HGH Injections For Sale

If you don't enjoy training your upper body or just can't find time for it in your workout schedule, then say hello to this 10-minute dumbbell routine. It has been designed especially for targeting the muscles in your arms and shoulders.

Before jumping into this quick upper body session you'll need a set of dumbbells to begin. You can source this type of free weight at a gym or you can buy your own. The best adjustable dumbbells are well suited for home use as this style of customizable weight saves you from having to store a full weights rack in your home and they allow you to conveniently change the load between exercises.

Once you are equipped with some weights then you can use workout instructor Gainsbybrains' (opens in new tab)10-minute dumbbell workout to build strength and muscle in your upper body.

The whole workout is completed standing up, so it's ideal if you don't have much room at home to move around. Equally, if you go to a busy gym, there is no need to find a bench or lots of floor space for this upper body routine.

There are 10 exercises in this workout, and you will perform each for 60 seconds taking no breaks in between. Fortunately, you only have one round to complete so make sure you master the form of each move and give each minute all you have.

When a workout like this doesn't include rests, you are more likely to see improvements in muscle endurance over muscle-building results. However, if you are more interested in achieving the latter then simply factor in rest periods between each exercise. This doesn't have to take away from the time efficiency of this workout.

One study published in the Sports Medicine (opens in new tab) journal reported that "when the training goal is muscular hypertrophy, the combination of moderate-intensity sets with short rest intervals of 30-60 seconds might be most effective due to greater acute levels of growth hormone during such workouts."

If you're working with heavier weight and hoping to stimulate significant strength gains, it makes more sense to give yourself around 3-5 minutes of rest as this helps prepare your muscles to lift heavy on your next set.

Whatever your fitness goals are, you should always prioritize recovery. This encapsulates more than just having a day without exercise, it requires you to fit in ample sleep time, thorough stretching (one of the best foam rollers will come in handy), and a diet that supports your training. Consuming high amounts of protein is essential for muscle recovery and growth and you can increase your daily intake using one of the best protein powders for weight loss.

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Build upper body muscle and define your arms with this 10-minute dumbbell workout - Fit and Well

When people go plant-based, it's often not the idea ofgiving up meat that proves difficult. It's cheese. There's a reason for that.In a study on food and addiction, Yale researchers found thatcheese triggers the same neuroreceptors for pleasure that drugs do since cheese contains casein, a dairy protein that during digestion releases casomorphine, which plays directly on the brain's dopamine receptors. So if you think you're addicted to cheese, you probably are. Like most addictions, this one isn't healthy.

If you have ever tried to give up anything addictive, whether it's cigarettes, caffeine, or alcohol, you know that there is usually a painful period of withdrawal followed by a sense of improved health and even natural euphoria. The same is true ofwhat happens when you give upburrata, brie, Jarlsberg, or parmesan. First, it's hard, then you feel so much better. Here's why.

While a handful of studies have come out to say that dairy is not inflammatory, at least some of those have been funded by milk producers. In "fact-checking"the research and its funding,Dr. Neal Barnard, founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), has found that even a serving a day of dairy is not good for you and that the proteins in dairy are inflammatory, especially if you areamong the nearly 70 percent of the world's population that has some levelof lactose malabsorption.

When you stop eating dairy, Barnard asserts, inflammation drops on a cellular level, allowing long-sore joints and swollen body parts to deflate and feel relieved. You may lose your under-eye bags, your skin is likely to clear up and the pain in your joints or muscles will subside. You may also find your face and belly become less bloated, all of which is a healthy reactionafter getting rid of an allergen.

Experts estimate that 68 percent of the world's population suffers from some level of lactose malabsorption,a milder degree of lactose intolerance. The best way to figure out if you are in that group is to cut out dairy, especially cheese, and see how you feel after a week or two.

Lactose malabsorption is more common incertain parts of the world, such as Africa and Asia, where the majority of the population have some level of lactose malabsorption.In northern Europe, many people carry agenethat allows them to digest lactose after infancy but babies can have a very hard time with cow's milk, and some are sensitive if the lactating mother is eating dairy and cow proteins are in her body.

In the U.S., less than 40 percent of the population has lactose intolerance. Lactose malabsorption is not full-blown lactose intolerance and can cause symptoms that are mild or moderate, but many of those with lactose malabsorption also have lactose intolerance.

Other than inflammation, whichis driven up by eating cheese and goes downwhen you give up dairy, you may also find that your hormonal balanceshifts for the better when you give up dairy, especially cheese. That's because cheese contains traces of hormones like estrogen and growth hormone, both passed from the lactating cow's milk to humans, according to Dr. Barnard.

Barnard, who wrote a bookcalled Your Body In Balance: The New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health,has explored the ways thatthe traces of estrogen in dairy and cheese can impacthumans and especially women who have struggled with hormonal problems that affect their periods, fertility, and their endocrine system (as is the case with PCOS).

In his book, Barnard tellsstories of patients who have given up dairy and had their symptoms abateand hormonal health restored.While Barnard is notasserting that dairy causes PCOS or that giving up grilled cheese and pizza can cure all menstrual woes, if you look at the overall impact of cheese on the body, less appears to be better, he says.

Back in 2019 Barnard and dozens of other doctors joined together with PCRM to recommend that the FDA require warning labels on cheese,to caution consumers that eating this food raises their risk of breast cancer.

"Dairy products contain traces of estrogens from cows, and as milk is converted to cheese, the estrogens are more concentrated," according to PCRM. "While they are only traces, they appear to be biologically active in humans, increasing breast cancer mortality."

