The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health |
- Fatty acids from fish better than supplements for blood pressure
- Possible link found between salt, autoimmune disease
- Energize Your Day with the Essentials of Protein
| Fatty acids from fish better than supplements for blood pressure Posted: 07 Mar 2013 11:40 PM PST If you want the full health benefits of omega-3, it's best to get them from natural food sources like oily fish than in supplement form. That's the overriding conclusion out of a pair of studies published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that showed that while omega-3 from dietary sources such as herring, mackerel and salmon can help lower blood pressure in mice, supplements showed no anti-hypertensive effects. In fact, omega-3 in supplement form was actually found to diminish the beneficial health effects of the natural fatty acid acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish oil, said the team of researchers from the US and Germany who conducted both studies. "The intake of non-natural omega-3 fatty acids can therefore also have counter-productive effects," said Michael Bauer from Jena University Hospital in Germany. When mice were fed the DHA, the kind found in natural food sources, as expected it resulted in the expansion of blood vessels and consequently a drop in blood pressure. By comparison, DHA ethyl ester, found in most fish oil pills, failed to do the same and even appeared to "antagonize" or compete with the positive effects of DHA from natural sources, scientists said. The latest study builds on previous research published in the British Medical Journal last year that likewise found that food sources of omega-3 carry more health benefits than supplements. In a meta-review of 38 studies that involved 80,000 participants across 15 countries, researchers from Cambridge University and Erasmus MC Rotterdam in the Netherlands found that those who ate at least two servings of oily fish a week – sardines, mackerel, herring and salmon – reduced their risk of stroke by up to six percent, while fish supplement intake failed to show any benefits in reducing stroke risk. -- AFPRelaxnews |
| Possible link found between salt, autoimmune disease Posted: 07 Mar 2013 11:25 PM PST A high-salt diet may be a risk factor for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), according to three papers published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. Two of the studies showed that salt can induce the production of aggressive cells involved in autoimmune disease development in mice and humans, while a third indicated that mice on high-salt diets develop a type of disease similar to human MS. The international teams of scientists cautioned that these are early results that warrant further investigation. "It's premature to say: 'You shouldn't eat salt because you'll get an autoimmune disease'," said one of the study authors, Aviv Regev from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "We're putting forth an interesting hypothesis -- a connection between salt and autoimmunity -- that must now be tested through careful epidemiological studies in humans." In two studies in mice and human cells, scientists showed that salt boosted the development of a type of immune cell known as T helper 17, or Th17, that has been implicated in diseases like MS, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune diseases develop when the immune system attacks rather than protects the host. Other researchers found they could induce more severe forms of autoimmune diseases, and at higher rates, in mice fed a diet higher in salt than others. "It's not just salt, of course," said author Vijay Kuchroo, co-director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "We have this genetic architecture -- genes that have been linked to various forms of autoimmune diseases and predispose a person to developing autoimmune diseases. "But we also suspect that environmental factors -- infection, smoking and lack of sunlight and Vitamin D may play a role," Kuchroo said in a joint statement. "Salt could be one more thing on the list of predisposing environmental factors that may promote the development of autoimmunity." In a comment on the three companion papers, John O'Shea of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, and Russel Jones of McGill University in Canada, called the findings "exciting and provocative". But they reiterated it was premature to state that salt could cause autoimmune disease. "This work should spur investigation of tangible links between diet and autoimmune disease in people," they wrote. "In doing so, it will be essential to conduct formal, controlled clinical trials. Fortunately, the risks of limited dietary salt intake are not great, so it is likely that several such trials will be starting soon." -- AFPRelaxnews |
| Energize Your Day with the Essentials of Protein Posted: 07 Mar 2013 04:23 PM PST What did you have for breakfast today - a hearty dose of Nasi Lemak with fried chicken, completed with Teh Tarik? Or perhaps a much-needed steaming cup of coffee to go with the morning paper? For some people, it is a norm to skip breakfast in the morning for an extra 10 minutes of snooze time or to beat the traffic jam. For those who do have breakfast, you'll have to admit that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the selection of food we can have to start our day. The question is, are you eating right for the right start to your day? While bread or cereal may seem to be a convenient option, they are high in carbohydrate and may lead to elevated blood sugar levels which drop quickly and leave you feeling hungry and drained. Research have showed that a breakfast high in protein helps with stabilising blood sugar and prevents hunger for a number of hours. According to the Malaysian Food Guide, Food Pyramid and Food Composition, breakfast should account for 30% of our protein intake – which translates to approximately 21 grams. While there are many types of food we can consume to meet the 21 grams of protein intake for breakfast, we have to also be mindful not to take in too much calories and fats, which may lead to obesity. Each person's protein needs depend on several factors such as age, size, physical condition, and the level of physical activity. Nutritionists use a standard method to estimate a person's minimum protein requirement daily, which is to multiply a person's body weight (kg) with 0.8, as the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) in the US for protein is 0.8 grams per kilograms of body weight of adults. Take a typical Malaysian breakfast for instance. According to Nutriweb Malaysia 2000-2012 Database of Nutrient Composition of Malaysia Food, three pieces of Roti Canai can provide you with 21 grams of protein for your first meal of the day, but that also comes with 31 grams of fat, and 136.5 grams of carbohydrate. Likewise, in order to have 21 grams of protein, you will need to have 2.2 packets of Nasi Lemak, but provides you with 28.8 grams of fat and 128 grams of carbohydrate. Understanding the importance of a high-protein breakfast, leading direct selling company Amway have introduced its NUTRILITE™ All Plant Protein Powder to help you boost your protein intake and get a right start for the day. With 2.5 scoops of NUTRILITE All Plant Protein that can be mixed with any of your favourite beverages or food, it is an easy and convenient breakfast option that can help you achieve the needed 21 grams of protein, with only 1.3 grams of fat and 0.8 grams of carbohydrate. "Certified Halal, lactose-free and safe for vegetarians, the NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder caters to many people as it has no cholesterol and contains only minimal fat content and nine essential amino acids to aid the body's digestion," said Dr. Gene Maly, Senior NUTRILITE Research Scientist. "This complete, nutritious alternative to meat and dairy products is suitable for those seeking a lean source of protein in their diets, with its naturally sourced with a unique tri-blend of soy, wheat and pea," Maly added. "It is a boost to your diet to load up your day's essentials, giving you an energized start in the morning." Energize your day and start it right with NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder, available through Amway Distributors nationwide and at the 20 Amway Shops located in Petaling Jaya, Seremban, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Batu Pahat, Bintulu, Penang, Klang, Wangsa Maju, Mentakab, Taiping, Malacca, Segamat, Brunei, Alor Setar, Kuantan, Nusa Bestari, Seberang Perai, Sibu, and Ipoh. For more information on NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder, log on to http://www.amway.my/nutrition/nutrilite/energise-your-day or call Amway at (03) 7946 2800. *Source: Nutriweb Malaysia 2000-2012 Database of Nutrient Composition of Malaysia Food This article is brought to you by Amway. |
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