Rheumatoid Arthritis & Flax Seed

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Flax Seed

May 23, 2011 | By Erica Jacques

Flax seed is a natural source of both omega-3 essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids may play a role in reducing pain and stiffness for people with rheumatoid arthritis. However, much of the related research is still in the early stages. Flax seed can be added to food or taken in supplement form, both forms of which offer similar benefits.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder. One of the more common types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is characterized by chronic inflammation in the body's smaller joints. This eventually leads to joint damage and deformities, often involving the hands. There is no known cause of RA, though there are many theories, which makes treating the disorder a challenge. While it can't be cured, many of its symptoms, including pain and stiffness, can be controlled through medication and lifestyle changes. One of these potential lifestyle changes for RA involves the use of dietary supplements as well as changing the way you eat.

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What's in Flax Seed?

Flax seed is a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, which the body needs to function but cannot make on its own. In particular, flax seed is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid. Aplha-linolenic acid, also called ALA, is converted by the body into two other well-known omega-3s. These are eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. This makes flax a primary source of alpha-linolenic acid, and a secondary source of both EPA and DHA. These omega-3 fatty acids are thought to reduce inflammation, one of the main causes of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. According to "Arthritis Today," flax seed is thought to reduce pain and stiffness as well as increase joint lubrication for people with RA. Whether it works or not, however, remains under investigation.

The Research

According to "Arthritis Today," there is little evidence that flax seeds themselves have a direct effect on RA symptoms. However, because they contain high amounts of omega-3s, they may play a role in controlling some of the related inflammation. The research reviewed by the University of Maryland Medical Center has primarily included small studies, but the results seem promising for the use of fish oil, another omega-3 supplement that is high in both DHA and EPA. Pain and stiffness symptoms seemed to improve for many RA sufferers using these types of omega-3s. However, the research on whether or not flax seeds offer the same benefits as fish oil is lacking.

Precautions

Flax seed supplements may help some RA symptoms, but never start any supplement without first consulting your doctor. Some over-the-counter supplements may interact with certain medications. For instance, flax seed may increase the effects of blood thinners and may also interfere with cholesterol medications. You don't have to take flax seed supplements to get the benefits of omega-3s; try using flax seed flour, or sprinkle some ground flax seeds over your food to increase your ALA intake.

References

• Arthritis Today: Supplement Guide: Flax Seed
• MayoClinic.com; Rheumatoid Arthritis; November 2009
• University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; June 2009

Article reviewed by Eric Lochridge Last updated on: May 23, 2011

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/449007-rheumatoid-arthritis-flax-seed/#ixzz2NlPo7xL6

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/449007-rheumatoid-arthritis-flax-seed/#ixzz2NlPSZqjQ

Turmeric Against a Virus

Sep 10, 2011 | By Shamala Pulugurtha
Viruses are tiny capsules containing genetic material. They invade healthy cells of the body, multiply there and eventually kill the host cells. This can lead to a variety of infections ranging from common cold and warts to small pox and AIDS. Antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections because the pathogen is within the human cell. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications to control the infection. Certain herbs and supplements such as turmeric may also help treat or prevent viral infections. However, you must talk to a doctor before using them.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a flavorful, yellow powder that is obtained from the roots and rhizomes of the perennial Curcuma longa plant native to Southern Asia. It has been used as a spice and flavoring agent for several centuries, especially in Indian curries. Turmeric also contains a phenolic antioxidant chemical known as curcumin, which gives it an immense medicinal value. The Chinese and Ayurvedic schools of medicine have used turmeric to treat several conditions including ulcers, heart disease, diabetes, infections and certain types of cancers. Turmeric supplements are available as capsules, tablets, powders, tinctures and liquid extracts. Your doctor may help determine a form and dose that is right for you, depending on your age and overall health.

Viral Infections

Curcumin can inhibit the growth of the influenza virus including that of the H1N1 swine flu virus, says a study published in the April 2010 issue of the journal “Food Chemistry.” Another study in the April 2008 issue of the journal “Virology” reveals that curcumin, extracted from turmeric, can block the spread of herpes simplex virus infection by inhibiting the expression of the viral genes. A February 2010 article published in the journal “FEBS Letters” also reveals that curcumin can show anti-viral activity against several viruses including adenovirus, coxsackievirus and human immunodeficiency virus. However, these benefits of turmeric have not been demonstrated in actual clinical cases, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Hence, more research is needed before the spice can replace your existing medications.