Dairy cows in the US areroutinely injected with Bovine Growth Hormone to increase their production of milk, which is allowed by the FDA, but this also may increase the levels of Insulin Growth Factor-1that gets passed to humans. IGF-1 promotes cell growth, including cancer cells, according to research published in the UK.

Milk, cheese, yogurt, and anything made from these ingredients can contain varying levels of IGF-1, which regulators at the FDA claim is safe for human consumption. Organic milk does not contain these growth hormones, and neither does non-dairy milk and cheese.

Cows are injected with hormones to keep them lactating for longer and to produce more milk every month. So modern-day milk has more hormones in it than the dairy your grandparents drankfrom their local old-fashioned dairy farms of a century ago.

The FDA explains that this is completely fine. An article on the government agency's sitecalled,"Steroid Hormone Implants Used for Growth in Food-Producing Animals" asserts that since the 1950s, theFDAhas approved a number of steroid hormone drugs for use in beef cattle and sheep, includingnatural estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and their synthetic versions.

Since dairy producers started giving cows massive amounts of growth hormones in the early 1990s, consumers have speculated that these trace amounts that get passed to children could have health impacts such as early puberty, antibiotic-resistant infections, and a higherrisk of cancer. Studies now find that it's likely that obesity is a contributing factor to early puberty, but in a study on IGF-1 and cancer, there was a link.

In the UK, a group of researchers found that IGF-1 was linked to the growth of second primary cancers. That means if you are a cancer survivor, IGF appears to find those cells and help them grow.

To quote the study: "IGF-1 is known to promote cancer development by inhibiting apoptosis and stimulating cell proliferation. Epidemiological studies have reported a positive association between circulatingIGF-1 levels and various primary cancers, such as breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer," but they set out to figure out how IGF helps secondary cancers grow. They found that this hormone helps convert normal cells into cancer cells.

Yet theFDA assertsthat food or dairy from animals who are given growth hormone is fine, and that "studies have shown that the food from the treated animals is safe for people to eat and that the drugs do not harm the treated animal or the environment."

If you are eager to avoid growth hormones in your morning coffee or cereal, choose almond, soy, or oat milk instead.

The public's perception is that soy, which contains plant estrogen, or phytoestrogens, could raise the risk of breast cancer, but in fact, women who eat more soy have less incidence of cancer, studies have found. That's becausephytoestrogens mimic estrogen in a good way and essentially pump the brakes on the body's estrogen uptake.

In large studies of Asian populations in which the women eat a lot of soy, the evidence is strong that the more soy you eat,the lower your overall risk of breast cancer. Soy appears tohave a protective effectin keeping estrogen production in check.

Read More:Does Soy Cause Breast Cancer? Here's What An Expert Says

In a 2021 study that followed nearly 53,000 women for 8 years, tracking daily consumption of milk, a serving a day (or more) was associated withanelevated risk of breast cancer. Consuming as little as one-quarter to one-third cup of dairy milk per day was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer of 30 percent, lead researcher Gary E. Fraser, Ph.D., of Loma Linda University explained. Soy had the opposite effect, the study found.

By drinking up to one cup [of dairy] per day, the associated risk went up to 50 percent, and for those drinking two to three cups per day, the risk increased further to 70 to 80 percent. Most cheese is made from dairy, so while the study was about milk, cheese would be considered dairy food and the results would correlate to cheese.

Read More:Study: One Daily Serving of Dairy Linked to Higher Risk of Cancer

Men who consume dairy are also at elevated risk for cancer. Dr. Shireen Kassam, Ph.D., founding director ofPlant-Based Health Professionals UKwantsmen toknow that there is also an association between dairy and prostate cancer risk, according to scientific studies.

"Acombined analysisof 32 observational studies found that for every 400 grams of dairy consumed daily (justover 1 1/2 cups)correlated with a 7 percent increased risk of developing prostate cancer, and this risk applied to both milk and cheese, she says.

In another review of studiesonplant-based foodsand cancer risk, researchers found that the consumption of plant-based foods reduced the risk of prostate cancer.

Read More:Dairy Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer. What to Eat to Lower It

Cheese is high in saturated fat, linked to an increased risk of heart disease. In the UK, researchers have recommended that people eat no more than a matchbook size sliver a day, and even that may be too much for someone battlinghigh blood pressure, a symptom and a risk factor forcardiovascular disease, according to heart doctors.

Saturated fat has been linked to high cholesterol, blockages that make heart attack and stroke more likely, and calcium deposits that can be fatal if blood flow to the brain, heart, or lungs is hindered. Dr. Joel Kahn, a plant-based cardiologist, says the less sat fat you eat the better.

A study inThe Cochrane Reviewdemonstrated that reducing dietary saturated fat intake lowered the risk of combined cardiovascular events by 21 percent, andthe greater the reduction in saturated fat, the greater the drop in the risk ofcardiovascular events.

This was true both for peoplewho hadno prior history of heart events,and those who had a history of heart disease, Dr. Kahn added. In fact, the reduction in satfat was evenmorepowerful for those who did have known heart disease.

Read More:The Fat Wars Are Over and Sat Fat is a Killer, Says Dr. Joel Kahn

A plant-based diet can lower your risk of heart disease since saturated fat is only found in animal fat and some tropical oils such as palm oil and coconut oil. TheAmerican Heart Associationstates that decades of sound science has proven [saturated fat] can raise your bad cholesterol and puts you at higher risk for heart disease.

