How ‘Good Cholesterol’ May Help Lower Your Alzheimer’s Risk

 

• HDL cholesterol is often thought of as the “good cholesterol” that helps prevent cardiovascular disease.
• However, new research indicates it may also play a role in brain health.
• More HDL in the brain was linked to better cognitive performance and higher levels of a peptide called amyloid-beta 42.
• Scientists say that drugs that target HDL activity may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
• Several medications are under investigation at this time.
  

 

Most of the time people hear about cholesterolTrusted Source within the context of preventing cardiovascular disease.

There is the so-called “bad cholesterol,” LDL (low-density lipoproteins), which can increase your risk for clogged arteries, heart attack, and stroke when you have too much of it.

There is also the “good cholesterol,” HDL (high-density lipoproteins), which protects you by carrying cholesterol to your liver for disposal.

However, a group of researchers say HDL may also play an important role in brain health by lowing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Read More

The 4 Best Vegetables to Shrink Belly Fat, Say Dietitians

 

The 4 Best Vegetables to Shrink Belly Fat, Say Dietitians

All veggies are healthy for you, but some may specifically help with abdominal fat loss.

 

 

You can't go wrong with veggies. They're nutrient-dense and versatile, so you'll never run out of healthy ways to prepare them. And if you're trying to achieve a weight loss goal or lose belly fat, there are specific vegetables that can help you out!

To learn more about these specific veggies and the nutrients they contain that can help with your goal of losing abdominal fat, we spoke with Courtney D'Angelo, MS, RD, author at Go Wellness, as well as Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD from Balance One Supplements. Here are the veggies they recommend, and for more healthy eating tips, check out 3 Best Foods to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease.

 

 

1-Spinach

 

Pass the spinach, please! This leafy green is full of nutrients and great as a salad, sautéed, or thrown into your protein smoothie. According to both dietitians, adding more spinach to your diet can help you lose belly fat.

"Leafy green vegetables are not only super nutritious, but they also help you shrink belly fat," says D'Angelo. "Spinach is high in fiber, which absorbs nutrients more and helps with digestion. It's also high in vitamin K, which can sometimes support the reduction of body weight, including visceral fat."

2-Red bell peppers

 

Red bell peppers are a versatile veggie with a natural sweetness that goes great in a stir fry or on top of your burrito bowl. They're also full of nutrients that can help you with your weight goals.

"Bell peppers are ideal vegetables to add to a weight loss diet," says Best. "They are low in calories and high in nutrients, while also helping to create a sense of fullness after meals. This combination can help to prevent overeating throughout the rest of the day. Their fiber content and capsaicin also give red bell peppers their weight loss benefits."

 

3-Broccoli

 

Broccoli is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables you can find, which is why both of our dietitians swear by this green veggie as a food for helping to manage your weight.

"This cruciferous vegetable is rich in antioxidants that help drive down inflammation in the body," says Best. "The primary compound is sulforaphane, which works by lowering cytokines and NF-kB in the body. These substances drive the inflammatory process. By reducing inflammation, the body is better able to release weight and work efficiently in every other area as well."

"Broccoli also contains several other nutrients that may promote belly fat loss, including vitamin C, calcium, and chromium," says D'Angelo. "Vitamin C is needed by the body for metabolizing fats into energy. This veggie is also a high-carb food, which has many benefits when it comes to weight loss such as helping you feel full, providing energy, preventing weight gain, aiding in digestion, and even helping to trim your waistline."

 

 

4-Carrots

 

Lastly, carrots are a delicious root vegetable that contains more nutrients than many people realize. Not only that, but chewing raw carrots also may surprisingly help with your goals as well!

"This vegetable is unique in its ability to help reduce belly fat in the fact that it raises the body's metabolism," says Best. "The thermogenic effect of food (TEF) is the rate of calories a food causes the body to burn while being digested. Because carrots have a hard texture, they have a high TEF and therefore cause the body to burn more calories simply by eating them."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read More

 

             Health Benefits of Fenugreek

Research has found fenugreek may be able to regulate cholesterol, relieve menstrual cramps, and increase testosterone levels in men. Learn more about this plant's potential health benefits and risks.

