved one's health care.

7. keep notes and share concerns with everyone - doctor included. Sometimes you will need to share these concerns in writing - verbal communication may not get very far.

8. Don't take their word for it if you have concerns - get a 2nd outside opinion.

9. Take your loved one to their PCP or hospital if needed.

10. Visit often and at different times.

11. Do not assume the care will change - move your loved one if you fear neglect.

12. Call your local agency on aging if you are concerned with neglect or abuse and file a formal complaint.

Additional questions? Feel free to call our office.

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