The ADA recommends keeping daily saturated fat intake to 5 percent of your daily calories. That means if you eat 2,000 calories a day, no more than 100 of those should come from animal fat, which essentially means going plant-based.

In Dr. Barnard's book

It can take up to 21 days for alltraces of dairy protein to leave your system, according to experts at La Leche League, which helps women who have babies that are intolerant to cow's milk. (Human milk contains lactose but not dairy protein, so it is in a form that babies can tolerate.)

To see the full results of giving up cheese and dairy, you need to give upmilk, cheese, yogurt, and all forms of cow's milk for three full weeks.

But thepositive effects of giving up cheese and dairy will start to be felt much earlier, as soon as just a few days.Still, if you want to know whether dairy is causing your joint pain or inflammation, allow it to fullyleave your system and have zero dairy products for 21 ways and wait until the three weeks are up to evaluate the results.

Will you miss cheese? Does a former smoker. miss cigarettes? Yes, you will miss cheese. But less and less as the days go by and it loosens its grip on you.

Cheese is linked to inflammation in most people, and contains hormones such as growth hormone and traces of estrogen, known to increase the risk of cancer. It takes 21 days for all traces of dairy to leave your system but you can see the benefits when you give up dairy. Just a few changes are that your hormones get back into balance and you'll live free ofjoint pain and bloating.

For the best cheese alternatives, visit The Beet's review of vegan cheese slices and non-dairyvegan cheese shreds.

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Here's What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Eating Dairy - The Beet

ReportLinker

MARKET OVERVIEW Pen needles are the needles that are attached to the durable or prefilled pens that the patients use to inject the medication. The pen needles are found mainly among insulin users, growth hormone users, and other self-injecting medication users.

New York, Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Pen Needles Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06316311/?utm_source=GNW

The advancements in needle manufacturing technology have resulted in shorter and thinner needles. This has helped the vendors to reduce needle stick injuries. This even made vendors focus on thinner and thinner needles. These thinner needles are more user-friendly, progressively improving patient self-rating of injection comfort. BD (Becton, Dickinson) is one of the key innovative players and launched many revolutionary products in the pen needles segment.

Growth in the market is largely driven by the growing prevalence of the diabetic population and the favorable demand for self-injection devices. On the other hand, the preference for alternative modes of drug delivery, poor reimbursement in developing countries, and needle anxiety are expected to restrain the overall market growth. The growing preference for biosimilar drugs and emerging markets are areas of opportunity in the market.

All injector pens require single-use replaceable pen needles for each injection. The companies offer pen needles in various lengths to accommodate varying depths of subcutaneous tissue under the top of the skin. Pen needles are designed for single-use subcutaneous injection of medication and are not intended to be reused for more than one administration. The pen needles are generally manufactured with an outer protective plastic shell, which a person uses to attach the needle to the pen, and an inner plastic shell protecting the needle itself. The doctor or nurses responsibility instructs how to attach and use needles to ensure proper use properly.

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

The Rising Prevalence of Diabetic Population

Diabetes prevalence in all regions is predicted to rise in the coming years due to unhealthy diets and bad lifestyle choices. The countries are increasingly putting in demand for medication in recent years, majorly the low-income countries, as the patients are more convenient with injector pens. The rising incidences of needle-stick injuries due to the high usage of 8mm syringes and lack of awareness & education in low-middle income countries are also one of the main reasons for the higher adoption of insulin pen needles.When compared with developed countries, developing countries are more prone to diabetes. In these regions, young children are also affected by diabetes due to childhood obesity, which is a significant risk factor. In the case of developed countries, only older people get affected by diabetes. In contrast, in developing countries, individuals of the adult age and elderly persons above 65 are also prone to diabetes. One in 11 adults in the age group 0-79 is affected with diabetes, especially type-II, which is attributable to lifestyle changes.

Growing Demand for Self-Injection Devices

Devices for self-injection, chiefly pens used for the subcutaneous delivery of biopharmaceuticals, constitute a growing segment of the world of drug delivery devices. With the trend toward biological drugs that cannot be administered orally and the worldwide increase in diabetes, their importance is set to grow further in the future. With the large number of new injectables expected to enter the market in the coming years, the trend to shift treatment from the clinic to the home environment to save costs and provide more patient convenience is increasing the demand for self-injection devices. Self-injection solutions can also significantly improve the quality of care from the patients perspective. Self-administration by the patient (e.g., using an injection pen) has several advantages. For drugs requiring a subcutaneous application, self-injection pens offer an ideal opportunity to control the time factor and reduce risk.

Technological Advancements in Pen Needles

New pen needles, which are better than the conventional ones, are being introduced to the market. These next-generation pen needles will significantly add an advantage to healthcare providers, nurses, and at-home settings. This trend states that the manufacturers are focusing on improving the traditional portfolios for pen needles. The needle-stick injuries and non-adherence to the therapies are the significant phenomenon in which the manufacturers try to minimize and deliver the medication safely to the patients. There are few manufacturers whose products are top-selling in the market. To reduce risk, those companies have improved their traditional portfolio of pen needles with technology.