 

 

Fenugreek—which you can buy as a spice or supplement at most health food stores—may offer some key health benefits, like helping manage type 2 diabetes and blood cholesterol.

Fenugreek is a clover-like herb native to the Mediterranean, southern Europe, and western Asia. Spices made from the plant's leaves and seeds have a sweet, slightly bitter maple syrup-like flavor, similar to burnt sugar. Here's more about how fenugreek may benefit you and healthful ways to consume it.

Benefits

While research on the benefits of fenugreek is limited, a few scientific studies have found that the plant: 

Helps lower blood sugar in people with diabetes

Fenugreek may be able to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. A 2016 meta-analysis of 12 studies published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that fenugreek significantly decreased fasting blood sugar levels in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. 

If fasting blood sugar levels remain high over an extended period of time, it increases the risk of multiple conditions for people with type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) these include: 

• Heart disease 
• Kidney disease 
• Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) 
• Tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease
• Hearing and vision loss 

The study also found that while dietary supplements can potentially lead to kidney and liver problems, there were no reports of liver or kidney toxicity in those supplementing with fenugreek. The main side effect of fenugreek use was digestive discomfort.

May regulate cholesterol

Fenugreek might also lower blood cholesterol levels, which could reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke—two leading causes of death in the US, according to the CDC. 

A 2020 meta-analysis published in Phytotherapy Research found that fenugreek supplementation: 

• Significantly reduced total cholesterol levels
• Lowered "bad" LDL cholesterol
• Increased  levels of "good" HDL cholesterol 

The herb was particularly effective for people with diabetes, who are twice as likely to develop heart disease, per the CDC.

Researchers believe fenugreek may be useful for controlling risk factors related to heart disease—like high cholesterol—when paired with traditional medical treatments, such as medications and lifestyle changes. However, further research is needed to understand exactly how effectively fenugreek can lower this risk.

Potentially relieves menstrual cramps

Fenugreek is often cited online as a remedy for menstrual cramps, and some research supports this. A 2014 study of 101 females published in the Journal of Reproduction & Fertility found that those who took 900mg of fenugreek seed powder on each of the first three days of menstruation reported a significantly larger reduction in period pain than the placebo group.  

Fenugreek supplementation also reduced other period symptoms, including:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fainting

No side effects were reported.

Can increase breast milk supply

People in North Africa, Asia, and southern Europe have traditionally used fenugreek to increase breastmilk supply in lactating women, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)—and some modern research backs this up.

For example, a 2017 research analysis published in Phytotherapy Research found that compared to a placebo, fenugreek significantly increased the amount of breastmilk produced by lactating women in four different studies. However, the same review found that other herbal supplements, like date palm, were more effective compared to fenugreek. 

While fenugreek may increase breastmilk supply, it might also cause some side effects. A 2018 study published in Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine interviewed 65 breastfeeding women and 56 healthcare providers and found supplementing with fenugreek during lactation could cause increased thirst as well as "maple syrup-like" sweat and urine.  If you have pre-existing conditions or are taking medication, you should talk to your doctor before taking fenugreek while breastfeeding. 

Could raise testosterone levels in men

Fenugreek may also raise testosterone levels in men, which, if low, could lead to irritability, poor concentration, and increased bone fracture risk. According to Harvard Medical School as men age, testosterone levels drop about 1% to 2% each year and more than one-third of men over the age of 45 have lower than normal testosterone levels.      

A 2017 study funded by Cepham Inc—an herbal supplement manufacturer—published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences assessed how a patented fenugreek supplement would impact 50 men between the ages of 35 and 65. It found that after 12 weeks of daily fenugreek supplementation, testosterone levels increased by up to 46% in 45 of the subjects. It also improved: 

• Mood
• Mental alertness
• Sex drive  
• Sperm count, which is closely related to fertility and is a predictor of illness and death risk

Nutrition

According to the USDA database, one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds provides:

• Calories: 35
• Fat: 0.7g 
• Sodium: 7.44mg 
• Carbohydrates: 6.5g, or 2% of the daily value (DV)
• Fiber: 2.7g, or 10% DV
• Protein: 2.5g, or 5% DV
• Iron: 3.7mg, or 20% DV

Despite its potential health benefits, fenugreek isn't a great source of important nutrients—particularly since most recipes call for less than one tablespoon of the herb. One noteworthy exception is iron, which is crucial for helping red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Risks

Fenugreek is safe in amounts commonly found in foods, but its safety in larger doses is uncertain, per the NCCIH. Fenugreek is not safe for use during pregnancy in any amount greater than what's found in food and should not be used by children as a supplement.