Side Effects

Turmeric has been used in food for centuries and is generally considered safe in moderate amounts. High doses of the spice, however, can cause upset stomach and ulcers. It may also lead to hypoglycemia in people taking diabetes medications. The supplements may also interfere with antacid and anticoagulation medications.

Precautions

You do not need a prescription to buy turmeric or its supplements but you must consult a doctor before using them. Also, the supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. So, make sure that the product has been tested for safety and efficacy by an independent agency such as the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/540671-turmeric-against-a-virus/#ixzz2NlLOJorr

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/540671-turmeric-against-a-virus/#ixzz2NlL5FTGD

Berlin Patient, first person cured of HIV, may soon have company

Berlin Patient, first person cured of HIV, may soon have company

July 27, 2012|By Erin Loury | Los Angeles Time

Timothy Brown, a.k.a. the Berlin Patient, is the only person considered cured of HIV, but others may join those ranks soon. (EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS )

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/27/news/la-heb-hiv-cure-aids-meeting-20120727

Washington, D.C. — The Berlin Patient, the only person considered cured of HIV, may soon have some company.
Researchers at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C., made presentations Thursday on two HIV-positive men from Boston who developed lymphoma. In both cases, their treatment included a bone marrow transplant, which results in a new immune system. The bone marrow donors did not have HIV.

The patients were conditioned for their transplants with a reduced-intensity protocol that allowed them to maintain enough strength to continue taking antiretroviral drugs to keep their HIV in check. These drugs are usually too toxic for HIV-positive cancer patients to handle.
So far, it appears that their new immune systems have remained HIV-free. Seventeen months after the transplants, researchers could not detect any HIV genetic material in the patients’ blood. They say the credit for this goes to the antiretroviral drugs the patients are taking.
Still unclear is whether the virus still lurks in the patients’ tissues. “It is possible that there is still other residual HIV material, “said study author Dr. Timothy Henrich of Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital. If doctors became convinced that all trace of the virus is gone, the patients could stop taking the antiretroviral drugs and be considered cured.
But they’re not there yet.
“We’re being very careful to refer to our patients as not being functionally cured,” said study author Daniel Kuritzkes, also of Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Only when these patients can successfully stop their medication can they be considered cured of HIV.
The only person in that category right now is the Berlin Patient, a.k.a. Timothy Brown. He had a bone marrow transplant to treat acute myeloid leukemia. In his case, the bone marrow donor was not only HIV-negative, but had a rare genetic mutation that blocks HIV from entering cells. That effectively makes Brown immune to the virus, and his body has remained HIV-free even without taking antiretroviral drugs.
The two patients in Boston received their bone marrow transplants from people who did not have the rare genetic variant, which is why they are still taking their drugs.
Researchers are working on potential cures that involve transferring that genetic mutation to HIV-positive patients without taking on the significant risks of a bone marrow transplant.
Another study presented Thursday reported on 12 French HIV-positive patients who received early treatment and have acquired an ability to naturally control HIV.  These patients offer hope that it may be possible to “functionally” cure the disease – enabling people to tolerate HIV without completing ridding their bodies of the virus.
The patients started taking antiretroviral medication within 10 weeks of their HIV infections and stopped about three years later.  Now, nearly seven years after ending treatment, these patients still have very low levels of the virus in their bodies. They appear similar to a small group of people known as “elite controllers” who naturally suppress HIV to low levels and do not get sick from the virus.
Reservoirs of dormant HIV can occur throughout the body. This sleeping HIV can periodically wake up and re-infect a person, which is why people with HIV usually have to take medication for life.

The French patients still have very low reservoirs of virus in their bodies, and researchers wondered if their ability to manage the virus related to how these remaining patches of HIV were distributed among a type of white blood cells called memory T cells. Pockets of HIV usually build up in long-lived types of memory T cells. However, researchers found that this rare cohort had dormant HIV primarily in shorter-lived memory T cells – similar to elite controllers – so their infected cells don’t persist as long.
The results provide further evidence that antiretroviral therapy should be started soon after infection, researchers said.
To wipe out all traces of HIV, scientists must find a way to wake up reservoirs of sleeping virus and target them with drugs. Jerome Zack, director of the UCLA Center for AIDS Research, made a presentation about this approach.
Zack and his colleagues outfitted little lipid bubbles called liposomes with antibodies that specifically match up with CD4 cells, the type of white blood cell that HIV usually attacks. The liposomes deliver two drugs to the cell – one, called bryostatin, switches on cell activity, and the other, a protease inhibitor, prevents HIV virus from assembling more virus once it starts to reproduce.
These liposomes didn’t target or otherwise activate another type of white blood cells called CD8 cells. As a result, the treatment didn’t trigger toxic inflammation. However, scientists still need to figure out how to design liposomes that identify only the CD4 cells that are infected with dormant HIV.
Bryostatin is a useful molecule, but also exorbitantly expensive – a single gram can cost $1 million.
Zack and his colleagues published a paper in Nature Medicine last week that described a number of synthetic products that mimic bryostatin, and cost only about $2,000 per gram to manufacture. Zack said that a few of these compounds also outperform their natural counterpart in switching on latent HIV while triggering less inflammation.