Growing Demand for Safety Pen Needles

Accidental blood exposures are caused by contaminated needle sticks, sharps, or splashes and expose HCPs and non-healthcare users to the risk of serious infections. Pen needles with automatic protective safety features allow patients who are temporarily incompetent to continue self-administering drugs with assistance but without compromising healthcare provider (HCP) safety. Moreover, safety pen needles (SPNs) have been found to minimize the risk of exposure to bloodborne infections associated with needle-stick injury without any related adverse events. Safety devices are one of the most effective risk-control measures to prevent healthcare workers exposure to injuries and infectious agents. Over 80% of NSIs can be prevented with the use of sharps with engineered sharps injury protection system.

SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS

Product Type Analysis

Based on product type, the market is segmented into standard pen needles and safety pen needles. In 2021, standard pen needles held the largest of 71.72% in the global market due to their daily usage of larger doses by diabetic patients. However, these needles are less preferred as they have a higher risk of needle-stick injury and interfere with the safe use of pen needles. Therefore, they are expected to be in low demand soon. Increasing diabetes and awareness of insulin pen use are some factors that support this segments growth. Safety pen needles are expected to witness favorable growth during the forecast period due to technological advances in this segment and increased launches of next-generation products. These devices make it possible to minimize needle-stick injuries to patients.

Segmentation by Product Type Standard Pen Needles Safety Pen Needles

Needle Length Analysis

Based on needle length, it is segmented into short needles and long needles. The short needle segment accounted for the largest share of 78.30% in the global market in 2021. Amongst the short needle lengths, 4 mm-sized pen needles are most prescribed to all patients, including obese people suffering from the target disease. Patients are increasingly using the shortest and thinnest needles due to a greater comfort level offered by them as compared to injections. Moreover, their short layer helps reach the subcutaneous tissue of the patients easily.

Segmentation by Length Short Length Long Length

Therapy Analysis

The market is segmented on therapy into insulin and non-insulin. The insulin pen needles market accounted for the largest share of 81.20% in the global market in 2021 and is also expected to showcase lucrative growth over the forecast period. This is due to the increasing awareness about the self-administration of insulin therapy amongst type 1 and types 2 diabetes patients. In non-insulin therapy, GLP-1 and growth hormone therapy is expected to exhibit significant growth soon. This is due to its capability to minimize the blood glucose level amongst patients who have type 2 diabetes.

Segmentation by Therapy Insulin Non-Insulin

Distribution Channel

The global pen needles market is segmented into retail and online based on distribution channels. The retail segment accounted for the largest share of 76.96% in the global pen needles market in 2021. In the retail segment, hospitals and clinics play a major role in distributing pen needles. The retailer pharmacies prefer to collaborate with hospitals and clinics to get a huge profit as the hospitals and clinics are the first points of contact. Online distribution channels are expected to grow drastically in the coming era. The COVID-19 pandemic has opened the doors for online platforms to surge the demand for pen needles in the market.

Segmentation by Distribution Channel Retail Online

GEOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW

The Europe region is dominating the market and accounts for the share of 33.85%, followed by North America with the share of 29.65%, APAC with a share of 24.90%, Latin America with a share of 7.48%, and the Middle East & Africa region accounted for the share of 6.12% in the global market.

Segmentation by Geography

Europeo Germanyo Franceo UKo Italyo Spain North Americao USo Canada Latin Americao Brazilo Mexicoo Argentina APACo Chinao Japano Indiao South Koreao Australia Middle East & Africao Turkeyo South Africao Saudi Arabia

VENDOR ANALYSISThe key companies profiled in the global pen needles market are: BD Braun Melsungen Novo Nordisk Owen Mumford Ypsomed

These key players have a wide geographic presence in the region such as Europe, North America, and APAC. The market competition is based on quality, quantity, technology, safety, and price and is expected to surge in the coming years. These companies are focusing on launching next-generation products regarding the demand for self-injection devices and safety pen needles. The competition in the market is low as there are only a few key vendors in the market, and the market is not witnessing many mergers and acquisitions.

Other Prominent Vendors

AdvaCare Pharma Allison Medical ARKRAY GlucoRx Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices HTL-STREFA IGAKU NEEDLES Iyon Medical Links Medical Products MedExel Medivena Montmd Narang Medical Nipro Europe Group Companies Promisemed Medical Devices SHANGHAI BERPU MEDICAL Simple Diagnostics Terumo Europe Trividia Health UltiMed Van Heek Medical VOGT MEDICAL

Strategies adopted by the market vendors

One of the key vendors, B.Braun Melsungen, is launching the second-generation needles, and other vendors are also coming up with safety needles in the market. These are largely adopted among the developed countries in the market. The increasing target population and adoption of advanced technologies like pen needles in Europe make them dominate the market. This is making the vendors focus the product launches across Europe. The major vendors continuously compete for the leading position in the market, with occasional spurts of competition coming from other local vendors.

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:1. How big is the global pen needle market?2. What is the growth rate of the global pen needle market?3. Who are the key players in the global pen needle market?4. What are the growth enablers in the global pen needle market?5. Which region is expected to hold the largest share by 2027?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06316311/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The global pen needles market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.09% during 2022 to 2027. - Yahoo Finance

Novartis will spin-off its generics division Sandoz, which includes a portfolio of eight biosimilar products.

In 2018, Novartis granted its generic and biosimilar medicine division Sandoz more autonomy while claiming to be completely committed to the business. Since then, analysts and investors have been hedging their bets as to when the inevitable spin-off would therefore occur. Following a strategic review last year, the Swiss firm has now cemented a separation plan to be completed by the second half of 2023.

Our strategic review examined all options for Sandoz and concluded that a 100% spin-off is in the best interest of shareholders, said Joerg Reinhardt, chair of the Board of Directors of Novartis.