Liver toxicity has been reported in people who take fenugreek alone or with other herbs. It can also cause potential side effects, like: 

• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Gas 
• A drop in blood sugar when taken in large amounts 

If you're interested in trying fenugreek for a therapeutic purpose like those listed above talk to a healthcare provider, such as a primary care doctor or a registered dietitian. There is no standardized recommendation for fenugreek formulation or dose, so they can help you determine how much and for how long you should take fenugreek supplements. 

Tips for consuming fenugreek 

Fenugreek isn't widely grown in the US, so it's most readily available as a spice. If cooking with fenugreek try: 

• Soaking the seeds overnight to help them soften 
• Using it in dishes with longer cook times to help the flavors fully infuse
• Finishing sauces, curries, and vegetable dishes with frozen or dried fenugreek leaves
• Adding it to warm, hearty dishes, like this vegan red lentil soup 

 

 

Read More

 

                HIV – Is a cure possible?

 

As of now, HIV management needs life long treatment. A total cure is the need of the hour to restore a normal life expectancy and the immune function, to cut short the cost effect for the individual, family and to his country, to reduce morbidity, mortality, to avoid exposing to drug toxicity, to avoid subsequent loss of functions of vital organs such as kidney, liver, heart, bone marrow, and nervous system, to avoid unnecessary drug interaction, and to avoid acceleration of aging.

Since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy from 1996 onward there came a breakthrough in the management of HIV disease to the extent of a “functional” cure. However, at any time, these individuals would be likely to go for a viremia when these individuals either stop the treatment or attain resistance to antiretroviral therapy (ART).The main barrier to a sterilizing cure is the presence of a “latent reservoir;” a population of HIV-infected cells those persist for the lifetime of the individual despite ART- and the HIV-specific immune response. Eliminating the viral reservoir, make the latent virus susceptible for ART or make the reservoir inactive forever would prevent the virus from reestablishing the infection after the discontinuation of the treatment. Hence, the identification of various sources of viral reservoirs such as latent CD4 cells, central nervous system – microglial cells, macrophages, monocytes - (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), reproductive system, lymph nodes, spleen, and gut tissues get the prime importance in the research.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a donor homozygous for HIV-resistant CCR5Δ32 mutation, alteration of the host genome using genetic engineering techniques, Kick and kill (also known as “shock and kill”), altering the immune system for better clearance of the HIV-infected targets, “Hit early and Hit hard” (early treatment) are some of the strategies to be discussed.

GENETIC STRATEGIES

Co-Receptor CCR5 (or CRCX4) is essential for the entry of HIV into the CD4-bearing cell to get established. About 1% of the Caucasian population and 1.44% of the Western African population have the mutation, known as Delta 32, inherited from both parents which prevents the protein CCR5 from appearing on the cell surface. Since HIV enters the cell through CCR5 molecules, when they are absent HIV cannot penetrate. They are immune to HIV infection. The prevalence of Delta 32 gene defect (absence of CCR5) in other communities has to be estimated in the future.Although a previous study has shown a 2% heterozygous CCR5Δ32 deletion in 300 studied women, these 6 women belonged to the Muslim community, as was reported among the Muslims of northern India.

Stem cell transplantation

Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells that can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide (through mitosis) to produce more stem cells. Two broad types of stem cells namely embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Stem cells can also be taken from umbilical cord blood just after birth. Stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, such as blood, skin, or intestinal tissues. Adult stem cells are frequently used in medical therapies, for example in bone marrow transplantation. Bone marrow is a rich source of adult stem cells.Long-term control of HIV is possible with CCR5 Delta32/Delta32 Stem-Cell Transplantation

Stem Cell Transplantation

With this theory, one patient had been cured completely.