11 Disgusting Ingredients You Eat Every Day That Food Companies Don't Talk About

11 Disgusting Ingredients You Eat Every Day That Food Companies Don't Talk About

Laura Stampler | Mar. 29, 2012, 5:49 PM 

Starbucks' use of crushed beetles in food coloring for its frappuccino products—which it had labeled vegan—is merely the tip of the iceberg.
The cochineal beetle, often used in red food dyes, is one of many disgusting ingredients found in everyday foods.
Food companies might advertise natural flavors, low calories and vitamins A through Z, but they're much less likely to promote their use of  fish bladders, sand or human hair.
And you won't believe what beaver anal glands—that's correct—are used for.

Red Dye: Ground Up Beetles

Between yogurt, maraschino cherries, jams, cakes, and tomato products, you've probably consumed at least one pound of red dye in your life. That means that you've also ingested at least 70,000 cochineal beetles, according to a petition on Change.org.
The bug is crushed up to make red dye.

Ice Cream: Beaver Anal Glands

liangjinjian www.flickr.com and TheCulinaryGeek www.flickr.com

Vanilla and raspberry flavors might be enhanced by "castoreum," a mixture of the anal secretions and urine of beavers. It's also found in perfume.
The FDA-approved product is categorized under "natural flavoring," so you won't know if you're eating it.
After celebrity chef Jamie Oliver went on David Letterman's show and mentioned castoreum's presence in vanilla ice cream—"If you like that stuff, next time you put it in your mouth think of anal gland"—manufacturers adamantly denied the claims.

Beer: Fish Bladders

guebosch www.flickr.com and kyezitri www.flickr.com

Isinglass, or dried fish bladder, gives beer its golden glow. The BBC did a whole segment on the substance, which is primarily used in British beers.

Wendy's Chili: Sand

Juliancolton2 www.flickr.com and Calgary Reviews www.flickr.com

One key ingredient to Wendy's chili is an anti-caking agent called silicon dioxide. Street name: sand or glass powder.

Jello: Animal Connective Tissue

tsuacctnt www.flickr.com

Gelatin is made from collagen, which is boiled down animal connective tissue. Today, gelatin most likely is made from pigskin.

Gum: Sheep Secretions

Lanolin—a goopy, oily secretion found in sheep's wool—is an FDA-approved additive used to soften chewing gum. It can also be found in cosmetics, sunscreen, and baby products.

Cheese: Sawdust

Cellulose, or virgin wood pulp that is more commonly identified as sawdust, is an ingredient found in shredded cheese. It keeps the shreds from clumping up. Cellulose also appears in Kraft Parmesan Cheese.
The Street found 15 other companies that use "wood" in their products.
The USDA, which regulates meat, has decided that meat products that consist of more than 3.5 percent cellulose cannot be recognized as nutritionally sound.

Bread: Duck Feathers and Human Hair

L-Cysteine is an amino acid often used in dough conditioners, which softens mass-produced breads. It is made from human hair or duck feathers. Although 80 percent of L-cysteine is made of human hair, McDonald's uses the duck feather variety in its Baked Hot Apple Pie and Warm Cinnamon Roll.

Mushrooms: Maggots

Wikimedia

The FDA says its legally OK to have up to 19 maggots and 74 mites in a 3.5-ounce can of mushrooms.

Potato Chips: Cleaning Agents

Sodium bisulfite is used in most toilet boil cleaning agents. It's also used to extend the shelf-life and bleach out the discoloration of potato chips.

Chocolate: Rat Hairs

Flickr: schoko-riegel and angeladellatorre

We aren't saying that rat hairs are the secret ingredient of your favorite chocolate bars ... but they might make accidental guest appearances. The FDA allows one rat hair per 100 grams in six 100-gram subsamples of chocolate and 60 insect fragments per 100 grams in six 100-gram subsamples.

Doesn't the truth hurt?

 

 

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/11-disgusting-ingredients-that-arent-advertised-in-food-2012-3?op=1#ixzz2Nl7bBgfs