A spin-off would allow our shareholders to benefit from the potential future successes of a more focused Novartis and a standalone Sandoz, and would offer differentiated and clear investment theses for the individual businesses.

Novartis will now dedicate itself to innovative medicines, including its antibody and cell and gene therapy portfolio. It will, however, lose a robust portfolio and pipeline of biosimilars a modality focused on lower-cost biologics it was instrumental in bringing to the fore in both Europe and the US.

In 2006, the firm achieved approval of Omnitrope (biosimilar recombinant human growth hormone [rhGH]) in Europe, and nine years later became the first commercial biosimilar developer to bring a biosimilar to the US Zarxio, a version of Amgens Neupogen (filgrastim).

Beyond these two, the firm has won approval for six other biosimilars across various regions: Erelzi (etanercept), Binocrit (epoetin alfa), Ziextenzo (pegfilgrastim), Rixathon (rituximab), Hyrimoz (adalimumab), and Zessley (Infliximab).

Furthermore, the firm has been instrumental in advocating for such medicines, through industry, physician, and payor programs such as the recently launched Act4Biosimilars roadmap that hopes to increase global adoption of biosimilar medicines by at least 30% in 30+ countries by 2030.

For Novartis, the separation of Sandoz would further support our strategy of building a focused innovative medicines company, with depth in five core therapeutic areas, and strength in technology platforms, said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis.

In addition, both companies would be able to focus on maximizing value creation for their shareholders by prioritizing capital and resource allocation, employing separate capital structure policies, and increasing management focus on their respective business needs.

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Novartis waves bye to biosimilars with Sandoz split - BioProcess Insider - BioProcess Insider

High cholesterol is a serious health concern that affects over 94 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.While many don't realize they're at risk because high cholesterol often doesn't show symptoms, major complications like heart disease, stroke and diabetes can happen if left untreated. Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a Board-Certified Family Physician with Holistic Wellness Strategies who shares how harmful high cholesterol is to your overall health. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

Dr. Mitchell explains, "Cholesterol is a type of fat found in our bodies. It's essential for many functions, including cell growth, hormone production, and digestion. However, too much cholesterol can lead to serious health problems like heart disease and stroke.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

So, where does cholesterol come from? Our bodies produce some cholesterol independently, but we also get it from our food. Animal products, such as meat, poultry, and dairy, are exceptionally high in cholesterol. In addition, plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, contain very little cholesterol.

When it comes to our bodies, cholesterol is found in the blood. It's carried by particles called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol because it can build up on the walls of your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is often called "good" cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries.

Having too much LDL cholesterol in your blood is one of the main risk factors for heart disease. That's why it's essential to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to help keep your LDL levels under control. For example, if you have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors for heart disease, your doctor may also recommend medications to help lower your LDL levels."

Dr. Mitchell tells us, "Cholesterol is necessary to properly function many essential body processes, including producing hormones and the digestion of fats. However, too much cholesterol can lead to health problems such as heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol is found in the body: LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol because it contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries. HDL cholesterol is often referred to as "good" because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the streets. The best way to keep your cholesterol levels under control is to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. High cholesterol is more than just a number on a lab report. It can seriously impact your health, increasing your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other severe conditions. Here are five ways high cholesterol can affect your health."

According to Dr. Mitchell, "High cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up on the walls of your arteries, making them narrow and hard. This can lead to chest pain, heart attack, or stroke. Just as too much sugar can lead to cavities, too much cholesterol in the blood can develop plaques in your arteries. Over time, these plaques can harden and narrow your arteries, restricting blood flow to your heart and increasing your risk of heart disease. In addition to heart disease, high cholesterol can increase your risk of stroke, kidney disease, and memory loss. High cholesterol can still damage your health even if you don't have any symptoms. That's why it's essential to check your cholesterol regularly and take steps to keep it under control. By making healthy lifestyle choices and working with your doctor, you can help keep your cholesterol healthy and reduce your risk of severe health problems."

Dr. Mitchell says, "high cholesterol can cause fatty deposits to form in your arteries, making them less flexible and more likely to become blocked. High cholesterol doesn't just clog your arteries. When too much of the waxy substance is in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries (atherosclerosis) and make it hard for enough blood to flow through. That could lead to a heart attack or stroke. The fatty deposits can also affect circulation elsewhere in your body. In atherosclerosis, plaques narrow arteries and reduce blood flow. Over time, the reduced blood flow can cause problems such as:

Coronary artery disease: Plaque buildup narrows the coronary arteries and reduces blood flow to your heart muscle. This can lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, heart attack, and possibly heart failure.

Carotid artery disease: Plaque buildup in carotid arteries decreases blood flow to your brain and increases your risk of stroke.

Peripheral artery disease: Plaque buildup narrows peripheral arteries those in your legs, arms, and stomach which decreases blood flow to these extremities. This can cause pain when you walk (claudication). Unfortunately, too little blood flowing to these areas can heal wounds slowly and make you more susceptible to infections.

Aortic aneurysms: This is a bulge in the aorta wall caused by plaque buildup that weakens artery walls. Aortic aneurysms are often undetected until they rupture, causing internal bleeding that sometimes proves fatal.

Kidney damage: Plaque buildup in renal arteries limits blood flow to your kidneys, which may cause kidney failure." While Satou was going over this, her patient was sweating bullets, not knowing if he was going to live or die with his high cholesterol levels."