Berlin patient

Timothy Ray Brown, an HIV-positive American living in Germany, also had leukemia, received a transplant of stem cells from a donor carrying a rare, inherited gene mutation (CCR5Δ32) that seems to make carriers virtually immune to HIV infection during February 2007. Timothy had stem cell transplant twice as there was not adequate expected response through the first one. The transplant appeared to wipe out both diseases, giving hope to doctors. However, this transplant process is not only expensive, it is incredibly painful and complicated, and requires the patient to start a whole new regimen of drugs. Only after a search of 70 donors only, Timothy Brown got his transplant. The patient remains off ART, with a normal CD4 cell count. The HIV RNA levels were lower than those typically seen in virologically suppressed patients on ART. HIV DNA was detected in a rectal biopsy sample by one laboratory. No HIV has been detected in CSF or peripheral blood mononuclear cells. No replication-competent HIV has been isolated.[7] However, the two “Boston patients”—nicknamed for the Massachusetts city where they were treated and received bone-marrow transplants with cells that were not resistant to HIV.[7] Researchers reported that the virus has rebounded in both of the Boston patients.[12]

Other genetic modulations

With the help of zinc finger nucleases, DNA editing enzymes, eliminating the CCR5 expression over CD4 cells seems to be safe and have modified cells have the half-life of 48 weeks, but was expensive and difficult to scale upward.[13]

Using the CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology, the Cowan and Rossi teams knocked the CCR5 receptor out of blood stem cells that they showed could give rise to differentiated blood cells that did not have CCR5. In theory, such gene-edited stem cells could be introduced into HIV patients through bone marrow transplantation, the procedure used to transplant blood stem cells into leukemia patients, to give rise to HIV-resistant immune systems.[14] Researchers engineered a molecule known as a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and inserted a gene for that molecule into blood-forming stem cells, which they transplanted into mice genetically engineered to have human immune systems. It significantly reduced HIV levels in mice with a genetic therapy that induces immune cells to fight better against the virus. The CAR is a two-part receptor that recognizes an antigen (such as HIV) and in this case instructs immune cells to locate and kill HIV-infected cells. The transplant of the CAR-carrying blood stem cells gave rise to functional immune cells that could kill HIV in the mice. Consequently, the mice experienced an 80%–95% drop in viral load. The researchers concluded that such genetic therapy might be feasible in HIV-positive humans.[15]

KICK AND KILL (SHOCK AND KILL) METHOD

At present, the reason for which we are not able to achieve a complete cure with the help of ART, in spite our achievement of undetectable viral load, is said to be the presence of a dormant virus or HIV latency. In shock and kill, immune stimulants shock the latent virus from hidden reservoirs and then attempt to kill reactivated HIV.

Now an enzyme had been identified which is called as histone deacetylase (HDAC) which is responsible to keep up latency. Several companies are looking into HDAC-inhibitors. Some in vitro H-DAC studies seemed to be promising but yet to be confirmed by clinical studies. Flushing these latent CD4 HIV-infected cells with drugs such as Vorinostat and Panobinostat (HDAC inhibitors) into the circulation, make them susceptible for ART after expressed out of these reservoirs.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors have a broad spectrum of epigenetic activities. Vorinostat is marketed under the name Zolinza for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).This was approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of CTCL on October 6, 2006. They flush the virus from the reservoir to the circulation. The dose is 400 mg statum.

GS-9620 – TLR7 agonist and Protein kinase C agonist bryostatin-1 are some other drugs on the pipeline. Studies with primates were successful.

Romidepsin (Celgene), another HDAC inhibitor drug, as intravenous injection 5 mg/m² once weekly for 3 weeks while maintaining the ART, safely induced HIV-1 transcription resulting in plasma HIV-1 RNA that was readily detected with standard commercial assays demonstrating that significant reversal of HIV-1 latency in vivo is possible without blunting T-cell-mediated immune responses. These findings have major implications for future trials aiming to eradicate the HIV-1 reservoir.Keeping the latency to remain inactive forever:

A natural compound called as Cortistatin A has been found to significantly reduce the rate of reactivation of immune cells latently infected with HIV. Cortistatin A was isolated from a marine sponge known as Corticium simplex. It has been shown to inhibit Tat, a viral protein that is instrumental in prompting the virus to replicate. This study showed that the compound reduced viral reactivation by an average of 92.3%.

 

Read More