High cholesterol can make blood flow through your arteries difficult, leading to high blood pressure," says Dr. Mitchell. "High cholesterol is a problem because it can cause blockages in your arteries. Your arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. When you have high cholesterol, there is a buildup of plaque on the walls of your arteries. This plaque narrows the diameter of the arteries and makes it more difficult for blood to flow through them. Over time, this can lead to high blood pressure, a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. High blood pressure can damage the arteries and lead to heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems. Therefore, it is essential to keep your cholesterol levels under control to prevent these problems from occurring."

Dr. Mitchell tells us, "High cholesterol can increase your risk of developing blood clots, which can block an artery and lead to a heart attack or stroke. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in your blood. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones and other substances, but too much cholesterol can lead to health problems. Atherosclerosis makes it more difficult for blood to flow through your arteries. Blood clots can occur anywhere in the body, but they are most likely to form in an artery with high cholesterol and can cause plaque buildup in your arteries. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque can harden and narrow your arteries. This condition is called atherosclerosis. Arteries become blocked, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. A blood clot is a mass damaged by plaque buildup. A blood clot forms in an artery already narrowed by plaque; it can block blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol increases your risk of developing atherosclerosis and forming blood clots. Therefore, controlling your cholesterol levels is essential to reducing your heart disease and stroke risk."

Dr. Mitchell shares, "High cholesterol can damage the lining of your arteries, making them more susceptible to inflammation and injury. Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or infection. It helps to protect us from harm by fighting off invaders and promoting healing. However, inflammation can also lead to several severe health problems when it becomes chronic. One of the most significant risk factors for chronic inflammation is high cholesterol. When cholesterol levels are too high, it causes a buildup of plaque in the arteries. This plaque narrows the arteries, making them more susceptible to inflammation and injury. Over time, inflammation can damage the lining of the arteries, leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis increases the risk for cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke. If you have high cholesterol, it's essential to take steps to lower it and reduce your risk of developing these serious health problems."

Dr. Mitchell says this "doesn't constitute medical advice and by no means are these answers meant to be comprehensive. Rather, it's to encourage discussions about health choices."

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This is What High Cholesterol Does to Your Body Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York say that stress-induced circadian clock disruptions may influence weight gain.

A study published in June showed that mice with artificially increased stress levels and interrupted hormone releases experienced an increase in fat cell growth. Its results appear in Cell Reports.

The second study, published in August, found that fat cell precursors commit to becoming fat cells only within a few hours at night. This work appears in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences (PNAS).

Mary Teruel, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry at Weill Cornell Medicine, was the senior author of both studies.

A lot of forces are working against a healthy metabolism when we are out of circadian rhythm, Dr. Teruel said in a press release. The more we understand, the more likely we will be able to do something about it.

In the Cell Reports study, Dr. Teruel and her team implanted pellets with glucocorticoids, a type of stress-related hormone, in mice. This was to mimic the effects of chronic stress or Cushings disease.

Cushings disease triggers elevated levels of cortisol, the bodys stress hormone.

The pellets released glucocorticoids under the skin of the mice at a steady rate over three weeks. The researchers also observed control mice with typical daily stress hormone fluctuations.

Although all the mice ate the same healthy diet, the mice with pellets ended up weighing over 9% more than the control mice.

The researchers observed whether the weight gain was from fat expansion and found that the brown and white fat of the pellet mice had more than doubled. Their insulin levels spiked as well.

To the teams surprise, the metabolic disturbances kept blood glucose levels low. Further, the disruptions prevented fat from accumulating in the blood or liver.

When the researchers removed the pellets, these changes reversed immediately.

Dr. Teruel explained to MNT: We saw this in our paper, basically, once we stopped flattening the corticoids, [the mice] started reversing [the fat mass gain] and the hyperinsulinemia went away so that increased insulin that seems to be causing the fat mass gains that went away when the restored rhythm.

She added that this study indicates that chronic stress can make weight gain more likely, even with a healthy, low fat diet.

If you stress the animals at the wrong time, it has a dramatic effect. The mice arent eating differently, but a big shift in metabolism causes weight gain, Dr. Teruel said in the release.

Dr. Teruels research team hopes that their findings lead to developing drugs that could help reset circadian rhythms to help people with obesity.

We dont know enough [yet], but one would think cortisol receptor antagonists or [] things that restore the cortisol rhythms would probably help a lot.

Dr. Mary Teruel

Experts understand that flaws in circadian clock genes can alter cell differentiation in fat, immune, skin, and muscle cells.

The PNAS study revealed that even though differentiation happens over a few days, differentiation commitment happens within only a few hours. The findings also show that daily bursts of cell differentiation seem to be limited to evening phases when people are normally resting.

The decision to become a fat cell happens rapidly over 4 hours. It is like a switch, Dr. Teruel said.

Medical News Today discussed this with Dr. Mir Ali, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

Dr. Ali explained how fat cells come to be: Fat cells form from [an] adipocyte progenitor cell or a type of cell that has not differentiated into its final form. The form it takes [to become] a fat cell depends on the hormonal and chemical stimulation it receives.

In the study, Dr. Teruel and her partners used fluorescent markers to observe daily fluctuations of fat cell production.

The researchers attached a red fluorescent protein to a protein that regulates circadian clock genes. They also attached a yellow fluorescent protein to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), a protein that controls fat cell production.

They discovered that during the rest period of the day, a certain circadian protein CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha induces a rapid increase in the protein that regulates fat cell production.

The researchers also found that when PPARG levels hit a certain threshold, individual fat precursor cells irreversibly commit to differentiate within only a few hours, which is much faster than the rest phase and the overall multiday differentiation process.

Dr. Teruel and her team believe that working with this time window may open therapeutic strategies to use timed treatment relative to the [circadian] clock to promote tissue regeneration.

Dr. Ali said: These studies are interesting in that they show the timing and length of stimulation affect the formation and growth of fat cells. The implications of this are that if we can find a way to safely influence the cell to grow or not grow, it may affect obesity in humans.

However, he believed that more extensive research is needed to make the studies findings applicable to humans.

Dr. Teruel told MNT that she and her co-authors were just trying to work on basic mechanisms [] Right now, we need to show this is really a mechanism that happens []

The researchers do plan to replicate the studies with people. We are looking at protein ribbons and humans using saliva samples, Dr. Teruel shared with MNT. Were planning to do those kinds of experiments.

Their main objective, she said, is to figure out ways to restore circadian [rhythms].

Dr. Teruel mentioned that currently known strategies, such as meditation and regular sleep in the dark may help.

She expressed hope that there could be some pharmacological ways [to] fix this in the future as well.

See the article here:

Stress can throw off circadian rhythms and lead to weight gain - Medical News Today

According to various etymological studies, the origin of the terms gut feeling or follow your heart is accredited to the vagus nerve. The neurons lining your gut or intestine communicate with the brain via the vagus nerve, which also passes through your chest (hence the latter phrase about the heart). Being the longest nerve in the body, the vagus connects your brain to your large intestine.

When youre stressed, your heart rate shoots up. Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline then start coursing through your body, which negatively affects your physical and mental wellbeing. If you let this happen frequently, it can cause chronic illnesses like anxiety, diabetes, mood swings, gut inflammation, and many others. In other cases, the nerve may also start dysfunctioning as you age.

The good news is that there are many ways to relieve stress by stimulating your vagal nerve regularly.

The vagal nerve is a part of the parasympathetic or your rest and digest nervous system. Hence, it plays a pivotal role in ensuring good mental health. A higher vagal tone helps in stress and anxiety management, keeping you from reacting dangerously in problematic situations.

When you maintain good vagal nerve health, your mood stays uplifted more often, mental health is regulated, which in turn enables you to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships with your peers and family members.

It also helps you sleep well and recharge. Matthew Walker, Founder-Director of the Centre for Human Sleep Science, has extensively covered all the benefits of sound sleep on humans beings in his book titled Why We Sleep.

To help you maintain good vagal tone and gain control over stress, weve put together some really effective and easy methods below.

When you slow down your breathing and take long and intentional breaths, your heart rate also slows down and blood pressure lowers. This relaxes your muscles, which then enables the vagus nerve to send signals to your brain indicating you are safe.

Normally, our breathing cycle involves ten to fourteen breaths every minute. Cut this down to six breaths a minute and watch yourself lose the stress to significant levels. You can even try holding your breath for up to four slow counts every time you inhale or exhale. Regular practice of this equips you with a safe and quick technique to calm down when you feel stressed out.

Research indicates that singing, humming or chanting Om and even gargling can help activate the vagus nerve since it is connected to the vocal chords and also the muscles behind your throat. This increases your heart rate and hold on, yes, increased heart rate in this situation is good because these rhythmic activities again help in increasing your vagal tone.

Certain probiotics contribute in maintaining a good gut, which means enhances gut to brain interaction. They help in ensuring theres ample amounts of good bacteria in your gut which in turn improves brain function. However, you must consult your physician before deciding on which probiotics you should start taking.

This is the most-advised routine by any medical practitioner to those wanting to improve their mental wellbeing. Not only does exercise increase your brains growth hormone or GH, its also known to stimulate the vagus nerve.

Weight lifting twice or four times a week, sprinting twice a week, brisk walking for thirty to sixty minutes every day are all known to stimulate your vagus nerve. You could also choose a sport and play it regularly to promote vagal tone. However, do not over-train or over-exhaust your body with excessive exercise. Always keep it moderate and listen to your body when it tells you to stop.

A combination of simple yogasanas and meditation, sky yoga or Sudarshan Kriya is a breathing technique that stimulated the vagus nerve andeliminates toxins from the body. The rhythmic breathing during SKY yoga has been scientifically proven to aid in curing symptoms related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, panic attacks, stress, and depression.

A quick technique to feel calm and relaxed after a stressful event, meditation also stimulates the vagus nerve. There are several apps available in the app markets to help you get into a state of meditation without much effort. No matter where you are, meditation is a strong tool to help stimulate vagal activity and release stressful emotions.

Exposure to cold is proven to activate cholinergic neurons that pass through the vagus pathways. A cold shower when you feel stressed or even immersing your face in cold water can instantly reduce your fight or flight response. You could also try switching to cold water during the last minute or 30 seconds of your hot water shower.

According to research, good massages taken regularly help increase your vagal tone. Foot reflexology, facial massages, gentle stressing on specific points during a back massage, all contribute towards elevated vagal activity. Be sure to include massages in your self-care routine!

Thats right! Laughing more often on a regular basis ensure good vagus nerve health. Surround yourself with peers who you can have a good laugh with and avoid those who weigh you down with their negative energies. Make a playlist of fun podcasts or feel-good shows that will make you laugh and listen to them or watch them in your free time. Its the best way to relieve stress instantly.

The vagus nerve is a dual-branched cranial nerve responsible for the most vital functions of the body like digestion, immune response, regulation of the heart rate, breathing, taste and so on. But most importantly, the vagus nerve helps regulate your stress response. Although its an issue that starts mentally, stress can be detrimental to your physical well-being since it reduces the bodys healing capacity and makes it difficult to decrease pain. These methods to promote vagal tone will help you stay focussed and ensure your holistic wellbeing in the long run.

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10 ways to manage stress via The Vagus Nerve - YourStory

To age well, we have to keep our bodies fit and healthy. Photo / 123rf

OPINION

Modern medicine is a true marvel. It cures diseases, saves lives, and grants most of us the promise of a longer life than our ancestors could ever have imagined.

How well we age and what these "extended years" are filled with is another matter altogether. Medicine may grant extended years, but it's our lifestyles and attitudes that infuse our lives with vitality and joy or dampen it with sedentary loneliness.

Although we cannot freeze time, there are many things we can do to put a stop to ageing and ensure that we pass through the years gracefully, while looking and feeling our best.

Ongoing, scientific research confirms that our health and longevity are not dictated and locked by our genes. We are not born with a "health destiny". Lifestyles can and do change how our body ages. This is where responsibility regarding our personal health kicks in.

According to WHO, the World Health Organization, health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, it is "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing"; a state of overall wellness.

The National Wellness Institute states that, "Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of and make conscious choices toward a more successful existence."

It is a "quality of life" cornerstone, ultimately determining how we feel, look and interact with those around us, and evidence supports and suggests that practising a wellness lifestyle is the real key to healthy longevity.

Wellness is never about surviving, but about thriving due to deliberate effort. As an approach to healthcare, it emphasises illness prevention and life extension rather than treating disease after the fact. Wellness implies self-awareness of both the causes and consequences of our actions, requiring us to take responsibility for our personal health and happiness.

Healthy habits are empowered to shut down bad genes that lead to poor health while turning on protective good ones, the powerful self-healing ones that promote longevity and stellar health.

That means consistently practising lifestyle habits that contribute to and help us achieve better physical, mental and emotional health, habits that include proper exercise, nutrition, mindfulness (self-awareness) and social connectedness.

The wealth of benefits that exercise offers in terms of making us feel our best while combating the ageing process cannot be overstated. The right exercises actively kick in HGH (Human Growth Hormone) production, continually reminding the body to renew, repair and replace old worn-out cells and tissues.

This self-healing mechanism spreads throughout every cell in the body, making us a whole lot younger and healthier!

Anti-ageing benefits of exercise -

Improved muscle mass and strength. Maintaining or building more muscle mass tissue lends well to functional strength. As an ageing adult, few things will impact our quality of life as much as seeing and feeling our functional strength go down. Let's not forget the fact that maintaining our lean muscle mass will boost our self-esteem and self-confidence. We feel and look better.

Enhanced bone and joint strength. Weight bearing exercises help prevent bone related issues from creeping up later. Osteoporosis is a serious condition that sadly, impacts far too many older adults. By starting early, we can make sure that that our adult years will be blessed with a strong, healthy skeleton.

Improved immunity. Decreased risk of health issues - heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure

Lowered levels of stress/emotional stability exercise not only kicks up HGH production, but we feel a boost of "feel good, happy-endorphins" when we exercise.

Mental acuity/sharp memory. Exercise stimulates key brain chemicals for concentration, memory and mental sharpness.

Healthy glowing skin. Forget about the expensive makeup, lotions and potions. Sweating releases toxins and puts a "real" glow on our cheeks.

Since consistency is the most important part of exercise, it's important to pick exercises that we enjoy so we stick with them. For maximum results, focus should be strength training as this is the form of exercise with the highest payoff and benefits.

When it comes to nutrition, there are certain issues that sabotage our anti-ageing efforts and accelerate the ageing process. Knowing what they are allows us to avoid them and their health damaging consequences.

Nutritional issues (that promote the ageing process)

Lack of antioxidants. Processed foods need to be kept to a bare minimum. When it comes to boosting antioxidants, the focus needs to be fresh produce fresh vegetables and fruits.

Over consumption of sugar. Sugar contributes nothing but calories and opens the door to diabetes.

High intake of trans-fats. Man-made fats designed to increase the shelf-life of the food products we consume. There is no real purpose for them health wise. They set us up for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Insufficient quality protein intake. Protein provides the raw materials needed to generate new cells, to generate the hormones necessary for keeping all systems in the body working properly, and for generating lean muscle mass.

Deficient omega 3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids provide key nutrients that the brain needs to function optimally. They are vital ingredients that work to keep inflammation levels down. Those who consume adequate omega-3 fatty acids on a regular basis are less likely to develop conditions like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, depression, as well as bipolar disorder.

Everything we do on a day-to-day basis all the choices that we make in how we approach our day impacts our body and the process of ageing. Our choices either accelerate ageing or combat it. If we punish our body with excessive alcohol, smoking or stress, we cannot expect life to reward us with healthy longevity. These are obvious, dangerous lifestyle habits that must be eliminated because they can and do kill.

In the end, our day-to-day actions and decisions not only affect how we currently feel, but influence who we will become, so we must plan accordingly.

Enjoying independence, productivity and self-care in later years is not a given. It is the reward received; the karmic joy earned for expressing self-love and living a life of "wellness" now.

Read more:

Carolyn Hansen: Balance and wellness for a longer, healthier life - Northern Advocate